《Unstoppable Unforgiven (Shermaine and Joshua)》 Nurse walking 1 Chapter 1 The autumn wind was cold and biting. It was past nine at night, and outside the emergency room, Shermaine Shue leaned against the hallway wall in a thin ck evening dress, her arms crossed over her chest, her posturezy and sultry. She let out a slow yawn, looking like she was about to drift off. A nurse walking by couldn¡¯t help sneaking a nce at her and immediately got caught off guard by her beauty. Shermaine was just too gorgeous, like a siren born to steal hearts, sweet but dangerous. Her skin was wless and radiant, and her eyes were mesmerizing. When she smiled, there was this teasing charm about her, alluring but never cheap. Her irises were a lighter shade, clear and sparkling. With a light smirk, she was the perfect mix of bold and innocent, elegant with a wild edge. She was absolutely beautiful, and the body under that evening dress had curves in all the right ces, every line dripping with sex appeal. And yet, Shermaine had apparently sent a six¨Cfoot¨Ctall guy straight into the ER. Word was, the dude ended up with a broken hand and a mild concussion. She nced over at the nurse and caught her staring, wide¨Ceyed and dazed. Shermaine couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, her tone yful, ¡°Do I look good?¡± Without thinking, the nurse blurted out, ¡°You look amazing.¡± Shermaine¡¯s smile widened, a mix of devil¨Cmay¨Ccare cool and breathtaking beauty. Watching her pull off thatbo of gorgeous and badass, the nurse felt her heart skip a beat. She thought, ¡®Am I seriously about to switch teams right now?¡® Just then, another woman, gentle and delicate, walked over from a different direction and spoke softly, ¡°Shermaine, there you are. I¡¯ve been looking for you everywhere.¡± The nurse thought, ¡®So her name¡¯s Shermaine. What a beautiful name.¡® The other woman was wearing a white embroidered dress with a cashmere shawl draped over her shoulders. She looked extra elegant, like a pure lily blooming quietly in a world of its own. However, when she stood next to Shermaine, all her glow seemed to fade away. Shermaine nced at the woman named Wendelyn Jean who had called her so warmly, her expression still cool. They weren¡¯t rted by blood. After Shermaine was brought back into the Jean family, the two of them were sisters in name only. Shermaine had grown up an orphan, living off the kindness of strangers. She never would have dreamed that on her neenth birthday, a man named Ross Jean, iming to be her older brother, would show up and tell her she was the heiress of the Jean family in Basterel. ¡°Shermaine,e home with me,¡± Ross had said. Basterel had a handful of famous old¨Cmoney families, and the Jeans were one of the biggest names. Shermaine had always longed for a real family, but after returning to the Jean family, she realized her parents were nothing like what she had imagined. They didn¡¯t like her at all. Instead, all their affection was still wrapped around Wendelyn, the daughter they had adopted and spoiled after losing Shermaine. Even after Shermaine came back, nothing had changed. There was never any real love left for her. Shermaine had tried to win it. But half a monthter, nothing had shifted. Chapter 1 JU May If it weren¡¯t for Ross, her brother who had brought her back and actually treated her well, Shermaine honestly wouldn¡¯t have wanted to stay ac¨®n longer. She figured it made sense she grew up alone. Even if she wasn¡¯t the heiress, it didn¡¯t matter to her. She didn¡¯t care. She didn¡¯t need any elit Shermaine asked lightly, ¡°Can I go home now?¡± ¡°Not yet. Mom wants to see you,¡± Wendelyn said with a soft smile. ¡°Alright,¡± Shermaine replied. The man Shermaine had broken the bones of was Ronnie Leeds, heir to the Leeds Group. The Leeds family held a middle¨Ctier status in Basterel, not quite at the top, but not at the bottom either, and they had business dealings with the Jean family. Today was the day Shermaine was formally acknowledged and weed back into her biological family. The Jean family had thrown her a advantage of her. Inside the hospital room, Ronniey on the bed. The moment he saw Shermaine, his face twisted, full of fear, rage, and shame. Ronnie¡¯s mother, Amira Leeds, red at Shermaine with clear dissatisfaction, her voice sharp with the fierce protectiveness of a parent. She said sarcastically, ¡°If I had such a vulgar daughter, even if she were my own, I wouldn¡¯t let her out in public to be a disgrace to the family. ¡°But you Jeans are just too kindhearted for your own good, letting her loose without even teaching her basic manners.¡± Standing next to Amira was a woman with an air of elegance and nobility, her expression ice¨Ccold. ¡°Shermaine, apologize to Ronnie,¡± said Ruth Jean, Shermaine¡¯s mother. Hearing this, Shermaine responded tly, ¡°Why should I apologize?¡± Just that one sentence was enough to make Ruth¡¯s face darken with barely concealed anger. She thought her biological daughter was not only unruly but also constantly stirring up trouble and causing chaos wherever she went. Ruth took a slow breath. ¡°You hit someone. That¡¯s wrong. Come over here and apologize.¡± Shermaine was deeply disappointed and thought, ¡®As a mother, shouldn¡¯t she be asking what happened first? Shouldn¡¯t she find out why I hit Ronnie instead of scolding me right away without even hearing the full story?¡® She said calmly, ¡°I did hit him, but I¡¯m not gonna apologize.¡± She figured Ronnie was nothing but trash. He didn¡¯t deserve an apology. Honestly, she had gone easy on him and let him off with a broken bone. ¡°You brat,¡± Ruth snapped. She was famous for her gentle and elegant image in their circles, but now she raised her hand as if ready to p Shermaine. Shermaine didn¡¯t dodge. She was about to lift her hand to block it when someone stepped in front of her, taking the furious p for her. Wendelyn¡¯s head jerked to the side, a red mark quickly blooming across her cheek. Her voice was soft as she said, ¡°Mom, let¡¯s just talk it out, okay? Don¡¯t hit Shermaine.¡± Ruth froze for a second. When she realized she had hit Wendelyn by mistake, her anger instantly turned to worry. ¡°You dummy, what were you thinking jumping in like that?¡± Wendelyn¡¯s cheek was still flushed, but her voice stayed gentle. ¡°Mom, even if Shermaine made some mistakes, if you talk to her nicely, she¡¯ll listen.¡± Ruth didn¡¯t calm down because of Wendelyn¡¯s words. In fact, seeing her pnd on Wendelyn only made her even angrier. She looked at Shermaine, her expression growing darker by the second. 2/5 20:34 Fri, 30 May G. Ruth thought, ¡®What biological daughter? She¡¯s nothing but a walking disaster, always here to make my life miserable! There was nothing about Shermaine that Ruth could find even remotely satisfying. Watching all of this unfold, Shermaine gave a slight smirk and thought, ¡®What a damn act. She let out a coldugh. ¡°Wendelyn, isn¡¯t this exactly what you wanted?¡± Wendelyn¡¯s checks flushed deeper as she looked up, her face full of innocent confusion. ¡°Alright then, tell me. What exactly did I do wrong?¡± Shermaine¡¯s tone wasn¡¯t harsh. It waszy, almost casual, but she still carried that undeniable air of superiority. Wendelyn bit her lip. ¡°You hit someone.¡± Shermaine¡¯s voice was still light but pressing. ¡°Didn¡¯t I hit him because Ronnie¡¯s a piece of trash who deserved it?¡± Wendelyn¡¯s eyes shifted. ¡°Do you have any proof?¡± Shermaine thought, ¡®Proof? If I really wanted it, it wouldn¡¯t even be hard.¡® If someone gave her aptop, she could pull up the evidence right away. The only problem was she didn¡¯t even have a phone on her right now, let alone aputer. For a moment, Shermaine stayed silent. ¡°There must be some misunderstanding between you two,¡± Wendelyn said, her voice all knowing and wise. ¡°Shermaine, don¡¯t let your emotions get the better of you.¡± Shermaine looked at her with aplicated, unreadable expression. Ever since she came back home, Wendelyn had actually been resisting her presence, constantly picking at her and showing off. But Shermaine wasn¡¯t some pushover. If someone really pissed her off, she would even steal their man. Shermaine had heard Wendelyn had a big crush on someone¨CJoshua York, heir to the York family of Basterel. The York family was one of the city¡¯s absolute elite, They had deep roots and their descendants thrived across all kinds of industries. And as luck would have it, there was already a marriage arrangement between the Yorks and the Jeans. If Shermaine hadn¡¯t shown up, rumor had it Wendelyn would¡¯ve been the one to marry Joshua. But really, it wasn¡¯t even fair to say Shermaine stole Wendelyn¡¯s fianc¨¦. The engagement with Joshua had always been Shermaine¡¯s to begin with. Hearing Shermaine call her son trashpletely set Amira off. Amira shot to her feet, shouting, ¡°Ruth, listen to your daughter. Does that sound like anything a decent person would say? * ¡°If you don¡¯t give me an exnation tonight, I¡¯ll march her straight to the police. By tomorrow, everyone¡¯s gonna know the Jean family¡¯s so¨Ccalled heiress is nothing but a loud, uncultured thug. A total joke.¡± Ruth stayed unmoved, her face cold as she made it clear she was ready to punish Shermaine. ¡°It¡¯s my fault for raising her poorly. Do whatever you want with her,¡± she said as she smoothed down her clothes/¡°Wendy, let¡¯s go home.¡± Wendelyn hesitated. ¡°But Shermaine-¡± ¡°Forget her,¡± Ruth cut in sharply, her expression chilling. ¡°She made this mess. Let her deal with it.¡± In her mind, this was exactly what Shermaine deserved for not listening to her. Wendelyn looked like she wanted to say something but ended up staying silent. She was very pleased with the oue. She thought, ¡®As long as I¡¯m here in the Jean family, Shermaine can forget about ever recing me. She¡¯ll see soon enough that just shing the heiress title doesn¡¯t mean people will like her. It sure as hell won¡¯t get her anywhere.¡® On the way back to the Jean residence, Wendelyn seemed deep in thought before asking, ¡°Mom, do you know where things stand with the York family?¡± At tonight¡¯s party, Joshua was supposed to show up, but he never did. Wendelyn figured he probably didn¡¯t take the engagement seriously at all. ¡°With a temper like Shermaine¡¯s, there¡¯s no way the York family would ever let Joshua marry her. And an outstanding man like Joshua probably wouldn¡¯t be interested in her anyway,¡± Ruth said, frowning with worry. ¡°This engagement might not hold up after all.¡± If the engagement fell through, it would be a huge blow to the Jean family. Wendelyn bit her lip and made her move. ¡°Mom, you still have me, don¡¯t you? I¡¯ve loved Mr. York for years. Please help me.¡± After Ruth left with Wendelyn, Amira finally realized where Shermaine stood in the Jean family. Without a mornent¡¯s hesitation, she pulled out her phone and called the police. Shermaine stayed as indifferent and unbothered as ever. She figured if she had to go to the police station, so be it. She had no money on her, no phone either, so she might as well head over, borrow aputer or something, clear her name, and take back her dignity. Outside the hospital, a ck Maybach rolled to a smooth stop. A man in a tailored suit stepped out. He was tall, built solid and lean, dressed to the nines, exuding a mix of maturity, wealth, and effortless grace. His face wasn¡¯t fully visible under the night sky, and a pair of gold¨Crimmed sses sat on the bridge of his nose. But even at a nce, it was obvious¨Che had to be devastatingly good¨Clooking. When he walked with unhurried steps into the light, the sight of him stunned everyone nearby. His refined, handsome looks were wless, as if he had stepped right out of a dream. There weren¡¯t many men in Basterel who had that kind of looks and presence, but among them, Joshua York was hands¨Cdown the most famous. He was the textbook definition of male perfection. And right now, it was Joshua himself. No one would¡¯ve guessed that the man usually seen only in finance reports would suddenly show up at a hospital at a time like this. Joshua held his phone, his tone cool. ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯ll keep an eye on her situation and handle it.¡± ¡°Try to be a little nicer, alright? Don¡¯t scare off my future granddaughter¨Cinw,¡± Owen York, Joshua¡¯s grandfather, reminded him from the other end of the line. ¡°Got it. Hanging up,¡± Joshua said. Everyone¡¯s attention was on Joshua. No one noticed the clean¨Ccut young man following right behind him. The man walked up and reported, ¡°Mr. York, we found out that Ms. Shue hit Ronnie because he insulted her and tried to get handsy, thinking she was pretty.¡± The man was Bradley Webb, Joshua¡¯s assistant. Joshua gave a soft hum in response. Bradley nced at the file in his hand and scoffed, ¡°Ronnie¡¯s pathetic. He¡¯s trained in kickboxing for five years and still got knoc under three moves.¡± He thought, ¡®Five years of kickboxing, and he¡¯s basically learned nothing¡® it by Ms. Shue in Bradley continued, ¡°But Ms. Shue¡¯s situation¡¯s not great either. Ten minutes ago, Mrs. Jean already left the hospital,pletely washing her hands of her. And Mrs. Leeds called the cops. They¡¯re on their way now.¡± Su May Joshua lifted his eyes slightly and asked, ¡°What floor is she on?¡± ¡°Eighth floor,¡± Bradley answered. Amira heard a knock at the door outside the hospital room and thought it was the police. But when she looked up and saw that it was actually Joshua, her expression changed instantly. She had no idea why he would be here, and she had a sinking feeling. Amira¡¯s expression shifted slightly, but she forced herself to stay calm. ¡°Mr. York, what brings you here?¡± Nurse walking 2 Chapter 2 Joshua spoke with calm elegance, ¡°I¡¯m here for my fianc¨¦e.¡± His words were short and to the point, leaving Amira stunned. She hadn¡¯t expected the engagement between the Yorks and the Jeans to be real. Since the York family had never brought it up, no one had taken it seriously. Amira thought, ¡®So that means avenging Ronnie today won¡¯t be so easy! Shermaine had been waiting for the police to arrive. What she didn¡¯t expect was that instead of the police, she got her so¨Ccalled legendary fianc¨¦. The moment Joshua¡¯s absurdly pleasant voice rang out, Shermaine¡¯s gaze instinctively shifted toward him. With just one look, she thought she would probably never forget what this man looked like. He stood there quietly. The lighting wasn¡¯t great, but it still couldn¡¯t hide the grace and nobility that radiated from him. There was a calm restraint in him, something honed by time, like an uncut gem that, once opened, would shine dazzlingly from within. His features were undeniably striking, each line delicately defined. A pair of gold¨Crimmed sses rested on his nose, giving him a refined look, like one of those noble vampires from a novel¨Ccold, maic, and dangerously alluring. She hadn¡¯t expected Joshua to actually show up. Shermaine¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, watching him with interest. Amira¡¯s expression grewplicated. She thought, ¡®If Joshua came for Shermaine, he¡¯s definitely taking her with him. But with Ronnie hurt like this, how could I possibly let it go?¡® She gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Perfect timing, Mr. York. That low¨Css girl hurt my son, and her mother doesn¡¯t care. Since you¡¯re her fianc¨¦, you tell me -how should this be settled?¡± Joshua thought, ¡®How should this be settled? Doesn¡¯t she know what kind of person her son is? Just how little does she think of Shermaine to believe Ronnie wasn¡¯t the one at fault here?¡® He nced casually at Ronnie, who was lying in the hospital bed. That one look made Ronnie¡¯s legs go weak, but out of pride as a man, he forced himself to hold steady. Joshua had longmanded the business world. Everyone knew he not only controlled the York family but also had some mysterious force operating behind the scenes. His presence was overwhelming. Ronnie pondered, ¡®Don¡¯t panic. Stay calm. What can he do to me? There¡¯s no evidence I tried to make a pass at Shermaine. The proof was all destroyed.¡® Joshua said, ¡°You¡¯re right. This does need to be settled properly.¡± ¡°You¡¯re fair¨Cminded, Mr. York.¡± Amira nodded. Joshua replied unhurriedly, ¡°Mr. Leeds insulted my fianc¨¦e and tried to take advantage of her. Mrs. Leeds, how would you like to settle that?¡± Amira¡¯s face turned pale in an instant. She had nned to squeeze something out of Joshua, but instead, she got hit right back. ¡°No way. Ronnie would never do something like that.¡± She thought, ¡®There¡¯s no way Ronnie would be interested in a girl like Shermaine.¡® But when she looked over at Shermaine again, Amira had to admit Shermaine really was a stunning beauty¨Ctrouble in every sense of the word. Out of jealousy, Amira refused to admit that Shermaine¡¯s looks might even surpass the most beautiful woman in Basterel. ¡°Mrs. Leeds, it seems you don¡¯t know what kind of man Mr. Leeds really is,¡± Joshua remarked calmly. Then he called out, ¡°Bradley, show her the evidence.¡± Bradley pulled out his phone and yed a video. Just like Joshua said, in the footage, Ronnie had not only insulted Shermaine but also tried to get handsy with her. But the unexpected thing was that Shermaine could actually fight. When Ronnie leaned in, she¡¯d kicked him straight back. He ended up with a fractured wrist and a concussion to go with it. After watching the video, Amira had nothing to say. What she did feel was a growing fear that Joshua might actually do something to Ronnie. She pondered, ¡®Why did Shermaine have to be engaged to Joshua of all people?¡® In Basterel, Joshua was known for his polished charm and refined manners. But beneath that gentlemanly facade was a ruthless streak that made his way of putting people in their ce downright bone¨Cchilling. Otherwise, people wouldn¡¯t show him so much respect. Trying to save herself after the failed move, Amira quickly changed her tone. ¡°It was my failure as a mother, Mr. York. I apologize if I offended you in any way. I hope you can understand.¡± Joshua gave a faint smile. ¡°Mrs. Leeds, at least you¡¯re self¨Caware. You know you¡¯ve failed to be a proper example of a decent, well¨Cmannered mother. With someone like you raising him, no wonder your son turned out the way he did.¡± Amira¡¯s face went pale. She thought, ¡®Damn Joshua. All I did was call Shermaine low¨Css, and now he just won¡¯t let it go. She opened her mouth but couldn¡¯t get a single word out. Joshua wasn¡¯t nning to let her off that easy. ¡°Mrs. Leeds, since you clearly don¡¯t know how to discipline your son, shall I do it for you?¡± Amira was scared now. She was worried about Ronnie¡¯s reputation, and even more afraid that Joshua might actually go after Ronnie for real. She turned to look at Ronnie lying in the hospital bed and yelled, ¡°Well? Get up and apologize.¡± Ronnie climbed out of bed with a grim expression. ¡°Mr. York, I¡¯m really sorry. I was drunk and not thinking straight. Please just be the bigger person and don¡¯t hold it against me. Haven¡¯t I paid the price already?¡± Off to the side, Shermaine couldn¡¯t help butugh. The frustration she¡¯d her. But it was obvious Ronnie wasn¡¯t really sorry. en carrying earlier was instantly eased a bit thanks to Joshua standing up for Shermaine thought, ¡®Shouldn¡¯t Ronnie apologize to me? Mr. York really doesn¡¯t hold back¨Che¡¯s not giving Ronnie a shred of dignity.¡± As if reading her mind, Joshua said coolly, ¡°You¡¯re apologizing to the wrong person.¡± Ronnie turned his head toward Shermaine. She was looking at him with a yful, sarcastic smile, clearly enjoying the show. He bit the inside of his cheek. ¡°Ms. Shue, I was out of line and disrespected you. I sincerely apologize. I hope you can forgive me.¡± Shermaine smirked, ¡°I¡¯m still mad. Now say this twenty times¨C¡®I¡¯m a pervert. I¡¯m sorry. I was wrong¡®¨Cand I might consider forgiving you.¡± Ronnie was rendered speechless. Bradley nearlyughed and thought, ¡®Ms. Shue really knows how to press her advantage. She¡¯s not letting a single thing slide. Making a spoiled rich kid insult himself like that¨Cjust how savage is she?¡® ¡°Shermaine, you-¡± Amira lost her temper and was about to explode, but the second Joshua gave her a calm nce, the pressure hit her like a wave. The words caught in her throat, choking her so hard that it left her reeling. After a brief standoff, Ronnie was clearly unwilling, but Amira gave him a look, signaling him to do as Shermaine said. Ronnie¡¯s face turned grim as he started repeating, ¡°I¡¯m a pervert. I¡¯m sorry. I was wrong. I¡¯m a pervert. I¡¯m sorry, I was wrong. I¡¯m a pervert. I¡¯m sorry. I was wrong.¡± After he repeated it twenty times, Joshua added fuel to the fire, saying, ¡°Learn your lesson. Don¡¯t let it happen again.¡± Iviay Shermaine looked at Joshua with a faint smile, thinking she was actually quite pleased with the way her fianc¨¦ had made his entrance if fast like something straight out of a romance novel¨Cthe domineering CEO standing up for his wife. Amira was fuming inside, but she still forced a smile and softened her tone. ¡°Mr. York, Ronnie already apologized, and Ms. Shue said she¡¯d forgive him Can we delete the video now?¡± Joshua didn¡¯t respond to her. Instead, he turned to Shermaine and asked in an unhurried tone, ¡°Ms. Shue, what do you think?¡± A Comment Nurse walking 3 Chapter 3 Shermaine said casually, ¡°I only said I¡¯d forgive Ronnie. I never said I¡¯d have the video deleted.¡± She smiled at Joshus, ¡°Mr. York, the police will be her soon. Let¡¯s hand the footage over to them.¡± Joshua gave a slight ned. ¡°You¡¯ve gone too far, Shermaine.¡± Amira was seething. Shermaine ignored her. With her fianc¨¦ backing her up, she could just quietly y the part of the delicate damsel. ¡°How exactly is she going too far?¡± Joshua shot back. ¡°¡­¡± Amira faltered, nearly having a heart attack from the stress. ¡°Mrs. Leeds, I suggest you choose your words carefully when speaking to my fianc¨¦e,¡± Joshua remarked calmly. Then he turned to Bradley and ordered, ¡°Leave someone behind to wait for the police.¡± Bradley responded and went to make the arrangements. Amira was furious but could only swallow it. Joshua was someone she couldn¡¯t afford to cross. And now that Shermaine had climbed up the socialdder by getting engaged to Joshua, Amira had to tread even more carefully. Inside the elevator, silence fell. Shermaine spoke up, ¡°Mr. York.¡± Joshua looked down at her. Shermaine said, ¡°Thanks for tonight.¡± Joshua replied lightly, ¡°You don¡¯t need to thank me.¡± She shook her head. ¡°But I should.¡± He remarked steadily, ¡°You¡¯ll be my wife one day. Since you¡¯re going to be part of the York family, no one gets to push you around.¡± Shermaine stayed quiet for a moment and thought, ¡®Is Joshua really going to marry me? Just because of some verbal engagement made by the older generation?¡® She was still young and honestly didn¡¯t want to start thinking about marriage so soon. Besides, they¡¯d only just met and they were basically strangers. To her, talking about tying the knot was just downright crazy. So Shermaine said softly, ¡°Mr. York, maybe you should think twice about marrying me.¡± Hearing that, Bradley nced over at Shermaine in surprise and thought, ¡®There¡¯s actually a woman out there who doesn¡¯t want to marry Mr. York? Ms. Shue really knows how to shock people.¡® Joshua looked down and realized Shermaine was, without a doubt, beautiful. She was a ten out of ten. Her beauty had an edge to it, like a bold, seductive ck rose¨Cmysterious and elegant, alluring and stunning. Yet, in her features lingered a trace of bold sharpness. Every movement she made carried an air of confidence andmand. Shermaine wasn¡¯t at all like the rumors said¨Cfough and unruly. Even when she hit Ronnie, she had done it with clean, sharp precision and a kind of effortless swagger. There was nothing wrong with her character and she was absolutely gorgeous. Joshua figured marrying Shermaine would not only fulfill his grandfather¡¯s wishes but also serve as a proper decision for himself. 1/4 Chapter 3 ¡°No need to think it over. Unless something unexpected happens, you¡¯ll be marrying me? Joshua¡¯s tone was calm, as if they weren¡¯t talking y something as major as marriage, but something trivial. Shermaine pondered, ¡®The problem is I don¡¯t really want to get married. She didn¡¯t dare say it out loud. She went on thinking, ¡®He just helped me out. I¡¯d feel bad turning around and rejecting him. What if I piss him off i 414 But then Shermaine thought about it again. Marrying someone like Joshua a powerful man with good character would meanriding a solid hacker and finally cutting ties with the Jean family. That didn¡¯t sound too bad. However, Shermaine felt that she was capable enough on her own. Whether she had a backer or not didn¡¯t make much difference Following Joshua out of the hospital, Shermaine was hit by a sharp autumn breeze and her arms felt cold. Her dress was too thin. On a night like this, with the fall air sinking deep into her bones, she was freezing. Then suddenly, a suit jacketnded on her shoulders, instantly cutting off the cold. It was Joshua¡¯s. The fabric carried a faint cedar scent. Shermaine thought, ¡®He¡¯s polite to a fault. He knows exactly how to act without making people ufortable. But that¡¯s all it is¨Cpoliteness. ¡®He may seem easygoing, but deep down, he keeps everyone at arm¡¯s length. He¡¯ll take care of me, sure, but there¡¯ll be no love. If I weren¡¯t his fianc¨¦e, 16 never get this kind of treatment.¡® Joshua checked the time. ¡°Should I take you back to the Jean residence?¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯m not going back.¡± Just thinking about facing Ruth and Wendelyn gave her a headache. It waste, and she just wanted a peaceful night¡¯s sleep. Shermaine gave a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯ve got another ce in Basterel, Mr. York. Please take me there.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Joshua said. They got in the car. As the heater kicked on, Shermaine moved to return the suit jacket to Joshua. Joshua didn¡¯t take it. ¡°Keep it on.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Shermaine replied. The cedar scent from the jacket felt stronger now. Shermaine had already been drowsy, and now her head felt heavier, making her even sleepier. Outside the window, shadows and lights slid past. Shermaine closed her eyes. In no time, she was fast asleep. Soft music yed in the car. Joshua had been looking over some documents. As the car swayed gently, Shermaine¡¯s head leaned against his shoulder. Her breathing was steady. She didn¡¯t stir. ¡°Turn off the music,¡± Joshua ordered. Bradley did as told. He nced back from the corner of his eye and couldn¡¯t help thinking, ¡®Mr. York is surprisingly tolerant with Ms. Shue. He¡¯s actually letting her sleep on his shoulder. ¡®In Basterel, so many women throw themselves at him and he never even spares them a nce¨Clet alone lets them get this close. ¡®If only Mr. York took this engagement seriously. But that¡¯s probably impossible. He¡¯s always been cold and detached, not the With that thought, Bradley felt a little sorry for Shermaine. About thirty minutester, the car pulled up to the address Shermaine had given¨CEmerald Heights. Just seeing where she lived made it clear: even without the Jean family, Shermaine was doing perfectly fine on her own. a to love anyone.¡± 20:34 Fri, 30 May MG Joshua gently woke Shermaine. She opened her eyes slowly, still drowsy, and there was a soft allure in her gaze. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived already?¡± she asked. ¡°Yeah,¡± Joshua replied. ¡°Which building? I¡¯ll have the driver pull in.¡± ¡°Building 2, Section B.¡± ¡°Guide us.¡± About three minutester, the Maybach stopped in front of Building 2. Shermaine handed the suit jacket back and stepped out of the car. She bent slightly at the waist and said to Joshua who was in the car, ¡°Bye, Mr. York * ¡°Bye,¡± Joshua replied. Shermaine lived on the 21st floor¨Cthe top floor. She entered the passcode, returned to her apartment, took a rxing hot shower, and finally felt a lot more refreshed. She pulled out a bottle of whiskey and curled up on the couch, sipping it slowly. Meanwhile, back at the Jean residence, Jameson Jean walked out of the study and saw Ruth and Wendelyn downstairs enjoying some soup. But Shermaine wasn¡¯t in the house. He frowned and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Shermaine?¡± Ruth set down her spoon. ¡°I didn¡¯t bring her back.¡± Jameson looked at her, confused. Ruth exined, ¡°She¡¯s way too defiant. If she doesn¡¯t learn her lesson, she¡¯ll never understand how to behave, and she¡¯ll just keep bringing trouble to our family.¡± Hearing that exnation, Jameson didn¡¯t respond. After giving birth to Shermaine, Ruth had poured all her care into raising her. But when Shermaine was five years old, an ident had left her lost and adrift. Back then, Ruth had been so devastated that she had fallen into d¨¦pression. Her mental state had remained unstable for a long time, and it wasn¡¯t until they had adopted Wendelyn that she had finally begun to recover. Now that her biological daughter Shermaine had returned, Ruth¡¯s attitude toward her had long since lost the tenderness and protectiveness she had shown before Shermaine turned five. Jameson wondered, ¡®Is it because Shermaine didn¡¯t grow up by Ruth¡¯s side that the bond just faded away? Maybe. After all, they were separated for so many years.¡® Over those years, Ruth had poured nearly all her affection onto Wendelyn. By the time Shermaine returned, there wasn¡¯t a scrap left for her. As for Jameson, Shermaine¡¯s father, he was even worse. If it hadn¡¯t been for Jameson back then, Shermaine wouldn¡¯t have been kidnapped and gone missing. Jameson felt a deep sense of guilt toward her. He said, ¡°Even if Shermaine refuses to behave, she¡¯s still the heiress of the Jean family. As her mother, shouldn¡¯t you at least try to consider what¡¯s best for her instead of washing your hands of her like that?¡® ¡°I¡¯ve tried, but there¡¯s nothing more I can do¡± Ruth replied expressionlessly. ¡°She¡¯s still at the hospital?¡± 20:34 Fri, 30 May ¡ø G ¡°She¡¯s probably handed over to the police by Mrs. Leeds.¡± Jameson¡¯s anger red. ¡°This is outrageous. Don¡¯t you care about our family¡¯s reputation at all?¡± ¡°Ever since she came back, haven¡¯t we been losing face nonstop? One more incident won¡¯t change a thing.¡± Ruth said almost heartlessly Wendelyn gently interjected, her tone soft. ¡°Dad, Mom, don¡¯t fight. It¡¯s really not worth it.¡± To outsiders, the CEO of Jean Group and his wife looked like the perfect couple. In truth, their marriage had been hollow for years. Jameson didn¡¯t say another word. He turned and went upstairs to his study, ready to call someone to check on Shermaine¡¯s situation. 4Ì–97%ÐÛ A few minutester, he got an update and it left him genuinely stunned. Not long after Ruth left, Joshua had shown up and taken Shermaine from the hospital. Jameson thought, If Shermaine didn¡¯te home, does that mean she¡¯s at Joshua¡¯s ce? Does that mean their engagement is still on the table?¡± Nurse walking 4 Chapter 4 Right then, Jameson called Joshua. The phone rang twice before Joshua answered. ¡°Joshua, I hope I¡¯m not bothering you thiste,¡± Jameson began. ¡°No,¡± Joshua replied. Jameson asked, ¡°Is Shermaine with you?¡± Instead of giving a direct answer, Joshua simply said, ¡°She¡¯s asleep.¡± Jameson was overjoyed, putting on the tone of a loving father. ¡°I haven¡¯t done a good job taking care of Shermaine. I thought her mother could handle her situation, but it turns out we still had to trouble you in the end.¡± To be honest, the fact that Joshua got involved had taken Jameson by surprise. The York family had really handed Jameson a gift he never sawing To Jameson, interests came first. If Shermaine and Joshua really got married, the Jean family¡¯s business and reputation would only grow stronger. ¡°But Shermaine¡¯s a proper youngdy from a respectable family. Staying out all night like that doesn¡¯t really look good,¡± Jameson said hesitantly, testing the waters. ¡°We¡¯re engaged. Her staying the night with me is perfectly reasonable,¡± Joshua remarked, his voice gentle and deep. Jameson rxed. ¡°So you¡¯re saying the engagement still stands?¡± ¡°It does,¡± Joshua replied. Jameson continued, ¡°Then regarding the wedding¨Cif you¡¯re free tomorrow, why don¡¯t you and Shermainee by our ce? We can sit down and talk things through. How about that?¡± ¡°I¡¯lle by tomorrow afternoon,¡± Joshua said. Thanks to the whiskey, Shermaine had slept soundly all night. By the time she woke up, it was already ten in the morning. Her stomach growled with hunger. With no phone in hand, she couldn¡¯t order delivery. She checked the fridge and found out that there were two eggs left. After finishing breakfast, she pulled 30 bucks out of a drawer, changed her clothes, and grabbed a cab back to the Jean residence. Shermaine didn¡¯t want to go back, but her phone was still there, so she had no choice but to go pick it up. She took her time and didn¡¯t arrive until nearly twelve o¡¯clock. Little did Shermaine know, some people had already been waiting for her with growing impatience ever since word got out that Joshua had taken her awayst night and she hadn¡¯te home since. The moment Shermaine stepped through the front door, the housekeeper Peyton Snow froze for a second before reacting. ¡°Ms. Shue, wee home.¡± Shermaine gave her a cool nod. When she walked into the living room, she saw Ruth and Wendelyn seated properly on the sofa. The moment they saw her, their eyes immediately fell on her. Ruth and Wendelyn had assumed Shermaine woulde back with Joshua, but she walked in alone. Ruth thought, ¡®Good. 1. not say in front of outsiders anyway.¡¯ Wendelyn stared at Shermaine, her expression unreadable, her fingers nervously twisting together. re things I¡¯d rather Ruth¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Why are you just getting home now?¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow and wondered, ¡®Did she already find out Joshua took me from the hospitalst night? ¡°I overslept,¡± she replied. Ruth snapped, ¡°You¡¯re a properdy and the heiress of a respectable family. Even if you¡¯re engaged to Joshua, you should know your boundaries, How could you spend the night alone with him?¡± Shermaine was confused for a second but quickly caught on. She realized Joshua must have misled them. Since Ruth¡¯s tone was already harsh, Shermaine smiled faintly, ¡°I spent the night at my fianc¨¦¡¯s. What¡¯s the problem?¡± Ruth yelled, ¡°Watch your mouth. You and Joshua had never even met before. There are no feelings between you two. If this gets out, what do you think people will say about our family?¡± ¡°Whoever dares to run their mouth better be ready for Joshua to deal with them,¡± Shermaine said, sounding very much like someone using her status for leverage. Ruth was utterly speechless. Wendelyn spoke up, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t be mad at Shermaine. It¡¯s our fault for not bringing her homest night. Otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t have troubled Mr. York.¡± Ruth stayed silent, thinking, ¡®She¡¯s right. If I¡¯d known Joshua would go to the hospital, I wouldn¡¯t have left so soon. That really backfired. Wendelyn looked at Shermaine, her gaze full of concern. ¡°Shermaine, have you had lunch yet? If not, I can ask Peyton to make something for you.¡± ¡°I already ate,¡± Shermaine replied. ¡°Good,¡± Wendelyn said, as if trying to ease the tension between them. Ruth took a moment to collect herself and softened her tone. ¡°Shermaine, I¡¯m only being strict with you because I want what¡¯s best for you.¡± Shermaine smiled faintly, offering noment. ¡°Come sit,¡± Ruth said even more gently. ¡°There¡¯s something I want to talk to you about.¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t even need to guess what Ruth was thinking. She went over and sat down, ready to hear whatever it was. Ruth asked, ¡°After meeting Mr. Yorkst night, what do you think of him?¡± ¡°He¡¯s great,¡± Shermaine replied. Ruth nodded. ¡°Mr. York¡¯s sess and ability are beyond what ordinary men can match. He took control of most of the York family¡¯s business at such a young age. ¡°Even your father has to show him some deference in the business world¨Che doesn¡¯t dare act like a senior. In the eyes of women, he¡¯s elegant and distinguished, the man of their dreams. There are countless women who dream of marrying him.¡± ¡°Your grandfather had the foresight to speak with Mr. York¡¯s grandfather early on and arrange this engagement between you and Mr. York. You were both lucky and unlucky. ¡°You were so young back then, but because of that ident, you lost our family¡¯s protection and care. After you turned five. you grew up in a poor vige and went through a hard life. ¡°You never received a proper education. There¡¯s not a trace of refinement in you¨Cnothing that resembles how ady from a prestigious family should carry herself. ¡°And after you came back to us, all of those ws were blown out of proportion because of how much your status had suddenly risen. Chapter 4 ¡°The York family¡¯s standards are even higher than ours. Their rules are stricter, too, I honestly don¡¯t think you¡¯re fit to marry into the York tambalean want to see you suffer over there.¡± Shermaine¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. She thought, ¡®If I¡¯m not suited to marry him, then who is? Wendelyn? She let out a softugh, her expression thoughtful. ¡°You¡¯re right, Mom.¡°. Ruth smiled, ¡°Then when Mr. Yorkes b I¡¯ll take the me.¡± Wendelyn¡¯s expression subtly eased. She thought, he brings up the engagement, just say you don¡¯t want to marry him. If the York family takes offense Shermaine pondered, ¡®So Joshua¡¯sing No Good At least Shermaine knows her ce. That ins everything. She really hadn¡¯t wanted to marry Joshua at first. But what she wanted even less was to hand him over to Wendelyn on a silver tter. Shermaine thought, ¡°This was supposed to be my engagement in the first ce, and now I¡¯m expected to step aside like some swest, self¨Cacrifting pushover? What part of me looks that generous?¡® Then she said, ¡°Mom, you make a fair point. But I still want to marry Joshua.¡± Hearing that, Ruth and Wendelyn both froze, their expressions turning gloomy. Shermaine continued, ¡°Grandpa worked hard to secure this marriage for the Jean family. If we back out now, wouldn¡¯t that be a waste? If it means I have to swallow a little pride and go through with it, I can handle that.¡± Ruth snapped, ¡°Shermaine, you¡¯re not good enough for Joshua. You need to let go of that thought right now.¡± Wendelyn chimed in, ¡°Shermaine, Mom¡¯s doing this for your own good. She means well. You don¡¯t have to shut her down like that.¡± Shermaine found itughable. Her eyes turned cold. ¡°Oh,e on, Wendelyn. This whole speech was just to push me aside so you could take my ce, wasn¡¯t it? Saying I¡¯m not good enough¨Chow convenient.¡± Wendelyn¡¯s expression stiffened. Ruth didn¡¯t even bother pretending anymore. ¡°Am I wrong? Wendelyn¡¯s a better match than you.¡± Wendelyn pressed her lips together and said softly, ¡°Shermaine, everyone in the Jean family knows how deeply I love Mr. York. Please don¡¯t me Mom.¡± She paused. ¡°Mom didn¡¯t mean what she said. She just didn¡¯t want to see me keep crushing on Mr. York all these years with nothing to show for it, so she hoped you¡¯d give up the engagement. ¡°Shermaine, I know it¡¯s a lot to ask, but could you please let me have this?¡± Shermaine thought, ¡®Figures. Mom¡¯s only good to Wendelyn. She grants her every wish. As for me, I¡¯ve never even gotten a kind look from her.¡® Shermaine¡¯s tone was cold as she turned Ruth down. ¡°Sorry, but no.¡± A No Ads Send gift Nurse walking 5 Chapter 5 Wendelyn¡¯s face went pale as she stood there like a withering leaf about to fall. Furious, Ruth exploded. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to give that up, fine. But why do you have to tear your sister down like that?¡± ¡°Because I can¡¯t stand her, obviously,¡± Shermaine smiled sweetly, but her words cut sharp. ¡°She¡¯s petty, but her ambitions are huge it wasn¡¯t that Shermaine thought too highly of herself Wendelyn was just rotten underneath that sweet girl act. She had no morals and a mean streak, the kind ofke sweetheart who yed innocent while scheming behind everyone¡¯s back. ¡°And for the record, I only have a brother. No sister,¡± Shermaine said. She was beautiful in a way that burned¨Clike a rose in full bloorn, bold and brazen, with thorns sharp enough to draw blood. Ruth¡¯s eyes sparked with fury. She thought, ¡®Why did this brat have toe back after all these years?¡® Her chest heaved, anger choking her. She raised her hand. Shermaine pondered, ¡®She wanna hit me again?¡® She crossed one leg over the other, her eyes steady, her smile still lingering. Without a hint of fear, her gaze was bright and piercing. It made Ruth¡¯s heart skip without reason. Ruth thought, ¡®Shermaine¡¯s just some nobody who grew up in some backwater vige with no education and no ss. How the hell does she get that attitude, that presence?¡® But her raised hand didn¡¯t get the chance to fall. Jameson¡¯s voice boomed like thunder. ¡°Ruth, what do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Ruth looked up and saw Jameson standing there, his brows furrowed, his expression stormy. What really made her panic, though, was the man standing beside him¨Celegant andposed¨CJoshua. Joshua didn¡¯t do a thing, but with just one look, the pressure came down like a wave. Ruth could barely breathe. She stiffened, lowering her hand, forcing a calm tone. ¡°What could I possibly be doing?¡± Then, as if nothing had happened, Ruth greeted Joshua politely, ¡°Mr. York, it¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡± Jameson shot Ruth an irritated re, then turned to the maid and ordered her to grind their best coffee beans and brew a fresh pot. ¡°Likewise, Mrs. Jean,¡± Joshua said coolly. Ruth offered, ¡°Please, have a seat.¡± Joshua walked over. Wendelyn¡¯s eyes lit up. The moment she saw Joshua, her affection for him filled her gaze with soft longing. But she quickly suppressed it, not daring to look at him again. Joshua¡¯s presence was maic. Just one nce at him made others feel inferior. He didn¡¯t even nce at Wendelyn. Instead, he went straight to sit next to Shermaine. Joshua was polished and poised. Meanwhile, Shermaine was stunning and fierce. People had expected their temperaments to sh, but the two sitting together somehow looked effortlessly perfect like they were meant to be. A sh of disappointment crossed Wendelyn¡¯s eyes. Joshua asked Shermaine, ¡°Did you sleep wellst night?¡± Shermaine smiled, ¡°Not bad.¡± Chapter 5 Wendelyn¡¯s fate turned even paler. Her hands clenched tight, her nails digging deep into her palms. The rich aroma of coffee filled the room. Janieson handed a cup to Joshua. ¡°Joshua, when do you n to have the wedding with Sharmaine ¡°The elders are already picking a date,¡± Joshua replied. Jameson thought, ¡®That means it¡¯s happening soon! He was just about to ask more about the wedding when Ruth cut in, ¡°Mr. York, I don¡¯t think Shermaine is a good match for you. Maybe it¡¯s too early to talk about marriage.¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± Jameson was pissed at Ruth. If she ruined this marriage, it would be a total loss for the Jean family. ¡°Oh?¡± Joshua looked at Ruth, waiting to see what other ridiculous things she was about to say. Ruth spoke slowly and deliberately, ¡°Over the past few years, we failed to raise her properly, and now she¡¯s got problems all over. If she marries into your family, I¡¯m afraid she¡¯ll only embarrass the Yorks.¡± Catch for you. She¡¯s well¨Cmannered, considerate, and knows her ce. She¡¯s Then she paused and added, ¡°I truly believe Wendy would be a better outstanding¨Cso much better than Shermaine.¡± Ruth said with pride, ¡°Wendy, raise your head and let Joshua get a good took at you.¡± Wendelyn¡¯s heart was pounding like crazy. She slowly looked up, her voice shy and delicate. ¡°Mr. York.¡± Her tone was soft and sweet, dripping with that feminine charm. But her palms were already slick with nervous sweat. Bradley, standing off to the side, wanted to roll his eyes. He thought, ¡®Mrs. Jean really doesn¡¯t even try to hide her favoritism. ¡®She tears Ms. Shue down just to build Ms. Jean up like Ms. Shue doesn¡¯t even exist, as if Ms. Shue chose to be separated from the Jean family and grow up without them. ¡®The one who was originally engaged to Mr. York was the Jean family¡¯s actual heiress by blood. ¡®Besides, Ms. Shue doesn¡¯t even look like someone who grew up in some backwater vige. Just because of a little bias, they¡¯re acting like she¡¯s good for nothing.¡® Joshua took a sip of coffee with a smile sharp enough to cut. ¡°Since when did the York family¡¯s standards drop this low?¡± His tone was steady, almost casual. ¡°Mrs. Jean, you really think you can throw just anyone at me?¡± Wendelyn froze, her expression turning stiff and awkward. That one line from him crushed her dignity and ground it straight into the dirt. As the adopted daughter of Jameson and Ruth, Wendelyn had grown up pampered, showered with praise, and idolized by the boys around her. She couldn¡¯t understand how, in Joshua¡¯s eyes, she meant absolutely nothing. Wendelyn thought, ¡®If I¡¯m nothing, then what the hell is Shermaine? What makes her so much better than me?¡® Bradley pondered, ¡®Mr. York¡¯s such a badass.¡® Ruth, barely holding back her anger, stepped in for Wendelyn. ¡°Mr. York, even if Wendy¡¯s not your type, that¡¯s no reason to humiliate her like this.¡± Joshua smiled, ¡°Mrs. Jean, Compared to what you just said about Shermaine, I¡¯m being pretty polite.¡± Ruth froze, like she¡¯d just swallowed a bug by ident. Shermaine gave a light smile and thought, ¡®Mr. York¡¯s got such a sharp tongue! Jameson looked at Ruth and Wendelyn coldly and then turned toward Joshua. ¡°Mr. York, please forgive my wife and adopted daughter for their performance. If we¡¯re going to discuss the wedding between you and Shermaine, let¡¯s take it upstairs to the study.¡± Chapter 5 Joshua gave a nod, then looked over at Shermaine. ¡°Are youing with me?¡± ¡°You go,¡± Shermaine replied, sounding indifferent. Back in the living room, Shermaine poured herself a cup of coffee. The beans were top notch. The taste was smooth and fragrant, leaving a clean frank on the tongue. She drank a few sips, then stood up, nning to go upstairs. She needed to grab her phone. Once Joshua was gone, she wanted to head out for a walk Ruth had just been publicly embarrassed and sat in silence, ring at Shermaine. When she saw Shermaine get up, Ruth asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°To my room,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°Don¡¯t bother. We have guestsing soon,¡± Ruth replied. Wendelyn was staring at Shermaine too, her expressionposed but sharp¨Cedged. Shermaine thought, ¡®Guests? What¡¯s that got to do with me? I don¡¯t care. Let them stare at me all they want¨Cnot like they¡¯ll find anything Just then, the housekeeper stepped forward and reminded them, ¡°Mrs.. Jean, thedies you invited have arrived at the front door.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Ruth replied. Momentster, a group of well¨Cdressed socialites walked in, each one decked out in designer m from head to toe. Ruth¡¯s expression switched in an instant. A graceful, practiced smile bloomed across her features. ¡°Mrs. Sutton, Mrs. Marshall, Mrs. Burton, so d you could make it.¡± Wendelyn stood up alongside her and greeted them with a soft, elegant smile. Shermaine didn¡¯t move. All eyes from the new arrivalsnded right on her. She nced up and realized she¡¯d seen these women at the party at the hotelst night. They¡¯d praised her beauty to her face, then trashed her behind her back. Shermaine hadn¡¯t forgotten how they¡¯d called her a ¡°cheap slut¡± the moment she¡¯d turned away. ¡°Shermaine,¡± Ruth snapped, ¡°don¡¯t be so rude.¡± Shermaine kept her smile. ¡°Mrs. Sutton, Mrs. Marshall, Mrs. Burton. Nice to see you.¡± The threedies nodded at her coolly. Ruth¡¯s expression finally eased. ¡°Peyton, show our guests to the garden.¡± Then she turned to Wendelyn and Shermaine. ¡°You two,e with me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going,¡± Shermaine said tly. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare.¡± Ruth¡¯s face shifted again. Shermaine gave her a half¨Csmile, thinking, ¡®Whatever. She¡¯s still technically my mother, right?¡® So she caved. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll give you this one.¡± Furious, Ruth nearly choked on her own breath. The backyard was exactly what one would expect from old moneyndscaped to perfection, with a shimmering pool glinting under the sun. These women had nothing to talk about except designer clothes and handbags, lipsticks and perfumes, and outrageously expensive jewelry. 20:35 Fri, 30 May The puce the more they were ran for t undeniably exploits, but tameha, on that at the Sharmaine yawned, bored out of her na lidering to cut showing off the graceful lines of her taps Her neckline dipped just enough to reveal the beautiful curve of Barcole Just then, some new people arrived. They were there to give everyone head of font manages Shermaine wasn¡¯t feeling it. She didn¡¯t have the patience, and hally, if she¡¯d kissen it was gring Beth Berg with Joshua. She was about to turn around and leave when Ruth caught her. ¡°Trying to sneak off again?¡± Ruth asked. ¡°I¡¯ll pass on the massage,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°Not interested.¡± ¡°Their technique¡¯s excellent. Sit down and let yourself unwind a little,¡± Ruth insisted Shermaine was instantly speechless. She genuinely had no interest in listening to people who didn¡¯t actually care about her Just then, an esthetician in uniform said, ¡°Ms. Shue, please lie down.¡± She was at least polite, and Shermaine thought for a moment. Not wanting to make things hard for the esthetician, Shermaine gave in andy down The esthetician washed her hands and applied some essential oil, which gave off a light, pleasant scent. At first, the massage felt pretty good. Shermaine was actually enjoying it. But then the esthetician started pressing harder and harder, ande spots hurt like hell. Shermaine told her to ease up. The esthetician agreed, but her hands stayed just as rough. After a while, the pain was too much. Shermaine opened her eyes, irritation shing in her gaze. She couldn¡¯t take it anymore and gave the esthetician a shove. Shermaine didn¡¯t even push that hard, but the esthetician stumbled backward several steps, and with a ssh, fell straight into the pool. AD Comment Send gift No Aus Chapter 6 Nurse walking 6 Chapter 6 Shermaine hadn¡¯t expected a simple massage to turn into a setup. She thought, ¡®Ruth really nalled it as a mother¨Cdoing everything she can to run image and sabotage my engagement to Joshua, just to shove Wendelyn into my ce. She¡¯d assumed that after Joshua made his stance clear, Ruth would finally back off. But clearly, she¡¯d overestimated Ruth¡¯s intelligence. Either that, or Ruth¡¯s bias had clouded all judgment. Shermaine wondered, ¡®How could someone like Ruth possibly be my mother? I just don¡¯t get it.¡® Her nk expression didn¡¯t change as she stared at the esthetician iling in the water. Ruth¡¯s voice came sharp with reproach. ¡°Look what you¡¯ve done.¡± She reached out and hauled the esthetician out of the pool The esthetician was soaked head to toe, coughing from all the water she¡¯d swallowed, lookingpletely pathetic, Ruth kept going. ¡°She was just giving you a normal massage. What could she possibly have done to offend you? With a temper like yours, who can stand being around you? ¡°Honestly, I should hire you an etiquette coach to teach you some proper manners before people start thinking I failed as a mother.¡± Shermaine stood there taking it as Ruth kept rattling on. Sadie Sutton remarked, ¡°Shermaine, don¡¯t take this the wrong way, but you really need to dial that temper back. Even if her technique sucked, you could¡¯ve just said so. Did you really have to shove her into the pool?¡± Lottie Marshall chimed in too, ¡°Why do you have to make things difficult for that poor girl?¡± Maria Burton joined the chorus. ¡°And you¡¯re the Jean family¡¯s heiress. You need to think about your family¡¯s reputation before you act like this. Don¡¯t give people something to gossip about.¡± The threedies started babbling on with Ruth, going off on all kinds of nonsense. With their voices buzzing in her ears, Shermaine felt her head throb. Her face stayed stony as she snapped, ¡°Shut up.¡± The threedies instantly froze, stunned by the force of her presence. Ruth stayed perfectlyposed and said, ¡°Wendy, go upstairs and bring a change of clothes for thisdy.¡± ¡°Okay, Mom.¡± Wendelyn had just stepped back into the living room when she saw Jameson and Joshuaing down the stairs. She walked up to them and greeted, ¡°Dad, Mr. York.¡± Jameson nodded in response, but Joshua didn¡¯t even acknowledge her. Wendelyn lowered her gaze slightly and bit her lip. ¡®Everyone says Joshua¡¯s always the perfect gentleman with women, so why is he acting the exact opposite with me?¡® she wondered. But the answer was obvious. The only reason he treated her this coldly was because of Shermaine. Jameson asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Shermaine?¡± ¡°She¡¯s in the backyard,¡± Wendelyn replied. Jameson said, ¡°Go call her over to see Mr. York off.¡± Wendelyn hesitated, looking conflicted. ¡°Dad, I don¡¯t think she¡¯lle. Shermaine just pushed an esthetician who came to give her a facial massage into the pool. Mom¡¯s out there lecturing her right now.¡± 20:35 Fri 30 May 2IG: Chapter 6 Jameson¡¯s expression shifted slightly. Another mess?¡® he thought. He nced at Joshua¡¯s face, but Joshua gave nothing away bid ozone de unreadable as ever. Jameson pondered for a moment, then said, ¡°In that case, you go see Mr. York off for her.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Wendelyn answered. She was, after all, the dutiful adopted daughter who¡¯d stayed by Jameson¡¯s side for years. He knew exactly what Wendelyn was thinking, Jameson figured that giving her a moment alone with Joshua was the least he could do. Jameson thought, ¡®If she really has what it takes to win Joshua over and marry into the York family, then good for her. That¡¯d be a much more respectable match than Shermaine ending up with him.¡¯ But in the next second, that hope was crushed. Joshua didn¡¯t give Wendelyn the slightest chance. ¡°No need,¡± Joshua replied coolly. ¡°If Shermaine can¡¯te to me, I¡¯ll go to her.¡± Jameson felt the awkwardness sink in. ¡°Alright,¡± he said, finally letting go ¡°Which way¡¯s the backyard?¡± Joshua asked. ¡°I¡¯ll take you,¡± Jameson said. of the idea. Wendelyn stood there all alone, a quiet ache pressing in her chest. She thought, ¡®Just because I¡¯m adopted, Joshua won¡¯t even give me a chance.¡± Meanwhile, out in the backyard, Shermaine pressed her red lips together. The esthetician sobbed as sheined to Ruth, insisting that her technique had always been the best at the spa, that no client had ever left a bad review, and there was no way she could¡¯ve been too rough. She insisted she was just an ordinary person who wouldn¡¯t dare offend the Jean family or their heiress. It was clear what the esthetician meant¨CShermaine was the one with the bad temper, unreasonable and impossible to deal with, picking on someone like the esthetician herself who had no power to fight back. Under the sunlight, Joshua approached at a steady pace. The scenery wasn¡¯t anything special, but with him in the frame, it suddenly looked like something straight out of an oil painting¨Crich and vivid. His eyes fell on Shermaine. She looked stunning. There was a chill in her expression, the hint of a smile ying at her lips, calm and aloof. To Joshua, it was like watching a ck rose slowly bloom, its scent intoxicating but lethal. The threedies were the first to notice Joshua walking beside Jameson. Their expressions shifted, surprise shing across their faces, followed by envy that the Jean family could actually form a connection with the Yorks. Ruth¡¯s eyes flicked over as she quickly assumed her usual air of moral superiority. ¡°Shermaine, I¡¯m really disappointed in you. When will you stop making me worry?¡± ¡°Mom, why don¡¯t you believe me?¡± Shermaine¡¯s eyes shimmered like they were zed with tears, her voice full of hurt. She looked heartbreakingly vulnerable and beautiful, every edge and thorn suddenly tucked away. That softness made her almost impossible not to pity. Ruth faltered. Shermaine had always been sharp and defiant, but now, this sudden shift caught Ruthpletely off guard, leaving her at a loss for how to respond. ¡°Is it that no matter what I say or do, you¡¯ll never believe me?¡± Shermaine¡¯s eyes welled up, her voice thick with sadness. ¡°Tell me daughter, her or me? ho¡¯s really your ¡°Last night was like this. Today¡¯s the same. You never ask what really happened. You just jump straight to ming me. The first thing you do is raise your hand to hit me. ¡°If I really annoy you that much, I¡¯ll leave the Jean family. I won¡¯t be your daughter anymore. There¡¯s no need to be to mean to me. ¡°You¡¯re right. I didn¡¯t grow up with the guidance of you and Dad all those years. So how could I possibly be the picture perfect debutante you¡¯ve always wanted me to be?¡± Shermaine¡¯s voice was full of sorrow as tears rolled down her cheeks. Thatst line hit Ruth like a punch straight to the chest. Shermaine stood up right after, pressing her hand to her temple, her face pale with difort, her body swaying unsteadily. Jameson, who had clearly heard everything and now saw Shermaine barely able to stay on her feet, called out, ¡°Shermaine.¡± In the next moment, she fell into the warm, faintly fragrant embrace of Joshua. His arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her gently into his chest. Shermaine¡¯sshes fluttered slightly. She didn¡¯t open her eyes, just buried her face in the crook of his neck and murmured, ¡°Mr. York, do me a favor¡± There was a cunning edge to her voice. She was like a fox¨Csharp, sly, and quietly ruthless. AD Comment Send gift Nurse walking 7 Chapter 7 Shermaine¡¯s waist was impossibly small, her skin soft to the touch. With his fianc¨¦e clearly needing help, Joshua wasn¡¯t about to just stand there and do nothing. Off to the side, the esthetician had gonepletely pale. She hadn¡¯t expected Shermaine to suddenly faint like that. A sinking feeling crept into her chest -something told her she was about to pay a steep price. She was already regretting everything. She should¡¯ve never gotten involved in this kind of high¨Csociety mess for some quick cash. But now, there was no undoing it. Jameson stepped forward, his tone heavy. ¡°What did you do to my daughter?¡± Shermaine had faked the whole fainting act. She stayed limp in Joshua¡¯s arms, thinking, ¡®If they love putting on a show, I¡¯ll y right along.¡± As her father, Jameson had barely seen Shermaine since she returned to the Jean family. He never showed concern, never checked in. After what happenedst night, he¡¯d probably only found out afterward and sent someone to check on her for the sake of the Jean family¡¯s reputation Jameson had probably learnedst night that Shermaine was taken from the hospital by Joshua. He seized the moment to bring up their engagement, only then starting to pay attention to her. Otherwise, Joshua wouldn¡¯t be here today. Shermaine thought, ¡®In my father¡¯s eyes, it¡¯s all about profit. In my mother¡¯s, it¡¯s all about their adopted daughter! Her scent drifted over in waves. Joshua stayed calm andposed as he pulled out his phone and called Bradley, who was waiting outside. ¡°Bring a doctor,¡± Joshua ordered. The esthetician paled even further after being called out. Her lips trembled. ¡°Mr. Jean, I¨CI really didn¡¯t do anything. Mr. and Mrs. Jean, I had no reason to hurt Ms. Shue.¡± She continued, ¡°I didn¡¯t know she was this sensitive. I didn¡¯t think a little more pressure would be too much for her.¡± Her tone didn¡¯t waver much, but her eyes darted around, avoiding every gaze. Joshua looked down at her, studying her closely. That deep, unreadable gaze pinned the esthetician in ce, and a wave of fear surged through her. Bit by bit, the words died in her throat. Ruth stayed silent. Having Shermaine confront her like that in front of everyone sent a chill down her spine. Ruth was finally starting to realize Shermaine wasn¡¯t someone she could handle with a few petty tricks. She¡¯d acted too rashly. Besides, Ruth couldn¡¯t afford to let others think she was really being too harsh or biased against her own daughter. The three socialites standing nearby saw how firmly Joshua was protecting Shermaine, and immediately switched sides, falling over themselves to chime in, trying to curry favor. Sadiemented, ¡°Mr. York, Shermaine said it hurt when she was getting the massage.¡± Lottie jumped in. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Maria added, ¡°She even told the esthetician to go easy on her.¡± Sadie nodded. ¡°Shermaine must¡¯ve really been in pain. That¡¯s probably why she pushed the esthetician away. Then the esthetician lost her bnce herself and fell in, and now she¡¯s trying to twist the whole thing.¡± Lottie snorted, ¡°I¡¯ve seen people like this before. It¡¯s a scam. She¡¯s obviously trying to squeeze out some money for medical bills. The usations came one after another, and the esthetician¡¯s face turned ghostly pale. She knew she was done for. Joshua looked down at her. ¡°Do you have anything to say for yourself?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do that. I didn¡¯t mean to¡­¡± the esthetician mumbled. Then she started begging, ¡°I swear I didn¡¯t do it on purpose. Str. and Mrs Jean, please mercy.¡± Jameson gave a cold snort. ¡°If anything happens to my daughter, can you take responsibility for that?¡± Ruth clenched her teeth and looked away, ignoring the esthetician¡¯s cries for help. If Ruth stepped in now, she¡¯d only confirm everything Shermana hay said. It would prove the whole thing was Ruth¡¯s setup. And if that got out, she wouldn¡¯t be able to clean up the mess, Wendelyn walked over with a clean set of clothes in hand. The moment she saw the scene, something felt off, and her grip tightened. The esthetician walked up to Ruth, tears streaming down her face. ¡°Ms. Jean, I swear I didn¡¯t mean to hurt Ms. Shue, I didn¡¯t know she was that fragile. I only pressed a few times and she just fainted.¡± Wendelyn¡¯s expression stiffened for a second before sheposed herself. ¡°What happened to Shermaine?¡± Jameson replied, ¡°This esthetician was too rough and made Shermaine ufortable. She fainted.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I swear I didn¡¯t mean it,¡± the esthetician sobbed. ¡°Please, I¡¯m begging you, just let this go. I¡¯ve got kids to feed and parents to take care of! really can¡¯t afford to lose this job.¡± Wendelyn thought for a moment and then spoke up on her behalf, ¡°Dad, maybe we should let it go. She¡¯s just trying to make a living. It probably wasn¡¯t about her skills. Maybe Shermaine¡¯s just not physically suited for massages.¡± With Wendelyn stepping in, Jameson had to give her some courtesy. He couldn¡¯t outright shut her down, but it clearly put him in a tough spot. Wendelyn kept going. ¡°And Shermaine hasn¡¯t been back for long. She¡¯s naturally a little sensitive, so her emotions can be a bit unpredictable. If we wrongly use her, that won¡¯t be right. No matter how much power or money we have, we shouldn¡¯t abuse it.¡± The implication was sharp¨Cshe was suggesting Shermaine hadn¡¯t grown up with wealth, wasn¡¯t used to this kind of luxury treatment, and was thus taking her bad mood out on the esthetician. The esthetician nodded desperately while Jameson looked torn. Joshua finally spoke, ¡°So easily swayed by others¨Clooks like your precious adopted daughter isn¡¯t much after all. I know exactly what kind of person my fianc¨¦e is. She wouldn¡¯t use someone without reason.¡± With just a few words, he shattered any hope the esthetician had of getting off the hook and left Wendelyn looking like a fool. Wendelyn instantly paled. ¡°Shermaine will decide if you get to walk out of here,¡± Joshua said to the esthetician. ¡°If not, don¡¯t count on living peacefully in Basterel.¡± The esthetician trembled all over. But with Shermaine still pretending to be unconscious, she had no idea how to even begin begging for forgiveness. Joshua scooped Shermaine up into his arms. ¡°Stay right here. When Shermaine wakes up, then you can start begging for mercy.¡± He turned to Jameson. ¡°The doctor¡¯s on the way. Which floor is Shermaine¡¯s room?¡± ¡°First room on the right, third floor,¡± Jameson replied. Shermaine¡¯s heart was pounding as she was carried in Joshua¡¯s arms. Once they left the backyard and Joshua was heading up the stairs with her, she opened her eyes. They were bright and clear, up her whole face. She couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Mr. York, being your wife doesn¡¯t sound half bad.¡± her beautiful smile lit 20:35 Fri, 30 May Joshua¡¯s voice was low. ¡°I¡¯ll treat you well.¡± Shermaine smiled faintly, a little flutter tugging at her chest until his next sentence ruined the moment. ¡°But it won¡¯t be out of love,¡± he added. That flicker of affection vanished just as fast. She thought, ¡®Listen to him¨Csounds just like a walking red g. Even his proposal sounds like he¡¯s closing a business dea!.¡® Joshua figured it was better to make things clear before they tied the knot. ¡°I¡¯m marrying you because we have an engagement, and I¡¯ve reached the age when it¡¯s time to get married. The York family has always honored its promises. ¡°After we¡¯re married, I¡¯d like us to stay out of each other¡¯s way. Two years from now, if you¡¯re unhappy with the arrangement, you can file for divorce. I¡® make sure you¡¯repensated.¡± Shermaine asked, ¡°Two years?¡± Joshua remarked, ¡°My grandfather¡¯s seriously ill. He probably won¡¯t make it through the next year or so. He wants to see me married before he passes, to stop the gossip. Two years is the most reasonable timeline.¡± He paused, then added, ¡°Of course, if you¡¯d rather not divorce, you¡¯re wee to stay my wife.¡± Only now did Shermaine realize the real reason Joshua wanted to marry her. If it weren¡¯t for his grandfather Owen¡¯s illness, marriage probably wouldn¡¯t even be on his radar. She thought, ¡®For a man as restrained as he is, this really must be too hard on him.¡± She had nned to agree to the marriage anyway. Part of it was to repay a favor, and part of it was to spite Ruth and Wendelyn. Falling in love with Joshua had never really crossed her mind. If there had been the tiniest spark, it was thrown her way. already snuffed out by the few cold lines he¡¯d just Shermaine had never known what it felt like to be protected. So when Joshua kept stepping in for her, again and again, it felt strange¨Calmost surreal. Also, now she was wondering if Owen¡¯s condition was really that serious. Shermaine actually had decent medical skills. The question was whether Joshua would trust her enough to let her treat Owen. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to, we can forget the whole engagement,¡± Joshua said. ¡°You don¡¯t have to marry me.¡± He was considering finding a suitable woman to marry, just to give the York family a proper exnation. Shermaine didn¡¯t answer. Instead, she asked, ¡°What if your grandfather¡¯s illness could be cured?¡± For Joshua, it was a pointless question¨COwen¡¯s condition wasn¡¯t going to improve. Not a single renowned doctor in Basterel had been able to treat his prolonged illness. Still, Joshua stayed patient and replied, ¡°So if he gets better, that means I no longer have to marry and start a family?¡± That wasn¡¯t quite it. After all, Joshua was already thirty. Most men his age had settled down by now. Marriage was still something he needed to take seriously. Shermaine thought it over for a moment. ¡°Before you came, I told my mother and Wendelyn I was gonna marry you¨Cjust to spite them. ¡°Now that I¡¯ve said it, there¡¯s no taking it back. Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll treat this engagement as a mutually beneficial deal.¡± She paused. ¡°And, if you trust me, I can take a look at your grandfather¡¯s condition.¡± Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Nurse walking 8 Chapter 8 At those words, Joshua nced at Shermalne, his gaze calm. ¡°You know medicine?¡± ¡°A little,¡± Shermaine replied modestly. ¡°It¡¯s thoughtful of you, but my grandfather¡¯s illness has already stumped every top doctor in the country. It¡¯s beyond saving. No one can help him now Joshua stated it inly. Shermaine raised an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯m not like them.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°I¡¯m better than them.¡± Joshua let out a faint smile. It wasn¡¯t that he thought she was arrogant¨Con the contrary, when she said it, it actually sounded believable. The look in her eyes was steady and sure, the kind of quiet confidence that held the world at a distance. There was none of that crude, backwoods air the rumors liked to paint her with. At the very least, she meant well. He gave a nod. ¡°You¡¯ll meet my grandfather soon. When you do, you can take a look at him.¡°. Shermaine nodded in agreement. Once they reached the third floor and she wasid on the bed, it finally hit her. Joshua had carried her all the way up with ease, not even out of breath. Clearly, he was in excellent shape. He said, ¡°The doctor will be here soon to y along. I have something to take care of. Excuse me.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Shermaine nodded. Joshua looked at her, then dropped another surprise. ¡°You¡¯re moving into my ce next week.¡± Shermaine went quiet. She thought, ¡®We¡¯re only engaged, and we¡¯re already living together?¡® As if sensing her confusion, Joshua exined, ¡°It¡¯s my grandfather¡¯s,request. Don¡¯t worry, the ce will be yours. I¡¯ll move out. I won¡¯t be dropping by unless necessary.¡± Shermaine gave it a moment of thought, then agreed, ¡°Okay.¡± After leaving the Jean residence, Joshua got into his car. He opened his hand. Behind the gold¨Crimmed sses, his eyes darkened. It felt like Shermaine¡¯s warmth still lingered on his skin. Her waist was small, and her body was so soft it felt like he could break her with one hand when she clung to him like that. Her scent was sweet, almost dangerously so. It was the kind of sweetness that could hook a man in just one breath and make it impossible to quit. The family doctor didn¡¯t arrive until thirty minutester. Shermaine woke up to the scent of smelling salts. As soon as Joshua left, she¡¯d started thinking in bed. Somewhere between those thoughts, she¡¯d drifted off. Jameson, Ruth, and the threedies were still nearby. The doctor¡¯s name was Alfred Jordan. He looked to be in his early thirties¨Cyoung, with a clean, handsome face. But he still didn¡¯t hold a candle to Joshua. With a professional smile, Alfred said, ¡°Ms. Shue, you¡¯re finally awake.¡± Shermaine answered, ¡°Yeah.¡± 1/4 20:36 Fri 30 May Chapter 8 Alfred asked, ¡°How are you feeling?¡± ¡°Still a little dizzy,¡± she replied, sliding right back into her act. Alfred nodded. ¡°Does the area where you were massaged still hurt?¡± Shermaine remarked, ¡°It does.¡± ¡°The human body has veryplex pressure points, especially around the head. A small mistake can lead to serious issues. That esthetician definitely used too much force,¡± hemented. That line was clearly meant for Jameson and the others. Then Alfred asked, ¡°Ms. Shue, how are you anemic? Is the Jean family not feeding you properly?¡± Shermaine was perfectly healthy. Anemia wasn¡¯t even close to the truth. She kept a straight face. ¡°Everyone at home likes spicy food. The dishes just don¡¯t agree with me.¡± Alfred frowned. ¡°Why not ask the chef to ease up on the chili?¡± Shermaine sighed, ¡°I did. They didn¡¯t care.¡± Alfred smiled, ¡°Ms. Shue, I¡¯ll prescribe you some vitamins. If word gets out that the Jean family¡¯s heiress is anemic because the household meals don¡¯t suit her, people are going tough.¡± Jameson and Ruth both turned red with embarrassment. The threedies exchanged looks. They all thought, ¡®So the Jean family really has been harsh with Shermaine. But this girl¡¯s no pushover¨Csoft on the outside, sharp as a de underneath, and every word cuts right to the bone.¡¯ Jameson froze for a moment and then said in a gentle tone, ¡°Shermaine, I¡¯ve already had the spa fire that esthetician. She¡¯s still waiting outside. If you¡¯re still upset, I can have someone bring her in to apologize.¡± Shermaine saidzily, ¡°No need for an apology. Let her keep standing out there until I¡¯m in a better mood. I can¡¯t stand being wrongfully used. That esthetician had the nerve to pin something on me for no reason¨Cshe clearly looked down on me. ¡°But I don¡¯t me her. After all, my own parents don¡¯t care about me. Everyone calls me the Jean family¡¯s heiress, but no one actually treats me like I matter. ¡°And my own family treats me even worse. They let people take advantage of me if they feel like it, and let anyone who wants to bully me just get away with it.¡± The facts were in to see, but hearing them said out loud¨Cand in front of others¨Cstill left the Jean family deeply embarrassed. Everyone could tell Shermaine wasn¡¯t just talking about outsiders. She was calling out her own family. The guilt in Jameson¡¯s chest grew heavier, and with Joshua now backing Shermaine, Jameson didn¡¯t dare say a word against her¨Ceven if she had just embarrassed him. Jameson¡¯s tone softened even more. ¡°Shermaine, I¡¯ve been too busy to give you the attention you deserve. From now on, if anyone tries to mess with- you, just tell me. I¡¯ll make it right.¡± Shermaine yed along. ¡°Alright. Thank you, Dad That response eased Jameson¡¯s nerves. But after everything that had happened with Shermaely, he was definitely going to have a word with Ruth. Jameson thought, ¡®She¡¯s Ruth¡¯s own daughter, not some outsider. Has Ruth gotten so old she¡¯s starting to lose her damn mind?¡® ¡°Shermaine-¡± Ruth started, trying to salvage some dignity. Shermaine pulled the nket up slightly, cutting in without hesitation, ¡°I¡¯m tired. I want to sleep.¡± 20:36 Fri, 30 May G. Ruth¡¯s face stiffened. Jameson stepped in. ¡°Alright. Get some rest.¡± Once everyone left the room, Jameson¡¯s expression turned cold. He looked at Ruth and said, ¡°Come with me to the study.¡± Wendelyn stayed behin 96% I to see the guests out. When she returned upstairs, all she could hear was the sound of arguinging from the second floor. But Jameson was the head of the household. No matter how angry Ruth was, she didn¡¯t dare push back too hard. She had no choice but to swallow her anger and keep it bottled up. Jameson said, ¡°I¡¯m warning you¨Cstart treating Shermaine better. She¡¯s going to marry into the York family. If you piss her off, there¡¯s nothing in it for us.¡± ¡°Wendy is obviously more capable than Shermaine. She¡¯s a better match for him,¡± Ruth snapped back. Jameson gave a coldugh. ¡°So what if she¡¯s better? Is Joshua interested in her? Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t see what you and Wendy are trying to pull. From now on, you¡¯d better remember this¨CShermaine is your real daughter. ¡°No matter what you think of her, she¡¯s the rightful heiress of the Jean family. It¡¯s about time you got real clear on exactly where Wendy stands.¡± Ruth said nothing after that. No one knew what was going through her mind. She thought, ¡®He¡¯s right. She¡¯s just a foster daughter, after all¡® Outside the door, Wendelyn was eavesdropping. A cold smirk curled at the corner of her lips. She refused to ept it. After Alfred left, he gave Joshua a call. From the way he spoke, it was clear they were on familiar terms. Alfred said, ¡°Your fianc¨¦e¡¯s not bad. Once she marries into your family, she¡¯s only going to make you look good¨Cnever the opposite.¡± Joshua looked at the file in his hand. ¡°What did she do this time?¡± Alfred gave a quick rundown. He rubbed his chin, thoughtful, then added his own take. ¡°But she¡¯s a bit too sharp. That kind of edge breaks easily and makes it easy to offend people.¡± Joshua could picture her embarrassing the Jean family in front of everyone. The thought was oddly amusing. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. In a rare good mood, he spoke up for her, ¡°She doesn¡¯t pick fights without reason.¡± Alfred chuckled, ¡°Mr. York, you¡¯ve only met her twice, and you¡¯re already defending her?¡± ¡°Just calling it like I see it,¡± Joshua said. Alfred raised an eyebrow, his expression casual and a little tooid¨Cback for a doctor. ¡°I¡¯m not worried about her stirring up trouble. I¡¯m more concerned trouble¡¯s going to find her first. ¡°She¡¯s the long¨Clost Jean heiress, and soon she¡¯ll be your wife. Once that news gets out, plenty of women are going to be seething with jealousy. Take Wendelyn, the other Jean heiress, for instance. Something tells me she¡¯s not about to let this slide.¡± Back in the room earlier, Alfred had caught a glimpse of Wendelyn¡¯s expression when she looked at Shermaine. If looks could kill, Shermaine would¡¯ve dropped dead on the spot. It shocked him¡ªhe never expected the supposedly gentle and graceful Wendelyn to show something that vicious. Joshua didn¡¯t respond. He thought, ¡®Wendelyn¡¯s nothing. Shermaine can handle her just fine.¡® 2/4 Nurse walking 9 The next day, news of Joshua and Shermaine¡¯s engagement spread through Basterel¡¯s upper ss. Everyone had assumed that even with her return, Shermaine couldn¡¯tpare to Wendelyn. After all, in their eyes, Shermaine had no education, no polish, and acted like she was entitled to everything. Otherwise, her own mother, Ruth, wouldn¡¯t have been so cold to her. But no one saw iting¨CShermaine had suddenly be Joshua¡¯s fianc¨¦e. And before long, she¡¯d be Mrs. York. However, Joshua choosing to marry Shermaine really did break a lot of society girls¡® hearts. Some drowned their sorrows in booze, some even dreamed of teaching Shermaine a lesson. If Joshua had chosen Wendelyn, they wouldn¡¯t have had a problem. Wendelyn was aplished, elegant, and matched him well. They would¡¯ve epted it. But they just couldn¡¯t understand why Joshua wanted to marry Shermaine. Shermaine didn¡¯t care what people were saying. All she knew was that when she woke up that morning, Ruth was suddenly much more polite toward her. Ruth said, her tone soft and gentle, ¡°Sheary, I was wrong. I shouldn¡¯t have treated you that way. Can you forgive me?¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t call her out. She simply replied without hesitation, ¡°I can.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take better care of you from now on. I¡¯ll treat you well,¡± Ruth remarked. Shermaine gave a faint smile, untouched beneath the surface. Still, there was a trace of emptiness inside. She knew Ruth was only ying nice now because Ruth was just starting to fear her after what had happened yesterday. When Shermaine had gone missing, she was only five years old. After recovering from a high fever, she¡¯dpletely lost all memory of the Jean family. Butst night, Shermaine had an unusual dream. She dreamed of Ruth¨Cbut the Ruth in her dream and the one in real life couldn¡¯t have been more different. One was truly gentle, doting on Shermaine with care. The other was cold and cruel, treating Shermaine like she was nothing. Since Shermaine¡¯s brother Ross was away on a business trip, there were only four of them at the dinner table. It was quiet. No one spoke. Toward the end of the meal, Jameson pulled out a bank card. ¡°Shermaine, don¡¯t just stay cooped up at home all day. Go out, do some shopping. Buy whatever you like.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Shermaine replied, taking the card. If someone was handing out free money, she wasn¡¯t about to say no. But Jameson wasn¡¯t quite right about one thing¨Cshe hadn¡¯t been cooped up at home, and she definitely wasn¡¯t the uneducated, unsophisticated girl from some poor vige they all made her out to be. Shermaine had gone abroad to study at sixteen. Because her work involved too many sensitive dealings, she¡¯d used a few tricks to conceal her personal records. That was why when she casually mentioned never taking the SAT, peoplepletely misunderstood. If they¡¯d ever cared enough to ask, this kind of misunderstanding wouldn¡¯t have happened in the first ce. Unexpectedly, shortly after she arrived in Basterel, someone had taken a video of her that went viral online. That clip was what led Ross to realize she was the Jean family¡¯s long¨Clost heiress¨Chis sister who had been missing for fourteen years. Jameson spoke again, ¡°Wendy, you know Basterel well. Start taking Shermaine out more often, got it?¡± Wendelyn answered sweetly, ¡°Got it, Dady Ruth put down her spoon. ¡°Wendy won¡¯t have time. She¡¯s starting her internship at the familypany in a couple of days. I¡¯m free though, I can LAKE Sheary out from time to time, show her how we do things around here.¡± Jameson, pleased with her cooperative attitude, agreed, ¡°That works.¡± Shermaine was rendered speechless, thinking, ¡®Seriously? Acting like I¡¯m some clueless country bumpkin?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mom. I can make time,¡± Wendelyn said. Shermaine finally spoke slowly, ¡°No need. I¡¯ve got things to do and I might be pretty busy. Besides, it¡¯s not like I don¡¯t have friends in Basteret.¡± Jameson had always been used to taking charge, so to him, Shermaine¡¯s polite refusal felt a little defiant, maybe even ungrateful He said, ¡°Still, don¡¯t spend all your time just hanging out. Once you marry Joshua, you¡¯ll be Mrs. York. You should sign up for some enrichment courses, work on your refinement.¡± As he spoke, he handed her another bank card. Shermaine took the bank card without a flicker of emotion. ¡°Thanks, Dad.¡± Ruth and Wendelyn were both at a loss for words. Jameson, feeling more generous than ever, added, ¡°If it¡¯s not enough, juste to me for more.¡± Shermaine thought, ¡®Joshua must¡¯ve offered something big.¡® Then she said, ¡°Alright.¡°/ That exchange made Ruth and Wendelyn grind their teeth in rage. Ruth¡¯s gaze shifted slightly. No one knew what she was scheming. Then Jameson seemed to remember something. ¡°Sheary, if you don¡¯t have time to pack, just let Peyton help.¡± But as soon as he said it, his eyes flicked over to Wendelyn. He figured if Wendelyn found out Shermaine was moving in with Joshua, she wouldn¡¯t take it well. Shermaine declined. ¡°I don¡¯t like other people touching my stuff. I¡¯ll pack it myself.¡± Ruth pondered, ¡®Shermaine¡¯s moving out?¡® She couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Where¡¯s Shermaine moving?¡± Jameson paused, then answered slowly, ¡°Joshua¡¯s ce.¡± Ruth hadn¡¯t expected Shermaine would actually live with Joshua before marriage, so she said, ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit inappropriate?¡± Off to the side, there was a loud tter as Wendelyn¡¯s knife and fork fell to the floor. She bit her lip, forcing an awkward smile, her eyes rimmed red like she was on the verge of tears. That pitiful little act was clearly just for Jameson and Ruth to see. Shermaine took a sip of milk. ¡°Living with Joshua before the wedding was Mr. Owen York¡¯s idea.¡± If it was Owen¡¯s decision, Ruth had no say in it. Under the table, Wendelyn¡¯s hands clenched tightly. ¡°Shermaine, if you don¡¯t want to, you can always say no, can¡¯t you?¡± She was clearly upset. ¡°And you¡¯ve juste home, and now you¡¯re moving out again. You¡¯ll barely see your family. What about Ross? Is he okay with this?¡± Shermaine licked her lip, set down her ss and tapped her fingers lightly against it. Her posture waszy, her tone carefree and sultry. ¡°As long as I¡¯m fine with it, Ross has no issue.¡± Wendelyn snapped, ¡°What if I have an issue with it?¡± ??? Fri, 30 May Shermaine gave a coldugh and shot back, ¡°Not my problem.¡± Wendelyn said, ¡°You know- Jameson cut in. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Wendy. It¡¯s time you let go of whatever feelings you have for Joshua. You¡¯re great, but he chose Shermaine Wendelyn¡¯s face went pale. After breakfast, she returned to her room, her expression dark and twisted, her eyes full of simmering rage and madness Ruth knocked and came in. The moment she stepped inside, Wendelyn switched gears, throwing herself onto the bed, sobbing like her heart had shattered. Ruth handed her a tissue, ¡°Why would you go at Shermaine like that in front of everyone? You know she¡¯s got leverage now. You should¡¯ve taken it slow and yed the long game.¡± Wendelyn said, ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t want Joshua to be my brother¨Cinw. I love him. I¡¯d give up my life for him. If he marries Shermaine, ¡± ¡°Stop talking nonsense,¡± Ruth quickly interrupted her, cutting off the rest of her sentence. Wendelyn kept crying, her sobs low and heavy. Ruth tried tofort her, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be holed up in your room crying. Hurry up and get dressed up. Go to Joshua¡¯s house with Shermaer. I heard Mr. Owen York will be there.¡± ¡°Will Shermaine let me go with her?¡± Wendelyn asked. Ruth¡¯s gaze flickered. ¡°No matter what, you¡¯re still family. She wouldn¡¯t go so far as to refuse a simple request like seeing her off. Once you¡¯re there, make sure you leave a good impression on the Yorks, alright?¡± Ruth thought to herself, ¡®Wendelyn is my adopted daughter and I¡¯ve raised her well. Everyone here in Basterel knows how amazing she is. ¡®Meanwhile, Shermaine¡¯s been away from the Jean family for over a decade, and it¡¯s a miracle she didn¡¯t turn out a total mess. How could she possiblypare to Wendy?¡® Nurse walking 10 Chapter 10 Chapter 10 The day Shermaine moved into Joshua¡¯s house came quickly. She didn¡¯t have much to pack everything fit into a small suitess It was the weekend. The driver Joshua had sent was already waiting outside. Before leaving the Jean residence, Shermaine made a FaceTime call to her brother Ross, who before he picked up. still overseas on a business trip. It rang a few Umas Ross was tall and sharp¨Cfeatured, with enough of a resemnce to Shermaine around the eyes to make their rtion obvious. ¡°Sheary,¡± he smiled. ¡°Ross,¡± Shermaine replied. ¡°You probably already heard about my engagement to Joshua. I¡¯m moving into his ce today¡± ¡°Yeah, Dad just told me. Listen, now that you¡¯re going over there, remember to keep some distance. Don¡¯t fall for him,¡± Poss reminded her. Shermaine raised an eyebrow. She thought, ¡®So Ross thinks pretty highly of Joshua. But it also means if I do fall for him, it won¡¯t end well, Joshua¡¯s not. going to fall for me.¡® She nodded sweetly. ¡°When are youing back?¡± ¡°End of the month,¡± Ross answered. They chatted for a bit longer before Ross, clearly too busy, ended the call. Hearing a few knocks at the door, Shermaine said, ¡°Come in.¡± The door opened. Wendelyn stood outside in a sleek evening dress that fit like it was made for her. The cut ttered her figure, and the whole look gave her an air of gracefulposure. Wendelyn asked gently, ¡°Shermaine, did you finish packing?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Shermaine looked up. ¡°What do you want?¡± Wendelyn spoke softly, ¡°Mom asked me to see you off.¡± At that, Shermaine smiled, realizing why Wendelyn had gone to the trouble of dressing up. She didn¡¯t turn Wendelyn down. ¡°Sure,¡± Shermaine said. Shermaine thought, ¡®If she wants to be taught a lesson, why should I stop her?¡® After about forty minutes, the car pulled up to Joshua¡¯s ce. It was a two¨Cstory vi, but the lot was huge, and the design had a quiet, understated elegance. Shermaine cast a nce at Wendelyn with a hint of amusement, thinking, ¡®So that¡¯s why she insisted oning along in an evening dress like that. Trying to y into his taste, huh? The car door opened. Shermaine stepped out with one foot, looking up, ready to thank the driver¨Conly to realize it wasn¡¯t the driver who had opened the door for her. It was Joshua. He wore a crisp white shirt and tailored cks, the sleeves of his shirt casually rolled up, revealing a clean stretch of forearm. His arms were solid, with lean muscle and sharp definition. Shermaine¡¯s eyes briefly dropped to his hands¨Chis fingers were elegant, the lines of his knuckles refined. Joshua offered his hand. Shermaine blinked. After a beat, she ced hers in his. His palm was cool to the touch, butrge enough to wrappletely around hers. Joshua said, ¡°My grandfather knows you¡¯re moving in today. He¡¯d like to meet you.¡± What he meant was that Owen was already inside. Chapter 10 Shermaine nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± Just then, Wendelyn stepped out from the other side of the car. Her red lips parted gently. ¡°Mr. York¡± Joshua looked over. His gaze was mild as he gave a slight nod. Compared to before, this counted as a response, Wendelyn lit up inside. She thought, ¡®Mr. York must like how I look today! The autumn wind rustled through the yard, scattering dried yellow leaves across the ground. Shermaine¡¯s hair fluttered in the breeze, a few strands brushing against her cheeks. Joshua reached out and tucked them behind her ear. ¡°Let¡¯s go in. It¡¯s windy out here,¡± That single move nearly gave Shermaine cardiac arrest. She thought, ¡®Would it kill him to give a little warning before doing that? A gesture like that¡¯s a bit too intimate.¡¯ On the second floor, Owen caught the scene through the window and looked especially pleased. He pondered, Joshua¡¯s finally showing some sense. Good. Now I just hope I¡¯ll live long enough to meet my great¨Cgrandchild.¡® His thoughts had already wandered far ahead. Joshua led Shermaine inside, holding her hand. Wendelyn followed behind, her gaze heavy with frustration as she bit her lip. The scent of fresh coffee lingered through the house. Owen was seated in the living room. His hair was white, and illness had left him looking thinner than most men his age. But his eyes, sharp and clear, had a way of seeing through people. There was a quiet strength about him¨Cone that most elderly men didn¡¯t carry. Shermaine gave a soft, graceful smile. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet you, sir.¡± you Owen¡¯s stern expression melted into a chuckle. ¡°Sheary, you¡¯re just as charming asy were as a child.¡± Then he added, ¡°You¡¯ve suffered a lot, though. You were born to a life of privilege, but ended up spending fourteen years out there on your own. That couldn¡¯t have been easy.¡± Shermaine smiled, ¡°It¡¯s all in the past now.¡± They chatted a bit. Eventually, Owen noticed Wendelyn off to the side and paused. ¡°And this is?¡± Shermaine introduced her. ¡°Wendelyn Jean.¡± Owen gave a nod. This was his first time seeing Wendelyn. He thought, ¡®So this is the girl the Jeans adopted after Shermaine was taken. She¡¯s certainly been well¨Craised. Ruth must¡¯ve put in a lot of effort and care.¡¯ But ever since Shermaine returned to the Jean family, Ruth¨Cher own mother¨Chad been particrly cold toward her. Owen took a closer look. ¡°Jameson and Ruth seem to have treated you quite well even though you¡¯re their adopted daughter.¡± Wendelyn smiled politely, ¡°Yes, Mr. Owen York.¡± After all, they weren¡¯t on a first¨Cname basis. She continued, ¡°I¡¯m deeply grateful for everything they¡¯ve given me. I don¡¯t think I could ever repay it.¡± Owen said, ¡°Then when they¡¯re old, make sure you take good care of them.¡± Wendelyn nodded. ¡°I couldn¡¯t agree more.¡± Her performance was actually quite decent, but Owen barely paid her any attention. He took every chance he got to talk to Shermaine instead. Shermaine was easy on the eyes, and when she spoke to an elder like Owen, her voice softened noticeably. When he asked about her past, she never dwelled on the hardship. 20:36 Fri, 30 May G WG Instead, she shared the fun bits, the quirky little stories. Owen was clearly enjoying every minute of it. Joshua sat beside Shermaine, sipping his coffee, chiming in here and there. Wendelyn, on the other hand, stayed silent the whole time, clearly out of ce. A servant came over with a tray of fruit and pastries. Owen said, ¡°Sheary, you¡¯ve done a lot of talking. You must be thirsty. Have some fruit.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Shermaine really was thirsty. She picked up a cherry and popped it into her mouth. It was juicy and sweet. ¡°Try a pastry too,¡± Owen offered. Shermaine followed his suggestion and took one from the te he pushed toward her. She was absolutely gorgeous, and whatever she did just looked effortlessly graceful. The more Owen watched her, the more pleased he felt. But Joshua, not quite picking up on the mood, nced at the time. ¡°Grandpa, it¡¯s gettingte. You should head back.¡± Owen shot him a re. ¡°Sheary¡¯s here. I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡± Joshua offered a perfectly reasonable excuse, saying, ¡°If you stay, she¡¯ll feel too awkward to talk to me.¡± Shermaine eximed internally, ¡®Wow. Look at the way he said that crap. I¡¯ve gotta hand it to Joshua¨Chis acting is top¨Ctier.¡¯ Owen stroked his white beard, calm and crafty. ¡°You¡¯ll have plenty of time alone with her. Missing out this once won¡¯t kill you.¡± Shermaine smiled, a soft dimple blooming at the corner of her mouth. It wasn¡¯t polite or calcted¨Cit was genuine. In that moment, every bit of her feminine allure lit up the room. She was the kind of woman who was sweet on the outside but dangerous at the core. Joshua couldn¡¯t look away. Owen was quietly overjoyed, thinking, ¡®She¡¯s so elegant, so radiant. Joshua¡¯s one lucky boy.¡® He asked, ¡°Sheary, do you y chess?¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t know how to y chess. She knew how to do a lot of things¨Cbut chess just happened to not be one of them. She shook her head. Owen looked a little disappointed. Then Wendelyn spoke up, ¡°Mr. Owen York, if you¡¯re up for a game, I¡¯d be happy to y with you.¡± AD Comment Send gift Nurse walking 11 Chapter 11 Wendelyn hadpeted in chess tournaments and even won awards. Today, she came with one goal to impress the York family And now, the perfect opportunity was right in front of her. Owen didn¡¯t agree right away. He had only said he wanted to y chess because he wanted to talk to Shermaine a little longer and avoid giving inchua an excuse to send him back to the York residence. If it weren¡¯t for his poor health, Owen would¡¯ve wanted to stay here for a few more days to keep a closer eye on Shermaine and Joshua Though Shermaine didn¡¯t know how to y chess, Owen figured he could teach her. Besides, when it came to ying with him, Wendelyn wasn¡¯t even qualified in terms of seniority. Owen could see right through Wendelyn¡¯s intentions. She clearly had her sights set on his outstanding grandson, Joshua. Her excuse about bringing Shermaine over was just an excuse. Her real motives were far from innocent. To save Shermaine from embarrassment, Owen nned to turn Wendelyn down gently. But before he could say anything, Shermaine spoke first, ¡°Sure. You can y a round with Mr. Owen York. I¡¯ll watch and learn.* Wendelyn¡¯s eyes flickered. She couldn¡¯t read Shermaine¡¯s move. ¡®She agreed just like that?¡® she wondered. Owen looked kindly at Shermaine. ¡°Sheary, if you want to learn, I can teach you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll learn faster just by watching you,¡± Shermaine said with a light smile. Since that was the case, Owen replied, ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll y a game with Wendelyn. Sheary, watch closely.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Shermaine nodded. The housekeeper, Mariam Wilkinson, brought out the chessboard and set it on the table. Wendelyn lowered her gaze, hiding the jealousy in her eyes. Slowly, she lifted her head again, still putting on a modest front. ¡°Then I won¡¯t stand on ceremony,¡± she said. ¡°Mr. Owen York, I¡¯m not that good, so please don¡¯t hold it against me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a game of chess. No need to be so serious,¡± Owen said casually, clearly not taking it to heart. ¡°Alright.¡± Wendelyn¡¯s smile was starting to slip. ¡®Just wait, Mr. Owen York. You¡¯ll be seeing me in a whole new light soon enough,¡® she thought. Owen had no idea what was going through her mind. Seizing the moment, he added, ¡°Joshua, go over the rules of chess with Sheary again. Help her out.¡± He never missed a chance to push Joshua and Shermaine a little closer. Joshua didn¡¯t turn him down. Owen loved chess, and if Shermaine could learn it, she could y with him more often and help pass the time. Mariam had already brought over the chessboard. Wendelyn sat down across from Owen and suddenly felt nervous for no apparent reason. It was the kind of pressure that came from his age and rich life experience. Owen didn¡¯t hold back his presence, and Wendelyn wasn¡¯t equipped to handle that kind of weight. ¡°Let¡¯s begin. You go first,¡± he said. Wendelyn forced a smile and let out a stiffugh before picking up a piece and making the first move. She was actually very serious¨Cshe hoped her skill would impress Owen and earn his recognition. Owen was highly skilled at chess and often yed against master¨Clevel opponents, which spoke volumes about how g * really was. To him, ying against Wendelyn, a junior he didn¡¯t even take seriously, wasn¡¯t exactly exciting. Right now, he was ying with the same mood someone might have when tossing breadcrumbs to a pigeon. Every now and then, he nced over at Joshua and Shermaine. He was pleased by how patient his grandson was and mentally gave him a thumbs up. Then he looked back down at the board and saw Wendelyn had taken another of his pieces. Owen said, ¡°Taking another one of mine? Pretty bold of you.¡± Wendelyn replied, ¡°I know you let me take it on purpose. I can handle it.¡± Owen smiled without saying a word. Shermaine was watching intently, while Joshua sat beside her, exining the rules of chess in detail. They were sitting close. The fresh cedar scent from him lingered in the air, and his warm breath brushed past her ear. Shermaine felt a soft tingle in her ear, and her thoughts started to drift. ¡®His presence is kind of distracting, she thought. ¡®He¡¯s messing with my focus on the game. No matter how refined andposed Joshua seemed, there was something undeniably assertive about him, making it impossible to ignore him. Shermaine, without showing it, subtly shifted to the side to put some distance between them. ¡°I got it now. Thanks. Seeing his fianc¨¦e pull away on her own, Joshua didn¡¯t seem to mind. ¡°No problem.¡± By the mid¨Cgame, Owen took a look at the board and actually got a little more serious. Wendelyn, on the other hand, was struggling. Her palms were soaked with sweat, and every move she made was cautious. She didn¡¯t dare act rashly anymore. Owen had to admit that though Wendelyn was adopted, she did have a bit of talent and ability. He thought, ¡®No wonder people call her gifted and praise her so much. She¡¯s more capable than I expected.¡® Still, admiration was one thing¨Cit didn¡¯t mean she could bepared to Shermaine in Owen¡¯s eyes. When the game finally ended, Wendelyn lost. Owen gave her apliment. ¡°Not bad at all.¡± Wendelyn forced a cheerful expression and smiled slightly, ¡°Your chess skills are remarkable. I was no match.¡± She had gotten into chess back then and even hired a tutor, all because she¡¯d heard Owen loved ying chess. She thought if she got good enough, she could impress him one day. Now, that moment hade. However, Owen only gave a faint nod and said nothing more. Wendelyn¡¯s fingers tightened. ¡®That¡¯s it? That¡¯s all?¡® she wondered. She¡¯d thought Owen would really admire her, but the result was far from what she¡¯d hoped. At that moment, Owen let out a few coughs, took a sip of hot coffee, then looked kindly at Shermaine. ¡°Sheary, did you pick it up?¡± Shermaine nodded. ¡°I did, Mr. Owen York.¡± ¡°You¡¯re really smart,¡± Owen said with a warm smile,pletely convinced. ¡°Wanna give it a try?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Shermaine replied. Joshua quietly brought over a nket andid it across Owen¡¯s legs. Seeing that he still looked fairly energetic, Joshua didn¡¯t say anything. Owen let Shermaine make the first move. As the game began, Wendelyn softly said, ¡°Shermaine, you¡¯re amazing. You only watched one game and already learned how to y. When I first started learning chess, it took me hours of studying before I could even get the basics.¡± Chess was deep and demanding, both mentally and physically. There was no way someone could just pick it up that fast unless they were a genius. Wendelyn would never consider Shermaine a genius. In her eyes, Shermaine simply didn¡¯t understand how difficult chess really was. That made her font arrogant and clueless. Wendelyn¡¯s intentions were far from kind¨Cshe was hoping Shermaine would embarrass herself so Wendelyn could shine inparison. ¡°You¡¯re not me, so how would you know I can¡¯t do it?¡± Shermaine held the chess piece, idly turning it between her fingers. Her voice was aszy and calm as ever. Wendelyn wondered, ¡®Anyone who doesn¡¯t know better might actually think she¡¯s some kind of prodigy. Where does she even get that kind of confidence? ¡®Did she forget that before she came back to the Jean family, she was just a bumpkin from some poor vige with barely any education?¡± Wendelyn spoke softly, pretending to offer a kind reminder, ¡°Shermaine, I didn¡¯t mean anything by it. I just wanted to say chess isn¡¯t as simple as you might think. You¡¯re the Jean family¡¯s heiress, and when you¡¯re out in public, you represent us. ¡°You should be careful about what you say and do. It¡¯s fine here in front of Mr. Owen York and Mr. Joshua York, but if it were someone else, it wouldn¡¯t look so good if you messed up. Don¡¯t you think?¡± Shermaine let out a coldugh, resting her chin on one hand. ¡°Thanks for the concern. But to me, chess really isn¡¯t that hard.¡± Wendelyn smiled, ¡°Then I¡¯ll be looking forward to your performance.¡± Owen stroked his beard. Every word Wendelyn said was clearly meant to trip Shermaine up, and Shermaine just walked straight into it without blinking. But in his eyes, Shermaine was a sharp and beautiful young woman¨Cnot the idiotic type to act recklessly without thinking. That was why he chose to quietly watch their exchange, turning a blind eye to the tension between them. the Owen figured it wasn¡¯t like he couldn¡¯t step in if needed. If things took a wrong turn, he¡¯d end the game right away. He would never let Shermaine be humiliated in front of Wendelyn. He knew exactly where to draw the line While he was still mulling things over, Shermaine spoke, ¡°Mr. Owen York, it¡¯s your move.¡± Owen answered, ¡°Alright.¡± From the moment the game started, Wendelyn had been waiting for Shermaine to embarrass herself, but the game kept going surprisingly smoothly. Aside from a few clumsy mistakes at the start, Shermaine didn¡¯t ask to take anything back even after Owen pointed them out. Instead, Shermaine¡¯s moves started getting sharper. At first nce they looked casual, even careless¨Cbut not a single mistake followed. During thatst game, just from watching, she¡¯d already learned how to apply what she saw to new situations. Wendelyn¡¯s mind went nk. Shermaine yed like amander on the battlefield¨Ccalcting,posed, striking with feints and forks, setting traps to bait, then flipping the board with a counterattack. Her style was bold and unrestrained, yetpletely airtight. Anyone watching with half a brain could see she was a level above Wendelyn. She didn¡¯t look like a chess newbie at all. A faint smile tugged at the corners of Joshua¡¯s lips. From the way Shermaine had responded earlier to his exnations of chess strategies and rules, she really did seem like a beginner. It didn¡¯t look like/she was faking it. If she wasn¡¯t faking, then it could only mean one thing¨CShermaine was smart. She had a natural gift for learning. Owen stroked his snowy white beard and let out a heartyugh. ¡°Sheary, you¡¯re incredible. This isn¡¯t just picking it up¨Cyou could probably enter a tournament and bring home a trophy for the country.¡± Nurse walking 12 Joshua gave Shermaine a long, meaningful look, though it disappeared almost instantly, They were going to be husband and wife in name, but nothing more. To him, Shermaine posed no threat, so he had no reason to dig deeper into he background. Shermaine¡¯s voice was sweet, and she smiled with innocent charm, ¡°Mr. Owen York, am I really that good?¡± ¡°You are,¡± Owen replied without hesitation. ¡°You¡¯re just as excellent as your brother.¡± Shermaine was at the age where she should¡¯ve been thriving, yet because of those fourteen years of separation, all the glory and life that should¡¯ve been hers had been handed to Wendelyn, her adopted sister.¡® Owen figured if Shermaine had grown up under the Jean family¡¯s protection, she would¡¯ve be someone outstanding. She wouldn¡¯t have carried such a bad reputation, and no one would¡¯ve dared to mistreat her. Fortunately, she was still young and sharp. It wasn¡¯t toote for anything. That game of chesssted an hour before they knew it. Ever since his health had declined, Owen had rarely enjoyed a game of chess this thoroughly. Part of it was because he seldom went out anymore, and the friends around him weren¡¯t exactly strong yers. He chuckled, ¡°Sheary, I knew I wasn¡¯t wrong about you.¡± Shermaine lost, but it was a respectable loss. ¡°You tter me,¡± she said. Owen still hadn¡¯t had enough. If they yed another round, Shermaine might not even lose. Her learning ability was genuinely impressive¨Cshe¡¯d even picked up on his tactics mid¨Cgame and silently started using them against him. But after that match, he didn¡¯t have the energy for another. His body was weak, and fatigue was setting in. Joshua helped Owen up. ¡°Maybe you should go upstairs and lie down for a bit. I¡¯ll have the driver take you hometer.¡± Owen nodded and said to Shermaine, ¡°Sheary, I¡¯m tired. I¡¯m going upstairs to rest.¡± Shermaine put the pieces back into the chess box and smiled, ¡°Okay.¡± Since Wendelyn was still there, it wasn¡¯t the right time for Shermaine to check Owen¡¯s condition. She figured she¡¯d wait until Wendelyn left and Owen had rested. ¡°Excuse me,dies,¡± Joshua remarked as he helped Owen upstairs. The two of them gradually disappeared around the corner. Now, only Shermaine and Wendelyn were left in the living room. Wendelyn felt utterly humiliated. As soon as Joshua and Owen were gone, she couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore. ¡°Shermaine, you clearly knew how to y chess but lied and said you didn¡¯t. You¡¯re way too calcting.¡± Shermaine popped a cherry into her mouth and raised an eyebrow. ¡°What, you just can¡¯t handle the fact that I yed too well to be a first¨Ctime Wendelyn shot back, ¡°It wasn¡¯t your first time/ She just couldn¡¯t bring herself to admit that after years of learning chess, she still lost to Shermaine, who picked it up instantly and yed that well. It felt like a p in the face. Shermaine gave a softugh. ¡°Sounds like you know the truth deep down. Honestly, you should be grateful I didn¡¯t humiliate you.¡± 1/2 (20:36 FI, 30 MIN Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Joshua gave Shermaine a long, meaningful look, though it disappeared almost instantly. They were going to be husband and wife in name, but nothing more. To him, Shermaine posed no threat, so he had no reason to dig deeper into her background. Shermaine¡¯s voice was sweet, and she smiled with innocent charm, ¡°Mr. Owen York, am I really that good?¡± ¡°You are,¡± Owen replied without hesitation. ¡°You¡¯re just as excellent as your brother.¡± Shermaine was at the age where she should¡¯ve been thriving, yet because of those fourteen years of separation, all the glory and life that should¡¯ve been hers had been handed to Wendelyn, her adopted sister. Owen figured if Shermaine had grown up under the Jean family¡¯s protection, she would¡¯ve be someone outstanding. She wouldn¡¯t have carried such a bad reputation, and no one would¡¯ve dared to mistreat her. Fortunately, she was still young and sharp. It wasn¡¯t toote for anything. That game of chesssted an hour before they knew it. Ever since his health had declined, Owen had rarely enjoyed a game of chess this thoroughly. Part of it was because he seldom went out anymore, and the friends around him weren¡¯t exactly strong yers. He chuckled, ¡°Sheary, I knew I wasn¡¯t wrong about you.¡± Shermaine lost, but it was a respectable loss. ¡°You tter me,¡± she said. Owen still hadn¡¯t had enough. If they yed another round, Shermaine might not even lose. Her learning ability was genuinely impressive¨Cshe¡¯d even picked up on his tactics mid¨Cgame and silently started using them against him. But after that match, he didn¡¯t have the energy for another. His body was weak, and fatigue was setting in. Joshua helped Owen up. ¡°Maybe you should go upstairs and lie down for a bit. I¡¯ll have the driver take you hometer.¡± Owen nodded and said to Shermaine, ¡°Sheary, I¡¯m tired. I¡¯m going upstairs to rest.¡± Shermaine put the pieces back into the chess box and smiled, ¡°Okay.¡± Since Wendelyn was still there, it wasn¡¯t the right time for Shermaine to check Owen¡¯s condition. She figured she¡¯d wait until Wendelyn left and Owen had rested. ¡°Excuse me,dies,¡± Joshua remarked as he helped Owen upstairs. The two of them gradually disappeared around the corner. Now, only Shermaine and Wendelyn were left in the living room. Wendelyn felt utterly humiliated. As soon as Joshua and Owen were gone, she couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore. ¡°Shermaine, you clearly knew how to y chess but lied and said you didn¡¯t. You¡¯re way too calcting.¡± Shermaine popped a cherry into her mouth and raised an eyebrow. ¡°What, you just can¡¯t handle the fact that I yed too well to be a first¨Ctimer?¡± Wendelyn shot back, ¡°It wasn¡¯t your first time/ She just couldn¡¯t bring herself to admit that after years of learning chess, she still lost to Sher. picked it up instantly and yed that well. It felt like a p in the face. Shermaine gave a softugh. ¡°Sounds like you know the truth deep down. Honestly, you should be grateful I didn¡¯tpletely humiliate you.¡± e, who Chapter 12 Owen had been the one to suggest the game, Shermine knew his time was precious and that he genuinely wanted to aprons a co was why, to avoid wasting time, she hadn¡¯t gone head to head with Wendelyn, It wasn¡¯t a head on showdown, but it came pretty close. Wendelyn had hoped to highlight the gap between her and Shermaine so Owen would regret choosing Shermaine. And the gap was obvious¨CWendelyn had lost miserably. She had never felt this humiliated in her life. Shermaine never went easy on her enemies. Her tone stayed asid back and proud as ever. ¡°And since you think I¡¯m so calcting, maybe next time don¡¯te at me with such basic tricks. Honestly, it¡¯s boring.¡± Wendelyn looked like she¡¯d just taken a p to the ego. Her face went pale with rage. She gritted her teeth. ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to be cocky about just because I beat you?¡± Shermaine replied tly. If this weren¡¯t Joshua¡¯s ce, that sweet and gentle persona Wendelyn wore would¡¯ve been ripped to shreds by Shermaine¡¯s few simple lines. Wendelyn scoffed, ¡°What a big ego. Just because you¡¯re back in the Jean family, don¡¯t think that makes you somebody. Everyone knows I¡¯m better than you in every way possible. It¡¯s just chess¨Cwhat¡¯s so impressive about that?¡± Shermaine looked at her. ¡°Then why are you so upset?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Wendelyn snapped. ¡°Just wait and see, Shermaine.¡± With that, she grabbed her purse and walked out. As soon as Wendelyn left, Shermaine called over Mariam and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s my room?¡± Mariam stepped up, polite and proper. ¡°Ma¡¯am, your room is right across from Mr. Joshua York¡¯s. I¡¯ll take you up to drop off your things.¡± Shermaine wasn¡¯t used to being called that. ¡°Just call me Shermaine. You don¡¯t need to be so formal.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± Mariam nodded. Shermaine was instantly speechless. ¡®Didn¡¯t I just tell her not to call me ma¡¯am?¡® she wondered. Her luggage had already been brought upstairs by Mariam when she arrived. Just like Mariam said, Shermaine¡¯s room was across from Joshua¡¯s. As soon as she opened the door and saw the overly pink decor, Shermaine was at a bit of a loss. It was full of girly vibes, which wasn¡¯t her thing at all. But she hadn¡¯t nned on treating this ce like home anyway, so she figured she¡¯d just deal with it for now. Shermaine didn¡¯t bring much luggage, but the room had everything she could possibly need. Skincare and makeup products filled the vanity, row after row, and the walk¨Cin closet was packed with clothes, shoes, and jewelry¨Call brand new for the season. Joshua had clearly put a lot of thought into preparing for his fianc¨¦e¡¯s move¨Cin. Shermaine stepped out of the walk¨Cin closet and started unpacking the things she had brought. Besides her usual clothes, there was a stack of design drafts, and most of the remaining space was filled with bottles¨Cwhiskey, tequ, sake, and so on. She liked drinking while sketching, always with music ying in the background. Footsteps sounded outside the door. Shermaine didn¡¯t turn around. ¡°Is there a ss for drinking in this house?¡± she asked casuallv But the voice that answered wasn¡¯t Mariam¡¯s. It was Joshua¡¯s. ¡°You really like drinking?¡± His voice was low and smooth, like a perfectly aged liquor¨Cintoxicating just to hear. Shermaine wasn¡¯t someone who fell for voices, but even she found herself drawn to his voice. She froze for a second, then turned around and saw Joshua leaning casually against the doorway, tall and refined, still there. His gaze was fixed on her, calm and maic. No matter how many times she looked at Joshua, she still found him absurdly attractive. His face was wless, and he gave off this mix of mature confidence and raw, alluring masculine energy that was impossible to ignore. Shermaine said, ¡°Yeah. Got any here?¡± Joshua smiled, ¡°Come with me.¡± Nurse walking 13 Chapter 13 Shermaine and Joshua headed downstairs. ¡°Your grandpa¡¯s asleep?¡± Shermaine asked. ¡°Yeah.¡± Joshua nodded. Shermaine added, ¡°Once he wakes up, I¡¯ll check his condition.¡± Joshua didn¡¯t turn her down. He figured that would be a good idea. Some people drank to blow off steam, some for pleasure. But for others, drinking was an art. Shermaine followed Joshua down to the wine cer on the basement level. It was noticeably cooler down there. Bottles of wine lined the room, neatly arranged, stretching as far as the eye could see. It was quite the sight. Shermaine was slightly surprised. ¡°You¡¯re into wine too?¡± ¡°Sort of,¡± Joshua replied. Shermaine thought, ¡®Sort of? Seriously?¡® She studied him. On the surface, Joshua looked refined andposed, but deep down, he had a kind of wildness no one could tame. He wasn¡¯t the kind of man just any woman could handle, let alone win over. Shermaine had a taste for challenge, but she was never reckless when it came to rtionships. She only flirted with people she was genuinely into¡ªand only if she was looking for something long¨Cterm. When it came to love, her standards leaned toward a once¨Cin¨Ca¨Clifetime, one¨Con¨Cone kind of bond. What she really wanted was to find someone who felt the same way she did, to love each other, live happily, and grow old together. However, in her eyes, Joshua was an unexpected twist in her life n, and it was a shame that he wasn¡¯t the gift the universe meant for her. The engagement had been a surprise, but if it turned into love after marriage, she wouldn¡¯t be against it. Still, Joshua was detached and indifferent to worldly desires, so Shermaine would be sure to stay in herne and never overstep. The collection here spanned wines and spirits from different regions, countries, and eras¨Ceach matched with its own ssware. Some were ordinary, some expensive, and made from different materials. For example, the Barat crystal goblet in front of her had once belonged to royalty from hundreds of years ago. It was extremely rare, and its market value was conservatively estimated at 100 million dors. When it came to drinking, Joshua was clearly more particr and distinctive than most. Joshua spoke, ¡°Pick one.¡± Choosing a ss wasn¡¯t hard. Shermaine liked her drinks strong, and a whiskey ss was the obvious choice. ¡°This one,¡± she said. She was genuinely. intrigued by Joshua¡¯s liquor collection. After picking out a ss, Shermaine looked at the rows of whiskey, tequ, and vodka on the shelves. Even as someone who¡¯d tasted countless bottles, there were many here she¡¯d never had¨Cliquors that were priceless and nearly impossible to find. She licked her lip. ¡°As your fianc¨¦e, I should have the right to enjoy these fine bottles, shouldn¡¯t I?¡± Joshua gave a faint smile, casual as ever. ¡°You do.¡± For the first time, Shermaine felt like being Joshua¡¯s fianc¨¦e was actually a pretty great thing¨Cfree drinks came with the title. She curved her lips into a smile, bright and striking. Her fingers were slender and delicate, perfect for piano. Those soft hands images premium bottles, then paused. She chuckled, ¡°Then I¡¯ll dly ept this bottle of Venus vedka¡± That bottle of Venus Vodka was worth a hundred and fifty thousand dors. Shermaine certainly knew how to pick And the fact that a woman actually liked liquor that strong¨Cmost wouldn¡¯t dare¨Cfit her vibe perfectly it was bold and vivid, just like her it turned out that when it came to drinking, the two of them had something inmon. The stronger, the better. ¡°Alright.¡± Joshua¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. He stepped forward, and a clean, sharp scent drifted toward her. Shermaine felt her heart flip just slightly as she watched him raise his arm and reach for a bottle above her head. It was a bottle of R¨¦my Martin Louis XIII, the ck Pearl Reserve¨Can absolute rarity. Joshua took a step back with the bottle in hand. ¡°You might want to try this.¡± Shermaine took it and teased with a smile, ¡°Mr. York, it¡¯s very generous of you.¡± The moon hung high, the night quiet and beautiful. Owen woke up. After getting up, he grabbed his cane and made his way downstairs. His throat felt scratchy and full of phlegm, and he kept coughing The sound of it echoed loud enough to catch the attention of Joshua and Shermaine. Shermaine walked over and sat beside Owen, reaching out to check his pulse. Owen stopped coughing. ¡°Sheary, why are you holding my wrist like that?¡± ¡°Checking your pulse,¡± Shermaine said. Owen chuckled when he heard that, ¡°What, you know medicine?¡± ¡°A little.¡± Shermaine nodded. ¡°So, can you tell what¡¯s wrong with me?¡± Owen wasn¡¯t doubting her ability¨Che was just asking casually. Without hesitation, Shermaine said, ¡°It¡¯s your liver.¡± She grabbed a pen and a piece of paper from the table. ¡°You must¡¯ve had an That¡¯s why your health¡¯s been so bad in yourter years.¡± injury to your liver when you were younger. It left somesting damage. Owen froze for a second¨Cshe was spot on. His problem was indeed with his liver, and it had stemmed from an old injury in his younger years. That was why, even though he had seen countless specialists and taken all kinds of medicine in his old age, nothing had worked. By now, Shermaine had already finished writing out a prescription. ¡°But it¡¯s not untreatable. Sir, if you follow this prescription and take the medicine ordingly, you¡¯ll recover in three months.¡± Owen could hardly believe it. ¡®Recover? Even the best doctors in Basterel haven¡¯t been able to fix me, and Shermaine thinks her prescription will actually work?¡® he wondered. He had long stopped holding out hope, so he didn¡¯t dwell on it. ¡°Alright. Got it.¡± Shermaine reminded him, ¡°Sir, you have to remember¨Cif you¡¯re taking my medicine, you can¡¯t take anything else prescribed by of ¡°Okay,¡± Owen said, trusting Shermainepletely. octors.¡± 20:37 Fri, 30 May Off to the side, Joshua pressed his lips together, as if he wanted to say something. But after one book frond Chan, he bent quiet visit the promotions, Owen stood up and said, ¡°Sheary, I¡¯ll head out now.¡± ¡°See you soon.¡± Sheimaine smiled. ¡°If you miss me, just call. I¡¯lle check on you.¡± ¡°Will do.¡± Owenughed. Outside, a ck car was waiting by the front door. Joshua helped Owen out and said, ¡°Grandpa, you just agreed to Shermaine¡¯s prescription without thinking twice. You¡¯re not taking your health seriously at all.¡± Joshua thought, ¡®If Grandpa stops taking the medicine Dr. Newman prescribed, his condition could very well get worse. And if there¡¯s something wrong with Shermaine¡¯s prescription and it causes side effects, then what?¡® Owen waved him off. ¡°Shermaine means well. I can¡¯t just dismiss her kindness¨Cshe¡¯s going to be your future wife. I¡¯ll give it a try for a couple of days, if something¡¯s off, I¡¯ll stop. ¡°Besides, Dr. Newman¡¯s medicine hasn¡¯t done much for me anyway. I¡¯ve already given up on getting better. Pight now, I¡¯m just waiting to die¡± During dinner, Shermaine could feel the tensioning off Joshua. She thought for a moment, then asked, ¡°Are you worried there¡¯s something wrong with the prescription I gave your grandfather?¡± Joshua didn¡¯t answer. Shermaine said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If anything goes wrong after he takes it, you cane after me. I won¡¯t say a word in my defense.¡± Being distrusted was nothing new to her now. After all, she had never shown anyone her skills in medicine, and to the outside world, she was just some uneducated girl from a poor vige. Joshua looked at her. ¡°You really are bold.¡± Shermaine smiled, ¡°That¡¯s because I have the skills to back it up. If you don¡¯t believe me, just wait¨Ctime will prove everything.¡± After that, the two of them didn¡¯t exchange another word. Joshua carried himself with suchposure that even something as mundane and necessary as a meal felt refined, almost aristocratic. He moved with quiet precision, and when he was just about done, he set down his utensils. ¡°I¡¯m done. Take your time.¡± Shermaine gave a slight nod. She was slow to warm up to people. Back when she first had dinner with the Jean family, she didn¡¯t have any appetite at all. But tonight, having dinner with Joshua didn¡¯t feel nearly as tense. The food looked good, and she even helped herself to a second serving. -Just then, her phone rang. Shermaine pulled it out and nced at the screen. It was a call from Danielle Shelly. Danielle was a friend Shermaine had met during her years studying at various Ivy League schools. She was a surgeon¨Cfamous for her talent, beauty and her cool, untouchable demeanor. The two of them were tight. Danielle was a bit older and had always looked out for Shermaine. After arriving in Basterel, the first person Shermaine had contacted was Danielle. Shermaine answered the call and spoke slowly, ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be busy these days? What¡¯s got you calling me?¡± Danielle got straight to the point. ¡°Sheary, are you still performing surgeries for people?¡± Her voice had that distinct cool edge Shermaine replied, ¡°I need the money, so yeah.¡± 20.37 Su may Danielle clearly hadn¡¯t expected that to be the reason. She let out a dry chuckte. ¡°I¡¯ve got a high profile patient on my hands someone considerable influence. The case isplicated. Can you get here now?¡± AD Nurse walking 14 No Aus Chapter 14 Shermaine wiped her mouth with a napkin. ¡°Yeah.¡± Danielle said, ¡°Come to Yaleview Hospital.¡± In the study on the second floor, theputer screen was lit, and voices echoed from the speakers. Joshua was in the middle of an international meeting. At the moment, he sat in the chair, holding a cigarette between two fingers. Smoke curled around him, and his sharply defined profile gave off a quiet intensity. He looked more handsome like a movie star. Suddenly, Shermaine knocked on the door. After hearing his response, she poked her head in. ¡°Mr. York, cant borrow a car?¡± She had been in Basterel for over three months but she kept forgetting to buy herself a car¨Cpartly out ofziness, partly because having a driver at the Jean residence made getting around so easy. Joshua turned to look at her. ¡°You¡¯re heading out?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Shermaine nodded. She then asked, ¡°There¡¯s no curfew or anything, right?¡± ¡°No.¡± Joshua opened the drawer, casually grabbed a car key, and gestured for her toe take it herself. ¡°But try to be back early. My grandpa might call tonight to check in.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Shermaine smiled, took the keys with a quick thanks, and turned to leave. Joshua didn¡¯t say anything else after that. He could¡¯ve asked where she was going, but he didn¡¯t. Just like he¡¯d said¨Cthey¡¯d stay out of each other¡¯s way. So Shermaine had no intention of reporting anything to him. With the car key in hand, she headed straight to the garage. The engine roared to life, and once she pulled out, a quick turn and a drift sent the deep blue sports car disappearing into the night. At Yaleview Hospital, Danielle greeted Shermaine with a hug. Then she led her straight to neurosurgery and walked her toward the OR, filling her in on the patient¡¯s condition along the way. The patient was a member of the Barker family, and his background was anything but ordinary. Years ago, he¡¯d been shot in the head, and during the initial surgery, not all the shrapnel was removed¨Ca small fragment had been left in his brain. At first, it didn¡¯t cause much trouble. The fragment didn¡¯t affect his brain function. But as he got older, it started to shift, gradually pressing on his optic nerve. He now suffered frequent headaches. If they didn¡¯t operate soon to remove the fragment, there was a serious risk it would affect his brain permanently¨Che could go blind, or worse, lose cognitive function altogether. However, not a single neurosurgeon in the country dared to take on the operation, because the sess rate was too low¨Cless than 20 percent¨Cand with the patient¡¯s background, no one was willing to take the risk. And the situation had be urgent. Surgery was the only option now. So the casended on Danielle¡¯s desk. As a gifted neurosurgeon, she had made a name for herself after returning to the country, dedicating herself fully to her career. However, guaranteeing a one¨Chundred percent/sess rate was even harder. Danielle didn¡¯t have the confidence to pull it off, so she turned to Shermaine to lead the surgery. If Shermaine did it, the operation would be a guaranteed sess and nothing would go wrong. She was the most brilliant young medical prodigy Danielle had ever met, and next to her, Danielle couldn¡¯t help but feel ordinary. 20:37 Fri, 30 May Shermaine might not be widely known back in their country, but abroad, the name Dr. Shue rang out in every circle there wasn¡¯t sout who didn¡¯t know it. Outside the OR, a crowd of specialists and one of the patient¡¯s family members, Cora Barker, had gathered. When they saw Danielle walk in with a woman even younger than herself, the doctors exchanged strange looks. Cora frowned, thinking. Is this young, pretty woman really & doctor?¡® Everyone knew that to be a professional surgeon, one had to spend four long years in med school¨Cif not more¨Cand even after graduating, they¡¯d still need years of hospital training before bing an attending physician. ¡°Dr. Shelly, is she reliable?¡± Cora asked. Danielle replied, ¡°More than I am.¡± Cora paused, then said nothing else. In the end, she chose to trust whoever Danielle brought¨Cthis was their shot. As the OR doors shut behind them, Shermaine put on a sterile gown, pulled on a mask, and walked up to the operating table. Danielle came up beside her. ¡°Sheary, scalpel.¡± Shermaine took the scalpel and made the first incision on the patient¡¯s skull. hea The moment the de touched down, the other doctors watched with their hearts in their throats, afraid she might slip orck the skill and end up losing the patient right there. But watching her technique¨Csteady, fast, practiced, and precise¨Cthey finally started to rx a little. They were still skeptical of Shermaine at first, but after seeing how she handled the procedure, they, like Danielle, began assisting her with full confidence. Danielle was known as a naturally gifted surgeon, and doctors like her were extremely rare. Though young, she was highly praised by senior figures in the field and deeply admired by her peers¨Ca rising star the industry was determined to cultivate. And yet, the surgery that even Danielle had no confidence or ability to perform was somehow being done by someone else. The other doctors all began to think that Shermaine had to be even more skilled than Danielle. Three hours wasn¡¯t particrly long, but for those waiting outside, it felt excruciatingly endless. Just when the tension was bing unbearable, Danielle walked out of the operating room. The hospital¡¯s vice president, Ruben Hunter, dabbed at his forehead with a handkerchief and asked, ¡°How did it go?¡± Danielle pulled off her mask, and the usual chill on her beautiful face softened into a faint smile. ¡°The surgery was a sess. The patient¡¯s family can rest easy.¡± Cora, standing nearby, finally let out a breath she¡¯d been holding the entire time. Her eyes were red, her voice trembling. ¡°Thank goodness. That¡¯s great.¡± Just then, Shermaine came out. ¡°Mrs. Barker, my surgical fee is three hundred thousand dors. Is that alright?¡± ¡°No problem at all,¡± Cora said through tears of joy. ¡°Thank you so much. May I ask your name?¡± ¡°Shermaine Shue,¡± Shermaine replied. Cora took her hand. ¡°Dr. Shue, you¡¯re incredible. I can¡¯t thank you enough. If you ever need anything from me in the future, please don¡¯t hesitate to ask.¡± Shermaine smiled, ¡°Saving lives is part of the job. I don¡¯t do it for free¨Cites with a price. You really don¡¯t need to be that pol ¡°Of course I do,¡± Cora insisted. Off to the side, Ruben stared in disbelief. ¡®Three hundred thousand? That¡¯s way too expensive, he thought. But he had to admit, the result spot for itself. No other doctor had dared to take on this surgery¨Cbut Shermaine bad, and it was a sess. Ruben couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Danielle, did she go to med school with you?¡± Danielle smiled, ¡°Technically, she¡¯s my junior.¡± AD Comment Send gift Nurse walking 15 Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Ruben thought, ¡®So Shermaine¡¯s actually Danielle¡¯s junior? That¡¯s insane. With someone as young and brilliant as Danielle, Yaleview Hospital already made a name for itself. Now with an even younger, more gifted one joining the picture, we¡¯ll leave every other hospital in the dust! His gaze shifted to Shermaine, and he stepped forward. ¡°Dr. Shue, you¡¯re seriously impressive for someone so young. Mind if I ask which hospital you¡¯re currently working at?¡± Skermaine replied, ¡°I¡¯m not working at a hospital.¡± Ruben¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Then how about joining ours? You and Dr. Shelly could make a great team.¡± Shermaine turned him down with a smile. ¡°Sorry to disappoint you, but that¡¯s not the path I¡¯m looking for.¡± If she worked at a hospital full¨Ctime, she¡¯d be swamped with patients and nonstop surgeries. She preferred working independently¨Cwhen someone came to her for help, she¡¯d step in. She offered, ¡°If your hospital ever runs into a case no one can handle, whether it¡¯s surgical or something that involves traditional medicine, feel free to reach out.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Ruben didn¡¯t press further. Clearly, Shermaine wasn¡¯t aiming for a career at a hospital. But thankfully, that didn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t practicing. It just meant being a doctor might only be her side gig. If she was willing to take on cases under their hospital¡¯s name¨Cthe tough ones they couldn¡¯t solve themselves¨Cthe hospital would still get to share the credit. It wouldn¡¯t be without its perks. Ruben thought about it and found it hard to believe that being a doctor was just a side gig for Shermaine. To be a doctor was no easy feat. It took so much effort and dedication, yet Shermaine treated it like a side job. After the conversation, Shermaine asked, ¡°What time is it now?¡± Cora took out her phone and checked the time. ¡°It¡¯s almost twelve o¡¯clock.¡± Shermaine thought, ¡®Almost twelve, huh? Surgery always takes forever. If Mr. Owen York tried to check in, Joshua must¡¯ve handled it on his own.¡± Just as Shermaine had guessed, Owen really did call Joshua around 9:30 to check in. The moment Owen got on the line, he asked to speak with Shermaine. He had Shermaine¡¯s number, but he still called Joshua instead. Joshua had no choice but to tell the truth, saying, ¡°She went out.¡± ¡°Out for what?¡± Owen asked. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask,¡± Joshua replied. Owen snapped as soon as he heard that, ¡°You don¡¯t even know what your fianc¨¦e went out to do? Why didn¡¯t you ask?¡± Joshua went silent for a second. ¡°I forgot.¡± Owen was fuming. ¡°Listen up, Joshua. Like Shermaine. I¡¯m really happy with her as my future granddaughter¨Cinw. If you lose her, I swear I¡¯ll teach you a lesson.¡± Joshua rubbed his temple. ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯ve gotta give me a little time to adjust. Didn¡¯t do well enough during the day?¡± ¡°Barely. Now call Shermaine and ask when she¡¯sing back.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± 1/2 20.38 Fri 30 May Chapter 15 After hanging up, Joshua did call Shermaine but she was still in the OR and couldn¡¯t possibly answer, in the end, out of a sace it takes al 2 look up her location. When he found out she was at the hospital, and not off somewhere sketchy, Joshua let it go. Then he gave Owen a simple report and left it at the It was alreadyte at night when Shermaine said, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I¡¯m heading out.¡± Then she turned to Danielle. ¡°Let¡¯s meet again when you¡¯ve go time.¡± Danielle nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll treat you to dinner and a movie sometime.¡± Shermaine remarked, ¡°Everyone, if you¡¯ll excuse me.¡± With that, she left¨Cjust as quickly as she had arrived. But at Yaleview Hospital, Shermaine¡¯s name had already made waves. There wasn¡¯t a single doctor or nurse who didn¡¯t know that Danielle had a junior who was even more skilled than her¨Cand rumor had it, she was stunning, too. By the time Shermaine got back to Riverswood Vi¨CJoshua¡¯s ce it was already half past midnight. The lights on the second floor were still on, which meant Joshua hadn¡¯t gone to bed yet. She had already registered her fingerprint with the system, so all it took was a scan, and she was in. Still, she couldn¡¯t help feeling a little out of ce. She hadn¡¯t gotten used to living at the Jean residence even after three months, and now she was staying in the home of a man she¡¯d only met a handful of times. Shermaine thought, ¡®Life really is strange.¡® She let the thought pass, then went straight upstairs and into her room. Then, a message came in on her phone. It was a payment notification from Cora¨Cthree hundred thousand dors, transferred in full. With the two bank cards Jameson had given her earlier today, which together held two million, that brought her total to 2.3 million dors. To build a high¨Ctech farm, 2.3 million dors wasn¡¯t even enough to make a dent. Nurse walking 16 Chapter 16 Chapter 16 After getting separated from her family at the age of five, Shermaine ended up in a ce called Maple Leaf Ville. It wasn¡¯t a big ce¡ªbarely more than s dozen households. The vigers treated her, an orphan who had wandered in from nowhere, with nothing but kindness. They helped her get documented, made sure she had food, clothing, a roof over her head, and even supported her through school in the nearby town. They had done so much for her, and she was someone who never forgot a debt. The high¨Ctech farm project was the first gift Shermaine had in mind for them after returning to the country. It was her way of giving back, after seeing how hard life had be for them¨Chow they were barely getting by anymore. However, the total cost of building the farm hovered around 100 million dors. It wasn¡¯t exactly astronomical. But the thing was, Shermaine had no concept of money. Back when she was studying abroad, she never thought about how much she could earn through her abilities. As long as she had enough to cover her daily expenses, that was good enough for her, which meant she basically had no savings to her name. 2.3 million dors¨Cwhile nowhere near enough for the full project¨Cwas more than enough to build a few small vis for the vigers and give their living conditions a solid upgrade. Shermaine opened theptop on the desk and transferred the full 2.3 million to the Maple Leaf Ville mayor, Jay Gill. She left herself a backup fund of three thousand dors¨Cjust enough for emergencies. Once that was done, Shermaine caught a lingering scent of blood on her and grabbed a bottle and a ss before heading to the bathroom. Lying in the tub, she poured herself a drink. One sip in, the liquor burned its way down her throat, the hit sharp and intense. ¡®Damn, that¡¯s good stuff, she thought. She didn¡¯t drink much. Once the water turned cold, Shermaine got up, dried off with a towel, and slipped into a silk nightgown. Her hair was still wrapped in a white towel as she looked around the bathroom for a hairdryer. After searching for a while and finding nothing, she stepped out, nning to ask Mariam. But when she called for her, there was no response from downstairs. Shermaine figured she might as well give up. Just then, the door across the hall opened. A light, clean scent drifted out¨CJoshua had just showered too. Shermaine froze for a beat. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you weren¡¯t staying here?¡± Joshua said, ¡°My grandfather checked in on me. gotte, so I didn¡¯t leave.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°If it bothers you, I can go now.¡± ¡°No need. I just need to borrow something.¡± Right now, Joshua was wearing a dark blue silk pajama set, the cor left partly unbuttoned, revealing a glimpse of his chest and a ck tattoo beneath. His hair was damp, beads of water dripping down and tracing the sharp lines of his neck, sliding past his Adam¡¯s apple. His sensual lips were pressed into a thin line, and his eyes were calm, deep, unreadable. ¡°Go ahead,¡± Joshua said. Shermaine narrowed her eyes slightly, gave him a once¨Cover, then quickly shifted her gaze. ¡°There¡¯s no hairdryer in my room.¡± Chapter 16 ¡°Hold on.¡± Joshua turned around and came back a momentter with a hairdryer in hand. ¡°Just leave it in your room when you¡¯re ??ng) ¡°You don¡¯t need it?¡± ¡°No.¡± Since that was the case, Shermaine happily epted it. When she took the dryer, her hand brushed against his. His hand was cool, but her fingertips felt strangely hot. She asked, ¡°Did your grandfather say anything?¡± Joshua kept it brief. ¡°Nothing. It¡¯s taken care of.¡± Shermaine was someone who cared a lot about boundaries. ¡°I¡¯ll be more mindful of the time next time.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Joshua nodded. Right then, Shermaine remembered the R¨¦my Martin Louis XIII Joshua had rmended. ¡°The liquor¡¯s really good. I love it,¡± she remarked. Joshua gave a faint smile, but said nothing. Back in her room, she let out a small sigh, thinking, ¡®He¡¯s so cold and distant.¡® She finished drying her hair, quickly put the hairdryer away, then opened herptop and typed in a URL with one hand. The site was called the International Tech Forum. It covered everything from information tech and biotech to energy andser technologies. It was a tform where people posted problems they needed help solving in those areas and they¡¯d post tasks there. Users who felt qualified could pick up tasks based on the level of difficulty and earn some extra cash. Back when Shermaine didn¡¯t have money for living expenses, she used to take on low¨Cdifficulty jobs from the site. They were easy, didn¡¯t take much time, and came with a decent payout. The login page popped up. Shermaine typed in her username¨CBoa Hanks¨Cthen her password, and hit enter. The ount had been active for two years. Her task history was filled entirely with D¨Clevel jobs, the lowest in terms of difficulty. But right now, she was scrolling through the SSS¨Clevel listings. Comment Send gift No Ads Chapter 17 Nurse walking 17 here were way too many $55¨Clevel missions, and Shermaine couldn¡¯t be bothered to read through them all, She just picked the one with the highe reward. All it said was the bounty¨Cthree million dors¨Cand that they needed someone with expertise in energy tech. The specific details of each task weren¡¯t disclosed upfront. Everything was highly confidential and required signing a non¨Cdisclosure agreement, Viting that agreement came with serious consequences. Shermaine chose to ept the task, and right after, a confidentiality agreement popped up. She agreed to sign it. Right after that, the task issuer, Jaden Booth, reached out. Once their profiles were shared, they both realized they were Wallingtonians. Jaden: [Bro, Tlooked at your mission history. only taken D¨Clevel gigs. Are you sure you didn¡¯t click the wrong one?] Shermaine: [I didn¡¯t. What¡¯s the mission?] Jaden: [You don¡¯t even have a certified energy tech expert badge on the Tech Forum.] Shermaine: [I¡¯m justzy.] Jaden wondered, ¡®Wait, is this some kind of hidden pro?¡® That task had been sitting up there forever. Plenty of seasoned tech pros had tried to take it, but none had been able toplete it and im the reward. Failure meant a deduction in score, and the higher the score, the more capable a person was considered. But for SSS¨Clevel tasks, even a top¨Ctier score couldn¡¯t guarantee safety. One failure could reset everything to zero. If the score wasn¡¯t high enough to cover the penalty, the ount would be terminated, and all umted reputation would be lost with it. Jaden: [Alright, I¡¯ll be straight with you. Our engineeringb discovered a new kind of nuclear energy. The problem is, we¡¯ve been stuck for ages on designing micro¨Cscale sensor units¨Clike, smaller than a human body¨Cthat can actually work.] They¡¯d discovered a new type of nuclear energy that could wirelessly connect hundreds of micro¨Csensors¨Csomething with serious military potential. These sensors were so small they couldn¡¯t even be seen with the naked eye, and they could detect chemical agents even in the harshest environments. If they picked up on any chemicals they weren¡¯t supposed to, the sensors could ping a central hub, letting people locate chemical weapons without ever stepping foot on¨Csite. They could also be used inside factories to detect trace amounts of harmful chemicals or gas leaks. Shermaine: [Send me the data on the new energy.] Jaden sent the file over. Shermaine opened it up, skimmed for five minutes, then figured this three million dors was as good as hers. Shermaine replied: [I¡¯m in. Is there a deadline?] Jaden: [Nope. But if you can¡¯t pull it off, just cancel the mission yourself.] After that, Shermaine didn¡¯t reply. She logged out,/shut theptop, flopped onto her bed, turned off the lights, and went to sleep. It waste anyway, and she figured she¡¯d need to be fully recharged to really dive into the project tomorrow. As for Jaden, he didn¡¯t hold out any hope for someone who¡¯d only ever taken D¨Clevel gigs. When he saw she hadn¡¯t messaged back, he closed the dashboard and pulled up a soap opera on a streaming tform. When the leads got torn apart by fate and tragedy, he grabbed a tissue and bawled his eyes out. 1/4 Chapter 17 The next day, over at the Basterel University engineering researchb, Professor Sheldon Wendell walked in and asked Jaden, did mission? Jaden, his eyes puffy from all the crying, was in the middle of an experiment. ¡°Professor Wendell, someone didst night¡± Sheldon asked, ¡°Are they any good?¡± Jaden rubbed his nose. ¡°Seemed pretty average.¡± ¡°Alright, Sheldon thought, his face stiffening. ¡®There are so many tech geniuses out there. Is there really no one who can help us finish this damn groundbreaking research?¡® At 7 a.m., the sky was a clear, cloudless blue. Shermaine, who¡¯d stayed upte, was jolted awake by the sound of her phone ringing. It was a call from Jay. Still half¨Casleep, she reached for the phone with her eyes closed and answered, ¡°Hello?¡± Jay¡¯s voice was shaky. ¡°Sheary, there¡¯s an extra 2.3 million dors in my ount. Did you send it?¡± Shermaine said, ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s for building you guys some vis.¡± Jay wondered, ¡®I knew it.¡® He was overwhelmed. 2.3 million wasn¡¯t just pocket change. When he saw the transfer, his eyes had practically popped out of his head. He¡¯d never seen that much money in his life. When Shermaine came back, she¡¯d mentioned something about building a high¨Ctech farm and pulling them out of poverty so they could live a ¡°Jay, just use it. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Jay suddenly understood. He¡¯d heard that not long after Shermaine arrived in Basterel, she¡¯d reunited with her birth family. But beyond that, he hadn¡¯t really asked for details. But in Basterel, most locals were either filthy rich or born into privilege. A few million dors probably didn¡¯t even make them blink. And to the Jean family, two million was practically nothing. But that wasn¡¯t what Jay cared about. He asked, ¡°Are they treating you well?¡± ¡°My brother¡¯s great.¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t bring up her so¨Cso parents as she figured there was no point worrying Jay over that. She added, ¡°Jay, just use the money. Once I start making more, I¡¯ll keep wiring it to your ount. The amounts will only go up. ¡°I already sent the farm¡¯s design ns to Troy¡¯s phone. He knows how to build houses and has some experience with renovation work. If you¡¯re short on help, hire people from the town. Don¡¯t make the older guys in the vige work too hard.¡± Jay was deeply moved. ¡°Got it.¡± They had only raised Shermaine for several years, but never imagined that, a few yearster, she would give back this much. After getting up, Shermaine didn¡¯t linger in bed. She washed up, went for a morning run, and came back to find that Mariam had already made breakfast. The spread was generous, and Joshua was already dressed in a sharp suit, sitting at the table eating. Out of courtesy, Shermaine greeted him, ¡°Good morning.¡± Joshua replied, ¡°Good morning.¡± Shermaine smiled briefly, then turned and went upstairs for another shower. She was a bit of a clean freak. After sweating from her run, she had to shower and change into fresh clothes before she could sit down to eat in peace. By the time she came back downstairs, Joshua had already left for the office. After breakfast, Shermaine took a te of fruit sd upstairs and got to work. Time always flew when she was in work mode. Near noon, Mariam came knocking on the door. Shermaine said, ¡°Come in.¡± Mariam pushed the door open and stepped inside, only to find Shermaine typing away with a rhythm so precise it almost sounded like she was ying piano. The screen was filled with a mess of data and symbols Mariam couldn¡¯t begin to make sense of. Mariam paused for a beat, then lowered her gaze. ¡°Ma¡¯am, your mother is here.¡± Only then did Shermaine lift her head and say tly, ¡°Okay.¡± In the living room, Ruth sat upright on the couch, dressed stylishly. Maybe it was because this was Joshua¡¯s ce that, even in his absence, she still felt ufortably tense. Mariam poured her a cup of coffee. ¡°Mrs. Jean, would you like some coffee?¡± ¡°Yes, thank you,¡± Ruth said. Mariam gave a smile. It was a while before Shermaine finally came downstairs. She floppedzily onto the couch across from Ruth and asked, ¡°Mom, what brings you here?¡± Ruth forced a smile. ¡°I just said yesterday I¡¯d take you out for a bit. You already forgot?¡± Honestly, Shermaine had. If Ruth hadn¡¯t brought it up, it wouldn¡¯t have crossed her mind. Just as Shermaine was about to speak, something brushed up against her foot. Instinctively, she lifted her leg and kicked. There was a loud ng. Shermaine looked down and realized she might¡¯ve just busted something in Joshua¡¯s house. She silently apologized in her head. Mariam, thinking something had broken, rushed over to check. She found that it was the high¨Cend robot vacuum Joshua had bought at a steep price. She bent down to take a look and tried restarting it, but it didn¡¯t respond at all. Shermaine asked, ¡°Is it broken?¡± ¡°Looks like it,¡± Mariam said with a troubled expression. ¡°That was an Al smart vacuum Mr. Joshua York bought overseas for a high price. Not sure where it got damaged, or if it¡¯s even fixable.¡± Shermaine wondered, ¡®For a high price? It looks pretty average to me.¡¯ She remarked calmly, ¡°Take it up to my room. I¡¯ll fix it myself tonight when I have time. I was the one who broke it, after all.¡± Mariam thought, ¡®Can something this high¨Ctech really be fixed that easily?¡® She hesitated. ¡°Ms. Shue, are you sure you can handle it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± Shermaine¡¯s tone was full of confidence: Not only could she fix it, but she could also upgrade this robot while she was at it. Ruth found her attitudepletely inappropriate¨Ctoo smug, too blindly confident. She wondered, ¡®Where does she even get the nerve to act this cocky? 214 ? rii, 30 Midy I don¡¯t know what Joshua sees in her. Fine. Let her keep messing things up. ¡®The more chaos she causes, the sooner Joshua will realize she¡¯s nothing but a useless troublemaker, I just have to give him a little nudge. Once he sees her for what she is, this engagement will fall apart on its own.¡® Mariam had no choice but to carry the robot upstairs. Only then did Shermaine ask Ruth, ¡°So where exactly are you taking me?¡± Ruth said, acting all mysterious, ¡°Juste with me.¡± Nurse walking 18 Chapter 18 Shermaine didn¡¯t want to go out. And if she had to, she definitely didn¡¯t want to go with Ruth. But if she said no, Ruth would probably just hang around and refuse to leave. So, Shermaine had to head upstairs to change. She wasn¡¯t much of a dress person. The maple leaves outside were already turning yellow, and the autumn wind carried a chill. She swapped into a ck hoodie that went with anything, a pair of vintage jeans, and slipped on some canvas srieakers before heading back down. She didn¡¯t wear any makeup, just put on ayer of lip balm. But her features were so naturally striking that even without anything on, people couldn¡¯t help but be stunned by her beauty at first nce. Her skin was clear and wless, her hair pulled up into a bun. There was a cool elegance to her, with a hint of effortless charm. The moment Ruth saw her, though, her brows furrowed. It was clear she didn¡¯t like how casually Shermaine was dressed, with none of the elegance expected from a well¨Cbred youngdy. Ruth started nitpicking. ¡°Shermaine, your father just gave you a ton of pocket money yesterday. You should go buy a few decent outfits sometime. If you walk out dressed like this, people are gonna think we¡¯re neglecting you. I mean, seriously¨Cwhat is this thrift¨Cstore look?¡± She thought Shermaine¡¯s good looks werepletely wasted on such sloppy fashion. ¡°Comfort¡¯s all that matters,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°You¡¯ve got no taste at all,¡± Ruth replied, her tone full of disdain. Shermaine stayed calm. ¡°Mom, are we going or not?¡± Ruth was about to say something else, but the second she looked up and met Shermaine¡¯s clear, steady gaze, a strange chill crept down her spine. Still, Ruth had to admit, even if Shermaine was wearing nothing but cheap clothes, the way she carried herself made it look like high fashion. Ruth shut her mouth, got up, and walked out the door. A ck Rolls¨CRoyce was parked out front. After getting in, Shermaine pulled down her hat and closed her eyes to rest. About forty minutester, Ruth nudged her awake. Shermaine opened her eyes, turned her head, and nced out the window. They had arrived at Basterel University¨Cthe most prestigious institution in the entire city of Basterel. Since they were riding in a luxury car, they drew a lot of attention once they drove onto campus. The car stopped in front of the girls¡® dormitory. Ruth stepped out first, instantly catching the attention of the people around. Shermaine followed closely behind. Ruth walked ahead with an air of familiarity, and it was clearly not her first time here. ¡°This is Basterel University. It¡¯s the top university in the city¨Cand in the whole country, really. Wendy goes here. Back then, she scored almost a perfect SAT. ¡°She missed full marks by just three points. She¡¯s majoring in Comparative Literature. She¡¯s one of the most popr girls on campus, all while keeping top grades. Don¡¯t you think she¡¯s amazing? Such a shame she¡¯s had such bad luck.¡± Shermaine wondered, ¡®Bad luck? Wendelyn¡¯s only bad luck is not bing Joshua¡¯s fianc¨¦e. She¡¯s an orphan, but she got taken in by the Jean family and lives infort. What¡¯s so unlucky about that?¡® She smiled faintly and said nothing Ruth¡¯s voice brimmed with pride for Wendelyn. ¡°Sheary, since you didn¡¯t take the SAT, you missed the chance to go to college, I brought you here today so you could walk around and get a leel for the atmosphere and the academic vibe.* Shermaine thought, ¡°I radiate academic vibe. I don¡¯t need to feel it¡® Maybe it was the way her expression stayed so cold, but in Ruth¡¯s eyes, Shermaine just looked especially resistant to being there¨Cprobably because het pride had taken a hit. With that thought, Ruth¡¯s lips curled ever so slightly. Ruth continued, ¡°And then there¡¯s Joshua¨Cthe heir to the York family. He also went to Basterel University. He¡¯s even more impressive. ¡°He got straight into Basterel University at sixteen, then Harrod University at eighteen. By twenty, he had dual master¡¯s degrees. Then he enlisted. He didn¡¯t return to take over the York family¡¯s business until he was twenty¨Cfive.¡± Joshua was indeed impressive. And what Ruth said barely scratched the surface. From the very first moment Shermaine met him, she had sensed it¨Cthat sharp, familiar scent of someone cut from the same cloth. But Ruth¡¯s whole speech was transparent. She clearly wanted Shermaine to feel inferior, to realize how incapable she was byparison. The whole point was to put her in her ce. Too bad Ruth¡¯s n waspletely off the mark. Since Ruth was so set on thinking that way, Shermaine came up with an idea. A quick glint of sly amusement flickered in her eyes before she let out a light, gleeful whistle. ¡°My fianc¨¦¡¯s that amazing? That¡¯s freaking awesome.¡± Ruth was instantly speechless, feeling utterly frustrated. When they reached the building of the girls¡® dormitory, Wendelyn appeared, looking all gentle and graceful. She wore a blue vintage¨Cstyle dress, her figure slender, her makeup polished, with a book tucked in her arms. Students passing by looked at her with admiration and envy. Right then, a clean¨Ccut guy stepped forward, holding a massive bouquet of roses. He confessed, ¡°Wendelyn, I love you. Please be my girlfriend. I promise I¡¯ll treat you well.¡± Wendelyn turned him down gently. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t say yes. I¡¯m already in love with someone else.¡± The guy looked utterly disappointed. After he walked away, Wendelyn came over to Shermaine and Ruth, all sweet and innocent. ¡°Mom, Shermaine.¡± Shermaine couldn¡¯t even be bothered to respond. Ruth, on the other hand, lit up. ¡°Wendy, you¡¯re so popr. Are you heading to ss?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Wendelyn nodded. ¡°What ss do you have this afternoon?¡± Ruth asked. ¡°I¡¯ve been into mathtely,¡± Wendelyn replied. ¡°Thought I¡¯d sit in on a calculus lecture.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay to have hobbies, but make sure you get enough rest too, alright? Don¡¯t wear yourself out. You already know so much.¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯m not good enough yet. I want to be better.¡± No wonder Ruth was so pleased with Wendelyn, Since childhood, Wendelyn had been the model student¨Cacademically brilliant, sharp¨Cwitted, gracefully beautiful, the kind of girl who outshone Shermaine in other people¡¯s eyes. Shermaine was utterly speechless, thinking that the whole thing was just too much to watch. Right then, Wendelyn switched the topic. ¡°Shermaine, don¡¯t you think Basterel University is beautiful?¡± ¡°It is beautiful,¡± Shermaine said. Wendelyn was always good at keeping up appearances in front of others. Yesterday, things had nearly turned into a full¨Cblown catfight between them. But today, she was standing there in front of Shermaine like nothing happened, all smiles and small talk. She remarked, ¡°Mom doesn¡¯t know the campus that well. After my ss, I can give you a tour¡± Shermaine¡¯s tone waszy. ¡°Sure.¡± Wendelyn beamed and suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t youe to ss with me?¡± A sly smile flickered in Shermaine¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡® not even a student here. You think I can just tag along?¡± ¡°You totally can,¡± Wendelyn said. Shermaine hesitated. ¡°I¡¯ll pass.¡± Calculus was way too basic for her. If she sat through that, she¡¯d probably end up falling asleep. But Ruth, clearly worried she might back out, coaxed her, ¡°Sheary, just sit in and get a feel for what a real college ss is like. We can walk around the campus afterward.¡± ¡°All right then,¡± Shermaine said. Ruth and Wendelyn exchanged a smile, perfectly in sync. They took a campus shuttle to the Department of Mathematics. By the time they got to the lecture hall, most of the seats were already taken. Mathematics wasn¡¯t exactly the most popr major¨Cusually not a go¨Cto for the average student. Still, this was the top university in Wallington. Academic overachievers were everywhere, so a crowded lecture wasn¡¯t that surprising. Though honestly, most of the people in the room seemed more like they were just tagging along for fun. Sure enough, the moment Wendelyn walked in, a student got up right away and offered her a seat, saying, ¡°Wendelyn,e sit here.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Wendelyn smiled, pulling Ruth along to take the best seats in the middle. Shermaine ended up sitting behind them. Just then, someone muttered, ¡°Holy carp. I heard the professor has taken the day off, so today¡¯s ss is being covered by Lorenzo Hussain. Yep, we¡¯re screwed. Looks like we¡¯ll all be retaking this course.¡± AD Comment Nurse walking 19 Chapter 19 The math majors were practically howling in despair, while the students who came just for fun sat there looking totally lost,pletely clueless about what was going on. They had at least heard of Lorenzo. The guy was a total legend in Basterel University¡¯s math department¨Cthe ultimate top student, runner¨Cup in the International Mathematical Tournament, and currently working on his PhD at Basterel. The ones auditing the ss had no idea how miserable the actual majors were and one of them asked, ¡°Is it really that bad?¡± It was known that advanced calculus had one of the highest failure rates. Even for the math majors, this course was no joke, which said everything about how brutal it was. One of the majors exined, ¡°Lorenzo has this thing where, before every ss, he picks someone at random and gives them a pop quiz. If that person can¡¯t answer correctly, they lose grade points.¡± Getting points deducted was just the beginning. He¡¯d make any student who failed to answer his questions read all sorts of advanced math books. And it didn¡¯t stop there. After reading, the student would be tested again, just so Lorenzo could see whether they had actually read the books thoroughly. If they still couldn¡¯t answer, an even more miserable fate awaited them. Someone auditing the ss asked nervously, ¡°We¡¯re just sitting in¨Che¡¯s not gonna , right?¡± That major replied, ¡°Lorenzo once picked a girl who was only here to sit in. He made her run tenps around the track. After that, she never dared toe to this ss just to keep her boyfriendpany again.¡± With that, the whole room got tense. Everyone was thinking, ¡®This guy¡¯s a freaking monster.¡¯ The non¨Cmajors were already nning an escape¨Cbut before they could act, Lorenzo walked in. He might be a monster in the students¡® eyes, but he looked like he¡¯d just stepped off a soap opera set. He was tall, ridiculously good¨Clooking, and that white shirt on him made him look clean¨Ccut and eye¨Ccatching. He and Joshua had totally different vibes. When Joshua wore a white shirt, he gave off such a restrained, buttoned¨Cup vibe¨Cit made one want to rip it right off him. But Shermaine thought Lorenzo looked kind of familiar, like she¡¯d seen him somewhere before. She tried to recall, but it just wouldn¡¯te to her. Lorenzo set his book down on the desk, nced across the ssroom without calling roll, and said, ¡°For the next week, I¡¯ll be filling in for the professor. Sit tight.¡± The students immediately straightened up in their seats, wearing looks of pure misery. Then Lorenzo picked up a piece of chalk and started writing aplicated problem on the ckboard. Wendelyn stayed calm as ever, not the least bit worried that she might get picked to solve it. Even if she did, she could handle it. Back in high school, she had been good at science and math, and even after starting college, she hadn¡¯t fallen behind in math. She kept up with the books and practiced problems every now and then. She wanted people to see that even though she was majoring in Comparative Literature¨Cand doing exceptionally well in it¨Cshe was just a mathematics. ng in More importantly, Wendelyn wanted to show Shermaine that although she¡¯d lost to her in chess, in everything else, Shermaine wasn¡¯t going to win just because she was a little clever. Shermaine took off her ck cap. The girl sitting next to her looked unusually nervous for some reason. She kept sipping chamomile tea, clearly terrified 1/4 Chapter 19 that Lorenzo might pick her to solve the problem. The girl had already drunk more than half her chamomile tea, and with her hand shaking, the lid slipped off¨Cit wasn¡¯t screwed on tight and rolled right next to Shermaine. Shermaine bent down and picked it up for her. ¡°Thanks,¡± the girl said. ¡°No problem,¡± Shermaine replied. The girl couldn¡¯t help but nce at Shermaine, and she was instantly struck by her looks. Shermaine wasn¡¯t just pretty¨Cher bone structure was wless. She was absolutely stunning. Next to Shermaine, even Wendelyn¨Cthe most popr girl on campus¨Cseemed a little in. The girl whispered, ¡°Howe you don¡¯t look nervous at all?¡± ¡°I¡¯m actually really nervous,¡± Shermaine said. The girl looked at her, clearly doubtful, and thought, ¡®Really? I think you¡¯re lying, but I¡¯ve got no proof. Lorenzo finished writing the problem and tossed the chalk aside. ¡°Students in the middle right, rows seven and eight,e up, grab a sheet, and solve this problem. You¡¯ve got ten minutes.¡± At that, the girl instantly pulled a long face when she realized they were in the eighth row. . She thought, ¡®Figures. Worst fears alwayse true! The first student in the seventh and eighth rows looked like he was about to cry as he stepped forward to grab the paper and started passing it down the row. Lorenzo hadn¡¯t given them a calculus problem¨Cit was advanced mathematics. Strictly speaking, calculus was more difficult than advanced math, but Lorenzo had a way of making things tricky. If the students hadn¡¯t done enough practice, it was easy to get tripped up by his questions. On the ckboard, the problem read: Find positive values of a and b such that the equation (X+0) lim [1/(x¨Cbsinx)] fo* v(a+t2) dt = 1 holds true. In the seventh row, Wendelyn took the sheet of paper and immediately pulled out her pen to begin working on the problem. Sitting among the students, Ruth felt a bit awkward. Even though she had dressed younger, the years had left their mark¨Clike the crow¡¯s feet around her eyes¨Cmaking it obvious she wasn¡¯t some young college girl. She had no clue how to solve any of this, so she just pretended to be working. As long as Wendelyn figured it out, she¡¯d be fine. Wendelyn, ever considerate, turned her head and handed a ballpoint pen to Shermaine. ¡°You got this, Shermaine.¡± It was a tant challenge. She was betting Shermaine wouldn¡¯t be able O solve it. But for Shermaine, the question was a piece of cake. She took the p pen and started writing, her hand flying across the page. In less than thirty seconds, she had it solved. The girl next to her was chewing her nails and bouncing her leg like crazy, but her sheet was still nk. Up at the front, Lorenzo sat with his legs crossed, keeping his eyes on the students in the seventh and eighth rows, asionally checking his watch. Shermaine spun the pen between her fingers and cast a sympathetic nce at the girl beside her, who looked like she might burst into tears, Lorenzo, noticing Shermaine twisting her pen and ncing sideways, immediately frowned. ¡°Eighth row, sixth seat, the girl in the ck hoodie, Focus on 20:40 Fri, 30 May G your own paper. Don¡¯t distract others.¡± 93% The moment he said it, everyone looked over¨Conly to realize that the girl who¡¯d just been called on, Shermaine, was actually gorgeous. With the cap she¡¯d been wearing, no one had noticed she was even better looking than Wendelyn. Hearing ¡°sixth seat, ck hoodie¡°, Shermaine realized Lorenzo was talking about her. She turned her head and locked eyes with him. He was looking right at her, his gazeced with scrutiny. Shermaine genuinely felt like Lorenzo looked familiar somehow, but just couldn¡¯t ce where she¡¯d seen him before. She was smart and had a photographic memory, but she wasn¡¯t great at remembering faces. She wondered, ¡®Is he staring at me like that because he thinks I look familiar too?¡® Just as she was about to speak, Wendelyn raised her hand and said in a soft, sweet voice, ¡°Sir, my sister Shermaine isn¡¯t a student here. It¡¯s her first time visiting our campus, so I hope you won¡¯t be too harsh and scare her off.¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow. The moment Lorenzo got a clear look at Shermaine¡¯s face, it finally clicked. She was the one who had snatched his gold medal back at the International Mathematical Tournament. He thought, ¡®It¡¯s been a long time. Can¡¯t believe I¡¯m seeing you again, here at Basterel University.¡® Lorenzo didn¡¯t say anything else. Ten minutester, he began calling on students at random. Those selected had to stand up and present their answers in front of everyone. Unfortunately, the girl sitting next to Shermaine was chosen. Her seat number came up in the random draw. Shermaine noticed her sheet was stillpletely nk. As the girl stood up trembling like she might faint, Shermaine took the chance to steady her while slipping her ownpleted answer sheet into the girl¡¯s hands in exchange. The girl froze, then gave Shermaine a grateful look. Three students were selected in total. Besides the girl, there was a male student and Wendelyn. The girl copied Shermaine¡¯s answer onto the ckboard. After seeing Shermaine¡¯s approach, she thought, ¡®Turns out this problem¡¯s actually pretty easy. Just apply L¡¯H?pital¡¯s Rule¨Cfirst, split the integral. Since (X¡ú0) lim (1 ¨C bcosx) = 0, that gives b = 1. Substituting back into the original expression gives a = 4.¡® The girl vaguely remembereding across this question while doing practice problems before, but her memory wasn¡¯t sharp enough¨Cand with all the nerves, itpletely slipped her mind. After finishing the full process and answer, she went back to her seat. The guy hadn¡¯t solved it and gave up entirely. Wendelyn, on the other hand, had solved it correctly too. When Lorenzo confirmed that both she and the other girl had the right answers, students immediately began hyping Wendelyn up. One of the students said, ¡°Whoa, Wendelyn¡¯s a Comparative Literature major and she still nailed this? That¡¯s insane. Total genius, seriously.¡± Nurse walking 20 Chapter 20 The girl sitting next to Shermaine, Miley Foster, looked at her with deep gratitude and said, ¡°Thank you¡± Shermaine smiled and nodded slightly. Miley¡¯s eyes instantly lit up with admiration. She looked at the stunning Shermaine in front of her and thought, ¡®She finished that problem in like thirty seconds. That speed is insane. She¡¯s definitely a total genius like Lorenzo.¡® At that moment, Lorenzo nced down at the twopleted answer sheets in front of him. He knew full well that the one in Miley¡¯s hand didn¡¯t belong to her, but since it was Shermaine, he let it slide. Then, hearing all thepliments being thrown Wendelyn¡¯s way from the audience, he had to admit she had some real talent. Still, in this world, geniuses were everywhere. It was better to stay low¨Ckey¨Cbeing too shy would only work against her. Wendelyn, hearing the praise, gave a modest smile as if it were no big deal. Off to the side, Ruth was clearly pleased with how everything was ying out. She had raised Wendelyn herself, so naturally, she took pride in that. Once Wendelyn got back to her seat, she turned and nced at Shermaine. Noticing that the paper in front of Shermaine waspletely nk, Wendelyn couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°Guess that kind of question really is too hard for you.¡± Shermaine kept a straight face. ¡°Yeah. Super hard.¡± She was starting to think she might¡¯ve finally found something she wasn¡¯t very good at¨Cacting Miley was about to speak up, ready to clear things up and tell Wendelyn that the nk paper belonged to her and the one brought onstage was actually Shermaine¡¯s. But then Lorenzo cut in, ¡°Quiet. ss is starting.¡± Miley had no choice but to open her textbook and wanted to wait until ss was over to clear up the misunderstanding. After forty¨Cfive minutes of high¨Ctension calculus, the ss finally came to an end like a long¨Coverdue release. Lorenzo wrapped up the lecture in his usual businesslike manner. The only thing lingering on his mind was Shermaine. He¡¯d never gotten over what had happened at the International Mathematical Tournament years ago. Still, with so many people in the room and the crowd swarming toward Wendelyn, he didn¡¯t even get the chance to say hi to Shermaine. And it wasn¡¯t just Lorenzo¨Ceven the girl sitting next to Shermaine didn¡¯t get the chance to speak up and exin. Lorenzo thought, ¡®No rush. Now that I know Shermaine and Wendelyn are sisters, it¡¯ll be easy to find herter.¡® ¡°Wendelyn, you¡¯re amazing. Can you tell me how you usually study?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve decided you¡¯re officially my idol.¡± ¡°You¡¯re awesome, Wendelyn.¡± ¡°Is that your mom sitting next to you?¡± ¡°Your mom looks so young. The two of you sitting together look more like sisters than mother and daughter.¡± The students were all talkative and ttering, showering Ruth and Wendelyn with so much praise they could barely stop smiling. Wendelyn answered each of their questions one by one. Then a guy shifted the topic and asked, ¡°Is that your sister sitting in the back?¡± Shermaine¡¯s aura was icy and intense. Even though they were curious enough to gather around, no one dared to get too close to her. And Shermaine was stunning¨Cstriking in a way that totally outshone Wendelyn¡¯s beauty, almost intimidating. But Wendelyn was a top student, so most 1/3 people still gravitated toward her Even so, plenty of them were curious about Shermaine¡¯s background, Someone chimed in. Yeah, I was wondering too.¡± Then another asked, ¡°Wendy, how old is your sister?¡± ¡°She¡¯s one year older than me,¡± Wendelyn replied. Wendelyn was eighteen. That made Shermaine neen. Wendelyn had skipped a grade, so she was younger than them, while Shermaine happened to be their age. The guy asked, ¡°What¡¯s your sister¡¯s name?¡± Wendelyn answered, ¡°Shermaine Shue.¡± The guy thought, ¡®Shermaine Shue? That¡¯s a unique and pretty name. Guess they¡¯re not real sisters if they¡¯ve got differentst names. The guy continued, ¡°Wendy, which college does she go to?¡± Wendelyn pulled back her smile, looking a little embarrassed, and passed the question off to Shermaine. ¡°You¡¯ll have to ask Shermaine about that. The guy turned his head, and the moment his eyesnded on Shermaine¡¯s face, his heart skipped a beat. Shermaine pulled on her cap, revealing only her refined jawline. ¡°The School of Hard Knocks.¡± The guy thought, ¡®Neen and already at the School of Hard Knocks? Is that her way of saying she never even went to college? Figures. Not every rich kid is like Wendelyn. Shermaine¡¯s probably just another spoiled brat who only knows how to party! With that thought, the way he looked at Shermaine shifted. He said, ¡°You¡¯re hrious.¡± But his tone had lost its earlier politeness and turned a little smug. Shermaine tilted her chin. Her eyes, cold as ice beneath the brim of her cap, locked on him. ¡°Do I know you?¡± A wave of pressure hit, and the guy instinctively backed down, falling silent. Shermaine stood up. ¡°You¡¯re blocking my way.¡± The second those words dropped, the whole crowd quieted and stepped aside. Standing in the aisle, Shermaine said briefly, ¡°I¡¯m going to thedies¡® room.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go with you,¡± Ruth said, rising too. Shermaine didn¡¯t object. She could already imagine how they¡¯d tear her apart behind her back the moment she walked away. Wendelyn pointed the direction. ¡°It¡¯s at the end on the right.¡± That only made her seem even more well¨Cmannered andposed, while Shermaine came off proud and unapproachable. With Ruth gone and Wendelyn left alone, the others got bolder with their questions. Someone asked, ¡°Wendy, is she really your sister? How is she so different from you?¡± Someone chimed in, ¡°Exactly. She¡¯s so young and already cking off like that? Unbelievable.¡± They prided themselves on being self¨Crighteous and always looked down on people who didn¡¯t care about academics. Another said, ¡°Your family¡¯s loaded, right? You should just ship Shermaine off to study abroad or something. Otherwise, she¡¯s gonna end up embarrassing you all. If a prestigious family like yours raises such a total failure, people are gonnaugh their heads off.¡± Trouvay Someone else added, ¡°That¡¯s what spoiled rich kids are like. And let¡¯s be real, who would dare talk trash in front of them anyway! They¡¯re the type when throw their weight around and look down on college students like us.¡± Wendelyn looked conflicted. ¡°Don¡¯t say that. She¡¯s just not the type to open up right away. Her personality¡¯s not as bad as you think.¡± ¡°Wendy,e on. Stop trying to defend her. We¡¯re not blind¨Cwe can tell what kind of person she is,¡± someone said. Wendelyn¡¯s eyes welled up in an instant. Chly then did they switch to a gentler tone. Someone said, ¡°Alright. We won¡¯t badmouth Shermaine in front of you anymore. Don¡¯t get upset.¡± getting way out of line. She wondered, ¡®They¡¯ve got such wild imaginations¨Cwhy But Miley, the girl Shermaine had helped earlier, thought they aren¡¯t they writing novels instead? were Judging someone that harshly off a few casualments? Students at Basterel University aren¡¯t all that morally superior, clearly As for Wendelyn, Miley found her kind of fake. If Wendely really thought they¡¯d crossed the line, she should¡¯ve snapped back hard. But she didn¡¯t. Miley couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°You guys are way out of line. For students at a top¨Ctier university, you sure sound like the trolls i see online.¡± She continued, full of indignation, ¡°So what if she¡¯s neen and already out in the real world? That doesn¡¯t mean she¡¯s uneducated. ¡°And so what if she¡¯s a little cold and distant? Are you saying she doesn¡¯t have the right to be? Or do you think you¡¯re better than anyone else?¡± After Miley said that, they all felt embarrassed because they knew she kind of had a point. Besides, Shermaine hadn¡¯t actually done anything to them and they didn¡¯t need to be so mean. Plus, Shermaine was a girl. Wendelyn gave a polite smile. ¡°You¡¯re the girl who solved that problem like me earlier, right? Thank you for standing up for Shermaine. You¡¯re really kind. But I do want to rify something¨Cthere¡¯s a reason for it. ¡°Shermaine really hasn¡¯t been to college. That said, whether she goes or not doesn¡¯t matter to us. Our family has always respected her choices. As long as she¡¯s happy, that¡¯s what matters.¡± Miley was speechless. She thought, ¡®She yed nice first, then hit Shermaine where it hurts. There¡¯s no doubt that Wendelyn¡¯s a top¨Ctier hypocrite.¡± And just like that, her respect for Shermaine shot up. Shermaine didn¡¯t even go to college, yet she was sharper than most people who did. That alone made her worth admiring. Miley remarked, ¡°Then Shermaine must be amazing. That question earlier¡ª¡± Her words got cut off as Shermaine appeared at the ssroom door. ¡°Wendy, ready to go?¡± Shermaine asked. AD Comment Nurse walking 21 Chapter 21 Shermaine¡¯s eyesnded on Miley, and she gave her a faint smile. Miley blinked, confused as to why Shermaine wouldn¡¯t let her finish exining. If she had, no one would¡¯ve dared to look down on her. But Shermaine had her own reasons. Back in the bathroom, Ruth had asked her, ¡°Shermaine, have you ever thought about going to college?¡± Shermaine was washing her hands. Hearing that, she looked up at her. Ruth said, ¡°You¡¯re only neen. It¡¯s not toote to go back to school. If you¡¯re interested, I can get you into senior year at Brightwater/ could take the SAT next year.¡± Shermaine knew Ruth wouldn¡¯t be so kind. Ruth clearly thought she¡¯d fail, which was why she wanted Shermaine to go to school. Shermaine lowered her gaze. ¡°I won¡¯t do well on it.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t even tried. How would you know?¡± Ruth challenged her. Shermaine said, ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± ¡°Think it over tonight. Give me your answer tomorrow.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Academy. You In truth, Shermaine had already made up her mind. If Ruth wanted her to go to school, she would. But if Ruth thought Shermaine would make a fool of herself, she could forget it. That was never going to happen. Shermaine had gone abroad for her studies without ever taking the SAT, and back then, she¡¯d actually felt kind of regretful about it. Wendelyn brushed her hair back and stood up. ¡°Bye, guys.¡± Once she left, the other students, who had been swayed a little by what Miley said, started spouting nonsense again thanks to Wendelyn¡¯s little speech. Someone said, ¡°What¡¯s the point of being that pretty? Compared to Wendelyn, Shermaine¡¯s nothing special.¡± Another added, ¡°I¡¯m telling you, I¡¯d bet anything Wendelyn¡¯s sister is just some spoiled brat.¡± Miley was fuming. She rolled her eyes at them, gathered her books, and walked out. A ssmate from her math major left with her. The ssmate didn¡¯t get it and asked, ¡°Miley, why did you defend that pretty girl just now? You can¡¯t win against Wendelyn¡¯s brain¨Cdead stans.¡± Miley exined, ¡°Shermaine helped me out. I totally nked on thatst problem and couldn¡¯t solve it. I was freaking out. Shermaine gave me the answer, and that¡¯s how I made it through. She solved it in thirty seconds. I seriously doubt what Wendelyn said.¡± The ssmate said, ¡°No way. She¡¯s that good?¡± Miley nodded. ¡°Yup.¡± Basterel University covered over 1,100 acres. It didn¡¯t take long before Ruth, who was in heels, had to stop for a break every few minutes. The sidewalk was littered with fallen leaves, and the warm sunlight made everything feel pleasant. They sat down on a bench near the track field. To the left was a massive ser field, and on the right, a tennis court In the afternoon, a lot of students came out to exercise. The campus was full of energy and youth. Wendelyn was indeed very popr at Basterel University. No matter where she went, someone woulde up and say hi. Just then, someone shouted, ¡°Watch out.¡± Shermaine lifted her eyes slightly, sensing somethinging her way. Looking up, she saw a ser ball flying straight at them. Scared, Ruth went pale. Meanwhile, the guy who had just walked over to say hello immediately stepped in front of Wendelyn, Shermaine lifted her leg and kicked. A clean spinning strike sent the ball flying back across the field and into the. As she turned, the motion was too fast. Her hat came off. She bent down slightly, picked it up, brushed it off, and put it back on. But everyone around was stunned by Shermaine¡¯s move. She was seriously badass. Even the ones who yed ser all the time couldn¡¯t pull that off. One of the ser yers said, ¡°Hey, sorry about earlier. Wanna join us for a game?¡± Shermaine replied, ¡°You guys are weak.¡± All the ser yers thought, ¡®Alright then. We just got roasted.¡® And just like that, in front of everyone, Shermaine stole the spotlight. Wendelyn bit her lip, already regretting bringing Shermaine along. She wondered, ¡®Who would¡¯ve thought she was that athletic? Instead of getting hit, she pulled off that stunt. ¡®Then again, it makes sense. If she wasn¡¯t athletic, how would she have beaten Ronnie so badly he ended up in the hospital back then?¡® Ruth told Shermaine to go buy some water. Shermaine was a bit thirsty anyway, so she went. She got herself a box of yogurt and grabbed a bottle of water for Ruth. A few girls walked into the shop too. They were in workout gear, sweaty and panting, grabbing drinks and chugging them right there. Shermaine stood near the door, tossed the wrapper, and took a sip of yogurt. Suddenly, someone bumped hard into her shoulder. The yogurt slipped from her hand and hit the ground. With a st, it burst open, spilling everywhere. And the capless water bottle sshed halfway down her front. A chill hit her straight to the bone, Shermaine looked down and saw a huge wet patch on her chest. She frowned instinctively. The girl gasped, but her tone was anything but sincere. ¡°Oops, sorry. I didn¡¯t see you there.¡± Then she turned away. Her high ponytail flicked right across Shermaine¡¯s face¨Csharp and stinging. ¡°I didn¡¯t say you could leave.¡± Shermaine raised her hand and grabbed the girl¡¯s ponytail. The girl cried out in pain and turned around. ¡°Hey I didn¡¯t do it on purpose. I already said sorry. Why are you pulling my hair?¡± Shermaine thought, ¡®Like hell I can¡¯t tell if she did it on purpose. There¡¯s plenty of room by the door and she just had to crash into me.¡® Shermaine eyed her. ¡°You¡¯re not nning to pay for my yogurt?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a few bucks. You¡¯re seriously making a big deal over that? So petty.¡± The girl raised her voice, drawing attention from the people around the store. 20:44 Fri, 30 May Shermaine tightened her grip, and the girl¡¯s head tilted back, her scalp stinging. ¡°I said, pay for my yogurt. You deaf or what?¡± Shermaine said coldly. The girl¡¯s ears turned red. Shermaine¡¯s icy voice was calm on the surface, but there was something about it that crushed any resistances Still, the girl didn¡¯t forget what she was here for. Hershes trembled, and she yed the helpless card. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll pay. No need to be so mean ¡° Shermaine smirked, leaned in close, and murmured by her ear, ¡°Since you set me up, you¡¯ll definitely pay the price.¡± The girl flinched, panic shing in her eyes before she quickly masked it. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± She turned and went back into the store, came out with the exact same yogurt, and left in a hurry. But it didn¡¯t take long before a post about Shermaine popped up on the Basterel University student forum and went viral with the title ¡°) can¡¯t believe Wendelyn Jean¡¯s sister turned out to be like this.¡± The second it went up, the thread exploded with gossip¨Chungry students. The original poster: [My friend just bumped into Shermaine and she already apologized, but Shermaine still acted all aggressive, yanked her ponytail, and wouldn¡¯t even let her leave.] Several high¨Cres photos were attached right after. The original poster: [I know Wendelyn and Shermaine are family, but their personalities are just worlds apart. I¡¯m not hating on Wendelyn, I just really don¡¯t like her sister and felt like venting a little.] Soon enough, more people jumped in to pile on. Netizen 1: [What kind of nightmare sister is this?] Netizen 2: [I was lucky to be in calculus ss with Wendelyn today, and also saw her mom and sister. Her mom¡¯s gorgeous and super ssy. But her sister is way too arrogant. She¡¯s really cold and distant.] Netizen 3: [That¡¯s not just cold. That¡¯s straight¨Cup stuck¨Cup.] Netizen 4: [Total rich brat energy. She doesn¡¯t go to school. She¡¯s the type who only knows how to party and blow money. Your post¡¯s about to blow up. Better watch out¨Cif she sees this, she¡¯lle for you.] The original poster replied to Netizen 4: [I¡¯ve got freedom of speech. I¡¯m not scared of her.] Wendelyn sat on the bench, a satisfied smile tugging at her lips as ¡®she watched the post rack up views. Then Shermaine¡¯s voice came from beside her. ¡°Wendelyn, what¡¯s so funny?¡± AD Comment Nurse walking 22 Startled, Wendelyn flinched, instinctively locking her phone. When she looked up, Shermaine was already smiling at her, Werdelyn¡¯s farw stiffened as she said, ¡°Nothing¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Wendelyn said. She clenched her jaw and thought, ¡®Why the hell was I scared of Shermaine just now? That reaction was some! By evening, the sun had begun to set. Around seven o¡¯clock, a car pulled up in front of the vi. Joshua didn¡¯t live here, but since his grandfather kept tabs on him, he¡¯d show up at set times, then leave right on schedule. Mariam had already made dinner. Once he walked in, Joshua changed into slippers and loosened his tie. ¡°Shermaine¡¯s not home yet?¡± Mariam replied, ¡°No, Mr. York.¡± The vacuum robot at home wasn¡¯t the standard kind, different from average ones. A regr one just cleaned and did nothing else. But the one Joshua had bought came with anguage program. When it sensed the owner¡¯s return, it would greet them at the door. If it detected the owner was in a bad mood, it would do a mechanical dance to cheer them up. Mariam figured that since this robot was sort of part of the household, she added, ¡°Mr. York, Ms. Shue identally kicked the robot and broke it before she left.¡± The robot had been around for two years. Joshua never thought it was anything special, but in terms of cleaning, it did an incredibly thorough job. That was why he hadn¡¯t hesitated to drop a lot of money on it in the first ce. Joshua thought, ¡®Shermaine broke it? Whatever.¡® His expression stayed calm. ¡°Then rece it.¡± Mariam couldn¡¯t help but feel Joshua was holding a double standard. Back when Alfred came over and started fiddling with the vacuum robot out of curiosity, Joshua had said, ¡°If you break it, I¡¯ll break your hands.¡± So Mariam had assumed the robot was something special to Joshua. When Shermaine identally broke it, Mariam had been worried sick for her. She hadn¡¯t expected Joshua to react like this at all. After saying that, Joshua went upstairs. Mariam started thinking maybe she should find someone to repair the robot, just in case it could be fixed. Then she suddenly remembered¨CShermaine had mentioned she¡¯de back and fix it herself. But Mariam didn¡¯t think this could be handled without some serious tech skills. By 9 p.m., Shermaine finally got home. She hadn¡¯t nned on having dinner with Wendelyn and Ruth, but they¡¯d dragged her along to some upscale sushi ce. Shermaine couldn¡¯t get used to eating raw fish, and honestly, the dinner had been pretty underwhelming. Meanwhile, her bad reputation at Basterel University had already started making its way into upper¨Css social circles. Even some of the usual rich¨Ckid ckers were confused. They¡¯d never messed with the academic crowd, so they didn¡¯t get why they were being loc down on now. 20:45. Fr, 30 May Chapter 22 So a bunch of spoiled rich kids who never took school seriously swarmed into Basteret University¡¯s student forum, loved the por their own reputation. Someonemented: ¡°If you wanna diss Shermaine, go ahead. But what¡¯s with dragging us rich kids into it too? You think a backwoods facerepa her even qualifies to hang with us? Get real.¡± Another typed out ament: [She hurt our friend Ronnie and we still haven¡¯t dealt with her yet.) Someone else wrote: [You college nerds better watch how you talk.} After the rich kids made theirments, a bunch of high¨Csociety girls who couldn¡¯t stand Shermaine jumped in with snide remarks, dropping juicy gossip about Shermaine. One of themmented: [Though Shermaine¡¯s technically a member of the Jean family now, she¡¯s only been their heiress for a month Before that, she was just a regr nobody. [People always say talent cane from anywhere, but I don¡¯t see that in her at all. Aside from being pretty, she¡¯s got nothing going for her. And she¡¯s mean and violent, too.] Another added: [Compared to Wendelyn, Shermaine¡¯s nothing. What¡¯s worse, she snatched Wendelyn¡¯s crush. The moment she came back, she became his fianc¨¦e. Has she even looked in a mirror? Does she seriously think she¡¯s good enough for Mr. York?] Shermaine read thements and realized she was officially being cyberbullied. She skimmed through a fewments on herputer, then casually tapped a few keys. Within seconds, the original poster¡¯s personal info popped up on the screen. The poster turned out to be Erin Murray, a sophomore Comparative Literature major at Basterel University. Shermaine stared at the ID photo. It was the same girl who had bumped into her earlier today. Shermaine typed a few moremands and directly hacked into Erin¡¯s phone andptop. Erin¡¯sputer had important course files saved on it. Shermaine clicked delete, and they were gone for good, with no way to recover them. At the same time, Erin was ying a pay¨Cto¨Cwin mobile game called Starlight Groove on her phone. Also, her WhatsApp was full of chat logs between her and Wendelyn, and Shermaine hadn¡¯t expected to stumble on solid proof just by digging a little. Wendelyn had even generously wired Erin thirty thousand dors as a reward and a payoff to keep her mouth shut. Erin¡¯s gaming ount had over thirty thousand dors in recharge history. Shermaine clicked her tongue and thought, ¡®She doesn¡¯t evene from money, but look at how much she¡¯s willing to spend on a mobile game. Total money¨Cburner. ¡®She goes to such a good school, but she¡¯s clearly stupid. Might as well start her off with a little warning shot. ???????????? After getting that thirty thousand dors, Erin had already spent a few thousand on Starlight Groove today alone, finally managing to collect the full set of that new premium outfit. Once she had it on her avatar, she joined her friends¡® game lobby, turned on her mic, and startedining, ¡°I got such bad luck. It took me a few thousand bucks just to get this collection.¡± Before her friends could even reply, her screen suddenly went white. No matter what she clicked on the screen, nothing worked. Erin muttered under her breath, ¡°Stupid phone.¡± A minuteter, her phone finally went back to normal. Erin logged back into the game. But when she got in, she saw that every single outfit in her ount was gone. Her character was standing there in the default outfit. She thought she was seeing things, so she logged in again. But it was still the same. Fri, 30 May Erin was on the verge of tears and immediately contacted customer support, submitting a whole list of transaction records to prove how much m¨¢ney she had poured into the game. Ten minutester, the customer support team finally replied: (Ms. Murray, we¡¯re very sorry, but your ount data has been tampered with Unfortunately, our technicians are unable to recover it. We apologize for the inconvenience.] Customer support: We suggest you rece your SIM card and create a new ount as soon as possible to avoid further loss.) Erin was furious as she typed back: [You¡¯re not going topensate me for my losses?] Customer support: [The attack was targeted at you specifically. The hacker didn¡¯t alter any other yer¡¯s data or attack our servers.] When it came to hackers like that, the tech team¡¯s stance was to avoid provoking them. They figured Erin had simply pissed off the wrong person. Erin was falling apart. She couldn¡¯t think of a single person she might¡¯ve crossed. Just as she was about to type out aeback, Shermaine¡¯s words from the afternoon suddenly came back to her loud and clear. ¡°Since you set me up.. you¡¯ll definitely pay the price,¡± Shermaine had said back then. Erin wondered, ¡®Could it be Shermaine?¡® The moment that thought hit her, a chill crept down her spine. But this was only the beginning of Erin¡¯s nightmare. Shermaine stretchedzily and was about to go look for a drink when her eyesnded on the robot vacuum she¡¯d kicked and broken this morning. She carried it over to the table, grabbed a wrench, and dismantled it on the spot. The programming was way too basic. Her obsessive need for perfection kicked in, and she upgraded it and optimized it. Around ten, the robot vacuum rebooted. Then, someone knocked on the door to Joshua¡¯s study. He thought Shermaine needed something again. But when he opened the door, no one was there¨Cuntil he heard a voice at his feet. ¡°Good evening, Master. I¡¯m King Tiki, version 2.0 of your robotic cleaning assistant. It¡¯s an honor to serve you.¡± Nurse walking 23 King Tiki looked like Baymax, always wearing a permanent smile. After introducing itself, it started sting music and breaking into a goory dance King Tiki: [You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only seventeen. Dancing Queen, feel the beat from the tambourine. Oh yeah) Joshua was speechless. That secondhand embarrassment hit hard. After the dance, King Tiki scooted into the study and happily got to cleaning. The dance was over, but the music kept going. King Tiki: [You¡¯re just too good to be true. Can¡¯t take my eyes off you. You¡¯d be like Heaven to touch. I wanna hold you so much.j Then it started talking again,ughing while it sang. I¡¯m gonna clean up all the dust. Don¡¯t believe me, just watch.¡± The robot had gotten so annoyingly loud, and there was no way it was still the same one. Joshua pressed his lips together, looking vaguely resigned. There was only one person who could¡¯ve reprogrammed it like this¨CShermaine. Joshua thought, ¡®So what does this mean? It means Shermaine can code. And before that, she said she knew medicine and even tried to treat my grandpa. That¡¯s a lot of skills.¡® Just as he was mulling it over, some noises came from downstairs. Shermaine was dicing tomatoes, her hand steady as the knife glided cleanly through each one, creating neat little cubes. The de tapped rhythmically against the cutting board¨Csharp, precise, and crisp. On the stove, the pot of water was bubbling with steam curling upward. She dropped the spaghetti straight into the boiling water. Once it was done, she drained the water and tossed the diced tomatoes and fresh green spinach into the pot. Then, the pasta was ready. Shermaine dished up a te of the pasta when Joshua¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°You didn¡¯t have dinner?¡± Shermaine turned around and saw him standing a short distance away, tall, elegant andposed like he¡¯d stepped out of a painting. She exined, ¡°They had sushi. I¡¯m not into that.¡± She pulled out a chair and sat down. ¡°There¡¯s extra pasta. You want some?¡± ¡°I¡¯m good. Not hungry,¡± Joshua replied. But the pasta smelled pretty good. ¡°Okay,¡± Shermaine said, then looked down and started eating. Under the lights, her skin looked wless and radiant, her features sharp and stunning, that mix of innocence and allure impossible to ignore. Joshua asked, ¡°You rewrote the robot¡¯s programming?¡± Shermaine nodded as she chewed. After swallowing, she said, ¡°It¡¯ll perform way better now.¡± ¡°You¡¯re better than I expected,¡± Joshua said. Shermaine looked up, her expression full of pride.¡°I told you I¡¯m quite impressive.¡± Being ¡°good¡± and being ¡°impressive¡± were twopletely different things. To Joshua, impressive meant dominating a field¨Clike someone who¡¯d been ranked first in math for years. That was impressive. He thought, ¡®Still just a kid. Augh slipped out. He changed the subject. ¡°Where did Mrs. Jean take you today?¡± ¡°Basterel University,¡± Shermaine answered. 1/4 ¡°What for?¡± he asked, slightly confused. She said it was to broaden my horizons¡® or whatever,¡± Shermaine said, slurping up a strand of spaghetti, Some of the sauce identally bindes cheek. ¡°I might be starting school in a few days.¡± She reached for a napkin to wipe her face. Joshua thought, ¡®School? Makes sense. She¡¯s only neen. Perfect age to study. He, on the other hand, was already thirty¨Celeven years older than her. He couldn¡¯t imagine what the two families were thinking when they arranged that engagement back then. Still, Joshua had no regrets. It was a mutually beneficial deal. And it wasn¡¯t like he had any interest in robbing the cradle. He said, ¡°In that case, let¡¯s have the engagement party in December. Once you start college next year, we¡¯ll go ahead with the wedding. Does that sound good to you?¡± Hearing about the engagement party and the wedding, Shermaine, the bride¨Cto¨Cbe, didn¡¯t feel the slightest bit of joy. Maybe it was because she knew it was all just for show¨Cthere was no way she could actually look forward to it. ¡°You make the call,¡± she said. ¡°I don¡¯t mind either way.¡± Seeing the bit of sauce still on her soft cheek, Joshua handed her a napkin. ¡°Alright. Did Mrs. Jean give you a hard time today?¡± Shermaine took the napkin. ¡°Thanks. She switched tactics.¡± Joshua¡¯s phone suddenly rang. Without even ncing at the caller ID, he knew it was his grandfather. This time, Owen had gone straight for a video call Joshua tapped the answer button, and Owen¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Where¡¯s my future granddaughter¨Cinw?¡± At that, Joshua turned the camera toward Shermaine. She smiled and greeted Owen, ¡°Hi, I¡¯m here.¡± Owen hadn¡¯t expected the two of them to be together, and he was instantly over the moon, thinking things must be going well between them. ¡°Sheary, settling in alright?¡± Shermaine answered honestly, ¡°It¡¯s morefortable than living at the Jean residence.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± Owen gave a warm smile. Shermaine asked, ¡°Sir, did you take your medicine today?¡± Owen nodded. ¡°I did. Just started.¡± Before taking it, he had actually asked Darius Newman, a traditional medicine doctor, to check over the prescription. It was Joshua¡¯s idea, and Owen couldn¡¯t say no to his grandson. After looking it over, Darius said the form wasn¡¯t harmful, but it wasn¡¯t going to help much either, so he didn¡¯t rmend it. But Owen still took the medicine she prescribed. Today was the first day, and he actually felt like his appetite had improved for the first time since he started taking any medicine. ¡°I even had an extra half bowl of oatmeal.¡± Shermaine nodded. ¡°If you keep taking it, your health will definitely improve. Living to a hundred shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± That actually made Owenugh. He replied warmly, ¡°Then I¡¯ll take that blessing, Sheary.¡± He didn¡¯t really believe he could live to a hundred. After all, the doctors had said he wouldn¡¯t make it past two more years. He doubted a few doses of Shermaine¡¯s prescription could actually fix all his issues. Shermaine definitely had some skills, but Owen wasn¡¯t about to get his hopes up. They chatted for about ten minutes. Joshua had been holding up the phone the entire time without saying a single word to his grandfather. Owen hung up after cheerfully saying goodnight to Shermaine,pletely ignoring his own grandson. Joshua let out a quiet sigh. ¡°Goodnight.¡± Shermaine replied, ¡°Goodnight.¡± Full and satisfied, she went back to her room and got back to work. It wasn¡¯t until midnight that she washed up and went to sleep. The next morning, just as Shermaine got up, Ruth called and said over the phone, ¡°Shermaine, have you made up your mind?¡± ¡°Yeah, I wanna go to school,¡± Shermaine said, her voice still gro with sleep, a little husky with that early¨Cmorning rasp. Ruth cut straight to the chase. ¡°Then tomorrow morning, you¡¯ll re to Brightwater Academy.¡± Shermaine replied, ¡°Got it.¡± Then her phone battery died right after she said it, and the call cut off. Ruth was fuming, thinking, As expected, she¡¯s got no manners. I wasn¡¯t eve I even done talking, and she just hung up? So rude. After plugging in her phone and powering it back on, Shermaine saw a message on WhatsApp from Danielle. Danielle: [Mr. Barker¡¯s awake. He said he wants to see you.] Shermaine thought, ¡®I already took the money. What¡¯s the point of meeting now?¡® She replied: [Good to hear he¡¯s awake. As for a meeting, I¡¯ll pass.] Danielle sent back aughing emoji and typed: [I already turned him down. Are you free tonight? Let¡¯s y.] By ¡°y¡°, she meant billiards. Shermaine: [I¡¯m in.] Danielle: [9 p.m. Silverwood Avenue. See you there.] After replying to her messages, Shermaine followed the same routine as yesterday¨Cshe went for breakfast. a run, then took a shower beforeing down for Joshua was still seated at the dining table. Breakfast was a full spread, and Shermaine¡¯s eyesnded on a mouthwatering veggie scramble. The veggie scramble had carrots in it¨CShermaine didn¡¯t like them, so she picked them out and set them aside. Joshua frowned slightly. ¡°Picky eating¡¯s not good.¡± Shermaine paused. ¡°You¡¯re saying you don¡¯t have foods you won¡¯t eat?¡± She thought, ¡®Come on, everyone has something they can¡¯t stand.¡® ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± he said. That just wasn¡¯t a problem he had. Shermaine shrugged. ¡°Alright then.¡± Joshua said, ¡°Eat the carrots. Don¡¯t waste them.¡± Shermaine was at a loss for words. The way he said it felt like he was scolding a kid. She thought, ¡®Why is he talking to me like I¡¯m a kid? I don¡¯t hate it, though. It just feels oddly nice.¡® ? Chapter 24 Nurse walking 24 The truth was, Shermaine was still a little pissed. She thought, I¡¯m a legit badass, and yet my own fianc¨¦ doesn¡¯t see it. Instead, he treats me like I¡¯m some kid. It¡¯s so damn annoying. I can totally feel that same energying off him, and he can¡¯t sense it from me? Figures. Men really don¡¯t have a sixth sense. Shermaine knew Joshua telling her not to be a picky eater was him trying to look out for her. And when someone genuinely meant well, she always responded with kindness. So even though she was still annoyed, she let it slide for Joshua¡¯s sake. She didn¡¯t pick the carrots out again and just ate them. Meanwhile, over at Basterel University, Erin was getting chewed out by her professor for losing her coursework. She looked pale and exhausted¨Cshe hadn¡¯t slept properlyst night, haunted all night by nightmares. She thought, ¡°If my phone andptop got hacked, does that mean Shermaine already knows who I am? Did she see the WhatsApp chat history between me and Wendelyn too?¡® After leaving the professor¡¯s office, Erin went straight to someone from theputer science department for help. She sought out Bruno Henderson, a top student known for his tech skills. ¡°Bruno,¡± Erin said, ¡°my phone andptop got hacked. Can you check them for me?¡± Bruno started with herptop, trying to recover the deleted files. After a few minutes of fiddling, he managed to get the coursework back. But the moment he opened the file, a terrifying face popped up on the screen. Bruno nearly flung theptop across the room. He clutched his chest. ¡°Holy crap, that scared the hell out of me.¡± Erin¡¯s relief evaporated in an instant. Bruno rolled up his sleeves. ¡°Just wait a moment.¡± He figured whoever did this was basically dering war. Erin stared at the strings of code shing across the screen, her eyes blurring from the overload. But even after half an hour, Bruno still hadn¡¯t cracked the firewall Shermaine had put in ce. Erin was starting to lose patience. ¡°Bruno, how¡¯s it going?¡± Bruno wiped the sweat from his forehead. ¡°Zip it. Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m in the middle of hacking through this firewall?¡± However, after another thirty minutes, Bruno finally gave up and slumped in his chair like a deted balloon, totally defeated. ¡°Still nothing?¡± Erin asked again. ¡°Nope.¡± Bruno¡¯s face was gloomy. ¡°This hacker¡¯s good. I can¡¯t even get past their damn firewall.¡± That meant hoping to recover her game data was aplete pipe dream. Erin said, ¡°Can you at least check if my WhatsApp was essed too?¡± ¡°Yeah, sure.¡± Bruno nodded. After running a quick scan, he said, ¡°Yeah looks like your WhatsApp¡¯s been viewed by someone unfamiliar.¡± That confirmed it. Shermaine definitely knew Wendelyn was the one putting the strings, Erin¡¯s face went even bal. Brune had no idea why Erin had gotten herself into trouble with a hacker, but if he didn¡¯t find out who it was, than oven it at switched o ards, the hacker could still ess any of her devices anytime. ¡°Don¡¯t worry I¡¯ve got a contact. He¡¯s a legend in this field. I¡¯ll ask him for help,¡± Bruno remarked. Erin¡¯s mind was nk. She didn¡¯t answer right away, torn over whether she should tell Wendelyn what had happened. Just then, Erin¡¯s phone rang. It was her mom Lyra Murray calling. ¡°Erin, your dad hit someone with the car. Remember the fifty thousand dors i gave you to hold on to? Transfer fifteen thousand back to me right now,¡± Lyra said, panicked. That money was their family¡¯s entire savings. Since Lyra¡¯s husband had a gambling problem and spent lots of his time hanging around casinos, she was afraid he¡¯d blow through their savings, so she gave the money to their daughter Erin to keep. Erin was all the way in Basterel¨Che couldn¡¯t get to it even if he wanted to. But unexpectedly, he went out driving a delivery and ended up hitting someone. Now the victim¡¯s in the hospital getting emergency treatment, shouting aboutpensation. Erin thought, ¡®Fifteen thousand dors?¡® If she sent that over, her ount would be almost empty. Of the thirty thousand Wendelyn had given her, she¡¯d already burned through a few grand on that game yesterday. She¡¯d also tipped three thousand to her favorite male streamer and dropped another seven thousand online shopping for clothes and bags. Still, she had to transfer the money. ¡°Got it, Mom. I¡¯ll send it over.¡± ¡°Hurry,¡± Lyra urged and then hung up. No matter how reluctant she was, Erin still transferred the fifteen grand. That left her with about seven thousand. What scared Erin more was the thought that Lyra might call again saying fifteen wasn¡¯t enough. If she had to send more, her ount would be drained dry. Erin knew she couldn¡¯t tell Wendelyn about her phone andputer being hacked. If Wendelyn found out, there¡¯d be no way for Erin to get more from her. ¡°Bruno, can you keep what I asked you today between us? Please don¡¯t mention it to anyone else,¡± Erin begged. Bruno didn¡¯t think much of it. It was her privacy, after all. ¡°Sure. No problem.¡± ¡°Thanks. If your badass friend figures out who the hacker is, please let me know right away,¡± Erin said. Night fell, and the city lights blurred like spilled paint. Inside the Sterling Billiards Club on Silverwood Avenue, Danielle could feel the chill rolling off Shermaine¨Cshe was practically radiating killer intent tonight. Right now, the ck ball sat in an impossibly tricky spot. If it went in, Shermaine would take this round too. Shermaine leaned down, her curves smooth and defined. She locked in on the angle, and with one clean strike, sent the ball in, ending the game right there. Danielle, holding her cue, started the next round. After sinking two balls, she didn¡¯t get another turn. She sat on the couch. ¡°Who pissed you off?¡± Whoever managed to put Shermaine in such a bad mood had to be something else. Danielle was dying to know who it was. Shermaine thought, ¡®I can¡¯t exactly say it¡¯s my fianc¨¦, can I? A staged fianc¨¦ at that. There¡¯s no point telling Danielle.¡® TU Ou vay ¡°No one.¡± Shermaine set down the cue and picked up a ss of chilled whiskey to take a sip. At the moment, her phone buzzed, She nced at it, then set it aside. She figured if that so¨Ccalled tech expert couldn¡¯t even crack her firewall, there was no need to give him the time of day. Since Shermaine had to report to Brightwater Academy the next morning, she and Danielle yed a couple more rounds before she headed back. Meanwhile, in a private suite at The Belmont Lounge, a fancy, exclusive club, several of Basterel¡¯s top power yers were gathered. At the center of it all was Joshua. They were ying poker, but Joshua wasn¡¯t. To him, this kind of thing was boring. He only showed up out of courtesy to these guys. Joshua held a cigarette between his fingers, flicked the ash with practiced ease. Then, a man with te¨Cblue dyed hair finally spoke up, ¡°Joshua, are you seriously going to marry Shermaine?¡± The man was Roy Shay. Like Joshua, he held serious weight in the city. Most addressed him with the formal title ¡°Mr. Shay¡°. Joshua said, ¡°Yeah.¡± Roy asked, ¡°Seriously? What¡¯s up with your taste? What¡¯s wrong with Wendelyn? She¡¯s gorgeous, sweet, talented¨Cway better than Shermaine.¡± Joshua shot him a nce. ¡°Stop projecting your type onto my standards.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Roy muttered, pulling a face. ¡°I¡¯m just saying, Shermaine doesn¡¯t seem like a good person.¡± But then, he felt a chill crawl down his spine at the way Joshua was looking at him¡ªit was downright unsettling. Roy pulled out his phone and tossed it over. ¡°Check out this post.¡± Joshua raised his hand and caught the phone mid¨Cair. The screen disyed a trending thread on the Basterel University forum, all about Shermaine. It had already racked up tens of thousands of replies. Thements were brutal, nothing but trashing her. Joshua¡¯s eyes turned icy. ¡°Delete this post.¡± Roy let out a groan, clearly disappointed in him. ¡°Joshua, I showed you this so you could see Shermaine¡¯s true colors, not to have you rush to her defense.¡± ¡°She¡¯s not like that,¡± Joshua said. Roy looked stunned. ¡°Oh my goodness. What kind of spell did Shermaine put on you to make you defend her like this? I¡¯ve looked into it¨Cthose photos are real, not edited. I even checked the security footage. ¡°That student bumped into her and apologized. But Shermaine still went off on her. Come on, Joshua, a woman that petty isn¡¯t good enough for you.¡± Whenever Shermaine came up, what Joshua heard most was that she wasn¡¯t good enough for him. He didn¡¯t agree. He could ignore what other people said, but not when it came from his own friends. Henry Jean, sitting nearby, made a quick zip¨Cit gesture toward Roy, thinking, ¡®Can¡¯t you see that grim look on Joshua¡¯s face?¡® Joshua stubbed out his cigarette. ¡°If anyone dares say that crap to my face again, they better be ready to lose their tongue.¡± Chapter 25 Nurse walking 25 Joshua said, ¡°Take the post down.¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll take it down.¡± Roy backed down fast. He still wanted to keep his tongue intact, but fe honestly thought Shermaine didn¡¯t measure up to Wendelyn. He thought, Joshua just hasn¡¯t been around enough women. That¡¯s why he¡¯s so easily blinded. Just wait¨Cone day he¡¯s gonna see things for what they really are. Roy told someone to bring him hisptop. Once he had it, it only took a couple of clicks before the post was deleted. That was when Henry mmed down his cards. ¡°Royal flush. Quit worrying about Joshua. Back when he was out making a name for himself, you were still a cringey teen gamer glued to your screen.¡± Roy thought, ¡®Cringey teen? I don¡¯t buy that. I¡¯m ranked third the Global Hacker Leaderboard under the codename King, and the top jungler in the world. ¡®Back in the day, I led Stormbound to a world championship and had fangirls lining up for miles¨Chotter than any pop star. And this sly bastard Henry has the nerve to call me a cringey gamer?¡® Henry then revealed a straight flush and dragged the pot toward himself. ¡°I win. Pay up.¡± Roy was speechless. He thought, ¡®Damn it, he¡¯s really sly as a fox. He waited till I wasn¡¯t focused on the game, then trapped me. He had just lost enough money to buy a house. Rolling his eyes in frustration, he was about to go another round when he got a call from Bruno, his friend from Basterel University¡¯sputer science department. ¡°Roy, there¡¯s this hacker¡¯s firewall I can¡¯t get through. Got time to take a look?¡± Bruno asked. Bruno¡¯s skills were top¨Ctier in the country. Roy figured that if even Bruno couldn¡¯t crack it, then the other person must be seriously badass. Roy perked up instantly. ¡°Send it over.¡± Bruno said, ¡°Okay. Roy, if you manage to break through this hacker¡¯s firewall, could one of our students. Total jerk move.¡± you also check out who he is? He hacked the phone andptop of x Henry saw him grab hisptop and plop down somewhere else, and just knew the poker game was officially over. So he just sat next to Joshua and joined him for a drink. Roy said, ¡°Sure.¡± At that moment, Shermaine had just gotten home. She sat in front of herputer, nning to check how many replies that post had racked up by now, but when she clicked the link, it gave her a 404 page. ¡®It got deleted?¡® Shermaine thought, raising an eyebrow. ¡®Did I allow it to be deleted?¡® Her fingers danced swiftly across the keyboard, and after a few taps, the post was back to how it was. Then the firewall shed red. Shermaine thought, ¡®They¡¯ve already tried to get in a few times today and they¡¯re still not giving up?¡® A momentter, the system showed the firewall was close to being breached, Shermaine realized someone else had taken over the attack. She typed out a few moremands, tossing a counterattack their way while she was at it. Roy was watching the screen, seeing the firewall almost give way. But then it suddenly bounced back, even stronger than before. ¡°Well, well, looks like Chapter 25 We¡¯ve got a real pro, he said. He thought, ¡®Too bad for you, though. The one you¡¯re up against is King, ranked third on the Global Hacker traderboard Untact number areas suddenly show up, everybody else is just cannon fodder! Roy shot back a message: [Bro, upgrading your firewall won¡¯t help. I¡¯m taking it down no matter what 1 Shermaine replied: [Oh, really?] However, half an hourter, Roy was so pissed he nearly mmed hisptop. His screen was swarming with shing pig heads It was a virus. At some point, Shermaine had slipped through his defense and nted it there. Shermaine: [Nice try, little punk. You¡¯ve still got a long way to go.] Roy rarely ever lost this badly. The top two on the Global Hacker Leaderboard couldn¡¯t pull it off, but this hacker who called him a little punk just did. Truth be told, rankings didn¡¯t mean everything. The world was huge, and there were plenty of experts out there, Roy was intrigued and texted: [Mind telling me your handle?] Shermaine: [The Queen you¡¯ll never beat.] Roy: [You¡¯re a girl?] But Shermaine didn¡¯t reply after that. Then, Henry asked, ¡°Well, well, Mr. Big¨Cshot Hacker. You lost?¡± Roy said, ¡°Yeah.¡± Henry blinked. He hadn¡¯t actually expected Roy to be defeated. Knowing how insanely good Roy¡¯sputer skills were, Henry questioned, ¡°Who¡¯s that good?¡± Roy remarked, ¡°No clue. Not someone on the leaderboard. And she¡¯s a girl.¡± His eyes lit up. ¡°I¡¯m definitely gonna find out who she is.¡± ¡°Then what?¡± Henry asked. Roy gave a wicked smirk. ¡°I¡¯m very interested in the woman who beat me.¡± Henry thought, ¡®Better not get your ass handed to you.¡® Heughed and teased, ¡°Good luck with that.¡± When Bruno found out that not even Roy had managed to crack the hacker¡¯s firewall or trace her IP, he waspletely floored. Bruno had been feeling pretty defeated, but now he was kind of relieved. He now realized it wasn¡¯t that he was trash¨Cit was just that the hacker was on a whole different level. What Bruno couldn¡¯t wrap his head around, though, was why such a skilled hacker would specifically target Erin. Nearby, Joshua drained his champagne in one gulp, then stood up and slung his expensive suit jacket over his arm. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I¡¯m heading out.¡± Shermaine shut herptop just as a call came in. It was from Troy Cox, wanting to talk about the house construction. As a builder, there were still a few things he didn¡¯t fully understand, especially since the house Shermaine wanted to build was a high¨Cte¡­. one. So, he figured it¡¯d be best to check in with her first. After Shermaine answered a few of his questions, Trisy said, ¡°Alright, got it. I¡¯ll go over it with the crew¡± Shermaine remarked. ¡°Once I¡¯m not that busy, F¡¯ll try to make a trip back.¡± Troy replied, ¡°I know you¡¯re doing this for the vige, but don¡¯t wear yourself out? ¡°I won¡¯t¡± Shermaine never let herself get too exhausted. She always kept a bnce between work and rest. ¡°Oh, Sheary, one more thing do you mind helping me with something else?¡± Troy asked. ¡°It¡¯s about my daughter Lily. She didn¡¯t get into college in bet senior year, and after she graduated high school, she went to Basterel to work. ¡°Buttely, she hasn¡¯t been answering calls or texts. Could you help me find her and see how she¡¯s doing?¡± ¡°Troy, send me her number, I¡¯ll go find her tomorrow when I have time,¡± Shermaine said. By the time Joshua got home at ten o¡¯clock in the evening, Shermaine had already showered and gone to bed. The next morning, a little after seven, Shermaine headed out. She didn¡¯t stay to have breakfast with Joshua. When she arrived at school, she was greeted by the senior year director, Mason Moe. Mason was pretty cold toward her and handed her a test paper. ¡°Shermaine, do these questions.¡± Shermaine nced at it. ¡°I don¡¯t feel like it.¡± Mason thought, ¡®This transfer student not only has no academic records, but now it¡¯s clear she¡¯s just as hard to discipline as her mother said. A student like this only brings down our college admission rate.¡® Still, he didn¡¯t have much of a choice. Ruth had donated a hefty sum to the school, and her adopted daughter, Wendelyn, had gotten into Basterel University with the third¨Chighest score in her year. Mason wondered, ¡®Why is Shermaine so different from Wendelyn? What a disappointment.¡® He frowned. ¡°Our school ces students in sses based on their grades. If you don¡¯t take the test, I can¡¯t ce you.¡± ¡°Just put me wherever,¡± Shermaine said. So Mason did exactly that. He randomly ced her in ss 9¨Cthe worst ss in senior year. The homeroom teacher for ss 9, Isabel Vaughn, was actually pretty weing toward Shermaine. She brought Shermaine into the ssroom and introduced her to the ss. ¡°This is Shermaine Shue, our new transfer student. Starting today, she¡¯s one of us in ss 9. Let¡¯s give her a warm wee.¡± The students all started pping. They all stared at her with curiosity, and everyone was thinking, ¡®This transfer student is so pretty. She looks like a supermodel.¡® Isabel said, ¡°Shermaine, go ahead and say hi to your ssmates.¡± Shermaine kept it short and to the point. ¡°Nice to meet you guys. I¡¯m Shermaine.¡± She was seated in the third¨Ctost row by the window. Her deskmate was a girl who clearly loved checking herself out in the mirror. The girl greeted her enthusiastically, ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Summer Crawford.¡± ¡°Hi.¡± Shermaine gave her a light smile. Summer said, ¡°You¡¯re really pretty.¡± 214 Shermaine chuckled, ¡°So are you.¡± Summer lit up, thinking, ¡®Who doesn¡¯t love being called pretty by someone that good¨Clooking?¡® She really liked Shermaine. After Isabel left, the math teacher started the lesson. But during ss, hardly anyone was actually listening or taking notes. Most students were either ying games or flipping through magazines. There wasn¡¯t even a hint of senior year pressure in the air. The math teacher didn¡¯t care either and just kept talking through the material. The ss flew by. Then came the fifteen¨Cminute break. Summer stood up. ¡°Shermaine,e on. I¡¯ll show you around Brightwater Academy¡¯s beautiful scenery.¡± Shermaine nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Summer took her straight to the athletic field. It turned out that the so¨Ccalled beautiful scenery was actually the boys running across the track. Summer asked, ¡°So, what do you think, Shermaine? The boys at Brightwater Academy are pretty good¨Clooking, right?¡± Shermainemented, ¡°They¡¯re alright.¡± Right then, a mocking voice came from behind. ¡°Well, well, if it isn¡¯t the Jean family¡¯s heiress.¡± A Nurse walking 26 Chapter 26 Shermaine didn¡¯t know the girl who spoke. But since she called her the Jean family¡¯s heiress in such a mocking tone, the girl was clearly someone from. that circle. Just from how she said it, it was obvious she didn¡¯t like Shermaine. Summer recognized the short¨Chaired girl standing in front of them¨Cbuilt like a tank with muscles to match. She was Brightwater Academy¡¯s alpha girl the big boss around here, She Leeds. As a sports schrship student, She had wonst year¡¯s National Youth Kickboxing Championship, the National Youth Boxing Championship, and a bunch of other trophies from all kinds of athleticpetitions. Basically, she was a totalbat junkie. Nobody at Brightwater Academy dared mess with She. As for students outside the school, they avoided her like the gue. Summer started to get nervous. Shermaine stayed calm. ¡°You need something?¡± She pped a hand down on her shoulder. ¡°Wait for me in the ssroom after school. I¡¯ve got a special wee party nned just for you.¡± She called it a wee party, but everyone knew she was just looking to bully Shermaine. ¡°She, you can¡¯t just pick on a transfer student like that,¡± Summer said, trying to muster some courage. She red at her viciously. ¡°Who said I¡¯m bullying her?¡± Summer bit her lip, too scared to talk. Shermaine wasn¡¯t the type who liked people she didn¡¯t know getting too close¨Cshe couldn¡¯t even stand her clothes being touched. She grabbed She¡¯s wrist and flung it off, then gave her shirt a quick brush as if she were dusting off something dirty. ¡°I don¡¯t have time,¡± Shermaine said. She tried to threaten her. ¡°If you leave after school, you¡¯re dead.¡± Just then, the bell for ss rang. On the way back to ss, Summer looked uneasy. ¡°Shermaine, that was seriously badass, but She Leeds is not someone you want to mess with.¡± Shermaine asked, ¡°Herst name¡¯s Leeds?¡± Summer nodded. ¡°Yeah. Her family owns Leeds Group.¡± Shermaine thought, ¡®Really? That would mean Ronnie¡¯s her brother, huh?¡® Summer said, ¡°You better watch out this afternoon. Don¡¯t let her catch you. It¡¯s probably best if someone from your family picks you up.¡± But Shermaine didn¡¯t have any familying to pick her up¨Cjust a driver. And she had already told him not toe that afternoon because she was going to look for Lily Cox. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± Shermaine remarked. At noon, Shermaine borrowed Summer¡¯s meal card to eat at the school cafeteria. After lunch, she hung out in Summer¡¯s dorm room for a while until afternoon sses started. The school allowed both day students and boarders. Since Shermaine had things to do in the evenings, staying on campus wasn¡¯t really an option. Right now, she was scrolling on her phone. 1/3 The dorm housed six people. Two of them were at the library, and of the remaining four, aside from Summer, the other three were studying Summer, who clearly hadn¡¯t been all that focused in ss earlier, was now actually working on problems back at the dorm But not long after, she stumped in frustration. ¡°This problem is so hard. Can anyone help me with this one?¡± The other two girls, also from the regr sses, nced at the problem and tried to solve it. Then they both shook their heads and said they couldn¡¯t figure it out. All three of them looked over at the girl from an elerated ss, but she didn¡¯t even look up and said coldly, ¡°I don¡¯t have time. I¡¯ve got a pop quiz this aftemoon.¡± The three of them looked awkward. One of them said, ¡°Summer, maybe just wait till Evelyn gets back and ask her.¡± Evelyn Cunningham was the top student in their dorm. She was in one of the elerated sses and ranked in the top ten in the grade. Compared to Hannah Lind, she was easier to get along with and didn¡¯t look down on regr ss students like them. Just then, Shermaine put her phone away and walked over. ¡°Which problem are you stuck on?¡± Summer pointed at it without thinking. Shermaine nced at the problem. It was a piecewise function question¡ª¡°In a certain city, the residential water billing policy is as follows: If a household uses no more than 4 tons of water per month, the rate is 60 cents per ton ¡°But if the usage exceeds 4 tons, the portion over 4 tons is charged at one dor per ton. In one month, Residents A and B together paid y dors in total. Their monthly usage was 5x and 3x tons, respectively. ¡°Find the function that expresses y in terms of x. If A and B paid 8.8 dors in total that month, determine their water usage and the amount each paid.¡± It was an easy problem. Shermaine picked up a ballpoint pen and was just about to exin how to solve it. But then, Hannah sneered, her voice dripping with sarcasm, ¡°If you can¡¯t solve it, don¡¯t act like you can. You should at least know why you ended up in ss 9.¡± Shermaine thought, ¡®Looks like I¡¯ve already made a name for myself at Brightwater Academy. People are spreading rumors about me everywhere.¡® Summer, furious, snapped, ¡°What¡¯s your deal, Hannah? Did ss 9 bffend you or something? Shermaine hasn¡¯t even started yet. How would you know she can¡¯t solve it?¡± Hannah mocked, ¡°You suck at school and you don¡¯t even keep up with the news online? You two really are a perfect match.¡± Irritated, Summer shot up from her seat, but Shermaine pressed a hand on her shoulder and said, ¡°Sit down.¡± Summer was so angry her eyes were turning red. Shermaine spun her pen and looked at Hannah¡¯s profile. ¡°No one asked for your opinion. Since you know so much about me, you should also know I¡¯ve got a bad temper. I wouldn¡¯t mind getting called into the Student Affairs Office on my first day.¡± Hannah¡¯s grip on her pen tightened. ¡°I¨CI¡¯m not wasting my time arguing with you.¡± ¡°Maybe try spending less time online and stop believing every rumor you see. Otherwise, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s gonna look stupid,¡± Shermaine said. Hannah bit her lip, put on her headphones, and shut them outpletely. The school broadcast kept ying, looping some soft emotional song. Shermaine¡¯s pen touched the paper. ¡°When Resident A¡¯s water usage doesn¡¯t exceed 4 tons¡­¡± Ten minutester, she asked, ¡°Got it now?¡± 2/3 viay Summer hesitated. ¡°I¡¯m still kinda confused.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll walk you through it again,¡± Shermaine remarked. The two girls from the regr sses saw that Shermaine¡¯s solution matched the answer key exactly and hers was even clearer and more concise. They then immediately sat up straight and started paying close attention to her exnation. A few minutester, Summer lit up. ¡°I get it now. Shermaine, you¡¯re amazing.¡± Shermaine held her pen, ready to reinforce the knowledge in Summer¡¯s mind. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a simr problem. Try solving it for me.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Summer replied. Another girl jumped in. ¡°I want to try too.¡± Summer couldn¡¯t help thinking, ¡®Oh my goodness. What a nice deskmate. She¡¯s the best,¡® The whole lunch break flew by with Shermaine exining problems. She knew how to solve every type of question they couldn¡¯t figure out. It only took one lunch break for Shermaine to be a legend in their eyes. All three girls couldn¡¯t help but wonder if she was secretly some kind of genius. In the afternoon, they had physics and chemistry. Shermaine spent both sses fighting off sleep. As soon as the bell rang at the end of thest period, she packed her books into her ck backpack and made a quick exit. Right after she left, She showed up. She came looking for Shermaine, only to find that she had already vanished. Furious, She punched the metal back door of the ssroom, leaving a dent. Scared, Summer went pale, thinking, ¡®How can she be so terrifyingly strong? Thank goodness Shermaine got away in time.¡® What Summer didn¡¯t know was that if they¡¯d shown up a little earlier and run into Shermaine, the ones in trouble would¡¯ve been She and her crew. Nurse walking 27 Chapter 27 She said to herpanions, ¡°She shouldn¡¯t be far. Let¡¯s go after her.¡± Shermaine was waiting for the bus at the bus stop. It was perfect for her since the bus could go straight to Lily¡¯s ce. After a while, the bus showed up. Shermaine tossed a coin into the fare box, walked to the back, and found a seat by the window. She went out of the school gate just in time to see Shermaine getting on the bus. Shei tried to catch up, but the bus had already started to go. She instantly hailed a cab and said to the driver, ¡°Sir, follow that bus please.¡± The bus stopped at every station, and Shermaine clearly noticed the cab following them, but she didn¡¯t care. She tried calling Lily, yet the phone kept ringing with no answer. The bus finally stopped in Westbrook District, and Shermaine got off. It was a busy area, a mix of old houses and shops. It was rushing hour, so people flooded the streets to go back home. With her school uniform and impressive looks, Shermaine stood out. What was even stranger was the three other girls in matching uniforms following her. Shermaine walked through the maze of streets, heading deeper into the area. She eventually reached an old building and went straight inside without hesitation. This was Lily¡¯sst known location ording to her phone¡¯s tracker. The ce was dark and creepy. Rats scurried by, sending She¡¯s two friends into a shrieking panic. One of themined, ¡°Why did Shermainee to a ce like this? It¡¯s terrifying.¡± Another girl said, ¡°This ce looks like a haunted house. I¡¯m not going inside.¡± The first girl added, ¡°Me neither.¡± She was scared too, but she cleared her throat and said, ¡°Let¡¯s just wait for her toe out.¡± Meanwhile, Shermaine reached the seventh floor, found apartment 707, and rang the doorbell. The sound was sharp, but no one answered. Shermaine lost patience and was about to force the door open when an old woman, Mna Harvey, came out from the next apartment and asked, ¡°Hey, are you looking for the girl living there?¡± Shermaine nodded and replied, ¡°Yeah.¡± Mna said, ¡°You¡¯re toote. A few days ago, some strange men came and took her away. I called the cops, but when they came, she¡¯s probably gone.¡± Shermaine¡¯s eyes went cold, and she asked, ¡°Can you tell me exactly when that happened?¡± Mna thought for a moment and replied, ¡°It was the 22nd, around 10 p.m.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Shermaine replied, Shermaine thought to herself, ¡®Troy only has one daughter. If something happened to Lily, Troy would be devastated.¡® there was no trace. s, Shermaine was in a hurry to find Lily, so she didn¡¯t have time to check Lily¡¯s workce. All she knew was that Lily worked at the Chanel counter at Grandview Mall after she moved to Basterel. A month ago, she got fired, but no one knew why or what led her to move from her nice apartment into this rundown ce. Shermaine turned around and started to walk downstairs. She knew She and her friends were waiting for her, but she had no time to deal with them. 201 Thus, she slipped out the back door of the building. Fortunately, they didn¡¯t notice when Shermaine left. Shermaine went straight into an inte cafe, sat down at aputer, and hacked into the local surveince system. Based on the time Mna gave her, she found the video of Lily being taken away. The video showed a group of well¨Cdressed men dragging Lily out of the building, beating her along the way, and shoving her into a luxury car. The car¡¯s license te was clearly visible on the camera. Shermaine traced the car¡¯s current location through the te number. Without wasting a second, she left the inte cafe, leaving theputer still running. The man sitting next to her had a nce at that screen and was stunned. He eximed in his mind, ¡®Holy shit, I just saw a hacker in action, and she¡¯s so damn hot.¡® Right as Shermaine stepped out of the door, she ran into She again, and it wasn¡¯t exactly a lucky coincidence. Shermaine reacted earlier than them and jumped into a cab. She spotted Shermaine immediately, and she chased after Shermaine in anger again. Meanwhile, it was getting dark, and the city lights started twinkling in the distance. At an auto service center, the ce was covered in graffiti, giving off a trendy vibe. Outside, several luxury cars were parked. Inside, the music was sting. People were dancing and partying,pletely enjoying themselves. But in the middle of it all, Lily was tied up to a punching bag, looking utterly pathetic. Just then, Ronnie hobbled in on crutches, his leg still in a cast. Seeing him show up, someone turned off the music, and everyone turned to greet him. ¡°Hey, Mr. Leeds, what are you going to do with this woman and revenge Wendy?¡± Ronnie limped along and red at Lily. If Shermaine hadn¡¯t broken his leg, he would¡¯ve handled this himself. Just thinking about that night in the hospital made his blood boil. Ronnie¡¯s eyes fixed on the perfect punching bag, and he instructed in an icy tone, ¡°Give her a good beating first.¡± ¡°Your leg is injured. Are you good enough to handle that?¡± someone asked. Ronnie tossed a bottle at the person and shouted, ¡°Are you fucking looking down on me?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not,¡± replied the person. After all, the group of people all relied on Ronnie, so no one dared to cross him. Ronnie put on the boxing gloves and stepped into the ring. He said, ¡°Make sure to record my cool moves. I¡¯m sending it to Wendy.¡± Lily had never felt so regretful and hopeless. She hated herself for recognizing Wendelyn as the sister sent away by their family years ago. If she hadr. recognized Wendelyn, if she hadn¡¯t tried to make it up to Wendelyn, she wouldn¡¯t be in this mess now. Lily thought, ¡®We are birth sisters, but I can¡¯t believe that Wendelyn is so heartless. She set me up and even stirred up her suitor to hurt me. Is it just because she can¡¯t stand seeing me in this city? if that¡¯s the case, Wendelyn is truly terrifying. Just thinking about it made Lily shiver with fear. Meanwhile, the cab Shermaine took stopped outside the auto service center. She got out and looked around. The dim lights by the entrance made the luxury cars look even more menacing. 40 n vay A few men were sitting on the hoods and ying games, but when they saw someone showing up, they shifted their attention to her. Shermaine was stunning, and her beauty was striking, almost aggressive. She was pure and enchanting, but there was something intimidating about her, as if she was no stranger to danger. Shermaine ignored the men and walked toward the door, but they stopped her. ¡°Hey, who the hell are you? Think you can just barge into our turf?¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t answer but asked, ¡°Is Lily inside?¡± The men exchanged looks and grinned. One of them replied, ¡°Chick, you¡¯ve got guts toe here alone.¡± Their eyes contained a sinister light as someone continued, ¡°You are walking into a tiger¡¯s cave, you know? Once you¡¯re in, you ain¡¯t leaving.¡± Hearing those words, Shermaine was sure that Lily was inside. She thought to herself, ¡®A tiger¡¯s cave, huh? If they¡¯re tigers, I¡¯m the butcher who kills tigers.¡® She put on a sly grin, but in an instant, her grin contained a hint of a murderous vibe as she kicked one of the men to the ground. Before the man even realized what happened, Shermaine¡¯s fists were already flying. She knocked him out cold, leaving him dazed. She stomped on his chest, and the man instantly spit up blood. Shermaine looked down at the man with cold eyes. ¡°Loser, who the hell do you think you¡¯re trying to provoke?¡± AD Nurse walking 28 Chapter 28 The guy who got knocked down was panicking Inside, thinking, I¡¯ve learned some skills in fighting. How the hell am I getting my ass handed to me like this?¡® ¡°You¡­¡± He was trembling, and then he shouted at his friends, ¡°What the hell are you all standing around for? GET HER!¡± Only then did the others snap out of it and scramble to rush at Shermaine. One of them grabbed a baseball bat, while another came at her with bare fists. But no matter what weapon they used, they all ended up in the same ce¨Ct on their backs, groaning in pain. They barely even recognized the girl in the school uniform, but then one of the guys finally remembered who she was. His voice cracked as he stammered, ¡°Y¨CYou¡¯re Shermaine, right?¡± He suddenly realized she was the infamous daughter of the Jean family, the one who¡¯d broken Ronnie¡¯s leg. Shermaine¡¯s face remained impassive. ¡°So what?¡± The guys all felt a cold chill run through them, their legs turning to jelly. Someone cursed, ¡°Holy shit.¡± ¡°It¡¯s actually you?¡± another guy eximed. A man with silver hair shouted toward the shop, ¡°Someone, get help here.¡± The music inside the shop was still sting, and people inside werepletely unaware of what was going on outside. One man, wincing in pain, got to his feet and tried to run inside, wanting to get more backup. Shermaine didn¡¯t stop him. Instead, she casually followed him, her steps measured and slow. But before she could reach the door, a guy with yellow hair grabbed her ankle. Shermaine looked down at him and ordered in a light tone, ¡°Let go.¡± The man shivered all over and instinctively let go of her leg. Shermaine¡¯s gaze was overwhelming. Despite wearing a school uniform, she seemed to exude the vibe of an empress, making everyone around her feel like they were at the mercy of her will. The man had already made it inside, his face covered in blood, and that was when the others started to realize something was wrong. They cut off the loud music and asked, ¡°What happened to you?¡± Out of his breath, the man replied, ¡°Shermaine¡¯s here.¡± The moment those words left his lips, Shermaine stepped inside, her movements smooth and graceful. Before anyone could react, she grabbed a baseball bat, swung it, and knocked the guy out cold. He copsed to the ground, unconscious. The rich kids in the shop froze, staring at Shermaine. They felt an odd, suffocating pressure, like a storm wasing. They had no idea why, but their hearts were racing. Meanwhile, Ronnie, sitting on the boxing ring, nced over. He froze for a few seconds, his face turning grim. ¡°Shermaine, I still haven¡¯t settled the score with you yet. How dare you stroll up in front of me like nothing¡¯s wrong? ¡°This is my turf, you know? Joshua can¡¯t save you this time.¡± Shermaine¡¯s gaze flicked toward him, and when she saw the scene in the ring, her eyes narrowed. She said in an ice¨Ccold tone, ¡°Sad, Amira¡¯s not here, you know? No one can back you up now.¡± 1/3 Chapter 28 Ronnie scoffed, ¡°Don¡¯t make me . Look around, I got enough guys here to deal with you.¡± He was confident that he didn¡¯t need his mother & hals, Just a bunch of useless trash,¡± Shermaine said with a sneer. The others were itching to do something, yet they were frozen in ce, terrified to make a move. Shermaine warned them with a smile, ¡°Listen, if you touch even a single hair on Lily, I¡¯ll break your other leg.¡± Lily had been keeping her head down, not expecting anyone to show up to rescue her, but when she heard her name mentioned, she trembled and looked up. As soon as she saw who it was, her face lit up with disbelief, and tears of joy welled up in her eyes. She called out, ¡°Sheary.¡± She was overwhelmed, tears streaming down her face. She never expected Shermaine woulde to save her. With a grin, Ronnie thought, ¡®So they know each other. This is perfect.¡® Ronnie didn¡¯t take Shermaine¡¯s threat seriously. He figured that with Lily as his hostage, he could do whatever he wanted. He gave a malicious grin, yanked Lily¡¯s hair, and growled, ¡°I hate being threatened. If you want her to stay in one piece, you better y by my rules. Otherwise, she can¡¯t walk the hell out of here.¡± Shermaine¡¯s gaze remained as cold as ever without a hint of fear in her eyes. Lily¡¯s face went pale, and she shouted, ¡°Sheary, run out of here. These people arewless bullies. Just run.¡± She felt like she was barely hanging on herself, and she couldn¡¯t drag Shermaine into this mess. ¡°Shut up. Did I allow you to talk?¡± Ronnie pped her across the face. Lily let out a piercing shriek, and her face instantly swelled up. At the sight, Shermaine pursed her lips, clearly pissed off. She grabbed a dart from the dartboard hanging on the wall and aimed for Ronnie¡¯s leg. The dart embedded itself in his leg. A secondter, Ronnie¡¯s scream was even worse than Lily¡¯s. He copsed to the floor, covering his bleeding leg, his face twisted in pain and rage. Shermaine started to walk toward him. ¡°I told you, if you even touched a hair on her, I¡¯d break your other leg.¡± For the first time, Ronnie actually looked scared. He yelled to his guys, ¡°What the hell are you waiting for? Get her, you idiots.¡± The others snapped out of sheer shock and rushed at her. But their skills were pathetic, and they couldn¡¯t evene close to Shermaine. Though Shermaine was a girl, she was faster, stronger, and more skilled than any of them. Facing their attack, she stayed calm and effortlessly took them down one by one. The fight went on for more than ten minutes. Some of them could¡¯ve tried to get up and stop her, but they were terrified. Shermaine was merciless, aiming for their weakest spots, and they couldn¡¯t fight back. Besides, they knew that messing with Shermaine would mean getting beaten half to death. They thought it wasn¡¯t worth it to sacrifice themselves to help Ronnie. Plus, no matter how much they talked down on her, Shermaine was Joshua¡¯s fianc¨¦e, and deep down, they were all scared of her. With the others out of the way, Shermaine effortlessly moved towards the boxing ring Ronnie was too injured to move. With sweat dripping down his face, he threatened. ¡°Look, if you do anything to me, my family will never be at peace with your family.¡± viay 4701 ¡°Good,¡± Shermaine replied in a calm tone as she started untying Lily. She examined Lily¡¯s wounds and found eight bruises, soft tissue injuries, and most seriously, internal injuries to her lungs and heart. Lily needed proper care, or she¡¯d end up weak and fragile, unable to fend for herself. Shermaine wasn¡¯t moved by Ronnie¡¯s threats. Ronnie tried to downy the situation. ¡°We¡¯re even now, alright?¡± ¡°Even?¡± Shermaine stepped on his leg cast and asked, ¡°Ronnie, are you still dreaming?¡± Ronnie felt a chill down his spine. ¡°What do you want?¡± She replied, ¡°Lily¡¯s got eight soft tissue injuries. The worst are her internal injuries. Since you¡¯re the boss here, you¡¯ll pay for everything she¡¯s been through.¡± Ronnie snapped, ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± He thought to himself, ¡®I didn¡¯t even hit her at all. Yeah, I said I¡¯d teach her a lesson, but I didn¡¯t expect the guys to go that far.¡¯ At this point, Shermaine felt that there was no need to argue further. She clenched her fists and was about to attack. Just then, her sharp ears caught the sound of something flying toward her. She turned around just in time to catch the dart that hade from behind. She¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°Shermaine, my brother¡¯s learned his lesson. You won¡¯t get away with hurting him.¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t dodge but grabbed the dart with her bare hands. She stormed up and shouted, ¡°If you have a problem, at me.¡± Ronnie thought he saw a glimmer of hope. He yelled, ¡°She, kick her ass.¡± She bit her lip but didn¡¯t reply. She knew her brother was a troublemaker, always getting away with things because of their family¡¯s influence. But she hadn¡¯t expected him to sink this low and cause so much harm. However, now that she saw it for herself, she couldn¡¯t just ignore it. After all, he was her brother, and she couldn¡¯t leave him to suffer. Shermaine casually toyed with the dart in her hand and snapped, ¡°say, are people in the Leeds family all unreasonable like you guys?¡± She felt a bit awkward, yet she still retorted, ¡°So what if we are?¡± ¡°If you keep trying to stop me, I¡¯ll beat you up too.¡± Shermaine was losing patience. ¡°Hmph, who ends up getting beat is yet to know,¡± She sneered. She rolled her neck, the bones cracking loudly. ¡°You¡¯ve already beaten them to a pulo, and you¡¯re still making a fuss? Guess the rumors were right¨Cyou¡¯re as petty and vicious as they say.¡± Shermaine let out a chuckle. ¡°You¡¯re not so impressive yourself.¡± Shei Comment Nurse walking 29 Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Outside, the wind swept the fallen leaves off the ground, and dark clouds loomed. It felt like a storm wasing. At Joshua¡¯s ce, Mariam noticed the dark clouds and couldn¡¯t stop worrying about Shermaine. She tried calling Shermaine, but it just rang with no answer. She called three times but still failed to reach Shermaine. Soon, the rain poured relentlessly, and the thunder cracked as the storm raged. Frustrated, Mariam had no choice but to report it to Joshua. ¡°Mr. York, Mrs. York hasn¡¯te back yet. I¡¯ve been calling her, but she¡¯s not answering. The rain¡¯s getting heavier outside.¡± Joshua was in the middle of a business meeting with some important people from Basterel. However, no matter how important they were, their presence dimmed inparison to his. ¡°I see,¡± Joshua said, wrapping up the call. He dialed Shermaine¡¯s number. Just like Mariam said, it rang but no one picked up. Shermaine didn¡¯t intend to ignore the calls. She heard her phone ringing, but it was out of reach because her schoolbag was too far away to grab. Meanwhile, She, already battered with a swollen face and struggling to stay on her feet, was still pushing forward, trying to attack Shermaine again and again. She told herself not to give up, not to lose. Shermaine, on the other hand, dodged with ease, keeping her distance, making sure not even the hem of her clothes got touched. She wasn¡¯t bad in terms of abilitypared to others her age, but facing Shermaine, she was just a nobody. She¡¯s punches started slowing down, yet Ronnie still kept yelling from the sidelines, ¡°She, what the hell is wrong with you? You can¡¯t even beat this chick? You¡¯re embarrassing the Leeds family.¡± Seeing She didn¡¯t move, he added, ¡°Get up. Stop ying dead there, okay? Go after her. Come on, you¡¯re some.¡± The insults hit She like daggers, and her body started to go numb, like she was barely alive. Her head was buzzing from exhaustion. Shermaine had enough of Ronnie¡¯s nonstop yelling. She raised her foot, aiming a kick in his direction. However, She staggered forward, stepping in to block her. ¡°I said if you¡¯ve got a problem, , She could barely hold herself up anymore. Gasping for air, she dropped to her knees. She realized that Shermaine was just too strong, and there was no way she could win. She had lost to others before, but she never felt so defeated as today. It wasn¡¯t because she lost to Shermaine¨Cit was because of what Ronnie had said. She thought bitterly, ¡®I¡¯ve put everything on the line to protect him, but why can¡¯t he see it? Why does he still talk to me like that? I¡¯m his sister, not some expendable pawn to be thrown away.¡® Her vision blurred, her body ached all over, and her chest tightened. Then, blood spewed from her mouth, and her body lurched forward, about to copse. Shermaine spotted a silver nail on the ground. If/She¡¯s head hit it, she¡¯d either be severely injured or be permanently scarred. Without hesitation, Shermaine rushed forward and caught She¡¯s falling head, yet her hand got pricked by the sharp nail. Shermaine held She¡¯s heavy head with one hand and moved her aside before standing up. She, not fully unconscious yet, froze upon seeing the scene. She didn¡¯t expect Shermaine to help her in the middle of the fight. Her emotions were a mess now. 1/3 Chapter 29 The wound on Shermaine¡¯s hand wasn¡¯t deep, but the blood kept flowing. Shermaine¡¯s hand hung by her side, with blood trickling down her palm.. slipping through her fingers, and dripping onto the ground. It was a gruesome sight, Shermaine turned around, her eyes locking on Ronnie. ¡°She, get up. Do you hear me? Get the fuck up!¡± Ronnie¡¯s face went even paler, his lips trembling as he shouted. Shermaine started to walk towards him. Ronnie couldn¡¯t even crawl away. He could only feel the terror building up as Shermaine walked closer. He squeezed his eyes shut, but it was toote- he peed himself. His whole body felt like it was falling apart. His face drained of color, and he was as stiff as a statue. But Shermaine didn¡¯t do anything to him again. She stepped over him, grabbed her bag, and helped Lily to her feet. Before they walked out of the door, Shermaine said to Ronnie, ¡°Thank your sister. If there¡¯s a next time, no one will be able to save you.¡± Compared to thest time when she broke his leg, Joshua thought being forced to apologize in front of Joshua was a thousand times more humiliating. Ronnie hated himself for being so useless, hated She for not being strong enough to beat Shermaine, and hated Shermaine for always making him look so pathetic. He wanted her dead. Outside, the storm raged on. Shermaine casually snatched a set of car keys from someone nearby, then got into the car with Lily and sped off. Lily, clearly worried, spoke up, ¡°Sheary, these people are rich and powerful. They won¡¯t let this slide.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got it under control. Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± replied Shermaine. From the moment Shermaine saw Ronnie, she knew this wasn¡¯t something that could be solved with just a fight. She understood exactly what kind of scum he was. As they drove to the hospital, the rain began to ease up. Shermaine took her phone out of her bag and checked the missed calls. Mariam had called three times, and Joshua once. She immediately called Joshua back. Joshua instantly picked up and said, ¡°Always missing calls isn¡¯t a good habit.¡± His voice was low, with that familiar authoritative tone. ¡°I was busy just now. Didn¡¯t have the chance to pick up,¡± Shermaine exined. Joshua could hear the sound of beeps in the background and guessed she was driving. ¡°Get home soon,¡± he said, then paused and added, ¡°It¡¯s raining. Drive safe.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t go back soon, but I¡¯ll be careful. Just rx.¡± Shermaine¡¯s tone softened a little, and then she added, ¡°Hey, can you call Mariam for me?¡± Joshua responded with a curt ¡°OK¡°. He thought to himself, ¡®She¡¯s pretty considerate. Mariam called her first, but she called me back instead.¡® ³ö After Shermaine left, the group of rich kids called 911. They were sent to Yaleview Hospital for treatment, their faces twisted in pain and frustration. She was the worst off¨Cone of her ribs was broken, and both of her hands had soft tissue injuries, now in casts. After surgery, she was sent to a ward. Ronnie still had the dart in his leg. They had to do surgery to remove it, and although the bone wasn¡¯t hit, the wound was serious enough that it¡¯d take at least a month and a half to heal. His surgery was scheduled forst, so he was still in the operating room. Coincidently, She¡¯s bed was right next to Lily¡¯s. Lily couldn¡¯t sleep due to the severe pain, and having She so close to her felt creepy. She was still under the effects of the anesthesia, deep in sleep. Two girls were standing guard beside her. Soon, more people were brought into the same ward. When they saw Lily, none of them had the same bravado they had when they beat Lily. They kept their distance as far away as they could. The only thing they were grateful for was that Shermaine wasn¡¯t there. They had no interest in facing the nightmare of being on the receiving end of her wrath again. Some even began to wonder if Ronnie¡¯s n would work. Amira heard about Ronnie¡¯s trouble very soon because Ronnie had someone call his mother. The man said, ¡°Mrs. Leeds, Ronnie¡¯s in trouble again. Shermaine beat him up. Pleasee to the hospital.¡± ¡°What? What happened?¡± Amira, still reeling from thest nightmare, tried to get all the details before making any decisions. ¡°Well, you know how Wendelyn was bullied by a sales girl at Grandview Mall? Ronnie wanted to stand up for her, so he brought her to our base. ¡°Turns out that sales girl knows Shermaine. When Shermaine showed up, she didn¡¯t ask any questions but just beat us all up. Ronnie and She got the worst of it.¡± Amirapletely exploded upon hearing the whole story. ¡°This is outrageous. That bitch has gone too far. I swear I¡¯ll make sure she regrets it.¡± 1 AD Comment Send gift Nurse walking 30 Chapter 30 Amira asked a few questions before calling Jameson directly. Jameson usually got homete, but today, he was home early, and his face was anything but pleasant. Ruth noticed his blue mood and asked, ¡°Anything wrong with business today?¡± Just the mention of it got Jameson fuming. He mmed the newspaper down and snapped, ¡°Shermaine run wild at Basterel University yesterday? ¡°How the hell did you not keep an eye on her? We were about to sign a 30 million deal today, but the client canceled it because they know she¡¯s my daughter.¡± Shermaine¡¯s reputation had been in the gutter since she came back, but after being mentioned in Basterel University¡¯s forum, her name spread like wildfire. Gossip media even reported that, and it was clear her reputation in Basterel waspletely ruined. Jameson felt angry that the deal slipped through his fingers. He could onlyfort himself that at least the marriage alliance with the York family kept theirpany stock rising. Losing that deal wasn¡¯t the end of the world, but Jameson still felt embarrassed. He hated how it made him look. Jameson thought that Shermaine just came back to bring them shame. However, hepletely ignored the fact that part of the reason Shermaine had gone missing years ago was his fault. Ruth had already known about it and got fed up. ¡°How can you me me for this? Have you seen her attitude? They apologized to her, yet she still wouldn¡¯t let it go.¡± She took a sip of her coffee and added, ¡°I can¡¯t control her. I don¡¯t know whether to let her be or try to teach her. Since she came back, I haven¡¯t had an easy moment.¡± Ross never should¡¯ve brought her back. She had been gone for over a decade. Why did he bring her back?¡® Jameson thought. He didn¡¯t say anything else about Ruth¡¯s involvement, but the thought lingered. Just then, Amira¡¯s call came in. Jameson nced at the screen, feeling a bit surprised to receive her call. After a moment of hesitation, he picked up, not expecting she was about to use his daughter. Amira¡¯s voice was loud and angry. ¡°Mr. Jean, your daughter is really impressive. Not only did she send my kids to the hospital, but she crippled Ronnie¡¯s friends. They¡¯re all lying in the hospital now. You muste now and give us an exnation.¡± Jameson¡¯s face turned dark with rage. ¡°What?¡± The anger he¡¯d been holding back red up again. ¡°Which hospital are you at?¡± Ruth heard every word clearly, as did Wendelyn, who had juste in from outside. Wendelyn thought to herself, ¡®Shermaine really knows how to surprise us. I didn¡¯t expect her to sh with Ronnie again. ¡®She¡¯s not just at odds with the Leeds family now. She¡¯s offended a bunch of smaller families at Basterel. These smaller families might not be much on their own, but when they get together, they are a great force.¡® Then, Wendelyn remembered Lily. She knew that Shermaine grew up right in Maple Leaf Ville. Seeing that Jameson and Ruth were about to rush to the hospital, Wendelyn added, ¡°Mom, Dad, I¡¯m going with you. I¡¯m worried about Sheary.¡± On the way to the hospital, Jameson called Shermaine, and she picked up instantly. ¡°Where are you?¡± Jameson¡¯s voice was sharp. ¡°Hospital,¡± she replied curtly. Jameson was burning with fury. ¡°Can¡¯t you just stay out of trouble for one damn day? All you do is stir up chaos.¡± Chapter 30 Neither Ruth nor Jameson had ever believed in Sheimaine. They always believed whatever people said about her. Shermaine replied in a cool tone, ¡°What trouble did I cause? You think because they staged some act, I¡¯m just going to let it slide? I¡¯ll handle this myself. You don¡¯t need to worry about it.¡± After speaking, she hung up. Jameson didn¡¯t even seem to hear her. Instead, her attitude and words only made him angrier. He seethed inwardly. ¡®If it weren¡¯t for the paternity test proving you¡¯re my daughter, and if you weren¡¯t Joshua¡¯s fianc¨¦e, I wouldn¡¯t even give a damn about you.¡® The rain drizzled down, and outside the hospital, luxury cars rolled up one by one. Amira led the charge, with several wealthydies trailing behind her, making quite a scene. Shermaine had a notorious reputation, so naturally, thedies followed Amira to the hospital to seek justice for their sons. They hoped to get somepensation out of this too. That was their main goal tonight. Inside the ward, She slowly regained consciousness as the anesthesia wore off. Her two ssmates were excited, and they eagerly asked, ¡°She, you¡¯re finally awake. Are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?¡± But before She could answer, Amira barged in. She nced around but didn¡¯t see Ronnie. She then asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Ronnie?¡± ¡°He¡¯s still in the operating room,¡± someone answered. Amira¡¯s face turned visibly worried when she heard that. Right after that, the other richdies began to rush to their sons¡¯s sides. Those spoiled brats, who¡¯d been causing trouble everywhere, instantly put on pathetic faces the moment their mothers arrived. They acted sweet and innocent, ying the victim. Watching their expressions, Lily felt genuinely disgusted. She sat up in bed, grabbed the bedsheet, and weakly called out, ¡°Mom.¡± Hearing that, Amira stormed up to She and pped her hard across the face. ¡°Useless idiot. You¡¯ve been training in fighting for over ten years, and you still couldn¡¯t protect your brother? If anything happens to him, I swear I¡¯ll make you pay.¡± The p sent She¡¯s face to one side. Her hand trembled, and her spirit crushed, sinking deeper into despair. Everyone else waspletely stunned. They¡¯d all heard how much Ronnie was favored by his family. She had never been the one to get attention. Now, they all believed that it was true. While somedies felt bad for She, they didn¡¯t dare say anything. After all, they knew better than to cross Amira. Nobody wanted to get involved. someone else¡¯s family drama. Lily thought, ¡®Ronnie¡¯s mother is ridiculous. How could she be so biased? Her son¡¯s a gem, and her daughter is just trash. It¡¯s outrageous. She¡¯s ssmates spoke up, feeling angry on her/behalf, ¡°Mrs. Leeds, how can you be so cruel? If it weren¡¯t for She, Ronnie would¡¯ve been a wreck, and you¡¯re still ming her?¡± Amira scoffed, ¡°She¡¯s my daughter. I¡¯ll handle her however I want. Who do you think you are to bark at me like that?¡± The two girls were burning with rage, and they exchanged nces. They cursed to themselves, ¡®What the hell? What kind of woman treats her own daughter like this? No wonder she raised such a useless son. She¡¯s really the one suffering.¡® She clenched her fists and talked back, ¡°Mom, be nice. They¡¯re my ssmates.¡± 4.40 1 May 6421 Chapter 30 Amira sneered, ¡°So what? You are pathetic. Hanging out with these lowlifes. You think that won¡¯t get out? Do you even care about our reputation?¡± She lowered her head, biting her lip so hard that it almost bled. ¡°Say something. Why¡¯re you ying mute?¡± Amira poked She¡¯s forehead with her finger, showing no mercy. Lily couldn¡¯t help but feel for She. She thought, ¡®I used to find She kind of irritating, but now, I just feel bad for her. Having a brother and a mother like that, no wonder she¡¯s a mess.¡® Just when the room was thick with tension, the door swung open. Shermaine walked in with her usual confident swagger. Immediately, the rich kids who¡¯d been acting innocent in front of their mothers froze. Their faces paled, and their legs almost gave out Shermaine calmly sat down by Lily¡¯s bedside and said with a smile, ¡°Lily, I brought you some soup. Have a little while it¡¯s still warm.¡± Then, with a casual nce at Amira, she said, ¡°Mrs. Leeds, this is the hospital, not your bedroom. You should show a little respect for the patients here¡± AD Nurse walking 31 Chapter 31 For Lily, the soup came just at the right inoment. She hadn¡¯t eaten in days, and when the thick, creamy soup slid down her throat, she finally felt alive again. The days of torture felt like being in hell, and at some points, she thought she might die at the hands of these heartless brats. But from the moment Shermaine told her she had a n, Lily stopped worrying since Shermaine had always been the kind of person who could handle anything that came her way. As soon as Amira saw Shermaine, she charged at her like an angry bull with gritted teeth. ¡°SHER¨CMAINE.¡± Shermaine stood her ground and calmly said, ¡°No shouting in the hospital, please.¡± Amira froze for a moment and then exploded in rage. ¡°Don¡¯t think just because you¡¯re Joshua¡¯s fianc¨¦e, and I can¡¯t do anything to you. I¡¯m making sure my son and his friends get justice tonight.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting,¡± Shermaine replied with a calm smile. She tugged at Amira¡¯s sleeve, trying to get her to listen. ¡°Mom, let me exin. This-¡± She nned to say that it was their fault to begin with, that taking this matter public would only make their family look bad in the end. Through this incident, She realized Shermaine wasn¡¯t someone to mess with. It wasn¡¯t just about fighting. It was about who Shermaine was. If anyone offended her, they were done. Amira was afraid that She might say something that would make her look bad, so she ignored She and pped her hard again. ¡°Shut up, you good- for¨Cnothing.¡± The p knocked the wind out of She, making her spit blood. The bright red stained the white sheets, causing a sight that made everyone gasp. She had already been badly hurt, and no matter strong she was, she couldn¡¯t take this kind of punishment. ¡°She,¡± one of her ssmates shouted in horror. She then turned to Amira. ¡°You cruel bitch. If anything happens to She, I swear I¡¯ll regret it.¡± ¡°Come on, she won¡¯t die,¡± Amira retorted, showing no sign of guilt. The girl cursed loudly, ¡°Fuck you-¡± ¡°Enough.¡± Shermaine cut them off while pressing the nurse call button. She then assessed She¡¯s condition, thinking to herself, ¡®Seems like she¡¯s been holding in that blood for a while. After her mother¡¯s p, at least she finally spit it out.¡® She didn¡¯t know what Shermaine was doing, but she didn¡¯t stop her either. Her heart was now as desperate as a stagnant pool with nothing left to stir. She¡¯d never been valued in the Leeds family. Her family could yell at her, hit her, and me her for Ronnie¡¯s mistakes, and she¡¯d always just take i To please her family, she even tried to confront Shermaine alone. At school, she appeared to be excellent, but no one knew the pain she hid. And now, she didn¡¯t want to live that life anymore. Shermaine looked at her and said softly, ¡°Wake up, She. It¡¯s not worth it.¡± Suddenly, She realized just how pointless her life had been. The doctor and nurses soon entered and began to pull the curtains around She¡¯s bed to do an examination. Shermaine spoke up, ¡°Dr. Zimmer, could you please move her to another room?¡± Luke Zimmer looked up and immediately recognized Shermaine. A sh of surprise in his eyes as he spoke up, ¡°Oh, Sh-¡± Chapter 31 Shermaine made a ¡°shush¡± motion with her linger. ¡°Thank you, Dr. Zimmer,¡± ¡°No prob,¡± replied Luke. Amira could no longer hold it in and barked, ¡°Doctor, you¡¯ve got to be kidding me. I¡¯m her mother, her legal guardian. Why are you listening to an outsider?¡± Luke demanded, ¡°You beat her and caused her to spit blood, huh?¡± Amira stammered, ¡°I¡­¡± Luke¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°So you do know you¡¯re her mother? How could you even do that to her? Look at how weak she is now.¡± The room fell silent, and Amira could feel the gazes on her, making her embarrassed. After She was moved to another room, Ronnie, now done with his surgery, was wheeled in. His bed was the same one She had just upied. When Amira saw her son¡¯s bruised face and broken legs, her previous harsh expression softened. ¡°Oh, my poor boy.¡± ¡°Mom.¡± Ronnie tried to cry out to her, but when he looked up, he saw Shermaine sitting nearby and peeling an orange with a grin. Instantly, his expression froze, and his words choked in his throat. Just then, Jameson walked in with Ruth and Wendelyn following behind. Shermaine wasn¡¯t thrilled to see them. She frowned and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to , right? You¡¯re not married to him yet, so you¡¯re still a Jean, and I can¡¯t just ignore you.¡± ¡®If you weren¡¯t my daughter, I wouldn¡¯t give a damn about you,¡® Jameson thought but didn¡¯t say. Shermaine rolled her eyes but didn¡¯t respond. When they saw all the injured people lying around, Jameson¡¯s face showed a fleeting moment of embarrassment. He thought, ¡®Damn, Shermaine is indeed cruel.¡® Wendelyn¡¯s gaze immediatelynded on Lily. Just as she suspected, Shermaine and Lily did know each other. Lily saw her too, and her face instantly soured. Acting like she was concerned, Ruth walked toward Shermaine. Her cold attitude from before was now reced with false sweetness. ¡°Sheary, did you get hurt?¡± Shermaine couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®I¡¯ve got bandages on my hand, and you can¡¯t see that? Maybe you should get your eyes checked.¡® However, she remainedposed and replied with a smile, ¡°No, Mom, I¡¯m good.¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t act tough. Let me check your hand.¡± Without waiting for Shermaine to respond, she started unwrapping the bandages on her hand. ¡°Good thing it¡¯s just a superficial wound. It¡¯ll heal in a couple of days.¡± Shermaine couldn¡¯t be bothered with Ruth¡¯sme act. She snatched her hand back and re¨Cwrapped the bandage. Ruth went on, feigning concern. ¡°You really messed up this time, but don¡¯t worry. Your father and I won¡¯t let you get dragged back to the police station again.¡± Shermaine sneered, ¡°Wait, it was Mr. Leeds who was taken away by the cops. I think you¡¯ve got the wrong person.¡± Ruth let out a tense chuckle, looking awkward. 4.40 Sat, 31 May X1046 Amira¡¯s fury was ignited again when she heard that. She went straight to the point. ¡°You¡¯re all here just in time. The people in this room, aside from that woman, are all injured by your daughter. ¡°I know your Jean family is a prestigious family, so surely you won¡¯t cover up for her, will you?¡± Another richdy chimed in, ¡°Yeah, Mr. Jean, look at my son¡¯s face. It¡¯s all swollen. He looks disfigured.¡± Someone else added, ¡°And my son¡¯s hand. How¡¯s he gonna live with an injury like that? He ys the piano. If his hand gets messed up, his whole future will be ruined.¡± Other mothers alsoined about how severe their sons¡¯s injuries were. Beforeing here, Jameson had already gotten the gist of what happened. After listening to the women¡¯sints, he spoke calmly, ¡°From what ! learned, this started because of Shermaine¡¯s friend Lily. So, why don¡¯t you exin how Lily got injured?¡± Amira retorted, ¡°Lily first bullied Wendy at Grandview Mall, and Ronnie wanted to teach Lily a lesson. But just to be clear, her injuries have nothing to do with Ronnie and other boys. ¡°She got drunk and had a fight with others before they took her away. I have evidence for this. Mr. Jean, you can take a look. ¡°Honestly, they didn¡¯t really do much to Lily after taking her away. They just scared her a bit and made sure she¡¯d learn her lesson and not to mess with people, especially not with good¨Chearted ones.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t bully her. You¡¯re TWISTING everything!¡± Lily was choking on her anger. She had indeed gotten into an argument with others and fell down, but the bruises from falling would never be the same as what she had now. Lily looked to Shermaine, who patted her shoulder, signaling her to calm down. Shermaine turned to Wendelyn and said, ¡°Wendy, good you are here. Why don¡¯t you tell us what really happened between you and Lily that day?¡± Wendelyn was only here to watch Shermaine¡¯s drama unfold and wasn¡¯t about to admit any rtionship with Lily, let alone help her. She lowered her head, bit her lip, and said, ¡°It really wasn¡¯t a big deal. Let¡¯s forget it.¡± She then added, ¡°Mrs. Leeds, Lily¡¯s someone who really values loyalty. What happened was thest thing she¡¯d ever want.¡± Lily couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®This two¨Cfaced snake is actually my sister. I regret recognizing her back then.¡® Amira said with a sneer, ¡°Oh, she looks like she¡¯s enjoying it a lot. And let¡¯s not forget, Shermaine was the one who started hitting others. Mr. Jean, you should look at the next video.¡± The next video showed Shermaine beating the shit out of those guys outside the auto service center. The footage was clear as day. Jameson paused for a moment, clearly thinking about how to handle this situation. Just then, a group of police officers walked in. One of them stepped forward and asked, ¡°Is Ms. Shue here?¡± Shermaine responded, ¡°That¡¯s me.¡± The Comment Nurse walking 32 Chapter 32 In fact, these people hadmitted more than just such crimes¨Csome had ever been involved in rape, and there were cases where someone had ended up dead. As soon as some of the wealthydies saw the police, their faces went pale. The others started feeling increasingly uneasy. Shermaine replied, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯did.¡± Amira hade here tonight fully prepared, aiming to get revenge for Ronnie, who¡¯d been humiliated by Joshua. She even gathered these women together to destroy any evidence that could hurt Ronnie¡¯s side. To make sure the deleted evidence couldn¡¯t be recovered, she even hired a hacker to wipe it clean permanently, thinking that would cover their tracks. But she didn¡¯t expect Shermaine to turn the tables on them and call the police. Jameson showed a strange expression. He remembered Shermaine telling him not toe, and now, he finally realized that she didn¡¯t really need him to y the father role here. Amira, starting to panic, tried to steady herself. Thinking the deleted videos would be gone for good, she took a breath and said, ¡°As for intentional injury, Shermaine, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re clean. ¡°And as for drug trafficking and kidnapping stuff, you¡¯re just framing our children. Got any evidence for that?¡± ¡°Actually, officer,¡± Amira added, ¡°I¡¯ve got a video of her attacking our children. You came at the right time. Please take her away now.¡± Shermaine blinked her eyes, looking innocent. ¡°I always abide by thew, but sometimes, a bit of violence is the only way to get things done.¡± She paused for a second before continuing, ¡°As for evidence, whether it¡¯s drug trafficking, illegal kidnapping, intentional injury, or anything else, I¡¯ve got it all.¡± She pulled out her phone and handed it to the officer. Shermaine shot the videos when she patched up her wound in Danielle¡¯s office. Amira had ordered the hacker to permanently erase the data on her phone, yet she never anticipated that the evidence had automatically been uploaded to cloud storage. It was too easy for Shermaine to copy it. It proved that no evil deed would go unpunished. After watching the video, the officer¡¯s face grew serious. ¡°Please, follow me to the station.¡± These rich kids had been living like they were untouchable, abusing their wealth and status. The evidence was enough to get them locked up for years. They were arrested, and it felt like a bad dream. Only when the police cars¡¯s lights shed in front of the hospital, and people started watching them being taken away, did they realize how deeply they were screwed. It was humiliating, and now they were terrified. They knew the consequences could be years behind bars. Amira only started to regret things when she saw Ronnie being taken away by the police again. She couldn¡¯t believe how things ended up like this. She thought she had everything covered, but somehow, Shermaine found the evidence they¡¯d been so careful to hide. As those richdies were worried about their sons¡¯s futures and tried to find a way out, somehow, the news spread out like wildfire through Basterel. Once the news was out, there was no way they could try to pull some strings to get their sons out. Even their families were going to be dragged into this mess. After all, this was a family scandal, involving drug trafficking, kidnapping, and assault¨Cnothing they could brush under the rug. Lily, the victim in all this, didn¡¯t expect Shermaine to bring her justice so easily. Before Shermaine left for the police station, she asked Lily, ¡°How do you know Wendelyn?¡± 14:46 Sat, 31 May G Lily didn¡¯t hide anything and told Shermaine the whole story. Shermaine thought, ¡®What a surprise. They¡¯re actually sisters. Wendelyn, now a Jean, would hever acknowledge Lily as her sister. Shermaine asked, ¡°So, you and Wendelyn had an argument at Grandview Mall that day?¡± Lily responded, ¡°Well, it wasn¡¯t really an argument. After I got fired from the store, I asked Wendy out, I asked her if she was the one who got me fired, and she admitted it. ¡°I asked her why. She said she didn¡¯t want to see me in Basterel anymore. Then she gave me a check for 30 thousand dors.¡± Just thinking about that check made Lily angry. She was poor, but she had her pride. She wasn¡¯t after Wendelyn for her money or status¨Cshe just wanted to make up for the sister she¡¯d lost when her family sent her away at the age of five. Lily said, ¡°I didn¡¯t take the check, and I told her I wouldn¡¯t bother her again. But not long after that, I was forcibly taken away by those jerks.¡± Shermaine said tly, ¡°It could be Wendelyn inciting them to do dirty work for her.¡± Shermaine¡¯s gut told her that if Wendelyn hadn¡¯t encouraged or pushed Ronnie, he never would¡¯ve lost his mind and gone after a stranger like that. Lily lowered her eyes and said, ¡°I felt the same thing, but¡­ Never mind. Let¡¯s just say we¡¯ve settled our debt with her.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not nning to hold her ountable, fine. I won¡¯t dig any deeper,¡± Shermaine replied. ¡°But I need to tell you, she and I are technically sisters now, though we are not close. ¡°I hope you won¡¯te and beg me to spare her when something bad happens to her.¡± Lily didn¡¯t hesitate but replied, ¡°Sure, Sheary. From the moment she asked me to leave Basterel, I stopped seeing her as my sister. Her life and death have nothing to do with me anymore.¡± Wendelyn was also summoned to the police station to give a statement about Lily¡¯s case. But she wasn¡¯t worried about being dragged into the mess. After all, Ronnie was an idiot, and he valued her like gold. In the interrogation room, the officers only asked her a few questions that didn¡¯t really matter. When they told her she could leave, Wendelyn asked, ¡°Officer, will my sister be detained?¡± ¡°No,¡± the officer replied. ¡°Why not?¡± Wendelyn pressed. The officer shot a nce at her but said nothing. Wendelyn let out a chuckle. ¡°I mean, sure, Ronnie and the others hurt Lily, but wasn¡¯t it Sheary who threw the first punch? And she hurt them pretty terribly?¡± ¡°Your family agreed to cover the medical bills, didn¡¯t you?¡± the officer replied. ¡°Our chief said we should wrap this up quickly and not to dy her school tomorrow.¡± Wendelyn replied, ¡°Well, that¡¯s¡­ a relief.¡± The officer silently rolled his eyes and retorted inwardly, ¡®Really? Howe it looks like you¡¯re not happy about the result?¡® When Amira learned Shermaine could go home, she immediately made a scene. ¡°Why isn¡¯t she being held ountable? She put my children in the hospital, and now she¡¯s just walking free? Give me an exnation.¡± The officer exined, ¡°First, they¡¯re willing topensate you for your losses. Second, there¡¯s an important lead in the evidence Shermaine provided- about a drug trafficking ring. ¡°We appreciate her cooperation. Besides, she got her punishment. She¡¯s writing an apology letter. She can¡¯t leave before she finishes it.¡± Amira shot back in her mind, ¡®An apology letter? You call that punishment?¡® The officer remained stone¨Cfaced, ¡°If you¡¯re unsatisfied, you can take it to court. But in the meantime, I suggest you get a betterwyer for your son.¡± Amira looked like she¡¯d just bitten into something sour. Shermaine sat in a chair with her legs casually crossed. Her right hand was injured, so writing would hurt, but she used her left hand instead. When Wendelyn walked out of the interrogation room, her eyes immediatelynded on Shermaine. Wendelyn couldn¡¯t help but think how stunning Shermaine was¨Cher face, the sharp angles, and her features were just perfect. Wendelyn had always thought she was pretty, but next to Shermaine, she felt ordinary. She thought to herself, ¡®If only my face looked like hers. Shermaine doesn¡¯t even deserve that kind of beauty.¡® Wendelyn walked over and spoke up, ¡°Sheary, I¡¯m just curious about how you got all that evidence?¡± She didn¡¯t think Shermaine checked their phones, and Amira had clearly wiped everything clean. Shermaine smirked. ¡°I¡¯ve got a friend who¡¯s really good withputers.¡± That ¡°friend¡± was, of course, Shermaine herself. ¡°Oh, I see. Hacking into someone¡¯s phone, that¡¯s an invasion of privacy, isn¡¯t it?¡± Wendelyn¡¯s voice rose slightly. Shermaine replied with a smile, ¡°Inciting others tomit crimes is also illegal, you know?¡± Wendelyn clenched her fists. ¡°Sheary, you really know a lot.¡± She bit her lip and then asked, ¡°By the way, does Joshua know what kind of trouble you got into tonight?¡± Shermaine rolled her eyes, thinking, ¡®Geez, this is so annoying. Can she stop talking?¡® Shermaine stopped writing, looked at Wendelyn, and said, ¡°I¡¯m doing the world a favor, don¡¯t you think? If Josh knew, he¡¯d have someonee pick me
  1. up.
¡°But this is just a small thing. I¡¯m not going to bother him. He¡¯s busy enough already. I wouldn¡¯t want to interrupt.¡± The way Shermaine casually referred to Joshua as ¡°Josh¡± made Wendelyn¡¯s face turn as cold as stone, and her nails dug into her palms. Shermaine grinned, leaning in a little and pretending to sound sweet. ¡°It¡¯ste, but I¡¯m kinda missing him right now.¡± Shermaine couldn¡¯t help but call herself a drama queen. But to her surprise, things only got worse. -Joshua¡¯s deep voice suddenly came from behind her. ¡°If you miss me, why don¡¯t you just call me, hmm?¡± AD Comment Send gift Nurse walking 33 Chapter 33 Joshua walked in, dressed in a ck suit, his tie perfectly knotted. Normally, this kind of outfit would make a man look stiff and sophisticated, but on him, it only gave off a kind of quiet luxury. He came in with a slight chill from the rain, and the cold air followed him in. Having lived with Joshua for many days, Shermaine knew just how well¨Cbuilt he was. She remembered the scene he swam in the backyard pool. She didn¡¯t have the chance to fully admire his physique because by the time she could, he¡¯d already put ori a bathrobe. She¡¯d caught a glimpse of a tattoo on his chest probably a dragon, but she hadn¡¯t gotten a good look from where she was standing. What really surprised her was how perfectly timed his appearance was. He overheard everything she said to Wendelyn. Shermaine forced a smile as she thought, I¡¯ve made myself sick talking like that. I don¡¯t know what he thinks about it, but whatever. He¡¯s always been so good at ying along with these acts.¡® She still carried her faint smile. ¡°I¡¯ll go back soon, and I can see you then, so it doesn¡¯t matter whether I call or not.¡± ¡°You should¡¯ve told me. When things get this big, others might not be able to handle them properly,¡± Joshua said, his voice calm, but the undertone was clear. Jameson thought to himself, ¡°Sounds like you¡¯re talking about me.¡± Jameson really hadn¡¯t been of any help during this mess. He even criticized Shermaine for causing trouble for the Jean family. But with all these rich kids now in jail, this wouldn¡¯t bring the Jean family any good press. In fact, it would bring plenty of bad attention. Still, from the looks of it, Jameson knew Joshua would probably handle it. Jameson thought, ¡®Shermaine indeed brought us shame. Her reputation is already in tatters. Having a daughter like her is a real headache. Compared to her, Wendelyn is so sweet. She is the one who makes me look good.¡± Jameson forced a smile and said, ¡°Hey, Josh, you¡¯re here.¡± Joshua replied, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m here to take Shermaine home.¡± Jameson said, ¡°Thanks for doing that.¡± ¡°She¡¯s my fianc¨¦e. I¡¯d love to do that,¡± replied Joshua curtly. Jameson didn¡¯t know what to say. He just kept smiling and muttering, ¡°Yeah, sure.¡± Wendelyn stood nearby, her lips trembling, her face pale like she might copse at any moment. She tried to force a smile and greeted Joshua. ¡°Hi, Joshua.¡± Joshua gave a slight nod but didn¡¯t engage. He looked at Shermaine¡¯s hand, wrapped in bandages with a bit of blood seeping through. The wound must¡¯ve been pulled open again. He turned to the officer and said, ¡°Officer, do you have a first aid kit?¡± The officer nodded. ¡°Just a moment, I¡¯ll grab it for you.¡± Outside, the drizzle blurred the night, giving everything an eerie, distant feel. Shermaine rested her chin on her hand, her expression almost bored. Joshua moved swiftly to change her bandage, his motions practiced and quick. Shermaine, meanwhile, kept scribbling in her apology letter. Chapter 33 Joshua nced at her and asked, ¡°Left handed, huh?¡± Shermaine replied, ¡°I can write with both hands.¡± Joshua didn¡¯t often givepliments, but her handwriting really was something else. was graceful, mixed with a bit of fierceness. He praised. ¡°You write really well.¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t even pretend to be modest. ¡°I¡¯ve always written like this. In fact, as a reward for yourpliment, I¡¯ll give you a poem I wrote next time.¡± With her level of skill, it would be worth keeping as a treasure. Shermaine thought to herself, ¡®He¡¯s cold most of the time, but when he says he¡¯ll treat me well, he really does. I¡¯ve got to admit that He whispered, ¡°Thanks.¡± She replied, ¡°No problem.¡± Seeing their lovey¨Cdovey interaction, Wendelyn, stood outside the door and looked nk. Joshua was a man of prestige, a dream for so many women. Yet he had always been untouchable, like a devout follower who didn¡¯t give in to the temptations of love or desire. Yet here he was, personally tending to Shermaine¡¯s wound. Wendelyn couldn¡¯t stop the bitter feeling rising in her chest. Even Amira and the other richdies couldn¡¯t help but be taken aback when they saw it. But this wasn¡¯t an enjoyable spectacle. Shermaine had already turned their families into aughingstock in Basterel, and what wasing next was nothing but endless trouble. If they could, they¡¯d definitely want to get revenge for their sons. However, Joshua¡¯s appearance was a sharp reminder that Shermaine was under his protection. If they wanted to make a move on her, they¡¯d better think twice. Ruth, who had been mostly quiet until now, was trying tofort Wendelyn. ¡°Wendy, don¡¯t be upset. Just ignore them. Joshua must¡¯ve lost his mind to treat someone like Shermaine so well. ¡°If he really marries her one day, I¡¯ll make sure he knows he just married a brainless, useless woman with nothing but big boobs.¡± Ruth continued to trash¨Ctalk Shermaine, ¡°I heard from the teacher today that Shermaine¡¯s in the lowest¨Cperforming ss. She can¡¯t even answer the simplest questions. What future does she have? Joshua¡¯s being nice to her, probably just out of some obligation to Ross.¡± Wendelyn frowned and asked, ¡°Obligation to Ross?¡± Ruth exined, ¡°Yeah, Ross saved Joshua¡¯s life once. Maybe Joshua¡¯s just repaying him by being nice to Shermaine. You should let everyone see how much better you are. Maybe one day Joshua will regret his choice and wish he¡¯d chosen you instead.¡± Wendelyn thought to herself, ¡®That exins why Joshua insists on Shermaine being his fianc¨¦e. Looks like there¡¯s some deeper reason behind it. It¡¯s too bad I¡¯m not Ross¡¯s real sister. If I were, Shermaine wouldn¡¯t even have a chance. It¡¯s all just luck for her.¡® Wendelyn replied, ¡°I get it, Mom. I will.¡± It was crazy how some inspirational words could mess with people¡¯s minds so easily. Wendelyn didn¡¯t even stop to think about what Joshua was really like. Instead, she let herself be caught up in her own delusions and deceived herself. After finishing with Shermaine¡¯s bandages and putting the bandage on, Joshua handed the first aid kit back to the officer and extended his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡®Is he trying to hold my hand?¡® Shermaine thought, but still reached out and ced her hand in his. His palm was warm, but due to his military background, his hands had rough callus on the fingertips and palms. Shermaine thought, ¡®Oh well, it¡¯s just for show anyway. Might as well y my part to the fullest.¡¯ 14:47 Sat, 31 May She said goodbye to Jameson, and the two of them walked out holding hands. The umbres were put into a bucket at the entrance. Joshua grabbed a ck umbre and opened it up. Once they walked out, Shermaine felt like she¡¯d yed her part enough and tried to pull away, but Joshua¡¯s grip didn¡¯t loosen. He said, ¡°Someone¡¯s still watching.¡± Shermaine nced back and saw that Wendelyn¡¯s eyes hadn¡¯t left them. They didn¡¯t let go of each other¡¯s hands until they got into the car. Joshua¡¯s expression was still calm, as if he wasn¡¯t holding a woman¡¯s hand, but simply holding onto an umbre. After sitting down, he instructed the driver, ¡°Drive.¡± The driver replied, ¡°Got it, Mr. York.¡± Suddenly, Shermaine grabbed Joshua¡¯s hand again. His hand was muchrger than hers, and her five slim fingers slipped right between his. Joshua asked with a confused face, ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± Shermaine answered, ¡°I was the one who held your hand first, so naturally, I¡¯m the one who can let go.¡± Nurse walking 34 Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Joshua didn¡¯t mind the little things. He just thought back to thest time he wrapped his arms around Shermaine¡¯s waist¡ªit was soft andfortable. Now, holding her hand, he noticed it was just as soft, delicate even. He mused, ¡®Even her hand feels so soft, the other parts of her must be the same. Despite being so soft, this woman can cause a lot of trouble when she gets mad.¡¯ After they left the hospital, Shermaine said, ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± She bought soup for Lily but hadn¡¯t gotten anything for herself. She hadn¡¯t had time to eat, so she decided to wait until everything was handled before eating. ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± Joshua asked. She replied, ¡°Beef stew.¡± Twenty minutester, they were at the restaurant. Joshua sat across from Shermaine, watching as she spooned a mix of meat and veggies into her mouth, one bite at a time. Joshua didn¡¯t usually eat with women, except for family dinners. And even then, the women in his family were always poised, delicate eaters. The younger ones either dieted or were picky, never really tucking in for a big meal. But watching Shermaine eat, he felt there was something oddly satisfying about it, like it made him hungry just by watching. Maybe it was the spice, but her lips were flushed, as if coated in some glossy lip balm, tempting and appetizing. Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction, and her smile radiated a genuine joy. She nced up and asked, ¡°You want some?¡± Joshua called over the waiter. ¡°One more orange juice, please.¡± It was for Shermaine¨Cher ss was almost empty. He wasn¡¯t a fan of drinks, and water was more than enough for him. The waiter replied, ¡°Sure thing, sir.¡± Joshua slipped off his coat and casually draped it over the back of his chair. Even though the AC was on, the warmth from the hot dishes on the table made him loosen his tie and unbutton two buttons on his shirt. He looked rxed but still had that effortless elegance. Good thing they were in a private room. The screen blocked the view from the rest of the restaur¨¢nt, or else they¡¯d probably be the center of attention. With Joshua now joining her, Shermaine ate with more gusto. It was a lot more fun to eat with someone else. By 10 PM, they were back home. Joshua said to her, ¡°When you shower, don¡¯t let your right hand get wet.¡± Shermaine nodded. ¡°Got it. Goodnight.¡± He said, ¡°Goodnight.¡± After her shower, Shermaine came out in a slip dress, looking a little seductive. Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing her delicate corbones. Her legs were slender and straight. The soft glow of the room made her seem almost like a fairy, especially with that mix of purity and allure on her face. Though it was autumn, the room had a built¨Cin climate control system, and despite the persistent rain, the air inside felt warm and cozy. 147 Sat 31 May BG¨¹ Chapter 34 Shermaine sat on the chair, one leg propped up, a thin nket draped over her legs. The was booting up, and she slowly sipped on the stron liquor Joshua had given her. Once she finished her drink, she got back to work. After all, this was a three¨Cmillion¨Cdor job, and she wanted to get it done as quickly as possible to pers the money. With her sses during the day, she couldn¡¯t work on it while at school, so it had to be done at night. But if every day was as busy as today, this task wouldn¡¯t be finished in ten days. If Shermaine had checked out the International Tech Forum, she¡¯d have seen that just today, one tinum¨Clevel expert had also taken on the same task, and she was already being talked about by everyone. Bing a tinum¨Clevel expert required continuouslypleting tasks and umting points. Once one¡¯s points reached the standard, they¡¯d be upgraded to tinum¨Clevel. In this forum, tinum¨Clevel experts were extremely rare. Jaden was ecstatic because this tinum¨Clevel expert was always a mystery, but when she took on a task, it was always an S¨Clevel, and she had never failed. This time, they were all sure their project would make a breakthrough. That expert¡¯s ID was Dolcie Chapman, a woman from the Republic of Wallington, but her real identity was hidden. No one knew who she was in real life, but she had a huge fan base on the forum. When she took the task, it sparked an immediate buzz. A: [Since my goddess takes the task, no one else gets a chance.] B: [Exactly, the three million dors is definitely Dolcie¡¯s. The other day, some clueless person took it on, and I thought they were a big deal. Turns out, they¡¯ve only done D¨Clevel tasks. LMAO.] C: [I know the person you¡¯re talking about. She¡¯s Boa Hanks. At first, I was going to diss her, but then I saw she used the name of the Empress, so I held back. Who can argue with the Empress¡¯s fans?] D: [The task is so difficult. I wonder how long Dolcie will take.] Dolcie responded to thement, saying she would need a month to finish the task. D: [A month? That¡¯s amazing.] E: [The gold¨Clevel expert who took this task before would finish it in three months. Goddess is so impressive.] Shermaine wouldn¡¯t waste time in the forum after taking a task. She kept working until 1 a.m. and decided to go to bed. As she was about to turn off herptop, the firewall turned red, which meant someone was trying to contact her. Of course, they wouldn¡¯t be able to break in. A message popped up: [Mdy, why don¡¯t you respond to my messages?] Shermaine ignored the person. She simply shut down theptop and went to bed. Seeing the signal cut off, Roy, feeling rejected, called Henry. ¡°What do I need to do to get Mdy¡¯s attention?¡± Henry was irritated to be woken up, and he snapped, ¡°Aren¡¯t you the so¨Ccalled heartthrob? Figure it out yourself. Don¡¯t bother me again.¡± Roy shot back, ¡°Come on, do you have no conscience? This is important to me, and you¡¯re acting like you couldn¡¯t care less.¡± Without a second thought, Henry hung up on him, offering no mercy. The next day, as the first light of dawn broke, Shermaine stepped onto the balcony, taking in a deep breath. She only wore a slip dress, and she felt it was colder than yesterday. 14 Sat, 31 May b The inte was buzzing about Ronnie and his group¡¯s crimes. Shermaine didn¡¯t bother to check the news. She thought getting them locked up was just the start. ording to Joshua, these people had to bepletely eliminated, or they¡¯d just pop back up As soon as she entered the ssroom, Summer asked, ¡°Shermaine, did She find you yesterday afternoon?¡± Shermaine nodded. ¡°She did.¡± ¡°Really? Did she hurt you?¡± Summer then noticed the bandage on Shermaine¡¯s hand and immediately imagined She picking on her. ¡°She¡¯s way out of line. I thought she never picked on girls.¡± Shermaine exined, ¡°You¡¯ve got it wrong. She didn¡¯t hurt me.¡± In fact, it was a bit of a fight, and She ended up in the hospital. She wouldn¡¯t be out for at least a month or two. ¡°Good to hear,¡± Summer said, relieved. She held up her test papers and looked at Shermaine with hopeful eyes. ¡°Shermaine, I had a lot of problems when I did homeworkst night. Can you help me out?¡± Shermaine said, ¡°Sure.¡°¡± She had tutored plenty of students before¨Cmostly PhDs and master¡¯s students, so high school was a breeze for her. ¡°Thank you, Shermaine. I¡¯ll bring you snacks every day,¡± Summer said, ncing at the questions like they were her worst nightmare. But with Shermaine around, she started to feel hopeful again. The entire day passed with Shermaine tutoring the entire ss, answering every question. She felt it was tiring, and keeping this routine wasn¡¯t a good thing. However, she still tried her best to tutor everyone and won their hearts. She was so thorough, even the students who brought in extra¨Clevel questions were blown away by how easily she solved them. Everyone thought in shock, ¡°Why on earth did the teacher assign her to the lowest¨Clevel ss?¡® Summer said, ¡°Shermaine, we¡¯ve got exams next week. You¡¯re definitely going to ace them.¡± Shermaine sipped her water and shed a grin. ¡°Sure, first ce is in my pocket.¡± Summer¡¯s eyes went wide. She gave Shermaine a thumbs¨Cup, clearly in awe. She screamed in her mind, ¡®She¡¯s so damn smart. I just can¡¯t get enough of Shermaine.¡® Time flew by during ss, and as soon as the bell rang, Shermaine headed straight to the hospital. Lily was drinking the medicine prescribed by Shermaine. Lily suffered a lot in her life, so even the nastiest medicine didn¡¯t faze her. When she saw Shermaine, she asked, ¡°Sheary, the police didn¡¯t give you a hard timest night, did they?¡± Shermaine shook her head while checking Lily¡¯s pulse. She could tell Lily was much better than the day before. She said to Lily, ¡°You can leave the hospital in a couple of days. After that, just give up the rental house.¡± Lily sighed, ¡°But I don¡¯t have enough money to rent a new ce. I regret not taking thepensation from those rich wives.¡± Shermaine replied, ¡°Rx, the money¡¯s already in your ount.¡± Lily had spent the entire day sleeping, unaware the money had already been transferred. She grabbed her phone to check and found over three million in her ount. She took a deep breath and asked, ¡°If I take the money, will the police think I forgive them and let them off the hook?¡± ¡°The people who gave you the money weren¡¯t the ones who did the worst, so feel free to ept it,¡± Shermaine said while peeling an orange. ¡°By the way, what are you nning to do once you leave the hospital?¡± ¡°Well, I was thinking of getting a job.¡± Lily hesitated for a second and then added, ¡°But now that I see the money in my ount, I¡¯m thinking of starting a business. Sheary, do you want to join me?¡± 14:47 Sat, 31 May GO Shermaine raised her eyebrows and asked, ¡°What kind of business?¡± ¡°What about a cosmeticspany?¡± Lily said. She¡¯d been working in the beauty industry since high school and had built up quite a bit of experience. She¡¯d always dreamed of owning her own beauty brand once she had the money to do so. ¡°Sounds good,¡± Shermaine replied. Lily¡¯s face lit up with excitement, but then she got serious. ¡°But if the products aren¡¯t good, we probably won¡¯t get far.¡± Experience alone wasn¡¯t enough to seed in this industry. The marketpetition was fierce. For a small cosmeticspany, survival was extremely difficult without either unique products or heavy investment to build brand recognition. This wasn¡¯t a problem to Shermaine, and she replied with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. I¡¯ll handle the R&D. I¡¯m a little busytely, so I¡¯ll push it back a bit. Once you¡¯re discharged, you can register thepany and start looking for a ce.¡± 20 Nurse walking 35 Chapter 35 Knowing that Shermaine would help, Lily was full of confidence and hope for the uing business venture. She knew Shermaine had been investing money into developing Maple Leaf Ville and hoped to y her part by ensuring the venture thrived. As Lily shared her ns for the futurepany, Shermaine started to eat an orange slice by slice. Once she finished, she told Lily to get some rest, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and headed out. Right at the door, she bumped into the two girls who hade to visit She. The moment the two girls saw her, they pressed themselves against the wall in fear, looking utterly ridiculous. They swallowed nervously and stammered, ¡°S¨CShermaine, what a coincidence.¡± Their forced smiles were so awkward that they looked more like grimaces. ¡°It sure is,¡± Shermaine said with a faint smile, brushing past them. Once she left, the two girls finally let out a sigh of relief. They rushed into the adjacent hospital room, where Shey, and wailed, ¡°She, we just ran into Shermaine outside. Damn, she scared the life out of us.¡± ¡°You¡¯re such cowards.¡± Shelia¡¯s face darkened. ¡°We sure are. She¡¯s just too scary,¡± one of the girls replied. ¡°Yeah, having guts won¡¯t do us any good,¡± the other girl chimed in. She rolled her eyes, thinking, ¡®Shermaine is such a walking contradiction. She¡¯s beaten me senseless, yet she¡¯s also the one who pulled me back from the brink of disaster. I don¡¯t me her for getting my brother into such a miserable state. Actually, it¡¯s deeply satisfying!¡¯ She was deeply disappointed with her extremely biased mother. It wasn¡¯t just her mother¨Cher whole family valued sons over daughters. She was in the hospital now, but neither her father nor her grandmother came to visit¨Cthey were running around in a panic because Ronnie had been thrown into detention. She had already given up on expecting any kind of care from her family. She knew if she wanted a ce in the family in the future, she¡¯d have to fight for it on her own. But she wasn¡¯t sure if she could do it. It was just another ordinary day. As usual, plenty of students came to Shermaine with questions, not just in math, physics, chemistry, but also in other subjects. Shermaine would gather the types of questions her ssmates couldn¡¯t solve during the day, organize them, and then spend an hour each evening doing a live stream to exin them. The exact time for the live stream would be sent to the group chat in advance every night. Most underachieving students wanted to improve their grades. They longed for growth, hoping to get good scores on the SAT. But reality hit them hard. They were stuck in the worst ss, with weak foundations, and their teachers had already written them off. There was no way they could have high hopes for themselves. But Shermaine suddenly showed up in their lives, and somehow, her presence made them feel like there was a glimmer of hope. She was willing to help them in her own way, and if they didn¡¯t seize the chance, they¡¯d be fools. Summer bought a bunch of snacks for Shermaine from the convenience store, almost filling up Shermaine¡¯s backpack. It was Friday, and the boarding students were nning to head home for the weekend. Summer hooked her arm through Shermaine¡¯s, and they went down the stairs together. Muttering forms under her breath, Summer didn¡¯t see someone in her way when she turned a corner and bumped into them. The person cried out,nding on the ground with books scattered everywhere. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry! I wasn¡¯t paying attention. ¨¢re you okay?¡± Summer said, quickly bending down to help, but the girl swatted her hand away, her pretty face 1/3 Chapter 35 twisted in anger. Summer recognized her it was Alice, who took AP courses and was friends with Summer¡¯s petty and mean roommate, Hannah. Alice was a big nama around school. Not only was she stunningly beautiful, recognized as the school¡¯s prettiest girl, but her academic performance was top notch. However, with Shermaine here, Alice might lose her title as ¡°the school¡¯s prettiest girl.¡± Shermaine was just too pretty, and the school had been buzzing about it. Lately, there had been so many boys hanging around outside ss 9, all just to see Shermaine. Alice snapped, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me. Ugh, just my luck to run into someone from ss 9.¡± She picked up her books and then sneered, ¡°Typical underachiever Cramming a few forms and expecting to be top students? Don¡¯t kid yourselves¨Cit¡¯s pathetic.¡± Just because my grades aren¡¯t great, you think you can insult me? No wonder you¡¯re Hannah¡¯s bestie¨Cyou¡¯re both awful!¡® Summer bellowed inwardly. her face darkening. Then she said, ¡°Doing well in school doesn¡¯t give you the right to treat people like dirt. I apologized already, but you wouldn¡¯t ept it. Why take it to a personal level?¡± ¡°Did I say anything wrong? Every single one of you in ss 9 is useless,¡± Alice shot back before she started to insult Shermaine. ¡°Especially her¨Cshe¡¯s beyond hopeless. She¡¯s a disgrace to all the girls.¡± Shermaine was speechless. Summer was fuming. ¡°Have you got any manners? What gives you the right to insult Shermaine? What did she ever do to you?¡± Alice snorted, ¡°I just don¡¯t like her. So what if she¡¯s good at fighting? To us top students, she¡¯s just a troublemaker.¡± Although Summer didn¡¯t do well in school, she was good at arguing. ¡°Oh, please. You¡¯re just jealous that Shermaine is prettier than you and outshone you. So you¡¯re using this pathetic excuse to insult her. How shameless of you. Who would¡¯ve thought you could stoop so low?¡± Then she shouted, ¡°Hey, everyone! Come see for yourselves! Alice, the prettiest girl in our school, is throwing insults left and right for no reason. This is just too much.¡± More and more students turned to watch. Alice¡¯s face flushed red as she retorted, ¡°You¡¯re spouting nonsense. Time will prove everything.¡± Seeing the argument escting, Shermaine tugged on Summer¡¯s arm. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Don¡¯t waste your breath on her. You¡¯re better off memorizing another form. Like she said, time will prove everything.¡± As Shermaine reached the school gates, her phone suddenly rang. It was Ruth, asking her toe back for family dinner tonight and to bring Joshua if possible. Shermaine said she¡¯d ask Joshua and hung up. Then she called him right away. Joshua was in a meeting when he received the call. Around the oval¨Cshaped conference table, dozens of senior executives were seated. As Joshua nced at the caller ID, the executives kept their gazes fixed straight ahead. Joshua hated being interrupted during meetings, so everyone¡¯s phones were set to silent, including his own. Even if a call came through, he wouldn¡¯t answer it¨Che never did. But this time, Joshua raised his hand, signaling the meeting to pause. The executives were stunned and couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he was making an exception because something serious had happened to Owen. But they guessed wrong. Joshua brought the phone to his ear and asked, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Shermaine got straight to the point. ¡°The Jean family is hosting a dinner tonight. Ruth asked me to bring you along. Are you free?¡± Joshua replied, ¡°I am, but I¡¯ll be a littlete. Is that okay?¡± May ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Shermaine said casually. As long as he could make it, that was enough. The executives were left speechless. They now realized that it wasn¡¯t that Joshua never bent the rules¨Cit was just that no one had been important enough to make him do so, As for the family dinner, it was supposed to happen as soon as Shermaine got back. But the Jean family had been putting it off. And some of them didn¡¯t even show up for thest party. For example, Shermaine¡¯s grandmother, Janice, who lived in the suburbs, reportedly fell ill when Shermaine returned, so she couldn¡¯t make it back. Then there was Shermaine¡¯s uncle Brandon and his family, who had settled in Neclen and were in charge of the Jean family¡¯s subsidiary there. Shermaine had met her other uncle, Andrew, and his family a few times. They were sharp¨Ctongued and unpleasant, not worth talking to. She was curious about how her grandmother and her uncle Brandon would treat her. 0 A Nurse walking 36 Chapter 36 The Jean family¡¯s sess in Basterel was built on the foundationid by their ancestors. By the time Janice¡¯s husband took charge, the Jean family had reached its peak. However, when the family business fell into the hands of Jameson and his siblings, they faced a near copse due to the financial crisis and pressure from theirpetitors, ording to Ross, the Jean family only managed to syve the crisis because their mother, Huth, stepped in and saved the day. So, even though Jameson and Ruth¡¯s marriage had long since lost its spunk, they never divorced. After all, Ruth still held 15% of the family shares To Shermaine, her mother, Ruth, seemed utterly clueless¨Cdefinitely not the type to seed in business. She even wondered if Ruth had be less talented and woe due to aging. Shermaine had the driver take her straight to the Jean residence. Tonight¡¯s family dinner wasn¡¯t just a gathering of familiar faces; there was also shanger present. He was a tall, lean young man with refined features and was sitting next to Andrew¡¯s son, Clyde. The two were discussing a mathpetition problem. ¡°hen they couldn¡¯t figure it out, they turned to Wendelyn for help. After taking a look at the problem, Wendelyn joined the discussion. As Shermaine entered the house, her attention immediately went to the elderly woman with white hair sitting on the sofa. She appeared quite thin, likely a consequence of a serious illness she had suffered. However, her bright red outfit, painted lips, and diamond earrings and bracelets gave her a surprisingly vibrant and spirited look. Janice smiled warmly. ¡°You must be Sheary, right? I¡¯m your grandmother, Janice. Come here and let me take a good look at you, dear.¡± Shermaine was surprised by her weing demeanor. She walked over and sat down beside Janice. ¡°Grandma,¡± she greeted politely. Janice¡¯s face it up with joy. ¡°You look just like your brother. Thank goodness he found you and brought you home. Otherwise, I¡¯d never have gotten the chance to meet you, sweetheart.¡± She held Shermaine¡¯s hand, tears welling up in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for what you have been through out there.¡± Shermaine, never one to warm up quickly to people, felt a bit overwhelmed by her grandmother¡¯s enthusiastic affection. But she still gave a small, genuine smile, thinking. ¡®So Ross wasn¡¯t lying¨CGrandma really has loved me from the moment I was bor Aber some more small talk, Janice introduced Shermaine to Brandon and his family. Brandon greeted Shermaine with a big smile and even had his son, Leon¨Cwho had just started middle school¨Chand her the gift he had prepared. Leon, a studious¨Clooking boy with sses, carried himself with a humble demeanor, likely thanks to his father¡¯s good upbringing. ¡°Sheary, this is a gift my dad and I picked out for you.¡± For the second time since arriving at the Jean family residence, Shermaine smiled genuinely. Her eyes brightened as she took the gift. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± replied Leon ¡°I didn¡¯t bring a gift for you today, but here¡¯s a lollipop. Let¡¯s call it a down payment¨CI¡¯ll make it up to you next time.¡± Shermaine handed him a lollipop Leon took the lollipop and smiled, shing twb adorable dimples, ¡°Sheary is so nice. I don¡¯t know why people say she¡¯s scary¨Cshe¡¯s so beautiful and so kind; he thought However, this warm scene felt like a p in Wendelyn¡¯s face. 13:54 Sun, 1 dun Although Brandon and his family weren¡¯t highly valued by the Jean family, they were still part of it. Yet, none of them had ever treated Wendelyn with Bach warmth. And Janice had never acknowledged Wendelyn as a member of the family, always treating her like some long term pomst. But now, they were so kind to Shermaine. Wendelys had witnessed many times how the other family members had been mean to Sharmaine, so seeing The unexpected warmth boward Shermaine upset her deeply. Andrew asked. ¡°Sherm?ine, why didn¡¯t you being Joshua along? This is a family dinner, aber all understand he¡¯s busy, but he should at least show his fare. As your fance, he¡¯s not exactly making you a priority.¡± Jameson didn¡¯t seem concerned. Shemaine smirked and shot back, ¡°Unde Andrew, I think what you said is untale, if Joshy didn¡¯t care about me, why would he help me with my problems? And never said he wasn¡¯ting. He¡¯s just really bany with work and will be a littlete.¡± Andrew¡¯s expression changed slightly. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean anything by it. I¡¯m just worried that Mr. York might bail on you¡± ¡°He won¡°L¡± Shermline kald femly Just then, the young man sitting next to Clyde leaned over and whispered, ¡°That¡¯s Shermaine?¡± Clyde quietly replied, ¡°Yeah, the one stirring up all the drama in the Bastereltely. She¡¯s a senior at Brightwater Academy, just like you.¡± He leaned in closer and added, ¡°Leslie, if you ever see her at school, don¡¯t bother with her. She can¡¯t do anything right, but sure knows how to cause Leslie thought, I¡¯ve heard about her¨Cthe prettiest girl in our school now, and everyone¡¯s been raving about her. She¡¯s gorgeous, the type that could make a man¡¯s heart race with just a nce. Unfortunately, her reputation isn¡¯t exactly spotless, but it isn¡¯t a huge deal. The real problems, she¡¯s engaged. Her fianc¨¦ is Joshua, a high¨Cprofile figure in Basterol¨Csomeone every man dreams of surpassing. But he¡¯s much older than her, so I don¡¯t think it¡¯s gonna work.¡± Others may not have heard, but Shermaine¡¯s hearing was sharp, and she caught every word Clyde said about her. Clyde was just like his father¨Calways looking down on people based on their status. Janice, ever kind and approachable, said, ¡°I¡¯ve got a gift for you too, Sheary. Come with me to my room.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Shermaine replied softly Janice had trouble moving around, so she lived on the ground floor. She held Shermaine¡¯s hand as they made their way to her room, her steps slow but full of purpose, Ruth knew that Wendelyn was ufortable, but there was nothing she could do, Janice had opposed Ruth bringing Wendelyn into the family from the very beginning. The fallout had been so bad that Janice had moved to the suburbs and barely ever came back to the city. Ruth silently cursed, ¡°If only she¡¯d died a while ago, then she wouldn¡¯t be here making things difficult for Wendy and me! But what happened next was even more infuriating for Ruth and Wendelyn, Janice gave Shermaine a full set of diamond jewelry worth over 15 million dors. When Ruth and Wendelyn saw the bracelet on Shermaine¡¯s wrist and the ne around her neck, they were instantly consumed with envy. In all these years, they hadn¡¯t even received jewelry worth a few hundred thousand dors, they had hardly ever received any worth tens of thousands of dors. Andrew and his family were also burning with prvy. They were furious that Janice had just given such expensive jewelry to Shermaine, who they thought didn¡¯t deserve something that beautiful.. Andrew¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Mom, that set of jewelry was something Dad gave you years ago. How could you just give it to Shermaine? She¡¯s only 19¨C wearing something so valuable is just not right.¡± 113:54 Sun, 1907 Ruth chimed in, ¡°Yeah, Janice, Shermaine¡¯s usually a bit clumsy, it¡¯s not quite suitable for her to wear such expensive jewelry¡± ?? Janice didn¡¯t care about theirints. With amanding air, she dered, ¡°That¡¯s enough. It¡¯s mine, and I¡¯m giving it to Shermaine. End of story Don¡¯t even think about trying to take it.¡± At that moment, Shermaine¡¯s affection for Janice grew more intense. It felt so good to be protected by family. Andrew deeply regretted not having a daughter. In the Jean family, Jameson had one son and one daughter, plus an adopted daughter. But both Andrew and Brandon only had one son each, So Shermaine was the only true heiress of this family. Although Wendelyn was legally a part of the family, Janice had never seen her as one of her own. Ruth felt she had to stand up for Wendelyn. She said, ¡°Janice, this is really undair In Wendy, She¡¯s been in this family for so many years, and you¡¯ve never even given her any decent jewelry. ¡°Yet now, in front of her, you give Shermaine something so expensive. How do you think she¡¯ll feel? Janice, you can¡¯t be so biased.¡± Then, she turned to Jameson and asked, ¡°Jamie, don¡¯t you think so?¡± Jameson was in an awkward spot. Although Janice wasn¡¯t his biological mother, she had treated him well over the years, so he respected her deeply. But it was true that Janice hadn¡¯t been fair to Wendelyn. Aher some thought, Jameson said, ¡°Mom, I think Ruth has a point. How about you give the earrings to Wendy instead? Janice shot him a sharp look and sneered, ¡°Not a chance. That whole set is for Sheary. I¡¯ve told you all before¨CI don¡¯t recognize Wendy as my granddaughter. If you love her so much, you can buy her your own gifts. ¡°My poor granddaughter has been lost all these years. I¡¯m just giving her a set of jewelry worth 15 million, and now you all can¡¯t handle it? If she¡¯d grown up with us, she¡¯d have jewelry worth tens of millions of dors.¡± The room fell silent. Despite their resentment, no one dared to argue further. Wendelyn lowered her head and said, ¡°Dad, Mom, Grandma¡¯s right. I¡¯m just grateful to be your daughter. Besides, I have plenty of jewelry, and I don¡¯t usually wear any fancy jewelry unless I¡¯m attending events.¡±¡± She then turned to Shermaine and said with a smile, ¡°Shermaine, that set of jewelry looks great on you.¡± Shermaine raised her wrist and smiled. ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t know you could be so sweet. Thanks for thepliment, Lagree. It does look great.¡± Wendelyn didn¡¯t respond, trying hard to hide her anger. Shermine then poured a cup of coffee and handed it to Janice, ¡°Grandma, have some coffee. You¡¯ve been talking for a while, you must be thirsty.¡± ¡°Sheary, you¡¯re so thoughtful,¡± Janice said, smiling as she took the coffee and began drinking it slowly Ruth, realizing she couldn¡¯t gain any favor from Janice, had no choice but to hold back her frustration. She then shifted the topic. ¡°Leslie, you and Sheary go to the same high school, right?¡± Leslie, who had been quietly observing the scene, replied, ¡°Yes, Mrs. Jean¡± ¡°I heard you do exceptionally well in school. And your dream school is Basterel University, right?¡± said Ruth. ¡°I am,¡± Leslie replied. He was aiming to be the top scorer in their school. Ruth smiled again. ¡°Well, Shermaine is also at Brightwater Academy, but her grades aren¡¯t that great. Could you maybe help her out a bit at school?¡± Just moments ago, she was trying to gain favor for Wendelyn, and now she was pretending to care about Shermaine. Shermaine despised her for her hypocrisy Leslie hesitated, ncing at Semaine Shermaine sensed his gaze and looked up at him casually. Ruth chimed in. ¡°Yeah, Janice, Shermaine¡¯s usually a bit clumsy, It¡¯s not quite suitable for her to wear such expensive jewelry¡± Janice didn¡¯t care about theirints. With amanding air, she dered, ¡°That¡¯s enough. It¡¯s mina, and I¡¯m giving it to Shermaine, End of story Don¡¯t even think about trying to take it.¡± At that moment, Shermaine¡¯s affection for Janice pew more intense. It felt so good to be protected by family. Andrew deeply regretted not having a daughter, in the Jean family, Jameson had one ton and one daughter, plus an adopted daughter. But both Andrew and Brandon only had one son each. So Shermaine was the only true heiress of this family. Although Wendelyn was legally a part of the family, Janice had never seen her as one of her own. Ruth felt she had to stand up for Wendelyn. She said, ¡°Janice, this is really unfair to Wendy. She¡¯s been in this family for so many years, and you¡¯ve never even given her any decent jewelry. ¡°et now, in front of her, you give Shermaine something so expensive. How do you think she¡¯ll feel? Janice, you can¡¯t be so biased.¡± Then, she turned to Jameson and asked, ¡°Jamie, don¡¯t you think so?¡± Jameson was in an awkward spot. Although Janice wasn¡¯t his biological mother, she had treated him well over the years, so he respected her deeply. But it was true that Janice hadn¡¯t been fair to Wendelyn After some thought, Jameson said, ¡°Mom, I think Ruth has a point. How about you give the earrings to Wendy instead!¡± Janice shot him a sharp look and sneered, ¡°Not a chance. That whole set is for Sheary, I¡¯ve told you all before¨CI don¡¯t recognize Wendy as my granddaughter. If you love her so much, you can buy her your own. ¡°My poor granddaughter has been lost all these years. I¡¯m just giving her a set of jewelry worth 15 million, and now you all can¡¯t handle it? if she¡¯d grown up with us, she¡¯d have jewelry worth tens of millions of dors.¡± The room fell silent. Despite their resentment, no one dared to argue further. Wendelyn lowered her head and said, ¡°Dad, Mom, Grandma¡¯s right. I¡¯m just grateful to be your daughter. Besides, I have plenty of jewelry, and I don¡¯t usually wear any fancy jewelry unless I¡¯m attending events.¡± She then turned to Shermaine and said with a smile, ¡°Shermaine, that set of jewelry looks great on you.¡± Shermaine raised her wrist and smiled. ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t know you could be so sweet. Thanks for thepliment agree. It does look great.¡± Wendelyn didn¡¯t respond, trying hard to hide her anger. Shermaine then poured a cup of coffee and handed it to Janice ¡°Grandma, have some coffee. You¡¯ve been talking for a while; you must be thirsty.¡± ¡°Sheary, you¡¯re so thoughtful Janice said, smiling as she took the coffee and began drinking it slowly. Ruth, realizing she couldn¡¯t gain any favor from Janice, had no choice but to hold back her frustration. She then shifted the topic ¡°Leslie, you and Sheary go to the same high school, right?¡± Leslie, who had been quietly observing the scene, replied, ¡°Yes, Mrs. Jean.¡± ¡°I heard you do exceptionally well in school. And your dream school is Basterel University, right?¡± said Ruth. ¡°I am,¡± Leslie replied. He was aiming to be the top scorer in their school. Ruth smiled again. ¡°Well, Shermaine is also at Brightwater Academy, but her grades aren¡¯t that great. Could you maybe help her out a bit at school?¡± Just moments ago, she was trying to gain favor for Wendelyn, and now she was pretending to care about Shermaine. Shermaine despised her for her hypocrisy Leslie hesitated, ncing at Shermaine. Sharmaine sensed his gaze and looked up at him casually. ? Captivated by her stunning face, Leslie thought, ¡®If she were my girlfiend, even though she had any shorings, I would still spend time guiding and shaping her, helping her be better over time. After all, she¡¯s the Jean family¡¯s true heiress. He nodded and said, ¡°Sure, Mrs. Jean,¡± ¡°Thank you so much for being willing to help Sheary,¡± Ruth said. Just then, Joshua walked in and happened to overhear the conversation. ¡°Help Sheary with what?¡± he asked, Nurse walking 37 Chapter 37 The moment Joshua arrived, the atmosphere shifted. And every time he showed op, Wendelyn would stare at him,pletely captivated. If it weren¡¯t for the engagement, the Jean family probably would have had few chances to meet Joshua in person. the defin At thirty, Joshua was the definition of a man in his prime his refined charm and that impossibly wless face were enough to make anyone¡¯s heart race. Shermaine wasn¡¯t one to obsess over looks, but she was a little interested in having some physical contact with him. Too bad, though, this man was only for admiring. Ruth straightened her back abruptly, forcing a sheepish smile as she exined. ¡°This is Leslie. He is in the same school as Shermaine. Shermaine¡¯s really bad at school,ssked Leslie to tutor her when he had time to help improve her scores.¡± Behind Joshua, Bradley carried a bunch of gifts. Upon hearing this, Joshua shot an indifferent look at Leslie before looking away. Under Joshua¡¯s gaze, Leslie instinctively clenched his fists. It was his first time meeting Joshua, the talk of Basterel Given Joshua¡¯s position of power, his presence was undeniably overwhelming, so much so that Ledie instinctively felt a bit intimidated. ¡°Shermaine¡¯s bad at school?¡± Joshua asked. Ruth responded, ¡°Yeah. When Mianmian started school, the teacher gave her a test, and she couldn¡¯t even answer a single question. She¡¯ll be taking the SAT next year, and while I¡¯m not expecting her to score too high, she can¡¯t afford to do poorly, right? ¡°After all, she is the heiress of our family, and your fianc¨¦e. So many eyes are on her. If her grades are too bad, a lot of people willugh at her behind her back¡± She spoke with conviction, though she had other intentions. Joshua chuckled softly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing was doing well in He knew Shermaine was proficient in Al and capable of writing credible medical prescriptions. Given this, he was certain that she was school. Relying solely on others¡® shallow judgments wouldn¡¯t help truly understand Shermaine¡¯s abilities. Since Ruth thought that way, Joshua certainly wouldn¡¯t correct her. He turned his gaze to Shemaine and said, ¡°Sheary, aren¡¯t you going to introduce A flicker of emotion stirred in Shermaine¡¯s chest as she heard Joshua address her by her nickname. She smiled brightly, stood up, walked over to him, and linked arms with him. Then she began introducing her family. ¡°This is my grandmother, Janice.¡± ¡°Mrs. Jean, I heard you weren¡¯t feeling well before. How are you now?¡± Joshua asked with genuine concern. Janice, satisfied with Joshua, her future grandson¨Cinw, smiled and replied, ¡°Much better.¡± ¡°If you still feel unwell, I can have Dr. Newmane by to check on you,¡± Joshua offered. Darius was a renowned traditional medicine doctor in Basterel, and his services couldn¡¯t be secured with money alone. Janice¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°That¡¯s so thoughtful of you. How¡¯s your grandfather doing these days?¡± Same as always. Just dealing with those old aches and pains,¡± Joshua replied casually. ¡°Ah, getting old really is no fun.¡± Janice sighed After their brief exchange, Sharmaine continued the introductions. This is my uncle, Brandon. And my little cousin, Leon. Leon, young and straightforward, was immediately charmed by Joshua¡¯s good looks. He grinned and said, ¡°Nice to meet you, Mr. York.¡± ¡°Hello,¡± Joshua responded with a slight nod. Brandon stepped forward and extended his hand. ¡°I¡¯ve heard so much about you, Mr. York¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure meeting you,¡± Joshua replied. Brandon chuckled, thinking. Despite being from an influential family, he¡¯s gentle and polite, unlike some men who act all high and mighty and look down on their fianc¨¦es family just because they¡¯re sicher and more powerful. ¡°The York, family truly lives up to its reputation¨Cthey are more well mannered and magnanimous than most people! Then Shermaine turned her gaze to Andrew and his family, speaking a bit faster. ¡°This is my other uncle, Andrew, and my cousin, Clyde¡± Andrew beamed with a smile. ¡°Joshua, you truly are a fine young man. Sheary is lucky to have you.¡± But he was cursing. How dare she skip over me and Introduce Brandon first? How could she do that? What will Joshua think of me now?¡± Joshua simply smiled faintly and said nothing Clyde was equally displeased, thinking, ¡°Why was Leon introduced first? And why am I thest one? This is so unfair!¡± At that moment, Bradley began unloading the gifts, stacking them high on the table until there was barely any space left. Most of the gifts were for Janice, including expensive herbs and health products. Jamison asked the housekeeper to put the rest¨Ccoffee beans, cigarettes, and fine liquor¨Cinto the storage room. Joshua¡¯s presence brought Shermaine plenty of prestige, and Jameson couldn¡¯t help but puff up with pride. Once Joshua was seated, Jameson adopted the air of a dignified patriarch and struck up a conversation. However, the topic of conversation falt out of ce for this asion¨Cthis wasn¡¯t a business dinner, after all. Sitting beside Joshua, Shermaine was in a cheerful mood because it was the first time she had received suchvish gits from her family. She messaged Ross, but he didn¡¯t reply, probably busy with something. Unable to hide her excitement, she tugged at Joshua¡¯s sleeve. When he lowered his gaze, she pointed at the full set of luxury lipsticks on the table and said with a hint of pride, ¡°My cousin Leon gave these to me. Joshua raised an eyebrow and replied in a low voice, ¡°He is quite thoughtful.¡± Shermaine then shook her wrist. Her slender wrist was adorned with a diamond bracelet that looked perfect on her. ¡°This one¡¯s from my grandma.¡± Joshua chuckled, thinking, ¡°She is just a young girl, after all, No matter howposed she appears, she still has that youthful innocence and charm¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened slightly as he teased her with a softugh, ¡°Ms. Shue, are you reminding me that I haven¡¯t given you a gift for your return? Shermaine froze for a moment, thinking. ¡®I didn¡¯t mean that. Stop twisting my words!¡® She ced her hand back down, took a sip of coffee, and said casually, ¡°if you want to give me one, Josh, I wouldn¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± replied Joshua, deciding it was only right for him to prepare a proper gift for his fianc¨¦e. Janice watched them whispering to each other, and the sight of the handsome man and beautiful woman was truly eye¨Ccatching But not everyone could stand it. Wendelyn¡¯s face turned pale, and she felt a sharp pain in her chest, as if someone had stabbed her there. She stood up with a pitiable look on her face. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m going to check if Peyton needs help in the kitchen. As she walked away, she stole a nce at Joshua, but he didn¡¯t even spare her a look. Clyde, feeling angry for her, said, ¡°Leslie, let¡¯s go upstairs. There¡¯s a game room on the second floor. You probably haven¡¯t had a chance to unwind in a while Let¡¯s y a game. Leslie thought he could use a break, so he followed Clyde upstairs. But he couldn¡¯t stop thinking about Shermaine, who had smiled so beautifully earber Chapter 37 Despite her being Joshua¡¯s fance, and despite the rumors about her had temper, cold demeaner, and evil nature, she had a maddening allure that captivated Lesbepletely. Not really in the mood for gaming, Leslie began to fish for some information from Clyde. ¡°Hey, does your cousin Wendelym also like Mr. York?¡± Clyde, ever loyal stole him. Wendehn, responded amgily. ¡°Your noticed, huh? Wendy has liked Me York for a long time. But as soon as Shermaine came back, the ¡°And just now, she had the nerve to show off her affection right in front of Wendy. She knows Wendy likes Mr. York, but she still did that¨Cit¡¯s nothing but a show¨Coff. Honestly, it¡¯s disgusting.¡± Nurse walking 38 Leslie¡¯s gaze shifted slightly. ¡°Really? Shermaine doesn¡¯t seem like that kind of person to me Clyde scoffed. ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by her pretty face. You can never judge someone by their looks. She¡¯s a maniptive and evil woman¡± He had his reasons for disliking Shermaine. First, he believed Shermaine¡¯s presence had harmed Wendelyn. Second, he¡¯d heard too many rumors about Sherman and made some baseless assumptions. He added, ¡°She spends all her time on these shy, meaningless things instead of thinking about how to improve herself Wendy¡¯s better than her in every way. This is infuriating¡± ¡°But Joshua seems to be really good to her, Leslie said. ¡°Who knows if the¡¯s serious?¡± Clyde sowered. ¡°To wealthy families like ours, reputation is everything, Joshua is known for being cold and distant with women. Their engagement is merely a family arrangment. ¡°Wendy¡¯s parents act all lovey¨Cdovey in front of others, but it¡¯s all for show. They don¡¯t love each other anymore and have been sleeping in separate rooms for years,¡± ¡®s expression shihed as if everything had suddenly clicked. The more Clyde thought about it, the angrier he got. But with Joshua present, he didn¡¯t dare stir up trouble. He vowed to wait for the right moment and get some payback for Wendy. At 8 pm, the family dinner started. The meal wasvish, with a spread of seafood, lobster, and fine wine. The aroma alone was enough to make anyone¡¯s mouth water. Before dinner, Shermaine had asked Bradley ! the jewelry and lipsticks she had received in Joshua¡¯s car. Once everyone was seated, she, already starving, started with some soup before digging in with gusto. Janice was seated right next to her Shermaine picked up the te of shrimp and said, ¡°Grandina, why don¡¯t you have some shrimp? It¡¯s delicious.¡± ¡°Oh, you are so sweet, honey,¡± Janice said with a Leon copied her, passing t the creamy gallic chicken to Janice ¡°Grandina, have some chicken ¡°Thank you, dear¡± Janice replied, clearly pleased Clyde and Wendelyn also offered dishes. But Janice just looked at Wendelyn without taking the te, her face instantly clouding with distaste. Then tha said tly, ¡°I don¡¯t eat this? Wendelyn¡¯s face turned pale again. She bit her lip and lowered her head, looking pitiful. ¡°I¡¯in sorry, Grandma¡± ¡°Mom Jameson called out Janice snorted coldly Ruth felt anxious, but there was nothing she could do. So she cursed inwardly. She is so annoying, always picking on Wendy! Shermaine couldn¡¯t be happier as she saw this. She recalled her first day back at the Jean residence. She had sugested that Ruth try some food, dung that since she was back, she should build rapport and strengthen bonds with her parents. But Ruth had kept a cold expression and, right in front of everyone, said she didn¡¯t eat that dish because it was her least favorite Wendel as thoughtful as ever, had chimed in, exinin hat their mother liked to out and what colors she preferred. mang had barely resisted the urge to poll her gi had stepped in to smooth thi telling her that she didn¡¯t need to please anyone in this family¨Cshej 13:54 Sun, 1Jun. D 42% At this point, Shermaine couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡®Could it be that Grandma knows everything happening in this family, despite living in the suburbs? is she taking revenge for me?¡± As she was pondering, Joshua ced a piece of crab meat in her bowl. ¡°Try this¡± Shermaine snapped out of her thoughts, blinked, and then popped some crab meat into her mouth. She smiled. ¡°It¡¯s delicious¡± She looked at the spread of food and, returning the gesture, helped him with some fresh fish. ¡°This looks good, too. Try it¡± Seeing this, Wendelyn tightened her grip on her fork. ¡°Shermaine, Mr. York doesn¡¯t eat fish. pat fish?¡± I asked, ¡°You don¡¯t eat Shermaine instinctively nced at Joshua and asked, ¡± Joshua popped a piece of fish into his mouth, chewing slowly before swallowing. I don¡¯t eat fish? That¡¯s news to me,¡± he said. He¡¯d just gone through a phase where he ate vegetarian food, and somehow, numers started circting that he¡¯d joined some kind of religion and sworn off meat. Wendelyn could barely keep herposure. She forced a smile and said, ¡°I read a news report about you once, Mr. York. It said you don¡¯t eat fish¡± Janice chimed in with a sharp tone. ¡°That kind of news is just nonsense. You should stop reading that trash.¡± ¡°Twill, Grandma,¡± Wendelyn muttered, lowering her head. Her hands, hidden under the table, were shaking with frustration. Janice was spot on these reports were indeed wild rumors. For Shermaine, this was the first time she truly felt at ease during a Jean family dinner. Rout There was just one small incident, while Leslie was peeling shrimp, he identally pricked his finger, and blood kept oozing o Ruth spoke up. ¡°Sheary, there¡¯s some tissue next to you. Can you pass it to Leslie?¡± There was tissue right next to Clyde, but Ruth had asked Shermaine to help. Sheimaine didn¡¯t say anything and just passed it over. ¡°Thanks¡± Leslie took the tissue, but as he did, his fingertips identally brushed against Shermaine¡¯s, and his heart instantly started racing. Ruth noticed and gave a subtle, almost imperceptible smile After dinner, Shenmaine checked the time¨Cit was almost nine. Although she didn¡¯t want to leave her grandmother, she still gave Joshua a look, silently asking. ¡°When are we leaving?¡± Surprisingly, Joshua understood her unspoken question and leaned in to whisper in her ear, ¡°Just a bit longer. Your father wants to talk to me in the study.¡± ¡°Okay¡± Shermaine felt a little tickle in her ear from his breath. After Joshua went upstairs to the study, Clyde suddenly started urging everyone to y ¡°Phantom Epoch.¡± He then called out to Shermaine, who had been sitting in the living room. The elderly folks had a habit of taking a walk after dinner, so Janice and her own housekeeper went out for a stroll to help with digestion. When Shermaine heard Phantom Epoch, she replied, ¡°I¡¯ve never yed it before. Don¡¯t know how.¡± She had heard of it and knew it was a mobile game very simr to League of Legends, which she was actually quite good at Clyde waved his hand dismissively. ¡°That¡¯s okay. It¡¯s just a game. Don¡¯t be a buzzkill¡± ¡°Come on, Sheary, I¡¯ll protect you,¡± Leon said, patting his chest and grinning Leslie chimed in, ¡°It¡¯s a fun game. You should give it a try¡± $13:54 Sun, 1 dun 42% ¡°Buzzkill? You just don¡¯t deserve my time.¡± Shermaine thought, chuckling. Not wanting Leon to be disappointed, she pulled out her phone and sald, ¡°Tine, 171 download it now.¡± Atriumphant grin spread across Clyde¡¯s face. He knew that most girls weren¡¯t good at the game, and newbies were usually terrible. He was looking forward to seeing Shermaine repeatedly get killed in the game, so he couldugh at her. Thanks to the game elerator she made hersell, within two minutes, the game was ready to go. After logging in, finishing the tutorial, and adding Leon as a friend, she was added to their team Leslie was the team captain, and he was a Ster Hunter, Clyde and Leon were both Ster Guardians. Once everything was ready, the game began. with no heroes unlocked, Shermaine just picked a random marksman. After all, she usually yed the marksman and jungler roles in League of Legends. Leslie¡¯s rank was high, so the opponents were no slouches either. As a beginner. Shermaine struggled to get the hang of it. Barely three minutes in, she was taken down by the enemy marksman, giving them First Blood Her support didn¡¯t say anything and continued to stick by her side. died two more times, Clyde couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°Shermaine, you¡¯re getting stomped. Who don¡¯t you just back off? Don¡¯t keep Eghting the (marksman¨Cyou¡¯re not gonna win that fight¡± Shermaine shrugged it off. ¡°It¡¯s just a game. Why be so serious?¡± Leslie, ying jungle, was doing pretty well, in no time, he had five kills. Meanwhile, Shermaine kept feeding, so the score was tied, and the gold difference wasn¡¯t that big. After Shermaine died again, this time from an enemy ambush, Clyde kept onining. ¡°Shermaine, seriously? Another death? Please, stop feeding okay?¡± ¡°Seriously, how can you be so bad at this? Just stick with us if you don¡¯t know how to y. If you keep feeding like this, how are we supposed to win?¡± ¡°You¡¯re so good at fighting in real life, making Ronnie¡¯s gang run scared when they see you. Howe you¡¯re so bad at this game? This doesn¡¯t fit your image¡± Hisints just kept going and going Leon couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. ¡°It¡¯s not even a ranked match. Why are you yelling at her?¡± ¡°Did I yell at her?¡± Clyde feigned innocence. Leslie wanted to say something but just held back. Shermaine wasn¡¯t really focusing on the game. She was in a hurry to leave because she¡¯d promised to butor her ssmates in a livestream tonight. She knew the problem wasn¡¯t really her gamey¨Cjust that she wasn¡¯t paying full attention. Shermaine was frustrated with Clyde¡¯s loud noise, her gaze turning a bit colder. ¡°Clyde, if i get a pentakill, will you shut up?¡± Clyde snorted in disdain. ¡°If you get a pentakill, ¡®¡®do whatever you want me to do.¡± f ¡°Remember what you said. Don¡¯t back outter, Shermaine replied. She wasn¡¯t about to let him get away with being so dismissive¨Cpeople who look down on others deserved a little lesson. The match had been going on for over ten minutes, with both teams turrets destroyed. The game was at a stalemate. Finally, the enemy marksman, support, and top , trying to ambush Shermain in the jungle, managed to corner her. They thought they could take her out, but to their surprise, Shermaine seemed to suddenly level up, pulling off an amazing string of ys, taking down the whole team. By the time their teammates arrived to support, it was toote. What they thought would be an easy kill on the marksman turned into a disaster for them. Shermaine used her revival item, respawned in seconds, and them took them put one by one, securing the pentakill During this critical moment, the jungler was busy taking down the big monster and couldn¡¯t provide timely support. Leon and Clyde rushed over to help Leon shielded some damage for Shermaine but was killed by the enemy marksman Meanwhile, Clyde barely contributed he just stood there like a bystander, doing nothing. When he saw Sharmaine die, he sighed in relief. But then, to his shock, Shermaine swapped het revival item in the blink of an eye¨Cher reaction speed was insane. If Shermaine weren¡¯t sitting right in front of him, he¡¯d think she was cheating Sheraine then ordered, ¡°Push midne When the enemy team surrendered, Shermaine looked up at Clyde, whose face was now a mix of frustration and embarrassment. Shermaine chuckled. ¡°Now, time to keep your promise. There¡¯s a bit of leftover food tonight. How about you finish it all Leon held back hisughter, thinking. A bit of? There¡¯s a lot of it. And Sheary¡¯s incredible¨Cher counter¨Ckill just now was pure b brilliance!
  • that moment, upstairs, Joshua came out of the study. Suddenly, a strong scent wahed through the air, mixed with a hint of alcohol. Then Wendelyn neared, her steps unsteady as if she were drunk. Tears shimmered in her eyes as she stumbled toward Joshua.
AD Comment Send gift No Ads 1354 Sun 1 Jun Sun 1 Ju A Nurse walking 39 in ling drunjtsented and heartbrok began to cry, lonking quite pitiful. ¡°Mi muni savide enough. W Why did you have to stumble into me? Are you blind?¡± His voice an shumed, tart. She had never 4218 Sermaine. Ha took care of her ect of her life. Clearly, he reserved that ¡°Mi. Jout, bed lene. Vly looking where your H of herughter, Jeshua turned around ing for face was chand and up of ide cted to witness ska ha scene. She coulds ¡®t help but think, ¡°koshua realy in 13:54 Sun, 1 dun Wendelyn was beyond mortified. Her face burned clemson, not from shyness, not from shyness but from humiliation. Right now, she couldn¡¯t even bear to be in the same ce as Joshua, let alone adinke him. And to make matters worse, Shermaine had seen everything. In an instant, whatever pride Wendelyn had left was utterly shattered ¡°Interupt? Not at all. You came at the perfect time,¡± Joshua said, his tone calm but cutting. Just then, Jameson and the others walked out of the study. When he saw Wendelyn sprawled on the floor, which he thought was such a disgrace to the family, bis face darkened with anger. ¡°Wendy, what are you doing lying there?¡± Wendelyn, her ankle throbbing, wobbled to her feet and exined, embarrassed, ¡°Sorry, Dad, I drank too much and lost my bnce.¡± Jameson¡¯s gaze shifted to Joshua. After years of navigating the business world, he had easily seen through Wendelyn¡¯s intentions. He bellowed inwardly. ¡°This is ridiculous. She can seduce Joshua all she wants, as long as it stays hidden. But not here, not with my mother and brothers around. If Joshua decides to make an issue of it, who¡¯s going to end up embarrassed? Suppressing his fury, Jameson barked, ¡°Why¡¯d you drink so much tonight? Since you were drunk, you should have stayed in your room instead of wandering around here. Go back to your room, now.¡± Hearing Jameson¡¯s voice, Ruth came out of the room. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why are you yelling at Wendy like that?¡± meson couldn¡¯t exactly tell her about Wendelyn¡¯s behavior. ¡°You came just in time. Tako her back to her room so she doesn¡¯t make a fool of herself¡± Ruth¡¯s temper red instantly. ¡°Even if Wendy made a mistake, you can¡¯t talk to her like that. Do you have any idea how much honor she¡¯s been bringing to this family?¡± ¡°I told you to take her away, not to argue with me!¡± Jameson snapped. Ruth was about to retort when Wendelyn quickly grabbed her anm. ¡°Mom, I know I messed up tonight, Please don¡¯t argue with Dad. Let¡¯s not make things worse.¡± After all, there were not only family members present but also outsiders. Wendelyn was wise enough to know that if things escted, she¡¯d be the one loh humiliated Besides, Janice would soon return from her walk. If she found out what had happened, she¡¯d surely call Wendelyn a seductress for coveting Shermaine¡¯s fanc¨¦. Wendelyn couldn¡¯t bear that kind of insult. ¡°No way. He¡¯s got to exin why he said you made a fool of yourself¡± Ruth was determined to stand up for Wendelyn, Jameson was consumed by anger as he thought, ¡°When we first got married, she was sharp and capable. But ever since Shermaine went missing and she fell gravely ill, she has be so stubborn and clueless Wendelyn¡¯s face turned pale, ¡°Mom, please. It was my fault for drinking too much and making a fool of myself. Don¡¯t me Dad.¡± Hearing this, Ruth finally realized her daughter was in the wrong and managed to rein in her temper. But as she nced around, she noticed several other people in the hallway and thought, ¡®This is bad.¡± Meanwhile, Clyde, who had been eating leftovers in the kitchen, heard themation upstairs. He rushed up to see Wendelyn, red eyed and pitiful, being scolded by Jameson. When he saw Shermaine watching with interest, he, ever prone to filling in the nks with his imagination, assumed she was the reason for Wendelyn¡¯s scolding. He thought, ¡°Just you wait, Shermaine¡¯ll make you pay for causing trouble for Wendy Shermaine was unbothered by his hateful gaze and couldn¡¯t care less about whether he¡¯d been eating leftovers. She exchanged a look with Joshua, and they both headed downstairs. Leslie, an outsider, was curious about what had happened upstairs, but he knew better than to stick his nose into their business. Just then, he saw Joshua and Shermaineing down the stairs. 13-54 Sun, 1:JUM Sharmaine¡¯s smile was captivating. Joshua asked, ¡°Is it really that funny?¡± ¡°rea¡± Shermaine replied, still smiling. Not long af, Janice returned from her walk. After saying their goodbyes, Shermaine and Joshua finally left. The car was waiting outside. Joshua bent down and get into the lusnious Rolls Royce first, and Shermaine followed, her mind still on what had just happened, which she found amusing. As she took a step, her foot identally hit the car¡¯s frame, and she stumbled forward, filling straight into Joshua¡¯s arms. Joshua remained perfectly still. His crisp, clean scent of cedarwood filled Shermaine¡¯s senses, refreshing and intoxicating all at once. Shermaine was usually agle, but in the cramped space, she only ended up crashing into Joshua¡¯s solid chest. Her chin throbbed with pain, She let out a soft, muffled groan,ining inwardly, ¡®Is he made of iron? He is so rock solid. For some reason, likely because of what Wendelyn had done, Shermaine felt a twinge of unease. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Joshua would think she was also trying to seduce hir Hearing her gasp of pain, Joshua tilted her chin, as if checking for injury. Their eyes met. ermaine stared at him, silent. Nurse walking 40 Chapter 40 Shermaine¡¯s heart started to race uncontrobly. She blinked a few times but stayed silent. Joshua¡¯s fingertip lightly brushed against her chin. ¡°Where does it hurt? Shermaine replied, ¡°Right where you¡¯re holding.¡± Joshua froze for a moment, pulling his finger away. Under the light, he noticed a small red mark where he had just touched. ¡°Be careful next time,¡± he said ¡°Okay,¡± Shermaine murmured, lowering her head. In the front seat, Bradley, curious, nced back. The two in the backseat were pressed closely together. The stark contrast between Shermaine¡¯s school uniform and Joshua¡¯s tailored suit, and between her innocent yet alluring aura and his elegant yet.manding presence, only made the chemistry between them even more undeniable, Bradley automatically shipped the two of them. Joshua helped Shermaine settle back into the seat. Shermaine felt a bit hot and rolled down the window. The lingering warmth of his touch felt like it was burning into her skin. Luckily, Ross¡¯s call came through, and Shermaine¡¯s attention shifted. She happily started a video call with her brother. Shermine was stunningly beautiful, so it was no surprise that her biological brother, Ross, was striking. Unlike Joshua, who was reserved andmanding, Ross was refined and gentle. When he saw Shermaine on the video call, he smiled warmly and said, ¡°Sheary.¡± ¡°Hey, Ross,¡± Shermaine replied. ¡°How did the family dinner go?¡± Ross asked. Shermaine smiled. ¡°It was wonderful. Grandma, Uncle Bradon, and his family are great¡± After a brief pause, she added, ¡°Mr. York came too. It was such an honor,¡± Bradley, overhearing this, couldn¡¯t help but think, That¡¯s not the only benefit. Mr. York has the looks, the body, and the strength. Ms. Jean, please, just stop ying games and go for this pure¨Chearted, hard to get man already! Ross thought, Joshua¡¯s just another pretty face. Then he asked, ¡°Did they give you a hard time tonight?¡± Shermaine chuckled softly. ¡°Ross, when have you ever seen them get the upper hand over me?¡± Ross knew his sister was smart and confident. His eyes were filled with affection as he continued, ¡°Is that so? Even though I¡¯m abroad, I¡¯ve been keeping _up with everything about you. You should see what they¡¯ve been saying about youtely¡± He couldn¡¯t stand how some people blindly followed the crowd and trashed his sister. He¡¯d seen the hateful post about her on Basterel University¡¯s forum, and it had kept him up all night, seething with anger. Shermaineforted him, The situation will change soon. Besides, Grandma was amazing tonight¡± ¡°So they did try to give you trouble tonight,¡± Ross said. He wasn¡¯t surprised. Ruth was obsessed with Wendelyn andpletely ignored her biological children. And Wendelyn was eager to marry Joshua, so naturally, she¡¯d make Shermaine¡¯s life difficult. ¡°Yeah, pretty much.¡± Shenmaine wasn¡¯t bothered. Then Ross said, ¡°Put it on speaker. I need to talk to Joshua about something Shermaine pressed the speaker button, ¡°Go ahead.¡± 13:54 Sun 1 Jun
  1. 1.
hing them off gu ¡°i restored the post- moment, it clicked. Of course, counte, Shermaine could handle it ¨C sha uld upgrade an Al robot, ing a deleted lone. ¡°No wonder the post suddenly disappeared while I was browsing the forum that day. Turns out, you bar, the pot thought the post would be a more effective p to those people once they found out the truth ¡°Don¡¯t bother with anyone delete the post (1) be usefulter on.¡± As an older Brother, he felt it was his job to support Shermaine, no matter what she decided. He had full confidence that anged her shoes and quickly didappeared and nd the corner. She had already organized and summar Levens made individual outlines for each person u exhausting enough, let alone for a whole group. But Shermaine had plenty of hee time during yet ¨C she didn ?teven need to study it anymore. thirty students had entered (momenti, over ten students joined. About five minutester, thirty students had The group ther you to teach|| materials spread across the desi. Holding a piece of s together might look tch paper, Sharmaine replied, ¡°Math¡± midating, but the actual concepts involved were rtiv put in that a gfurt if they wanted! | Cs. Their performa the 18:55 Sun 1 Jun ? G. While Shermaine was teaching, she typed with one hand on the keyboard. She was testing thepatibility of now nuclear energy systems with miniaturized sensors. The data was massive, so she had been running adjustments. However, doing it manually was a hassle, so she was working on a small program to run the tests automatically in the background. Time was running out¨Cthe ten day deadline was almost here. The keyboard wasn¡¯t the loud, clunky kind; it had a soft click. The students facing the screen were probably so focused on the lesson that they didn¡¯t hear anything else. Even if they noticed the odd sound, they probably didn¡¯t care it wasn¡¯t as important as paying attention to the lesson.. So, they could never have imagined that the top student who was helping them with their problems was actually multitasking¨Cteaching and developing software at the same time. And before they knew it, more and more people had joined the livestream. The whole sessionsted about an hour, and by the end, the viewership had quietly climbed to several hundred people. [What school is the streamer from? [When¡¯s the next ss? I find it so much easier to understand the problems when you exin them. High school senior here, please stream more lessons!] However, since they weren¡¯t in her ss, Shermaine didn¡¯t respond and ended the livestream. She was tired. Grabbing a fresh set of clothes, she took a wer, climbed into bed with her hair still damp, and fell asleep the moment she closed her eyes. One of her ssmates, feeling a little sorry for those viewers, kindly replied: (Sheary will stream lessons whenever she¡¯s free at night. If you want to join, just follow her ande by next time.] The next day, Sfermaine went out for her morning workout, and just as she stepped out the door, she nearly ran straight into Joshua. She yawnedzily. ¡°Howe you¡¯re not swimming today?¡± Joshua, dressed in a ck tracksuit, looked more rxed than when he wore formal clothes. ¡°I only swim on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The rest of the time, I climb, bax, or jog in the mornings¡± ¡°No wonder he¡¯s got such a killer body Shermaine thought. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll get going then.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go together,¡± said Joshua Aher her morning workout, Shermaine finally shook off her grogginess. She had breakfast, and since it was the weekend, she got back to work. Seniors usually had two days off on weekends. This week, probably because of International Students¡® Day, the school gave them an extra day off. On Monday morning, Shermaine went back to school bright and early. But today, someone unexpected showed up in their ss. One of Shermaine¡¯s ssmates, lookingpletely confused, asked, ¡°Leslie, what are you doing here? You¡¯re not even in this ss¡± Meanwhile, he thought, ¡°What could he possibly want so early in the morning?¡± Leslie was something of a legend at their school. He was a straight¨CAstudent and had won first ce in the physicspetition during his sophomore He was handsome, athletic, and a top student¨Cbasically the dream guy for the girls at their school. Every Valentine¡¯s Day, his desk would be buried under a mountain of choctes and love letters. At that moment, a few early arriving girls, clutching their books and clearly fascinated by him, asked with bright smiles, ¡°Leslie, can we WhatsAppTM Leslie politely refused. ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t use WhatsApp much.¡± The girls had expected that, knowing Leslie wouldn¡¯t just add anyone on WhatsApp. They sat back down, disappointed. d you on 3/5 Even though not many students had arrived at school yet, news of Leslie¡¯s visit spread like wildfire. That mousing, Sommer brought Shermaine a homemade breakfast from her family¡¯s chel; a tandwich, juice, and oatmeal. Having received the message earlies, Shemaine didn¡¯t eat with Joshua. Once she entered the ssroom, she was about to greet Summer when Leste walked over and said. ¡°Shermaine, you¡¯re here.¡± Shermaine looked up, surprised to see Leslie, She nodded slightly. ¡°Is there something you need?¡± Leslie was upset due to her indifference. He couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®Shermaine isn¡¯t all that great¨Caside from being pretty, she isn¡¯t as impressive as Wendelyn in every other way ¡°It¡¯s pure luck that she has be Joshua¡¯s fianc¨¦e. It¡¯s an arranged marriage, so there must be no real chemistry between them. I¡¯m actually quite fond And we go to the same school. of her. ¡°Though my family isn¡¯t as prestigious as the Jean or York families, with generations of schrs, it¡¯s no less impressive than the Jean family. Shermaine has a lot of areas to improve, but I can help her grow and get better alongside me.¡± Thinking about it, Leslie became more patient. He said, ¡°Mrs. Jean asked me to help you, and I¡¯ve kept that in mind. These are the notespiled for you, covering everything from freshman to senior year. Here you are. ¡°And here¡¯s a practice test. Work through it, and I¡¯lle to pick it up this afternoon, Once I see where you¡¯re at, I¡¯ll know how to help you better. Also, from now on, let¡¯s meet after school every day for tutoring.¡± Shermaine was stunned. Summer and the others were equally shocked and thought, ¡°Honestly, we are the ones who need tutoring!¡® They hadn¡¯t expected Leslie to actually follow through on what Ruth had said about organizing notes and offering to tutor her. Out of politeness, she smiled and said ¡°Thank you for your kindness, but i don¡¯t need them. You can keep them.¡± Leslie frowned, clearly not expecting her rejection. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to improve your grades so your mother will see you in a better light?¡± For tutoring, but she figured Leslie, with his preconceived notions, Sharmaine wanted to tell him that she did well in school and didn¡¯t need his notes or tutor wouldn¡¯t believe her. So she said, ¡°Til make sure she sees me differently, but I really don¡¯t need your help. My grades aren¡¯t as bad as people make them out to be online¡ª they¡¯re actually quite good.¡± Shermaine¡¯s ssmates couldn¡¯t believe their ears and thought, ¡®Seriously? Bad grades? She¡¯s a total genius!¡± slie¡¯s expression darkened. He assumed that Shermaine was avoiding him because of her engagement. So he continued, ¡°Talk is cheap. Without action, you won¡¯t make any progress. Trust me, with my help, getting into a top¨Ctier university will be a breeze. Besides, I¡¯m only doing this because your mother asked me to. Don¡¯t feel any pressure. I¡¯m not interested in you¡± Shermaine¡¯s lips twitched as she thought, What a speech. I¡¯ll forgive him this time since he doesn¡¯t know the full story, but why would I feel pressured? I¡¯m not interested in him either. Then she replied, ¡°Leslie, if I ever need help, I can hire a tutor. Or Joshua can teach me.¡± Joshua teaching ber? What a joke. He¡¯s so busy, how could he possibly take the time to help her? Leslie thought, his face turning sour It was the first time he¡¯d offered to tutor someone, and most people would jump at the chance. Yet, Shermaine rejected him again and again, ¡°Fine. I¡¯m leaving the notes here. Take them or leave them¨Cit¡¯s your choice.¡± Shermaine thought, ¡°Thanks, but I really don¡¯t need them. Can you just take them back, please?¡® Soon, the news spread that Leslie, the school¡¯s heartthrob, knew Shermaine and offered fo tutor her, and Shermaine lelt like she¡¯d be the target of jealousy among many girls at the school. But Shermaine¡¯s ssmates just found Leslie¡¯s behavior baffling. Shermaine had already said her grades were good, but Leslie just refused to believe her and ended up embarrassing himself. 1355 Sun, 1 Junca AD Comment Send gift Nurse walking 41 Chapter 41 It was well known that Alice had a crush on Leslie. She had been chasing after him all through high school, from freshman year to senior year. But Leslie always turned her down, prioritizing his studies. She didn¡¯t constantly throw herself at him, but whenever someone she considered a rival showed interest in Leslie, she¡¯d confront them. This time was different. Shermaine didn¡¯t approach Leslie; it was the other way around. That, without a doubt, made Alice more concerned and jealous. After all, Leslie had never tutored anyone at this school. He was also known for his cold and aloof demeanor, ignoring most of the girls. But he had chatted away with Shermaine. ¡°Nothing¡¯s going on between him and me,¡± Shermaine said bluntly. Alice wasn¡¯t buying it. ¡°Then why did he offer to tutor you?¡± Shermaine straightened up and met her gaze. ¡°Why should I bother exining? Who are you to question me?¡± Alice bit her lip, puffed out her chest, and spoke with fierce determination, ¡°I¡¯m the one who¡¯s meant to be with him!¡± She was convinced that once the SAT was over, Leslie would agree to be with her. Hearing this, others couldn¡¯t help but be impressed by her confidence, thinking she was indeed the top student and the prettiest girl at school. Shermaine chuckled, her tone casual and indifferent as she said, ¡°Oh, then I don¡¯t see the need to answer you.¡± She had no connection to Leslie¨Cthey were just strangers who had crossed paths twice. She had no reason to answer the questions of his admirer, who hade to confront her because of mere spection. Shermaine might exin if she were in a good mood. But since Alice was acting like she was someone important, expecting everyone to cater to her, there was no way Shermaine would. Alice was enraged by her indifferent attitude and barked, ¡°Don¡¯t get smug, Leslie would never like you, a useless, low¨Cachieving student. You¡¯d better stay away from him.¡± Shermaine¡¯s nonchnt demeanor shifted. Her gaze, initially cold, now carried a sharp, icy glint. She snorted, ¡°Apologize.¡± Shermaine¡¯s ssmates were visibly upset. One of them stood up and said, ¡°That¡¯s right, Alice. Apologize right now, Just because you¡¯re pretty and good at your studies doesn¡¯t mean everyone¡¯s going to bow down to you.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t the first time you¡¯ve insulted someone from our ss,¡± another echoed. ¡°Exactly. Apologize to Sheary right now!¡± someone else chimed in. Alice had nned to leave, but she was blocked by Shermaine¡¯s ssmates. She couldn¡¯t get away. She wasn¡¯t afraid, though, and shouted, ¡°Move!¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying it again. Apologize!¡± someone said firmly. ¡°Why should I? I didn¡¯t say anything wrong.¡± Alice couldn¡¯t understand it. Shermaine had only been here for a few days, yet she¡¯d already won over so many people. They even called her by her nickname. ¡°Since you won¡¯t apologize, I¡¯ll report you to the homeroom teacher,¡± someone from Shermaine¡¯s ss said, furious. She thought, ¡®If Shermaine¡¯s a useless, low¨Cachieving student, then what does that make us? Are we even worse?¡® However, instead of the homeroom teacher, the dean, Mason, arrived¨Cbrought over by Hannah. Mason shouted, ¡°What are you all doing here?¡± At the sight of him, Shermaine¡¯s ssmates grew a bit uneasy. 1/4 Chapter 41 Mason was biased. He always smiled and treated the top students warinly. But when it came to average students like them, his face was as cold as The students greeted Mason. A bold boy spoke up. ¡°Sir, Alice came to our ss and called Shermaine a useless, low¨Cachieving student. We just want her to apologize. Alice bit her lip. ¡°Sir, I didn¡¯t say that.¡± She was clearly determined to deny everything, even on a pitiful act. Summer couldn¡¯t hold back her anger. ¡°Alice, I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re such a coward¨Ctoo scared to own up to your actions!¡± Alice lowered her head. ¡°Sir, I didn¡¯t say that. I swear. I just talked to Shermaine for a bit, and then they wouldn¡¯t let me leave.¡± and now Mason, clearly favoring Alice, snapped at the boys blocking the door, ¡°Move! What are you doing with your time? Your grades are getting worse, a you¡¯re bullying someone? What¡¯s next?¡± ¡°We aren¡¯t bullying her,¡± the students protested. ¡°Alice did insult Shermaine,¡± one of the boys insisted, his face dark with frustration, refusing to back down. Mason ignored him. ¡°If you don¡¯t move, there will be consequences.¡± Under his stern gaze, the boys reluctantly stepped aside, letting Alice through¨Cbut they were still furious and even disappointed. Before Alice could step out, Shermaine grabbed her by the cor at the back of her shirt and yanked her back, throwing her down into a chair in the back row. ¡°Did I say you could leave?¡± All her ssmates gasped, thinking she was so badass, doing this in front of the dean. Alice crashed into the desk, letting out a sharp cry of pain. As she met Shermaine¡¯s cold, piercing gaze, she felt a chill run down her spine. At school, Shermaine was just a student¨Cshe had to follow the rules. But outside of school, she was the ruthless girl who could send the spoiled brats straight to jail. Even Shelia, who hadn¡¯t shown up at school, was rumored to have fallen victim to Shermaine and was still in the hospital recovering, Alice realized she had let her emotions get the best of her earlier. The dean shouted, ¡°Shermaine, what do you think you¡¯re doing?!¡± Shermaine ignored him and turned to Alice. ¡°Apologize. Don¡¯t make me say it a third time.¡± ¡®Sheary is angry. Damn, that¡¯s terrifying!¡® someone thought. The tension was intense, sending chills down everyone¡¯s spine. Alice stammered, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± Mason¡¯s face darkened as his authority was challenged, ¡°Shermaine, you are at school! Don¡¯t think your background gives you the right to act recklessly.¡± Shermaine turned to face him. ¡°She insulted me, so asked her to apologize. What¡¯s so unreasonable about that? Mr. Moe, why are you taking her side before even getting the facts straight? Do you think my ssmates are all lying?¡± ¡°How dare you talk back to me?¡± ¡°Please, give us an exnation, sir.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need to exin anything to you. You,e with me to the office. Now!¡± Shermaine was taken to the dean¡¯s office As she was led away, Alice couldn¡¯t help but smirk with satisfaction. She thought, ¡®So what if she¡¯s impressive outside of school? Here, she¡¯s just a low- performing student,pletely ignored by the teachers. Some teachers only care about students with good grades. Shermaine¡¯s ssmates looked grim. Soon, Isabel arrived at the dean¡¯s office. The moment she stepped in, she said, ¡°Mr. Moe, I¡¯ve spoken with the students involved and also checked with the students in the neighboring ss. It¡¯s true that Alice insulted Shermaine from our ss. ¡°Of course, my students are at fault as well, and I¡¯ve already scolded them. Shermaine¡¯s new here, and there¡¯s a lot she still needs to learn. ss has alfeady started. Could we please let her go for now?¡± Mason sneered. ¡°She hasn¡¯t even learned to respect her teachers, and now she wants to go back to ss? She¡¯s not leaving until she apologizes and reflects on her behavior.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not gonna happen,¡± Shermaine said firmly. ¡°I don¡¯t think I did anything wrong. In fact, Mr. Moe, I think you need to reflect on your extreme bias towards top students. As an educator, you should treat all students equally. ¡°I hope you can be fair, just, and transparent when handling matters. If you can¡¯t do that, then I don¡¯t think you¡¯re fit for the position you¡¯re in.¡± Isabel had always had her own grievances about this issue, but as a teacher, it wasn¡¯t always easy to speak her mind. Now hearing Shermaine say it, she felt a headacheing on. Mason¡¯s face turned red with anger. He barked, ¡°How dare you lecture me on how to do my job? Take a good look at yourself! Your mother sent you here to study, not to stir up trouble and form cliques. ¡°Let me make this clear: if you don¡¯t apologize today, don¡¯t bothering back.¡± Shermaine stood up, looked down at him, her gaze sharp, and dered, ¡°I¡¯ve always acted with integrity and never caused any trouble. But if someone a bet with you. ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s the midterms, and I¡¯ll get straight A¡¯s. If I don¡¯t, I¡¯ll ept any punishment you choose. But if I do, you¡¯ll have to apologize to me and promise to treat all students equally from that point on.¡± Isabel couldn¡¯t help but admire Shermaine for her courage. She remembered seeing Shermaine helping her ssmates with questions just yesterday. ording to some of them, Shermaine¡¯s grades weren¡¯t bad at all. Somehow, though, she¡¯d developed this reputation as a low¨Cperforming student. Mason sneered. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll give you a chance. Let¡¯s see if you can back up that big talk.¡± He took a sip of coffee and continued, ¡°Here¡¯s the deal: If you can get straight A¡¯s, I¡¯ll apologize to you. But if you don¡¯t, pack your bags and leave.¡± The truth was, the students with average grades had long been fed up with Mason. Whenever good resources were avable in the school, they always went to the best sses. When a top student made a mistake, Mason would calmly remind them not to do it again, but if an average student messed up, they¡¯d get an earful. When Shermaine returned to the ssroom, the ss had ended, but her ssmates were still there, looking dejected. She walked up to the podium and said, ¡°I really appreciate you guys standing up for me today. I know you¡¯ve taken a lot of heat from the dean because of this, and honestly, you¡¯ve been putting up with this kind of crap for a long time.¡± She paused and continued, ¡°Life¡¯s never been fair, and you¡¯ve seen it here in school. Out in the real world, it¡¯s only going to get tougher. You¡¯ll meet more people like the dean¨Cpeople who are even worse. But remember, nobody is inherently superior. You¡¯re no less than anyone else. ¡°To earn respect and make them look up to you, the first thing you need to do is make them see you in a whole new light. The SAT is your first chance to p them in the face. From now on, follow my lead. I¡¯ll help you all exceed expectations. Are you ready?¡± As Shermaine¡¯s words echoed through the room, excitement washed over all her ssmates. The frustration and defeat they had felt just moments ago now became their driving force. They didn¡¯t know why they trusted Shermaine so much, but for some strange reason, they just did. They all shouted in unison, ¡°We¡¯re ready! Sheary, take- 3/4 12:45 Mon, 2 Jun G Nurse walking 42 Chapter 42 After parting ways with Shermaine, Leslie went back to the ssroom to study. with anger. He was still fuming over Shermaine¡¯s repeated rejection, his face dark But after thinking it over, he decided he shouldn¡¯t rush things. Tomorrow was the midterms. Once the results came out, Shermaine would see for herself how harsh reality could be. By then, he¡¯d go find her again- there was no way she¡¯d turn him down then. When that time came, he¡¯d go to her again. In short, he just didn¡¯t believe Shermaine¡¯s grades would be anything impressive. What he didn¡¯t expect was that Alice would question Shermaine due to his visit, causing Shermaine to be taken away by the dean. When Leslie heard this news, his mood soured even more. He knew Alice had feelings for him, but he hadn¡¯t agreed to anything. That was because his studies were demanding at the time, and while Alice was pretty, she wasn¡¯t his type. Honestly, if Shermaine hadn¡¯te into the picture, he might have considered dating Alice after graduation. But now, things were different¨Che liked Shermaine more. Even though Shermaine had a fianc¨¦, if she were to fall for Leslie, she could break off the engagement with the York family. Leslie believed that Shermaine, being so young, wouldn¡¯t be happy after marrying Joshua, and that she should be enjoying a passionate romance. Then news spread that Shermaine had made a bet with the dean¨Cif she didn¡¯t get straight A¡¯s, she might drop out. Leslie thought to himself, ¡®Is she out of her mind? Where does she get the confidence to make such a bet? The exam is tomorrow, and she doesn¡¯t even have time to prepare. ¡®There are six sses, and as far as I know, she¡¯s taking an honors ss. Unless she is as exceptional as I am, there¡¯s no way she can pull it off.¡± Most of the students thought Shermaine was being too reckless to have made such a bet. Some felt sorry for her, while others thought she had overestimated herself. For Shermaine, though, the bet didn¡¯t seem to add any pressure. That night, as usual, she did a live stream to help her ssmates with questions whilepleting her own tasks. By midnight, she turned off the lights and went to sleep. Before that, Joshua had brought her a ss of milk and reminded I her, ¡°Be careful these next couple of days. Don¡¯t go anywhere without the driver.¡± Shermaine instantly realized that those people still had a grudge against her. She took the milk and drank it right in front of him, finishing it off quickly. ¡°If they want to kill me, it won¡¯t be that easy,¡± she said. Then she handed the empty ss back to Joshua. ¡°Thanks for the milk.¡± Joshua noticed a bit of milk at the corner of her lips and said, ¡°You¡¯ve got something at the corner of your lips.¡± ¡°Left or right?¡± ¡°Left.¡± Shermaine stuck out her tongue and licked the corner of her lips clean. Joshua¡¯s dimmed with longing. The next day, it was Shermaine¡¯s first exam since transferring to this school. In the morning, she had math, and in the afternoon, physics and economics. For Shermaine, the test was ridiculously easy. Problems that took others over ten minutes to solve were done by her in half a minute. In less than half an hour, shepleted the entire paper. She and took a nap. wrote her name and student ID number. Then she stretched, rested her head on the desk, The same thing happened in the afternoon exam. After finishing the physics paper, Shermaine asked, ¡°Sir, can I turn in my paper early?¡± Turning in the paper so soon¨Cdoes she think the physics exam is too hard and decides to give up?¡® the proctor thought. He recognized Shermaine. Ever since Shermaine¡¯s bet with the dean, her name had spread across the entire school. Many of them thought she was arrogant and clueless. The proctor, seated at the podium, nced at Shermaine, checked the time, and replied indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s up to you.¡± After leaving the ssroom, Shermaine had no intention of wandering around and nned to take a taxi back to the Riverswood Vi. But she ran into some trouble. As she stepped out of school, she realized she was being watched. It seemed that the parents of those spoiled rich kids, who were about to face jail time, wanted to take revenge before their familiespletely fell apart. Shermaine deliberately turned into a deserted alley, stretchedzily, and waited for her pursuers to make their move. About ten minutester, a man with a scar on his face was left in nothing but his underwear, his arms and legs bound with his own clothes. When the police arrived, they couldn¡¯t believe this was the killer who had taken the lives of more than ten people. Back at the Riverswood Vi, Shermaine entered the password and stepped inside. The housekeeper wasn¡¯t around, probably out shopping. But just as she got to the second floor, Joshua came out of the study. He seemed to be there to grab some documents, holding a file in his hands. When he saw the blood on her and sensed the fierce aura around her, his eyes darkened, and he said in a low voice, ¡°I just told you to be careful yesterday. Have you already forgotten?¡± Shermaine hadn¡¯t forgotten; she just figured, since the guy was alone, she could handle him herself. She didn¡¯t give it much thought and just executed her n. ¡°I¡¯ve already handed him over to the police.¡± She couldn¡¯t help but notice that Joshua seemed a bit angry, but she wasn¡¯t too sure. Joshua stared at her for a moment before asking, ¡°Are you hurt anywhere?¡± Shermaine wasn¡¯t too concerned. ¡°My hand was dislocated, but I popped it back in. My back hurts a little. Can you check it for me?¡± The assassin those parents hired had killed over ten people and was pretty skilled. She wasn¡¯t invincible, so it was inevitable that she got a few scrapes. Her back hurt, but she couldn¡¯t see the spot. Joshua said, ¡°Wait for me in the study.¡± Without hesitation, Shermaine headed to the study. It was the first time she had been inside since moving in. The room smelled faintly of ink. Theputer was on, and several documents were scattered across the desk. But what caught her attention the most was the massive bookshelf¨Cat least seven feet tall and very wide. It was filled with countless books, many of which were rare editions. She didn¡¯t wander around or touch anything. Instead, she set her bag down and sat on the couch, waiting quietly. Joshua came in with a first¨Caid kit, sat down, and then said, ¡°Turn around and lift your shirt.¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t think much of it when she lifted her shirt; she just saw Joshua as a ¡°nurse.¡± Shey on her stomach, huggin low. But when his fingers brushed against the skin on her back, a shiver ran through her. That was when she realized¨Cshe couldn¡¯t exactly think of him as just a ¡°nurse¡± anymore. The injury on her back was swollen. When Joshua¡¯s fingertips pressed lightly against it, a sharp sting shot through her, making her let out a soft moan. Joshua applied some ointment to the swollen spot and began gently massaging the area to reduce the swelling. Clutching the pillow, Shermaine felt her ears grow warm. The massage didn¡¯t just bring the familiar sting and soreness; there was something else mixed in, something she couldn¡¯t quite name. Her body, hypersensitive, instinctively pulled away. Joshua firmly gripped her waist with his other hand. ¡°What are you doing? Don¡¯t move.¡± 12:45 Mon, 2 Jun Shermaine had no idea why she had done that. Nurse walking 43 Chapter 43 Chapter 43 After the ointment was applied, Shermaine finally felt some relief from the pain. Joshua then applied a patch to the same spot. Throughout the process Shermaine¡¯s ears stayed flushed. ¡°Make sure to apply the ointment again tonight,¡± Joshua reminded her. ¡°Okay.¡± Shermaine murmured. In the study, the usual ink scent was reced by the sharp, pungent smell of medicine. ¡°Has the wound on the back of your right hand scabbed over?¡± Joshua asked. Shermaine nodded and gave a quiet ¡°Mm.¡± After all, she had some experience in the medical field herself and had been careful with the injury. Joshua unwrapped the bandage and checked the injury on her hand. Once he confirmed it was fine, he re¨Cbandaged it for her. Then he left with the documents he needed. Since Shermaine was staying in his house now, he was living in a condo near the office. Back in her room, Shermaine sat there for a while, lost in thought. She had to admit¨Cshe was drawn to Joshua again. But then she remembered that all his care was because she was about to be his wife and couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit disappointed. The exams were over by Wednesday, and the results came out on Friday¨Cthe same day Shermaine had to submit her task. Before heading to school, she turned on herputer and logged into the International Tech Forum. To her surprise, her inbox was flooded with private messages¨Cmost of them mocking and ridiculing her. [Hey, you loser, you won¡¯t get the three million dors. Our beloved Dolcie has taken the task, too.] [You¡¯re quite bold to take on the task. But too bad, you¡¯re bound to lose.] [Bro, I respect you, but maybe stop embarrassing yourself.] [Hey, you¡¯re famous now, but if you¡¯re getting a lot of hate messages, just ignore them¨Cthey¡¯re all from Dolcie¡¯s die¨Chard fans.] ¡®Dolcie?¡® Shermaine thought, confused. After reading the messages, she quickly figured out why she was being mocked. It was simple¨Cher score on the forum was too low, and she had only been taking D¨Clevel tasks. But this time, she took on an SSS¨Clevel task. Then, a highly popr tinum¨Clevel expert took the same task, and naturally, the expert¡¯s fans believed their idol and saw Shermaine as a joke. Too bad for them¨CShermaine would win the three million dors. Once online, Shermaine sent a private message to Jaden. [Are you there?] Two secondster, Jaden replied: [Here. You¡¯re canceling the task, right? You can just click cancel; no need to inform me.] Shermaine chuckled and responded: [I¡¯m submitting the task.] She sent a . If the experiment seeds, please t money to my ount ASAP.] With that, she logged off. If she didn¡¯t leave now, she might bete. the Jaden stared at the screen, dumbfounded that Shermaine hadpleted the task. Still skeptical, he opened the file she¡¯d sent. The data was massive, yetpressed into an incredibly tiny file. After checking the results, Jaden trembled, his eyes nearly popping out of his head. ¡®Holy crap, this person¡¯s a total pro!¡¯ he thought. 1/3 Chapter 43 The chip data Shermaine provided was outstanding, especially in sensitiveponents and signal processors. Thework data simtions that the chip was perfectlypatible with new energy, with no risk of any adverse reactions. Jaden¡¯s hands were shaking with excitement as he immediately called Sheldon. ¡°Professor Wendell, you need toe to theb right now. A genius has delivered exactly what we needed!¡± Sheldon, equally thrilled, responded, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m on my way.¡± Shermaine arrived at the ssroom right on time. Her ssmates seemed unusually tense. Maybe it was because their grades wereing out today. At that moment, Summer pulled out a small mirror. When she saw the e caused by stress andte¨Cnight cramming, she let out a dramatic whine. ¡°Ugh, I look so ugly now.¡± Then she spotted a particrly red and swollen pimple and immediately tried to pop it. The student sitting in front of her said, ¡°That¡¯s so gross. You didn¡¯t even wash your hands. There are germs. Popping pimples like that is a terrible idea- you¡¯ll just end up with scars.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care. I can¡¯t stand it anymore. I¡¯ll just ask my mom to buy me some skincare productster. Hopefully, they¡¯ll fix this mess.¡± Summer replied. Then she wailed, ¡°Looking like this, I¡¯m too embarrassed to watch my crush y basketball.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so jealous of Sheary,¡± she continued. ¡°Her skin¡¯s smooth and wless. I bet it feels like jelly, soft and bouncy.¡± She squinted her eyes dreamily, wishing she could have skin like that. Shermaine wasn¡¯t sure which type of skincare product to focus her research on. She had nned to put together a solid report, but Summer gave her some inspiration. In today¡¯s world, almost over 90% of women use cosmetics. While many focus on skincare, no matter how much they take care of their skin, problems like e and dark spots still pop up from time to time. Shermaine had naturally wless skin and had never faced any skincare issues. However, she never neglected her appearance and always stuck to a strict skincare routine. If she could develop a skincare product that could brighten the skin, reduce e, and fade spots in a short time¨Call while being affordable and safe- it¡¯d be an instant hit. Shermaine said, ¡°Don¡¯t pop that pimple. If you do, you¡¯ll definitely scar,¡± Hearing this, Summer immediately dropped her hand, no longer daring to pop it. The student from earlier remarked, ¡°Sheary, Summer always follows your advice. She never listens to me.¡± ¡°Because Sheary makes it sound so scary,¡± Summer pouted. She already felt down about her test results, and now she had a pimple to deal with. She was feeling really down. ¡°Sheary, what do I need to do for my skin to be as smooth as yours?¡± she asked. Shermaine thought for a moment and said, ¡°Go to bed early, wake up early, exercise more, and make sure to take care of your skin before bed.¡± Summer hadn¡¯t done any of those things. She realized if she wanted to catch up to Shermaine, it wasn¡¯t just her studies she needed to improve¨Cher skincare routine needed an upgrade too. She wanted to be the kind of girl everyone adores. At that moment, someone burst into the ssroom, shouting excitedly, ¡°The midterm results are out. Everyone, go check it out!¡± He y bouncing with joy as he added, ¡°Sheary, don¡¯t bother checking. I heard you got straight A¡¯s.¡± ¡°Of course, Sheary got straight A¡¯s,¡± another student chimed in. ¡°Haven¡¯t you already noticed she¡¯s good at everything when she tutored us?¡± ¡°Sheary is amazing. I wonder what the dean looks like right now. I bet he¡¯s furious,¡± someone else added, . actically Not only were Shermaine¡¯s ssmates excited, but the other senior students, who had heard from others, were stunned. Everyone knew about Shermaine¡¯s bet with the dean, so they were all paying close attention to her results. 2/2 Chapter 43 When they were told that Shermaine got an A in physics, they thought it was just luck. But then they learned she got A¡¯s in all her other sublecta struck dumb. Even Leslie, the top student, hadn¡¯t done as well. Even Shermaine¡¯s teachers were left speechless. In all their years of teaching, they had never seen such a dramatic turnaround, Shermaine, who had always struggled with her studies, had somehow managed to score full marks in most subjects. Shermaine had finished each of her papers in under twenty minutes and then rested her head on the desk for a nap. Naturally, the proctor never imagined she hadpleted everything; they assumed she had given up halfway through. But they were stunned by her handwriting¨Cit was elegant and fluid, and even the smallest punctuation mark was a joy to look at. This exam was no easy task for the students, but Shermaine had delivered a pleasant surprise. She even outperformed Leslie, the top student. With such results, she was sure to be a top scorer on the SAT. She shouldn¡¯t be in regr sses or even honors sses¨Cshe should be in AP sses. Nurse walking 44 Chapter 44 Alice and Hannah stood in the school hallway, their faces grim. Their grades had slipped, and to their dismay, Shermaine had outperformed Leslie in the exam. They were both humiliated and angry. Just a short while ago, they had mocked Shermaine as a worthless cker, but it turned out that they were the ckers. t didn¡¯t make sense that Shermaine, known as a poor student, suddenly got straight A¡¯s and were sure there must be something shady going on. They just couldn¡¯t bring themselves to believe that Shermaine could achieve this on her own. Alice bit her lip. ¡°Do you think she cheated?¡± Hannah thought for a moment before shaking her head. ¡°That ven: ¡°Why not? There are plenty of ways to cheat. The proctors weren¡¯t in school?¡± ¡± strict this time, and just look at her¨Cdoes she seem like someone who¡¯d do well ¡°Not really.¡± The two were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn¡¯t notice Leslie standing nearby. Leslie had known about Shermaine¡¯s results. His face was filled with confusion and shock as he thought, ¡®Shermaine¡¯s got straight A¡¯s. It¡¯s hard to believe. Her mom told me she was struggling and even asked me to tutor her. How could she possibly do so well?¡® As he listened to Alice and Hannah¡¯s conversation, a realization struck him: Shermaine might have cheated, just like they had said. He immediately understood why Shermaine had outperformed him in the midterms and felt a sense of relief. He was sure she could never beat him without cheating. To be fair, Leslie was excellent in math, physics, and chemistry, scoring full marks. After all, he had won first ce in a physicspetition. But unlike Shermaine, he¡¯d lost a few points in the other three subjects. Leslie lowered his gaze, disappointment washing over him as he thought, ¡®How could Shermaine stoop to cheating? Is it because of that bet with the dean? Even so, this isn¡¯t the way to go about it. If she wants recognition, she should earn it. Cheating might work now, but what about next time? Will she just cheat again? And the SAT¨Cit¡¯s nearly impossible to cheat on that. Even if she tried, the chances of getting caught are 99%. And if that happened, the only one who¡¯d be embarrassed is her. ¡®Even if she doesn¡¯t care about her own reputation and future, she should at least think about her family.¡® Alice said in a raised voice, ¡°Let¡¯s go report her to the dean.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± replied Hannah. As soon as they turned around, they saw Leslie. They froze in embarrassment. Alice, quicker to recover, asked softly, ¡°Leslie, when did you get here?¡± Leslie¡¯s face remained cold. ¡°When you two were using Shermaine of cheating.¡± Alice felt a wave of panic. She wasn¡¯t sure where Leslie stood on the matter, but she gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Leslie, I¡¯m not being petty here. Someone like Shermaine could never do that well. You¡¯re such an outstanding person¨Cyou should distance yourself from her. It could damage your reputation.¡± ¡°Exactly. Leslie, what were you even thinking? Hannah chimed in indignantly. Leslie replied, his expression still cold, ¡°Alice, if you hadn¡¯t confronted Shermaine in her ssroom, she wouldn¡¯t have made that bet with Mr. Moe. Do you feel proud of pushing her to drop out? You need to stop.¡± 1/3 Chapter 44 His tone grew firmer as he added, ¡°Sure, Shermaine has her ws¨Cher temper, for one¨Cbut I believe with the right support, the can get back With that, he turned and walked away. Alice and Hannah were left standing there, stunned. Alice¡¯s face turned pale. She couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®Leslie has never cared so much about a girl. Shermaine¡¯s such a lousy person, but he still stood up for her. Does he¡­ like Shermaine?¡® Hannah muttered, ¡°Is Leslie out of his mind?¡± ¡°Can you believe what he just said? It¡¯s obvious he thinks Shermaine cheated, but he¡¯s covering for her!¡± Alice was consumed by jealousy, her lips trembling. ¡°Cheaters like her shouldn¡¯t be allowed in our school. Let¡¯s go, Hannah. We¡¯re reporting her to the dear.¡± Leslie didn¡¯t go back to his ss right away. Instead, he went to Shermaine¡¯s ss. Shermaine¡¯s ssmates were still buzzing with excitement. A straight¨CA student was in their ss¨Ca regr ss. They were sure some teachers would have high expectations for Shermaine and would try to suggest she take AP sses. Then, she wouldn¡¯t be in the same ss as them. Maybe because she had won many major awards, Shermaine remained calm. But seeing her ssmates so thrilled, she couldn¡¯t help but smile. Happiness was contagious, after all. Shermaine smiled. ¡°Even if you can¡¯t quite match my performance, as long as you don¡¯t give up before the SAT, you¡¯ll see a big improvement in your scores.¡± Her ssmates nodded eagerly. ¡°Sheary, you¡¯re the best! We love you!¡± someone shouted. One of them even made a heart gesture, earning another smile from Shermaine. In that instant, they were once again captivated by how gorgeous she was. Just then, Leslie appeared in the doorway. ¡°Shermaine, can we talk?¡± he asked. Shermaine¡¯s ssmates looked up and immediately felt a surge of anger as they saw Leslie, the culprit of all this. Shermaine lifted her gaze slightly, gave a soft ¡°Mm,¡± and stood up to walk out. It was almost time for ss, so the hallway was rtively empty. Most people were in their ssrooms studying or discussing the exam. The wind was strong, and Shermaine¡¯s long hair swayed with it. She brushed a few strands of hair behind her ear and asked, ¡°What now?¡± Leslie had never seen a woman so gracefully beautiful, with such an ethereal aura. He fought to suppress the stirring in his chest and replied, ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t expect Alice to cause trouble for you because of me and put you on the wrong side of Mr. Moe.¡± ¡°Oh, okay,¡± Shermaine responded indifferently. She thought, ¡®He does owe me an apology; after all, he¡¯s the reason all of this happened. There¡¯s nothing between us. But his admirer stormed up to me, questioning and insulting me. I don¡¯t deserve this.¡¯ She then said, ¡°It¡¯s already over. You don¡¯t need to bring it up again. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m heading back to ss.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Leslie said while reaching out, attempting to grab her wrist, but Shermaine noticed and smoothly avoided his hand. She smiled faintly, waiting for him to continue, but her impatience was clear. Leslie froze, his chest tightening with unease. After a pause, he said, ¡°Mr. Mow is indeed a snob and does favor high¨Cachieving students, but you shouldn¡¯t have been so impulsive in making that bet with him. And winning in this way¨Chave you thought about the consequences?¡± ¡®What way? What consequences?¡® Shermaine thought. But the next second, she understood what he meant. ¡°You think I cheated?¡± Leslie stared at her. ¡°You did, didn¡¯t you?¡± Shermaine chuckled. She¡¯d told him her grades weren¡¯t bad, but he had never believed her. And now, he was using her of cheating, which was ridiculous. ¡°You can think whatever you want. But let me be clear, I don¡¯t need to cheat,¡± she said. 12:45 Mon, 2 Jun ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not nning to expose you. But don¡¯t do it again. It¡¯s not right.¡± Shermaine¡¯s expression turned cold. She didn¡¯t feel the need to defend herself, especially not to Leslie. This was her real performance, and she had crushed him fair and square. ¡°I¡¯ve already said that twice, and I don¡¯t want to repeat myself a third time. Please don¡¯te looking for me again. We¡¯re not close,¡± she said seriously before turning and walking away without hesitation. Leslie¡¯s face turnedpletely grim. Meanwhile, Alice and Hannah had indeed gone to the dean¡¯s office. As soon as they saw him, Alice said, ¡°Director, we suspect Shermaine cheated on this exam.¡± Mason¡¯s expression shifted slightly. He didn¡¯t immediately trust Alice¡¯s words like he had before. ¡°Do you have any proof?¡± Alice exined, ¡°No, we don¡¯t. But Mr. Moe, everyone knows that Shermaine didn¡¯t finish high school before, which is why she¡¯s here with us. And Leslie only went to see her because her mother asked him to tutor her. A student who needs tutoring¨Chow could someone like that get straight A¡¯s?¡± Prev Nurse walking 45 Chapter 45 Alice and Hannah thought that after hearing this, Mason would look into Shermaine¡¯s alleged cheating and hold her ountable. But to their surprise, he just sat there with a stern face, seemingly disappointed with their nonsense. He mmed his hand on the desk and said, ¡°¡°since you¡¯re all model students, I¡¯ll pretend you never brought up this cheating thing. Now, go back to ss.¡± No one expected this kind of oue. Fidgeting nervously with her sleeve, Alice said, ¡°Mr. Moe, we¡¯re telling the truth. You don¡¯t believe us?¡± ¡°Yeah, Mr. Moe, if you check, you¡¯ll find something for sure,¡± Hannah chimed in. Of course, Mason wouldn¡¯t look into it. After the bet was made, Shermaine might have anticipated that if she scored too high, Mason, the teachers, and all the students would suspect she had cheated. To avoid any trouble, she had Mason personally monitor her exams through the surveince cameras. Besides, Mason, being extra cautious, had secretly swapped the A version of the test for the B version, which was stored in the secure vault. With all these precautions in ce, there was no way Shermaine could cheat. Honestly, if Mason hadn¡¯t been so biased against Shermaine because of her background and everything her mother said, and hadn¡¯t treated her so coldly when she first arrived, things might have turned out differently. Shermaine would havepleted the test he assigned, and he would¡¯ve seen her true academic abilities. Then, he wouldn¡¯t have rushed to put her in a regr ss. He still couldn¡¯t forget the shock he felt watching Shermaine tackle the math exam. She breezed through the multiple¨Cchoice questions without needing scrap paper to calcte. Before long, she was already onto the long¨Cform problems, solving them with ease and writing out the simplest solutions. They looked simple, but the forms she used were advanced¨Cknowledge that wasn¡¯t even taught until university. That day, Mason felt like his world had been turned upside down. He regretted dismissing Shermaine as a poor student so easily. Now, he saw her in a new light¨Cnot only was she brilliant academically, but she was also exceptional in ways he hadn¡¯t expected. Her values were more solid than his, too. Manson had a ring w. He had always favored students with good grades, treating them like precious gems, unwilling to criticize them too harshly, no matter what they did. But with average students, he would push them and hold them ountable when they did something wrong. In his mind, only good grades mattered¨Cthey were the only thing that could earn his leniency. He knew this wasn¡¯t right, but he couldn¡¯t help it. His bias was exactly why there was so much tension between average students and high¨Cperforming ones. It often led to conflicts, and in the past, some low¨Cachieving students had even sent him hate letters after the SAT, cursing him and iming he didn¡¯t deserve to be an educator. He couldn¡¯t care less about that before. Over the past few days, he had been reflecting on his actions. While his treatment may have motivated average students to do better, it also created countless problems. Shermaine was right¨Che shouldn¡¯t treat students differently based on their grades. And just now, the model students whom he had always favored had ndered another student for cheating without any evidence, driven purely by jealousy and spite. From that, Mason realized that academic excellence wasn¡¯t everything¨Ccharacter mattered just as much. A student with only good grades and questionable morals would be nothing but a disaster to society after graduation. Mason was furious. ¡°Enough! I can tell you for sure, Shermaine did not cheat. If you keep spouting nonsense, I¡¯ll have no choice but ive you a demerit. If you put half as much effort into studying as you do scheming, would your grades have dropped so much this time?¡± His outburst startled Alice and Hannah. They lowered their heads, not daring to Mr. Moe¡¯s attitude shift so drastically? What¡¯s going on?¡® another word. But inside, they were furious and thought, ¡®Why did They might be young, but they were quite shrewd. They felt there had to be some hidden agenda behind the sudden change. It was the first ss of the day¨Cmath ss. The math teacher walked up to the podium, holding the math papers, looking in a good mood. She Chapter 45 instinctively nced at Shermaine, smiling warmly. She hadn¡¯t expected that one of her students would be this amazing ¡°I¡¯m sure by now, you all know how you did on your exams,¡± she said. ¡°Yeah. And we all know Sheary got straight A¡¯s!¡± someone eximed excitedly. ¡°Yep, that¡¯s right. Shermaine¡¯s amazing. The rest of you all did okay, but you could¡¯ve done better. Now, I¡¯ll pass back your papers. And we¡¯ll review the test together,¡± said the math teacher. Shermaine¡¯s paper was right on top. The teacher nced at it repeatedly, a proud smile spreading across her face. Then she said to Shermaine, ¡°You did an excellent job. But don¡¯t get too cocky. Keep up the good work, and next year, you¡¯ll surely be the top scorer on the SAT.¡± Shermaine smiled lightly and nodded. Once everyone had their papers, the teacher started going over the questions. The ss listened carefully, but halfway through, the math teacher suddenly had to use the restroom and paused for five minutes. When she returned, she was surprised to find that Shermaine had taken over and was exining the problems. She decided to just sit at the back and listen to Shermaine. She had to admit that Shermaine¡¯s way of exining the problems was clearer and more concise than hers, and it was easier for the students to understand. Shermaine quickly drew them into the world of mathematics. As the ss was about to end, Mason entered the ssroom, looking a little awkward. He cleared his throat before saying, ¡°I¡¯m here today to apologize to the few boys I used the other day. ¡°I didn¡¯t handle things properly and unfairly med you. I¡¯m sorry. Honestly, each of you has faced a lot of challenges. I want to assure you all that I¡¯ll be fair and just from now on, and I won¡¯t let anything like that happen again.¡± When he finished, some of the students apuded. Though they still didn¡¯t like Mason, his willingness to admit his mistake and correct it earned their respect. The bell rang. Afterward, Mason pulled Shermaine aside and said, ¡°It¡¯s a bit of a waste for you to take regr sses. With your grades, you could take honors sses and AP sses. What do you think?¡± Hearing this, the math teacher couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®Typical Mr. Moe, always putting so much emphasis on grades. But Shermaine should do it. It¡¯ll give her a better chance to improve herself. ¡®How Shermaine exined the problems earlier is remarkable. She definitely deserves advanced lessons. Her level is far beyond what we can offer. ¡®It might sound unfair to the teachers with master¡¯s degrees, but that¡¯s the undeniable truth I¡¯ve realized after listening to Shermaine¡¯s ss.¡® Shermaine calmly declined. ¡°No need. Regr sses are fine, and I really like my ssmates here,¡± she said. Her ssmates were simple, kind¨Chearted, and easy to get along with. More importantly, they needed her. Besides, she had already mastered the high school knowledge and skills required, so she wouldn¡¯t be taking any other sses. ¡°Alright then,¡± Mason said before leaving. Shermaine¡¯s ssmates were overjoyed that she wasn¡¯t going anywhere. Despite that, rumors about Shermaine cheating on the exam started circting in the school. And as with all rumors, they only spread further. Whether in the cafeteria, the convenience store, or on the sports field, Shermaine¡¯s ssmates could overhear the gossip. ¡°What idiots, just believing whatever they hear,¡± someone muttered. ¡°I wish Shermaine could tutor them once¨Clet them know what a genius looks like. Besides, if she did cheat, do they think the school would just let it slide?¡± Naturally, some of them wanted to confront the gossipers, but Shermaine stopped them, saying that instead of wasting their time arguing, they might as 12:45 Mon, 2 Jun G well focus on their studies. That evening, Shermaine headed to the Jean residence. Janice, who had traveled all the way from the suburbs to Basterel, had no ns to leave anytime soon. She hadn¡¯t even seen her grandson yet, and she wanted to spend more time with Shermaine to strengthen their bond. So, Shermaine nned to stay for a little while and keep her grandmother After school, the driver took Shermaine straight to the Jean residence, where Janice had been waiting. As soon as Shermaine arrived, Janice rushed over to take her schoolbag, but Shermaine stopped her. She said, ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m not a kid anymore. The bag¡¯s heavy¨Cdon¡¯t strain yourself.¡± She set it down on the couch, nning to take it upstairster. Janice chuckled warmly. ¡°I¡¯ve prepared some fruit for you. You must be tired after a whole day of sses, right? Have a bite to hold you over.¡± Shermaine wasn¡¯t tired, but she couldn¡¯t turn down her grandmother¡¯s kind gesture, so she agreed. At dinner, the table was filled with delicious dishes Shermaine loved. It didn¡¯t take much guessing to know that Janice had asked the chef to prepare them. At this point, Janice was eagerly rmending the food to Shermaine. Meanwhile, Wendelyn, who had never been treated like this, could only watch with a sour expression and no appetite. Ever since her humiliating experience, Wendelyn had been staying in her apartment off¨Ccampus for several days. She had finallye to terms with the fact that she would never win Joshua¡¯s heart. But the thought of such a man willingly marrying Shermaine filled her with a destructive rage. If she couldn¡¯t have him, she¡¯d make sure Shermaine couldn¡¯t either. Wendelyn took a sip of soup and asked, ¡°Shermaine, I heard from Leslie that you had midterms this week. The results should be out today, right?¡± Shermaine replied, ¡°Yeah.¡± Wendelyn gave a half¨Csmile. ¡°How did you do?¡± Shermaine responded tly, ¡°Not very good. I just got straight A¡¯s.¡± Wendelyn and Ruth were dumbfounded. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Chapter 46 Nurse walking 46 Chapter 46 Wendelyn and Ruth exchanged a shocked nce. They couldn¡¯t believe that Shermaine, who they had always seen as a struggling student, had costan straight A¡¯s. Wendelyn studied Shermaine¡¯s expression, but couldn¡¯t read anything from it. She tightened her grip on her fork and said, ¡°Shermaine, you¡¯re actually amazing.¡± The use of the word ¡°actually¡± showed her surprise, but it also carried an underlying doubt¨Cshe didn¡¯t want to make it too obvious. After all, Janice, who adored Shermaine, was present, and she would defend Shermaine no matter what. However, Ruth was not afraid to say what Wendelyn dared not say. ¡°Straight A¡¯s? Shermaine, you seriously think we¡¯d believe you?¡± Janice shot a sharp look at Ruth and scolded, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Sheary is your biological daughter. She got good grades, and instead of praising her, you¡¯re questioning her abilities? What kind of mother are you?¡± Then, beaming with pride, she passed the drumstick to Shermaine and said, ¡°Honey, have some chicken. You¡¯re the best. Just like your brother, you¡¯ve been smart since you were little. Some kids can¡¯t even speak properly at three, but not only could you recite poems, you also knew so many words. Ever since that illness, your mom¡¯s been a bit out of it. Don¡¯t mind her.¡± Shermaine¡¯s lips curved into a faint smile. ¡°Thanks, Grandma,¡± The warm and harmonious scene made some people ufortable. Janice¡¯sment that Ruth was out of it made Ruth¡¯s smile disappear. She set down her fork and said, ¡°Janice, just because she was smart as a kid doesn¡¯t mean she¡¯ll be the same now. You know as well as I do, Shermaine has been in that poor vige for over a decade. What could she have learned there? Even though she started studying again, there¡¯s no way she¡¯d suddenly have straight A¡¯s.¡± She added, feigning righteousness, ¡°I¡¯m not expecting her grades to be amazing right now, but when we ask her about it, could she at least be a little more serious? She shouldn¡¯t have joked.¡± Shermaine took a bite of the drumstick, her face serious. ¡°I¡¯m not joking.¡± Straight A¡¯s wasn¡¯t that big of a deal. People just assumed she couldn¡¯t do it, so they acted like it was some impossible feat. ¡°Did you hear that? Sheary says she¡¯s not joking.¡± Janice¡¯s face darkened as she shot back, ¡°Why is it impossible for her to have straight A¡¯s? She can do anything! Do you even consider yourself part of this family? If you look down on us so much, why are you still here?¡± ¡°Janice, where¡¯s thising from? I¡¯m not looking down on Shermaine. She¡¯s my daughter. Why would I look down on her?¡± Ruth said, her eyes darting around uneasily. She couldn¡¯t even convince herself, let alone Janice. Janice red at Ruth. ¡°Well, in your eyes, you only have one daughter anyway. I¡¯m not wasting my time arguing with you. Let me make this clear¨CSheary is the treasure of our family. If you dare say anything bad about her again, you¡¯ll regret it!¡± Ruth¡¯s face turned sour as she thought, ¡®Just because I humbled myself doesn¡¯t mean I have to put up with this. Her lips twitched it seemed that she couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore. She said angrily, ¡°What did I say about her? I¡¯m her mother. Is it not okay to say something now and then?¡± ¡°Oh, so you do know you¡¯re her mother.¡± Janice scoffed. ¡°Sheary, bring me your papers. Let me have a look.¡± Shermaine smiled and replied, ¡°Sure.¡± It felt great to have a grandmother. ¡°Today, the math, economics, physics, and chemistry papers have been returned. The other papers haven¡¯te out yet, but Grandma, you can look at these four,¡± Shermaine said, handing the papers to Janice. 12:46 Mon, 2 Jun G Chapter 46 As soon as Janice saw the scores, her face lit up with joy. She pointed at the bright red scores and dered loudly, ¡°See this? Full marks in math, full marks in economics, full marks in physics, full marks in chemistry. Shermaine says she¡¯s got straight A¡¯s, and I trust her. So tell me, are you impressed. Ruth¡¯s expression froze. Wendelyn stayed silent, but her grip on her fork tightened, ¡®Full marks? How is this even possible?¡® she thought. Janice¡¯s face flushed from the argument. She was old and had just recovered from a serious illness, so getting too worked up wasn¡¯t good for her. Shermaine knew that, so she spoke gently, ¡°Grandma, please sit down and don¡¯t get so worked up. It¡¯s not good for your health. It¡¯s just straight A¡¯s, nothing worth showing off.¡± Janice obediently sat down and took the juice Shermaine offered. ¡°Sheary¡¯s right. Having straight A¡¯s isn¡¯t that big of a deal. She can do even better. What she said was true. Shermaine nced at Ruth and Wendelyn. ¡°Although I never took the SAT, I¡¯ve never said my grades were bad. Since my return, you two have just assumed I¡¯m terrible because of my experience in the vige.¡± Wendelyn¡¯s eyes were dark and inscrutable. When she was in high school, she never got straight A¡¯s, but Shermaine had achieved that effortlessly. It was hard for Wendelyn to admit that Shermaine was better than her. Ruth didn¡¯t feel pleased by Shermaine¡¯s good grades. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you say anything earlier?¡± ¡°Would you have believed me if I said it without proof?¡± Shermaine responded calmly, smiling at her mother. ¡°Even now, with the scores right in front of you, you still seem to think it¡¯s absurd.¡± ¡®It is absurd. You should have gotten such good grades,¡® Ruth cursed inwardly. Caught out, feigning happiness, she forced a smile, looking awkward. ¡°Of course not, I¡¯m thrilled that you did so well. Why would I think it¡¯s absurd?¡± Then, adopting the air of a strict mother, she added, ¡°But good grades don¡¯t mean much. If you could write a book that bes a hit overseas, like Wendy did, then you¡¯d truly be impressive. ¡°And don¡¯t forget, your sister¡¯s also a famous painter. So many people are scrambling to buy her paintings. Even a casual piece of hers can sell for millions. ¡°Wendy excels in music, chess, writing, and painting. In Basterel, she¡¯s recognized as the most talented rich youngdy, hands down.¡± As she spoke, Ruth¡¯s pride swelled. After all, she had personally nurtured Wendelyn. No matter how good Shermaine¡¯s grades were, they couldn¡¯t hold a candle to that. Janice sneered inwardly, ¡®Basterel is full of real talent, but Wendelyn isn¡¯t one of them. Her books are mediocre, and her painting skills aren¡¯t anything to write home about. Most talented youngdy? Just a hollow title meant to make her look impressive. How shameless to unt such empty achievements.¡± Wendelyn smiled. ¡°Mom, if it weren¡¯t for your guidance, I wouldn¡¯t have achieved what I have. Thanks to you and our family, I¡¯ve be so much at this age.¡± ¡®She¡¯s such a sweet talker,¡® Janice thought, rolling her eyes. ¡®Excel? Ruth could be so over the top when praising her daughter. Shermaine was the kind of person who could hold a grudge. ble to aplish She knew Ruth wasn¡¯t happy about her return to the Jean family and often gave her trouble, but she had decided not to take anything to heart. However, the different treatment Ruth gave her and Wendy was starting to bring out her mischievous and scheming side. ¡®I¡¯ll let Ruth see for herself how her perfect daughter getspletely outshone by me,¡¯ Shermaine vowed inwardly. She smiled, her brows arching slightly, her eyes glinting with mischief. ¡°Wendy and Mr. Owen York taught me how to y chess time. I¡¯m very grateful. Too bad Wendy and I didn¡¯t get to y a match. I¡¯m free tonight. Wendy, how about a game?¡± The smile Wendelyn had just put on her face disappeared. Nurse walking 47 Chapter 47 Wendelyn had been to Joshua¡¯s house with Shermaine before. When she came back, Ruth had asked her how it went and if she¡¯d managed to impress Owen. But someone as proud as Wendelyn would never admit that not only did she fail to earn Owen¡¯s favor, but that Shermaine had subtly humiliated her as well. So, she didn¡¯t go into detail about what happened that day, instead brushing it off with a gue answer. At that moment, Wendelyn thought, ¡®Shermaine¡¯s trying to humiliate me by suggesting a game of chess. She¡¯s so confident that she can beat me? But she held her own in a fierce match against Mr. Owen York. Can I even stand a chance against her?¡® As she hesitated in silence, Ruth responded for her, ¡°Alright, your sister¡¯s been awarded in chess before. It¡¯s not a bad idea for you two to have a match after dinner. ¡°Girls shouldn¡¯t just bury their heads in books all the time. It¡¯s good to expose yourself more to refined, literary things¨Cit cultivates your taste, elevates your character, and helps you enrich your inner self.¡± Shermaine¡¯s smile grew even brighter. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled.¡± Seeing Wendelyn frozen in ce, she teased, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Wendy? You don¡¯t want to y?¡± Wendelyn replied through clenched teeth, ¡°Of course not. Let¡¯s do it.¡± She didn¡¯t believe Shermaine was really that good and could actually win. Janice watched the scene unfold with a smile, thinking, ¡®Ruth¡¯s getting too full of herself. She didn¡¯t even realize that Sheary wasying a trap for Wendelyn. Well, good. Let her see how her supposedly outstanding daughter would be outmatched by Shermaine. The night deepened, and the autumn wind blew gently. Dinner was over, and Ruth went upstairs herself to bring down the chess set and get things ready. But Wendelyn¡¯s expression grew darker with anxiety. Meanwhile, Shermaine went out for a walk with Janice. Not long after they left, Clyde showed up. He looked around and asked, ¡°Aunt Ruth, didn¡¯t you say Shermaine would be back today? Where is she?¡± ¡°She went out for a walk,¡± Ruth replied. ¡®She¡¯s in the mood to go for a walk at a time like this?¡® thought Clyde. Ruth gave him a look. ¡°What do you want with her?¡± ¡®Tough at her, of course,¡® Clyde thought. ¡®She cheated on the midterms¨Cwhat a disgrace to our family. Then he said, ¡°Aunt Ruth, Shermaine had her midterms this week, and the results came out today. Word is, she got straight A¡¯s by cheating. I thought I¡¯de over and ask if it¡¯s true.¡± Ruth¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°She cheated on the midterms?¡± Clyde sneered, ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what I heard from people at her school. I mean, asked Leslie about it, but he wouldn¡¯t tell me anything. Luckily, I got the scoop from some other students. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that school? How could they just let her keep the grades without taking any action? But I guess it¡¯s tricky for them to act. First, they don¡¯t have any evidence. Plus, it¡¯s the top school in the city¨Cif word gets out, the school¡¯s reputation will be tarnished.¡± Shermaine, how dare you show off at dinner? You got straight A¡¯s by cheating!¡® Ruth thought, still fuming from being scolded by Janice during dinner, ¡®1 knew it! There¡¯s no way she can get such good grades or be better than Wendy.¡® Clyde couldn¡¯t help but gloat. ¡°But I heard that someone at the school had already reported her to the school district office. They¡¯ll probably send Chapter 47 someone over tomorrow to handle it.¡± Ruth smirked. ¡°Even if she¡¯s my daughter, cheating like that can¡¯t be tolerated. Since the dared to do it, she¡¯d better be ready us got arrayed She thought for a moment and then told Clyde, ¡°When shees back, don¡¯t tell her you already ¡°Why not?¡± asked Clyde. ¡°Your grandmother dotes on Shermaine and might scold you for speaking ill of her.¡± ¡°Grandma¡¯s totally biased,¡± Clyde pouted. He thought, ¡®Once the person from the school district office verifies the truth tomorrow, Shermaine will likely be expelled. Butt hus finds out, het probably send someone to handle it. So what? The stain will stick with her for life¨Cit can¡¯t just be wiped away! Clyde saw the chessboard on the table. ¡°Is Wendy going to y against someone?¡± ¡°Yeah. Against Shermaine,¡± replied Ruth. ¡°What?¡± Clyde scoffed,ughing mockingly as he thought, ¡®Sure enough, Shermaine doesn¡¯t know her limits. He was about to say more when Shermaine and Janice walked in. The moment he saw Shermaine, he remembered the bet they¡¯d made. He¡¯d eaten so much leftover food that night, and when he got home, his stomach had been in knots. He hadn¡¯t slept a wink and had even ended up in the hospital for an IV drip in the middle of the night. Now, just seeing her made his blood boil, and he wasn¡¯t about to y nice. Shermainepletely ignored him. She helped Janice to the couch and handed her some water. ¡°Shermaine, chess isn¡¯t as easy as ying video games. Wendy is really good at it. Are you sure you can handle it?¡± Clyde just couldn¡¯t keep his mouth shut. Shermaine replied casually, ¡°Whether I can handle it or not is none of your business.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Clyde stopped abruptly. He turned to Janice andined, ¡°Grandma, did you hear how she just spoke to me?¡± Janice, who knew Clyde didn¡¯t like Shermaine and was on Wendelyn¡¯s side, said, ¡°That¡¯s just how she is. If you can¡¯t stand it, don¡¯t talk to her.¡± Clyde was fuming. Janice, being older and still recovering from an illness, wasn¡¯t in the best health. Shermaine made a mental note to give her a check¨Cupter and write a prescription to help her recover. Then her mind wandered to Owen, who¡¯d been on his medicine for a week now. She wondered how he was doing. As Janice and Shermaine were back, Ruth said eagerly, ¡°I¡¯ll go upstairs and call Wendy down.¡± At that moment, Wendelyn was wiping her ck¨Cframed sses. After putting them on, she sat in front of the vanity and looked at herself in the mirror. ¡°Wendy, make sure you give it your allter. Show that old woman what you¡¯re made of and help me regain some dignity,¡± Ruth said. She thought to herself, ¡®I know Janice doesn¡¯t think much of Wendelyn, always considering her just average. Now¡¯s my chance to prove her wrong¨Cto show that the daughter I¡¯ve raised is the most talented and refined youngdy in Basterel.¡® Wendelyn¡¯s eyes flickered before she nodded with a determined expression. ¡°Got it, Mom. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Oh, and one more thing¨Cjust now, Clyde told me downstairs that Shermaine got straight A¡¯s by cheating. It has spread throughout the school. Honestly, that girl will stop at nothing just to show off and change her reputation,¡± Ruth added. She was sure that Shermaine had a hidden agenda by doing all this 2/3 12:46 Mon, 2 Jun G ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°ording to Clyde, some students have reported her to the school district office.¡± Wendelyn¡¯s gaze darkened, her thoughts unreadable. 74% 16 A few minutester, Wendelyn came downstairs. She had changed into casual clothes and was now wearing the ck¨Cframed sses, which gave her a refined, schrly look¨Calmost convincing enough to pass as a true intellectual. Earlier, she looked hesitant about the chess match, but now she seems much more confident. Noticing that, Shermaine couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®Her demeanor has shifted since she went upstairs. What has she done? Oh, right. Those sses. She¡¯s wearing a cheating device. No wonder she looks so confident. Fine by me. With her skills? She¡¯s not even worth my time. Wendelyn sat down across from Shermaine. ¡°Shermaine, let¡¯s start.¡± Shermaine propped her chin in her hand, giving Wendelyn a sideways nce before smiling slightly. ¡°Alright.¡± Wendelyn started fiddling with her phone. ¡°Mind if I stream this? I¡¯ve been streaming on YouTubetely and didn¡¯t have anything nned for today. This chess game is perfect.¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± Shermaine replied, thinking, ¡®Anyway, it¡¯s not me who¡¯ll end up embarrassed.¡® Wendelyn had a decent following on YouTube. Although she¡¯d only recently started streaming, with her reputation as a talented woman and her already considerable poprity, she has managed to umte three million followers in a short time. As soon as the live stream began, fans flooded into the chat. The screen was filled withments praising her. Wendelyn greeted them with a smile. After adjusting the camera, she turned to Shermaine and said in a soft, polite tone, ¡°Let¡¯s begin, Shermaine. You go first.¡± Nurse walking 48 o her fans, Wendelyn radiated an air of calm confidence by letting her opponent y the ck pieces and make the first move, as if victory was already in her grasp. On the public chat screen, thements flooded i
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(Oh my god. Isn¡¯t Wendy ssy?] [At first, I was just a fan of her looks, but now I¡¯m n totally hooked! She¡¯s amazing. It¡¯s like she can c anything. I totally respect her.) [Wendy is like an angel¡­] [I never thought I¡¯d see Wendy ying chess in person today. This is such a pleasant surprise. Who¡¯s she ying against?] [I¡¯m so excited! Is Wendy¡¯s opponent any good? What rank are they?] [Don¡¯t forget, Wendy beat a professional yer just a few days ago.] The fans showered her with praise while sending gifts like crazy. Honestly, Wendelyn had the charisma to start her own cult. Wendelyn grinned slightly at the barrage of praise, her vanity satisfied beyond measure. Her eyes then drifted over to Shermaine. Under the lights, Shermaine wore a blue¨Cand¨Cwhite dress, her hair tied in a simple bun, looking calm and unassuming. But she was effortlessly stunning, graceful, and radiant like the moon in the sky. Inparison, even with her light makeup, Wendelyn couldn¡¯t hold a candle to Shermaine¡¯s natural allure. Jealousy wed at her chest, and the urge to crush Shermaine¡¯s radiance consumed her. Wendelyn kept the camera focused on Shermaine¡¯s hands, intentionally avoiding her face. Meanwhile, she made sure her whole body was fully in frame. Wearing casual loungewear, sses, and light makeup, she basked in the soft glow of beauty filters that added an extrayer of charm. From every angle, she looked stunning in the eyes of her viewers. Wendelyn knew that if the viewers saw Shermaine¡¯s stunning face, they¡¯d be instantly charmed,pletely forgetting about her¨Cthe talented girl they had admired. She couldn¡¯t bear the thought of them calling Shermaine more beautiful than her. Shermaine raised an eyebrow, seeing no reason to turn down Wendelyn¡¯s offer to go first with the ck pieces. She casually picked up a ck piece and said nonchntly, ¡°Alright, then.¡± Her voice was soft andzy, carrying a charm that could make anyone¡¯s knees go weak. It was utterly captivating. Wendelyn continued, ¡°ying just chess is boring. How about we make a bet, Shermaine?¡± Shermaine loved betting. She hadn¡¯t gotten much excitement from her bet with Mason¨Cit was just too easy. But this time, ndelyn was wearing her cheating device, so it might be a little more challenging Shermaine raised her gaze, her interest piqued. ¡°What do you want to bet on?¡± Meanwhile, Janice felt a sense of foreboding. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Wendelyn was like a fox in the henhouse, up to no good. Wendy smiled, her eyes glinting with the determination of someone sure to win. ¡°The loser has to agree to one request from the winner.¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t think twice. She smiled, a mischievous glint in her eyes, and replied, ¡°Sure, as long as you can win, I¡¯ll agree to anything. But don¡¯t forget¨Cyou might lose too. Be ready to ept whatever you might lose.¡± Wendelyn clenched her fists and lowered her gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t have much to lose. The only thing I¡¯ve ever wanted¡­ is already yours, Shermaine.¡± 1/3 Chapter 48 Her pitiful tone was perfectly calcted, and the live stream audience took the bait, Immediately spinning tales of family drama. Everyon Wendelyn was the Jean family¡¯s heiress. But recently, rumors had spread about the return of the Jean family¡¯s long lost true herress. It was said that since her return, she had quickly gained a bad reputation, used of causing trouble wherever she went, relying on her newfound status and Joshua¡¯s support. The audience was shocked that she even bullied her sister. Jane Wendelyn looked aggrieved, ¡°Grandma, don¡¯t be ¡°You¡­¡± Janice stammered, consumed with fury. I¡¯ll stop.¡± In an instant, both Shermaine and Janice were getting bombarded with insults by the viewers of the live stream. Janice was fuming. Worried about her health, Shermaine quickly stepped in to calm her down. ¡°Grandma, please don¡¯t get upset. It¡¯s not worth it.¡± She turned to Wendelyn and said, ¡°I keep my word.manage to win, I¡¯ll grant you any wish you want.¡± Wendelyn¡¯s eyes sparkled with determination. ¡°Shermaine, I will beat you.¡± Shermaine smirked, her smile confident and alluring. [Shermaine¡¯s way too arrogant. Wendy is definitely going to beat her. She talks like she¡¯s some kind of big deal.] [Wendy, we¡¯ve got your back! If you want something, go for rit! Only after trying will you have no regrets.] [You¡¯ve got this, Wendy! You¡¯re the best!] Some random viewers couldn¡¯t help but be drawn to Shermaine. [Am I the only one who thinks Shermaine is kinda cool?] [Nope, not just you.] [Her voice is amazing too.] But they were immediately attacked by Wendelyn¡¯s die¨Chard fans and fell silent, only lurking in the chat. As for Wendelyn¡¯s chess skills, she hadpeted in an amateur tournament above the state level, winning a championship and attaining the ss D level. While she wasn¡¯t a professional yer, her victory in such a challenging andplex tournament had made her quite well¨Cknown at the time. But Shermaine thought that Wendelyn¡¯s championship probably had more to do with the high¨Ctech cheating sses she was wearing now. Wendelyn streamed everything¨Cdrawing, ying the piano, singing¨Cand of course, ying chess. She¡¯d often y against others on a tform called ¡°World Chess,¡± where amateur yers from different countries gathered, and even professional yers sometimes joined under pseudonyms to dominate the games. Wendelyn had consistently won her matches there. She was ranked ss C and close to advancing to ss B. When she yed against Owen that day, she didn¡¯t wear the sses¨Clikely afraid he¡¯d catch on. After all, Owen, being a National Master, was no ordinary yer. Professional yers are sharp and meticulous, especially those who¡¯ve won awards in major tournaments. Trying to cheat in front of them is asking for trouble. That¡¯s why Wendelyn only dared to y against amateur yers. Even when she did encounter a professional, it was usually someone at the Expert level easy to fool and unlikely to notice her tricks. Meanwhile, in the Al Technology Department on the 65th floor of the York Group building, Joshua walked in and nced at the blue¨Chaired Roy ¡°How¡¯s 12.40 Mon, 2 Jun it going?¡± he asked. Right now, they were working on upgrading and optimizing the face recognition 3.0 system, and the team was burning the midnight oil. Roy had been called in to help solve some issues. Of course, he wasn¡¯t doing it for free. Even though they were close friends, Joshua made sure to pay him what he was worth. Roy stretched his neck. ¡°Almost done. Should be finished before midnight.¡± Standing up, he added, ¡°I¡¯m hungry. Let¡¯s go out and grab something to eat.¡± Joshua¡¯s face remained expressionless. ¡°I already had Bradley order takeout.¡± Roy¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Seriously? I¡¯m helping you out, and you won¡¯t even treat me to a proper meal?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I pay you enough?¡± Joshua replied tly. That wasn¡¯t true. Joshua, known for his generosity, had paid Roy tens of millions for his help. Soon, Bradley brought the takeout in. Roy thought eating alone was a little sad, so he decided to just eat in Joshua¡¯s office. If they couldn¡¯t go out, they¡¯d at least eat together here. He¡¯d make
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Joshua, however, showed no intention of eating. He was focused on the project reports submitted by the higher¨Cups The York Group, with its unshakable position in Basterel, was originally built on real estate and aviation manufacturing, industries in which they were leaders. When Joshua took over the family business after retiring from the military, he established a new department¨CM&A Strategic Investment Department. In just five years, he spearheaded the acquisition of over 40 in securing several billion¨Cdor mergers, earning him a ster reputation in the financial world. He had a broad portfolio of ventures, including major investments in Al and new energy. The returns from breakthroughs in Al and new energy alone had driven the York Group¡¯s market value past $900 billion. As Roy ate, he suddenly shoved his phone in Joshua¡¯s face. ¡°Look at this! Wendelyn is so beautiful¨Cgraceful, elegant, and incredibly talented. Just look at how stunning she is while ying chess.¡± Joshua remained indifferent, his gaze briefly shifting to the screen. His attention was drawn to the hand holding the ck piece¨Cslender fingers with neatly trimmed nails that had a soft pink hue. Despite the bandages still wrapped around the back of her hand from an injury, she made her moves without hesitation. He immediately noticed the insults directed at Shermaine and even Janice. His gaze darkened. Roy continued, ¡°Joshua, who do you think will win¨CWendelyn or Shermaine?¡± He immediately voiced his opinion. ¡°I think it¡¯s Wendelyn. I¡¯d put money on it¨Cshe¡¯ll definitely win.¡± He remembered Wendelyn¡¯s impressive chess skills. Among yers her age, she had few equals. There was no way Shermaine could be a match for Wen With Comment
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AD S Nurse walking 49 Roy scoffed, ¡°Did Shermaine put some kind of spell on you?¡± With a thud, the filended heavily on the desk. Joshua pulled out a cigarette from the drawer, flicked his lighter with practiced ease, and soon, white smoke swirled around him. ¡°You¡¯re blind, but I¡¯m not,¡± he said. ¡®Why can¡¯t he just talk straight? Always has to take a jab at me,¡® Roy thought. Roy was the type of guy who couldn¡¯t be easily swayed once he made up his mind about something. Stubborn as a mule, he wouldn¡¯t back off until he hit a dead end. He didn¡¯t like Shermaine to begin with, and after seeing that post where she was being ridiculed by the female students of Basterel University, his opinion of her only worsened. His negative first impression wasn¡¯t without reason. Not long after Shermaine returned to the Jean family, Roy had run into her while she was out with Wendelyn and a few other women for afternoon tea. Wendelyn had been sweet and attentive to Shermaine the entire time. But then, out of nowhere, Shermaine grabbed one of the women by the hair, mmed her face into the cake on the table, and poured a cup of cappino down her throat. Grinning like a little devil, she asked, ¡°How does it taste?¡± The woman had been all friendly and warm, and yet Shermaine just went off on her for no reason. Afterward, Wendelyn kept apologizing to the woman, clearly cleaning up Shermaine¡¯s mess. Roy only saw a small part of the story. What he didn¡¯t know was that the cappino had been spiked with chili water and mustard by the woman. Shermaine had already sensed the trap and wasn¡¯t about to fall for it. Since the gathering was meant to hurt her, of course, she wouldn¡¯t go easy on them. Roy raised an eyebrow. ¡°What if she loses?¡± Joshua exhaled another puff of smoke. ¡°She won¡¯t.¡± ¡°They made a bet. The loser has to grant the winner a request. If Wendelyn didn¡¯t think she could win, why would she even make such a bet?¡± Roy even seemed a little touched as he added, ¡°Joshua, she¡¯s really going all in for you.¡± Joshua¡¯s patience snapped. ¡°Get out,¡± he ordered. If it were anyone else saying that, he would¡¯ve probably kicked them out by now to avoid the headache. Realizing that Joshua was angry, Roy swallowed nervously and muttered, ¡°I mean, I know Shermaine¡¯s prettier than Wendelyn, but she¡¯s really not as impressive in other ways. Joshua, you¡¯re not losing your mind and falling for her, are you?¡± ¡®That can¡¯t be true,¡® he thought. ¡®Joshua not only distances himself from women; he just doesn¡¯t care about love or romance. If he were to marry, he should pick someone who truly suits him. ¡®Wendelyn is the perfect match for him¨Cshe adores him and is exceptional in every way. Shermaine doesn¡¯t evene cl to her.¡± Joshua flicked the ash off his cigarette. ¡°It¡¯s just a mutually beneficial arrangement.¡± ¡°Then why are you treating her so well?¡± Roy, a car enthusiast, couldn¡¯t help but sound a little jealous. ¡°I know you¡¯re nning to give her the Phantom, of which there are only ten in the world, And Bradley is on his way to deliver it to the Jean residence.¡± Joshua remained indifferent. ¡°It¡¯s a small token to celebrate her return.¡± Roy thought. ¡®Seriously? That¡¯s a 150¨Cmillion dor car we¡¯re talking about? Why on¡¯t you just buy her a while you¡¯re at it?¡® Roy pushed further. ¡°Hey, my birthday¡¯sing up. How about a Ghost instead? It¡¯s not that pricey¨Cjust 120 million dors, a little cheaper than the Phantom.¡± Joshua didn¡¯t even look up. ¡°Get lost.¡± ***** A match between experts canst for hours. However, Wendelyn¡¯s little cheating device was clearly no match for Shermaine. It was true that some machines were more urate than the human brain, but this one was up against Shermaine¨Csomeone with one of the sharpest minds around. By the mid¨Cgame, despite the crisp autumn air, Wendelyn¡¯s palms were slick with sweat. Her cheating tool made every move effortless¨Cshe didn¡¯t even need to think, just followed its instructions blindly. And yet, she felt like she couldn¡¯t breathe, overwhelmed by a heavy sense of pressure. ¡®No way. Shermaine can¡¯t possibly beat aputer, she thought. Maybe that was true for others, but when it came to Shermaine, there was always a chance. At this point, it wasn¡¯t just Wendelyn feeling the pressure. Even the viewers watching the live stream could sense the calm yet predatory aura surrounding Shermaine¨Cone wrong move from Wendelyn, and it would be game over, which was utterly terrifying. They had once believed the rumors that Shermaine was useless and clueless, but now they realized just how amazing she truly was. Just then, a shiny VIP badge appeared in the chat, and everyone froze when they saw it was Trevor Sanders, a Grandmaster. Last year, Trevor represented the Republic of Wallington and took home the championship, bing the youngest professional yer to ever im the title. And he was only 21 years old. Plus, he had 8 million followers on YouTube, where he streamed puzzle games. The moment Trevor entered the chat, the viewership skyrocketed to over a million and kept climbing. Within just a few minutes, it hit more than six million. In the chat, someone couldn¡¯t help but ask: [Trevor, who do you think is going to win?] [Yeah, I¡¯m curious too.] [ording to the board, they¡¯re evenly matched, but I think Wendy has a better chance of winning. Look at Shermaine¨Cher moves are getting slower. She doesn¡¯t know what to do next.] [There¡¯s no way Wendy will lose. Shermaine¡¯s nothing.] Trevor responded: [She¡¯s nothing? Then you are a joke. You don¡¯t know a thing about chess, so zip it. It¡¯ll just make you look ignorant.] 12 Nurse walking 50 Chapter 50 Trevor,st year¡¯s World Chess Champion, clearly showed his support for Shermaine. The viewers couldn¡¯t help but wonder whether that meant Shermaine would win. Wendelyn¡¯s fans fell silent. They didn¡¯t want to believe it, but they had to face the fact that Shermaine might actually win. Trevor was the World Chess Champion, and his words were highly credible. In World Chess, Trevor had only a few opponents who could give him a run for his money. He had already defeated all of them, earning a reputation as unbeatable. With no worthy opponents left, he had started taking on challenges against theputer with difficulty levels ranging from 1 to 99. He had breezed through levels 1 to 90 with ease. He was nning to continue streaming his matches against theputer when his fans mentioned an intense live game involving a master yer. The moment he heard the word ¡°master,¡± he perked up. Without hesitation, he ended his stream and switched over to Wendelyn¡¯s. As soon as he entered the stream, his attention was drawn to the board. There was indeed a master at y¨Cher approach was bold and unconventional, yet meticulous and wless. Hispetitive spirit red up, and he immediately wanted to challenge the yer. [This is hrious. I¡¯ve always hated Wendelyn¡¯s die¨Chard fans. Guess they¡¯re about to get pped in the face.] [They really should have been more restrained.] [All that showing off¨Cwhere does that leave the real experts?] [Damn, mind your own business. Even if Wendy loses, to us, she¡¯s still a hero. So what if Shermaine¡¯s good at chess? She¡¯s got no morals.] [Shermaine must have been bullying Wendy since she came back to the Jean family. And that old woman¨Cwhy¡¯s she so biased toward Shermaine and yelling at Wendy? Both are her granddaughters.] [Exactly! It¡¯s so unfair. My heart breaks for Wendy.] At this point, Roy, who had been eating while watching the live stream, suddenly lost his appetite. He didn¡¯t know the first thing about chess and was terrible at strategy games, though he had dominated in e¨Csports, winning world championships in games like Heroic Epic and PUBG. He was pretty frustrated when Trevor, a world champion, predicted Wendelyn¡¯s loss. However, he couldn¡¯t help but agree with Wendelyn¡¯s fans, wha criticized Shermaine forcking morals, even though her chess skills were undeniably impressive. Joshua seemed to sense what Roy was thinking, but he knew someone who was lost in their own thoughts couldn¡¯t be swayed by words alone. Sooner orter, Roy would realize the truth and see what kind of woman Wendelyn really was. Joshua was also watching the live stream on hisputer. Thest time Shermaine yed chess against Owen, her m hesitant, but today, her performance was on an entirely different level¨Csharp, unpredictable, and downright brilliant. had been awkward and Joshua knew Shermaine had only recently started learning chess. Yet, she had already be a force to be reckoned with, dominating the board. Her ability to learn was clearly extraordinary. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Shermaine could learn as quickly and well in oth to have some proficiency. areas as she did in chess, as well as medicine, where she had imed The cigarette burned out quickly. Joshua extinguished the cigarette in the ashtray and went back to his work. Half an hourter, Shermaine ced a ck stone on the board and then leisurely took a sip of coffee. ¡°Wendelyn, you lost.¡± Wendelyn¡¯s hand trembled, and her whole body went limp. She couldn¡¯t believe she had lost. The cheating device Wendelyn used was the most advanced technology from abroad, custom designed by a tech genius just for her. Yer even a cutting¨Cedge tech was no match for Shermaine. Wendelyn couldn¡¯t ept it. Behind her sses, her eyes were bloodshot, an indication that she was filled with frustration. Janice stood up, beaming with pride. ¡°What a brilliant game! Sheary, I am really impressed. You¡¯re fantastic!¡± She thought, ¡®Sheary is the real blood of our family. Could she possibly be worse than that adopted girl, Wendelyn? No way. Wendelyn can¡¯t even be a simple request. Don¡¯t tell me you can¡¯t even do that?¡± Wendelyn couldn¡¯t even force a smile, her fists clenched tight. ¡°Of course I can do it. I lost, so I¡¯ll do it as you wish.¡± But deep down, she was worried that people would ridicule her when they s her bare face, as without makeup, she looked pretty ordinary. Ruth coaxed, ¡°Sheary, let¡¯s just forget about this, okay? Or could you ask for something else? Making her remove her makeup in front of everyone¨Cit¡¯s really inappropriate.¡± Shermaine gave a small smile and didn¡¯t respond. She knew Janice would help her. Janice¡¯s eyes darkened as she scolded, ¡°Inappropriate? Why didn¡¯t you think it was inappropriate when you abandoned Shermaine in the hospital to face Ronnie and his mother alone? If it weren¡¯t for Joshua stepping in to clear her name, Shermaine would¡¯ve ended up getting arrested!¡± ¡°And now, it¡¯s just a simple bet between the kids, and you want to get involved? It¡¯s just makeup removal¨Ca small t1 embarrassed?¡± -and you¡¯re worried about being Ruth, caught off guard by Janice bringing up the past, felt awkward and said nothing, though inwardly, she was cursing Janice harshly. This was a live stream, and Janice was practically broadcasting to the world just how poorly Ruth treated her own daughter. Janice then called for the maid. ¡°Go upstairs and bring the makeup remover.¡± Wendelyn¡¯s die¨Chard fans started attacking Janice again in thements. [Ugh, Mrs. Jean is just trying to protect Wendy. This old woman is being so unreasonable.] [How can this old woman be so biased?] [I¡¯m so mad. I wish I could crawl through the screen to tear that old woman a new one.] [Old woman, I suggest you treat Wendy better, or else, the Wendy fan club won¡¯t go easy on you.] But Shermaine wasn¡¯t about to let it go. She said casually, ¡°To the viewers in the live stream, I saw you all criticizing my grandma while I was ying chess earlier. ¡°You can insult me all you want, but don¡¯t say a word about my grandma. Even Wendelyn doesn¡¯t have the right to insult her. What makes you think you do?¡± [Shermaine is so badass, and I like that about her. I might just be a fan.] [I¡¯m already a fan! She¡¯s like a domineering CEO¨Cso cool and confident. Love it!] Soon, the maid brought over the makeup removal tools. Wendelyn took them and reluctantly echoed Shermaine¡¯s words. She said, ¡°My grandma has always been kind to me, so please stop saying bad things about her, okay? It¡¯s not nice.¡± She had to say that, or else people would think she allowed her fans to insult her own grandmother without doing anything, which could damage her reputation if it got out. She added, ¡°I lost to my sister this time, but I¡¯ll keep improving. I¡¯ll work harder.¡± Wendelyn removed her makeup and turned off the beauty filter. In an instant, her pretty face became average¨Clooking. Her skin was fine, but without makeup, her once stunning features seemed to lose their edge. Facing the camera, Wendelyn forced a strained smile. ¡°This is what I really look like. I¡¯m truly grateful to all the fans who¡¯ve supported me and kept encouraging me. Thank you.¡± Her fans felt a pang of disappointment¨Cwithout makeup, their idol seemed ordinary. But they¡¯d still support her. Die¨Chard fans didn¡¯t just leave easily. Non¨Cfans didn¡¯t hold back, saying things that Wendelyn would surely hate to hear. [She was the prettiest girl at Basterel University? Without makeup, she looks nothing special. If it weren¡¯t for her talent, she¡¯d probably just be another face in the crowd.] [If you only follow her for her looks, maybe it¡¯s time to unfollow.] [LMAO. She¡¯s not ugly, but not exactly pretty either. I just can¡¯t vibe with this look. It feels kind of in.] At this rate, it wouldn¡¯t be long before everyone knew Wendelyn¡¯s bare face was just average. As Wendelyn read thesements, her hatred for Shermaine grew even stronger. She had nned to use the cheating device to get an edge, crush Shermaine, and maybe even ruin her engagement with Joshua, But instead, she ended up humiliated and empty¨Chanded. Trevor, who had been silent until now, typed a message: [Hello, Shermaine. I¡¯m Trevor Sanders, a Grandmaster¨Clevel professional chess yer. It sounds like you¡¯ve been keeping an eye on thements. How about a match with me?] [You¡¯re really impressive. I¡¯d love to have a proper showdown with you tonight.] Just then, Shermaine¡¯s phone rang. It was a call from Joshua. ¡°Your gift has arrived. Go out and sign for it,¡± he said. AD Comment Nurse walking 51 Chapter 51 Shermaine hadn¡¯t expected Joshua to actually prepare a gift for her and even had it sent to the Jean residence. She felt she should send him a gift in return. Then she agreed, a small smile tugging at her lips. Joshua, ever tactful, said, ¡°You go ahead and handle your business.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Shermaine replied. The call had barelysted thirty seconds. Soon after, Shermaine saw that Trevor had tagged her in Wendelyn¡¯s live stream chat. Trevor had posted more than once because his message kept getting pushed up by the flood ofments. So, he simply copied and pasted it, refreshing every few seconds. Even his fans who had followed him into the stream copied and pasted his message, sending it repeatedly to make sure it was seen. As a result, the chat was filled with Trevor¡¯s challenge to Shermaine. The viewers were buzzing with excitement and eager to watch the two of thempete. They were curious about how impressive Shermaine, who had been recognized by Trevor, really was. This was supposed to be Wendelyn¡¯s live stream, her stage, but the spotlight had shifted. Wendelyn considered closing the stream, but the situation wouldn¡¯t allow it. She clenched her fists so hard that her nails dug into her palms. The pain was sharp, but she didn¡¯t care. She was still seething over the fact that she¡¯d lost to Shermaine in front of millions of viewers. She couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®I used the high¨Ctech tool, but Shermaine still managed to beat me. How did she do it? ¡®Is she a genius? No, that¡¯s impossible. There¡¯s no way Shermaine could be a genius.¡¯ Shermaine saw the messages, just like everyone hoped, and responded: [Hello, Trevor. I ept your challenge.] She paused for a moment before adding, [But give me a second, I need to step out to pick up a gift.] Trevor replied instantly: [I¡¯m waiting for you in my live stream.] Shermaine replied: [Alright.] With that, she stood up and walked out. Soon after, Trevor left Wendelyn¡¯s live stream and reopened his own, patiently waiting for Shermaine to join. Once he left, his fans followed, and some viewers who were just there to watch the drama also left. In just three minutes, the viewership dropped from nearly ten million to seven million. But when Shermaine left, she identally let part of her side profile show in the camera. Though it was only for a few seconds, the viewers who were glued to their screens couldn¡¯t help but notice. [Holy crap, what did I just see? Is that Shermaine? Her features are so pretty. She looks amazing.] ¡°Wait, Wendelyn turned off the filters, right? And Shermaine still looks that good? She must be a goddess in real life!¡± [If I¡¯m not mistaken, Wendelyn turned off her beauty filter, but Shermaine still looked stunning, She must be incredibly gorgeous in person! [She¡¯s beautiful and great at chess. I¡¯m in love!] [I want to see her full face.] [Hey, streamer, can you show us your sister¡¯s full faceter?] Seeing the flood ofpliments about Shermaine¡¯s looks, Wendelyn felt an intense urge to end the stream. But with seven million viewers still hanging around, it was the perfect chance to gain followers. Chapter 51 So she ignored those about giving me a follow? ¡°I usually stream every other day. Let me know what you want to see next time I can do anything.¡± But saying that didn¡¯t make much of a difference. The viewers were too busy obsessing over Shermaine, withment afterment begging for another glimpse of her face. Wendelyn¡¯s expression became more tense, and she bit her lip. To her displeasure. fans, she was quietly enduring the grievances, and they began to voice their [Are you serious? This is Wendelyn¡¯s live stream. Why do you guys keep mentioning Shermaine?] [If you want to see her full face, just check out the post on the Basterel University forum. It¡¯s got her photos. But trust me, after seeing them, you will no longer feel this way about her.] [Wendy is so unfairly treated tonight! She lost the game, and now you¡¯re mocking her. Shermaine is awful¨Cshe¡¯s just trying to embarrass Wendy on purpose.] [What kind of sister does that? My heart breaks for Wendy.] [Hold on, does this mean you think Wendelyn looks bad without makeup?] [This is so funny. Laughing my head off.] [Here¡¯s the link to the Basterel University forum. Just click and check it out. I¡¯m just your hardworking gossip courier. No need to thank me¨Clet¡¯s all enjoy the drama!] Once the link was shared, the viewers clicked right away, and their opinions of Shermaine changed right away. [Just finished reading it. Didn¡¯t expect Shermaine to be like this.] [Losing respect for her now.] [Yeah, kind of disappointing.] [I was ready to be a fan, but now I¡¯m turning on her. How could she treat someone like that?] But some people still stood by Shermaine. [Come on, it¡¯s just a few photos. That doesn¡¯t prove anything. Maybe there¡¯s bee [Looks are everything! Even if she¡¯s a bad person, I¡¯ll still love her.] [Girls, bring out that energy we all have for hot viins!] some misunderstanding.] After a while, Wendelyn finally spoke up. ¡°Mods, please delete that link. Guys, let¡¯s not s spread baseless rumors about my sister in the live stream. It¡¯s not right. ¡°I was the one who suggested the bet. Since I lost, I had to follow through with my sister¡¯s request. It¡¯s not a big deal. Besides, turning off the beauty filter and going without makeup isn¡¯t that bad. My sister was quite forgiving with me.¡± Beside her, Janice¡¯s face was dark with anger. She didn¡¯t know what kind of nasty things the viewers were saying about Shermaine online, as she didn¡¯t use the inte. But listening to Wendelyn¡¯s seemingly considerate words, she knew Wendelyn was positioning herself as the victim, making it seem like Shermaine had bullied her. Shermaine had already stepped outside, where Bradley stood tall and straight, waiting respectfully for her. Seeing Shermaine, Bradley greeted her politely. ¡°I¡¯m here to deliver the gift, ma¡¯am.¡± Shermaine was very ufortable with the title. She¡¯d asked the housekeeper to stop calling her that, but the housekeeper still did. And now Bradley was calling her the same way. Nearby, a car was parked, its body hidden under a ck cloth. Shermaine said, ¡°Uncover it.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± replied Bradley. He immediately pulled off the cloth, revealing the car beneath, Without hesitation, Bradley pulled off the cloth, revealing the beneath. The car¡¯s design immediately caught Shermaine¡¯s eye. Even though she didn¡¯t know much about car brands, she could tell this one was luxurious. Under the night sky, its body sparkled like a field of stars¨Cgrand and magnificent. Bradley exined, ¡°Ma¡¯am, this is the Phantom Star Signature, a gift from Mr. York. There are only ten in the world. I hope you like it.¡± Shermaine nodded and replied, ¡°I do.¡± But deep down, she couldn¡¯t help feeling the gift was a bit too extravagant. A car limited to just ten units worldwide must be astronomically expensive. She pulled out her phone and called Joshua back. The phone rang once before Joshua answered. Shermaine spoke, ¡°I¡¯ve received the gift, but don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a little too expensive?¡± She couldn¡¯t help but think maybe that was just how Joshua was -always sovish and generous with his gifts. Joshua put down the document he was reading and replied, ¡°Not at all. It suits you perfectly.¡± Shermaine¡¯s ears warmed slightly, and a faint smile tugged at her lips. She realized that Joshua had a natural knack for being charming. When he was silent, he seemed cold and distant, but when he spoke, his words were always pleasing. Shermaine teased, ¡°Do you spoil everyone like this?¡± Joshua replied without hesitation, ¡°Not everyone. Just a few. And you¡¯re one of them.¡± He genuinely admired Shermaine¡¯s personality. Despite her young age, it was clear she possessed remarkable wisdom. She was the only woman he admired. Shermaine thought for a moment before asking, ¡°Is it just because I¡¯m your recognized fianc¨¦e?¡± ¡®Admiration is a form of recognition, right?¡® thought Joshua. Then he answered, ¡°Yes.¡± Shermaine shrugged and responded, ¡°I¡¯ll ept the gift, and I¡¯ll return the favor.¡± But it had to wait¨Cshe was a bit broke at the moment. Joshua didn¡¯t refuse. He simply answered with a calm ¡°Okay,¡± as if it didn¡¯t matter much to him. Shermaine was a bit pleased about receiving the gift, but also slightly unhappy. She¡¯d always been clear¨Cheaded. Perhaps because of her upbringing, she preferred it when people were kind to her simply because of who she was, not because of any other identity. Joshua had unknowingly hit a nerve, but it was unavoidable. If she weren¡¯t a part of the Jean family and his fianc¨¦e, they never would¡¯ve crossed paths in the first ce. Aftering to terms with it, Shermaine stopped overthinking. She had epted Trevor¡¯s challenge and couldn¡¯t keep him waiting too long. ¡°I¡¯ve got a chess game waiting. Catch youter.¡± 12:47 Mon, 2 Jun Joshua raised an eyebrow and said righteously, ¡°Shermaine, don¡¯t you know making your opponent wait is a strategy, too?¡± Nurse walking 52 Chapter 52 Shermaine pondered for a moment and concluded that it made sense. But she was getting a little impatient. She couldn¡¯t wait to see how the challenge with the world champion would y out. All in all, she was looking forward to having a game with Trevor. Joshua¡¯s voice was low and smooth as he said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you take the car for a spin first?¡± Shermaine thought it would be impolite and ungrateful to turn him down. After all, this wasn¡¯t just any gift¨Cit had cost a fortune. Given the choice between a game of chess and trying out the car, she didn¡¯t hesitate long before decisively choosing thetter.. ¡®Joshua¡¯s my fianc¨¦. It¡¯s natural to favor him,¡® she told herself. Shermaine took the car keys from Bradley, slid into the driver¡¯s seat, and set her phone aside without ending the call. Then, she inserted the car key, started the engine, and the car¡¯s Al system activated. ¡°Ms. Shue, you¡¯re finally here. I¡¯m Mimi, your adorable little buddy! ¡°Good evening. The moon looks stunning tonight. Just tell me where you want to go, and I¡¯ll find the smoothest, most convenient route for you.¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t respond and instead started exploring the system. For the current level of technology, this Al was pretty impressive. Compared to the robotic vacuum cleaner at Joshua¡¯s house, the system was far more responsive and advanced. She soon noticed the car had two modes¨Cone was the shy, attention¨Cgrabbing design that would turn heads wherever it went. The other was a more understated, regr mode that blended in like any other sports car. Thebination of the two was a dream for sports car enthusiasts, but even people who weren¡¯t into sports cars would probably appreciate it. At that moment, Joshua spoke again, ¡°Do you like it?¡± ¡°I do,¡± she replied simply. ¡°That¡¯s all I needed to hear.¡± Shermaine smiled faintly. Though the conversation wasn¡¯t particrly meaningful, she liked listening to Joshua¡¯s voice. Meanwhile, Trevor wasn¡¯t bothered by the dy. Chess yers were, practically synonymous with patience, and he was no exception. To kill time, he started a chess match against theputer. In contrast, the viewers were restless and impatient. [When is Shermaineing? I can¡¯t wait to see the showdown between these two big names!] [You¡¯re not the only one!] [Aww, Trevor¡¯s so patient. Not a hint of rush. I¡¯m impressed.] Trevor¡¯s challenge to an amateur chess master had sent shockwaves through the chessmunity. Many famous yers had quietly entered the live stream under pseudonyms, though none of them had joined the conversation. The engine roared to life. M Hearing the sound, Clyde, curious, stepped out of the house just in time to see the stunning sports car make a sharp turn and disappear from view. ¡®That car¡¯s insanely cool!¡® he thought, envious. ¡®Mr. York really is generous. The car screamed luxury After driving around for just five minutes, Shermaine headed back, finding the experience exhrating. If Trevor weren¡¯t waiting for her, she would have driven around a bit longer before returning Joshua had already ended his call with Shermaine. Roy, who hadn¡¯t left yet, red at him with frustration written all over his face. 1/4 Chapter 52 Joshua has no taste. He really doesn¡¯t. He¡¯s been smart his whole life, but this time, he made a huge mistake. That amazing sports car now belo that tasteless woman. What a shame, Roy thought. Joshua lifted his eyes and caught sight of Roy¡¯s gaze. Instantly annoyed, he barked, his eyes cold, ¡°If you¡¯re done eating, get back to work Roy was speechless. When Shermaine returned, Bradley had already left. She parked the car in the garage and went inside. Wendelyn was still live streaming, sharing skincare tips. She even pulled Ruth into the frame, and the two were chatting happily. Janice, sitting nearby with a stern look, softened when she saw Shermaine. She walked over and asked, ¡°Sheary, did Joshua give you a car as a gh Shermaine nodded. ¡°Yeah, Grandma. The car¡¯s amazing.¡± ¡®Amazing, huh? Then it must be more than amazing. Maybe even more impressive than the jewelry I gave Sheary, Janice thought. Janice was more than pleased with Joshua as a future grandson¨Cinw. Sure, he was eleven years older than Shermaine, but that didn¡¯t matter¨Cnot when he was so caring and devoted. At thest family dinner, he¡¯d been gentle, thoughtful, and protective toward Shermaine. If anyone tried to mess with her, he¡¯d be the first to step in. That was more than enough. Plus, he was just as good¨Clooking as Shermaine. The two of them were a perfect visual match¨Cand their kids would be gorgeous. The thought of a great¨Cgrandchild made Janice¡¯s heart flutter. She dreamed of having an adorable great¨Cgrandchild, though she wasn¡¯t sure if she¡¯d live long enough to. Suddenly, Clyde, who had been watching Shermaine coldly, spoke up. ¡°Shermaine, the car Mr. York gave you is the Phantom worth 150 million dors, right?¡± Shermaine wasn¡¯t sure if it was worth 150 million dors, but it was indeed a Phantom. She nced at him. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± Clyde, shameless as ever, grinned. ¡°Let me take it for a spin!¡± He had just gotten his driver¡¯s license this year and had been dying to try out one of those super expensive, high¨Cperformance cars. Given his entitled attitude and the fact that Shermaine still held a grudge against him¨Cespecially since he didn¡¯t like her¨Cshe wasn¡¯t about to be forgiving with him and grant his wish. She tly refused. ¡°No.¡± Clyde¡¯s smile vanished instantly. ¡°Fine, keep your precious car then. See if I care.¡± Shermaine couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with him. Her mind was preupied with her uing chess match with Trevor, ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m heading upstairs,¡± she said. ¡°Go ahead,¡± Janice replied. Once Shermaine was out of sight, Janice¡¯s smile disappeared. Her sharp gaze suddenly fixed on Clyde. ¡°You think you can handle that expensive car? If you crash it, do you even have the money to pay for it?¡± ¡°Grandma, even though I just got my license, I¡¯ve been driving since I was sixteen,¡± argued Clyde. ¡°I know about your mess¨Cups, even though I was in the suburbs,¡± Janice scoffed. She had long been dissatisfied with Clyde. She¡¯d told him more than once that, even though Wendelyn shared the Jean surname, she was never truly part of the Jean family¡ªand that no one could rece Shermaine. But Clyde refused to listen. Instead of behaving like someone from a prominent family, he spent his time trying to please Wendelyn, which would do him no good. He needed to learn some proper manners and remember that Shermaine was the true family. Chapter 52 Janice continued her scolding. ¡°And what¡¯s with the tone you¡¯re using when talking to your cousin? Did your parents raise you to set the the Clyde didn¡¯t dare talk back. Wendelyn was still live¨Cstreaming, and if they started arguing, it would surely affect her. Just then, Wendelyn approached them. ¡°Grandma, please don¡¯t be too hard on Clyde. He¡¯s loved cars since he was a kid. The car Shermaine kie z cool¨Cit¡¯s totally normal for him to be tempted.¡± 5:|: But Janice wasn¡¯t having it. She snapped, ¡°And who gave you the right to butt in while I¡¯m disciplining my grandson?¡± H¨¦r voice wasn¡¯t loud, but all the viewers in the live stream heard it. Wendelyn¡¯s expression was pitiful as she replied, ¡°Grandma, the live stream is still up.¡± She lowered her head, her eyes shing with malice, and continued, ¡°Besides, it¡¯s just a car¨Ca mere worldly possession. Surely family matters more, right?¡± There was no denying she was scheming. Joshua had actually Shermaine such an extravagant gift¨Ca car worth 150 million dors. It was enough to make anyone green with envy. Janice shot back without hesitation, ¡°Then why don¡¯t you donate all the bags and jewelry your mother gave you? They¡¯re just worldly possessions, and they don¡¯t matter to you anyway.¡± Then she couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®So what if she¡¯s still live¨Cstreaming? w should I care what others think of her? ¡®They can call me biased all they want¨CI don¡¯t care. I¡¯ve treated her this way for a reason. If she hadn¡¯t been so calcting and hadn¡¯t tried to rece Shermaine, I wouldn¡¯t have been so harsh on her.¡® ¡°Grandma, why are you so harsh on Wendy? Can¡¯t you treat her with the same kindness as others?¡± Clyde barked. ¡°You¡¯re stupid, but I¡¯m not.¡± Janice snorted, brushed past them, and went back to her room. At this point, Ruth noticed that the live stream chat was flooded withments standing up for Wendelyn. [Ugh, I hate that old woman. How could she yell at Wendy again?] [Is Wendy always treated harshly at home?] [I can¡¯t believe it. This is too much. I feel so bad for Wendy.] Now that Janice was gone, Ruth took the chance to stir things up. She said, ¡°My mother¨Cinw has always treated Wendy this way, even when she was little. I don¡¯t know what she has against Wendy. ¡°Wendy is loving and obedient. Honestly, it¡¯s all my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have¡­ Ah, forget it. This is just family business. Sorry you all had to hear this. Just let it go, okay?¡± Wendelyn got back on camera and forced a smile even though she looked sad. ¡°Sorry you had to see that.¡± Shermaine went back to the room she had stayed in earlier. She immediately opened herptop, visited the World Ch and then opened YouTube to enter Trevor¡¯s live¨Cstream. The message ¡°SpringSlumber entered the live stream¡± flew by in the chat. To get Trevor¡¯s attention, Shermaine decided to quiet the busy chat. Suddenly, the scrollingments came to a stop. The viewers were puzzled, and then they saw SpringSlumber¡¯s second message: [I¡¯m Shermaine. Invite me.] ebsite, created an ount, Chapter 53 Nurse walking 53 Chapter 53 The viewers¡®ments weren¡¯t showing up, and the screen showed only one message it was from SpringSlumber. The viewers read the message and realized the moment they¡¯d been waiting for had arrived: Shermaine was in the live stream for the match Worried that he¡¯d miss any updates from Shermaine, Trevor had been closely watching thement section. But he didn¡¯t expect her to make unha special and attention¨Cgrabbing entrance. Shermaine sent another message: [I am Shermaine. Invite me.] There were no otherments beneath it. No one else could push herment up. No one knew how she managed to pull this off. Trevor thought for a moment but didn¡¯t dwell on it. He quickly exited his chess game against theputer and replied, (What¡¯s your chess ID?) Shermaine answered, (Same as above.] Her chess ID was also ¡°SpringSlumber,¡± Trevor quickly added Shermaine as a friend and invited her to the game. He clicked ¡°Start¡± right away. The countdown began: three, two, one. Right after, thements in the live stream started flooding in. Shermaine had lifted the restriction. [Am Igging?] [Why aren¡¯t myments going through?] [I kept hitting thement button, but nothing showed up. I thought YouTube had crashed, butments worked fine in other streams. I just couldn¡¯t sendments in this one.] [FYI, Shermaine¡¯sment went through just fine. So the only conclusion is¨Cnone of us, except her, could postments here just now.] They couldn¡¯t help but wonder how Shermaine pulled that off and if she was some kind of tech genius, but for now, no one had any answers. As soon as the match began, Trevor¡¯s live stream viewership skyrocketed, instantly surpassing ten million and continuing to climb. As a world champion, he enjoyed immense poprity. Plus, he was now challenging an amateur. Naturally, everyone had been eagerly looking forward to the showdown. Meanwhile, Clyde was bored watching Wendelyn¡¯s stream, which was all about skincare tips. He was practically dozing off and thought that scrolling through his phone back home would have been far more entertaining. Tonight, he was only here to spread a bit of gossip. He couldn¡¯t wait to see Shermaine put in her ce¨Cand lose that smug attitude¨Conce the school district staff showed up at school tomorrow. Meanwhile, because of the rare, highly anticipated chess match between Trevor and Shermaine, Wendelyn¡¯s stream¡¯s viewership dropped by two million. She was deeply upset and had no desire to continue. With a forced smile, she announced she was ending the stream and shut it down jmmediately. Once the stream ended, her face darkened. The frustration she¡¯d been holding in all day finally burst. Without thinking, she the table, sending ck and white pieces scattering everywhere. ed the chessboard off Ruth was taken aback, but she soon realized that Wendelyn¡¯s outburst made perfect sense. First, Wendelyn, who had underestimated Shermaine¡¯s chess skills and expected an easy victory, was defeated in front of everyone. Then, Trevor, the world champion, offered to challenge Shermaine after witnessing her impressive performance, which had brought much more attention to her. It wasn¡¯t just Wendelyn who couldn¡¯t ept it¨CRuth herself was still reeling. She thought, ¡®Shermaine¡¯s even better at chess than Wendelyn? Does that mean she¡¯s as good as a professional chess yer?! She had always dismissed Shermaine as just another pretty face and a useless nobody, so she couldn¡¯t ept the reality that Shermaine was far from Chapter 53 useless. She thenforted herself by thinking, ¡®Sure, she¡¯s good at chess, but she only got straight A¡¯s because she cheated. Turning to Wendelyn, Ruth tried tofort her. ¡°Sure, Shermaine¡¯s having her moment now, but it won¡¯tst long. The more famous she gets, the war the bacsh will be when people find out about her cheating.¡± That was the price of fame. Wendelyn knew that, too. After being humiliated by Shermaine in front of so many people today, there was no way she¡¯d let Sharmaine continue basking in the spotlight. Wendelyn was also furious with Janice, who had treated her unfairly today. She thought, ¡®Ever since this old wornan came back, she¡¯s been making things difficult for me. I used to be the spoiled princess of this family, but she and Shermaine are ruining my perfect life. Why can¡¯t they just disappear Once a wicked thought takes root, it often grows more intense and can eventually affect many aspects of life. Shermaine couldn¡¯t care less about what Wendelyn was thinking. She was confident that Wendelyn wouldn¡¯t gain the upper hand, no matter what she was plotting. At that moment, she was engrossed in the chess game. ying chess against the world champion was undeniably stressful, but the greater the pressure, the more excited she became. The game was getting more intense and seemed to have reached a critical deadlock. The yer who made the first wrong move was likely to lose. Trevor, who rarely encountered opponents of this caliber, was feeling the heat. ¡®She¡¯s no joke,¡¯ he thought. [Whoa! Trevor¡¯s been thinking for a whole minute! This is rare and unreal!] [Trevor¡¯s finally met a worthy opponent. It looks like he¡¯s at a disadvantage.] Just as Trevor was deep in thought, his phone rang, disrupting his focus. He looked at the screen¨Chis teacher was calling, so he had no choice but to answer. He slowly pressed the answer button and asked, ¡°Mr. Williams, what¡¯s up?¡± Robert¡¯s booming voice came through. ¡°I¡¯m watching your stream. Could you ask Shermaine if she¡¯s interested in bing a professional chess yer?¡± Trevor thought in shock, ¡®Is he serious? He¡¯s already trained world champion, and that¡¯s not enough for him?¡® At the same time, Shermaine¡¯s phone buzzed with a notification. Three million dors had just been deposited into her ount. AD Nurse walking 54 Chapter 54 Shermaine smiled faintly as she nced at the notification that she had received three million dors in her ount. She realized that the buyers of her data must have been working nonstop on offline experiments, and the results might be in by now. Feeling a headacheing on, Trevor Robert replied, ¡°I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t find her?¡± ¡°Can her after the game¡¯s over?¡± chance to ask her after the game¡¯s over. Once she leaves the live stream, where on earth am I supposed to Trevor didn¡¯t respond. Though the viewers couldn¡¯t see his face, they could easily imagine his exasperated and helpless expression just from the tone of his voice. [Oh my god, this is killing me. Mr. Williams is definitely trying to get Trevor to recruit Shermaine!] [Shermaine is incredibly impressive; it¡¯s no surprise Mr. Williams wants her as his student.] [Let¡¯s help Mr. Williams out¨CShermaine, Sho do you want to be Mr. Williams¡¯s student?] Thement section was flooded with people asking Shermaine if she wanted to be Robert¡¯s student. Left with no choice, Trevor braced himself and sent a message: [Shermaine, would you be interested in joining the Republic of Wallington Chess Association?] Shermaine saw the message, thought for a moment, and typed her reply in the chat: [Not really. I¡¯m super busy and don¡¯t have the time.] Robert saw her response and couldn¡¯t help but feel deeply disappointed. The viewers all expressed their regret. Trevor wasn¡¯t too disappointed, though. He knew that while skilled amateurs enjoyed ying chess, they may not necessarily want to be professional yers. It wasn¡¯t ack of passion¨Cthey might just have other goals. Without Robert¡¯s distraction, Trevor could finally focus on the game again. He had thought for a minute just now and hade up with a strategy. Without further consideration, he clicked his mouse, cing the white piece where he wanted. But no matter how he analyzed it, the game seemed to be heading straight for a draw. Meanwhile, at the Basterel University Engineering Lab, cheers erupted throughout the room as the results came in. The issue that had been guing them for the past six months was finally resolved. Sheldon was beaming with satisfaction as he thought, ¡®The three million dors were well spent. It¡¯s all thanks to the investor decisively pouring the money into getting an external tech expert¡¯s help, and now, the credit still belongs to ourb.¡® showed foresight by Sipping his chamomile tea, Sheldon said, ¡°Jaden, give Mr. York a callter and let him know our project is a sess. Also, do you have the contact info for that tech expert you found? What country are they/from?¡± Calling Joshua was no problem, but Jaden didn¡¯t have the tech expert¡¯s contact information. Scratching his head, he admitted, ¡°I don¡¯t, Professor. The expert messaged me directly on the tech forum.¡± He then proudly added, ¡°The expert is also from Wallington.¡± From Wallington? That¡¯s great! Our country is truly full of talent, Sheldon thought. He said, ¡°Then hurry up and ask for their contact info. Just think about it¨Cin just ten days, they solved what took us six months. They must be very skilled at this. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯ve already taught you everything I know. If we could get this expert to give a lecture here at Basterel University, you would surely learn a lot.¡± Sheldon couldn¡¯t help but wish he had the means to do more to help. Jaden knew Sheldon was speaking the truth. Initially, he thought the expert wouldn¡¯t get anywhere in just ten days, but they¡¯d solved the problem. proving to be a true legend in the field. This taught Jaden a lesson: never underestimate someone just because their points were low, or one might end up being caught off guard and embarrassed. Jaden logged into the International Tech Forum, and when he checked his friend list, he found the expert¡¯s avatar was grayed out. The , instantly bing a tinum¨Clevel expert.] Less than a minuteter, a post appeared: [Boa Hankspleted the task. It was a real p in the face for Dolcie Chapman¡¯s fans. Today is truly satisfying!] As soon as the post went up, a flood of replies came pouring in. [It¡¯s hrious. Remember how they mocked Boa Hanks before? So dumb. What, only big shots can take on SSS¨Clevel tasks? Boa hasn¡¯t done anything to you, so why look down on them?] [I was mad when that post came out. Low points don¡¯t mean low skill. Tearing one person down to hype another is just nasty.] [I¡¯ve got a new idol now¨Canother amazing expert. Their instant sess is so impressive and exciting!] [LMAO. You¡¯ve got it wrong. Boa Hanks¡¯s always been god¨Ctier. She just doesn¡¯t unt it¨Cshe¡¯s low¨Ckey.] Dolcie¡¯s fans chimed in: [Give Dolcie a month, and she¡¯ll finish that task, too.] [Boa Hanks is impressive, but I¡¯ll always cheer for Dolcie. I mean, she¡¯s a girl¨Cthat alone is inspiring.] [We were wrong to underestimate Boya Hanks. We¡¯re sorry.] [Yeah, that¡¯s on us. Leave our beloved Dolcie out of this¨Cdon¡¯t make her a target for hate.] Those people went crazy over Dolcie because there were few women on the tech forum, where most users were men, and Dolcie was not only talented but also stunning. In a far¨Coffnd, when Dolcie received the notification from the tech forum, she narrowed her beautiful eyes, seemingly surprised that someone had finished the task before she could. Just as Trevor had predicted, the game ended in a draw. There was no point in continuing¨Cthey had reached a deadlock known as a ¡°triple ko,¡± where the game could go on endlessly. As expected, the system disyed a prompt: It was a draw. The viewers couldn¡¯t help but be impressed by how remarkable Shermaine was¨Cshe had managed to draw against the world champion. Trevor wanted to y again, but Shermaine declined. She was a bit unsatisfied herself, but she noticed that it was time to give her ssmates a lecture on live stream. So she replied: [Let¡¯s y again next 2/3 time. I¡¯ve got other things to take care of.] She was determined to win next time. Trevor continued: [How about adding me on WhatsApp?] Shermaine answered: [I¡¯ll add youter.] She then logged off from the World Chess website and left the live stream. Before Trevor could ask how she¡¯d manage it without knowing his phone number, a notification pinged on his phone. Someone had added him on WhatsApp. The profile picture was nk, and the name was SpringSlumber. Trevor stared at the screen, speechless. ¡°If Shermaine ever decided to rob a bank, she¡¯d probably pull it off effortlessly,¡± he thought, half¨Cjoking. Nurse walking 55 Chapter 55 Shermaine transferred another three million dors to Jay¡¯s ount. Of the remaining 1.5 million dors, she decided to invest 750 thousand dors in Lity¡¯s cosmeticspany and keep the other 750 thousand dors. After all, she needed to prepare a gift for Joshua in return, and it had to be something that matched the value of the car he gave her. Shermaine wasn¡¯t one to take advantage of others. Even though she and Joshua were meant to marry each other, that car was far too extravagant. No matter how close they were, she preferred to keep things bnced and fair. Before her lecture, Shermaine logged into the International Tech Forum, nning to take on another SSS¨Clevel task. She was surprised to find her inbox flooded with messages. ¡®What¡¯s going on now?¡® she wondered. She first checked the system notifications. Completing the 555¨Clevel task had instantly boosted her points to the tinum level. The system had broadcast her achievement across the forum, which exined the sudden influx of messages from strangers. Ignoring those messages, she spotted a message from Jaden on her friend list. She clicked on it right away, read it, and quickly replied: [I¡¯ve received the money.] Jaden instantly responded: [You¡¯re finally online!] Shermaine felt a little bit ufortable with his over¨Cthe¨Ctop enthusiasm and replied: [Yeah.] [Um, could you give me your number?] Jaden asked, his fingers flying across the keyboard. Shermaine shared her number without hesitation. Jaden immediately took a screenshot and sent another message: [Are you in the country? Our professor really wants to meet you and asked if you have time to visit Basterel University.] Shermaine did have time, but for now, she wasn¡¯t particrly inclined to visit Basterel University, where she had an infamous reputation. She wondered if the students would keep spreading dirt on her after tonight and decided to check the forumter. [Not at the moment,] Shermaine replied. Jaden was a bit disappointed. [Well, when you do have time, please make sure to visit us at Basterel University. And don¡¯t forget to contact me when you Shermaine smiled, thinking, ¡®I will go eventually¨Cas a freshman. Then she responded: [Alright.] Even though Shermaine already held several degrees from Ivy League universities abroad, she didn¡¯t have any from prestigious domestic institutions. She hadn¡¯t nned on pursuing further education in another field, but since Ruth wanted to humiliate her throughparisons, she decided to go along with it. Instead of throwing her degrees in Ruth¡¯s face, she¡¯d take this chance to let Ruth see the cold, hard truth. Shermaine then took on another SSS¨Clevel task, with a reward of 2.25 million dors¨C750 thousand less than her previous one. It was quite challenging and might take more time toplete than the new energy project, since it involved building a massive Ol system. After epting the task and receiving the infrastructure details, Shermaine logged off without hesitation. Dolcie¡¯s fans were in an uproar once again. [What¡¯s the deal with Boa Hanks? Just ten minutes after Dolcie took on this task, she picked up the same one. She¡¯s clearly doing this on purpose!] Yeah, what¡¯s her problem? Is she trying topete with Dolcie or what?] [Sure, we mocked her, but we apologized, didn¡¯t we? Does she really have to keep going after Dolcie like this?] MON, 2 Ju!! While the fans raged, neutral observers figured the legendary Boa only epted the task because of the hefty reward, not topete with Dolcie On the other end of the phone, Dolcie knew Boa had taken on the same task right after her. She tried to dig into Boa¡¯s profile, only to find itpletely nk and encrypted. No matter what tricks she used, she couldn¡¯t crack it. Dolcie had been active in the International Tech Forum for years and hadpeted against numerous big names in the industry. But Boa was the only one who made her feet powerless. Boa hadpleted the entire project in just ten days, while Dolcie had nned to finish it in a whole month. Dolcie was determined to finish the task before Boa this time and im the 2.25 million reward. It wasn¡¯t about the money¨Cit was about putting Boa, whom she considered an infuriating person, in her ce. Shermaine noticed that many more people had joined her live stream lecture this time¨Cover two thousand were online in no time. Shermaine didn¡¯t care how many people were listening. She was simply doing this to help her ssmates and had no intention of bing some kind of academic livestream celebrity. By the time the lecture ended, it was almost midnight. After taking a shower and lying in bed, Shermaine felt like something was missing. After thinking for a moment, she realized¨Cit was the warm milk Joshua used to bring her. She hadn¡¯t stayed at his ce for long, but she¡¯d already grown fond of the warm milk he prepared. She wondered where he bought it¨Cit tasted amazing. And the best part was that drinking it noticeably improved her sleep quality. Lying in bed, she picked up her phone and opened the Basterel University forum. She narrowed her eyes with a smile as she saw thetest update. Just as she had expected, the person had spread more dirt about her, using her of cheating on exams. ¡®How gutsy,¡® she thought. ¡®The lesson they gotst time clearly wasn¡¯t severe enough, or they wouldn¡¯t dare help Wendelyn smear me again. Think I wouldn¡¯t know it was you just because you¡¯re using someone else¡¯s ount? Tomorrow, you¡¯ll regret this.¡¯ AD Comment Send gift Nurse walking 56 Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Without drinking any milk that night, Shermaine didn¡¯t sleep very well. She really wanted to sleep, but her mind would wander off in all directions sometimes. When she finally managed to fall asleep, she dreamed. The next morning, Shermaine woke up a little after six, still feeling groggy. Once again, she had dreamt of a much younger Ruth, who was telling her bedtime stories with a gentle smile and loving eyes. After a workout and breakfast, Shermaine finally shook off her drowsiness. She grabbed her phone and called Joshua. Soon, Joshua¡¯s pleasant voice came through. ¡°Good morning, Shermaine.¡± ¡°Morning,¡± Shermaine replied. ¡°Just woke up?¡± ¡°Yeah. Without your milk, I didn¡¯t sleep wellst night.¡± ¡°If you like it, I¡¯ll have some sent over today.¡± Joshua was ready to fulfill all of his fianc¨¦e¡¯s requests. ¡°That¡¯d be great.¡± Shermaine¡¯s tone was tinged with happiness. Joshua chuckled softly. ¡°So, need something from me?¡± He knew Shermaine rarely called just to chat. Shermaine responded, ¡°I need to borrow awyer from your legal team.¡± Shermaine arrived at school right on time at 7:20 AM. There weren¡¯t many people at school yet, but she could feel the curious, gossipy stares following her, as if they were trying to uncover some juicy secret. But Shermaine didn¡¯t care in the slightest. Once she made it to the ssroom, she pulled out a book and began reading. Summer dashed in right before the bell and flopped into her seat with a loud thud. Next to her, Shermaine was engrossed in her book, flipping through the pages at an impressive speed. Summer nced at the title of the book: A Global History. She had heard of it before, but as a high schooler, she would never read something like this. She was more into cheesy romance novels. ¡®So this is the gap between a top student and a cker like me, huh?¡® Summer thought. ¡®Sheary¡¯s on a whole different level¨Ceven the book she reads is intellectually stimting.¡® Shermaine reads every morning. She has a remarkable memory and never forgets what she has read. She¡¯d browsed many books in the school library before finally settling on this one. It wasn¡¯t particrly deep, but it was full of useful knowledge. The first ss of the day was Wallingtonian. As soon as the teacher arrived, she handed out the test papers. Shermaine¡¯s ssmates weren¡¯t exactly top¨Ctier in humanities, but they weren¡¯t hopeless either. Usually, students in the science track weren¡¯t good at Wallingtonian, but they could at least manage to keep a C grade. Shermaine, however, was an exception. Since she joined the ss, her Wallingtonian grades had been outstanding, and her essays were particrly excellent. In the midterm, she lost a few points because she¡¯d missed a minor question. Otherwise, she would have scored an A+. Rumors spread that she had cheated, but with the level of her work, it was hard to believe that was the case. So, the teachers were all convinced that her score was the result of her skill. Chapter 56 Right now, Mason was fuming. A ridiculous rumor that Shermaine had cheated on the midterms was spreading like wildfire across the sense yea didn¡¯t need to think twice to figure out who was behind it¨CIt had to be Alice, the model student he had defended just days ago. He was determined to teach Alice a lesson in the parent¨Cteacher meeting scheduled next Monday. She deserved punishment for spreading false rumor and tarnishing Shermaine¡¯s reputation. But then, unexpectedly, the principal called him and said in an unusually stern voice, ¡°Come to my office.¡± Mason immediately sensed something was wrong, but didn¡¯t rush to ask. ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Half an hourter, Isabel walked into Shermaine¡¯s ssroom. ¡°Shermaine, step outside for a moment,¡± she said, Shermaine seemed to have anticipated this. She stood up and followed her out. In the hallway, Isabel¡¯s face was tight with anger. ¡°Someone reported you to the school district office, and now the officials are waiting in the principal¡¯s office for you.¡± Shermaine nodded slightly. ¡®These seniors have gone too far. We work so hard to teach them, yet instead of being considerate of our situations, they did something like this without knowing the true story,¡® Isabel thought. ¡°And that¡¯s not all,¡± she continued. ¡°The person who reported you also used Mr. Moe of epting bribes to cover up your cheating. If you don¡¯t prove your innocence, he could be suspended and investigated.¡± ¡°Got it. No need to worry, Ms. Vaughn,¡± Shermaine said calmly. ¡°Proving I didn¡¯t cheat is easy. I¡¯ll take a more difficult test in front of the district office staff. Once the results are out, everything will be clear.¡± Isabel knew Shermaine was right, but she couldn¡¯t help feeling frustrated with the students who doubted Shermaine¡¯s abilities. Rumors were always a messy mix of truth and lies, such as those celebrity dating scandals that always turn out to be fake. The students should focus on their studies instead of wasting time on such pointless gossip. Soon, Shermaine and Isabel reached the principal¡¯s office. ¡°This is Shermaine Shue. She got straight A¡¯s in the midterms,¡± Mason said. Then he turned to Shermaine and continued, ¡°This is Mr. Collins from the school district office.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you,¡± Shermaine said coolly. She looked soposed and confident that Christopher Collins, the staff member from the school district office, found it hard to believe she had cheated. But appearances could be deceiving, so the investigation was inevitable. Shermaine got straight to the point. ¡°Mr. Collins, I understand it was hard for some to ept that I got straight A¡¯s. But honestly, it was no challenge for me. If you don¡¯t believe me, feel free to give me a tougher test.¡± ¡®A tougher test? She¡¯s much too confident,¡® Christopher thought. Determined to handle this fairly, he decided the best way to deal with it was to see for himself how well Shermaine could perform. ¡°Alright, I do hav some difficult senior¨Cyear tests. You can take it right here in the principal¡¯s office. I¡¯ll supervise you myself.¡± Shermaine nodded slightly. Soon, someone brought in a desk and chair. Shermaine sat down and said, ¡°Could you hand me the test papers and a pen?¡± Mason handed her the papers with an encouraging nod. 2/3 Chapter 56 Shermaine thought, ¡®Rx. Your teaching career won¡¯t end here! Christopher sat nearby, watching closely. The first test was math. Shermaine picked up the pen and, without a moment¡¯s hesitation, began working on the multiple choice questions. Christopher couldn¡¯t help but notice how fast she was filling in the answers, without pausing to think or looking back. He raised an eyebrow, thinking, she even taking the time to read the questions? This test is pretty challenging.¡® About twenty minutester, Shermaine finished the math test, then picked up the physics paper and got to work on that. Afterward, she breezed through the chemistry test, the economics test, and the rest of the papers. During the break, Hannah went to see Alice. The two found a secluded spot to talk. ¡°Alice, someone from the school district office showed up. Shermaine¡¯s definitely getting expelled today,¡± Hannah said. Alice smirked smugly. ¡°Of course. A cheater doesn¡¯t deserve to stay at this school, and she definitely doesn¡¯t deserve Leslie¡¯s attention.¡± Time flew by, and two hours passed in the blink of an eye. Christopher started grading Shermaine¡¯s every subject. spapers. By the time he finished reviewing all of them, he let out a deep breath. She had scored full marks in Christopher appreciated students with excellent grades. Shermaine had impressed him and earned his respect. He then turned to the principal and Mason. ¡°Shermaine¡¯s performance on the tests is more than enough to prove she didn¡¯t cheat on the midterms. We will take action to ensure the students who spread these false rumors are severely punished.¡± Shermaine gave a slight smile. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Collins. I¡¯d appreciate it if you could clear my name in front of all the senior students and their parents next Monday.¡± Before thest ss of the morning started, Shermaine returned to the ssroom. Her ssmates, looking worried, asked, ¡°Sheary, are you okay?¡± Shermaine nodded and said, ¡°Don¡¯t spread the word yet. The school district office will set things straight for me next Monday.¡± Meanwhile, at Basterel University, Erin had just finished ss when someone rushed in, asking, ¡°What the hell, Erin? What did you do?¡± Confused, Erin saw awyer and uniformed police officers walking in. His face instantly turned pale. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Chapter 57 Nurse walking 57 The news that Erin had been taken away by the police quickly spread throughout the department. Even Wendelyn, who was in the library, caught wind of it and felt a sudden wave of unease. Suddenly, her phone vibrated in her bag. She quickly opened her bag, where there were two phones, grabbed the silver one, and saw that Erin was calling her. In the restroom, Erin said anxiously, ¡°Wendy, the police and thewyer are here because of Shermaine. Also, I never told you this before, but myputer and phone were hacked. Can you help me? Do you think I¡¯ll get expelled?¡± Wendelyn¡¯s face immediately twisted with fury as she snapped, ¡°Why did you hide something so serious from me?¡± The hacker might be able to recover the deleted chat logs after breaking into someone¡¯sputer and phone. Now that Erin had been exposed, Wendelyn knew her turn wasing next. Erin stammered, ¡°I¨CI was afraid you¡¯d stop giving me money if you knew.¡± Since then, she had asked Wendelyn for money a few times, each time for no less than 8 thousand dors. Wendelyn had always been generous, agreeing without hesitation. After all, a few thousand dors was nothing to her. Besides, Wendelyn still needed Erin¡¯s help. Justst night, she had given Erin 15 thousand dors to spread rumors on the forum about Shermaine cheating on the midterms. But this time, Erin became more careful. She had deliberately used a friend¡¯s ount to post, thinking that would throw off the hacker. But she hadn¡¯t expected that the police and awyer would show up so quickly. ¡°Wendy, is there anything you can do to-¡± Before Erin could finish, the call abruptly ended. The disconnect tone in her ear felt like a thunderp. She felt her legs go weak as she thought, ¡®Wendelyn¡¯s going to leave me to fend for myself?¡® Wendelyn raised her voice so suddenly that it caught the attention of Yvonne, who was sitting across from her, dressed in clothes faded from countless washes, and buried in a book. Lucky for Wendelyn, there weren¡¯t many people around; otherwise, the famous, talented girl from the Department of Literature would have been seen losing herposure. Yvonne softly reminded her, ¡°Wendy, keep it down. We¡¯re in the library.¡± Yvonne and Wendelyn shared a dorm room, but they weren¡¯t particrly close. However, everything changedst year when Yvonne¡¯s father was diagnosed with uremia. The overwhelming medical bills and constant pressure pushed Yvonne to the brink, and in a moment of despair, she tried to end her life by jumping off a building. It was Wendelyn who stepped in and pulled her back from, the edge. Since then, Yvonne had been deeply grateful to Wendelyn, but as they became closer, she began to realize that Wendelyn wasn¡¯t as kind, graceful, and gentle as she had initially appeared. Still, everyone had their ws. Yvonne thought that Wendelyn felt more genuine with her imperfections and decided to always treat her like a true friend, no matter what she did. Wendelyn sat down, her fingers tapping on the desk as she muttered angrily, ¡°Damn you, Erin. For the sake of money, you hid such an important thing from me. Then she cursed inwardly, ¡®l underestimated Shermaine. I never imagined she¡¯d quietly hire a hacker to dig into Erin. She might seem easy to manipte, but she is actually scheming. ¡®If I get dragged into this, the perfect image I¡¯ve worked so hard to build will copse overnight. No, I can¡¯t just sit back and let that happen. ¡°Wendy, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Yvonne asked, concerned. Wendelyn turned her head sharply at Yvonne. ¡°Yvie, remember how you said you¡¯d do anything for me? Well, I need your help now.¡± Shermaine and Summer went to the cafeteria for lunch. The food at their school cafeteria was pretty good, and today they were serving delicious 1/3 sandwiches. Shermaine¡¯s ssmates, perhaps worried Shermaine would be bullied, were trailing behind her in arge group. The whole procession looked impressive. Shermaine had a bad reputation, so even when others gossiped about her, they did it quietly, not daring to do it in front of her. But Leslie was different he wouldn¡¯t leave her alone. Shermaine¡¯s ssmates all red at him like he trouble. Was their enemy. They med him for the confrontation between Alice and Shermaine and the resulting Ignoring the hostile stares, Leslie stepped in front of Shermaine and suddenly said, ¡°Shermaine, I wasn¡¯t the one who reported you.¡± ¡°Oh, okay,¡± Shermaine replied nonchntly, focused on her sandwich. ¡®Summer was right¨Cthe sandwich in the cafeteria is indeed delicious, she thought. Leslie frowned at her indifferent response. ¡°How will the school handle this?¡± There hadn¡¯t been any updates after the school district staff¡¯s visit. But everyone knew the school would have to address Shermaine¡¯s situation sooner orter¨Cprobably on next Monday. ¡°Noment,¡± Shermaine said calmly. Then Leslie asked, ¡°Does your mother know? Did she scold you?¡± He asked so many questions because he was convinced that Shermaine had cheated. If it were anyone else, they¡¯d have been expelled by now. Shermaine set down her sandwich, wiped her mouth with a tissue, and looked up with a bright smile, but her eyes were cold. ¡°Leslie, this really isn¡¯t any of your business.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just concerned about you,¡± Leslie said. ¡°Thanks, but you don¡¯t have to.¡± Not far away, Alice saw what was happening. She bit her lip in frustration and marched over without hesitation. ¡°Shermaine, you shameless cheater! Leslie¡¯s concerned about you, and you¡¯re acting all high and mighty? You don¡¯t deserve his concern.¡± Upon hearing this, Shermaine¡¯s ssmates immediatelyshed out in anger. ¡°A shameless cheater? Say that again, and see what happens. Just because you¡¯re a girl doesn¡¯t mean we won¡¯t take you down!¡± someone shouted. ¡°Sheary got straight A¡¯s fair and square. You evil girl, you¡¯re just jealous, so you secretly reported her,¡± another echoed. ¡°Sure, you¡¯re pretty, but that heart of stone? Not impressed,¡± someone else chimed in. Leslie¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Alice, what¡¯s wrong with you? Apologize to Shermaine right now!¡± Alice, already fuming from the insults, lost all reason to jealousy when Leslie defended Shermaine. She snapped, ¡°I¡¯m not apologizing. What can you do about it?¡± She seemed to have forgotten how Shermaine had made her apologizest time by grabbing her by the neck. ¡°You¡­¡± Leslie was at a loss for words, his frustration evident. Shermaine spoke, ¡°Guys, just eat. Why bother with the idiot?¡± Alice was indeed an idiot; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have done something so petty with no benefits to herself. Alice¡¯s face flushed with anger, and she was about to say something when Shermaine nced at her and said slowly, ¡°Next Monday, you won¡¯t see her around at this school anymore.¡± Chapter 57 In an instant, a chill crept up Alice¡¯s spine, leaving her feeling like she¡¯d been plunged into icy water. The school path was nketed in yellow leaves under the midday sun. Around one in the afternoon, Shermaine received a call from herwyer. Thewyer said, ¡°Ms. Shue, Erin has confessed everything. As per your request, she will publicly apologize and clear your name next Monday over the school broadcast next Monday.¡± Shermaine responded with a simple ¡°Mm.¡± Thewyer added, ¡°Besides, word about Erin being taken away has probably spread across Basterel University. She found an excuse to go to the restroom while at the police office, so Wendelyn probably knows about it now.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Shermaine said casually. She was curious how Wendelyn would get herself out of trouble. Besides, she knew this alone wasn¡¯t enough to bring Wendelyn down. Thewyer then asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you think Erin¡¯s punishment is a bit too lenient?¡± He was sure that if it were up to Joshua, Erin wouldn¡¯t have gotten off without some serious consequences. Shermaine chuckled softly. ¡°She should experience what it¡¯s like to be the subject of gossip and insults from everyone.¡± Thewyer finally understood. It seemed like Shermaine was being lenient, but in reality, Erin would endure a kind of mental torment. As long as she remained at Basterel University, this scandal would haunt her like a curse. That evening, Shermaine returned to the Jean residence. Wendelyn wasn¡¯t there, and only Janice and Ruth were seated at the dining table. After finishing most of her meal, Shermaine said, ¡°Grandma, the parent¨Cteacher meeting is next Monday.¡± Janice immediately put down her fork. ¡°Then I have to be there.¡± Shermaine smiled. ¡°Grandma, you¡¯re the best.¡± Ruth quickly chimed in, ¡°Janice, you¡¯re getting on in years. It might be tough for you to manage everything by yourself. How about I go with you?¡± She had heard from Clyde that the school would announce how Shermaine would be dealt with for cheating next Monday. She was determined not to miss it. ¡°How could I miss Sheary¡¯s parent¨Cteacher meeting?¡± Nurse walking 58 Chapter 58 Janice almost rolled her eyes at Ruth¡¯s fake concern but held herself back. After all, Ruth was still Shermaine¡¯s mother. She picked up her spoon, ready to take a sip of soup, but a sharp pain suddenly shot through her head, making her feel dizzy. Her hand trembled, and the spoon slipped from her grip, ttering against the bowl. It was just a mild episode, but she worried that the headache might keep her upter that night. ¡°Grandma, are you okay?¡± Shermaine furrowed her brow. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sheary. I¡¯m fine,¡± Janiceforted her. Ruth¡¯s heart leapt with glee as she realized Janice¡¯s headache was acting up again. ¡°Janice, you don¡¯t look well. Should we call a doctor to check on you?¡± she asked. ¡°No need,¡± Janice replied. This condition had been bothering her for years. She had consulted renowned doctors, but none of them found anything wrong. She had even sought out several famous traditional medicine practitioners, but none had been able to help. She was now considering seeing Darius, the renowned traditional medicine doctor Joshua had rmended, known for his exceptional skills. ¡°Alright then,¡± Ruth replied. She didn¡¯t mind that her mother¨Cinw was suffering. In fact, she believed Janice deserved it for never treating Wendelyn fairly. After dinner, Ruth went to her room to pick out a dress for the parent¨Cteacher meeting next Monday. Even though she knew it would be embarrassing, she still wanted to look her best. Janice¡¯s headache was so bad that she didn¡¯t want to go for a walk. After dinner, she went back to her room, hoping some rest would ease the pain. Just as she was about to lie down, Shermaine walked in. Janice forced a smile and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Sheary?¡± Shermaine had been meaning to feel Janice¡¯s pulse for a while, but the past few days had been hectic. Every time she had a free moment, Janice was already resting in bed. ¡°I¡¯m here to check your pulse,¡± Shermaine said. Janice chuckled warmly. ¡°Sheary, you know how to treat someone?¡± She thought of her granddaughter as a little treasure¨Cfull of surprises. Shermaine didn¡¯t hide the truth. ¡°Yeah, I gave Mr. Owen York a checkup recently. His condition should be better now.¡± She sat down by the bed and gently ced her fingers on her grandmother¡¯s wrist. After a moment, she withdrew her hand. ¡°Grandma, if you trust me, I can perform acupuncture for you right now. With a week of treatment, your headaches will be gone. You won¡¯t have to endure sleepless nights from the pain or take any medicine anymore.¡± Janice would never doubt Shermaine. She held Shermaine¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Of course I trust you, dear. I¡¯m just curious¨Cwho taught you all this?¡± Pleased by the trust her grandmother had in her, Shermaine smiled faintly and replied, ¡°Grandma, I know a bit of both traditional medicine and modern medicine. I took some electives in modern medicine at Sterling University. And as for traditional medicine, I picked it up by reading lots of medical books. It¡¯s something I enjoy studying.¡± Janice was stunned. ¡°S¨CSterling University?¡± Shermaine exined, ¡°Yes, I left Maple Leaf Ville to study abroad when I was very young.¡± She attended middle school in the town for only a short time before skipping ahead to high school. While in high school, she anonymously published a paper in a mathematics journal solving a world¨Css number theory problem. That paper earned her several admission offers. So focused on math, she packed her bags and headed to Pouton University, known for its outstanding math program. 1/3 Chapter 58 ¡°You went by yourself?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Janice¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. She felt a deep sympathy for her granddaughter, imagining how hard it must have been for her to go to an unamstar ce all alone. She then said, ¡°Thank goodness your brother brought you back. But you¡¯ve suffered so much, with a clueless mother and a negligent father. I¡¯m sorry, Sheary. You shouldn¡¯t have had to go through all that.¡± She sighed, thinking back to how Ruth used to be normal and loving, and how Jameson once cared more about the family. Shermaine didn¡¯t feel like she had suffered. The people in Maple Vige had treated her well, and now, both her brother and grandmother were good to her. After chatting for a while with Janice, she called Danielle, asking her to have someone send over a set of acupuncture needles. About half an hourter, a young man, probably an intern from Yaleview Hospital, arrived with the needles. ¡°Dr. Shue, here are the needles,¡± he said. ¡°Thank you,¡± replied Shermaine. That night, after Shermaine performed acupuncture on Janice, Janice¡¯s headache gradually eased, and she quickly fell asleep. It was the first time she had slept so soundly since being gued by this persistent condition. The next morning, Ruth came downstairs after getting ready and saw Janice already dressed to the nines, ready to go out. ¡®She looks vibrant and a bit healthier. This doesn¡¯t add up,¡¯ Ruth thought. ¡®Normally, she¡¯d still be in bed at this hour. How could she be up already today?¡® By this time, Shermaine was already at school. The parent¨Cteacher meeting was being held in the gymnasium, which could hold over a thousand people. Around nine o¡¯clock, the parents of the senior students began arriving one after another. In the past, parent¨Cteacher meetings were held in ssrooms. This was the first time that all the senior students and their parents gathered together. Once all the senior students and their parents had arrived, the principal stepped onto the stage and began his speech. In the audience, Alice was fidgeting, clearly nervous. She kept sipping water, but no matter how much she drank, her throat still felt dry. The words Shermaine had said in the cafeteria the other day haunted her all night like a nightmare. No matter how much she tried tofort herself, she couldn¡¯t shake the unease¨Cit was unbearable. Sitting among the parents of ss 9, Ruth felt quite restless. She just wanted the principal to get to the point and stop wasting time. In stark contrast, Janice was chatting andughing with the other parents in a soft voice. About half an hourter, the principal finally said, ¡°In theing months, I hope all senior students will put in their best effort and excel in the SAT, getting into the universities of their choice. ¡°However, there¡¯s one issue that¡¯s been causing a lot of trouble for the school. It concerns Shermaine Shue, a transfer student from ss 9. ¡°She got straight A¡¯s in the recent midterms, and there have been rumors that she might have cheated. The gossip spread throughout the senior ss and even caught the attention of the district school office.¡± Hearing this, the parents in the audience exchanged nces and began whispering among themselves. Ruth immediately straightened her back. ¡®Finally, he¡¯s talking about what I¡¯ve been waiting to hear. So, has it been confirmed that Shermaine cheated, and is she going to be expelled publicly?!¡® she thought. The principal continued, ¡°The student who made the report not only used Shermaine of cheating but also imed that Dean Mason Moe epted bribes to cover for Shermaine. Chapter 58 ¡°The rumor spread quickly and has inevitably tarnished the reputation of our school, Mr. Collins from the district office even came to our school to conduct an investigation. Today, we¡¯ve invited him to announce the results of the investigation,¡± Everyone was eager to hear the oue. Most of them assumed that Shermaine would undoubtedly be expelled this time, including Leslie Christopher stepped onto the stage, adjusted the microphone, and said, ¡°Last Friday, Ipleted the investigation into whether Shermaine had cheated. Now, I¡¯ll announce the results: Shermaine did not cheat duringst week¡¯s midterms. She earned her scores through her own abilities There was an uproar in the audience. Those people had no reason to look down on Shermaine. She hadn¡¯t cheated¨Cshe¡¯d gotten straight A¡¯s through sheer skill. Alice¡¯s mind went nk. She shot to her feet and screamed, ¡°No way! There¡¯s no way Shermaine could have gotten straight A¡¯s!¡± Meanwhile, Ruth, seated further back, waspletely stunned. Her face twisted with disbelief. She didn¡¯t even notice when her handbag slipped from her grasp and fell to the floor. ¡®Shermaine didn¡¯t cheat? How could that be possible?!¡® she thought, her face dark with rage. Then, arge electronic screen was lowered behind the stage. It began ying a video of Shermainepleting some tests in the principal¡¯s office. Everyone watched as Shermaine calmly filled out the paper with ease, writing rapidly, as if she didn¡¯t need to think at all. It was almost unbelievable she finished a math test in just 15 minutes and scored full marks. Christopher continued, ¡°This is the video I recorded while proctoring that day. The papers I gave were harder than your midterms, but for Shermaine, it was just another normal test, no challenge at all. So, for those who have been spreading rumors about Shermaine cheating and insulting her, it¡¯s time to formally apologize.¡± The principal then took the microphone and added, ¡°Alice Joy from ss 3, your malicious report has seriously damaged the reputation of the school, its teachers, and Shermaine. The school has decided to take severe action. Alice, you are expelled.¡± Alice¡¯s face was filled with disbelief and terror. ¡®I¨CI¡¯m getting expelled? How did this happen?¡® she thought. Shermaine¡¯s ssmates led the apuse, and the sound echoed throughout the gymnasium. ¡®There¡¯s always a price to pay for doing bad things,¡® Shermaine thought, smiling faintly. She nced at her watch¨Canother public apology was likely about to take ce at Basterel University. Meanwhile, in Basterel University¡¯s broadcasting studio, Erin spoke into the microphone, ¡°Hello, everyone. I¡¯m Erin Murray from Comparative Literature. I wasn¡¯t thinking clearly when I let greed get the best of me and epted money from my ssmate Wendelyn to spread false rumors about Shermaine on the university forum. ¡°I sincerely apologize to Shermaine and ask for her forgiveness. And I¡¯d like to take this opportunity to tell everyone the whole story¡­¡± Hearing her words, Wendelyn, who had been taking notes in the ssroom, pressed too hard on her pen and poked a hole in the paper. Immediately, surprised nces from her ssmates turned toward her. They couldn¡¯t believe that Wendelyn, who seemed so pretty, could actually be such a malicious person. . and sweet, AD Nurse walking 59 Chapter 59 Wendelyn, skilled at pretending, put on an Innocent, helpless expression before looking troubled. ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t do anything, I treat Erin like a sliter viby would she frame me?¡± Everyone looked at her, their doubt still lingering. At that moment, Joshua was also at Basterel University, and Sheldon was the one receiving him. Joshua was the one who made the huge investment in this project. Right now, theb was starting to see some returns on their work. As an investor, Joshua was much kinder than most. He never squeezed them dry and offered a very fair profit¨Csharing n. Theb¡¯s benefits were pretty good¨Cthey got a generous 30% of the earnings. Joshua wore a white shirt and ck pants, the cor buttoned up neatly. His physique was excellent. Though the gold¨Crimmed sses softened a bit of his natural ruggedness, as he moved, his defined, strong muscles were visible beneath his shirt. Once the project review waspleted, the next step for Joshua was to apply for a patent and then share the findings to benefit society. After all, new energy development was the lifeblood of industry. Whoever controlled the new energy controlled the future. Sheldon said, ¡°To be fair, it was your idea that helped ourb make this breakthrough. The problem was solved, and the credit still belongs to our .¡± ¡°You definitely deserve the honor,¡± Joshua replied calmly. Sheldon replied, ¡°That¡¯s true, but I really admire that expert from the tech forum. She solved our problem in just ten days. I remember you also invested in our lithium¨Csulfur battery project here at Basterel University. Has there been any progress?¡± Joshua shook his head. Some projects he had invested in wouldn¡¯t yield returns in the short term, and the lithium¨Csulfur battery project was one of them. He had estimated it would take at least five years to see any returns, and now, nearly four years in, theb was still struggling with the shuttle effect problem. ¡°Maybe you can ask that expert for help. But I heard from one of my students that she¡¯s taken on an SSS¨Clevel task rted to the Ol system on the teach forum,¡± Sheldon said. He was full of admiration for the expert. Excelling in one field was hard enough, but that expert wasn¡¯t just skilled in materials science and engineering; she also seemed to have deep knowledge of informatics. As an academician at Basterel University and a prominent figure in international engineering circles, Sheldon rarely praised anyone so highly. Hearing him speak so glowingly about this expert piqued Joshua¡¯s curiosity. But Joshua had no intention of rushing the lithium¨Csulfur battery project for immediate returns¨Che didn¡¯t need the money for investments. ¡°I¡¯ll hold a meeting in three days,¡± he said. ¡°Professor Wendell, you¡¯ll handle the presentation.¡± ¡°Consider it done,¡± Sheldon replied. When Joshua and Sheldon stepped out of theb, they heard Erin tearfully confessing her wrongs over the loudspeaker. She said, ¡°In the convenience store, I deliberately knocked over Shermaine¡¯s yogurt. She only attacked me because she realized my intentions. Later, paid and instructed by Wendelyn, I smeared Shermaine on the forum, even fabricating the rumor about her cheating on exams. ¡°I¡¯ll post the proof of payments and our chat screenshotster. Now I want to formally apologize to Shermaine. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Hearing Shermaine¡¯s name, Joshua remembered how she had asked him for milk earlier. He found her tone amusing and smiled. He was always aloof and refined, and this rare smile was like a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds, giving him an unusual charm. Besides, he exuded an irresistible allure. Just one nce at him could send anyone¡¯s hormones into overdrive. Everyone would be utterly captivated by 07 que JN Chapter 59 him. Thankfully, there were no women around to witness this moment. On the other hand, Sheldon frowned upon hearing Erin¡¯s words. ¡®Students these days are truly a mixed bag, he inwardly. ¡°Ho wonder sow of them can focus on serious academic research¨Cthey¡¯re just too restless and dishonest.¡¯ ¡°Sorry you had to hear this, Mr. York,¡± Sheldon said. ¡°The person she apologized to is my fianc¨¦e,¡± Joshua said calmly. Sheldon thought, ¡®I didn¡¯t ask, so why bring it up?¡® But out of politeness, he asked, ¡°Is she also a student at Basterel University?¡± ¡°No, she isn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Then who is she?¡± ¡°She is a high school senior.¡± Stunned, Sheldon thought, ¡®He is so much older than his fianc¨¦e¨Cand he¡¯s acting so nonchnt about it?¡® Nurse walking 60 Chapter 60 Joshua was undeniably an exceptional man. The way he spoke made it clear he had a soft spot for his fianc¨¦e. Sheldon couldn¡¯t help but regard Shermaine in a whole new light. Though Sheldon didn¡¯t interact much with wealthy businessmen¨Cbeing an academic and all¨Cliving in Bastere meant he¡¯d heard plenty about Joshua A man in his thirties, disciplined and scandal¨Cfree, Joshua embodied self¨Ccontrol and dedication as a workaholic. His contributions to the nation¡¯s technological progress were unmatched by most of his peers. ¡®Shermaine must be one remarkable young woman,¡® Sheldon thought. He cleared his throat and said, ¡°She¡¯s a bit young, isn¡¯t she?¡± Joshua didn¡¯t deny it. Shermain¡¯s age didn¡¯t matter to him; he would take good care of her. ¡°Next month, we¡¯re having an engagement party. I¡¯ll have Bradley send you an invitation,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll try to make it.¡± ¡°Great.¡± However, once Shermaine arrived at Basterel University, Sheldon¡¯s view changed entirely. He started to think that Joshua was the lucky one to be engaged to Shermaine. Just when everyone thought the broadcast was over, something unexpected happened. A young woman suddenly said, ¡°It wasn¡¯t Wendelyn. It was me, Yvonne Allen.¡± Inside the broadcasting studio, Erin froze. But as a student of Basterel University, a very prestigious institution, she was smart enough to quickly piece the situation together¨CYvonne was stepping up as a scapegoat to clear Wendelyn¡¯s name. She couldn¡¯t ept the possibility that Wendelyn, the real mastermind, might walk away scot¨Cfree. Biting her lip, she asked, ¡°How much did Wendelyn pay you to take the fall for her at your own expense?¡± Yvonne mocked, ¡°I¡¯m not like you. I wouldn¡¯t do whatever I¡¯m told just for the money. I¡¯m doing this because I genuinely care about Wendy. She¡¯s too soft¨Chearted to go up against Shermaine, so I¡¯m doing it for her. I¡¯ll do anything to make sure she¡¯s happy.¡± With that, she took full responsibility for the usations Erin had made against Wendelyn. In the ssroom, Wendelyn covered her mouth, her eyes brimming with tears. But as she lowered her head, she secretly gave a sinister smile. The students realized they had misunderstood Wendelyn, thinking she had stopped at nothing to take down Shermaine. They even started to believe that Shermaine must have been bullying Wendelyn at home, and that Wendelyn, ever kind¨Chearted, had endured it all. To them, Shermaine was the real viin. As Joshua heard this, his eyes darkened. He seemed displeased. Sheldon noticed the subtle change in his expression. A few secondster, Joshua pulled out his phone and made a call. At Brightwater Academy, the parent¨Cteacher meeting had just ended. Suddenly, someone rushed up to Shermaine and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Shermaine, I shouldn¡¯t have said those things about you.¡± Soon, more and more students came up to her, offering their apologies. The crowd around her grew sorge that she couldn¡¯t leave immediately. Meanwhile, the parents of Shermaine¡¯s ssmates surrounded Janice and Ruth, constantly praising Shermaine. Their kids had always been average students, but now that one of the top students was in their ss, they believed their children would be intensely motivated. On top of that, they¡¯d heard that Shermaine had been tutoring their children, and they were deeply grateful. ¡°Mrs. Jean, your granddaughter is incredible. Not only is she a top student, but she¡¯s also so kind and helpful,¡± a parent said. ¡°We¡¯re so thankful for her,¡± someone else chimed in. At first, theyplimented Shermaine in front of Ruth, but the more they praised Shermaine, the more sour Ruth¡¯s expression became. In contrast, Janice was all smiles, her face glowing with pride. Is this woman really Shermaine¡¯s mom? Why would she look so indifferent when people praise her daughter?¡® someone thought. Janice smiled cheerfully. ¡°I¡¯m d Sheary could help. She loves to help others. I hope all the kids can excel on next year¡¯s SAT with her support.¡± ¡°Of course they will. My daughter¡¯s been studying very hardtely,¡± one parent said eagerly. ¡°Same here! My son stopped ying games and spends all his time studying,¡± another parent chimed in. Alice was still in shock, unable to process the fact that she had been expelled from Brightwater Academy. Her mother, Vanessa Joy, went to the principal, hoping he¡¯d be more lenient and reconsider the decision. The principal shook his head and signaled for Alice¡¯s homeroom teacher, Hayden Carter, to handle the situation. Hayden never thought Alice would do something like this. As a student in her final year, Alice should be focused on her studies, not causing trouble. And not only did she report Shermaine, but she also dragged Mason into it. She was even disrespectful to her teachers. There was no ce for a student like her at this school. ¡°Mrs. Joy, you should consider yourself lucky that it¡¯s just an expulsion and not legal action. When she transfers to a new school, make sure she learns to focus on her studies instead of meddling in other people¡¯s business. Look where that¡¯s gotten her now,¡± Hayden advised. Vanessa immediately understood everything. In a fit of rage, she snapped at Alice, ¡°How many times have I told you to stay away from boys? But you never listen! And now, because of a boy, you¡¯ve done something so disgraceful. I¡¯m so disappointed in you.¡± Alice, unable to hold back any longer, broke down in tears. Leslie couldn¡¯t care less about how Alice was doing. He was filled with regret for misunderstanding that Shermaine had cheated when, in reality, her grades were earned fair and square. He turned his gaze to Shermaine, who was surrounded by many students, looking stunning like the shining sun. It was hard for him to ept that Shermaine had outperformed him, but his heart was racing faster because of her. With so many people apologizing, Shermaine couldn¡¯t leave right away¨Calthough she didn¡¯t think it was necessary. Just then, her phone rang in her pocket. She lowered her head, pulled it out, and nced at the screen¨Cit was Joshua calling. He rarely called her, while she had reached out to him a few times. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder what he wanted this time. AD Nurse walking 61 Chapter 61 Joshua¡¯s call came at just the right moment, giving Shermaine a perfect excuse to avoid the students who insisted on apologizing to her. She walked in quieter corner and answered the call. They had spoken on the phone a few times before, so the conversation felt much less awkward. On the other end of the phone, Joshua heard the noise from Shermain¡¯s side. ¡°The parent¨Cteacher meeting just ended?¡± he asked. ¡°Yeah,¡± Shermaine replied. Then she asked, ¡°Is there something you ¡°I¡¯m at Basterel University.¡± ¡°What are you doing there?¡± need?¡± ¡°A project I invested in has shown some results, so I came to check on When Shermaine first learned she might have a fianc¨¦, she had done some digging into Joshua. The information she found was basic at best. Some aspects of his identity were kept private, and uncovering them required significant effort. She hadn¡¯t felt the need to look too deeply into him¨Cknowing the basics was enough. She knew he had been heavily investing in Al and new energy. She couldn¡¯t help but think of the task she hadpleted¨Cit was rted to new energy and had been posted by Basterel University¡¯s Engineering Lab on the International Tech Forum. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if it was the same project. Shermaine raised an eyebrow. ¡°A new energy project?¡± Joshua thought for a moment before answering, ¡°You seem to know a lot about it.¡± 4 ¡®So it is the same project. My fianc¨¦ is the one paying me. But he¡¯s so rich; that amount of money means nothing to him. Besides, I¡¯ve put in the effort,¡¯ Shermain thought with a faint smile. Then she replied nonchntly, ¡°Just a little.¡± For some reason, Joshua had a feeling that she was being modest and that she was hiding something. She had always been mysterious. He was curious and thought about digging deeper, but he decided there was no rush¨Cthey had plenty of time. He had called to ry something he¡¯d just heard. Changing the subject, he said, ¡°Wendelyn¡¯s found herself a scapegoat. Want me to take care of it?¡± Shermaine had expected this. Tond a fatal blow, she needed to hit Wendelyn where it hurt. ¡°No, I prefer to handle things myself,¡± she replied. After a brief pause, she added, ¡°But thanks for calling me to let me know.¡± They had known each other for a while now. While their rtionship was one of mutual assistance, there was no need to keep things so formal in private. Joshua said leisurely, ¡°We don¡¯t have to be so formal with each other.¡± What he didn¡¯t realize was that this thought stemmed from his desire to be closer to Shermaine. It was buried so deep within him that even he wasn¡¯t.. aware of it. yster, Shermaine smiled faintly but didn¡¯t say anything. She licked her lips and thought, ¡®It¡¯s better to keep some distance. Otherwise, if we things could get messy.¡® Seeing Janice waving at her, she said, ¡°Grandma¡¯s calling me. I¡¯ve got to go.¡± Before Joshua could respond, she hung up. Seeing Janice waving at her, she said, ¡°Grandma¡¯s calling me. I¡¯ve got to go.¡± Before Joshua could respond, she hung up. As Joshua listened to the disconnect tone, his Adam¡¯s apple moved, and his gaze darkened slightly. He had never been hung up on before¨Cnot even by his father. He wasn¡¯t annoyed, let alone mad. Instead, that peculiar feeling rose again, like a soft breeze brushing past his heart, tickling him faintly. Then he realized that Shermaine seemed to have Chapter 61 turned down his suggestion. Erin knew there was no point in arguing with Yvonne any further, and that Wendelyn might even take revenge on her for it. So, she decided to stay ment : Thanks to Yvonne taking the fall for her, Wendelyn was off the hook. After wiping away her tears, she was about to leave when a ssmate asked, ¡°Wendy, why did Yvonne go after Shermaine for you?¡± Wendelyn bit her lip and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know. But I¡¯ve always shared my worries with her. Maybe she misunderstood something, which is why she did this.¡± She lowered her head and continued in a pitiful tone, ¡°Guys, I¡¯m sorry for this. I¡¯ll go talk to Yvie. I don¡¯t know why she did something so foolish¨Cthis won¡¯t change anything.¡± With just a few words, Wendelyn once again painted herself as the poor, helpless victim, while Shermaine remained the cold, heartless sister who bullied her younger sibling. Shermaine ran over to Janice and smiled faintly at the parents of her ssmates nearby. Then her gaze shifted meaningfully toward Ruth. A glint of coldness shed in her eyes as she said with a fake smile, ¡°Mom, you don¡¯t look so good. Are you feeling unwell?¡± Ruth felt terrible, with a sharp pain in her chest. It was as if millions of needles were piercing her heart, with blood flowing relentlessly. She never imagined Shermaine would be so outstanding¨Ceven surpassing Wendelyn¨Cearning the admiration of both students and parents. Wendelyn had done well in high school, too, and Ruth had attended the parent¨Cteacher meetings with pride. But Wendelyn had never gotten straight A¡¯s, nor had she received such widespread praise from both teachers and parents. Shermaine¡¯s performance meant nothing to Ruth, who only cared about Wendelyn¨Cthe daughter she had raised herself. Besides, Shermaine wasn¡¯t even her daughter. The fact made Ruth even more upset. She responded coldly, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± At Ruth¡¯s harsh tone, Janice¡¯s smile faded. She finally realized that Ruth couldn¡¯t stand Shermaine¡¯s sess, and that was why she looked so sulky. Shermaine, unfazed, said casually, ¡°If you¡¯re not feeling well, you should head home. Grandma¡¯s here, and that¡¯s all I need. Anyway, you¡¯re not exactly happy about me getting straight A¡¯s. After all, I¡¯m not Wendelyn.¡± Ruth¡¯s eyes widened, and soon a chill ran down her spine as Janice was ring at her, eyes full of fury. Ruth gritted her teeth and thought, ¡®This little brat must be doing this on purpose.¡® AD Comment Nurse walking 62 Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Janice hadn¡¯t said a word, but the sharp, cold look in her eyes reminded Ruth of the time when Janice had driven Andrew¡¯s wife out of the Jean family all those years ago. Ruth felt a brief pang of panic, but she quicklyposed herself, reminding herself that she still held 15% of Jean Group¡¯s shares. Besides, she was sure Janice wouldn¡¯t do anything to her, even if she wanted to. After all, Janice still felt guilty towards Ruth because Jameson had cheated on Ruth back then. Thinking about the past, Ruth straightened up, seeming to gain a sense of confidence. ¡°I¡¯m not feeling well, so I¡¯m going home now,¡± she said before. walking off. She wasn¡¯t interested in staying and watching Shermaine bask in the limelight. Shermaine watched Ruth¡¯s retreating figure, deep in thought. Every time she dreamed of the gentle Ruth, something inside her felt off. She just couldn¡¯t reconcile the mother from her dreams with the cold, distant woman in front of her. ¡°What a shame. This wouldn¡¯t have happened,¡± Janice sighed, shaking her head. ¡°Grandma, why do you say that?¡± Shermaine asked. Janice hadn¡¯t nned on bringing up old memories, but it didn¡¯t seem fair to keep Shermaine in the dark, so she decided to share some of the past with her. The two had left the gym. Before long, they arrived at theke and sat on a bench by thekeside. Then Janice said, ¡°Before you went missing, your mother loved you and your brother dearly. But when you were five, your dad had an affair, and your mother found out. That was when she started losing it. ¡°Then, you were kidnapped by human traffickers. Your mother¡¯s mental health deteriorated. She often went out to look for you. But one day, she came back with Wendelyn, and after that, she began to ignore your brother and never mentioned you again. ¡°Your dad¡¯s betrayal hit her hard. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have neglected you and Ross. After all, you are her children. ¡°But it¡¯s been so many years. She should¡¯ve let go. Besides, your dad¡¯s the one who messed up. How could she take it out on you two?¡± Janice grew more upset as she spoke. Shermaine felt that things might not be as simple as they seemed. She thought, ¡®The first time I met my mother, there wasn¡¯t a trace of love in her eyes- she looked at me like I was aplete stranger. ¡®She didn¡¯t seem happy to have me back. If she had truly loved me in the past, she wouldn¡¯t have been so indifferent, so cold.¡® A bold theory began to form in Shermaine¡¯s mind. Whether it was true or not, she¡¯d have to dig deeper and see if she could find any clues. At noon, Shermaine had lunch with Janice outside the school and then took a stroll before heading back. Since sses no longer really benefited her, she decided to visit Mason. Mason greeted her with a warm smile. ¡°Shermaine, what can I do for you?¡± ¡°Mr. Moe, I feel like I¡¯ve learned everything I can from high school, and I¡¯d like to request the same flexibility as students in early admission programs,¡± Shermaine exined. In other words, she wanted the freedom to attend sses when it suited her and skip them when it didn¡¯t, though she would still notify he teacher if she decided to skip. meroom Mason hesitated for a moment. ¡°That¡­ might not be appropriate.¡± ¡°In return, I¡¯ll make sure I get the top SAT score next year and bring honor to our school,¡± Shermaine said, calm and confident. ¡°It¡¯s been three years since we had a top scorer, right?¡± 13:57 Jue suun AI Chapter 62 Her words hit a nerve with Mason. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll approve it,¡± he said. He figured the principal wouldn¡¯t object either. ¡°And can I have ess to the school¡¯sb?¡± Shermaine added. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll have the physics teacher grant you permission right away,¡± replied Mason. Shermaine had already nned everything out. Since the needed to make money by doing tasks at night, she¡¯d work on developing skincare products during the day. Before starting the experiments, Shermaine contacted Lily and asked Lily to buy the materials she needed. By around 2 PM, Lily delivered everything to the school. Over the past few days, Lily had sessfully registered theirpany, with both her and Shermaine listed as legal representatives, and they had received the official documents. To save costs, they hadn¡¯t officiallyunched operations yet, as the products weren¡¯t ready. But Lily was confident it was only a matter of time before their business took off, especially with Shermaine handling the research. Shermaine spent the entire afternoon absorbed in developing product forms in theb,pletely losing track of time. By the time she felt hungry, it was already dark. She slowly packed up, preparing to head back to the Jean residence. Inside the brightly lit Jean residence, a man, elegant and refined, sat on the couch. Janice beamed with joy as she said, ¡°Ross, you must be exhausted from your business trip. You look like you¡¯ve lost weight.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t lost any weight, Grandma,¡± Ross replied. Nearby, Ruth and Wendelyn sat stiffly, their unease evident. Ever since Ross took over the family business, he had be moremanding. Wendelyn tried to win his favor. ¡°Brother, have some fruit first.¡± Wendelyn, eager to win his favor, offered, ¡°Brother, have some fruit.¡± Ross gave her a faint, distant smile but didn¡¯t take the fruit from her. Instead, he asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Sheary?¡± Not long after he brought Shermaine back to the Jean family, he had to leave for a business trip for a major project. He¡¯d been missing her deeply, and now, finally back, he couldn¡¯t wait to see her. 29 AR Comment Nurse walking 63 Chapter 63 ¡°She said she had some experiment to do at school and would be backter. She should be home soon,¡± Janice said, ncing at the clock on the wall Ross wasn¡¯t in a hurry. He was very patient when it came to waiting for his sister. ¡°I brought her a bunch of gifts.¡± ¡°Well, Sheary¡¯s definitely going to be over the moon,¡± Janice said with a smile. ¡°A couple of days ago, Joshua gave her a really nice sports car to celebrate her return.¡± Ross wasn¡¯t surprised¨Che had known about it. He had been surprised back then, though. He hadn¡¯t expected Joshua to value Shermaine so highly¨Cgenerous enough to give her a gift worth 150 million dors. If he didn¡¯t know Joshua wasn¡¯t the type to get tangled up in romance, he might¡¯ve thought the guy had feelings for his sister. ¡°My gifts are just as good as Joshua¡¯s, if not better,¡± Ross dered. Janice teased, ¡°What¡¯s with you, big brother? Competing with your future brother¨Cinw now?¡± Ross thought, ¡®Of course, I have topete with Joshua. Shermaine is my only sister.¡® It was the first time he realized he could be so obsessed with his sister. Wendelyn, sitting nearby with her head down, had tears in her eyes. Ever since they were kids, she¡¯d always adored Ross because he was so exceptional, When she told others he was her brother, many girls would look at her with envy, even going out of their way to get on her good side. But Ross had always been distant with her. It meant that, to him, she was never really his sister¨Cjust someone he barely acknowledged. She had spent fourteen years trying to win his favor, but after all this time, she still meant nothing to him¨Cnothingpared to Shermaine, who shared the same blood as him. She couldn¡¯t figure out why, even after winning over Ruth, she still couldn¡¯t win Ross¡¯s affection. After a while, Ross said, ¡°Grandma, you went to Sheary¡¯s parent¨Cteacher meeting today, right? How did it go?¡± Janice replied, ¡°Her ssmates absolutely adore her. The teachers and parents couldn¡¯t stop praising her, saying she¡¯s top¨Cnotch. But can you believe it? Someone actually reported her for cheating on the midterms. Luckily, the school expelled that troublemaker. Serves her right!¡± She added indignantly, ¡°Anyone who¡¯s been trying to bully Sheary better think twice. She¡¯s not someone to mess with.¡± Ruth¡¯s face darkened. She felt a sting, as if she¡¯d been indirectly criticized. But she wasn¡¯t the only one feeling the sting¨CWendelyn felt it too. Her n to ruin Shermaine¡¯s reputation hadn¡¯t just failed; it had almost backfired. She never imagined that the so¨Ccalled cheating scandal was nothing more than a malicious rumor spread by a jealous high school girl. The whole thing started because Ruth had Leslie tutor Shermaine. But what Ross said next sent a chill down Wendelyn¡¯s spine. ¡°I agree, Grandma. If anyone wants to mess with Sheary, they¡¯ll have to go through me first,¡± Ross said with a warm smile. ¡°Besides, University spread nasty rumors about Sheary on the school forum. I¡¯ve already contacted the school, and she¡¯s been expelled.¡± Janice furrowed her brow. ¡°Is that so?¡± t Basterel ¡°Yeah,¡± Ross replied. The girl he mentioned wasn¡¯t Erin; it was Yvonne. Since Yvonne had the guts to take the me, she¡¯d better have the courage to face the consequences. Wendelyn bit her lip, and before long, the taste of blood spread in her mouth. ¡°Ross, it¡¯s all my fault. I never expected Yvie would do that.¡± 1/2 57 Tue, 3 Jun Janice¡¯s cold gaze fell on her. Ross chuckled and subtly scolded, ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you said to your good friend that made her think you¡¯ve had it so rough in this family. ¡°But as far as I can tell, you¡¯ve been treated pretty well, having had everything handed to you since you were little. I thought you¡¯d know better than make things up and cause trouble.¡± Wendelyn kept her head down, tears streaming down her face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I swear I didn¡¯t say anything bad about Shemarine, I had no idea Yvie would misunderstand me like that.¡± Quite protective of Wendelyn, Ruth stood and snapped, ¡°That¡¯s enough! It wasn¡¯t Wendy who framed Shermaine, so why are you ming her?* Ross smiled without saying anything. ¡°Mom, it¡¯s fine. Ross has every right to criticize me. After all, this whole thing started because of me,¡± Wendelyn said. ¡°You¡¯re defending him? He won¡¯t appreciate it anyway,¡± Ruth retorted sharply. ¡°Mom¡­¡± Wendelyn begged. Ross saw through her act and grew impatient. Turning to Janice, he said, ¡°Grandma, go ahead and continue.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± replied Janice. Meanwhile, Shermaine was in the car, on her way to the Jean residence. She had a personal driver to take her around. As they were about to arrive, Shermaine thought to herself, ¡®Tonight, I need to find a way to sneak a hair from Ruth for a DNA test. I have to confirm if my suspicions are correct.¡® Just then, the driver said, ¡°Miss, we¡¯ve arrived.¡± ¡°Got it. Thank you,¡± Shermaine replied, grabbing her backpack and stepping out of the car. The night was cold, and the wind rustled the fallen leaves on the ground. As Shermaine turned around, she noticed a Mercedes parked outside the Jean residence. Then she saw a woman lean in to kiss a middle¨Caged man, appeared to be her father, Jameson, if she wasn¡¯t mistaken. She wasn¡¯t wrong¨Cit was indeed Jameson. When he got out of the car and saw Shermaine, his expression changed slightly but quickly returned to normal. who Nurse walking 64 Chapter 64 Chapter 64 The car turned around and drove off, Jameson walked up to Shermaine and asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you going in?¡± Shermaine lowered her gaze slightly. ¡°I was just about to.¡± Jameson responded with a simple ¡°Hmm.¡± A gust of wind swept past. Shermaine squinted, thinking, ¡®That woman¡¯s perfume lingered on his clothes. It¡¯s revolting, Could this be the same woman he cheated with back then?¡® As soon as Jameson stepped inside, he handed his coat and briefcase to the housekeeper. The housekeeper¡¯s expression shifted briefly as she took the coat, but she didn¡¯t say anything. Jameson hadn¡¯t expected Ross to return from his business trip so soon, but he wasn¡¯t exactly thrilled to see his son either. He just said indifferently. ¡°You are back.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Ross responded coolly. But the moment he spotted Shermaineing in, he smiled brightly. ¡°Sheary, I miss you so much.* Shermaine¡¯s eyes sparkled with joy, and her lips curved into a radiant smile. ¡°Ross, you¡¯re finally back!¡± Ross walked over, grabbed her backpack, and ruffled her hair affectionately. ¡°Finally, you¡¯re back. I¡¯ve been waiting forever!¡± Standing side by side, the two siblings were an absolute showstopper. Though they looked quite alike, their auras werepletely different. Shermaine was strikingly beautiful, while Ross was charmingly gentle. Janice couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®They are undoubtedly the best in this family. But their parents just don¡¯t know a gem when they see one. Shermaine smiled. ¡°If you¡¯d told me you wereing back today, I would¡¯vee home earlier and picked you up.¡± ¡°In the car Joshua gave you?¡± Ross asked. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve been itching to take it out for a spin,¡± Shermaine replied matter¨Cof¨Cfactly. That was exactly what she thought. ¡°You two seem to be getting along well these days,¡± Ross remarked/ Shermaine hadn¡¯t forgotten what Ross had told her, so she replied quickly, ¡°It¡¯s nothing special. I did ept his gift, but don¡¯t worry¨CI will return the favor.¡± Ross was d that Shermaine would return the favor and that she remembered his advice. He offered, ¡°How about I return the favor on your behalf?¡± Shermaine shook her head. ¡°No need. I can handle it myself.¡± She didn¡¯t want to seem like she wasn¡¯t putting in the effort herself. Ross didn¡¯t push further but added warmly, ¡°I got you gifts too. They are in your room. Go check them out after dinner.¡± ¡°Thanks, Ross,¡± Shermaine said with a bright smile. Ross had also brought gifts for Janice and the others, because if he didn¡¯t, people might use him of favoritism. Truth be told, in this family, he only cared about Shermaine and Janice was the only one he truly cared about in this family. So, he had his assistant take care of the gifts for everyone else. The whole family had gathered, and the dinner prepared by the maids, was alreadyid out on the table. The Jeans sat down and began eating. The happiest among them were Shermaine, Ross, and Janice. They chatted andughed, radiating warmth and harmony, like the perfect family. Jameson felt a hint of sadness because his own children weren¡¯t close to him. It was his fault for cheating back then, but he didn¡¯t regret it. Chapter 64 Besides, he and Ruth were nothing more than a couple in name, sharing a house but not a life. Just the thought of spending the rest of hiswICH HU?N, who had be so foolish over the years,pletely killed his appetite. Ruth and Wendelyn were both in a sour mood. Nothing that happened during the day had gone smoothly for them, and this meat was anything but enjoyable. Wendelyn was the first to leave the table, heading upstairs shortly after. Then came Ruth, who received a call about a card game. She set down her fork and went upstairs to get ready to head out. Next was Jameson, who immediately went to his study. The departure of the three didn¡¯t bother Shermaine, Janice, and Ross in the slightest. Shermaine even ended up eating more than usual. After dinner, she sprawled on the sofa, content, squinting her eyes like a well¨Cfed,nguid cat.. Before long, Ruth strutted out in her high heels. She didn¡¯t have the slightest clue that Jameson¡¯s recent habit of leaving early anding homete was because he was enjoying thepany of the other woman. After Shermaine went upstairs, she didn¡¯t rush to see the gifts Ross had brought her. Instead, she slipped quietly into Jameson and Ruth¡¯s master bedroom. Finding Ruth¡¯s hair wasn¡¯t hard. In no time, she picked one up in the dimly lit room and carefully wrapped it in a stic bag before slipping it into her pocket. Just as she was about to leave, she heard footsteps and then Wendelyn¡¯s voice. ¡°I¡¯ll bring it down to you now. Alright, talkter.¡± Wendelyn was about to open the door when Ross asked, ¡°What are you doing outside Mom and Dad¡¯s room?¡± Wendelyn turned around and exined, ¡°Mom forgot her wallet. She asked me to bring it to her.¡± Ross¡¯s face remained calm. ¡°It¡¯s not appropriate for you to go in. I¡¯ll take it to her. You go back to your room.¡± ¡®What does he mean by ¡®not appropriate¡®? Although I¡¯m adopted, I¡¯m part of this family. But Ross makes it seem like I am an outsider, someone who has no right to enter the host¡¯s room. And besides, it¡¯s Mom who asked me to go in,¡¯ thought Wendelyn. But she didn¡¯t want to argue with Ross. So she suppressed her irritation and replied, ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll go back to my room.¡± Ross nodded. Once Wendelyn reached the third floor, he opened the door to the master bedroom and stepped inside. Inside, he saw Shermaine casually leaning against the doorframe, not at all flustered that Wendelyn might have walked in and caught her. ¡°Sheary, what are you doing in here?¡± he asked. Shermaine had no choice but to pull out the hair she had picked up. Ross instantly understood her intentions. ¡°You¡¯ve barely been back, and you¡¯re already suspecting that she isn¡¯t our mother. Honestly, I had the same suspicion years ago. I even did what you¡¯re trying to do, but unfortunately, the DNA test results confirmed she really is our mother.¡± AD Nurse walking 65 Chapter 65 Since Ross had already done the test, Shermaine didn¡¯t see any reason to repeat it. She blinked, slipped the hair back into her pocket, and nned to toss it into the trash can in her room. The results were a bit disappointing, but Shermaine trusted Ross¡¯s thoroughness, knowing there was little chance of error. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder whether it was really true that Ruth had be the way she was because of Jameson¡¯s infidelity. Ross knew Shermaine might be disappointed with the oue, but there was no changing the facts. He had been very discreet back then, and the expert he consulted was reliable¨Cthere would have been no room for error. He ruffled Shermaine¡¯s hair again before saying, ¡°I know you¡¯re disappointed in Mom¨CI feel the same way. But if she keeps hurting you, I won¡¯t hesitate to cut ties with her for your sake.¡± A mother like that wasn¡¯t necessary, but his sister was irreceable. He hadn¡¯t been able to protect Shermaine when they were kids, but now that he had grown up, he wouldn¡¯t allow her to suffer anymore. Shermaine nodded. She was indeed disappointed with the results, but she still believed that a DNA report didn¡¯t prove everything If they were right- that Ruth wasn¡¯t their mother¨Cshe must have nned everything meticulously to assume this identity. That meant exposing her wouldn¡¯t be easy. Shermaine added, ¡°Oh, and guess what? When I got back, I saw Dad making out with a woman in the car.¡± ¡°Did you get a good look at her face?¡± asked Ross. Shermaine thought for a moment. ¡°She had a mole near her ear.¡± It was dark, and she had only caught a glimpse of the woman for a few seconds, so she couldn¡¯t make out her face. But that mole was distinctive¨Chard to forget. Ross nodded. ¡°That¡¯s her. Even though Grandma sent her abroad back then, Dad never cut ties with her. For over a decade, they¡¯ve been in frequent contact. Looks like he¡¯s brought her back now. They even have a son, about your age.¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t feel much for her irresponsible father. But she felt a little sorry for Ruth, who had raised the children alone and managed the family for Jameson, only to be betrayed, ¡°So, looks like you¡¯ve got a rival now, huh?¡± she teased. Ross said in a gentle tone, ¡°He¡¯s just a good¨Cfor¨Cnothing.¡± But his words were sharp. Shermaine chuckled. She thought, ¡®There are probably few men in the city who canpare to Ross. He can handle anyone with ease, except those as exceptional as Joshua. Besides, I will never let anyone mess with my brother.¡® Then she asked, ¡°Ross, do you have any photos of Mom from back then?¡± Ross hesitated for a moment before replying, ¡°I do. I¡¯ll go downstairs to deliver the wallet, and I¡¯ll bring them up for you in a bit.¡± Shermaine nodded. After chatting for a bit, Ross went downstairs to deliver the wallet to Ruth. Shermaine headed upstairs to her room to unwrap the gifts Ross had brought her. There were quite a few gifts, all packed into one big suitcase. The most extravagant one was right on top¨Ca property deed. She nced at the location and thought, ¡®Wow, this must cost a fortune¨Cas expensive as the car Joshua gave me.¡® What truly caught her fancy were the quirky little trinkets Ross had picked out for her. Of course, there were also plenty of designer bags, nes, and perfumes. A few minutester, there was a knock on the door. ¡°Come in,¡± Shermaine said. Ross walked in, holding a photo album. ¡°These are the family photos we took before you went missing.¡± In fact, he hadn¡¯t opened the album strice Ruth changed, afraid that it might stir up too many emotions. Shermaine took the album, It was thin, but somehow felt heavy in her hands. Ross probably didn¡¯t want to look at it, so he mentioned he had a meeting to attend and left the room. Once the door closed again, Shermaine opened the album without hesitation. The woman in the photos had long, flowing hair and looked gentle and graceful. Her lips curved in a soft smile, and her clear eyes radiated rity and intelligence. As Shermaine looked at the photos, she felt an inexplicable sense of closeness to the woman. As she flipped through the pages, she came across a family photo¨Cher whole family together. Ross stood beside Jameson while Ruth held baby Shermaine in her arms. The only thing that seemed off was the unfamiliar woman in the background. She was dressed simply, holding a baby bottle- she looked like a nanny. Shermaine nced at the photos briefly before flipping the page. In less than ten minutes, she finished going through the entire album. She sat down in front of her desk, opened herptop, and stared at the screen for about half a minute. Then, she opened the search bar and typed in the name ¡°Ruth Jean.¡± Shermaine just couldn¡¯t let it go. After seeing the photos, she felt an even stronger urge to know what kind of woman her mother had been fourteen years ago. Soon, Ruth¡¯s personal information appeared on the screen. Her resume was truly remarkable. Before marrying Jameson, she had been a PhD student in biology at Brostead University and had worked alongside a biologist on cloning research. Later, she met Jameson, and the two fell in love. But at the time, the Jean family was on the verge of bankruptcy because of the financial crisis. Without hesitation, Ruth left her research position, invested all her savings into a pharmaceuticalpany affiliated with the Jean Group, and threw herself into drug development. Eventually, she created a drug that inhibited cancer cells, saving the Jean Group from copse. Afterward, they got married, and Ruth took a step back from her career, choosing to focus on taking care of Jameson and the kids. Shermaine¡¯s scrolling stopped abruptly when she saw a photo of Ruth from an interview. She realized that the woman standing next to Ruth in the photo looked exactly like the nanny from the family picture she¡¯d just seen. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Chapter 66 Nurse walking 66 Chapter 66 Shermaine couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®My mother must have liked this woman very much, entrusting her with taking care of the kids and even bringen to work: Curious, she looked up the woman¡¯s personal information. The woman¡¯s name was Madeline Guston. She was born on January 23, 1974, and used to live at Unit 3003, Apartment 5, 125th Street, Sanderson Grave Sheraton District, Basterel. However, there was something strange. Despite working closely with Ruth, Madeline only had a middle school education. On top of that, she looked pretty ordinary, nothing special at all. ¡®Interesting,¡® Shermaine thought. She wanted to meet this woman, so she jotted down the address and decided to visit the next day. Meanwhile, at Riverswood Vi, Joshua rubbed his forehead, lips pressed tightly together, a bit exasperated as he pulled the soaked, malfunctioning robot vacuum out of the water. The robot vacuum, King Tiki, had been acting up nonstop ever since Shermaine upgraded it. But today, when Joshua returned home, he found it had ended up in the fish pond. He had no idea how long it had been there or if it could even be salvaged. It was beyond frustrating. Joshua had originally nned to ask Roy to take a look and see if it could be repaired, but then he remembered Shermaine was the one who upgraded it. So he thought maybe he should wait until she came back and let her handle it. Just then, a car pulled up outside. Logan, Owen¡¯s butler, walked over, holding something in his hands, and greeted Joshua. ¡°Mr. York.¡± ¡°Logan, what brings you here?¡± Joshua asked. Logan handed over a beautifully packaged box. ¡°Your grandfather asked me to deliver the dessert and remind you to pass it on to Ms. Shue.¡± Joshua paused for a moment before taking the box. ¡°How¡¯s Grandpa doing?¡± Logan was filled with excitement as he said eagerly, ¡°The prescription from Ms. Shue has been effective. Mr. York¡¯s health has improved a lot recently.¡± ¡°Have you had Dr. Newman check on him?¡± ¡°No, I thought about calling Dr. Newman, but after Mr. York stopped using his prescriptions, Dr. Newman seemed upset and refused toe back to treat him.¡± ¡°Then find another traditional medicine doctor.¡± ¡°We¡¯re already on it,¡± replied Logan. The new doctor might not be as famous as Darius, but he was still quite well¨Cknown in Basterel. ¡°And as for the dessert¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take it overter.¡± Logan smiled again. ¡°Mr. York said once you¡¯ve delivered it, be sure to send him a photo.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Joshua replied. He sighed inwardly, thinking, ¡®Grandpa is far too concerned about my rtionship with Shermaine. Earlier, Shermaine stayed at my ce for a few days, but when her grandmother returned from the suburbs, she went back to the Jean residence to keep her . Ever since Granddad found out, he¡¯s been bombarding me with messages on WhatsApp, urging me to spend less time on work and with Shermaine. me bonding ¡®I didn¡¯t get the chance to do it, and he¡¯s already starting to intervene himself. Fine, I¡¯ll go over now. Might as well bring the broken vacuum and see if Shermaine can fix it.¡® So, after a long, busy day with no rest, Joshua drove out again, heading toward the Jean residence. Chapter 66 Shermaine hadn¡¯t expected Joshua to show up. Led by the housekeeper, Joshua entered Shermaine¡¯s room, where the gifts Ross had brought back were scattered across the floor and Ben Sherma didn¡¯t feel the least bit embarrassed, maybe because they had lived under the same roof before. Joshua had been here once before. Just likest time, the room was sparsely furnished far from what one¡¯d expect of a typical girl¡¯s space. Noticing the scattered items, he raised an eyebrow. ¡°Your brother¡¯s back?¡± As expected of someone with a sharp mind, he had figured it out with just a nce. Shermaine gave a soft ¡°Hmm¡± in response. Seeing there was nowhere for him to sit, she moved her office chair over and said, ¡°Sit here. She then noticed Joshua holding a stic bag, along with a box that seemed to have food in it. Joshua handed her the dessert first. ¡°Grandpa asked me to bring this over for you.¡± ¡°Thank you for delivering it. And tell Grandpa I said thanks,¡± Shermaine replied, taking the box. She was moved that Joshua, with a packed schedule, had ?¡± she asked. Joshua replied, ¡°King Tiki fell into the fish pond.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Shermaine said, thinking that even after the upgrade, the robot vacuum was still pretty dumb. She then added, ¡°Just leave it there, I¡¯ll deal with it , captivating charm about her,ced with a touch of innocence. Her long hair cascaded around her shoulders, and despite her slender build, she had quite a curvy figure. Shermaine scooped up a bite of the soft, sweet tiramisu and popped it into her mouth. Ever since theirst meal together, Joshua had developed a strange fondness for watching her eat¨Cit was oddly appetizing: At that moment, she was thoroughly enjoying herself. She licked her lips with her soft, pink tongue, savoring the sweetness before taking another bite. Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened with desire, and his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed slightly. He looked down at his shoes and loosened his cor, thinking, ¡®I really shouldn¡¯t be staring¨Cit¡¯s not proper.¡® ¡°This dessert¡¯s really good. Where did Mr. York buy it?¡± asked Shermaine. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± replied Joshua. Shermaine decided to ask Owen herself when she got the chance. Just then, herputer beeped with an alert. Shermaine stood up and woke up the screen of herptop, and her expression turned cold Joshua swiveled his chair around, nced at the glowing screen thoughtfully, and asked, ¡°Someone¡¯s hacking your ?¡± Shermaine¡¯s face was impassive. ¡°Just some idiot.¡± Joshua had a pretty good guess of who that idiot was. Shermaine¡¯s fingers flew over the ck keyboard. The rhythmic tapping of the keys was almost hypnotic, and for a moment, Joshua found himself mesmerized as he watched. 13:58 Tue, 3 Jun AA. Meanwhile, on the other end of the screen, Roy was typing away: [Miss, I mean no harm. I¡¯m just really interested in you. Please don¡¯t ignore me. But before he could send it, his screen flickered a few times and then wentpletely ck, ¡®Wow, she really is something else. She nuked myputer without even breaking a sweat,¡® he thought. ¡®Argh, what a shame. I didn¡¯t even get to send my message.¡® Once she finished, Shermaine closed the lid of herptop and was about to continue with her dessert when Joshua suddenly said, ¡°You¡¯re the new energy expert, right?¡± He had made this guess based on that phone call. Before he even mentioned the project, Shermaine had known what it was about. He had invested in a lot of projects, including multiple research initiatives at Basterel University, but somehow, Shermaine had pinpointed that the breakthrough came from the new energy project. Joshua also noticed that when theputer had been turned on, a program was being written on the screen. That reminded him of the Ol system Sheldon had mentioned. It all made sense now. It was hard to believe that the expert Sheldon had praised so highly was actually a 19¨Cyear¨Cold girl. Shermaine was truly remarkable. Her programming skills were so advanced that even Roy, the third¨Cranked hacker in the world, couldn¡¯t do anything to her. On top of that, she seemed to be talented in medicine, too. Joshua couldn¡¯t help but wonder how Roy would react when he knew that the hacker he was so interested in was actually Shermaine. After all, Roy had a pretty deep bias against her. Shermaine, instinctively looking up, met Joshua¡¯s gaze. She was silent for a few seconds before she casually admitted, ¡°Yeah. Dealing with smart men is such a pain.¡± She had let it slip, but Joshua had managed to piece it together. ¡°Thanks for thepliment,¡± Joshua said with a slight smirk. Noticing a bit of cream at the corner of her mouth, he instinctively wiped it away before adding, ¡°There was cream on your lips.¡± Shermaine stared at him speechlessly, thinking, ¡®Couldn¡¯t you just tell me instead of wiping it off? I¡¯m perfectly capable of doing that myself. Nurse walking 67 Chapter 67 Chapter 67 It was the first time a man had wiped the corner of her mouth, and it made her feel off. She couldn¡¯t quite exin what felt wrong, but everything about it just didn¡¯t sit right. And she couldn¡¯t believe she hadn¡¯t pulled away immediately. She could¡¯ve, but she hadn¡¯t, which wasn¡¯t good. She might not have been in a rtionship before, but she knew well enough that wiping the corner of someone¡¯s mouth was something only a boyfriend would do. But they were an engaged couple in name. Shermaine subtly shifted to the side, her expression neutral. ¡°Thanks.¡± Joshua withdrew his hand, and perhaps realizing she was ufortable with his subconscious move, he paused for a moment and said in a low voice, ¡°Sorry, that was inappropriate.¡± Shermaine pouted slightly and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Then, remembering that Joshua was a wealthy, generous businessman, she smiled and added, ¡°I¡¯m pretty versatite. If you have any professional problemster, feel free toe to me. I¡¯ll give you a discount.¡± Joshua chuckled. ¡°Are you really that strapped for cash?¡± ¡°Yeah, I am,¡± Shermaine replied. She had been financially strapped even before he gave her that ridiculously expensive car, but now that she needed to give him a gift in return, her situation was even worse. She couldn¡¯t help but regret her past indifference toward money now. nd not having saved up a little nest egg. The good thing was, it wasn¡¯t too fate to start Joshua had more than enough money. But he knew that she¡¯d never ept even if he offered some to Shermaine. Without dwelling on it, he said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯lle to you if I need help.¡± Shermaine smiled. Joshua probably never imagined he¡¯d wipe a girl¡¯s mouth, let alone do it so naturally. He saw his constant attention to Shermain, both in private and in public, as merely fulfilling his duty¨Cafter all, they were engaged. When his fingertip brushed against her lips, they felt soft and smooth, like jelly¨Csurprisingly pleasant to the touch. Shermaine¡¯s eyesnded on the smear of cream on his long, slender finger with well¨Cdefined joints. The fact that the cream came from the corner of her mouth made her ears burn a little. She handed him a tissue, saying, ¡°Wipe your hand.¡± Joshua took the tissue and asked, ¡°Does this bother you?¡± Shermaine replied, ¡°Not really. I get why we have to put on a show for others, but when it¡¯s just us, it¡¯s unnecessary.¡± Joshua looked at her closely, his gaze deep. ¡°I told you, we don¡¯t have to keep our distance like this.¡± Shermaine picked up her dessert and sat back on the floor. ¡°If I wanted to keep my distance, I wouldn¡¯t let you stay in my room. Besides, this isn¡¯t about being distant or not.¡± To put it bluntly, she didn¡¯t want to have much to do with her fianc¨¦, in name only. But Joshua, who was known for keeping his distance from women, seemed unusually familiar with her. It looked like he was seeing her in a whole new light. Since Shermaine had made her stance clear, Joshua naturally respected her wishes. ¡°It won¡¯t happen again.¡± Shermaine nodded. Joshua was a man of principle. He always kept his word. If he said it wouldn¡¯t happen again, then it wouldn¡¯t. But Shermaine never expected that Joshua, with his strong sense of principle, wouldter break his promise and try to get more intimate with her,pletely losing all sense of boundaries/ After finishing her dessert, Shermaine picked up King Tiki and started taking it apart again. As expected, after it fell into the fish pond, many parts ve damaged, and some still had water inside. But the chip wasn¡¯tpletely ly ruined¨Cit could be repaired, though it wouldn¡¯t be quick. She carefully disassembled the robot vacuum,ying the parts out on the table. Then she wiped off the water with tissues and used a hairdryer to dry them thoroughly. ¡°You cane pick it up tomorrow night.¡°. Joshua nced at his watch and nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll walk you out,¡± Shermaine offered. ¡°No need,¡± Joshua replied. Then, as if remembering something, he pulled out his phone. ¡°I need to take a picture.¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow, immediately guessing the reason. ¡®Mr. Owen York is really pulling out all the stops, but whatever, she thought. Shermaine looked stunning, even just sitting there. Joshua casually snapped a photo, but with the perfect angle and lighting, the shot turned out incredibly artistic. Afterward, he packed up the dessert box and said, ¡°I¡¯m heading out.¡± Shermaine stood up and started looking for her shoes. Even though Joshua had said not to bother, Shermaine thought it would be better to see him off. After all, she considered herself a polite person. Just as Joshua opened the door, he saw the gentle and refined Ross standing outside, staring at him with sharp eyes. ¡®What¡¯s with that look? Does he think I¡¯m here to steal Shermaine or something?¡® Joshua thought. ¡®Do I look like the type who would do that?¡± Ross seemed to realize his overly defensive gaze and quickly adjusted his expression. Clearing his throat, he asked, ¡°Joshua, it¡¯s sote. What are you doing here with my sister?¡± Joshua replied calmly, ¡°My grandfather asked me to deliver some dessert to Shermaine.¡± ¡°How thoughtful of you,¡± Ross said. Joshua remained indifferent. ¡°Let¡¯s skip the formalities.¡± Ross chuckled lightly. After years of knowing each other, they didn¡¯t need to be that formal. Still, the thought of Joshua as his sister¡¯s fianc¨¦ left him feeling annoyed. The marriage arrangement with the York family had been set by Ross¡¯s grandfather, so the Jeans had no choice but to go along with it. But if Shermaine wanted to break it off, Ross would support her. Unfortunately, too much had happened while Ross was away on business. Shermaine and Joshua had crossed paths and struck some sort of deal, and now their rtionship was tooplicated to untangle easily. Just then, Shermaine stepped out after finding her shoes and putting them on. When she saw Ross, she greeted him. Ross immediately ruffled her hair lovingly. ¡®My sister is so sweet and adorable,¡® he thought. Ross and Shermaine were close and affectionate, despite having been separated for over a decade. In contrast, Shermaine was always distant with Joshua, who felt a faint sense of frustration about it. ¡®Her brother can ruffle her hair all he wants, but I wipe her mouth once and get treated like a stranger. How¡¯s that fair? Joshua thought, swallowing hard and looking away. The night was heavy and still. After seeing Joshua off, Shermaine made her way back to her room. As she was heading upstairs, she ran into Wendelyning down. Wendelyn immediately clenched her fist, her eyes shing with hatred. 58% Shermaine raised an eyebrow but wasn¡¯t nning on acknowledging her. Just as she was about to walk past, Wendelyn grabbed her wrist, her nails digging in, causing a sharp pain. ¡°Shermaine, you¡¯re so annoying,¡± she spat. Shermaine shot her a cold,manding look. ¡°Let go.¡± Nurse walking 68 Chapter 68 Although Shermaine¡¯s tone was soft, Wendelyn felt an overwhelming pressure, as though she couldn¡¯t breathe. Wendelyn was consumed by hatred¨Chatred that Shermaine was the family¡¯s true blood while she was merely adopted, and hatred for Sherman return. If Shermaine hadn¡¯te back, Joshua would be Wendelyn¡¯s fianc¨¦, and Ross would still be her brother and hers alone. Jealousy surged within Wendelyn like a storm, wild and uncontroble, making her want to tear everything apart. ¡°Mom only loves me and only cares for me. That must drive you crazy, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Wendelyn said, deliberately trying to provoke Shermaine. ¡°And Dad you¡¯ve realized, haven¡¯t you? If it weren¡¯t for Joshua taking an interest in you, do you think he¡¯d even bother looking at you? ¡°Shermaine, your biological parents never wanted you back. Why did you even bother returning? They¡¯ll never love you. They only love me.¡± Shermaine had no patience for people who didn¡¯t matter to her. Her voice turned icy as she said, ¡°I don¡¯t care whether they love me or not. But if you don¡¯t let go, I¡¯ll make you.¡± Wendelyn froze, hershes fluttering as panic flickered in her eyes. Under Shermaine¡¯s chilling gaze, she reluctantly released her grip. Looking at the red marks¨Csome deep, some faint¨Cleft by Wendelyn¡¯s tight grip, Shermaine scoffed, ¡°How pathetic.¡± Wendelyn¡¯s face turned pale with rage. Just then, Jameson happened to step out of the study and overheard Shermaine¡¯s sharp words. His face darkened, and he snapped, ¡°Shermaine, is this how you should talk to your sister?¡± Meanwhile, he grumbled inwardly, ¡®It¡¯s one thing for Shermaine to act tough with outsiders, but how could she be so harsh with Wendy? They may not be close, but Wendy is still her sister. ¡®Sure, Wendelyn crossed the line earlier, secretly having feelings for Joshua¨Cbut that¡¯s understandable. She¡¯s been in love with him for years. She just needs more time to let go. Besides, Wendy¡¯s position in this family is pretty difficult right now. ¡®Shermaine now has everything going her way. Couldn¡¯t she soften her attitude just a little? Ever since Mom came back from the suburbs, she hasn¡¯t stopped giving Wendelyn the cold shoulder. Wendy¡¯s been part of this family for fourteen years -she¡¯s sweet, thoughtful, and talented. But Shermaine? She hasn¡¯t reached out to me once since she returned, unless I went to her first. And tonight, Joshua came over, and she didn¡¯t even tell me or bring him to the study to meet me.¡® Shermaine replied tly, ¡°I don¡¯t see any problem with it.¡± Ever since she¡¯d learned that Jameson was an unfaithful scumbag with an illegitimate son her age, she couldn¡¯t stand the sight of him. Pressing her lips together, she added, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m going upstairs now.¡± Jameson was engaged by her tone. At first, he hadn¡¯t nned on scolding Shermaine¨Cafter all, she had the backing of both Janice and Ross, who pampered her heavily. And with Joshua in her corner, too, she could practically do whatever she wanted in Basterel. Even Jameson, as her father, sometimes had to tread carefully around her. But her cold, dismissive attitude toward Jameson really got under his skin. ¡°Stop right there!¡± he barked. Shermaine stopped in her tracks, nced up, and stared at him silently. Jameson demanded, ¡°Apologize to Wendy. Shermaine responded with a cold, mocking smile. 13:58 Tue 3 Jun ADA Chapter 68 ¡°Did you hear me?¡± Jameson continued. Sensing the tension between Jameson and Shermaine, Wendelyn instantly seized the chance to stir things up. She said, ¡°Dad, it¡¯s my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have grabbed Shermaine¡¯s wrist, especially knowing how much she hates it. Please don¡¯t be upset. You¡¯ve been so busy with work , don¡¯t let this affect your health¨Cit¡¯s not worth it.¡± Hearing that, Jameson couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®Wendy¡¯s been living with us, and sure enough, she is thoughtful and sweet¨Cunlike Poss and Shermaine, who are both so hard to get along with.¡® H¨¦ continued, ¡°Even so, she shouldn¡¯t have said something like that. What was she gonna do if you didn¡¯t let go? Break your arm?¡± His voice grew louder as he went on. ¡°Only a cold and heartless person would say such things.¡± Wendelyn softly interjected, ¡°Shermain isn¡¯t such a person.¡± Jameson snorted. Hearing footsteps approaching, Shermaine said calmly, ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯m apologizing. After all, in your eyes, I¡¯ll never measure up to Wendelyn. I just gave her a warning, and you immediately jumped to her defense without ever considering whether I was hurt when she grabbed my wrist. ¡°You¡¯re just like Mom¨Calways quick to point fingers without hearing me out. And when you realize you were wrong, you just brush it off with a few words and some money to make it go away. ¡°When Grandma and Ross aren¡¯t around, if it weren¡¯t for Joshua protecting me, I can¡¯t even imagine how much I¡¯d have to endure.¡± With that, she pulled her sleeve up intentionally, revealing the red marks on her wrist. ¡°Wendelyn just admitted she was wrong, yet you¡¯re only yelling at me.¡± Wendelyn¡¯s smile froze the moment she saw the marks. She hadn¡¯t realized she¡¯d gripped Shermaine so hard that it left marks. Jameson saw the marks too. His eyes widened in anger as he thought, ¡®Isn¡¯t she calling me a lousy father who cares more for an outsider than my own daughter?¡® But before he could say anything, Janice¡¯s furious voice rang out. ¡°You heartless fool! You¡¯ve never cared about Shermaine, and you still have the nerve to lecture her?¡± Jameson felt his scalp tingle as he quickly exined, ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve just been busy with work.¡± Janice mocked, ¡°Busy with work? You know better than anyone whether that¡¯s true or not. Don¡¯t think you can pull one over on me just because I¡¯m old and sick.¡± Jameson felt even guiltier, but he kept his expression calm. Ross came down the stairs and said, ¡°Sheary, let me see your wrist. Is the skin broken?¡± Shermaine lowered her gaze and said softly, ¡°Ross, I didn¡¯t mean to be so harsh with Wendelyn. It¡¯s just she grabbed my wrist so hard it hurt.¡± Ross¡¯s gaze darkened as he saw the red marks on Shermaine¡¯s wrist. He looked at Jameson and said, ¡°Dad, now you know who should be apologizing, right?¡± Jameson felt a headacheing on as he stared at Ross and Shermaine in front of him. His eyes darkened slightly, and it was hard to tell what he was thinking. With no other choice, he said, ¡°Wendy, apologize to your sister.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Shermaine,¡± Wendelyn said, swallowing her frustration. Her own scheme got her into trouble. The small drama didn¡¯t affect Shermaine¡¯s mood. She returned to her room, half an hour doing yoga, drank some milk, and slept soundly through the night washed her hands, and went back to what she was doing. She then spent The next morning, Shermaine requested a half¨Cday leave from her homeroom teacher. After breakfast, she got into the car Joshua had given her and set off. 13:58 Tue, 3 Jun The houses in Sanderson Grove were old. With the help of the GPS, she quickly found Unit 3003, Apartment 5, 125th Street. The door was closed, but she could hear the sound of a televisioning from inside. Shermaine raised her hand and knocked on the door. Before long, an old woman with white hair opened the door. Her voice was raspy as she asked, ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Shermaine lowered her head slightly and exined her reason foring. ¡°Hello, ma¡¯am. I¡¯m here to see Ms. Madeline Guston.¡± At the mention of Madeline, the old woman¡¯s pupils contracted, and her expression turned strange. ¡°Maddie died in a car ident fourteen years ago,¡± she said. Nurse walking 69 Chapter 69 Shermaine was surprised to hear that Madeline was dead, and her gaze deepened. After saying that, the old woman began to study Shermaine, who was stunning and graceful, even in casual clothes. Upon closer look, she found Shermaine familiar. After thinking for a moment, she finally realized Shermaine looked like Ruth. Her hand, resting on the cane, trembled slightly. She narrowed her eyes and asked, ¡°You are Ruth Shermaine replied calmly, ¡°Yes, I am.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Shermaine Shue.¡± The old woman stared at her with wary, cloudy eyes. ¡°What brings you here?¡± Jean¡¯s biological daughter?¡± Shermaine responded lightly, ¡°Oh, nothing much. I¡¯m just curious about the rtionship between Ms. Guston and my mother.¡± She paused before adding with a smile, ¡°Could I get a ss of water? I¡¯m a little thirsty.¡± The old woman was probably Madeline¡¯s mother, Freya Guston. Freya fell silent for a few seconds before stepping aside to let Shermaine in. The apartment wasn¡¯t big¨Cabout 900 square feet. The furniture was old and worn, but the ce was spotless. Even the bookshelves were dust¨Cfree. There were men¡¯s clothes on the sofa and two cups on the table¨Cit was obvious Fraye wasn¡¯t living here alone. Shermaine sat down on the couch, and Freya quickly brought over a cup of water. Although Freya walked with a cane and had a slight limp, her movements were steady. For someone in her sixties, she was impressively fit¨Cclearly someone who had trained in martial arts. Freya sat down and said, ¡°Maddie was just your mother¡¯s assistant. What kind of connection could they possibly have?¡± ¡°As far as I know, my mom trusted her a lot,¡± Shermaine replied, taking the cup. Her fingers lightly traced the edge of the cup as she continued, ¡°I¡¯d like to know¨Cwhat exactly happened to Ms. Guston in that car ident?¡± Freya¡¯s expression darkened. She reached under the table, pulled out an old newspaper, and tossed it in front of Shermaine. The newspapernded on the table, sending up a small puff of dust. Shermaine picked it up and nced at it. The newspaper was yellowed, and the headline stood out in bold letters: [Assistant to Ruth Jean of Jean Group Dies in Car ident, Driver Flees the Scene!] Shermaine checked the date¨Cit had happened before she went missing. ¡°Has the driver still not been caught?¡± Freya scoffed, ¡°Back then, catching a criminal wasn¡¯t easy. Even now, it¡¯s hard to catch a fugitive. What good are those cops anyway?¡± Shermaine could tell Freya had little respect for the police. She smiled faintly, choosing not to respond to that. Instead, she asked, ¡°Would you mind telling me where Ms. Guston is buried?¡± ¡°In the Serenity Cemetery, not far from here.¡± Shermaine smiled again and set the cup down.¡°Thanks for telling me all this. Since I¡¯m here, I may as well visit Madeline¡¯s gravl be on my way now. ¡°Take care,¡± Freya said, picking up the cup and heading to the kitchen. Shermaine had just stepped outside when she bumped into a in¨Clooking man dressed in ck. The man¡¯s eyes instantly darkened with malice, and without a word, he swung his fist straight at her. Tue 3 Jun Chapter 69 The punch cut through the air with force if itnded, it would hurt like hell. Shermaine didn¡¯t panic. She sidestepped the attack with ease, clenched her fist, and struck back. Her sharp instincts picked up a faint trace of killin intent¨Che had clearly mistaken her for a threat. The man seemed taken aback by Shermaine¡¯s skill, but the bloodlust in his eyes only grew more intense. With a swift kick, Shermaine sent him flying into the door across the hallway. The door rattled loudly from the impact. Then she grabbed an umbre from the corner and pressed its tip against his throat. If he dared to move, she¡¯d make sure he regretted it. The man red at her with unrelenting hostility, cing his hand on the bag that had fallen beside him. At that moment, Freya walked out of the house. ¡°Miss, you¡¯ve got some serious skills. But there¡¯s no need to be so hard on my son. He¡¯s got some mental issues and doesn¡¯t like strangers in the house. He didn¡¯t mean to attack you.¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow and moved the umbre away. ¡°Zack, apologize to thedy,¡± Freya ordered. Zack continued to re at Shermaine silently. Then, he stood up, grabbed his bag, and walked back inside. Freya quickly offered an apologetic smile. Shermaine wasn¡¯t one to hold grudges. Besides, she suspected the man might be on the autism spectrum or have a hint of antisocial behavior. Returning the umbre to its ce, she turned and walked away. The door mmed shut, and Room 3003 fell into an eerie silence. Zack scowled. ¡°Mom, why¡­ why don¡¯t we¡­ just kill her?¡± he stammered, but the murderous intent in his voice was unmistakable. Freya¡¯s expression turned grim. ¡°Don¡¯t ever say that again. You saw for yourself¨Cyou¡¯re no match for her. Give me your phone.¡± Meanwhile, at a high¨Cend beauty salon, Ruth was recliningfortably, enjoying a soothing facial massage. A staff member came over to remind her, ¡°Ma¡¯am, your phone¡¯s been ringing nonstop.¡± ¡°Can you check who¡¯s calling?¡± Ruth replied. The staff member nced at the screen. ¡°There¡¯s no name attached.¡± Ruth let out a casual ¡°Oh¡± and said dismissively, ¡°Just reject it. It¡¯s probably another spam call. So annoying.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± the staff member said, not only rejecting the call but also blocking the number. She was proud of her attentive service. Shermaine didn¡¯t go to the Serenity Cemetery to visit Madeline¡¯s grave. Instead, she drove off. Her instincts told her the car ident wasn¡¯t as simple as it seemed¨Cbut for now, she had no leads to follow. ¡®There¡¯s no need to rush. I¡¯ll figure this out, one step at a time,¡® she thought. That evening, Joshua came to pick up King Tiki. He brought the same dessert from the night before and carried a bag with a gift box inside. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Shermaine asked. ¡°It¡¯s the dress for our engagement party next month,¡± Joshua said, handing her the box. ¡°It just arrived today. Go ahead and try it on to see if it fits Nurse walking 70 Chapter 70 Joshua stepped into Sheimaine¡¯s room again. Shermaine said, ¡°Don¡¯t mind me just gonna slip into this real quick.¡± Joshua replied softly, ¡°Okay.¡± Shermaine headed straight for the walk¨Cin closet. In the room, King Tiki had indeed been repaired and was now spinning around the room. Sensing Joshua¡¯s arrival, it started ying a cheerful tune again, circling excitedly around his feet. ¡°Good evening! King Tiki is now version 3.0! Thanks to Princess Sheary, I¡¯ve got a navigation system¨Cno rhore getting lost or falling into fish ponds!¡± Apparently, itsnguage database had been enhanced. Joshua nced down at King Tiki and asked, ¡°What other¡­ upgrades did she give.you?¡± ¡°I can take out the trash and put out fires!¡± King Tiki spun around in circles. ¡°Master, praise me!¡± Joshua thought Shermaine over¨Cengineered thisnguage database. In the walk¨Cin closet, Shermaine took out the haute couture gown. The cool, silky fabric slipped through her fingers. As she held it, it suddenly hit her their engagement day was just around the corner. ¡®Time really does fly,¡¯ she thought. It wasn¡¯t an overly extravagant design¨Cjust a snow¨Cwhite evening gown with a flowing skirt dotted with sequins. The spaghetti straps, delicately adorned with tiny pearls, added a whisper of luxury. Simple yet deceptively alluring, it was exactly Shermaine¡¯s style. She had a feeling it would look stunning on her. Shermaine slipped into the dress and checked her reflection, lips curling in satisfaction. ¡®Fits like a glove¨Cno alterations needed,¡® she mused. ¡®No need to show Joshua, right? This was just a fitting, and it¡¯s perfect as is.¡¯ Since everything seemed fine, Shermaine decided to change out of the dress. Her fingers found the zipper at the back, but halfway down, it snagged on her hair. She tugged harder, tilting her head back slightly, and a sharp sting shot across her scalp as strands were painfully yanked. There¡¯s a small balcony with a lounge chair in Shermaine¡¯s room. Joshua stood outside, the autumn breeze brushing past him, With one hand tucked in his pocket and his eyes darkened, he gazed into the endless night. Joshua felt the urge to smoke, but this was Shermaine¡¯s space¨Cit wouldn¡¯t be proper. After waiting for quite a while without her finishing changing anding out, his phone happened to ring. Inside, after all her struggling, Shermaine felt warm all over, her cheeks flushed a delicate pink like she¡¯d brushed on rouge, making her look irresistibly alluring. Though her hands were usually nimble, unable to see, she couldn¡¯t free the hair tangled in the stubborn zipper. With no other choice, Shermaine pushed open the closet door with a scowl and stepped out. Joshua stood on the balcony, the breeze tousling his hair, yet leaving hisposed and unppable demeanor untouched. Phone in hand, he was deep in a business conversation. Just as Joshua seemed about to hang up¨CShermaine opened her mouth to call him, he turned around and their gazes colucu. Joshua had to admit that Shermaine looked stunning in that dress¨Cthe perfect mix of innocence and allure. Yet as Joshua¡¯s gaze lingered on her corbone, those alluring glimpses stirred an unfamiliar restlessness in him¨Cunsettling for a man so ascetic and self¨Cdisciplined. Joshua frowned slightly and said, ¡°Better bring a shawl to wear on the engagement day.¡± Shermaine arched a brow. ¡°Since when are you so conservative?¡± 1.05 Chapter 70 Joshua¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed slightly, but he offered noment. ¡®Fine, I¡¯ll bring one then, she thought to herself. Shermaine didn¡¯t mind, but in her eyes, Joshua had officially morphed into a conservative relic. Seeing his silence and remembering her own pun ward predicament, she moistened her lips and asked, ¡°Could you help me out?¡± He said, ¡°Go on.¡± Shermaine turned around. ¡°My hair is caught,¡± she said. Joshua stepped in from the balcony and said, ¡°Let me take a look.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Shermaine turned around without hesitation, presenting her back to him. It wasn¡¯t the first time they¡¯d been this close, after all. As Joshua stepped closer, hismanding presence enveloped Shermaine. He was so near, it felt almost as if he were holding her from behind. His warm breath tickled her back, and every so often, his calloused fingertips grazed her skin. Shermaine was quite sensitive to his touch, her toes curling slightly in response. Luckily, it didn¡¯t take long. Soon, Joshua¡¯s deep voice sounded close to her ear. ¡°All done.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Shermaine said. Shermaine got to her feet, about to leave, when she identally kicked King Tiki¨Cshe hadn¡¯t noticed the little robot at her feet. Kicked by ident, King Tiki let out a startled yelp. Startled, Shermaine instinctively stepped back and trod on her own skirt, stumbling right into Joshua¡¯s arms behind her. Joshua slipped his hand around her waist, steadying her with ease. It was a rare sight to see her so flustered, and a flicker of amusement crossed his eyes. Shermaine thought, ¡®Well, great. Now I¡¯m really in Joshua¡¯s arms.¡® 10 Comment Nurse walking 71 Chapter 71 King Tiki¡¯s glowing blue eyes darted between the two, who pressed close together. Then, bouncing around excitedly, he chanted, ¡°Kiss! Kissl¡± Shermaine thought to herself, ¡®Honestly, I¡¯m starting to regret upgrading this thing! Joshua felt amused. After King Tiki spoke, the atmosphere became indescribably awkward. Still, Shermaine lived by one golden rule: if anyone was sweating, it sure wasn¡¯t her. She had no idea if Joshua was squirming, but she sure wasn¡¯t. Shermaine deadpanned, ¡°Shut up.¡± Upon receiving themand, King Tiki fell silent. Shermaine stepped back, putting some space between them, while Joshua remainedposed, as if nothing had happened. ¡°I¡¯ll go change,¡± Shermaine said. Joshua simply replied, ¡°Mm.¡± When Shermaine came out after changing, Joshua was already gone. He had taken King Tiki with him, leaving a note on the table: I have to leave for an urgent matter. Shermaine raised an eyebrow slightly. ¡®Just as well he¡¯s gone,¡® she thought. Seated in the chair, Shermaine was lost in thought for a moment before picking up the dessert on the table and taking a bite. Shermaine was only briefly curious about Madeline at first, wanting to learn more about Ruth¡¯s past. She never expected to find out that Madeline had died in a car ident. Of course, she could ask Janice about the past, but after sharing only the bare essentials, Janice refused to say another word about Ruth. Ruth must have been such a drama queen over the years that Janice couldn¡¯t even stand to mention her name anymore. Recalling the details of her conversation with Freya earlier that day/Shermaine couldn¡¯t help but notice how unnaturally calm Freya had been when Madeline¡¯s death was brought up¨Cthere was no grief at all, only a guarded wariness toward her. That was why, after leaving, Shermaine couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that the car ident was far more suspicious than it appeared. The car ident must be recorded in the police database. Shermaine set down her dessert, her fingers dancing across the keyboard. essing data¡­ ess sessful. Undetected, Shermaine infiltrated the police department¡¯s security system¨Cslipping in silently, stealing the data, and vanishing without a trace. Shermaine pulled up the case file, only to find the records pitifully scant¨Cbarely any information about the ident. But there was one crucial lead: a mere ten¨Csecond clip of surveince footage from the scene. The surveince footage, captured on a rainy night, was badly blurred by the rain and re, making it virtually unusable. Through the blurry footage, she could faintly make out Madeline walking into the middle of the road with an umbre. For some unknown reason, Madeline paused there for a moment¨Cand in that split second, a car suddenly sped out of nowhere, mming into her and sending her flying several yards away. Chapter 71 The surveince footage didn¡¯t capture the license te, but after the crash, the driver stuck his head out again and cast a suspicious nce in Madeline¡¯s direction, ¡®Way too dark¨Ccan¡¯t make out who it is,¡® Shermaine thought. ¡®But that doesn¡¯t matter. Now that I¡¯ve got the footage, clearing it up won¡¯t be a problemi, Shermaine thought confidently. Just then, a sharp knock at the door interrupted her. Shermaine got up to answer the door. It was Janice at the door. Janice peered inside. ¡°Has Joshua left already?¡± she asked. ¡°Yeah,¡± Shermaine replied. Janice muttered, ¡°Left so soon? Could¡¯ve stayed a bit longer.¡± Shermaine of course heard that. ¡®Looks like Grandma is just as invested in our rtionship as Mr. York, Shermaine thought, rubbing her temples. ¡®All this meddling from the elders is really starting to get on my nerves.¡® Shermaine wondered, ¡®If Joshua and I break up, will those two just lose it on the spot?¡® Meanwhile, Wendelyn sat at the bar, heavily made¨Cup and drowning her sorrows in alcohol. Dressed like this in the dim, noisy bar, she was a far cry from her usual self¨Cmaking her nearly unrecognizable, just as she¡¯d nned. It had been ages since Wendelyn dressed up like this and hit the bar, but she¡¯d finally reached her breaking point. Shermaine¡¯s constant provocations were driving her insane¨Cshe desperately needed to vent. As she downed one drink after another, the frustration inside her only grew stronger. Suddenly, she mmed her ss to the floor. Wendelyn, her eyes bloodshot and teeth gritted, screamed hysterically, ¡°Shermaine! You fucking bitch!¡± Little did she know, this outburst had already caught the attention of a man watching from the shadows. Sitting in the shadows, the man swirled his ss. Turning to the woman beside him, he said, ¡°Go invite that woman over here.¡± After that woman swayed away with serpentine grace, the other women in the bar began to stir. This was Kingston Wright, the second heir of the ck River Company¨Crumor had it he was extremely generous. A night with him could mean serious benefits. But wait, isn¡¯t the ck River Company in the middle of picking an heir? Shouldn¡¯t he be busy fighting for his inheritance instead of hanging out in bars?¡® they thought. Just as the other women were about to strut over and show off their charms, date brought another woman over to him¨Cshe looked quite familiar. Wendelyn scowled, her voice dripping with irritation. ¡°What do you want?¡± Kingston poured her a drink with a charming smile. ¡°Have a seat, Ms. Jean. Rather than drowning your sorrows alone, how about I keep youpany? Let¡¯s have a little chat.¡± At his words, Wendelyn¡¯s face paled again. Shermaine stayed up extremelyte that night¨Cshe was swamped, juggling hacking missions while working to enhance the surveince footage. At this rate, she¡¯d be burning the midnight oil for days toe. 20 That morning. Shermaine dragged herself to school, yawning a few times before slumping over her desk. The moment she closed her eyes, she was out like a light, instantly catching up on lost sleep. Byte morning, Summer finally managed to wake her and dragged her off to the cafeteria for lunch. Suddenly, a student¡¯s scream pierced the air. Shermaine turned toward the scream and saw a girl copse on the floor, foaming at the mouth. The surrounding students stood frozen in shock. Without hesitation, she dropped her fork and rushed over. AD Nurse walking 72 Chapter 72 Shermaine stepped forward to examine her condition. Foaming at the mouth was usually a clear sign of epilepsy. The pathological causes of epilepsy were primarily gic factors, or other intracranial disorders such as brain tumors and cerebrovascr diseases. Shermaine could see the girl was barely conscious, her breathing faint. With practiced calm, Shermaine gently loosened the girl¡¯s cor and carefully tilted her head to the side to keep her airway clear. When the girl began to convulse, Shermaine swiftly removed her own jacket, rolled it into a firm bundle, and ced it between the girl¡¯s teeth to prevent tongue biting. Shermaine quickly checked the girl¡¯s pockets and the small bag on her back, but found no medication. ¡®If this were hereditary epilepsy, she should always have her meds with her,¡® Shermaine thought. That suggested there might be another cause. After a few moments of convulsions, that girl suddenly went still. Shermaine had already called for an ambnce. As the girl¡¯s consciousness seemed to return a little, Shermaine handed her the jacket. Taking it weakly, she murmured, ¡°My head hurts 50 bad.¡± Hearing her speak, Shermaineforted, ¡°Hang in there, the ambnce is on its way.¡± The girl was quite adorable. Hearing Shermaine¡¯s words, she murmured softly and clung to Shermaine¡¯s hand, as if only by holding on could she feel safe. The ambnce arrived quickly, but the girl clung tightly to Shermaine¡¯s hand and wouldn¡¯t let go. Left with no choice, Shermaine had to apany her to the hospital. When they arrived at the hospital, a doctor immediately stepped forward./ Shermaine ordered, ¡°Head CT now.¡± The doctor looked up at her and said, ¡°I¡¯m the doctor here. I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± However, the girl¡¯s lips were growing paler by the second. Shermaine insisted, ¡°I told you! Get her a head CT now!¡± It was the first time the doctor had beenmanded in such an authoritative tone by a young girl. When he met her piercing gaze, far from being angry, he actually felt strangely intimidated. The doctor replied, ¡°I¡¯ll get that arranged right away.¡± Meanwhile, at Basterel University, Yvonne had been expelled from university. ¡®I do feel some regret¨Cafter all, I sacrificed my promising future to take the fall for Wendelyn. But when I remember how she covered my father¡¯s massive medical bills, even with regrets, I can¡¯t bring myself toin.¡® she thought. Her dad had made it through and was now recovering. He should gradually get better soon. Yet for some reason, Wendelyn contacted Yvonne again. Yvonne felt a bit uneasying there. They arranged to meet at a gazebo near library¨Ca spot that remainedrgely deserted during the day. After a few minutes, Wendelyn finally showed up. She called out, ¡°Yvonne.¡± Yvonne removed her mask. ¡°Wendy,¡± she said. As Wendelyn approached her, she asked softly, ¡°No one spotted youing here, right?¡± Yvonne shook her head. ¡°No,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Wendelyn said. Yvonne asked, ¡°Wendy, why did you ask to see me?¡± Wendelyn lowered her head and pressed her lips. ¡°I need you to do one more thing for me. Once you¡¯re done, I¡¯ll fund your studies abroad. How does that sound?¡± Yvonne was taken aback. For someone who had already been expelled, the offer of overseas education was highly tempting. After some hesitation, she asked, ¡°What¡­ what is it?¡± Wendelyn beckoned her closer with a finger. Yvonne¡¯s body tensed before she leaned in. As soon as the head CT images for the student from First High came out, the doctor immediately found a tumor in her brain. The tumor was pressing on her cranial nerves, which exined her epileptic seizures. It was an early¨Cstage tumor, so surgical removal should be straightforward. But it was in a tricky spot¨Cburied a bit too deep. The doctor was just about to call the hospital¡¯s neurosurgery specialist when the assertive female student strode in. ¡°Results ready?¡± she demanded. The doctor, still a bit stunned, replied, ¡°Uh¡­ yeah, they¡¯re out.¡± ¡°Show me the scans,¡± Shermaine said. Still affected by what had happened earlier, the doctor instinctively stepped aside for her. Shermaine leaned in, studying the CT scans on the monitor intently. The doctor couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡®Can this high school girl really read these CT scans?¡® Shermaine gave the scans a quick nce and asked, ¡°Can your neurosurgeons operate on this tumor?¡± The doctor pondered for a moment and said, ¡°We can perform the surgery, but the risks are considerable. We¡¯ll need the specialist¡¯s evaluation.¡± He also thought, ¡®Besides, the girl¡¯s family hasn¡¯t even arrived yet.¡¯ Shermaine nodded coolly and dered, ¡°If they can¡¯t handle it, I¡¯ll do it myself.¡± The doctor was left speechless, staring in disbelief. AD Comment Nurse walking 73 Chapter 73 Epileptic seizures caused by a brain tumorpressing nerves could usually be cured by removing the tumor¨Cthe primary cause. Once the tumor was excised, most seizures resolved. The doctor almost thought he was hearing things, but there was no mistake¨Che clearly heard the high school girl say she could do it herself, The After a long pause, he finally replied, ¡°You must be joking, youngdy.¡± Then he added reassuringly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. While our doctors may not be as famous as Dr. Shelly from Yaleview Hospital, every attending physician here has decades of surgical experience. You¡¯re in good hands.¡± Shermaine pressed her lips together and remained silent. Wearing her school uniform and without any ID on her, she knew she didn¡¯t seem credible enough, so she simply gave up trying to exin. The doctor picked up the phone to call for a specialist. It wasn¡¯t long before the specialist walked in. The two doctors got straight to discussing the case. Shermaine listened to their conversation and thought to herself, ¡®No major issues here, but that poor girl¨Cdeveloping a tumor at such a young age. Tumor removal isn¡¯t aplete cure, and the recurrence rate is still quite high.¡¯ To ensure the student¡¯s postoperative recovery, boost her survival chances, and enable her to take the SAT next year, Shermaine picked up a pen and paper from the desk and began writing a prescription. After finishing the prescription, Shermaine handed it to the doctor. ¡°Dr. Markley, this is a prescription for her postoperative recovery. Please follow my instructions for her medication after the surgery. Thank you.¡± This was a first for Norman Markley. ¡®Where did this girl evene from? ¡®Can the medicine really be taken so casually? ¡®Just use it like that? What if the patient developsplicationster¡ªwho¡¯s going to take responsibility?¡® Norman couldn¡¯t help but wonder. But when he nced at the prescription, his eyes widened in surprise. Softening his tone, he asked, ¡°Youngdy, may I ask who trained you in medicine?¡± ¡®She must have a master,¡® Norman mused. Shermaine replied, ¡°Danielle Shelly is my senior.¡± ¡®In Wallington¡¯s medicalmunity, Danielle is legendary¨Cfamous for her youth and extraordinary medical skills. ¡®But how could Danielle¡¯s apprentice be just a high school girl? ¡®That doesn¡¯t make sense!¡® Norman thought. Danielle graduated from Sterling University. Shermaine swiftly scribbled down a series of numbers. ¡°This is Danielle¡¯s personal number. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to her just mention my name, Shermaine Shue.¡± Her manner was so open and aboveboard, it didn¡¯t seem like she was lying. Moreover, the prescription was absolutely impabile ¨C meticulously detailed and professionally crafted. It resembled the work of a Veteran practitioner with decades of experience. In fact, even the most seasoned herbalists might hesitate to prescribe such boldbinations as she did. As soon as she left, the doctor turned to Norman and asked, ¡°Dr. Markley, about that prescription¡­¡± Norman murmured, ¡°Priceless.¡± The doctor was stunned. ¡®Wait¡­ so when she said she could perform the surgery herself earlier, she actually meant it?¡® ¡°Contact this number,¡± Norman instructed. ¡°Okay,¡± the doctor said, and dialed the number immediately. Danielle picked up immediately. ¡°Hello?¡± The doctor instantly recognized that voice¨Cit was his goddess, after all. He became so flustered he started stammering incoherently, until Norman took over the call. ¡°Hello, Dr. Shelly. May I ask if you know Shermaine Shue?¡± Danielle stated solemnly, ¡°Shermaine is my junior sister.¡± Thinking Shermaine kept a low profile and often encountered obstacles practicing medicine, Danielle continued, ¡®You should look into Sterling University¡¯s genius all¨Cround surgeon¨CMs. Shue.¡± After leaving the doctor¡¯s office, Shermaine informed her teacher and then left the hospital, heading back to school. Just then, an ambnce pulled up and paramedics helped out a sobbing college girl. ¡°It was so scary¡­¡± she wailed, tears streaming down her face. The counselor who got out of the ambnce with her scolded, ¡°At your age, this is sheer recklessness! If Wendelyn hadn¡¯t been passing by, you¡¯d be in a body bag. Don¡¯t you dare forget to thank her.¡± The girl¡¯s expression darkened. Resentfully, she said, ¡°I only fell in because my legs gave out. If others hadn¡¯t rushed over, there¡¯s no way she would have jumped in to save me¨Cshe was just putting on a show.¡± ¡°How can you be so heartless? How dare you say something like that?¡± The college girl protested in her heart, ¡®I¡¯m telling the truth! Why won¡¯t you believe me? Fine, I¡¯ll find proof to show you.¡¯ Because the incident happened at the prestigious Basterel University and involved Wendelyn, the campus belle, the media quickly capitalized on the story. Soon, she was trending online¨Cdubbed ¡°Most Beautiful College Girl¡± byizens. That afternoon, at the tennis court, phone in hand, Roy approached Joshua, who had just finished ying and was drinking water in the rest area. With his sses off, his eyes looked more intense and predatory than ever. ¡°Joshua, look! Wendelyn¨CMost Beautiful College Girl. Too bad you didn¡¯t go for her!¡± Joshua tilted his head back, taking a swig of water. At those words, he abruptly crushed the bottle in his hand, his eyes darkening. In a dangerously low voice, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve told you before¨Cdon¡¯t mention her in front of me.¡± Just then, Henry came back from the court, grabbed a towel and wiped the sweat from his face. With a smirk, he said, ¡°Roy, if you keep this up, Joshua might just banish you to some backwater.¡± He added teasingly, ¡°So, how much did Wendelyn pay you to keep shilling for her in front of him?¡± Roy sulkily put away his phone. ¡°She¡¯s actually a good person¨Chowe none of you can see that?¡± Henry couldn¡¯t be bothered with him. He didn¡¯t care what Wendelyn was like. As long as Joshua didn¡¯t think much of her, that I was all that mattered. Joshua suddenly added in a dangerously, low voice, ¡°Stay away from that hacker. Don¡¯t you dare bother her again.¡± Roy looked bewildered. ¡°Joshua, why? This is my first crush on someone in our field. Why are you trying to kill my viber¡± Joshua stated tersely, ¡°She¡¯s mine.¡± Nurse walking 74 Chapter 74 ¡°Wait, what? How did she end up being yours?¡± Roy demanded, ¡°Joshua, exin yourself!¡± Roy was still confused and about to ask something when Bradley walked over and reported, ¡°Mr. York, Kingston¨Cthe second master of ck Piver Company¨Cwants to y a match with you. Looks like he¡¯s hoping to discuss a potential partnership in new energy with you.¡± Joshua spotted Kingston in the adjacent lounge area, dressed in a crisp white tracksuit. He sat cross¨Clegged on a chair, wearing a deceptively warm smile. Still, his overly effeminate aura made him seem neither here nor therepletely out of ce. Henry nced over and remarked, ¡°How does Kingston always get the inside scoop? The moment there¡¯s any progress on your project, hees sniffing around for a partnership.¡± Although ck River Company was always the first to act, Joshua rarely did business with them. After all, their values didn¡¯t align, and ck River Company was known for its shady business practices. ¡°He just wants to cozy up to Joshua,¡± Roy said, stroking his chin. ¡°Henry, not everyone is as close to Joshua as you and I are. He¡¯s just trying to muscle his way in and get into his inner circle. ¡°I¡¯ve noticed for ages that guy¡¯s been trying to be Joshua¡¯s sidekick,¡± Roy remarked with a smirk. ¡°Too bad Joshua doesn¡¯t give a damn about him. Bradley¡¯s a hundred times better.¡± Bradley was speechless. Henry couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®Roy really has issues¨Che can read men like an open book, but when ites to women, he¡¯s blind as a bat and can¡¯t tell right from wrong.¡¯ Henry mused, ¡®Gotta admit, Joshua¡¯s charisma really works on both men and women.¡® Joshua screwed the bottle cap shut and said evenly, ¡°Go tell him this is personal time¨Cno business.¡± Clearly, Kingston was eager to coborate, but once again found himself shown the door. Though Kingston kept a calm facade upon hearing the result, his eyes betrayed a sinister and menacing glint. Setting down his water bottle, Joshua turned to Henry and the others. ¡°Who¡¯s up?¡± Roy was still fixated on what Joshua had said earlier¡ªwhat did he mean, that hacker was his people? He couldn¡¯t help but press, ¡°Joshua, exin yourself! How did she end up being yours? Have you even met her? Is she good¨Clooking or what?¡± Joshua picked up his racket, raised an eyebrow, and teased, ¡°Wanna know?¡± Roy nodded furiously, his head bobbing up and down like a pecking bird. Joshua smirked, ¡°Beat me, and I¡¯ll tell you.¡± But as it turned out, Roy got utterly demolished. After Wendelyn went viral, she briefly enjoyed a wave of poprity. But her time in the spotlight was short¨Clived, as another trending topic suddenly rocketed to the top of the charts. [Prodigy Ms. Shue from Sterling University Returns] It was no coincidence that Shermaine made it onto the trending list. She had recently performed surgery on a high¨Cranking political figure in Yaleview 13/28 Wed, 4 Jun ? 1 Hospital, and just this morning, that very person was interviewed, as everyone in the Basterel was extremely concerned about his health, In the interview video, Noel Barker recalled, ¡°ording to my wife, after I fell into aa and was lying in the operating room, my life was hanging by a thread. ¡°Even Dr. Shelly¨Ca surgeon of such caliber hesitated to operate, given the less than 20% sess rate and my rather delicate position. But fortune smiled on me.¡± The editor¨Cin¨Cchief asked, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Noel spoke gently, ¡°It just so happened that Dr. Shue, Dr. Shelly¡¯s junior colleague, was back in Basterel. With a single phone call, she came over and personally performed the surgery¨Csnatching me back from death¡¯s door.¡± ¡°Dr. Shue?¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Shue,¡± Noel confirmed. If even the renowned Dr. Danielle hesitated to perform the surgery, yet her junior, Dr. Shue, pulled it off¨CWhat did that imply? Afterward, the editor¨Cin¨Cchief did some research on Dr. Shue through international tforms and discovered that she was highly revered and admired abroad. Countless influential figures tried¨Cand failed¨Cto secure her for surgery, as she was perpetually busy and almost impossible to track down. Yet every operation she performed boasted a sess rate of over 95%, with zero fatalities or mistakes. Unfortunately, there were virtually no photos of Dr. Shue circting on international tforms¨Cunsurprising, really. A surgical genius of her caliber would undoubtedly face endless hassles in daily life if her appearance became public. Even more importantly, this legendary figure was from Wallington¨Cone of their own. This thrilled the editor¨Cin¨Cchief and filled him with immense pride. So today¡¯s interview focused heavily on this remarkable figure. With the editor¨Cin¨Cchief having over ten million followers and featuring such a legendary person, it was almost impossible for it not to be a trending topic. Thements section exploded. ¡°Ms. Shue is an absolute legend at Sterling¨Con another levelpared to Danielle. Heard she¡¯s exceptional in other fields too. And get this¨Cshe¡¯s only 19!¡± ¡°I was just browsing some international forums and saw rumors that a real estate tycoon in Moranta was willing to offer nine luxury mansions to hire Dr. Shue as his private physician. Not sure if that¡¯s true though.¡± ¡°OP, I¡¯m in the Moranta and can confirm it¡¯s true, but Dr. Shue didn¡¯t even bother to acknowledge him¨Ctotally ignored him.¡± ¡°Holy crap, who is this absolute legend?¡± ¡°I¡¯m dying to know what this legend really looks like!¡± ¡°Wow, I¡¯m seriously in awe¨CWallington keeps producing amazing talent, but someone like her? She¡¯s truly a once¨Cin¨Ca¨Ccentury genius!¡± Yaleview Hospital Official: Got a tough case? Come to us¨Cwe can arrange for Dr. Shue to handle it for you! Medical University Official: Heard that this legend was spotted at our hospital today! So excited! Other Hospitals Official: Legend, please show up! Danielle never expected Shermaine to go viral like this. Fortunately, none of Shermaine¡¯s personal details were exposed¨Canyone trying to dig them up would fail. The Medical University wouldn¡¯t dare disclose her information without her consent. Out of curiosity, Wendelyn also clicked into the post and scrolled through thements. Biting her lip, she thought, ¡®Wow, there really are such geniuses in the world! Only 19, and already so aplished in medicine.¡® The moment she saw that this genius doctor¡¯s surname was Shue, she felt particrly disgusted. ¡®Seriously? Of all the surnames in the world, why did a have to be Shue?¡® she thought bitterly. Still, it wasn¡¯t without its upsides for her. After that scandalous post had damaged Wendelyn¡¯s reputation and made her less popr than before, this news broke and her image rebounded instantly¡ªshe was right back in the spotlight. But with such a top¨Ctier celebrity dominating the headlines, Wendelyn¡¯s trending topic suddenly seemed insignificant. The halo of ¡°Most Beautiful College Girl¡± was quickly overshadowed, and her moment of fame soon dropped off the trending list, fading into obscurity. After returning to campus, Shermaine buried herself in theb,pletely absorbed in product development. She was utterly unaware that she had already gone viral, with people enthusiastically discussing and admiring her. Time flew by as December arrived. The season¡¯s first snow began to fall, nketing the world in swirling kes. Yet Shermaine remained as unwavering as ever¨Cher internal clock roused her right on schedule. After several sleepless nights, Shermaine finallypleted the Ol system task. She logged into International Tech Forum, contacted the client, and submitted her work with a single click. The client informed her that Dolcie Chapman had also submitted her solution at the same time. He would evaluate both systems¡® performance before making his selection. After all, this was the first time something like this had ever Shermaine replied straightforwardly, ¡°You¡¯ll choose me.¡± With that, she logged off. happened. The client couldn¡¯t help but sigh. After all, Dolcie was a tinum¨Clevel expert¨Cyet this newly promoted one didn¡¯t seem to give a damn about her. But after reviewing both systems, the client had to admit¨Cher confidence was well¨Cfounded. After submitting the task, Shermaine left herputer and walked out onto the balcony, stretching her limbs in relief. Lately, Wendelyn had been unusually quiet¨Cso quiet it was downright suspicious. Shermaine thought to herself, ¡®Something¡¯s fishy. Wendelyn is thest person who¡¯d want me engaged to Joshua¨Chow could she do nothing?¡± Shermaine nced at the calendar. ¡®So tomorrow¡¯s the engagement party,¡® she thought, a hint of unease creeping in. On the other end, Wendelyn answered Yvonne¡¯s call. With a tense voice, Yvonne asked, ¡°Wendy, are you absolutely sure this thing won¡¯t end up killing someone?¡± Nurse walking 75 Chapter 75 A glint shed in Wendelyn¡¯s eyes. ¡°Just a mere worm. You think something so small could kill?¡± Yvonne stared at the thread¨Clike, translucent worm in the ss bottle, her mind drifting to the infamous cursing skills of Mysonna. Things from there were always shrouded in evil¨Cespecially the insects they bred, which defied all scientific logic. There was a chilling tale in her vige: someone once visited that ce, offended the wrong person, and dropped dead at home the very next day. The police simply ruled it a myocardial infarction, but the vigers exchanged knowing nces. Wendelyn coaxed persuasively, ¡°Rx. Even if something happens to her, you won¡¯t be implicated. Tomorrow, once you¡¯ve done your part, I¡¯ll book you a flight and get you out of the country right away.¡± There was no turning back now. Yvonne clenched her teeth. ¡°Fine,¡± she said atst. The engagement party between the York and Shue families was a high¨Cprofile affair. All the elite families in Basterel had gotten wind of it, with invitations sent to close allies as well as influential figures from the city¡¯s political and military circles. Numerous well¨Cknown media outlets closely followed the event. After all, just days earlier, Joshua had made headlines in the Global Daily¡¯s business section for his investment in a new energy project, sending York Group¡¯s stock soaring by three million dors, hitting a record high. The engagement party arrived right on schedule, shattering the hearts of countless young women across Basterel. And the bride¨Cto¨Cbe? None other than Shermaine¨Ca woman with a rather notorious reputation. That night, the snow had ceased. Everything was nketed in white, draped in silver. Vesper Hotel stood quietly amidst the wintry scene. In private dressing room, a renowned makeup artist was working on Shermaine¡¯s makeup. Shermaine¡¯s skin was wless¨Csoft, and delicate. Her features carved with such precision that even the lightest touch of rouge transformed her into something ethereal. But no celestial being could rival her allure¨Cthey were downright soul¨Cstealing. How could Joshua possibly resist such a woman? Rumors of her bad temper? Absolute nonsense. After actually interacting with her, it was clear she had no trace of a spoiled heiress¡® arrogance¨Cjust quiet courtesy and the asional smile sweet enough to melt stone. Shermaine let out azy yawn¨Cuntil her phone buzzed with a 2.25 million dor deposit. At the sight of that, a smirk curling her lips. ¡®I knew they¡¯d choose me,¡® Shermaine thought, her confidence unwavering¨Cshe had never doubted her own capabilities. The International Tech Forum was buzzing again¨CDolcie and Boa were back at it, with Boa once more iming the SSS¨Clevel mission reward. She was absolutely killing it! Dolcie¡¯s fanbase fell into stunned silence. Across the Pacific, Dolcie anxiously awaited the results¨Conly to suffer yet another crushing defeat. This time, after evaluating both submissions, the publisher chose Boa over her, ¡®How is this possible? ¡®No way! ¡®How could I possibly lose?¡® Dolcie thought, her mind reeling. Dolcie couldn¡¯te to terms with this result. 1/3 Chapter 75 On International Tech Fortim, Boa¡¯s poprity was soaring she had already amassed a huge fanbase, and some die hard fans were even changing their usernames to things like ¡°Boa Fanboy¡± or ¡°ILoveBoaHancock.¡± But then, Dolcie¡¯s fans started posting: ¡°We¡¯ve seen the Ol system Dolcie made, and we think it¡¯s absolutely brilliant! Yet Bos still took the reward? I strongly suspect there¡¯s actually a whole team behind her. That¡¯s why their system turned out more sophisticated than Dolcie¡¯s. Only a team could¡¯ve solved that new energypatible mini device problem in just ten days!¡± Onementer said, ¡°Feels like a straight¨Cup cash the big¨Cmoney kind ¡°I get that vibe too.¡± ¡°I hope the International Tech Forum can step in and investigate this.¡± Right away, Shermaine¡¯s fans fired back. ¡°So when she wins, it¡¯s suddenly a team effort? Why are you Olin tans such sore losers?¡± ¡°Winning and losing are just part of the game. Take the L and keep growing¨Cno need to trash Boa like this.¡± ¡°Honestly, Boa doesn¡¯t even spare Dolcie a second thought. It¡¯s just you guys who keep obsessivelyparing Boa to Dolcie day in and day out.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t win, and when you lose, all you do is talk trash.¡± Maybe the argument got too heated, so the International Tech Forum moderator stepped in and said, ¡°Next year, we¡¯ll host a fan meetup and invite Dolcie and Boa. If you don¡¯t get an invitation, don¡¯t worry¨Cthe event will be livestreamed.¡± The announcement sent waves of excitement through the forum. Comments flooded in¨Ceveryone was counting down the days to the meetup and couldn¡¯t wait to see these two legends in person. ¡°It¡¯s sure to be a st!¡± someone posted, echoing the anticipation for what¡¯s bound to be an epic showdown. The makeup artist asked gently, ¡°Ms. Shue, would you like a bite before applying your lipstick? Mr. York had some food prepared for you.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± She was starving. ¡°Alright,¡± the makeup artist replied. ¡°I¡¯ll have someone bring it over for you.¡± Meanwhile, Lily was led to the dressing room by a staff member. Upon seeing Shermaine, her nerves instantly vanished. ¡°Sheary, you look absolutely stunning!¡± Seeing her arrive, Shermaine smiled and said, ¡°Take a seat. Stay by my side tonight and mingle with those business bigwigs. That way, when you attend future events, no one will dare mess with you when they see you¡¯re with me.¡± Lily nodded vigorously and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t let you down.¡± The Jean family was undoubtedly the most celebrated tonight. After all, securing an engagement with the prestigious York family was the envy of every other household¨Cespecially when the groom¨Cto¨Cbe was none other than the illustrious Joshua himself. Jameson was mingling with other business tycoons, exchanging pleasantries andughter, while Ruth stood gracefully by his side, wine ss in hand, the very picture of poise and elegance. With the engagement party underway, it was a foregone conclusion that Shermaine would be the York family¡¯s future matriarch. Ruth thought, ¡®Once someone marries into the York family, divorce is almost unheard of. The York men are fiercely loyal¨Cthey never have affairs or womanize after marriage. Frankly, any woman who joins the York family hits the jackpot!¡® By now, all hope was lost for her beloved Wendy. Chapter 75 ¡®Well, then so be it,¡® Ruth thought to herself. Ruth immediately turned her gaze to the other scions of Basterel¡¯s elite families, determined to find Wendelyn a match who could real Jashara he Jean Group¨Cand its sole heir apparent¨Cnaturally, many sought o Ross was also mingling with guests. As the eldest master and general manager of the curry favor with him. At that moment in the party hall, Leslie arrived with his father, but he looked visibly troubled, Shermaine was about to get engaged to a man she barely knew, let alone loved. Ever since realizing she was far more remarkable than he¡¯d imagined, his feelings had only deepened he was falling hard, with no way out. Leslie, his mind racing, grabbed a passing waiter and asked, ¡°Excuse me, where¡¯s Shermaine right now?¡± The waiter replied, ¡°She should be in the dressing room getting her makeup done at the moment.¡± Leslie asked urgently, ¡°I¡¯m a close friend of hers. Could you take me to see her?¡± ¡°Certainly, sir. Right this way.¡± As luck would have it, Roy happened to overhear as he walked by. ¡®Doesn¡¯t sound like they¡¯re just friends,¡¯ he thought. Nurse walking 76 Chapter 76 Leslie had already followed the waiter to the dressing room. Roy squinted, slipped around the corner, and quietly trailed after them. By now, the dressing room was alreadyid out with a variety of snacks and red wine. Faced with desserts and red wine, Shermaine didn¡¯t hesitate to reach for the wine ss. She picked it up and swirled the wine gently, about to take a sip. But just as her lips neared the rim, she suddenly froze. Her gaze instantly turned cold, fixed on the wine, as if she¡¯d just discovered something wrong with it. Just as she was about to ask something, there was a knock at the door. The next moment, Leslie walked in. Shermaine hadn¡¯t expected Leslie to make an appearance at the engagement party. At just eighteen, dressed in an impably tailored suit, he radiated youthful charm with a touch of maturity. If any of the girls from school who had a crush on him saw him now, they¡¯d be over the moon. But to Shermaine, he was just another ssmate, and their few encounters at school had left her with a rather poor impression. She really didn¡¯t expect Leslie to show up at the engagement party. Not that it would have been a problem; being invited over meant his background must be respectable enough. But why was he looking for her? It was not like they were close or anything. Leslie stepped inside. ¡°Shermaine.¡± Shermaine set the wine ss back down and asked coolly, ¡°What do you want?¡± Roy stood quietly outside the slightly ajar door, catching every word inside. Seeing the two face to face, he instantly conjured up a stormy melodrama of love and hate. ¡°Hmph, just as I thought. Shermaine isn¡¯t worthy of Joshua. He¡¯s always kept himself pure, but Shermaine? She¡¯s already entangled with countless boys at school. No way. I have to make Joshua see her true colors.¡± With that, he whipped out his phone and dialed Joshua. After Shermaine spoke, Leslie broke into a nervous sweat, feeling Kis heart race. ¡®It¡¯s her engagement day. I¡¯m not supposed to say this,¡® he thought. ¡®But if I don¡¯t speak up now, I might never get another chance.¡® The idea of Shermaine marrying a man she barely knew twisted his stomach into knots. Leslie opened his mouth but couldn¡¯t quite get the words out. Shermaine frowned slightly at his hesitation. The dressing room was brightly lit. Street¨Csmart from an early age, Lily could tell at a nce that this boy had a crush on Shermaine; but he just stood. there, tongue¨Ctied. Lily thought, ¡®Gutsy, I¡¯ll give him that¨Cdaring to pull something like this on Joshua¡¯s turf just to get close to Shermaine. But honestly, I don¡¯t see it working out for him. It¡¯s obvious Sheary isn¡¯t interested.¡® Besides, this kind of behavior was totally inappropriate. If the wrong person saw it, who knew what kind of rumors they would start about her. The destructive power of rumors¨Csurely everyone understood that. Leslie was as antsy as a cat on a hot tin roof. He desperately wanted to speak, but his nerves held him back. When he spotted the ss of red wine nearby, his eyes lit up instantly. Chapter 76 Without hesitation, he strode forward and downed it in one gulp. Leslie moved too fast for Shermaine to stop him; she could only watch helplessly as he downed the suspicious ss of red wine. Boosted by alcohol, Leslie set down his ss and gazed at the stunning woman before him. ¡°Shermaine,¡± he said, ¡°you¡¯re still so young. Are you really okay with getting engaged to Joshua? ¡°Let¡¯s not even mention that Joshua is way older than you¨Cyou two just aren¡¯t right for each other. And do you even know what people say about him? ¡°Iremember there was a woman who made a dramatic suicide attempt just to get his attention, but Joshua didn¡¯t even visit her in the hospital. Are you sure you¡¯ll be happy marrying someone so cold¨Chearted and unfeeling?¡± Leslie blurted out, then took a deep breath before continuing, ¡°Besides, you don¡¯t even like him. Why force yourself into this engagement? Don¡¯t you yearn for mutual love? Don¡¯t you want to find someone who truly loves and cherishes you?¡± As Leslie spoke, his agitation mounted, and his face flushed red. Lily gave him a strange look, thinking, ¡®This is between their families. What¡¯s it to you? Besides, if Shermaine weren¡¯t willing, why bother holding this party?¡® The makeup artist was stunned. ¡®So you have a thing for Ms. Shue¨Cfine. But why badmouth Mr. York? ¡®Sure, you might be right, but did you really have to say it out loud? Besides, a smart and beautiful woman like Ms. Shue surely has her own judgment, doesn¡¯t she?¡® Outside the door, Roy was seething with anger. He leaned in and whispered to Joshua, ¡°Joshua, did you hear that? She doesn¡¯t want this engagement at all. Otherwise, why would that guy say such things?¡± Joshua shot back, ¡°No. She wants this.¡± ¡°Joshua, how can you be so clueless?¡± Roy hissed. Joshua narrowed his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re the clueless one.¡± Roy was speechless. He thought, ¡®That¡¯s it. There¡¯s just no saving him.¡® Joshua had arrived early and caught every word Leslie said. Almost all the men tonight wore suits, yet none could match Joshua¡¯s aloof handsomeness. With his tie perfectly in ce, the faint glint in his sses, and his sexy thin lips, he seemed almost like an enchanting demon, wickedly captivating and dangerously seductive. Shermaine pressed her lips together. Leslie always managed to exasperate her. She had no idea where he got the idea that she was unwilling. Their engagement was a done deal, and she had no intention of backing out. Besides, hearing him badmouth Joshua actually annoyed her. ¡°Cold and heartless? I can¡¯t really say, but it¡¯s true that he doesn¡¯t want to waste his energy on romance.¡± She did long for a rtionship where both people truly care for each other, but just as Leslie said, she was still so young. There¡¯s no need to hurry. Even if she ended up divorcing Joshua someday, with her qualities, finding someone else would be the least of her Leslie continued, his voice trembling, ¡°I know this is totally inappropriate, but Shermaine, I have to tell you this: I¡­ I like you. Could you¡­ Could you please call off the engagement?¡± Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Nurse walking 77 Chapter 77 Shermaine nced at him, noticing his face was unnaturally flushed, ¡®What on earth was in that wine?¡® she wondered. It seemed like some kind of parasite, or maybe even poisonous worm. But before she could confirm, he had already gulped it down. Leslie, terrified that his words weren¡¯t sincere or moving enough, continued pleading, ¡°It was my fault for misunderstanding you before, but I promise | won¡¯t do it again. The truth is, I really like you.¡± He continued, ¡°At first, it was just a crush, but as time went by, I found myself thinking about you every day, falling deeper and deeper. Could you give me a chance? Please, call off the engagement.¡± He might as well have gotten down on his knees to beg. Never before had Leslie pleaded with someone so desperately, swallowing his pride. Outside. Roy said, ¡°I bet Shermaine will soften up. I mean, when a handsome ssmate confesses his feelings so sincerely, what young girl could resist?¡± At first, Roy was pretty pissed when Leslie badmouthed Joshua, but the more he thought about it, the more he had to admit it was true. Joshua might look like a perfect gentleman, but deep down, he was cold and ruthless, especially toward women. Don¡¯t be fooled by his appearance,¡® Roy thought. ¡®He makes no distinction between men and women. Cross his line, and he¡¯ll never show mercy! Joshua didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°She won¡¯t.¡± Roy snorted. ¡°No way! With all my years of experience with women, no little girl could resist a man¡¯s sweet talk.¡± Joshua shot him a cold nce. No wonder Roy kept getting yed by women. Then he said icily, ¡°You¡¯d be better off in Alendor.¡± Roy thought, ¡®How ruthless. He threatened me just because I was right! He just can¡¯t face the truth.¡® Secretly, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a little pleased with himself. In fact, Shermaine barely hesitated. ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t like you.¡± Roy¡¯s smile, which had just appeared, froze. How could she turn him down so fast? At the sound of Shermaine¡¯s voice, the faintest smile touched the corners of Joshua¡¯s lips. Leslie¡¯s face fell, his heart plummeting into the abyss. Shermaine¡¯s rejection meant he didn¡¯t have even the slightest chance¨Cnot a glimmer of hope. The realization hit him hard, making it hard to breathe. Leslie clenched his fists, his eyes reddening with emotion. ¡°And what about Joshua? I really hope you¡¯ll think about what I said. You won¡¯t be happy with him. ¡°It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t like me, but at least be with someone you truly love. Otherwise, if you meet the right person after you¡¯re married, you¡¯ll regret it. And by then, it¡¯ll be toote.¡± Shermaine usually disliked exining herself to Leslie, but this time, she couldn¡¯t hold it in. Who gave him the right to turn her choices into something miserable and regretful? She fumed, ¡°First of all, let me be clear: I have absolutely no reluctance about this marriage with Joshua. ¡°I know exactly what kind of person he is, so I don¡¯t need your biased opinions. And maybe you don¡¯t really know me, but every decision I mak the oue isn¡¯t perfect¨Cis one I will never regret.¡± Shermaine looked him straight in the eye and said, enunciating each word, ¡°Let me make this clear: ¡®regret¡® isn¡¯t even in my vocabry!¡± en if Lily and the makeup artist¡¯s eyes lit up. 3 Chapter 77 Sheary is so cool!¡± ¡°Shermaine is such a boss!¡± Leslie was even more devastated. No reluctance? No regrets? Lily couldn¡¯t even look at the guy, not out of pity, but because she found his narrow¨Cmindedness unbearable. With that kind of limited perspective, he¡¯d never amount to much. She hoped this incident would teach him a lesson: don¡¯t be so opinionated¨Creality Outside, Roy¡¯s expression shifted. He was genuinely surprised by what Shermaine had just she was a scheming, cold¨Chearted woman. always what you imagined it to be. In his eyes, sure, she was pretty, but he¡¯d always thought Who would¡¯ve guessed she could say something so bold and inspiring? And on top of that, she was actually standing up for Joshua! But so what? That didn¡¯t change the fact that Shermaine was a bully, especially toward Wendelyn. She never showed her an ounce of kindness. ¡°And¡­¡± Shermaine wanted to tell him that the red wine he drank was tainted, and she needed to check his condition. After all, that ss had been specifically intended for her. But before she could respond, Leslie¨Cperhaps overwhelmed by such a crushing setback for the first time¨Cbroke down. ¡°No way! How could you possibly be willing to marry Joshua? He¡­ he¡¯s already thirty!¡± That was twelve years older than Shermaine. What was he even talking about? Shermaine retorted coldly, ¡°So what if he¡¯s thirty?¡± What did age have to do with anything? What was wrong with being a little older? On the contrary, men in their thirties were at their most charming/ Just look at Joshua¨Csometimes, the sheer maism he radiated was even too much for her to handle. Besides, Shermaine actually preferred men who weren¡¯t around her age. Most importantly, Joshua could outshine any man out there. So what if he was older? Leslie screamed hysterically, ¡°What¡¯s so good about that old man who doesn¡¯t even care about you?¡± Lily and the makeup artist were shocked by his audacity. ¡®Who says Joshua doesn¡¯t care about me?¡® Shermaine fumed inwardly. ¡®Of course he does¨Cjust not romantically. And all this ¡®old man¡® talk being thrown around? The more I hear it, the more my blood bojls.¡¯ The words had barely left her mouth when Joshua pushed open the door and strode in. The moment this dashing man entered, his co nding presence brought a subtle yet palpable pressure to the dressing room. Leslie had just finished his hysterical outburst when he spotted Joshua. His entire body froze solid under that piercing gaze; it felt as if his very soul was shattering into pieces. ¡°If anyone dares call Joshua old again, I¡¯ll beat them to the ground,¡± Shermaine swore to herself. Yearster, Joshua teased, ¡°Darling, do you think I¡¯m old?¡± Shermaine sat up in bed and snapped, ¡°Get out of here!¡± Nurse walking 78 Chapter 78 Leslie¡¯s mind went nk. When Joshua¡¯s prating eyesnded on him, he couldn¡¯t catch his breath. ¡®Did¡­ did Joshua hear everything i just said to Leslie¡¯s palms were slick with sweat. Unable to meet Joshua¡¯s piercing gaze, he instinctively averted his eyes. Regret washed over him. ¡®What am I so afraid of? I only spoke the truth. That old guy doesn¡¯t even like Shermaine. Yet he found himself powerless to turn back and face him. When Shermaine saw Joshua walk in, he was followed by an edgy guy with frosted blue hair¨Chandsome, but the look he gave her was anything but friendly. ¡°Leslie, isn¡¯t it?¡± Joshua said in a measured tone. He vaguely recalled this young man from the family dinner, the one whose eyes had lingered on Shermaine more than once. He might not be interested in romance, but that didn¡¯t mean he was oblivious to it. That was why hemitted the young man¡¯s name to memory. ¡°I am.¡± Leslie¡¯s voice trembled slightly as he straightened his posture. Joshua said in a lowered voice, ¡°Shermaine is exceptional. It¡¯s understandable that you like her, but from tonight on, I hope you¡¯ll know where to draw the line.¡± This kid better stop kidding himself. Shermaine was way out of his league. Joshua didn¡¯t say thest sentence out loud, but he was certain. Without this engagement, even without himself, Shermaine would never stoop so low as to fancy a boy like him. Shermaine¡¯s standards weren¡¯t that low. More importantly, in his eyes, Leslie wasn¡¯t worthy of her. Inwardly, Roy clicked his tongue. ¡®Joshua, how can you say that with a straight face? How is Shermaine so exceptional? Sure, she¡¯s decent at chess, even caught the eye of a world champion. But that¡¯s about it, right?¡® Leslie held his breath, his mouth dry as sand. He wanted to stand up for himself because having feelings for Shermaine was his own business! He had every right to decide. However, not a single word came out. Facing the truth wasn¡¯t the scary part¨Cwhat truly terrified him was his own cowardice. ¡°I¡­¡± Leslie¡¯s voice trailed off weakly. Joshua¡¯s piercing gaze never wavered. Eventually, Leslie gave up. He was just an ignorant coward. At that moment, Shermaine walked up to Joshua and, in front of everyone, firmly took his hand. She looked at Leslie and said seriously, ¡°As I¡¯ve said, I¡¯m not unwilling to be engaged. I hope you understand that and stop making disparaging remarks about him. Otherwise, you won¡¯t be wee at this engagement party.¡± Shermaine then added pointedly, ¡°Actually, Joshua is a decent partner.¡± In other words, he was husband material. Leslie¡¯s face turned ashen. He wished the ground would swallow him up. Standing side by side, Shermaine and Joshua looked like they were made for each other. People often say that arranged marriagesck real affection, but seeing Shermaine and Joshua together, they actually seem quite happy¨Cnothing like what he had imagined. Chapter 78 Shermaine wasn¡¯t one to hand outpliments easily, but when it came to Joshua, she¡¯d dly make an exception. They¡¯d held hands before. But this time, Shermaine was the one who reached out first. It felt rather different as that ticklish sensation¨Clike a feather lightly brushing her heart¨Cgrew steadily stronger. Just like the first time we held hands, her hand felt so tiny and soft. Her nails were painted a delicate pink, and they looked especially pretty. Joshua sped her hand in return and teased, ¡°So I score pretty high in your book, huh?¡± Shermaine lifted her gaze, meeting his eyes. ¡°Mm¨Chmm,¡± she admitted. Honestly, Joshua was a nine. He could have been a ten, but he had once said, ¡°I¡¯ll be good to you, but is not about love.¡± So, he couldn¡¯t get the perfect score. Leslie couldn¡¯t help but admit they were a perfect match. The chemistry between them created an imprable force field that made him feelpletely out of ce. Unable to stand it any longer, he hurried out with his head down. Seeing this, Shermaine called out, ¡°Wait-¡± But Leslie acted as if he hadn¡¯t heard, mming the door as he stormed out. Shermaine pursed her lips. ¡°He can¡¯t leave yet.¡± She turned to Joshua, signaling him to send someone after Leslie. But why? Lily and the others exchanged curious nces, clearly puzzled. If Leslie stayed, Joshua might crush his remaining dignity. Without asking why, Joshua cast a sharp nce at Roy andmanded, ¡°Bring him back.¡± Roy grumbled reluctantly, ¡°At least give me a reason for bringing him back.¡± Joshua caught his tone and shot him another sharp look. Roy shuddered under his re. ¡°Damn it, I¡¯m not scared. Not one bit,¡± he lied to himself. He¡¯d rather dig potatoes in the desert than do Shermaine any favors. Thinking of this, Roy huffed inwardly. Shermaine exined, ¡°The red wine he just drank was spiked. It was originally intended for me.¡± Her voice turned icy. ¡°Disagreeable as he is, I can¡¯t let him get hurt because of me.¡± The wine was drugged? Everyone froze. Roy raised an eyebrow. ¡°How could you tell?¡°, ¡°I just can,¡± Shermaine replied curtly. Ever since he walked in, he¡¯d been giving Shermaine dirty looks, so his tone naturally had an edge. Shermaine saw no point in wasting her breath on Chapter 78 someone who so obviously disliked her. Roy remained skeptical. ¡°Come on, this is the York family¡¯s turf. Who¡¯d dare make a move against you here?¡± Shermaine sneered. ¡°You think I¡¯ll be safe and sound just because I¡¯m Joshua¡¯s fianc¨¦e?¡± ¡®What¡¯s so unsafe about it?¡® Roy grumbled inwardly. He was about to retort, but the moment he felt Joshua¡¯s icy gaze on him, he froze, and whatever he wanted to say died in his throat. Joshua¡¯s eyes turned even colder. ¡°Roy, didn¡¯t you hear her?¡± Roy panicked, sensing Joshua¡¯s rising anger. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll bring him back.¡± Nurse walking 79 Chapter 79 Once Roy had left, Joshua immediately summoned Bradley. Bradley stepped in and immediately sensed the tension. ¡°Mr. York,¡± he called out cautiously. Joshua ordered, ¡°Check the surveince footage and see who else has handled the red wine.¡± After a brief pause, he added, ¡°Start with the troublemakers.¡± Bradley nced at the desserts and wine¨Che¡¯d had the kitchen prepare them per Joshua¡¯s instructions. Now, it seemed the wine had been tampered with. A pang of guilt shot through him, but he kept hisposure. ¡°Yes, Mr. York,¡± he replied. The moment Bradley left, silence fell over the dressing room. Meanwhile, their hands remained intertwined. Shermaine came to her senses first, gently pulling her hand away. As her hand slipped away, Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened. He asked, ¡°What was put in this wine?¡± Shermaine returned to the sofa and sat down. ¡°Either a parasite or a poisonous worm. We won¡¯t know for sure until we find Leslie and confirm it.¡± But no matter what it really was, both kinds could rapidly destroy human body medical tests wouldn¡¯t pick up a thing. I kill anyone without leaving a trace. With current technology, even If Shermaine hadn¡¯t been so observant and noticed something off about the wine, she would have been the one poisoned. Judging by Leslie¡¯s condition, this parasite or poisonous worm isn¡¯t going to re up right away. Still, it¡¯s best to resolve it quickly to prevent anyplications. Lily eyed the delicious food warily. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me these are poisoned too?¡± Shermaine checked all the food. ¡°Clean,¡± she dered. The food was safe; only the wine was tampered with. Whoever did this must know that she was a wine lover. Since they knew about her fondness for wine, it was pretty obvious who was behind this attempt. It was hard for anyone not living with her to know about this drinking habit. Honestly, what a stupid mistake. Even after Shermaine confirmed the food was safe, Lily still couldn¡¯t bring herself to eat it. Fortunately, Leslie showed up just in time before she could take a bite. ¡®What a poor sucker,¡¯ Lily thought. ¡®Why on earth did he have to drink that wine?¡® Joshua pulled out his phone and made a call. Shortly after, a burly bodyguard entered. He instructed, ¡°Swap out the food and bring in a fresh set. Make sure no one notices.¡± The bodyguard nodded and left. After he left, Shermaine grabbed a selection of lipsticks from the table, chose a shade, and applied it while looking in the mirror. Once she finished, she blotted her lips on a tissue, then deliberately pressed them to the rim of the ss. Then, she told Joshua, ¡°Take this wine ss outter. Someone¡¯s definitely going to check it. Tell Bradley to keep an eye on things.¡± Chapter 79 ¡°Got it,¡± Joshua sald. Joshua made no move to leave. Instead, he casually took a seat beside Shermaine, clearly not nning to greet the guests outside. Then he said. The one with me was Roy Shay.¡± Shermaine said tly, ¡°Oh. Seems he¡¯s got quite the prejudice against me.¡± Joshua spoke softly, ¡°He¡¯s got some misunderstandings about you. I¡¯ll make sure that bastard makes a proper apology¡± He¡¯d thought Roy would only badmouth Shermaine in private. Despite repeated warnings, the guy never listened, and today, he¡¯d been downright rude to her face. ¡®This is the first andst time I¡¯ll allow such disrespect,¡® Joshua thought coldly. If Roy remained unrepentant, then buddy or not, he wouldn¡¯t spare him. Shermaine smirked slightly and drawled, ¡°Oh¡­¡± She was Joshua¡¯s fianc¨¦e, and Roy was supposed to be polite. After being so disrespectful to her just now, he absolutely owed her an apology. That was why people said Joshua was the perfect husband material. He showered his partner with unwavering care and respect, never allowing anyone to slight her. And if anyone dared to cross the line, he¡¯d be the first to stand up for her and set things right. Sken out with the wine ss¨Cwere thrown away. Fresh food was quickly brought in, while most of the earlier dishes¨Cthose Lily held her breath. With the two powerful figures sitting side by side, it was a stunning sight¨Cbut she didn¡¯t dare stare for too long. The freshly delivered food was untouched by others, so it was safe to eat. Starving, Shermaine immediately dug in without ceremony right in front of Joshua. ¡°Lily, aren¡¯t you hungry?¡± Lily was definitely hungry; she hadn¡¯t eaten anything on the way here. With a relieved smile, she decided, ¡°Don¡¯t mind if I do then.¡± ¡°Dig in,¡± Shermaine said. The makeup artist soon joined in, grabbing a bite to recharge with the others. Meanwhile, Roy dispatched his men to find Leslie. But Leslie was gone in a sh, vanished without a trace in this massive venue. With no immediate leads, all Roy could do was deploy more men to search. Roy¡¯s face darkened considerably. Just recalling the way Joshua red at him sent a chill down his spine; he was still panicking. Even if he couldn¡¯t stand Shermaine, he really shouldn¡¯t have let it show just now. ¡®Damn it, I¡¯m screwed,¡® he thought desperately. As Shermaine was halfway through her meal, the bodyguard re¨Centered and announced respectfully, ¡°Mr. York, your grandfather requests that you escort Ms. Shue over.¡± Shermaine licked her lips, set her food aside, and nodded her readiness. ¡°Understood,¡± Joshua replied. The makeup artist swiftly touched up her lipstick. In moments, her rouged lips became even more alluring. Then, with a dazzling diamond ne added, her beauty was utterly irresistible. The makeup artist looked at Shermaine with satisfaction, thinking, ¡®She¡¯s absolutely stunning¨Cdrop¨Cdead gorgeous.¡® Joshua couldn¡¯t help but let his gaze linger Shermaine¨Cher bare shoulders, delicate corbones, and alluring curves that made it impossible to look away. He gently reminded her, ¡°Put your shawl on.¡± Meanwhile, Wendelyn received a text from Yvonne: [The wine I brought in has been finished and the ss sent out. Wendelyn, may I leave now?] Jun Wendelyn texted back: [Are you sure Shermaine drank it?) Yvonne: [Absolutely. There¡¯s lipstick on the rim.] Nurse walking 80 Chapter 80 Yvonne texted again: I checked. The color is the same as Shermaine¡¯s lipstick.] Wendelyn finally rxed. Now that Shermaine had drank that ss of wine, the deadly parasite would surely enter her system. There was no way the d survive the night. After all, what Kingston gave her was a silent killer. It was impossible to detect, no matter how advanced the equipment. That was the only reason Wendelyn dared to take this gamble. Maybe that so¨Ccalled genius Dr. Shue could find a solution, but what were the odds she¡¯d show up here? Absolutely zero. Wendelyn texted: [Yvonne, someone will pick you up outside the hotel. Go now. As for your father, I¡¯ll handle everything,] if Yvonne left this city, she¡¯d better nevere back. After reading this, Yvonne heaved a sigh of relief. Seeing no one around, she hurried away. Meanwhile, on the other side¡­ Everyone looked on with curiosity at Owen, who sat in his wheelchair with a woolen nket over his legs. Despite his condition, hisplexion was surprisingly rosy, and he beamed at them with evident delight. But how could this be? Didn¡¯t they say Owen only had a year or so left? But now, he was full of life, nothing like someone who was about to kick the bucket. A gentleman stepped forward and asked respectfully, ¡°Mr. York, I heard you hadn¡¯t been well and have been quite concerned. But seeing you now, you look perfectly healthy. May I ask which remarkable doctor helped you make such an amazing recovery?¡± He then exined, ¡°My father has been gravely ill recently. We¡¯ve consulted many renowned physicians, but nothing has worked. I¡¯m truly worried sick.¡± Before Owen could respond, someone in the crowd chimed in, ¡°Wasn¡¯t Mr. York¡¯s physician always Dr. Newman? The most renowned doctor in Basterel? People say his skills are legendary!¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± someone agreed, ¡°you really can¡¯t go wrong with Dr. Newman,¡± Owen shook his head and said, ¡°It wasn¡¯t Dr. Newman. His prescriptions never worked for me, so I stopped taking his herbal forms a while ago.¡± The crowd gasped in unison. Wait, not Dr. Newman? The one who had just brought up Dr. Newman flushed with embarrassment. The gentleman pressed on, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t Dr. Newman, then who was this expert?¡± Owen beamed with pride. ¡°My health has really improved. I can walk without getting winded now, and it¡¯s all thanks to my granddaughter¨Cinw!¡± What? The York family had three grandsons¨Conly Joshua remained unmarried, while the other two were already wed. So which granddaughter¨Cin¨Cwas being talked about? None of them were known to have any medical skills. Maybe she had simply brought in a renowned doctor? Owen continued, ¡°You¡¯re a filial man. When my granddaughter¨Cinw arrivester, I¡¯ll introduce you so you can ask her yourself.¡± The gentleman¡¯s face lit up with delight. ¡°I¡¯d be most grateful for your help, sir,¡± he said. Just then, Janice strolled over from the other side, dressed in a simple yet elegant evening dress and decked out in jewelry. With a beaming smile, she 1/2 13:29 Wed 4 Jun 1 Chapter 80 called out, ¡°Well, Owen, you¡¯re looking quite spry today!¡± Owen arched his bushy white brows and grinned, ¡°You bet! With Sheary around, how could I not be in good health?¡± He added proudly, Thank goodness Ross brought Sheary back to your family. Otherwise, you guys would have missed out on a real treasure.¡± ¡°Yeah, I couldn¡¯t be happier whenever I saw Sheary. She¡¯s so well¨Cbehaved, filial, and just amazing. You have no idea¨Cever since she gave me acupuncture, the chronic migraines that gued me for years have almost disappeared. ¡°Now I sleep like a baby, and honestly, nothing beats a good night¡¯s sleep,¡± Janice said joyfully. ¡°Absolutely! Since I started taking the medicine, I¡¯ve been sleeping much better,¡± Owen said. ¡°Sheary even told me I could live to be a hundred. I didn¡¯t believe it at first, but now I do.¡± Not only was his illness cured, but he had also gained such an outstanding granddaughter¨Cinw. Owen was over the moon, as if he¡¯d struck gold. ¡®If only that rascal would give me less trouble. Doesn¡¯t he realize how sought¨Cafter Shermaine is? If he ever lets her slip away, I¡¯ll teach him a lesson! The two old¨Ctimers got so carried away chatting that they lost track of everything else. The onlookers were utterly baffled, exchanging hesitant nces. They had so many questions but couldn¡¯t find an opening to interrupt. What was going on here? Everyone said Shermaine was just a pretty face with no substance, notorious for her vicious temper. She had even gotten scions from several prominent families sent to prison. Her reputation was far from ster. So why did these two elders treat her like a treasure? And from the way they talked, she actually seemed to know something about medicine, too. They were utterly perplexed. Just then, Shermaine appeared before the crowd, gracefully holding onto Joshua¡¯s arm, her slender figure instantly drawing all eyes. In fact, many people at the party had never seen Shermaine before. Although the Jean family had thrown an acknowledgment party for Shermaine, most elite families hadn¡¯t received invitations. Instead, the attendees were primarily lesser¨Cknown minor families. So, the moment Shermaine appeared at the engagement party, all eyes were instantly drawn to her mesmerizing presence. She truly took everyone¡¯s breath away. Thus, to say she was breathtakingly beautiful would be no exaggeration. True beauty always came from within. Her beauty went far beyond superficial. It was an inborn elegance and poise that left others awestruck. Could a mere pretty face ever possess such qualities? ADI Comment Send gift Nurse walking 81 Chapter 81 As for the other of the Jean family, she was renowned for her exceptional talents. Yet, for some reason, this so¨Ccalled brilliance never truly shone as brightly as people expected. No matter how you looked at her, she was just¡­ ordinary. Honestly, all that hype was way overblown. On the contrary, Shermaine was like a hidden gem¨Cexquisitely polished, beautiful and talented, though few recognized it. In fact, she might already be making waves in some field. After all, those rumors are nothing but hearsay. Only the shallow¨Cminded would take them seriously. Shermaine followed Joshua to Owen¡¯s side. With a graceful,posed smile, she greeted them, ¡°Mr. York, Grandma.¡± Owen and Janice beamed with joy upon seeing Shermaine. ¡°Sheary, you look stunning!¡± Janice said. ¡°You look lovely too, Grandma,¡± Shermaine replied with a smile. ¡°Sheary, long time no see. I missed you so much!¡± Owen said warmly. Shermaine smiled gently. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you too, Mr. York.¡± Everyone could see Owen¡¯s fondness for Shermaine. Her position as Joshua¡¯s wife was now indisputably secured. Owen boomed, ¡°Which young man just said his father was ill and couldn¡¯t be cured after consulting many renowned doctors? You there,e over!¡± The gentleman, Johnson Smith, stepped forward from the crowd and said, ¡°It was me, Mr. York.¡± ¡°Ah, you¡¯vee to exactly the right person. Sheary can help you,¡± Owen said proudly. Johnson offered a slightly nervous smile. ¡°Hello, Shermaine. You and Joshua make a perfect match.¡± These words were music to Joshua¡¯s ears. He had to admit, he and Shermaine really were a perfect match. Shermaine smiled appreciatively. ¡°Thank you. May I ask what symptoms your father is experiencing?¡± Johnson then exined. Shermaine listened carefully and said, ¡°How about this? Come to Riverswood Vi tomorrow, and we¡¯ll talk.¡± After the engagement party, she would be moving back in with Joshua. Johnson agreed at once. The granddaughter¨Cinw Owen had mentioned was actually Shermaine! And she actually knew medicine? ¡°But isn¡¯t she only 19?¡± someone blurted out, unable to hide their disbelief. Besides, she just went back to senior year not long ago. Meanwhile, Wendelyn watched as Shermaine emerged with Joshua, looking every bit the regal princess, bathing in the crowd¡¯s envious stares. The sight filled her with such bitter jealousy it threatened to warp her very psyche. Thu 5 Jun Chapter 81 ¡®If Shermaine had never returned to the Jean family,¡® Wendelyn thought bitterly, ¡®then I would be the one by Joshua¡¯s sidel Fortunately, Shermaine¡¯s life would end soon after this engagement party. Wendelyn sneered inwardly, ¡®Forget about marrying Joshua, Shermaine. You¡¯re not even worthy of being his fianc¨¦e!! ¡°IfI can¡¯t have him, I¡¯ll make damn sure you never will either,¡± she vowed darkly. Wendelyn¡¯s gaze lingered on Shermaine¡¯s lips. Comparing them to the photo Yvonne had sent, she saw that the lipstick on the wine ss matched perfectly. Unable to suppress her malice, she smirked viciously. Still searching for Leslie, Roy stepped into the ballroom just as his subordinate called to inform him that Leslie had already returned. Scanning the room, he spotted Wendelyn, also in a white dress, staring longingly at Joshua and Shermaine. They¡¯d run into each other a few times before. Thinking she was just distraught, Roy was about to go over andfort her when her face suddenly twisted into a sinister smirk. He froze mid¨Cstep. That smile¡­ Honestly, it was downright creepy. Did she get so heartbroken her face twisted up like that or what? ¡®That must be it,¡¯ Roy thought. ¡°Why else would she be grinning like that?¡® Just then, Wendelyn, together with her parents, headed toward Owen. Realizing he still hadn¡¯t found Leslie, Roy hurried off to continue his search. The ballroom was packed, with dozens searching for Leslie. Yet somehow, no one could find him. At that moment, Leslie lurked in the shadows, trying topose himself. ¡®I need to get a grip,¡® he thought. But the moment Shermaine appeared with Joshua, his gaze was irresistibly drawn to her. Gradually, Leslie began feeling unwell¨Chis throat parched, his whole body burning up, his head swimming. The moment his gazended on Joshua, an inexplicable rage surged through him. Leslie fumed inwardly. ¡®Who does he think he is, ordering me to give up on Shermaine? He¡¯s just her nominal fianc¨¦. What right does he have to act so high and mighty?¡® Wendelyn walked over with practiced grace and said sweetly, ¡°Congrattions on your engagement.¡± Shermaine smiled faintly and replied, ¡°Thanks.¡± Wendelyn looked at Joshua, her lips parting as if she wanted to speak, but in the end, she just dropped her gaze and stayed silent. To outsiders, it was a ssic case of unrequited love¨CWendelyn pining while Joshua stayed indifferent. People couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for her. Joshua didn¡¯t spare her a single nce, his mind already preupied with introducing Shermaine to his other family memberster. Shermaine was growing distracted. ¡®Roy¡¯s taking forever,¡® she thought impatiently. She tugged lightly at Joshua¡¯s sleeve. He looked down, his gold- rimmed sses softening the intensity of his prating eyes. Yet now, they held a surprisingly gentle look. Then, with quiet consideration, he bent his tall frame toward her. They really were a perfect match. Even the smallest gestures between them made onlookers linger, craving those sweet shipper moments. The man was still quite tall for her, so Shermaine had to rise on tiptoe. She was about to ask Joshua to send a few more people to look for Leslie becaus the longer it dragged on, the worse it would be for his health. Suddenly, someone unexpectedly bumped her from behind. She staggered a few steps and pitched forward, losing her bnce. Joshua instinctively wrapped his arm around her waist, at just the right angle for Shermaine¡¯s rosy lips to on his cheek,pletely unnned. Chapter 81 Joshua: swallowed Involuntarily. Her lips felt even softer than when his fingers brushed them before. Instantly, uproariousughter and thunderous apuse erupted all around, so deafening 31 made Shermaine¡¯s ears to me?¡® Shermaine inwardly groaned, ¡®Why do these embarrassing idents always have to happen Nurse walking 82 Chapter 82 Joshua snapped back to his senses almost instantly. He couldn¡¯t believe what had just crossed his mind. It was absurd, in all these years, this was the first time he¡¯d felt something to strange, so unsettling, sopletely out of his control. Owen noticed, and his eyes widened with excitement. He thought, ¡®Come on, Joshua, kiss her back. When will you get a better chance than this? If Owen could, he would have jumped up and pushed Joshua¡¯s head forward to make him return the kiss. Janice was shaking withughter beside them. She hadn¡¯t meant to do it, but her elbow had identally bumped into Shermaine. It wasn¡¯t a total loss. A man like Joshua was worth kissing. Ross, however, felt like he was having a heart attack. His grandmother had just served his sister up on a silver tter. Owen and Janice were grinning so widely they looked like blooming flowers. Shermaine was about to step back when Joshua acted first, steadying her by the waist before releasing her with gentlemanly grace. ¡°Are you alrigh His reflexes were impressively quick. Shermaine shook her head expressionless. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± She noticed her lipstick had left a mark on Joshua¡¯s face, making him look strangely alluring and sensual. She added quietly, ¡°You should wipe that off.¡± Joshua raised his hand and rubbed his thumb against the corner of his mouth a few times with perfectposure. ¡°Is it gone?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What were you trying to tell me earlier?¡± Shermaine leaned close to his ear and whispered, ¡°Send more people to look for Leslie.¡± 19 Joshua nodded in agreement. He turned to speak quietly with a nearby bodyguard, who then stepped back and left immediately. Owen¡¯s smile vanished from his face. He thought, ¡®Joshua ispletely useless.¡¯ After watching Joshua and Shermaine¡¯s exchange end, Janice approached with concern. ¡°Sheary, did I hurt you when I bumped into you?¡± Shermaine thought, ¡®So it was actually Grandma who pushed me into him?¡® She replied, ¡°No, Grandma, I¡¯m fine.¡± Janice smiled, ¡°Thank goodness Joshua was right there beside you.¡± Shermaine pressed her lips together; her expression remained perfectly calm. -Wendelyn, witnessing this scene, was furious. She remembered that time when she had pretended to be drunk and thrown herself at Joshua, only to have him step aside with such cold eyes. The contrast between his icy rejection then and his tender behavior now was like night and day. This tant favoritism made her feel both miserable and furious. Wendelyn thought, ¡®Why is Shermaine still fine? Why hasn¡¯t the drug kicked in yet? Why won¡¯t she die?¡® She desperately wished Shermaine would drop dead right in front of her. Perhaps Wendelyn¡¯s re was too venomous, because Shermaine suddenly sensed it and turned to look at her. Shermaine¡¯s clear eyes seemed to se through everything. Wendelyn¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She forced a smile onto her face, trying to appear casual and indifferent. Just then, the music in the party hall shifted to a different style¨Csomething soft and romantic, perfect for a couple¡¯s dance. Chapter 82 As the stars of tonight¡¯s engagement party, Joshua and Shermaine were expected to perform the first dance. Watching the dance floor illuminated by spotlights, Wendelyn gripped her dress tightly and suddenly said, ¡°Sheary, don¡¯t be nervous when you danc with Mr. Yorkter. Just follow his lead.¡± Her words were meant to remind everyone that Shermaine wasn¡¯t skilled at dancing, subtly highlighting her humble background. All while appearing be the caring younger sister offeringfort After all, ordinary families didn¡¯t teach ballroom dancing. Shermaine had grown up as an orphan, surviving on charity from various families. She wouldn¡¯t have a chance to learn the waltz. Besides, Wendelyn had never seen Shermaine take lessons or practice. She was certain Shermaine couldn¡¯t dance. The other guests, however, seemed to think that whether she could dance or not didn¡¯t matter¨Chaving Joshua as a partner was impressive enough. Wendelyn certainly had a lot on her mind. These weren¡¯t small¨Ctime nobodies from minor families who could be easily fooled by a few carefully chosen words. Shermaine smoothed out her dress and smiled, ¡°Since when did my dear sister be so thoughtful? I¡¯m not used to it.¡± Wendelyn¡¯s smile froze on her face. She lowered her head in her usual disy of weakness, saying nothing. Ruth quickly jumped in to support Wendelyn. ¡°You know about the opening dance, but we¡¯ve never seen you practice. Wendelyn¡¯s just worried you might not perform well.¡± Shermaine lifted her chin slightly, her voice light and airy as she looked down at everyone with pride. ¡°I already know how to dance. Why would I need to practice?¡± She continued, ¡°If Mom and Wendelyn don¡¯t know me well enough, you shouldn¡¯t worry needlessly. Doesn¡¯t this just tell everyone that we don¡¯t get along?¡± Wendelyn¡¯s voice faltered weakly. ¡°Shermaine, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve been so busytely, I haven¡¯t had much time to pay attention to you.¡± Ruth felt inexplicably awkward and muttered, ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Shermaine smiled faintly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. She thought, ¡®Keep pretending. You won¡¯t have the chance much longer.¡® Jameson knew Shermaine was like a cactus covered in thorns¨Ctruly difficult to handle. The expressions on everyone¡¯s faces became increasingly intriguing. Shermaine removed her shawl and revealed her beautiful shoulders. She held her dress with one hand and slowly extended the other toward Joshua. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s dance.¡± Joshua watched as she tossed aside her shawl, exposing her lovely shoulders. He seemed about to say something but held back, simply responding, ¡°Sure.¡± Shermaine was indeed an excellent dancer. Her graceful figure moved beautifully as her dress swayed with each step, and together they made a stunning pair on the dance floor. Meanwhile, Roy finally spotted Leslie at the edge of the dance floor. Just as he reached out to grab her, Leslie pushed through the crowd like a wo possessed and charged straight toward the dancing couple. 2/3 Nurse walking 83 Chapter 83 Hidden in the shadows, Kingston watched the scene unfold. His gaze shifted to Wendelyn with contempt. He thought, ¡®What a useless piece of trash who couldn¡¯t even handle such a simple task. No wonder she could neverpete with Shermaine, The crowd held their breath as Leslie charged forward. ¡®What was he trying to do? Was he going to ruin the opening dance?¡± In the crowd, Lincoln¡¯s heart skipped a beat when he saw what was happening. Panic washed over him as he thought to himself, ¡®What the hell is Leslie doing? He can¡¯t mess with Joshua.¡¯ Security guards emerged from the crow and moved to intercept Leslie. Leslieshed out wildly, swinging at anyone who tried to stop him. But he had no real fighting skills, and he was no match for professionally trained bodyguards. Within seconds, they had him pinned to the ground,pletely immobilized. He let out an agonized howl as hallucinations began to cloud his vision. He could see an icyke shimmering before him, and all he wanted was to dive in and cool the fire burning through his body. ¡°It¡¯s right there,¡® Leslie thought desperately. ¡®Why won¡¯t they let me go? I can¡¯t stand this anymore!¡® The bodyguards had no idea Leslie was hallucinating. They assumed he was trying to cause trouble and moved to drag him off the dance floor. But just as they grabbed him, Leslie suddenly spewed blood from his mouth. It sprayed across the polished floor like crimson rain, and he kept vomiting more and more. The metallic smell of blood quickly filled the air. A pool of red spread across the floor, triggering terrified screams from the guests. The bodyguards stood therepletely dumbfounded. They hadn¡¯t touched him¨Che¡¯d just started vomiting blood and copsed on his own. They quickly backed away from Leslie, forming a semicircle around him while looking to Joshua for instructions. Joshua and Shermaine, who had been dancing in the center of the floor, stopped mid¨Cstep and headed toward themotion. Lincoln rushed forward, shouting, ¡°Leslie!¡± Leslie¡¯s consciousness was fading. After his violent outburst, his body felt weak and feverish. Something seemed to be gnawing at his internal organs, causing unbearable pain throughout his body. Blood began streaming from his nose and ears. Murmurs rippled through the crowd. A perfectly normal party turned into a disaster. It clearly wasn¡¯t a minor incident. Lincoln roared at the crowd, ¡°Is there a doctor here? Someone get over here and help my son!¡± In the crowd, Wendelyn¡¯s mind wentpletely nk. ¡®Wasn¡¯t Shermaine supposed to be the one who drank the red wine? ¡®Why is Leslie the one in trouble? Could it be that Shermaine never drank that ss of wine at all, and Leslie was the one who actually drank it?¡® ¡°Holy shit, isn¡¯t that Leslie?¡± Clyde¡¯s loud voice carried over the crowd as he recognized the victim, his shock evident. Ruth seized the opportunity to specte with barely concealed glee. ¡°You don¡¯t think Leslie tried to kill himself over Shermaine¡¯s engagement, do you?¡± She remembered clearly how Leslie had been instantly captivated when he saw Shermaine at the family dinner. With her subtle encouragement, Leslie had even approached Shermaine at school. She¡¯d hoped something might develop between them, but she¡¯d been wrong. Janice shot Ruth a disapproving look the moment those words left her mouth. Trust Ruth to say something so tasteless at a time like this. Sure enough, the people who overheard Ruth¡¯sment began exchanging meaningful nces. ¡®So it was a suicide attempt over love. Apparently, this guy had some kind of history with Shermaine.¡® Janice snapped at her, ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? Have you lost your mind?¡± Chapter 83 Ruth¡¯s face darkened. ¡°How have I lost my mind?¡± Janice wanted to p her across the face. ¡®Ruth doesn¡¯t deserve to be a mother! Clyde lookedpletely bewildered. ¡°Aunt Ruth, what are you talking about? How could Leslie possibly like Shermaine?¡± He paused, trying to think of something negative to say about Shermaine, but came up empty. He¡¯d thought she was a cheater, but it turned out she was top of the ss. And at chess, she was even better than Wendelyn. ¡°Shermaine¡¯s so aplished, it¡¯s normal for people to like her,¡± Sherlock said, taking Shermaine¡¯s side. ¡°But suicide? That¡¯s going too far.¡± Ruth remained unrepentant, convinced her theory wasn¡¯t impossible. ¡°What¡¯s so far¨Cfetched about it? What if Leslie is head over heels in love with Shermaine?¡± She paused before adding, ¡°Right, Wendy?¡± Wendelyn hesitated for a moment before responding, ¡°Well, Shermaine is beautiful and popr at school. It¡¯s not impossible.¡± Before Janice could say anything more, Owen cut her off with a gentle tone, ¡°Hey, there¡¯s no point getting angry with the younger generation. Their mouths are their own, and if they¡¯ve lost their minds, there¡¯s nothing you can do about it.¡± Ruth¡¯s expression grew even uglier. The image she¡¯d carefully maintained for years was about to be ruined by Owen and Janice. ¡®What¡¯s wrong with me speaking my mind? Why can¡¯t I say what I think?¡® Owen continued, ¡°Jameson, you need to keep your wife in check. Sheary is her daughter, not some stranger.¡± Jameson quickly agreed, then looked at Ruth with nothing but disgust and revulsion. She was acting like she owned the ce, speaking without any regard for the asion or propriety. ¡°Furthermore, Joshua will investigate and uncover the truth about what happened. I hope the distinguished guests who heard Mrs. Jean¡¯s remarks won¡¯t take them to heart or spread rumors,¡± Owen announced to the crowd. Ross stepped forward to support him. ¡°Mr. York is right. Sheary barely knew Leslie. There¡¯s no way she¡¯d kill herself over him.¡± The moment Ruth had uttered those words, he¡¯d made his decision¨Che was done with Ruth. Meanwhile, a doctor rushed over to examine Leslie¡¯s condition. Strangely, after a thorough check, he couldn¡¯t identify the problem. Leslie was bleeding from his mouth, nose, and ears without any apparent cause. The doctor initially suspected poisoning, but the symptoms didn¡¯t match. Without knowing the cause, the doctor couldn¡¯t treat him properly. ¡°We need to get him to a hospital for a full examination,¡± the doctor advised. ¡°We have to find out what¡¯s wrong before we can help him.¡± Lincoln could only nod repeatedly in agreement. He didn¡¯t know anything about medicine and had to trust the doctor¡¯s judgment. His fingers trembled as he reached for his phone to call an ambnce. At that moment, Shermaine approached them. ¡°Calling an ambnce won¡¯t help,¡± she said. She smoothed down her skirt and knelt beside the man, pressing her fingers against his pulse point before checking his pupils. Within seconds, she made her diagnosis. It wasn¡¯t a parasite¡ªit was a poisonous worm. She had encountered this before in Southeast Aploth, which meant she was the only person here who could save Leslie. She Comment structio the bath AD Send gift No Ads Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Nurse walking 84 Chapter 84 These bodyguards worked for Joshua, and since Shermaine was his fianc¨¦e, they followed her orders without question. As far as they were concerned, Joshua¡¯s future wife held the same authority as Joshua himself¨Cshe was their boss too. ¡°I also need paper and a pen,¡± Shermaine added. One of the bodyguards happened to have both in his pocket. He pulled them out and handed them over. ¡°Here you are, Mrs. York.¡± The title rolled off his tongue naturally. Shermaine acknowledged him with a brief nod and quickly scribbled down several herbs on the paper. When she finished, she handed it back to the bodyguard. ¡°Grind all these herbs into powder and bring them back to me. Hurry.¡± ¡°Yes, Mrs. York.¡± As they were about to carry Leslie away, the doctor clearly disapproved of sending a man who was coughing up blood to soak in ice water. Besides, be wasn¡¯t sure if Shermaine actually knew how to treat anyone. Joshua noticed the pool of blood on the floor and frowned. He reached down and lifted the hem of Shermaine¡¯s dress to keep it from getting stained. After all, once they dealt with Leslie, the engagement party would need to continue, and such a beautiful dress shouldn¡¯t be ruined. Roy pushed through the crowd and stared at Leslie, who was still coughing up blood. ¡°Joshua, why is he suddenly spitting blood like this?¡± Joshua ignored Roypletely. He had no patience for someone who couldn¡¯t handle simple tasks properly. The other guests watched in disbelief as Joshua held up Shermaine¡¯s dress. In their eyes, Joshua had always been untouchable and above everyone else. Seeing him act so considerate felt like watching a god fall from his pedestal. The doctor watched them preparing to take Leslie away and protested again, ¡°Ms. Shue, this isn¡¯t right. He¡¯s coughing up this much blood and needs immediate medical attention at a hospital. If something goes wrong, it¡¯ll be serious.¡± Lincoln looked worried sick. ¡°Mr. York, Ms. Shue, I apologize for my son¡¯s rudeness, but he¡¯s my only child. Nothing can happen to him.¡± Roy turned to Shermaine and added, ¡°Exactly. Do you even know how to treat people? You¡¯re not a doctor.¡± Shermaine nced at him, her eyes turning cold. ¡°Did I say I couldn¡¯t?¡± Roy was caught off guard by Shermaine¡¯s words and found himself speechless. He suddenly realized that Shermaine¡¯s presence was actually intimidating him. Shermaine found it amusing. Roy was supposed to be someone important in Basterel, yet here he was acting like aplete pushover. While she was thinking this, Joshua punched Roy in the head and ordered, ¡°Roy, clean up the blood on the floor.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll call someone to do it right away,¡± Roy replied. ¡°I said you, Roy. Do it yourself.¡± Roy stared at Joshua in disbelief. Joshua¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it right now.¡± Roy knew Joshua was punishing him, and this was probably just the beginning. Shermaine spoke concisely, ¡°If you take him to the hospital, it¡¯ll be toote. Trust me, and he¡¯ll be fine.¡± Chapter 84 If they didn¡¯t trust her and insisted on the hospital, Leslie would die, and she¡¯d be implicated. After all, that ss of wine was meant for barn i fi ce. The doctor looked at Shermaine curiously, dying to ask what she had diagnosed in Leslie that he, with over ten years of medical experience, couldn¡¯t see Lincoln hesitated. Shermaine was too young, and he didn¡¯t know whether to trust her or not. Joshua spoke smoothly, ¡°Mr. Schuyler, you can trust my fianc¨¦e¡¯s words. She won¡¯t let the only heir of the Schuyler family die here.¡± Since Joshua had given his word, Lincoln had no choice but to take a chance on Shermaine. Lincoln reluctantly agreed, ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave my son in Ms. Shue¡¯s hands.¡± Shermaine nodded slightly and looked up at Joshua. ¡°I¡¯ll leave things here to you.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Since someone had dared toy hands on Shermaine right here in Joshua¡¯s territory, he had to deal with it. Shermaine followed the bodyguard to the lounge where Leslie was resting. She wanted to keep an eye on him. Owen and Ross approached Joshua. ¡°Joshua, do you know what happened?¡± Owen asked. ¡°What happened to Leslie wasn¡¯t an ident. Someone did this deliberately,¡± Joshua replied. Owen was taken aback. ¡®Someone had deliberately harmed Leslie? But who would attack Leslie at an event like this?¡® Standing next to Ruth, Wendelyn tensed up. She reassured herself that hiring someone to kill Yvonne had been the right choice. Once Yvonne was dead, there would be no witnesses left. She wouldn¡¯t have to worry about Yvonne being forced to reveal the truth and expose her involvement. The thought that Yvonne was probably already dead made Wendelyn feel less afraid. Everything would be fine. Joshua would never trace anything back to her. Lincoln frowned and said, ¡°My son is just an eighteen¨Cyear¨Cold high school student. He doesn¡¯t have enemies. I¡¯ve always conducted myself with integrity and kept a low profile in business. Are you sure this was deliberate? There must be some mistake.¡± Joshua exined, ¡°Someone was trying to harm Shermaine, but Leslie identally drank the spiked wine instead.¡± Everyone was shocked. ¡®What? The target was Shermaine?¡® Both J¨¢nice and Ross¡® faces paled at the revtion. His words sent shockwaves through the room. The crowd murmured in disbelief. Someone who had the nerve to pull something like this on the York family¡¯s turf must have a death wish. Wendelyn, who had just begun to rx, felt the color drain from her face again as Joshua¡¯s words sank in. ¡®So they knew all along that the wine was tampered with?¡® Ross¡® expression darkened as he asked, ¡°Have you found out who did it?¡± ¡°She soor Joshua s ady sen Nurse walking 85 Chapter 85 Not only did Shermaine have a good idea who the culprit was, but Joshua had also figured it out with near certainty. He just hadn¡¯t named names you waiting to gather all the witnesses and evidence before handing everything over to Shermaine to deal with personally. Wendelyn¡¯s mind raced with anxious thoughts. ¡®Shermaine knows who¡¯s behind this? What does she mean by that? Could she possibly know it was me? No, that¡¯s impossible. How could Shermaine figure out it was me? She can¡¯t be that omniscient. She knew that even if Joshua sent people to track down Yvonne, it would be toote. Yvonne was already dead. She had received confirmation from the assassin that the job was done and he was waiting for the final payment. Besides, assassins had their professional code of ethics. They wouldn¡¯t reveal their clients¡® information easily. They had signed confidentiality agreements after all. Wendelyn¡¯s mind churned with these thoughts. She had been calm at first, but now unease crept deeper into her heart. In the end, Wendelyn was still too naive. She didn¡¯t understand how cruel and ruthless the world could be. When someone¡¯s life hung by a thread, professional ethics meant nothing. Survival came first; everything else could go to hell. ¡°Wendy, are you alright? Are you tired from standing?¡± Ruth asked with concern. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to perform pianoter. Why don¡¯t you go backstage and have a rest?¡± Wendelyn¡¯s body tensed. ¡°No, I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be modest. I¡¯m looking forward to your performance tonight. You know there will be many important people here, so you need to make a good impression.¡± Ruth was eager for Wendelyn to show off her talents tonight and draw everyone¡¯s attention. She wanted people to see that Wendelyn was truly exceptional. Wendelyn was getting annoyed with Ruth, and her expression turned cold: ¡°I already said I don¡¯t want to. Mom, why are you being so pushy?¡± It was the first time Wendelyn had ever snapped at Ruth. In the past, she wouldn¡¯t have dared and had always been careful to please her mother. It was only after Wendelyn¡¯s reputation as a talented woman in Basterel had grown that Ruth had be more affectionate and gentle, showering her with motherly love. Ruth was stunned, unable to process what had just happened. When it finally sank in, her face immediately darkened. She was already in a terrible mood after being told she had lost her mind, and now Wendelyn was giving her attitude, too. Wendelyn realized her mistake and quickly lowered her head. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m just in a bad mood. I didn¡¯t mean it.¡± Ruth forced a tight smile and managed to hold back her anger. After all, Wendelyn was her pride and joy. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I know you¡¯re upset. I¡¯m not angry with you.¡± ¡°Thanks, Mom. You¡¯re the best.¡± Meanwhile, Roy was pathetically mopping up the bloodstains on the floor. The pampered young master who¡¯d never done a day of housework in his life moved clumsily, forcing himself to continue despite the amused looks from everyone around him. Henry held his wine ss, watching Roy with an amused smirk. ¡°Roy, you had thising.¡± He shook his head. ¡°Can¡¯t you see how much Jos res about Shermaine? She¡¯s obviously more than just a fianc¨¦e to him.¡± Roy frowned at him. ¡°Why do you keep mocking me?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re an idiot.¡± Roy fell silent, grinding his teeth. ¡®You¡¯re the idiot,¡® he thought. Meanwhile, in the lounge, Lesliey shirtless in the bathtub, surrounded by ice cubes. The cold seemned to ease his suffering, and he¡¯d stopped coughing. up blood. B¨²t the ice was slowing his cirction, and his breathing grew weaker by the minute. If someone didn¡¯t lean close to check, they might think he was already dead. Lincoln rushed in from the party hall, his face etched with worry. ¡°Is my son going to be fine?¡± ¡°He¡¯s fine. He won¡¯t die,¡± Shermaine replied without hesitation. Lincoln couldn¡¯t understand where Shermaine¡¯s confidence came from, but her unwavering certainty was starting to affect him. He found himself gradually choosing to believe her. After all, no one would gamble with another person¡¯s life. In the hall, the York family had taken control of the situation, and the incident with Leslie was slowly dying down. Still, everyone remained curious about who would want to harm Shermaine so badly that they¡¯d resort to attempted murder Among the Jean family members, Jameson turned to Ross with a slightly puzzled expression. ¡°Sheary knows medicine?¡± ¡°She knows a bit,¡± Ross replied. Jameson made a thoughtful sound. Since Shermaine hadn¡¯t attended college, she must have learned her medical skills from a folk healer rather than through proper medical school training. She probably only knew the basics¨Cnothing to be proud of. They could have sent Leslie to the hospital for proper treatment, but Shermaine insisted on staying. She was obviously just showing off, trying to improve her tarnished reputation. ¡°Shermaine was clearly calcting. She knew this move would only benefit her, with no downside. No wonder Wendy was no match for her,¡® Jameson thought. By now, the bodyguards had quickly returned with all the herbs Shermaine needed. When they handed them to her, she took a cup from the table and poured all the powdered herbs together. She added boiling water and stirred the mixture until it became a dark, murky liquid. Shermaine handed the concoction to a bodyguard. ¡°Make him drink it.¡± ¡°Yes, Mrs. York.¡± Following her orders, the bodyguard pried open Leslie¡¯s mouth and poured the bitter medicine down his throat. The liquid was incredibly bitter. Leslie struggled against them, but his limbs were too weak to resist. Within moments, he had swallowed everyst drop of the medicine. ¡°Pull him out now. He doesn¡¯t need to soak anymore,¡± Shermaine ordered. The bodyguards hauled Leslie out of the water and wrapped him in a bathrobe. His consciousness had been fading, but soon after drinking the medicine, his eyes snapped open. He felt nauseous and desperately wanted to throw up. ¡°Get him a trash can,¡± Shermaine said. The bodyguard had just pushed the trash can in front of him when Leslie bent over and vomited into it. In the dark, bloody mess, several transparent, thread¨Clike poisonous worms were clearly visible. These poisonous worms were called Srax/ Leslie had swallowed a mother worm that was carryingrvae. Once inside a human host, the mother worm immediately began reproducing. Leslie had swallowed one, but he was now expelling several. The most dangerous aspect of these poisonous worms was the substance they secreted while invading the human body. This toxin flowed through the bloodstream and caused hallucinations by affecting the brain¡¯s neural system. If Shermaine hadn¡¯t used ice to slow Leslie¡¯s blood cirction, he would have died within minutes. Even after the host died, these worms wouldn¡¯t leave the body. Instead, they would wait for the host to expirepletely before slowly consuming the internal organs and flesh. Shermaine had encountered these worms once before in Southeast Aploth. The Srax worms were supposed to be nearly extinct, yet somehow, someone had managed to obtain them. She wondered, ¡®Where had Wendelyn gotten her hands on such rare poisonous worms?¡® ¡°Leslie!¡± Lincoln called out anxiously. ¡°Let him throw up. He needs to get all the poisonous worms out of his system.¡± Lincoln¡¯s mind reeled at the thought. ¡®Poisonous worms? That sounded revolting.¡® He nced into the trash can and immediately wished he hadn¡¯t. Among the bile and blood, tiny white worms were writhing and squirming. A chill ran down his spine as goosebumps erupted across his skin. After emptying his stomach, Leslie finally seemed morefortable, but he quickly drifted into unconsciousness, His body was severely depleted and needed several days of rest to fully recover. Shermaine spoke calmly, ¡°This is basically attempted murder.¡± She checked the time, figuring her aplices had probably tracked down most of the leads by now. ¡°Give me your phone. I need to call the police.¡± Just as Shermaine had predicted, Bradley had indeed wrapped up most of the investigation. What he hadn¡¯t expected was Joshua calling personally to check on the progress. Usually, Bradley worked so efficiently that Joshua never needed to ask¨Che¡¯d simply report when there were updates. It showed just how special Shermaine was to Joshua, and Bradley wondered if Joshua realized it. Bradley quickly answered the phone and reported, ¡°Mr. York, we¡¯ve caught the perpetrator and managed to grab a hitman as well. ¡°Bring them here,¡± Joshua replied. Joshua hung up and turned around to find Shermaine walking toward him. Behind her sses, her eyes were focused and intense, as if they held an entire gxy of stars. That strange, inexplicable feeling stirred within him again, impossible to suppress. ¡°How¡¯s Leslie?¡± Shermaine remainedposed and confident. ¡°With me handling it, he¡¯ll be fine.¡± Now it was Wendelyn¡¯s turn. Nurse walking 86 Chapter 86 Chapter 86 At the sight of Shermaine, Wendelyn¡¯s legs turned to jelly. The sting of her earlier public humiliation still lingered, and now, afterinuvale varing da could cost someone their life, her fear was even more overwhelming. Wendelyn couldn¡¯t help wondering. ¡®Did Shermaine really remove that worm from Leslie? Could she actually have some medical skilta, just tha pem say? But there was a doctor on¨Csite just now, and even he couldn¡¯t identify the problem. Soon enough, her doubts were answered. Lincoln took the time to bid farewell to the York family, exining. ¡°Leslie¡¯s safe now, but he still needs to rest, so we¡¯ll be taking him home now.¡± Owen smiled and said, ¡°I have a rare Reishi mushroom. Take it home to help your son recover. ¡°It was a token of goodwill andpensation for the wine incident.¡± ¡°Oh no, please don¡¯t trouble yourself. Honestly, Leslie brought this upon himself. When he wakes up, I¡¯ll have to give him a proper talk to Lincoln said ¡°Don¡¯t stand on ceremony,¡± Owen said generously. ¡°Take it home. Your son¡¯s recovery is what matters most. Given Owen¡¯s insistence, Lincoln could no longer refuse politely. With sincere gratitude, he epted the precious mushroom. The doctor who couldn¡¯t diagnose Leslie¡¯s condition grew so curious that he stepped forward to inquire directly. Lincoln answered frankly, ¡°It was a poisonous worm.¡± The doctor was stunned. ¡®A poisonous worm? Such a bizarre and sinister thing¨Cno wonder I couldn¡¯t diagnose it. But how on earth did Shermaine detect it?¡® With these questions burning in his mind, the doctor really wanted to get a clear exnation from Shermaine, but there was no opportunity right now. The doctor thought, ¡®If only I could! Then, when I encounter patients with simr issues in the future, I could act quickly and save more lives. As word quickly spread among the distinguished guests that Leslie¡¯s condition was caused by a poisonous worm, everyone recalled the horrific scene of him vomiting blood earlier. The thought sent chills down their spines; it was clear just how terrifying and lethal such a thing could be. The guests murmured among themselves. ¡°Who could be so vicious, using something so disgusting to hurt others?¡± someone whispered. ¡°Exactly, that¡¯s downright malicious,¡± another agreed. ¡°The culprit must be among us. It¡¯s making me feel rather uneasy,¡± someone else added. Hearing the murmurs around her, Wendelyn broke into a cold sweat. Shermaine really did remove the poisonous worm from Leslie. Even if she had drunk that ss of wine, she could have saved herself. It wouldn¡¯t have been the instant death Wendelyn imagined. Seeing that the guests were still focused on the poisonous worm incident, the emcee took the stage and said, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, we apologize for the unpleasant incident earlier this evening. ¡°I know everyone may still be feeling a bit unsettled, so to help lighten the mood, why don¡¯t we invite Ms. Wendelyn Jean to perform a piece for us? ¡°Ms. Jean has thoughtfully prepared a special piece to celebrate her sister¡¯s engagement to Mr. York. Let¡¯s give her a warm wee! All eyes were on Wendelyn as she moved stiffly onto the stage. She took her seat, her fingers trembling as they hovered over the piano keys. Ruth proudly boasted to those around her, ¡°Wendelyn is an amazing pianist; she¡¯s even won international awards! If she weren¡¯t so passionate about literature and only yed piano for mental cultivation, I¡¯m sure she would have gone to study at Silverleaf Institute of Music by now. The others humored her with polite smiles. ¡°Well then, I¡¯m looking forward to hearing her y,¡± one of them chimed in. After all, as a renowned Chapter 86 musician, she was genuinely curious¨Cjust how talented could Ruth¡¯s much praised daughter really be? Shermaine looked at the stage, her lips curling into a slight smirk. If she wasn¡¯t mistaken, Wendelyn picked this ce hoping to y while watch die. Now that her n had failed, Shermaine wondered if she could even bring herself to keep ying Wendelyn sat frozen at the piano, not making a move. ¡°Are you going to y or not?¡± someone called out. ¡°Are you sure you can y?¡± another jeered. ¡°Rx, we won¡¯tugh if you mess up,¡± someone else added with a smirk. Under the pressure of the murmurs and taunts from the audience, Wendelyn had no choice but to take a deep breath and finally begin ying Yet, the harder she tried not to make a mistake, the more mistakes she made. Right from the start, her fingers stumbled over several wrong notes. The musician, who had been looking forward to Wendelyn¡¯s performance, stopped smiling. This was far from amazing, yet Ruth actually had the audacity to boost. Ruth, being musically untrained, couldn¡¯t detect the ws and simply thought it sounded pleasant. She beamed with pride, ¡°See? Isn¡¯t she amazing¡° The musician smiled faintly. ¡°Mrs. Jean, with your younger daughter¡¯s current piano skills, she wouldn¡¯t even qualify for the piano department at Basterel¡¯s Conservatory of Music, let alone Silverleaf Institute of Music.¡± To be charitable, getting a level certification would already be an achievement. After all, for professional musicians, that certification didn¡¯t mean anything. Ruth¡¯s smile nearly split apart; she was barely able to keep up appearances. Unable to hide her embarrassment, Ruth snapped, ¡°You don¡¯t even know what you¡¯re talking about. Cut your nonsense!¡± ¡®Alright, I¡¯m just talking nonsense,¡® the musician thought. ¡®Can¡¯t even handle the truth. Honestly, that¡¯s hopeless.¡± ¡°Mrs. Jean,¡± someone finally spoke up, unable to stand it any longer. ¡°This is Mollie Hart, one of our country¡¯s most renowned pianists.¡± Ruth froze instantly. She had heard of Mollie¡¯s name before but had never seen her in person. Who would¡¯ve thought the person she was just casually bragging to was actually Mollie herself? The humiliation struck like a violent storm¨Cso sudden and overwhelming that Ruth could barely process it. Could Wendelyn really be as ipetent as Mollie said? Half way through her performance, several uniformed police officers suddenly entered the party hall. Wendelyn¡¯s fingers slipped across the piano keys, producing a jarring dissonance that made everyone wince and cover their ears. Her face turned ashen, her eyes brimming with uncontroble terror. ¡®Police again?¡® Wendelyn thought, her chest tightening with panic. Guided by someone, the officers quickly approached Shermaine. Whatever Shermaine told them made the officer turn to look at Wendelyn, and they strode purposefully toward the stage. Nurse walking 87 Chapter 87 The crowd¡¯s attention instantly snapped to the arriving police. Were they here to arrest someone? But the officers seemed to be heading straight for Wendelyn. As expected, the police approached the stage, apparently ready to take her in for questioning But before they could act, Wendelyn burst out screaming, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare touch me!¡± Tears streaming down her face as she tearfully used Shermaine, ¡°What is this about? Why did you call the police to arrest me?¡± Shermaine studied her, a faint, mocking smile ying on her lips. ¡°Attempted murder is still murder. Of course, you¡¯ll have to pay.¡± 2 Wendelyn put on a pitiful act, her tone exaggeratedly aggrieved as she said, ¡°I didn¡¯t do it! I know you¡¯ve disliked me ever since you came back, You were homeless for fourteen long years, while I was lucky enough to be adopted. ¡°You think I stole your life, but I never actually fought you for anything. Why do you want me dead? Why are you framing me?¡± The fake victim¡¯s ssic ybook was putting on an innocent, fragile act to fish for sympathy, all while subtly implying that Shermaine was only targeting her out of sheer jealousy. ¡°God, not the same trick again,¡® Shermaine thought. Some of them were new to this fact and felt surprised. So Wendelyn was actually adopted? How¡­ fortunate for her. A handful of people bought her act, but none dared to speak up for her. After all, Joshua got Shermaine¡¯s back. This was the York family¡¯s turf, only a fool would be suicidal enough to y the hero here. Roy couldn¡¯t believe Wendelyn could be the mastermind. How could such a kind¨Chearted girl do something so terrible? He was just about to speak up, Henry grabbed his arm and warned, ¡°Don¡¯t be impulsive. Just wait and see.¡± ¡°There must be some misunderstanding,¡± Roy insisted. Henry smacked Roy upside the head and warned, ¡°Mark my words: if you dare speak up for Wendelyn tonight, Joshua will definitely cut ties with you.¡± Cut ties? Just imagining that scenario made Roy pale, and he soon lost his nerve. The consequence would be too severe. But deep down, Roy was still indignant. ¡®There¡¯s no way Wendelyn is that wicked,¡® he insisted to himself. Ruth was dumbfounded at first, then exploded with rage. She stormed over, jabbing a finger at Shermaine¡¯s face, and shrieked, ¡°How dare you, Shermaine! Being Joshua¡¯s woman doesn¡¯t mean you can do whatever you want! ¡°There¡¯s no way Wendelyn would ever break thew. You¡¯re already the heiress. What more do you want? Will you only be satisfied when you¡¯ve torn this family apart?¡± Jameson¡¯s reaction was more subdued than hers. He merely furrowed his brows and whispered, ¡°Sheary, could there be some misunderstanding? Today is your engagement party. Let¡¯s not make a scene in front of everyone.¡± Deep down, Jameson thought, ¡®This is utterly humiliating. Why can¡¯t she settle things privately instead of making a public spectacle? It¡¯s just so willful and immature.¡® Ross said firmly, ¡°Sheary isn¡¯t someone who makes baseless usations¨Cshe would never wrong an innocent person. And if she hadn¡¯t removed the worm from Leslie¡¯s system, he would¡¯ve been dead. Father, Mother, I hope you can judge this matter fairly.¡± Janice sneered, ¡°You¡¯re just an adopted daughter. Carrying ourst name doesn¡¯t make you one of us. I¡¯ve never recognized you as family¡ªnot even Chapter 87 once. What a joke. You really think you¡¯re better now?¡± By now, Janice was done being nice to Wendelyn. Since Shermaine had the policee for her, she must be the one behind this mess. Unbeleniu, tie Jean family gave Wendelyn everything, yet she dared to plot against their only heiress. Janice thundered, ¡°And you, Ruth! If you dare shield a murderer and turn against your own flesh and blood, then take that murderer and get out at our house!¡± Comment Nurse walking 88 Chapter 88 Ruth sneered. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for me back then, do you really think the Jean family would be where it is today? What right do you have to kick me out She scoffed contemptuously. In her eyes, Shermaine wasn¡¯t even half as capable as Wendelyn. What a joke. All traces of guilt instantly vanished. Janice had thought Ruth¡¯s mistreatment of Shermaine was because of Jameson¡¯s infidelity, but now it was clear that wasn¡¯t the case at all. If that were truly the case, although Ruth was never a responsible mother to Ross, she never showed any dislike for him. Yet when it came to Sharmaine all she ever showed was pure contempt and disgust. Now, Ruth was just throwing her weight around with that 15% stake. Janice was no saint. For Shermaine¡¯s sake, she wouldn¡¯t even hesitate to be ungrateful. If Ruth couldn¡¯t love her own daughter, then she would. Seeing the argument about to escte, Jameson feared they might say something shocking. ¡°Enough, you two!¡± he interjected. Every family had its skeletons. The crowd was riveted by the drama. Was Wendelyn really the culprit after all? Shermaine gently held Janice¡¯s hand andforted her, ¡°Don¡¯t be upset, Grandma. Getting worked up isn¡¯t good for your health.¡± Janice¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Sheary, go ahead. Your brother and I have your Ross gently patted her head. ¡°I believe in back.¡± ¡± he said. Owen quickly added his support, ¡°Sheary, I believe in you, too. You have my support.¡± Shermaine smiled radiantly, aforting warmth filling her heart. She turned to Ruth and said, ¡°The police require solid evidence before making arrests. Without proof, how could I rashly call them here to apprehend Wendelyn as the mastermind?¡± Gradually, her gaze turned icy, her voice ringing with conviction. ¡°Mrs. Jean, you¡¯d better watch closely. See for yourself what a deranged monster your precious daughter truly is.¡± She called Ruth ¡°Mrs. Jean¡°, not ¡°Mother¡°. Ruth¡¯s expression shifted unpredictably, a knot of anxiety tightening,in her chest. Shermaine added calmly, ¡°Besides, I¡¯ve never relied on Joshua, only on myself.¡± She was strong enough to weather any storm, unafraid of adversity or schemers. That was how she had made it this far, safe and sound. Joshua admired her unppableposure in any situation. He could never predict what delightful surprise she might spring on him next. But then it struck him: Shermaine was only 19, an age when most girls would be carefree and romantic. Yet she carried a maturity and steadiness that seemed beyond her years. For some reason, he felt an unexpected surge of protectiveness toward her. Joshua wondered, ¡®Would she feel hurt, being treated like this by her biological mother?¡® She was probably devastated, but she¡¯d never let it show. At that moment, Bradley strode toward the stage, escorting a man and a woman in custody. The moment Wendelyn saw the two of them, she wentpletely pale, her mind nk with terror. Yvonne was still alive. To top it off, even the hired assassin was tracked down and brought back by Joshua¡¯s men. Wendelyn was consumed by gut¨Cwrenching regret, so deep it twisted her insides with remorse. Chapter 88 She shouldn¡¯t have been so bewitched by Kingston¡¯s words and tried to hurt Shermaine. Not only did Shermaine survive, but the ender op bandar herself in a desperate mess. However, there was no remedy for regret. Wonne, who had been listless just moments before, flew into a rage the instant she saw Wendelyn. She lunged forward, seizing her by the cor ¡°You promised! You said if ! followed your n and made Shermaine drink that worm, you¡¯d send me abroad to study. So why did you try to have me killed? Why send someone to silence me for good? ¡°I was grateful when you paid for my dad¡¯s treatment; I truly was! I considered you my best friend! ¡°To repay you, I even took the me for you, got expelled from school, and did things that went against my conscience for you! But none of that gives you the right to hurt me!¡± Nurse walking 89 Chapter 89 Chapter 89 After Yvonne finished speaking, everyone quickly caught on: Shermaine hadn¡¯t framed Wendelyn at all. In fact, Wendelyn was the real ingeteers plotting to harm Shermaine. And worse, she even wanted to permanently silence the girl who¡¯d helped her with all these duty deeds She looked so demure, but turned out to be cold blooded. Wendelyn, overwhelmed by the thought of spending her life in prison with a tarnished reputation, broke downpletely. She shoved Yonne and cride, out, ¡°I didn¡¯t! I never made any deal with you! Shermaine, how could you go this far just to frame me?¡± Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded desperately, ¡°What will it take for you to let me go? If I¡¯ve ever wronged you, I¡¯ll apologize. Isn¡¯t that enough? I¡­¡± Yvonne was still weak from nearly drowning and couldn¡¯t resist Wendelyn¡¯s shove. She copsed to the ground and broke into hysterical sobs, ¡°Wendelyn, I hate you! Twish you¡¯d just let me die back then!¡± If only it had ended there, her life wouldn¡¯t be this endless darkness now. Wendelyn bit her lip, pretending not to hear her. The next moment, Shermaine hit y on the audio recording of Wendelyn¡¯s conversation with Yvonne for everyone to hear. Yvonne was always the meticulous one. Fearing that Wendelyn might betray her after getting what she wanted, she secretly recorded every conversation they had on her phone each time they met. Wendelyn really thought she¡¯d covered her tracks perfectly, believing Yvonne was just a fool who¡¯d stay loyal for a few small favors. Little did she know, every move she made was full of holes; it was a piece of cake for Shermaine to catch her red¨Chanded. In that instant, Wendelyn¡¯s facade crumbled. Shermaine drawled, ¡°Bet you never thought Yvonne would record all your conversations and keep them on her phone, did you?¡± Yvonne even encrypted those files, but honestly, cracking a password was child¡¯s y for Shermaine. She leaned in, her tone turning cold. ¡°I¡¯ve got plenty more incriminating evidence. Want me to show everyone everything, hmm? What do you think, Ms. Jean?¡± Wendelyn screamed inwardly, ¡®No, absolutely not!¡® She was terrified, truly terrified. Her lips trembled, and she was too scared to speak. Shermaine¡¯s eyes gleamed with amusement. ¡°As for that livestreamed chess match¡­ Did you really think I wouldn¡¯t notice your tech cheating gadgets?¡± Wendelyn was speechless. Terror crashed over her like a tidal wave. Then, a transaction receipt from an overseas website appeared on the screen behind the stage. Someone sneered, ¡°How impressive she is, buying something this expensive without even blinking. Must be nice to have that much money. ¡°They call me a vicious airhead, but you, the so¨Ccalled talented society belle, aren¡¯t any better.¡± Shermaine drawledzily, ¡°As for the rest, I¡¯ll spare you the embarrassment and won¡¯t air every dirty secret. But I¡¯m sure everyone following this drama can already tell who¡¯s the victim, and who¡¯s the shameless liar.¡± Shermaine never coveted what wasn¡¯t hers. But she wouldn¡¯t allow anyone to snatch her stuff. Now Wendelyn finally understood that Shermaine was no pushover. With a backbone of steel, she was utterly invincible to someone like her. Wendelyn stood there in a daze. 12:27 Fri 6 Jun 736 Chapter 89 Just then, a pair of icy handcuffs sped around her wrists. Then, Wendelyn was dragged off the stage by the police. Wonne followed closely behind. Struggling fiercely as she was dragged past Ruth, Wendelyn desperately clutched her hand and wailed hysterically, ¡°Mom, please save me! it was all a mistake. I can¡¯t go to prison!¡± But when faced with all the evidence, Ruth was utterly devastated. She never imagined Wendelyn would actually do such terrible things, and worse, get caught red¨Chanded. The daughter she took so much pride in couldn¡¯t even y the piano properly, let alone had to cheat at chess. What an utter disgrace. Ruth¡¯s face turned icy as she wrenched her hand away. ¡°You¡¯re no daughter Nurse walking 90 Chapter 90 Wendelyn was devastated. She never expected Ruth would turn on her in the blink of an eye, casting aside thele years of family Band and that her as her daughter. Now that Wendelyn was no longer useful, Ruth didn¡¯t even hesitate to abandon her. How ruthless and selfish she was. The only person she could ever depend on had abandoned her. Wendelyn felt like she was trapped in a pit of despair, unable to climb out. Clinging to herst hope, Wendelyn turned desperately to Jameson. ¡°Dad,¡± she pleaded, ¡°please, tell Shermaine to show mercy. I truly know I was wrong. I made a huge mistake!¡± Jameson had always treated his adopted dau ll, but only because she had been docile and sweet. Now that her facade had been torn away, revealing her true nature, he paused before replying coldly, ¡°Since you know you were wrong, you must face the consequences. I¡¯ll hire the bestwyer to defend you and minimize your suffering.¡± Tears blurred Wendelyn¡¯s vision. Seeing she had finally ceased struggling, the officers continued to escort her out. Wendelyn lifted her head to look at Shermaine. d in that snow¨Cwhite dress, she radiated untouchable elegance. ¡®A swan will always be a swan, Wendelyn thought bitterly. ¡®Even when lost, that truth never changes. Standing right beside Shermaine was Lily, her own sister, regarding her with icy indifference. She showed none of the excitement or warmth she¡¯d disyed when first discovering their sisterhood. Right now, Wendelyn knew there was no way out. For the rest of her life, she would be trapped in this darkness, with no hope of ever rising again. The tale of the fake heiress plotting against the real one had finally concluded. And the ones hit hardest? Undoubtedly Ruth and Roy. Ruth quickly excused herself, saying she needed to use the restroom, and slipped away. Everyone was absolutely floored by her reaction. One moment, she was praising Wendelyn to the skies, gushing about how wonderful she was. But the next, she tly dered, ¡°You¡¯re no daughter of mine.¡± Was Wendelyn¡¯s entire existence just a trophy for her to show off? The moment she stopped being useful, Ruth discarded her like yesterday¡¯s trash. But Ruth wasn¡¯t always like this. Since when did she be so calcting and cruel? Time could really change people. As for Roy, he stood there dumbfounded. With all the evidenceid out before him, there was no denying it: Wendelyn really was that vicious, nothing like the kind, innocent girl he¡¯d imagined. ¡°Henry, go ahead and p me,¡± Roy pleaded. Henry didn¡¯t hesitate¨Che pped Roy hard across the face. The pnded with a sharp crack. Roy hissed in pain. So it was Shermaine who was targeted and wronged all along. She was just defending herself, but Roy took her for some scherning, Chapter 90 calcting woman. The thought of how he¡¯d badmouthed her to Joshua andpared her to Wendelyn made him want to bawl his eyes out. Just kill me already. choked out. ¡°Do it yourself,¡± Henry said coldly, without a shred of mercy. Sniffling, Roy thought to himself, ¡®Would it kill you to just At that moment, Shermaine felt an overwhelming sense of relief wash over her. The pent¨Cup frustration she¡¯d been carrying for so long finally dissipated. Joshua handed her a ss of fruit wine. ¡°Care for a drink?¡± Shermaine took the ss. The fruit wine was slightly sweet, but she liked it. Joshua¡¯s gaze darkened as he watched her drink without hesitation. ¡°You trust me that much?¡± he asked. In fact, she did trust him. It never crossed her mind that Joshua would try to hurt her; there was no conflicting interests between us, and besides, he wa the one who went out of his way to be nice to her. Shermaine paused to think. Then, she said, ¡°You¡¯re a man of honor.¡± A man of honor? Joshua took a sip of his wine. No one had ever said such things before; Shermain¨¦ was the first. A faint smile touched his lips as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t dwell too much on your parents¡® attitude earlier. After all, not everyone values family bonds as deeply your grandmother and brother do.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Shermaine murmured. Joshua was indeed a decent man; he even tried tofort her. But weren¡¯t they in a sham marriage?¡± She had felt that sense of disillusionment from the very beginning, so now she remained unruffled. That gentle, wise Ruth from her dreams couldn¡¯t possibly be the cold woman standing before her. As for Jameson, his heart belonged to his other family, and Shermaine was invisible to him. So, why should she care about him? Thankfully, she had brother and grandmother¨Ctheir love was real. Even her uncle and little cousin brought genuine warmth, The wine probably made Shermaine slightly tipsy. She narrowed her eyes as she teased, ¡°What, feeling sorry for me now?¡± AD Comment Send gift No Ads Nurse walking 91 Chapter 91 Chapter 91 What else but love would make a man feel sorry for a woman? Joshua¡¯s eyes grew inscrutable. Feel sorry for her? That phrase had never existed in his vocabry not before, not now, and probably not ever Still, he couldn¡¯t deny that just now, he did feel a trace ofpassion for Shermaine. But there ¡°You¡¯re my fianc¨¦e,¡± Joshua said. ¡°It¡¯s only natural I¡¯d look out for you.¡± was a clear difference betweenpassion and pity Shermaine finished her ss of fruit wine, licked her lips nonchntly, and said, ¡°Just kidding¡± She never expected Joshua to feel sorry for her anyway Their rtionship was perfectly bnced right now, just the way it should be. Joshua studied her closely. Her eyes were clear and bright, and her words carried no trace of romantic undertones, it really was just a simple joke, nothing more. He followed suit and downed the fruit wine in one go, ignoring the strange feeling rising within him. Then, Joshua turned to Shermaine and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t get a chance to introduce you to my family earlier. Come with me.¡± Shermaine nodded. The York family was arge and influential n. Owen had three sons and two daughters. Among the grandchildren, Joshua ranked third, with two older brothers, an older sister, and a younger sister. As the handpicked heir to the family business, he took over the family business, and much of its current sess was thanks to him. Despite the York family¡¯s size, the brothers maintained remarkable harmony. There was no scheming over inheritance; instead, each excelled in his own field. For example, Victor York, the eldest son, was now a popr movie star¨Ca real heavyweight in the film industry with countless fans. The second son, Jack York, was an adventurer, always roaming the world and rarely at home. As for the fourth son and the fifth daughter, one had joined the military while the other was studying abroad; neither had returned. Joshua¡¯s parents were also absent. His father, a scientist, was rarely home, and it was said that his mother passed away when he was very young. Thus, he was raised by Owen from childhood. Joshua¡¯s two uncles and two aunts were exceptionally warm toward Shermaine, even preparing special engagement gifts for her. When Ruth stepped out of the restroom, she saw Shermaine chatting merrily with the Yorks. Her eyes darkened with unreadable emotions. Just now, she¡¯d spent ages in the restroom psyching herself up. Honestly, she still didn¡¯t like Shermaine, but even she had to admit that the girl¡¯s talent was obvious to everyone. Not that she¡¯d ever say it out loud, of course. Without Wendelyn in the picture, Shermaine might just be¡­ eptable. Just then, Jameson answered a call, his voice filled with urgency. ¡°What? Jason¡¯s in the hospital? What happened? I¡¯ming right now. Wait for me.¡± After hanging up, Jameson spotted Ross socializing not far away. He walked straight up to him and said directly, ¡°There¡¯s an emergency; I have to leave now. You¡¯ll handle this.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Ross said calmly. With that, Jameson left in a hurry. The guests exchanged curious nces. What on earth could be more important than his daughter¡¯s engagement party? The party continued to its final ritual; the exchange of engagement rings. The couple stepped onto the stage and, der verme slipped the rings onto each other¡¯s fingers. The rings were simple and understated. Shermaine took the men¡¯s ring from the host and, without hesitation, slipped it onta kehuss m¨²SIN Then, Joshua did the same for her. Apuse erupted from the audience below. Amid the dazzling lights and lively party atmosphere, Shermaine held her wine ss, mingling with Joshua and the guests. As a true lover of ded who hadn¡¯t indulged like this in ages, she drank quite a bit. Her ss emptied and refilled in endless cycles. Finally, as the party wasing to an end, she let out a small burp. Joshua looked down at Shermaine. Shermaine¡¯s eyes glistened with moisture, like a clear spring veiled in mist. Her cheeks flushed pink as she licked her lips, looking everyb enchanting siren. If she weren¡¯t his fianc¨¦e, half the men here would be utterly bewitched, lining up to take her home. Shermaine had an incredible alcohol tolerance. After countless drinks, only now was she finally starting to feel tipsy Dit the Just then, Lily asked with concern, ¡°Sheary, let me help you back to the lounge to rest.¡± If she hadn¡¯t been running interference all night, blocking those toasts for Lily, she wouldn¡¯t have had to drink so much. Little did they know, it was Shermaine who actually wanted to drink. She had a high tolerance for alcohol, but she¡¯d rarely ever been drunk. Now, though, her head was spinning a little, and after wearing high heels all night, her feet were killing her. She just wanted to kick off her shoes and let her feet rx. Hearing Lily¡¯s offer, Shermaine frowned slightly, sized her up with a tipsy gaze, then pushed her away with exaggerated seriousness. ¡°I don¡¯t want your help,¡± she dered. Pointing imperiously at Joshua and tilting her chin up, she added, ¡°You, give me a piggyback ride.¡± AD Nurse walking 92 Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Drunk Shermaine was nothing like her usual calm and easygoing self. Now she was acting like a spoiled little princess, coquettish and picky, dentureso to be waited on hand and foot. She singled out Joshua, insisting that only he could carry her on his back. Lily decided to stay out of it. After all, she figured Joshua wouldn¡¯t just leave Shermaine alone. In fact, this was the perfect chance to let these two lovebirds have some quality time together. So, Lily handed Shermaine straight to Joshua and said, ¡°Mr. York, please take care of her.¡± Then she obediently stepped aside to watch the scene unfold. ¡®Honestly, nobody could possibly resist her right now.¡± Lily was practically buzzing with excitement as she watched. Shermaine could barely stand still after being pushed toward Joshua. She wrapped her arms around his waist, leaning limply against him and nuzzling his chest. Then, without even opening her eyes, she tilted her head up and whined, ¡°Come on, give me a piggyback!¡± Joshua swallowed hard, momentarily caught off guard by Shermaine¡¯s sudden change. He pressed his lips together before murmuring, ¡°Your dress is too long¡­ I can¡¯t give you a piggyback.¡± Shermaine frowned and pouted, ¡°Then just carry me.¡± She really didn¡¯t want to walk because her feet hurt too much. Just then, Ross approached from another direction. The moment he saw Shermaine clinging to Joshua, he felt a twinge of exasperation. There she was, acting like a spoiled little princess, demanding to be carried by Joshua. No way. Shermaine shouldn¡¯t get too close to Joshua. Ross had to admit that Joshua was truly exceptional. With too much contact, she might actually fall for him. ¡°Sheary, I¡¯ll carry you, okay?¡± Ross asked softly. Hearing Ross¡® voice, Shermainezily opened her eyes, nced over, and dered matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, ¡°I don¡¯t want you. Joshua only.¡± Ross¡® heart cracked a little. He was rejected by his own sister! ¡®No, she must¡¯ve just picked Joshua because she didn¡¯t want to trouble her dear brother with the heavy lifting. Yeah, that had to be it!¡® Ross told himself. If Shermaine woke up the next day and remembered what she had done to Joshua, she¡¯d probably be mortified. ¡°Sheary,e here. Let me carry you,¡± Ross coaxed gently. Shermaine turned her head away, stubbornly insisting, ¡°No, I want him.¡± She hugged Joshua tightly, enjoying the scent on his body. It soothed the difort in her stomach. Hearing Shermaine¡¯s words, Joshua felt an inexplicable surge of pleasure. Even drunk, she had chosen him. He said calmly, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Without another word, he effortlessly scooped her up by the waist. Shermaine was feather¨Clight, curled up like a tiny kitten in his arms. ¡°Take good care of Shermaine, and don¡¯t you dare take advantage of her,¡± Ross said. Joshua thought, ¡®Seriously? Does he think I¡¯m some kind of predator?¡® Ross¡® overprotectiveness was truly baffling. Joshua shot him a cool nce. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± The girl in his arms stirred slightly. *13:09 Sun AJU OG Chapter 92 Joshua lowered his head, unable to help himself¨Ca faint smile tugged at his lips. Behind his sses, his eyes softened with gende win Shermaine¡¯s head swam dizzity, not too much, but enough to make her ufortable. She rested her head on his shoulder, her wann breath chests over Joshua¡¯s neck, sending tingling shivers down his spine. Joshua wasn¡¯t usually sensitive, but right now, his neck tingled in a way he wasn¡¯t used to. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Joshua swiftly carried her toward the lounge, eager to set her down. Standing side by side, the two of them looked like a match made in heaven, so perfectly in sync that it was impossible to look away. Owen beamed with joy at the sight. ¡®Exactly! This is how you should dote on Shermaine. Now this is what being a true man of our family is all about! Roy, his face swollen and pressed with an ice pack, pulled Henry away from flirting with a pretty girl and eximed, ¡°Did you see that just now? The way Shermaine talked to Joshua? Damn, that was wild!¡± Of course Henry had heard and seen it. He shot back, ¡°None of your business. Joshua is cool with it.¡± Roy eximed, eyes wide with excitement, ¡°No way! That¡¯s insane. She just bossed Joshua around like that, and not only did he not get mad, he actually carried her!¡± At that moment, he found himself with newfound respect for Shermaine. Henry felt speechless. Why did he end up with such a clueless friend? He said, ¡°Joshua has always admired Shermaine. You¡¯re the only one who¡¯s been badmouthing her all along.¡± Roy scratched his nose awkwardly. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go apologize to Shermaine.¡± Henry arched an eyebrow. Indeed, he should apologize, but that wouldn¡¯t stop Joshua from teaching him a lesson. Calmly, Joshua soon led Shermaine to the lounge. Shermaine lounged back on the sofa and lifted her feet. ¡°Take my shoes off for me,¡± she demanded, showing no courtesy to Joshua and treating him like her personal servant. Comment Nurse walking 93 Chapter 93 Would Joshua really argue with someone who waspletely drunk? Of course not, especially when that someone was Shermaine H? 4 promised treat her well, so spoiling her in any situation caine naturally.. Shermaine reclinedzily against a pillow on the sofa, as graceful and pampered as a cat. Her bright, ssy eyes shimmered as she fixed Joshua with ¨C imperious gaze, wiggling her feet impatiently. ¡°Hurry up,¡± she urged. With gentle patience, Joshua slipped off her shoes, revealing her delicate feet. They were so beautiful, every part of her seemed exquisitely made The lounge felt stiflingly hot with the heater on and Once her shoes were off, Shermaine stretched out warm. alcohol in her system. With a careless flick, she hitched up her dress, revealing a pair of slender legs that she absently rubbed against the cool leather of the sofa. At the sight, Joshua felt a rush of heat in his chest. Without hesitation, he quickly pulled down the dress she had hiked up, making sure she was property covered. Shermaine pouted, clearly annoyed. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll catch a cold.¡± Shermaine grumbled, ¡°But I¡¯m burning up!¡± Joshua said gently, ¡°I¡¯ll turn off the heater, but you have to promise me: no more Shermaine grunted, then waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Go ahead then.¡± Joshua got up and went to turn off the heater. hiking up your skirt, okay?¡± But the heat lingered in the room, making Shermaine feel unbearably hot and restless. Lying there grew increasingly ufortable, so she hitched up her dress once more. As Joshua turned around, he was met with an alluring sight. Had anyone else been in the lounge, they would¡¯ve gotten quite an eyeful. But Shermaine clearly didn¡¯t consider him an outsider. Those shapely legs were breathtakingly beautiful, so striking it was impossible to look away. ¡°Shermaine, pull your dress down,¡± he said. His voice roughened with a huskiness he didn¡¯t notice. Shermaine covered her ears, shaking her head and ignoring his words. Joshua stepped forward and took hold of the hem of her dress. But Shermaine grabbed it tightly, refusing to let go. After a tug¨Cof¨Cwar over her dress, Shermaine soon found herself outmatched. Obediently, the hem finally settled back down. With a tipsy huff, Shermaine aimed a petnt kick at him, only for Joshua to catch her foot steadily. He wrapped his hand around her ankle and set her foot back down expressionlessly. Shermaine felt the coolness of his palm. She murmured drowsily, ¡°Your hand is so cool¡­ it feels nice.¡± The soothing touch finally made her s and stop fussing. Joshua was torn between leaving his hand where it was or pulling it away¨Ceither choice felt awkward. Own Chapter 93 Soon after, Shermaine felt parched. Licking her lips, she whined, Joshua, I¡¯m thirsty. I want yogurt, and it has to be ice cold, There was no yogurt in the lounge, so Joshua would have to ask the hotel staff for some. Soon, he made a call to have some delivered. About five minutester, the yogurt arrived. This time, Joshua didn¡¯t just hand the yogurt to Shermaine. He inserted the straw first before giving it to her, Shermaine wrapped her lips around the straw and drank with evident satisfaction. Seeing she had settled down, Joshua fetched a nket and draped it over her. ¡°Get some rest,¡± he said gently. ¡°I¡¯ll take you back to Riverswood Vi .¡± Before he could even stand up, Shermaine grabbed his hand, putting on a serious face. ¡°Sit down,¡± she ordered. Joshua lowered his gaze, a faint smile ying in his eyes. Right now, she acted like a little kid. It seemed going out to entertain the distinguished guests who had traveled so far was no longer an option. With his usual refinedposure, he said gently, ¡°I¡¯m not leaving. You just keep drinking.¡± Shermaine clung to his hand and wouldn¡¯t let go, biting the straw as shezily sipped her yogurt. Noticing Joshua watching her, she assumed he wanted some too. With tipsy generosity, she thrust the drink toward him. ¡°Here,¡± she said, ¡°you can have a couple sips.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want any,¡± Joshua said. ¡°Then why are you staring at me like that?¡± Shermaine demanded, her words slightly slurred. Joshua couldn¡¯t exactly admit, even to himself, that just watching Shermaine eat¨Cno matter what it was¨Calways made him want to eat whatever she was having. This was giving him a bit of a headache. Shermaine thrust the yogurt into his hand with drunken imperiousness. ¡°I know you want it. Go ahead, but only two sips. I still want it back.¡± Her look made it clear that she knew exactly what he wanted. Holding the yogurt, Joshua spotted the glistening moisture on the straw¨Ctraces of Shermaine¡¯s lips. For a germaphobe like him, not only had he just taken off her shoes, but now he was actually about to drink from her straw? Even he found it hard to believe. He wasn¡¯t disgusted; he just couldn¡¯t bring himself to take a sip. Yet Shermaine fixed him with a burning gaze, her eyes full of expectation. ¡°Shermaine, I can have someone bring another-¡± But Shermaine grew impatient. ¡°Drink it already! Stop stalling and man up!¡± At her words, Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened. Apparently, he was already a tough guy and didn¡¯t need to man up this way. As for why he was hesitating, well, that was even harder to exin. ¡®God, what a headache. I really can¡¯t let Shermajne get drunk again. This little troublemaker is just impossible to handle. I¡¯ve never looked after anyone like this before, and honestly, I¡¯mpletely out of my depth.¡® After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Joshua said nothing more. He took the straw in his mouth and took two reluctant sips. The yogurt was both tangy and sweet. 13:10 Sun, 8 Jun @ G He never really liked the sweet drinks girls went for; they were just too sugary for him. Joshua had always preferred coffee. He swallowed with some difficulty, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing, then handed the yogurt back to far in a tow, even voice, he said, ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Shermaine took the yogurt back contentedly, her eyes crinkling with satisfaction as she lounged on the sofa and huped tipsily. shing a mischievous grin, she dered, ¡°You know, sharing a bottle of yogurt with me is a real privilege; no one else ever gets this chance.¡± Hearing this, Joshua caught his breath for a moment, looked at Shermaine with a smile, and replied offhandedly, ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s my honor.¡± She watched as Joshua smiled¨Ca faint, ethereal smile, elusive and almost unreal, as if it might vanish at any moment. The re on his sses made it hard to see his eyes clearly. Then it suddenly struck her: she had never actually seen him without his sses. At this thought, the little troublemaker pouted slightly. Shermaine patted the spot next to her on the sofa, bossing him around with drunken authority. ¡°Come closer to me.¡± AD Nurse walking 94 Chapter 94 Chapter 94 Though the sses didn¡¯t diminish Joshua¡¯s good looks, his features would likely appear even more striking without them a perfect blend of Fasur raw intensity. Without much thought, Joshua moved closer. The man, who hadn¡¯t felt hot before, suddenly found the air stilling, Shermaine had really been a handful just now. He loosened his tie and undid a few buttons, his corbone peeking out with a tantalizing allure, the air around him thick with desire. Shermaine gave a sultry,nguid smile as she propped herself up and reached out her hand. Before Shermaine could touch his sses, Joshua reacted swiftly, catching her wrist. After a brief pause, he asked, ¡°Shermaine?¡± Ignoring him, Shermaine whispered, ¡°sses.¡± She wanted his sses? What a curious troublemaker. Everything seemed new and exciting to her. Though Joshua wasn¡¯t nearsighted, he was never without his sses. He¡¯d gotten used to hiding behind that refined, intellectual lock, using it to mask the sharper side of himself. For now, he found it unnecessary to show her his other side. But before Joshua could say no, Shermaine¡¯s interest suddenly waned. She shrugged and said dismissively, ¡°Never mind. Just forget what I said.¡± Joshua mused, ¡®Seriously? Already bored with me?¡® Shermaine straightened up abruptly, the dizziness worseningpared to when she was lying down. ¡°Let go,¡± she demanded. Joshua hesitated for a moment, then let go of her hand. Shermaine slumped back onto the sofa, set her yogurt aside, and let her heavy eyelids flutter shut. As the alcohol took over, she soon quieted down, her breathing gradually slowing until she drifted into sleep. Meanwhile, Jameson arrived at Yaleview Hospital in a frantic rush/heading straight to the ward the woman had mentioned on the phone. Inside, a well¨Cdressed middle¨Caged woman sat by the bed, muttering to herself, while on the bedy a clean¨Ccut young man on an IV drip. He looked in decent condition and was quietly reading a book. The middle¨Caged woman wasn¡¯t exactly beautiful, but she had a curvaceous figure, Maintaining such curves at her age was something most women could only envy. Upon entering, Jameson said, ¡°Jason, Natalie.¡± Jason, who had been engrossed in his book, looked up in surprise. ¡°Dad? What brings you here?¡± Jameson walked over and asked gently, ¡°Your mom told me you were hospitalized. What happened? Is it serious?¡± Jason lowered his head, stammering, ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m fine.¡± Natalie scolded, her voiceced with worry, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re fine, are you? You had to get stitches in the back of your head! Haven¡¯t I told you again and again to just ignore those ssmates? Why won¡¯t you ever listen to me?¡± Jason had always been obedient. Though health issues dyed his schooling by a year, he excelled as a top student. His teachers predicted he stood an excellent chance of bing the top achiever in natural science in next year¡¯s SAT. Chapter 94 So, there¡¯s no way Jason would pick a fight for no reason, Jason exined, ¡°I can take being called a bastard, but insulting my mom crosses the line. She¡¯s worked so hard to raise me all by forent site think they are to insult you?¡± ¡°You silly boy,¡± Natalie softened her voice, ¡°after all I¡¯ve endured these years, how could you pick a fight at such a crucial time?¡± In the end, it all boiled down to status. Natalie was, after all, Jameson¡¯s mistress, while Jason had been an illegitimate child from the very star, greate up all these years without even the right to be officially recognized as a member of the Jean family. Hearing their conversation, Jameson couldn¡¯t help but feel guilty. With a sigh, he said softly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for everything I¡¯ve put you and your son through. You both deserve so much better than this.¡± With a hint of grievance in her voice, Natalie asked softly, ¡°I know I can¡¯t expect to ever be your wife, but Jason is already neen. When will you finally let hime home and be acknowledged as part of your family?¡± Bringing Jason back would first require getting past Janice, and then there was Ruth. That woman, relying on her 15% shareholding, had grown increasingly domineering. If she ever discovered that his rtionship with Natalie had never really ended and that he intended to officially acknowledge Jason as his son, she would undoubtedly throw a massive fit. As for how Ross and Shermaine might feel, he couldn¡¯t care less. So the immediate issue was dealing with Ruth. He needed to find a way to reim her shares and then file for divorce. He reassured Natalie, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Not only will I bring Jason home, but you¡¯ll also be my wife.¡± His gaze lingered on her impressive cleavage. Compared to Ruth, his preference was clearly leaning toward Natalie now. Truthfully, he never nned to divorce Ruth, but now her temper had be unbearable. Going home felt increasingly suffocating¨Cmost days, he was simply miserable. What man wouldn¡¯t want a gentle and attentive wife by his side? But ever since Ruth discovered his infidelity, she had changedpletely. Now she barely spared him a nce. Ironically, he indulged in his extravagant lifestyle even more, spending recklessly. As soon as Natalie realized Jameson meant to divorce Ruth, her eyes lit up with joy. ¡°Are you serious?¡± she asked excitedly. ¡°Of course.¡± Natalie smiled briefly before schooling her expression. ¡°Even if your mother agrees, what about your son and daughter? Will they ept Jason as their brother?¡± AD Nurse walking 95 Chapter 95 Jameson didit¡¯t seem to worry at all ¡°Don¡¯t worry about my mom. She¡¯s already led up with Ruth If I divores her thet niet de fo Shermaine, they¡¯ll have to ept it, Jason is their brother.¡± With that, Natalie didn¡¯t press further. Since Jameson had promised to make her his wife, she would surely ascend to that position in do By then, Jason would officially be the third son of the Jean family. His humiliating past would be erased. Still, Ross and Shermaine were not to be underestimated. Though Natalie wasn¡¯t at the party tonight, she knew every detail about Shermaine engagement party. Now that Shermaine had totally outmaneuvered Wendelyn, she was not just Joshua¡¯s future wife, she had also be a real favorite in the lean family Janice might favor her, but she also got a highly capable brother watching her back. If Natalie ever joined the Jiang farmity, she knew she had to tread very carefully around Shermaine. Meanwhile, a car pulled up at Riverswood Vi. Joshua carefully lifted the sleeping Shermaine from the car, carried her through the quiet courtyard, and brought her straight upstairs. Gently settling her onto the bed, he tucked the covers around her. It waste, and the housekeeper wasn¡¯t around, so there was no way to change Shermaine¡¯s dress. ¡®But would sleeping with makeup on be bad for her skin?¡® he wondered. After a moment¡¯s thought, Joshua went to the dressing table. Among the assorted bottles and jars, he found the makeup remover and cotton pads. Sitting by the bed, he gently removed her makeup. With that done, he quietly closed the door and left. The next morning, Shermaine slept in until 9 a.m. Her head was pounding fromst night¡¯s hangover. Shermaine got up and drew the curtains. Across the street, rooftops were nketed in glistening white snow, and the trees too, their branches bent under the heavy weight. This winter scene should¡¯ve lifted her spirits. But with her annoyingly sharp memory reying every embarrassing thing she¡¯d donest night, she just couldn¡¯t bring herself to enjoy it. God, she had no idea she¡¯d act like that when she was drunk. If she had known, she never would have indulged so much. And to make things worse, Ross was clearly trying to take her homest night, but she actually turned him down and insisted on having Joshua instead. Shermaine knew she was looks¨Cobsessed, but she never realized it was this bad. Worse yet, she actually lifted her dress right in front of him¨Cand as if that wasn¡¯t enough, she even ¡®generously¡® forced Joshya to drink her half¨Cfinished yogurt. Thinking back, the whole ordeal was so cringeworthy that she was starting to question her own sanity. Last night¡¯s scenes kept reying in her mind like a movie on repeat. Shermaine¡¯s headache intensified. Rubbing her throbbing temples, she grabbed some clothes and headed to the bathroom. She was still in the same clothes, but her makeup waspletely gone. ¡°Must¡¯ve been Joshua¡¯s doing,¡± she thought. After freshening up and changing her clothes, Shermaine headed downstairs, hoping to find some breakfast. To her surprise, as su she saw Joshua lounging on the sofa in casual clothes. He hadn¡¯t gone to work today. as she came down, Hearing the noise, Joshua turned around and saw Shermaine standing there with a face full of regret. He figured the fons night, but, being the gentleman he was, he didn¡¯t bring it up. Instead, he asked, ¡°I made some soup; it¡¯s warning in the kitchen. Do you want some now?¡± After taking a shower, Shermaine felt a lot better, though she still had a slight headache. So she nodded in response. ¡°Breakfast is also warming up in the kitchen,¡± he added.. Shermaine grunted, looked up at Joshua, and after a moment¡¯s hesitation, said, ¡°Sorry aboutst night. I must¡¯ve made a fool of myself in front of you With a faint smile, Joshua replied casually, ¡°No harm done.¡± Looking at her, he added, ¡°You were a bit of a handful, but nothing I couldn¡¯t handle. Shermaine paused, then forced a smile. That certainly wouldn¡¯t happen again because she would never allow herself to drink that much. Then, she quickly changed the subject. ¡°You¡¯re not going to work today?¡± Joshua said slowly, ¡°Grandpa ordered me to take a break and stay with you.¡± It happened to be the weekend. He then added with a hint of teasing And after you wake up, I¡¯ll take you out on a date.¡± ¡®Mr. York certainly thought of everything,¡® Shermaine mused wryly. But that was seriously unnecessary. Thest thing she wanted right now was to be stuck with Joshua. Noticing the subtle resistance in Shermaine¡¯s expression, Joshua said gently, ¡°If you¡¯re not up for it, we can cancel this afternoon¡¯s hot spring trip. ¡°Let¡¯s just cancel it,¡± she said without a second thought. Joshua pressed his lips together. ¡°Hmm.¡± This was Shermaine¡¯s true self. She was always perfectly measured, neither impolite nor intimate. Herplete openness with himst night felt like a fleeting dream, gone in the blink of an eye. ¡°Alright, then,¡± Joshua said with a slight frown. AD Comment Nurse walking 96 Chapter 96 Shermaine had a bowl of soup before finally having breakfast. The breakfast tasted different from what the housekeeper usually made. There could only be one reason Owen had given her the day off foo To her surprise, Joshua¡¯s breakfast tastes even better than the housekeeper¡¯s¨Check, even better than her. Who would¡¯ve thought that a perpetually buty businessman could actually cook this well? After a satisfying meal, Shermaine felt her strength returning As soon as she finished washing the dishes and stepped out of the kitchen, she noticed Joshosa was no longer in the living room. King Tikl was cleaning when it scooted over to Shermaine¡¯s feet, waving its little as excitedly. ¡°Good morning. Princess Sheary!¡± it chirped. ¡°I¡¯m off to explore the cosmos. When I get back, I¡¯ll bring you¡¯ a gry of starul¡± Shermaine lowered her gaze slightly. The robot¡¯snguage database seemed unnecessarily borate, yet on this rather dreary morning, it did adda touch of liveliness ¡°Boing extra nice for no reason¡­ just means I¡¯m cracy about you!¡± ¡°Oh, the moment I first saw you, I knew I was a poner ¡°Let¡¯s be a couple! Not even if they beat us to death would I break up with you, and if you ever tried to leave me, I¡¯d hunt you down forevert i¡¯m crazy for you, wild about you, I¡¯d even smash through walls just for you!¡± Shermaine crouched down and gave its forehead a yful flick. ¡°Hey, y me a song, will you?¡± ¡°At your service, Princess Sheary!¡± King Tiki activated the search function and yed a romantic song. ¡°Adoring You ¡°Your smiling eyes ¡°Even sunsets look like lipstick kisses ¡°I love following you like this Take me me anywhere you please ¡°Your face ¡°Slowly drawing near ¡°Lighting up my future¡­¡± Upstairs, Joshua, having watched the whole thing thought to himself, ¡°Hmph. Your Princess Sheary, huh!¡± He hated to admit it, but that bothered him. Though King Tiki had picked the song just to bytter her up, the cheerful melody and the singer¡¯s honeyed voice made it genuinely soothing to the ears. Shermaine said, ¡°Not bad! Once I have some free time, I¡¯ll upgrade you again. She would turn it into the king of all robot vacuums, the undisputed champ that let everyone else in the dust ¡°Princess Sheary, you¡¯re the absolute best! Love you to bits¡± said King Tiki. 14:05 Mon, 93 lune ¡°A faint smile touched Shermaine¡¯s lips. She lingered in the living room for a while before heading upstairs to her rodin. While she was downstairs having breau, Boss called again. Noticing the missed call, Shermaine called him back. Ross asked, ¡°Hey, Sheary, are you up yet?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡±replied Shermalne, ¡°Did you have breakfast? How¡¯s your head? Still hurting fromst night?¡± Shermaine replied, ¡°Yeah,te. I feel fine. Then she thought to hersell, ¡®If Joshua¡¯s breakfast is already this gond, his proper meals must be incredible.¡± Ross cleared his throat, a bit hesitant. ¡°Do you remember what happenedst night!¡°. Shermaine paused briefly. ¡°Yeah, I do.¡± While most people wake up after a hangover with no memory, she was different; her metabolism never let her forget what she¡¯d done, no matter how much she drank. With rare embarrassment and a sheepish tone, she said, ¡°Sorry, Ross. I didn¡¯t expect I¡¯d act so out of character when I got drunk.¡± Ross said considerately, ¡°it¡¯s okay, really.¡± Then he reminded her, ¡°Next time, don¡¯t overindulge in alcohol, okay? A little is fine, but too much isn¡¯t good for your health. ¡°And remember what I told you don¡¯t get too close to Joshua. As good as he may be, he¡¯s not the right person for you.¡± In his eyes, anyone who didn¡¯t genuinely love his sister wasn¡¯t worthy of her. It seemed Ross never stopped worrying about her. Shermaine reassured him, ¡°Got it. Don¡¯t worry, I know what I¡¯m doing¡± She had a sharp memory, and Ross words were always etched in her mind. Except for her slip¨Cupst night, she was usually the model of self¨Cdiscipline. Ross said, ¡°Alright, I need to get back to the office now. It¡¯s chilly outside, so remember to dress warmly if you go out.¡± ¡°Alright, drive safe, Shermaine said, After hanging up, Shermaine settled into the chair and opened theptop on the desk. Bradley had already brought herptop and backpack over the night before. Shermaine was lost in deep thought Actually, the real tricky part right now was Owen and Janice. Both of them were over the moon about this engagement and couldn¡¯t wait for their rtionship to move forward. Every time Shermaine saw their beaming faces, she just couldn¡¯t help but feel guilty Owen¡¯s health was gradually improving. He definitely ly wouldn¡¯t die in a short time, even in the next few years, as long as he doesn¡¯t develop any other health issues, it wouldn¡¯t be a problem at all. With this, the debt she owed Joshua from the very beginning was finally settled. So Shermaine was thinking, maybe she should just call off next year¡¯s wedding. She just needed to find the right time toe clean to both families. Joshua probably wouldn¡¯t object, since he¡¯d only agreed to this engagement in the first ce for Owen¡¯s sake. As for her family, though Janice liked Joshua a lot, if Shermaine insisted on calling off the engagement, Janke would surely respect her de would back her up, too. As for Jameson¨Che¡¯d definitely object, but Shermaine couldn¡¯t care less what he thought. Ross On the other end, Roy called to make amends. ¡°Joshua, can you bring Shermaine out tonight? I want to apologize to her!¡± Since he¡¯d already decided to apologize, he figured it was best to act quickly¨Cno sense letting her opinion of him get any worse, Chapter 07 Nurse walking 97 Chapter 97 In his study, Joshua lounged with a cigarette dangling between his fingers, wigs of sm his usual strictposite reced by a rsed, sensualnguer. of smoke curlingzily around him. He flicked the ashrabsentmindedly). She might not even want to go out with me today, he thought, hesitating over whether to bring it up with Shenmaine. Not hearing a reply from Joshua, Roy assumed he had agreed. ¡°Wright, it¡¯s settled thent Tonight at the Gatory Club, Fil host avish least to properly apologize to Shermaine. ¡°Oh! I gotta go, Mdy just came online, and there¡¯s no way I¡¯m letting her ignore me today. The call ended abruptly. Mdy? Wasn¡¯t that Shermaine? Joshua remembered warning Roy not to bother her again. Clearly, his words had fallen on deaf ears. His eyes darkened as he stood up and strode out of the study. As soon as Shermaine tumed on herputer, & red alert popped up. Then, someone bypassed her first firewall and sent her a message:| just say something.] Then came the next: Pretty please, I swear I mean no harm! I just wanna get to know you, be friends well, not just regr friends. Honestly, I¡¯ve got major crush on you!] Sharmaine was speechless. ¡®Seriously, what¡¯s wrong with this hacker? Why is he so obsessed with some random person online? I¡¯m sure I haven¡¯t done anything to encourage him or given him any signals, she thought. Shermaine operied the message window, fingers poised to reply when a knock interrupted her. She stopped, swiveled her chair toward the door, and called out, ¡°Come in Joshua entered carrying a te of sliced fruit, walked to her side, and set it on the table. With a gentle smile, he said, ¡°The cherries are very sweet. Try some. By now, Shermaine hadposed herself, none of that barely noticeable awkwardness from downstairs remaining. ¡°Thanks,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± Joshua noticed the chat window on her screen shing with constant messages. Roy was beating her repeatedly, apanied by a stream of heart emojis. He raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°Is that hacker still harassing you? ¡°Mm,¡± Shermaine said, spearing a cherry with a toothpick and popping it into her mouth. It was indeed sweet. Joshua said calmly. ¡°Ignoring him indefinitely isn¡¯t the solution. Ask him directly what it would take for him to stop bothering you.¡± ¡°No need,¡± Shermaine replied. ¡°I¡¯m just going to tell him I have a boyfriend.¡± Joshua shook his head. ¡°He won¡¯t give up that easily.¡± He paused. ¡°But you can try.¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow, decided to give it a shot, and typed back: [have a boyfriend.] Just as Joshua had predicted, Roy replied: Mdy, that excuse is so old¨Cschool. If you really had a boyfriend, would you be online every night? And for more than three hours at a time!] Shermaine felt speechless Sure enough, men knew each other the best. With no other choice, she sent the message exactly as Joshua had advised. On the other end, Roy sensed his chance and got excited. He had to seize the moment and finally meet Mdy in person. His fingers flew across the keyboard as he typed: (Let¡¯s meet and have a solo match! If you beat me, I¡¯ll stop bothering you for good. Cross my heart! 14:05 MC9Jun 27 GE What a brilliant move. Truth be told, very few yers could ever defeat Boy in a solo match. Among all professional yers, not a single one could beat him in a solo match. Roy was known as the world¡¯s best jungler and solo kin There might be some amazingly talented non professional yers who could take him down, but honestly, the odds were slim to none. There was a forum post a while back about ¡°King¡± the top¨Cranked yer on Koandria leaderboard two years ago. This guy was an absolute beast as both jungler and ADC. It was said that many pro yers went up against him, and every single time, they got absolutely destroyed. Back then, many esports teams tried to recruit him topete professionally, but he turned them all down, saying, ¡°Tm too busy. Gaming is just for fun.¡± Now, he rarely logged on, and it was clear he wasn¡¯t lying about being swamped. Whenever he had free time, Roy would camp out on the Koandria server, hoping to run into him. He refused to believe anyone could be better than him and was dying for a match, but frustratingly, the guy never showed up, ¡®Meet him for a solo match? Shermae considered it. Honestly, it wasn¡¯t a bad idea. Joshua smirked as he read Hoy¡¯s message. ¡°So this naive kid can actually be pretty cunning,¡® he thought. ¡°But even if you beat Shermaine, do you really have the guts to go after her? Go on, I dare you.¡± Noticing the Heroic Epic icon on Shermaine¡¯s desktop, Joshua figured she must y regrly. From the looks of it, she was quite skilled. So, she would most likely agree. As expected, Shermaine replied: When and where?] ¡°YESSSSI Roy nearly jumped out of his seat. Mdy actually agreed! He was barely able to contain his excitement It seemed he had finally got a real shot at winning her over. Roy typed excitedly with trembling fingers: [Tonight, 9 p.m.,Roompol at the Gxy Club. This is FilthShay, eagerly awaiting your arrival! AD Comment Nurse walking 98 Chapter 98 Roy added with a grin: If you lose, you have to add me on WhatsApp and give me your phone number. And when I reach out, you can¡¯t just ignore me Shermaine shot back: Fine, but if you lose, just stop bollering me.) Roy snorted smugly to himself, ¡®No way I could lose! Mdy, you¡¯re doomed to fall right into my grasp Jeshua¡¯s gare darkened. ¡°Shermaine, take your time with the cherries. I¡¯m leaving.¡± Shermaine nodded without even looking at him. Aber stepping outside, Joshua tunned gim, an inexplicable tightness filling his chest. It was hard to describe his feelings now. Around 11 am, Johnson¨Cwho had booked a medical appointment for his father at yesterday¡¯s engagement party¨Carrived for the consultation Johnson arrived with his father, who was slumped in a wheelchair, unconscious A while ago, he started coughing up blood and even fainted twice in a short period, which greatly worried his family. After regaining consciousness, he gradually began showing signs of dementia. They took him to the hospital for a thorough checkup, but the doctors couldn¡¯t find anything wrong. So he turned to traditional medicine practitioners, hoping to find the cause and a solution. ¡°Mr. Smith, Ito charge a consultation fee for new patients,¡± Shermaine said as she served them water. ¡°Money¡¯s not an issue,¡± Johnson replied urgently. ¡°But my father¡¯s condition¡­ Can you cure him?¡± Sharmaine gestured for Vincent Smith to ce his hand on the pulse cushion. His pulse was irregr, and his bodily functions were weakened. After examining his mouth and eyes, she confirmed there were signs of chronic poisoning. Shermine released his hand and asked, ¡°Is there serious strife in your familly?¡± Johnson paused, wondering why she¡¯d ask such a question out of the blue. After a moment¡¯s thought, he said, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s quite serious. My father intended to hand over full control of our family business to me, but my eldest brother objected.¡± Shermaine nodded, picked up her pen, and began writing the prescription. She exined calmly, ¡°Your father has been poisoned with a slow¨Cacting neurotoxin, which has left him in a prolongedatose state ¡°While the toxin could be detected within 24 hours of administration, it bes nearly impossible to trace after that. Only someone with close ess to him would have had the opportunity to do this.¡± After hearing this, Johnson¡¯s face darkened instantly. Was his eldest brother really trying to kill their father in secret? Then he demanded urgently. ¡°Then how can my father wake up?¡± Shermaine handed over thepleted prescription. ¡°One million. Transfer it to my ount,¡± she said. Johnson epted it gratefully. ¡°Of course, Ms. Shue, he said. He hadplete faith in Shermaine¡¯s abilities because he¡¯d already withessed them at the engagement party. As for who had poisoned his father, he was determined to get to the bottom of it and make sure justice was served. was is nearly noon. 1 noon. With no housekeeper around, Joshua was in the kitchen preparing lunch himself After seeing Johnson off, Shermaine pecked into the kitchen. A rich aroma filled the kitchen as Joshua simmered soup. On the countertopy freshly washed but uncul raw meat and vegetables. Joshua was clearly a bit of a neat freak¨Ceverything was lined up perfectly, not a single thing out of ce. Shermaine paused for a som, ¡°Let me give you a hand,¡± she offered. Joshua replied without hesitation, ¡°No need. In our family, women never have to cook. That¡¯s our tradition.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Shermaine replied. The men of the York family were the real deal¨Cstrong, dependable, and good at all kinds of housework. With such an exemry grandfather guiding them, it was no surprise Owen¡¯s grandchildren all turned out so well. Shermaine said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll clear the table and do the dishes her ealing¡± It was a perfect division ofbor Joshua initially wanted to refuse, but seeing how insistent Sharmaine was, he p looked a bit more domestic gave in. With an apron tied around his waist, the usually refined man now He scooped up a spoonful of soup and brought it to Shermaine¡¯s lips. ¡°Here, try it he offered gently. Shermaine took the spoon and sipped. The soup was rich and vorful. ¡°Delicious,¡± she remarked. Joshua hummed in response, then scooped up another spoonful and tasted it himself. Finding the seasoning perfect, he turned off the heat Shermaine noticed his actions, her expression shifting almost imperceptibly. ¡°Did sharing that yogurt cure his permaphobia?¡± she wondered, but kept silent and pretended not to notice. Maybe Joshua thought this was the least he could do to show courtesy to his fianc¨¦e. And just like that, the morning was over. Shermaine had originally nned to visit the hot spring that afternoon, but she wasn¡¯t in the mood, so she stayed at Riverswood Vi instead. For now, she had no intention of taking on new tasks from the tech forum because she still had plenty on her te the skincare product development and the surveince footage analysis. Both were progressing smoothly, and with a bit more time and effort, she¡¯d have them wrapped up soon. As the sun dipped below the horizon, night descended. Joshua once again prepared dinner that evening s they ate together, Joshua said, ¡°TU be heading outter too.¡± As He then whispered inwardly, ¡°See you at nine, Shermaine! Shermaine nodded and said, ¡°Fine.¡± A little after seven, Shermaine heard the engine roar. She nced outside just in time to see a ck McLaren drive off, its silhouette soon vanishing under the streetlights. By eight o¡¯clock, she had changed out of her pajamas and headed out. It was the middle of winter. She couldn¡¯t possibly go out in a dress. Soon, she put on a ck trench coat, ck skinny jeans, and ckbat boots. in Dressed all in ck, with her delicate skin and crimson lips, Shermaine cut a striking figure, radiating both effortless cool and inesistible aure 2/3 14:05 Mon, 9 Jun Chapter us ??? ???? ??????? ???? ?? immy semned that Jeshua wan Her car pulled out of the garage, quickly melting into the right. Meanwhile, at the Gxy Club Joshua, who had left early, arrived at the Gxy Club¡¯s Room 001. As he pushed open the door, he can Roy mboyantly dressed. Spotting hi struck a pose and pinned, ¡°Joshua, how do Hook tonight? Pretty stylish, right?¡± Joshua wore a ck turtleneck under a light overcoat, a simple outfit made effortlessly elegant. Joshua eyed him and asked pointedly, ¡°What¡¯s with the getup?¡± ¡°I finally got Mdy to agree to a datel Hoy said, his grin was both shy and a little smug. ¡°Vie made a bet¨Cjust the two of us, one¨Con¨Cone in Herole Epic) she loses. I¡¯ll have the right to pursue her openly. ¡°See? even went out of my way to prepare two bouquets for her.¡± He pointed at the table, where one bouquet was baby¡¯s breath and the other a bunch of fiery red roses. Roses? Joshua couldn¡¯t help but sneer. ¡°You won¡¯t get the chance to give them.¡± Roy pouted. ¡°Joshua, since you¡¯ve already got your fianc¨¦e, stop trying topete with me for Mdy. By the way, where is she? ¡°She¡¯ll be here any minute,¡± Joshua replied coldly. Nearby, Henry sensed that Joshua was seething with barely contained anger tonight. He shot Roy a pitying look, thinking, ¡®Dumbass, you¡¯re so screwe At nearly nine, Shermaine¡¯s car pulled up outside the Gxy Club. Stepping inside, she curtly told an attendant, ¡°Take me to Room 001.¡± ulled up outside the Cry Club. Thepong Nurse walking 99 Chapter 99 Roy had gone all out for his apology: A grand, extravagant lead paired with a rather expansive gif. Sure, it paled next to the sports cars gaan, batz at least this present was still perfectly respectable. But what he was looking forward to most tonight was the arrival of Mdy His gaming rig we all set up, now all he had to do was wait for her to show up and have a showdown with him. As the time drew near, he couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous Joshua sat quietly in the shadows as Heney took a ss, added some ice cubes, and then poured in the fuor before handing it over. Joshua took the ss. He was smoking more than usual today. Normally, he strictly limited himself to two cigarettes a day, no exceptions. Yet now, he picked up his lighter again and this fifth ciganelle. Finally, it was 9 p.m. Roy nced toward the door. The door was open. Then, he heard footsteps approaching Roy held his breath, only to see a waiter walk in. All his excitement instantly fizzled out. ¡°Seriously? A waiter? What terrible timing, he thought, feelingpletely deted. But then, the waiter nodded slightly toward someone behind him and announced, ¡°Miss, this is Room 001¡± Roy¡¯s eyes lit up again. Finally, Mdy arrived, and he became overly excited. He had no idea what she looked like, but no matter. Even if she wasn¡¯t pretty, he wouldn¡¯t mind at ??? But the person who entered was actually Shermaine. His excitement instantly froze. Not Mdy? No matter. He knew Sharmaine would arrive sooner or was wless, her features were striking, and she had an amazing gure. He h been so blind before, letting his own prejudice keep him from seeing it. Now, Roy was absolutely floored. He could barely even remember what Wendelyn looked like anymore. But Joshua had always been so emotionally detached. Even with a beauty like Shermaine, Roy doubted he¡¯d have any interest in that way, Suddenly, he found myself feeling indignant on Shermaine¡¯s behall Just as he was about to greet them, Shermaine peered inside. She didn¡¯t spot Joshua hiding in the shadows, but Roy did. After a brief pause, she asked ¡°Who¡¯s FilthShay?¡± What? What did she just say? 14:05 Mon, 9Jun ? GG) Did she ask which of them was FithShay? That¡­ That was. Boy Moodfrozen like an for sodipture, his mind inplete tamail. Shermaine was Mdy?! So all this time, he had been shamelessly chasing after her while running his stupid mouth behind her back! Rey swayed unsteadily, on the verge of copse ¡°Have you ever been dying of thist in the desert, only to spot an oasis¨Cthen realize it¡¯s just a mirage? Have you ever truly tasted despair God, why are you doing this to me?¡® he wailed inwardly All the color drained from his face. Roy just wanted to copse to the ground and sob Shermaine couldn¡¯t understand Roy¡¯s mood. When no owe replied, she pressed, ¡°So, which one of you is Fifthshay?¡± With his head down, Roy slowly raised his hand. ¡°That would be me¡­¡± Shermine took one look at him and fell silent. Wow, he must be mortified, she thought. Inside, Henry choked on his drink and quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe his clothes. He was dying to a surprise. Still, a solo match wouldn¡¯t hurt, Roy¡¯s face fell. ¡°Just¡­ give me a moment to process this,¡± he mumbled before shuffling to theer. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Nurse walking 100 Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Drunk Shermaine was nothing like her usual calm and easygoing self. Now she was acting like a spoiled little princess, coquettish and picky, dentureso to be waited on hand and foot. She singled out Joshua, insisting that only he could carry her on his back. Lily decided to stay out of it. After all, she figured Joshua wouldn¡¯t just leave Shermaine alone. In fact, this was the perfect chance to let these two lovebirds have some quality time together. So, Lily handed Shermaine straight to Joshua and said, ¡°Mr. York, please take care of her.¡± Then she obediently stepped aside to watch the scene unfold. ¡®Honestly, nobody could possibly resist her right now.¡± Lily was practically buzzing with excitement as she watched. Shermaine could barely stand still after being pushed toward Joshua. She wrapped her arms around his waist, leaning limply against him and nuzzling his chest. Then, without even opening her eyes, she tilted her head up and whined, ¡°Come on, give me a piggyback!¡± Joshua swallowed hard, momentarily caught off guard by Shermaine¡¯s sudden change. He pressed his lips together before murmuring, ¡°Your dress is too long¡­ I can¡¯t give you a piggyback.¡± Shermaine frowned and pouted, ¡°Then just carry me.¡± She really didn¡¯t want to walk because her feet hurt too much. Just then, Ross approached from another direction. The moment he saw Shermaine clinging to Joshua, he felt a twinge of exasperation. There she was, acting like a spoiled little princess, demanding to be carried by Joshua. No way. Shermaine shouldn¡¯t get too close to Joshua. Ross had to admit that Joshua was truly exceptional. With too much contact, she might actually fall for him. ¡°Sheary, I¡¯ll carry you, okay?¡± Ross asked softly. Hearing Ross¡® voice, Shermainezily opened her eyes, nced over, and dered matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, ¡°I don¡¯t want you. Joshua only.¡± Ross¡® heart cracked a little. He was rejected by his own sister! ¡®No, she must¡¯ve just picked Joshua because she didn¡¯t want to trouble her dear brother with the heavy lifting. Yeah, that had to be it!¡® Ross told himself. If Shermaine woke up the next day and remembered what she had done to Joshua, she¡¯d probably be mortified. ¡°Sheary,e here. Let me carry you,¡± Ross coaxed gently. Shermaine turned her head away, stubbornly insisting, ¡°No, I want him.¡± She hugged Joshua tightly, enjoying the scent on his body. It soothed the difort in her stomach. Hearing Shermaine¡¯s words, Joshua felt an inexplicable surge of pleasure. Even drunk, she had chosen him. He said calmly, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Without another word, he effortlessly scooped her up by the waist. Shermaine was feather¨Clight, curled up like a tiny kitten in his arms. ¡°Take good care of Shermaine, and don¡¯t you dare take advantage of her,¡± Ross said. Joshua thought, ¡®Seriously? Does he think I¡¯m some kind of predator?¡® Ross¡® overprotectiveness was truly baffling. Joshua shot him a cool nce. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± The girl in his arms stirred slightly. *13:09 Sun AJU OG Chapter 92 Joshua lowered his head, unable to help himself¨Ca faint smile tugged at his lips. Behind his sses, his eyes softened with gende win Shermaine¡¯s head swam dizzity, not too much, but enough to make her ufortable. She rested her head on his shoulder, her wann breath chests over Joshua¡¯s neck, sending tingling shivers down his spine. Joshua wasn¡¯t usually sensitive, but right now, his neck tingled in a way he wasn¡¯t used to. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Joshua swiftly carried her toward the lounge, eager to set her down. Standing side by side, the two of them looked like a match made in heaven, so perfectly in sync that it was impossible to look away. Owen beamed with joy at the sight. ¡®Exactly! This is how you should dote on Shermaine. Now this is what being a true man of our family is all about! Roy, his face swollen and pressed with an ice pack, pulled Henry away from flirting with a pretty girl and eximed, ¡°Did you see that just now? The way Shermaine talked to Joshua? Damn, that was wild!¡± Of course Henry had heard and seen it. He shot back, ¡°None of your business. Joshua is cool with it.¡± Roy eximed, eyes wide with excitement, ¡°No way! That¡¯s insane. She just bossed Joshua around like that, and not only did he not get mad, he actually carried her!¡± At that moment, he found himself with newfound respect for Shermaine. Henry felt speechless. Why did he end up with such a clueless friend? He said, ¡°Joshua has always admired Shermaine. You¡¯re the only one who¡¯s been badmouthing her all along.¡± Roy scratched his nose awkwardly. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go apologize to Shermaine.¡± Henry arched an eyebrow. Indeed, he should apologize, but that wouldn¡¯t stop Joshua from teaching him a lesson. Calmly, Joshua soon led Shermaine to the lounge. Shermaine lounged back on the sofa and lifted her feet. ¡°Take my shoes off for me,¡± she demanded, showing no courtesy to Joshua and treating him like her personal servant. Comment Chapter 100 Shermaine agreed. Still, seeing Roy in such a meltdown, she doubted a sh moment would cut it for him. Henry stood up to preet her with a friendly smile, ¡°H, Ms. Shue, I¡¯m Hemy. Please, have a wat Shermaine replied, ¡°Hello,¡± Shermaine¡¯s gaze fell upon the shadowyer, where the finally recognized the man leisurely smoking and sipping his drink. It was Joshua. In that instant, everything clicked into ce for her. Joshua must have known all along that Boy was the hacker harming her. That exined why he¡¯d said those things in her room¨Che¡¯d been deliberately steering her toward the truth. This guy was such a schemer Shermaine gave a slight nod, then walked over and calmly took her seat beside Joshua. ¡°What would you like to drink, Ms. Shue?¡± Henry asked. After a night of heavy drinking, Shermaine had no intention of touching alcohol again anytime soon. ¡°Just water, please,¡± she replied. Henry went to get it for her himself As Shermaine settled beside him, Joshua promptly stubbed out his cigarette. Shermaine arched an eyebrow and drawled, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just tell me?¡± Joshua¡¯s voice was low and husky from the alcohol, making him sound even more irresistible. He teased, ¡°If I told you ahead of time, where¡¯s the fun in that?¡± His words made sense. Seeing Roy in such a meltdown was oddly satisfying. She wasn¡¯t usually the type to gloat, but remembering how rude he¡¯d been to her before, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a little smug Roy was finally reaping what he sowed¨Clet him savor everyst bite of it. The private room was warm with the central healing, making Shermaine feel stuffy in her coat. She casually slipped it off, and without missing a beat, Joshua took it from her and hung it on the hook to his right¨Cright next to his own, Both wore ck turtleneck sweaters, making them look almost like a couple in matching outfits. By now, Henry had poured a ss of water and was holding it. He walked over and gave Roy a yful kick in the butt. ¡°Time¡¯s up. Get your ass up,¡± he said with a teasing prin. Roy whined pitifully. ¡°Just three more minutes!¡± His dream had shattered before it even began. Joshua is so damn cruel, he sniffled inwardly. ¡°Why did it have to be Shermaine? I might as well drown in my own tears!¡± Henry suppressed a . ¡°Come on, hurry up and pull yourself together. Go apologize to her Roy shot him a wounded look and grumbled. It was bad enough that Joshua was being ruthless. Now, Henry had joined him. ¡°Ms. Shue, here¡¯s yo your water,¡± Henry said as he handed her the ss. ¡°Thanks.¡± Shermalna took it and then added, ¡°Just call me Shermaine. No need to be so formal,¡± Henry hesitated. $14:05 Man, 9 Jun 67 He then nced at Joshua. Seeing the man¡¯s impassive face, he finally smiled and i ¡°Wright, Shenmatra, Honestly, calling a girl so much younger than him with such respect did feel a bit awkward. But since Joshua didn¡¯t mind and shar either, why not just drop (17. Henry sat down with a gin and said, ¡°Ray is ranked third in the hacker world, but he couldn¡¯t even trace your IP address. Shermalne, you¡¯re seriously impressive.¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow. ¡°Ok¡± Third in the world? That was quite impressive. Who would¡¯ve thought that gooly looking guy actually had some real skills? Shermaine calmly epted Henry¡¯spliment. ¡°Piece of cake,¡± she replied, She had always learned faster than others since childhood; some of he innovations even pushed the boundaries of current science and technology. This made her especially curious about the woman who gave birth to her. But after meeting Ruth, she was deeply disappointed and became convinced there was a conspiracy, which was why she never stopped investigating ¡°And you know medicine too?¡± Henry asked again Shermaine nodded. ¡°I know a thing or two.¡± Henry was naturally socially adept, the kind of guy who¡¯d always been popr, in their circle, he had the most friends and was never short ofpany wherever he went. Add to that his dashing looks, and he was quite thedies¡± m¨¢r Shermaine turned to Henry, the two quickly getting caught up in their own lively conversation, leaving her fianc¨¦, Joshua, sitting off to the side like a total third wheel,pletely ignored. Joshua¡¯s expression remained cold and detached, yet his ss had been constantly refilled since the start. From his side, he could see Shermaine¡¯s pearly earlobe-so small and dainty, like a dewdrop about to fall from the tip of a flower petal Her earlobes seemed so kissable, almost tempting him to take them between his lips. And those lips. He bet they were set and sweet This wasn¡¯t the first time his thoughts had wandered in this direction. But back then, he was too rational andposed. He would nip any budding feelings in the bud, trying to convince himself that Shermaine was nothing special to him, and that his kindness and indulgence were merely because he was keeping his promise. Yet no matter how he tried to rationalize it, he couldn¡¯t exin just how far he¡¯d gone in his dreamsst night¨Chow he¡¯d lost control and crossed every line with Shermaine Nurse walking 101 Chapter 101 Jeshua had always been indifferent to physical desires, ne i strong longrig for any woman. But Charmaine w That merning, he woke up before dawn, In his dream, he¡¯d been utterly unrestrained, and after he woke up, his body was still burning. The feeding. refusing to subside anytime soon. Shermaine He was consumed by a burning desire for her, so intense that even taking a cold shower couldn¡¯t bring him any peace. And all it took was a single glimpse of her legs. That alone made one thing clear he must have been attracted to Shermaine for a long time, though he¡¯d never realized what those feelings truly meant, having never experienced love belote No wonder a proud main like him would willingly follow her instructions, take off her shoes for her, and even drink her yogurt. Outwardly, he might pretend to resist, but deep down, he simply couldn¡¯t say no to her. Now, seeing Shermaine chat with Henry and sharp and predatory¨Clike a beast awakened, locking onto its prey. ¡°Shermaine is mine, he thought fiercely. His heart hammered wildly in his chest. Joshua set down his ss and seized Shermaine¡¯s hand firmly Shermaine instinctively turned her head. In the dead of winter, her fingers were icy cold, but his burned with heat. Drinking in winter is one is one of life¡¯s little pleasures. It could warm you right up Shermaine looked at him, her eyes narrowing sightly. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Joshua¡¯s gaze burned subtly as he said calmly, ¡°I¡¯m not feeling well. Could you c Henry was shocked. ¡®What kind of shady move is that? I can¡¯t even figure it out Not feeling well? That was weird. In her eyes, Joshua was thest person who¡¯d ever get sick. Shermaine asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± check on me?¡± Joshua pressed her hand firmly against his chest and murmured in a low voice, Tm feeling a bit lightheaded.¡± ¡°she just drunk? Shermaine wondered. But as her hand rested on his firm chest, she realized his heart was beating way too fast. That was absolutely abnormal, and his heart, at only grew more intense She took his pulse, but it was steady, showing no signs of any physical problem. Still, his racing heartbeat couldn¡¯t be exined by alcohol alone. For the first time in her carent, Shermaine encountered a condition she couldn¡¯t diagnose. Shermaine asked, ¡°Are you feeling very dizzy? ¡°Yeah,¡± Joshua murmured. ¡°Your heart is beating abnormallyst, Shermaine said, her beows furrowed. ¡°Should take out the hospital Joshua fell silent. A checkup would show nothing because he was perfectly healthy, Sull keeping up the act, he asked, ¡°You can¡¯t diagnose in ong with your body¡ª Shermaine said methodically, ¡°For brain or organ issues, proper medical tests are the most reliable way to find out what¡¯s really wrong with so I can urately diagnose and treat you.¡± Joshua nodded, gradually calming his racing heartbeat under his own control. He let out a breath and murmured, ¡°Seems I¡¯m fine now.¡± ¡°I can tell¡± His heartbeat was gradually stabilizing. Shermaine asked, ¡°Still dizzy?¡± Joshua gave a slight nod. ¡°Yeah, a bit,¡± he said softly. Shermaine finally rxed. But still, she reminded him, ¡°You should get a full check¨Cup tomorrow, just to be safe¡± Joshua smiled gently, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do as you say.¡± Seeing that he was still holding a ss of wine, Shermaine said gently, ¡°Better stay away from this.¡± She wasn¡¯t sure what was wrong with his health, so until they figured it out, it was best for him to avoid alcoholpletely Joshua hummed in agreement and set down his wine ss. Still holding onto Shermaine¡¯s hand, he murmured, ¡°Why are your hands so cold?¡± C An Comment Nurse walking 102 Chapter 102 winter. She ualdensually.¡± They just hea winter¡® Her hand naturally withdrew frech Inchua¡¯s grasp si the epted the top of water Harry offered the sloped a dolly, seethingfort. With his palm suddenly empty, Anthin fine for a frating moment fatore catetty damning his hard altid respo Now that he¡¯de to terms with his feelings, i all that frustrations jud matted mexy But whenever he remember second time they met, he couldn¡¯t help but feel rustrated. Ttreat you well, but don¡¯t mistake for affection, he had said And now, the one who had fallen head ever heels for Shermaine was Joshus himself. As for Shermine, the truly took his wont to bebit, keeping her distance and strictly minding the boundaries. How the tables had turned. The irony hit him so hard, but at least he still had a shot Henry, perceptive as ever, instantly recognized the signs. Joshua was falling for someone. He¡¯d thought he¡¯d never live to see the day actually fancy a woman, but Shermaine¡¯s arrival unexpectedly fulfilled this wish, However, judging by Shermaine¡¯s attitude, Joshua still had a lot of work to do to win her heart. Aber gathering his courage, Roy hesitantly approached Shermaine. Then, he lowered his head and said as loudly as he could, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mdy! 1 shouldn¡¯t have treated you poorly or spoken ill of you before. Please forgive me!¡± Roy had never been this embarrassed in his life, but he gotta face reality. Since Shermaine was Mdy, he¡¯d better give up on her: Good thing little crush Besides, he¡¯d never go after Joshua¡¯s woman. From now on, he would just admire her as a tan, nothing Thinking this way, Roy felt a whole lot better, like his shattered heart was finally ily starting to piece itself back together. Shermine set down her cup and said, ¡°You¡¯re pretty good at Heroiz Epic, aren¡¯t you?¡± Roy was momentarily stunned, then puffed up with pride. ¡°Of course! I¡¯m the world¡¯s best jungler.¡± Although Shermaine yed video games, she never followed esports events, so she waspletely unaware of Roy¡¯s reputation and standing in the sport world At this, Shermaine¡¯s eyes it up. ¡°Let¡¯s solo¡± Roy was impressed by her bravery. Even knowing he was the world¡¯s best jungler, she was not intimidated at all. He instantly turned into a fanboy, stammering, ¡°So¡­so if I win, will you forgive me?¡± Shermaine titted her chin slightly. ¡°Beat me fast,¡± she said, ¡°then we¡¯ll talk¡± Roy was determined to win. How could he possibly lose? His title certainly meant something. Besides, he was strong in all positions, basically a true all¨Crounder Roy brimmed with confidence. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely win, he dered. Eager to show off his skills, he added, ¡°Mdy,e with me. Theputers are ver there,¡± Following Boy¡¯s gesture, Shemale nced over and stood up Tup. * 1,406 ¡°Mon, 9 J¨¹n Shermaine remembered she¡¯d only ever yed on one server and had just one ount, so she added, ¡°I don¡¯t have i borrow one? Roy waved it off and said cheerfully, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got ounts on other servers too. Just pick whichever you prefer, I¡¯m pied with any ¡°The Rowndria server, then¡± When Shermaine first started ying Heroic Eple, she¡¯d heard the Koandria server was full of hidden pros, so she created an ount thank. Ab reaching the top of the rankeddder, she barely had time to y anymore and never ventured onto any other servers. The two settled in front of theputers. The machines booted up instantly, and soon they were logged into Hemic Epic on the Koandria server. Roy asked eagerly, ¡°Mdy, what¡¯s your 10? Let me add your Shermaine replied, ¡°My ID is King¡± Meanwhile, Joshua noticed that Henry had alreadye up behind them, ready to watch, Joshua wasn¡¯t a gamer, but he understood what ¡°solo¡± meant, Watching Ray get to y with Shermaine, a pang of jealousy crept in Roy found that ID oddly familiar. He waned over to take a closer look at Shermaine¡¯s screen, then sprang up from his seat. ¡°Holy shit! You¡¯re amazing!¡± Roy couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. The legendary King, the one he¡¯d never managed to run into, was actually right in front of him. And now, they were about to solo! E Nurse walking 103 Chapter 103 Every skilled and pro yer on the Kand leaderboard was itching for a chance to take her down, Poy included. The adrenaline rosh had his biops pumping. Shermaine wondered what he was to worked up about. ¡°I haven¡¯t yed muchtely, I¡¯m rusty,¡± the said casually For once, Roy was uncharacteristically serious, ¡°I won¡¯t hold hack,¡± he dered. Shermaine smiled, ¡°No need.¡± She was indeed a bit rusty, but her skills were still more than enough for a sol When it came to Heroic Epic solo matches, there were three specific niles. Rule One followed a First Blood or First Tower forsat. It was a midne solo match. If a yer secured First Blood, destroyed the first tower, or reached 100 CS, they won. yers couldn¡¯t gain experience from sidene minions. They could enter the jungle but couldn¡¯t kill jungle monsters. During the ban phase, each yer banned three champions from the opponent Rule Two followed a Three Kills or Two Towers format. yers weren¡¯t allowed to use runes, masteries, Heal, rity, or Revive. They couldn¡¯t go to sidenes or jungle, or it was considered an automatic loss. The win condition was either killing the opponent three times or destroying two towns. Rule Three followed a Nexus format. yers couldn¡¯t use runes or masteries. They used the same champion in a singlene only. Jungle and other twones were off limits. There were no item restrictions. Level one bush camping w wasn¡¯t allowed, and victory was achieved by destroying the opponent¡¯s Nexus Eventually, they both agreed on Rule Two. During champion selection, Roy skipped his top five solo champions, even though his Raven was undefeated in lvls, and he never doubted his strength with her Though some champions were top¨Ctier picks, he deliberately passed on them. Taking Mdy¡¯s formidable skill into ount, he locked in Lebron for this dual. Mdy, on the other hand, locked in Timothy. Timothy w was notoriously weak in team fights, but in a solo match? Nobody knew how that would y out. In all his solo matches, Roy had never seen anyone pick Timothy, it was always Lee San, Ajars, or asionally some niche signature champions, but never Timothy. Mdy surely got her style, always breaking the mold even when ying games. The game was on.
  1. He wouldn¡¯t go easy on her.
¡°Mdy, I¡¯m recording this,¡± Roy announced excitedly. Once the match ended, he¡¯d post the video online. His long¨Cawaited chance to challenge King was finally here. This would prove once and for all that he was the better yer, and all those haters could finally eat their words. ¡°Go ahead,¡± Shermaine said indifferently. However, the moment the duel began, it was clear Mdy didn¡¯t need his mercy at all. Laning against Timothy was absolute misery for Roy 1/2 14:06 Mon, 9th G As a pro jungler, he used to delete enemy Timothys with a singlebo and walk away clean. Since when had he ever been this bumiliat It turned out there was no weak champion. Only the yers made a difference. Shrooms were everywhere, and he only had one control ward left. To make matters worse, Timothy¡¯s skill¨CBlinding Dart¨Cwas giving hi The worst part was that Mdynded every single shot without missing a beat. Now, Roy regretted picking Lebron. If he had gone! se with Lee San, there was no way he would¡¯ve gotten stomped so hard. Barely three minutes in, Shermaine got the first blood. After that, Roy decided to y it safe. He stuck to farming under his turret, avoiding any risky moves. ¡®Better wait until I scale up, he thought Yet, even so, Roy waspletely helpless against Timothy. In just about ten minutes, he got triple¨Ckilled and lost the solo match. It was unbelievable. The world¡¯s number one jungler, the undefeated king of solo duels, just got absolutely stomped by Mdy¡¯s Timothy. Roy was drowning in disbelief, mixed with a bit of stubborn refusal to ept i tit. Henry immediately pped enthusiastically. ¡°Bravo! Absolutely brilliant! Mdy, you¡¯re just too damn good!¡± A faint smile touched Joshua¡¯s lips as he took in Roy¡¯s defeated look and Shermaine¡¯s obvious enjoyment. Roy protested, ¡°No way! Timothy is such a cheesy champ!¡± Shermaine replied coolly, ¡°Then let¡¯s go another round.¡± Sure, Roy might be the best jungler and no slouch in solo matches, but no matter how skilled was, she could still wipe the floor with him. They went for a rematch. This time, Shermaine picked Tristana, while Roy stubbornly prove his LeBron was still OP bomly stuck with LeBron
  1. He was hellbent on redemption, determined
¡®I only lostst time because of that damn Timothy and Mdy¡¯s insane skills. Nothing wrong with my gamey!¡® he fumed to himself. Roy, fired up for aeback, dered, ¡°Mdy, this time, I¡¯ll definitely take you down!¡± ip you out.¡± Shermaine shed a sly smile. ¡°Since you love getting schooled so much, let me help C AD No Ads Chapter 104 Nurse walking 104 Chapter 104 They yed another round, and once again, Roy¡¯s Lebron was executed three times by Sharmaina¡¯s Tristana, ending in delest. This machsted a bit longer¨Cfi minutes Thoroughly defeated. Rby nanger dared to boast about beating Sharmaine. Right now, he was a little scared. Roy gave her a thumbs¨Cup and said, ¡°Alright, you win. You¡¯re incredible. You¡¯re my top idol from now on Roy used to idolize Joshua the most because Joshua was super strong and amazing at everything. But now, Sherinaine became number one, and Joshua dropped to second ce. Shermaine hadn¡¯t rxed and yed games like this in ages. Still craving more, she wanted to queue up for ranked matches and y a couple more rounds. Roy kept chattering, ¡°Man, I was really blind before! Just apologizing and tonight¡¯s arrangements aren¡¯t nearly enough for you to forgive me. How about this? Why don¡¯t you just take me under your wing!¡± Shermaine gave him a thoughtful nce. ¡°Seriously?¡± Roy felt a chill run down his spine and gulped nervously under Joshua¡¯s invisible pressure. Henry smacked him on the head. ¡°Let Shermine take you in? What are you thinking?¡± He smirked. ¡°Or do you want to end up digging potatoes in the middle of nowhere?¡± Roy yelped, clutching the back of his head. He hurriedly exined, ¡°I just meant for Shermaine to take me in as her sidekick. She can order me around however she wants.¡± He shot a nervous nce at Joshua and whispered, ¡°Joshua, please don¡¯t get the wrong idea.¡± Joshua shot him a cold, measured look. ¡°There won¡¯t be a next time.¡±¡± Roy nodded rapidly, like a chick pecking at rice Subsequently, Joshua¡¯s gaze fell on Sharmaine, burning with the urge to whisk her home and keep her all to himself Roy¡¯s fawning over Shermaine was just unbearably irritating. It was really getting on my nerves. Yet, Shermaine showed no intention of leaving. ¡°Well..¡°Roy peeked at Shermaine, his words trailing off nervously. Shermaine knew what he was getting at. After a brief pause, she asked, ¡°So, how many followers do you have on social media?¡± ¡°Lots and lots! I¡¯ve got over 30 million followers, Ray replied eagerly. Shermaine said, ¡°Alright¡± Roy nearly burst outughing but held it in. He was so thrilled he could practically float * But then he remembered Joshua¡¯s presence, so he bit back his excitement. Roy beamed, his voice full of yful ttery. ¡°Mdy, you¡¯re the best!¡± Shermaine just shrugged and said, ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re useful to me.¡± With a sidekick who had that many followers, Lity could get help and score some free promo. Pretty sweet deal. Roy groveled with shameless ttery, saying. Feel free to use me however you want. I¡¯m totally at your service! Shermaine brushed off his ttery, eyes still glued to the screen. ¡°Ranked?¡± bod?¡± she asked curtly. 1/3 ¡°Sure, at his cor, his chiseled features tensed. The urge to sweep Shermaine home and keep her all to himself grew more insistent by the second, an unrelenting pulse grawing at him without pause. Joshua sneered coldly, ¡°A blessing in disguise?¡± Henry cleared his throat. Maybe he shouldn¡¯t make Hoy a target, or Joshua might take notice. He was all refined manners on the surface but ruthless underneath, a real wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing, Joshua¡¯s possessiveness over Shermine was downright scary, and Roy was no match for him. Shermaine and Roy yed two ranked matches together, Roy was already Ster Hunter, while Shermaine, ahera long break, was only in Diamon their opponents were still formidable. Little did their opponents know, they were up against King, the former top-ranked yer, and Roy, the world¡¯s best jungler. Together, this formidable duo dominated every match. Afterwards, they by went out together for somete¨Cnight snacks. The feast wasvish and delicious. ording to Roy, he¡¯d hired several renowned Michelin starred chefs to prepare this feast, all just to make it up to her. Tasty as thete¨Cnight snacks were, they couldn¡¯tpare to Joshua¡¯s cooking earlier that day. While good, they weren¡¯t exactly unforgettable. It was almost 11 p.m. when the so¨Ccalled apology dinner finally wrapped up Roy pointed at the two gorgeous bouquets on the table. Grinning, he asked, ¡°Want to take these flowers with you?¡± Shermaine said tly, ¡°Just deal with them. There¡¯s too much hassle to bring them back.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Roy replied with exaggerated cheer. ¡°Just hit me up on WhatsApp anytime you need me.¡± As they stepped out of the room, Shermaine remembered Joshua¡¯s condition and said, ¡°Come with me. I¡¯ll drive you home.¡± ¡°Perfect timing.¡± Joshua thought with a smirk. There was no way he would turn down such a golden opportunity. With snow on the roads, Shermaine drove carefully. Joshua sat in the passenger seat, eyes closed, resting. Before long, the car pulled into the garage. Shermajhe turned her head and called Joshua¡¯s name, but there was no response. Was he asleep? Sharmaine got out and opened the passenger door. Just as she reached to tap his shoulder, Joshua seized her hand. With a swift te pulled her against him. A subtle hint of tobo instantly wrapped her up. Shermaine called softly, ¡°Joshua?¡± tochos opened his eyes and met Shenmaine¡¯chetutiful eyes. they lips weten en ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± Shemalne murmured. ipschun fet peal her hand as Shermaine stepped back from the ear. Unburkting his seatbelt, ha followed her Upon reaching the second floor, Shermaine said coolly. ¡°Get some red joshua took her hand once more, Shermaine turned to meet his grze, he clearly had something ???? ???? ht ¡°Shermaine,¡± he called, his voice low. eyes darkened. ¡°As your fianc¨¦, I¡¯m far more useful to you than liny. If you ever need anything, why note to Nurse walking 105 Chapter 105 Asking Joshua for help always came at a price. It would endigi Shemaine didn¡¯t want that, but refusing outright would be impolite. So she ge nattal reply. ¡°Wright, an At his age and with his wealth of experience, Joshua could easily detect the hollowness in thermaine¡¯s words. anangenent, she would have dly agreed, but that wasn¡¯t what he wanted isdeed, once a person recognized their true feelings, greed inevitably followed. At least in his rtionship with Sherman, joshua wanitanger contand with the status quo. He yearned to take things further. Joshua said. ¡°Shermsine, In serious? Did he see through her half hearted act? It seemed dealing with smart guys could be a real hassle. Shermaine Blinked. ¡°Get it¡± she replied, her tone casual It felt like throwing a punch and hitting nothing but air. If Joshua were to confess his feelings now, rejection would be the only oue, and worse yet, it might even backfire o Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened momentarily before he smoothly changed the subject. ¡°Would you like some milk?¡± ¡°I can fix myself some milk after my shower,¡± she said. With mock solemnity, Joshua dered, ¡°The miki make tastes better,¡± In fact, it did taste slightly different. Maybe it was because the measurements or the water temperature. The texture felt distinct too. After a brief hesitation, Shermaine licked her lips and said, ¡°Well, I¡¯ll trouble you then.¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± Joshua said with a faint smile. Fresh from a warm shower, Shermaine was blow¨Cdrying her hair in a knee¨Clength ck silk nightdress with long sleeves and a round neck. Just as she finished blow¨Cdrying her hair, Joshua knocked and entered the room. He had also showered and changed into dark teal pajamas, carrying a cup of warm milk. No matter what, he carried himself like a noble gentleman, exuding an irresistible charm. Joshua¡¯s gaze fell on Shermaine. The ck silk nightdress made her skin look even fairer, her stunning eyes glistened like water, lips slightly parted an rosy, and her long hair cascaded down to her waist. A faint, intoxicating fragrance lingered in the air. The fragrance was intoxicating, enough to drive a shan wild. Despite being thirty, he felt like a lovestruck teenager, utterly unable to control the surging waves of desire within him. Joshua handed her the ss. ¡°Your mi ¡°Thanks,¡± Shermaine said, taking the ss and drinking at a steady, unhurried pace. Joshua¡¯s gaze burned darkly. In an instant, that uncontroble desire surged up¨Cimpossible to suppress, scorching through his veins and leaving him 14:06 Mon 9 Chapter 105 restless. Like a starving beast fisated en a piece of mest just out of reach, the craving formented him unbearably. When she finished the milk, a faint milky trace clung to theer of her lips. Joshua book the ss from hel, then gently pointed to the corner of her lips. ¡°Here,¡± he said. ¡°Oh.¡± Shermaine instinctively licked the corner of her lips, t then a looked up at him, ¡°Did i petita?¡± She was seducing him without even knowing it. He adverted her gaze and said in a low voice, ¡°Get I dome rest. Good night.¡± ¡°Good night.¡± Joshua quickly left, his steps noticeably quicker than usual. Something about Joshua just felt¡­ off tonight, but Shemale couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on it. After mulling it over for about ten minutes, she went to brush her teeth, then turned off the lights and went to bed. The night stretched on endlessly. Shermaine slept soundly through the night. Joshua, on the other hand, hadn¡¯t slept well. Normally, he enjoyed dreamless, restful nights, but inexplicably, that same dream had haunted him for two consecutive nights. When desire took root in the heart of a man who had long practiced abstinence, he became utterly wild in that regard. The more he tried to suppress it, the more fiercely it raged out of control. Joshua arrived at the gym at dawn. Joshua was shirtless, wearing only a pair of sweatpants and boxing gloves as he delivered powerful punches. His physique was breathtaking. Every sculpted muscle below that alluring Adam¡¯s apple was a feast for the eyes, impossible to look away from. What was truly surprising was that beneath this gentle and refined exterior, Joshua actually bore intricate tattoos. Sweat glistened as it traced the contours of his sculpted muscles, radiating a captivating blend of wild allure and primal desire The punching bag shuddered under his relentless blows when, abruptly, an untimely ringtone cut through the air. By this time, Shermaine had already woken up. After freshening up¡¯she noticed that Lily had sent her a link about Wendelyn. After Wendelyn was taken away by the police, she was detained on irrefutable evidence. Even Ruthpletely turned her back on her, refusing to hire a Lawyer. As for Jameson, while he did arrange legal representation as promised, it was merely to minimize her prison sentence. He no longer truly cared about her. Today, Wendelyn, known as the prettiest college girl, was trending again because of the girl she rescued from drowning The girl wrote on her social media: (If there hadn¡¯t been other students nearby, Wendelyn would never have jumped in to save me. She only did it to keep up appearances. Apanying the post was a video clip. Honestly, the video surfaced quite unexpectedly As it happened, a drone happened to be flying overhead when the gi girl fell into the water.¡± The girl practically scoured the entire campus to track down the drone¡¯s owner and finally managed to obtain this crucial footage, Given Wendelyn¡¯s status as a high¨Cprofile streamer with a massive following, there was no way the attempted murder incident could be kept under wraps Shermaine scrolled past after a few nces, fosing interest. But soon, the second trending topic caught her eye (King) and (The redolej She clicked in and saw that Ray had posted their solo match video fromst night, which instantly went viral and shot up the trending list. Thements below were exploding with heated debates [Holy crap! Never thought I¡¯d live to see Roy and King go head¨Cto¨Chead in a solo match. But seriously, Ray, how did you end up gettingpletely wrecked by King¡¯s Timothy?] [LMAO! The World¡¯s No.1 Jungler gotpletely wrecked by King!! Remember Roy boasting on stream that he¡¯d never lose to King? Looking back now. Well, well, the sweet taste of humble piet [Man, Koandria server yers are insanely strong this year. Roy¡¯s team totally bombed in the Spring Split, Can¡¯t even imagine how they¡¯ll do next time. Just ask King to join their team already! With him, they¡¯re guaranteed to dominate this season.) There was no way Shermaine would ever go pro in esports; that was never her thing. Tucking away her phone, she changed into workout clothes and headed for the gym. With fresh snow nketing the ground afterst night¡¯s snowfall, it was way too cold and slippery for any outdoor exercise. In the gym, Joshua pulled off his boxing gloves and answered the call. It was from Bradley. Bradley reported gravely, ¡°Sir, Wendelyn has died in custody.¡± Nurse walking 106 Bradley personally examined the corpse and confirmed it was Wendelyn, ruling at any possibility of feigned death. As for the cause of death, it only stemmed from Joshua ondering him to investigate the origin of that wnein, wendelyn initially refused to talk, and despite Bradley¡¯s prolonged interrogation, she remained silent. That night, shemitted suicide by smashing her head against the wall. The suicide was clearly suspicious. Bradley didn¡¯t buy it for a second. If Wendelys could get her hands on such sinister worms, then the real mastermind must have had even more discreet, bloodless ways to kill, leaving no evidence behind. That way, Wendelyn would be dead, and the truth would die with her. With the speaker on, Shermaine, entering from outside, beard Bradley¡¯s words clearly. She walked in and asked, ¡°Is the autopsy report in yet Bradley replied. ¡°Not yet. The autopsy requires the next of kin¡¯s consent, but the police have ruled it a suicide Shermaine paused for a moment, then said firmly, ¡°I want to examine the body myself¡± Bradley replied respectfully, ¡°Certainly. I¡¯ll make the arrangements immediately¡± in Basterel, as far as Shermaine was concerned, Wendelyn was the only one who truly had it in for her and would y dirty tricks. Now that Wendelyn had been taken down, who else would dare mess with her? Jameson and Ruth were ruled out¨Cimpossible suspects. Head down, Shermaineunched a tracking app on her phone and, aber entering some of Wendelyn¡¯s personal details, Wendelyn¡¯s full activity log appeared on the screen, That also cleared Freya a and Zack¨Cthough both clearly bore her ill will, Wendelyn had never contacted them Before the engagement party, the only suspicious ce Wendelyn visited was a bar. Perhaps that was where she made contact with the mastermind and got the worm. Too bad the bar cameras missed their deal that night. Clearly, the real mastermind was quite savvy. So, it was highly likely that the person trying to harm her was someone who knew Joshua and waspletely obsessed with him. That someone might be even more obsessive and deranged than Wendelyn. Shermaine looked up, h her gaze finally settling on the man. She asked, ¡°Joshua, is there any woman around you who¡¯s obsessed with you?¡± o,¡± Joshua answered without hesitation. Shermaine pressed him, ¡°Are you sure? Think again.¡± Joshua looked at her. ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it. No one,¡± he said. He racked his brain but couldn¡¯t recall a single woman who was especially fond of him. Instead, the woman who had caught his interest was standing right in front of him, and his desire for her was raging. ¡°But the real mastermind might know me maybe an enemy of mine,¡± he added. Shermaine shot him a look. ¡°Aren¡¯t your enemies supposed to be after your life?¡± Joshua analyzed, ¡°Shermaine, rumor has it that the notoriously cold¨Chearted Mr. York has a beloved wife he dotes on excessively. So it¡¯s not out of the estion that someone out there wants to make my life a living hell by killing you.¡± Beloved wife? Hearing this, Shermaine couldn¡¯t help but let her imagination run wild. 14:06 Mon, 9 Jun She pressed her lips. ¡°Wright, it¡¯s not impossible. Tean ept that ¡± Joshua said solemnly, ¡°Shermaine, I will protect you.¡± Even though she might not need his protection, from this moment on, whether she needed it or not, he would hold her dearest in his heart, shielding and cherishing her with all his devotion. For thirty years, he¡¯d never fallen for anyone. But now that he had, all he wanted was toy everything at her feet¨Chis heart, his soul, his very being Hearing those words, Shermaine smiled faintly. Just like at the start, Joshua was there, shielding her, and a strange warmth blossomed in her chest Strong as she was, she had to admit to herself that sometimes, she really did enjoy being protected. Shermaine smiled. ¡°Sounds good to me.¡°. Joshua didn¡¯t miss a beat. ¡°Until il we find out who¡¯s behind this, I¡¯ll be your personal driver to and from school. He was surprisingly eager. Shermaine nodded slightly and epted his offer. After wrapping up their discussion, Shermaine suddenly noticed that Joshua wasn¡¯t wearing a shirt. She arched an eyebrow, silently admiring wonderful figure. Then, her gaze fell on his abs He actually got an eight¨Cpack, His honey toned skin bore an eye¨Ccatching tattoo, undeniably sexy. But it was obvious that beneath the ink, there had once been a sizable scar As Shermaine¡¯s gaze lingered on his bare torso, he swallowed hard and asked with a teasing smile, ¡°Like the tattoo?¡± Shermainemented, ¡°The suturing technique on this wound is rather crude. Had I done it, the scarring wouldn¡¯t be this pronounced.¡± I had to stitch it up myself,¡± Joshua replied. ¡°Back then it was too dangerous, Well, that exined it ¡°The tattoo looks amazing.¡± Shermaine said. In fact, she suddenly felt like touching it. AD Comment Nurse walking 107 apter 107 Chapter 107 Joshua couldn¡¯t help but feel pleased. Though thepliment was just about his tattoo, it still put him in a good mood. Now, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Shermine was satisfied with his figure? Shermine lowered her gaze. She did want to touch him but quickly dismissed the idea. Aber all, with a fake and like him, it wouldn¡¯t be right by maker a move. She then headed toward the treadmill. Unbeknownst to her, Joshua followed her with a desirous, intense gaze, After their workout and breakfast, Shermaine needed to visit the forensic department at the police station Joshua wanted to go with her, but she refused. ¡°You should go to the hospital for a hill physical examination. As for Wendelyn, I can handle it alone¡± Joshua insisted, ¡°Let me drive you to the police station first, then I¡¯ll head to the hospital myself¡± ¡°Fine,¡± said Shermaine. When they arrived at the police station, they found Ruth already waiting there. Ruth had received the call about Wondelyn¡¯s death, Now she had to im the body of the adopted daughter she¡¯d raised for eighteen years. Ruth didn¡¯t feel the slightest bit of sorrow, if anything, she found the whole thing utterly disgusting Frowning at the document the officer handed her, Ruth snapped, ¡°Wasn¡¯t it ruled a suicide? Why do I need to to sign an autopsy consent forms?¡± The officer replied, ¡°While the initial ruling is suicide, this is an order from above, Ma¡¯am, I still need you to sign the document; it¡¯s possible your daughter didn¡¯tmit suicide.¡± Ruth had no intention of looking into whether Wendelyn had days.¡± The officer was at aplete loss. Ruth could switch moods faster than anyone could blink if there were a world championship for changing faces, she¡¯d take the gold without a doubt. Just then, Shermaine and Bradley walked in through the doors er sign this consent form. There¡¯s more to your adopted daughter Wandelyn¡¯s death than meets the eye¡± Bradley urged, ¡°Mrs. Jean, you¡¯d better Ruth frowned, shooting Bradley a cold stare. But the moment she spotted Shermaine, her demeanor shifted noticeably, adopting an ingratiating tone. ¡°Sheary, was this your idea?¡± ¡°That was my decision,¡± Shermaine said coldly. ¡°Then I¡¯ll sign,¡± Ruth saidpliantly Bradley was surprised by how quickly Ruth had changed her mind. But honestly, it was already toote for her to take Shermaine¡¯s side. Upon entering the forensicsb, Shermaine found Wendelyn¡¯s body alreadyid out on the dissection table. She donned the protective gown, mai gloves provided by the forensic examiner, sanitied herself thoroughly, and then walked straight over The forensic examiner, a woman in her thirties, thought Shermaine looked remarkably young for this line of work. Yet when confronted with a corpse, Shermaine didn¡¯t so much as flinch. If it werd anyone else, they might tremble with fear. Aside from the head injury, Wendelyn¡¯s body showed no other signs of trauma. Shermaine examined her fingers and then her eyes, which were bloodshot with abnormal swelling. Pressing against the stiffening body, she felt something suddenly bulging beneath the abdomen. It was alive and moving. The creature darted frantically Inside Wendelyn¡¯s body, but Shermaine¡¯s scalpint was even quicker With surgical precision, the ficked the living thi In one swift notion. The forensic examiner was in awe. This girl¡¯s surgical skills were truly impressive. Even after performing thousands of autopsies, even she couldn¡¯t hinh that worn out of the body with such a single, precise cut. The slender red worm, deprived of blood, twitched a couple of times before lyingpletely still. The forensic examiner as asked, ¡°What kind of weam is this?¡± ¡°Never seen anything like this,¡± Shermaine said calmly, pulling out her phone to take several detailed photos. She made a note to ask around about it Later. The forensic examiner leaned in closer and asked, ¡°So it was a homickle?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Shermaine replied¡­ The forensic examiner shook her head. ¡°Using worms to kill people is bing a thing now? That¡¯s downright creepy¡± She¡¯d heard that before Wendelyn died, she had been repeatedly bashing her head against the wall until her face was covered in blood, only stopping when she finally died. What went around came around. Wendelyn, who once used worms to harm others, ended up being killed by them herself. To Shermaine¡¯s surprise, Ruth was still waiting outside the forensicsb as she emerged. The moment she saw Shermaine, Ruth hurried over with an ingratiating smile. ¡°Sheary, it¡¯s almost noon. Why don¡¯t we grab lunch together?¡± Shermaine was bemused by her sudden change in attitude. She said coolly, ¡°Mrs. Jean, as far as I recall, we¡¯re not exactly close Ruth¡¯s smile froze. ¡°Mrs. Jean? Sheary, I¡¯m your mother!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Shermaine looked at her. Ruth¡¯s eyes flickered, but she kept up her shameless act was wrong before. I acted foolishly, and I shouldn¡¯t have treated you that way. Sheary, please forgive me,¡± she pleaded, clearly ying the sympathy card. If only she hadn¡¯t looked down on Shermaine back when she first showed her talent. Now, it was toote; Shermaine wasn¡¯t so easily won over. Shermaine didn¡¯t mince words. She said coldly, ¡°Your precious daughter was always the apple of your eye. Now that she¡¯s gone, you¡¯d better focus on handling her funeral arrangements. I have other matters to attend to, so I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± With that, she turned on her heel and strode of The moment Shermaine left, Ruth¡¯s face instantly fell, twisting into an ugly grimace. Bradley followed Shermaine out of the police station and asked, ¡°Madam, where would you like to go next? I can give you a ride¡± Shermaine paused. ¡°Take me to the hospital to see Joshua,¡± she said. ¡°Understood, Madam¡± She went to meet her senior for coffee and to check on the results of Joshua¡¯s medical report. But what she never expected was to coincidentally run into Jameson and his mistress at Yaleview Hospital. The two of them stepped out of the elevator arm in arm, acting for all the world like a loving married couple. Nurse walking 108 Chapter 108 The moment Jameson saw Shermine standing outside the door, his stered on smile cracked, revealing an awkward grimace. He really wasn¡¯t prepared for this, andcing his biological daughter just made it even more awkward. Last time at the door, he had run into Sherman He was so worried she might have seen something and would go tell Janice, but she didn¡¯t, whether she didn¡¯t notice or simply chose not to care. Now, seeing her calm and unsurprised, it was clear she already knew but had no intention of interfering It would be the best if she didn¡¯t interfere or make a scene at least she knew her ce. Even if Jason and Natalie joined the Jean family in the future, Jameson wouldn¡¯t treat Shermaine or Ross unfally. With this thought, he felt even more confident and justified. Shermainezily And now, even here in this crowded hospital, the two of them were acting so bessenly, not even worried about being caught on camera. How shameless. Natalie was undeniably beautiful, with an hourss figure and striking curves, clearly well taken care of Meeting Shermaine¡¯s gaze, she gave a farm, knowing smile¨Ca subtle hint of triumph carefully masked behind herposed demeanor. After a brief pause, Jamesonposed himself and asked, ¡°Shermaine, what brings you to the hospital?¡± ¡°Looking for someone.¡± Jameson¡¯s chestion was merely perfunctory; he hadn¡¯t expected a real answer. Clearing his throat, he stepped out of the elevator with Natalie and introduced. ¡°This is Ms. Keller¡± Sharmaine barely reacted, utterly uninterested Jameson got straight to the point. ¡°I¡¯ve decided to divorce your mother. From now on, Natalie will be the new mistress of our family¡± Shermaine was furious about Jameson¡¯s infidelity, but what truly broke her heart was thinking of Ruth from those years ago. Looking at the photos, she could see that Ruth had truly loved Jameson; the tenderness in her eyes was unmistakable. She probably never expected that Jameson¡¯s love woulde so quickly and fade oven faster; in just a few short years, their marriage had crumbled, So, if they could get divorced, it would actually be a relief for her. As for Ruth now, Shermaine was still holding onto her suspicions and determined to uncover the truth. It wouldn¡¯t be long before everything came to Dight. Natalie smiled politely and said, ¡°Hello, Shermaine, my dear. You¡¯re even more stunning than in your photos, didn¡¯t expect our first meeting to be so awkward. I do wish I¡¯d prepared a proper gift for you.¡± Shermaine smiled back, a cutting smile that pierced like an hike arrows. ¡°Don¡¯t bother. Ahomewrecker like you has no right to give me gifts.¡± Natalie maintained her smile. ¡°Apologies for the oversight Compared to Wendelyn, Natalie was ying on a whole different level. It proved she was even more shameless and thick¨Cskinned than most people, Ater all, she was the woman Jameson had an affair with and still adored to this day. His face darkened as he snapped, ¡°Shermaine, wa ur tonel Shermaine shrugged and retorted, ¡°Am I wrong?¡± Jameson was vid but found himself tongue¨Ctied. Shermaine looked Jameson straight in the eye and said, ¡°I don¡¯t care if you get divorced or bring that woman into our family. If you have the guts to do it, it just proves you¡¯re willing to cast aside your wife for your mistress. ¡°But mark my words: If she dares to step out of line after moving in, don¡¯t me me for whates next.¡± A woman who had been a married man¡¯s mistress for over thirty years and bided her time this long must have ambitions Sharmaine doubled w Natalie would truly be satisfied after marrying Jameson. After all, Uss woman still had a son. C Nurse walking 109 Chapter 109 Shermaine¡¯s words could be considered a gentle warning. Both Jameson and Natale should learn the consequences in advance. With that, Sherinaine took the elevator, nning to Best find her senior, Danielle, Jameson was livid, his face turning ashen as he got into the car. He couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and spat, ¡°With Joshua backing her up, she¡¯s person am, she¡¯ll surely let go of her prejudice. These things can¡¯t be rushed, so let¡¯s just take it slow ¡°And she¡¯s right¡­ Back when I was with you, you were already a married man. People would have talked behind my back for that. ¡°Now, all really want is for Jason to be acknowledged. As for bing your wille. I don¡¯t have high hopes. Things are fine as they a Fare Guilt washed over Jameson as soon as he heard her words. He pulled Natalie into his arms and said softly, ¡°How could I ever me you? if I hadn¡¯t pressured you back then, you never would have agreed to be with me. ¡°I¡¯m the one who owes NO owes you; in I never told you I already had a wife and child. From the moment i met you, I regretted being married.¡± He tightened his embrace. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I keep my promise. Not only will I have Jason recognized as part of my family, but I¡¯ll also marry you. One day, you¡¯ll be Mist Jean.¡± Natalie nestled Sweetly in his arms, a soft smile curving her lips. She whispered, Jameson, I¡¯ve never regretted meeting you.¡± In an instant, Jameson was utterly bewitched. As her intoxicating fragrance filed his senses, his desire red up uncontrobly. ¡°Nat,¡± he murmured huskily, ¡°let¡¯s have a daughter tonight. Any daughter of ours would surely turn out even better than Shermaine.¡± Carrying a cup of coffee, Shermaine made her way to Danielle¡¯s office in the neurosurgery department. The office door was ajar, revealing a narrow gap A cozy warmth radiated from within. Danielle must have been exhausted¨Cshe¡¯d fallen asleep right there at her desk, head resting on her arms. However, there was also a man in a hospital gown in her office. His hand hovered near Danielle¡¯s cheek, as if he was about to caress it. Though Danielle appeared aloot, she was actually quite popr with guys, especially the younger ones. But it seemed her heart already belonged to someone. Shermaine entered quietly, unnoticed by the man. Just as his hand was about tond on Danielle¡¯s face, she seized his wrist and showed it away. ¡°Sir,¡± Shermaine said coolly, ¡°inappropriate touching is a bad habit Jason hadn¡¯t expected anyone to walk in. A fleeting shadow of malico shed through his eyes, but his expression quickly returned to mal. He looked at the woman who had spoken. She was stunning, with crystal¨Cclear eyes that seemed capable of seeing right through people. Hernguid tone carried an unmistakable chill. He know exactly who she was his half¨Csister, Shermaine. ¡°What a buzzkill, Jason thought to himself He lowered his gaze and said, ¡°My apologies. I got carried away. It wasn¡¯t my intention to overstep.¡± As they were speaking, Danielle was startled awake from her tap at the desk, she spotted Shermine, then Jason, and doing in my office?¡± Jason feigned innocence and said, ¡°I¡¯ve got a bit of a headache, so I thought I¡¯de over As for what happened today, I expect this to be the fan Danielle asid coldly, ¡°If you have a headache, let a nurse know and have them contact¡­ ¡°Understood,¡± Jason said meekly, like an innocent rabbit. ¡°My apologies, Dr. Shelly¡± ¡°Alright. You may leave, Danielle said coldly. Jason look a few steps, then paused abruptly. Turning back, he offered a sharine smile and said, ¡°Hello there, little sister¡± Nurse walking 110 ason added with a faint smile, ¡°Long time no see.¡± Hearing this, Shermaine narrowed her eyes. Though she¡¯d heard his surname was Jean, , she hadn¡¯t made the connection that this boy could be Jameson¡¯s son. But now, upon closer inspection, she could see the resemnce He looked innocent enough, but she hated him at first sight Maybe it was because he tried to take liberties with Danielle while she was asleep, or maybe there were other reasons. Either way, she just couldn¡¯t stand him. But why did Jason say that? Had they ever met before? Shermaine had gone missing at age five and hadn¡¯t returned to the Jean family or even set foot in Basterel in the fourteen years since. Other than a few years in Maple Leaf Ville, she had spent the rest of her time abroad. So when he said, ¡°Long time no see,¡± it could only mean they¡¯d met before she was five. Whether intentional or not, Jason had made a point of saying that Shermaine stated coolly, ¡°I have only one brother¡± Jason shrugged indifferently. ¡°it doesn¡¯t matter. To me, you¡¯ll always be my little sister. After all, they were connected by blood. Shermaine smiled. ¡°Save that for after you¡¯re officially recognized by the family¡°, ¡°I¡¯ll work hard to earn Grandmother¡¯s approval,¡± Jason said, nodding slightly before turning to leave. As soon as Jason left, Danielle snapped out of her drowsiness. Who would¡¯ve thought such an innocent¨Clooking guy could be so calcting? Besides, she could tell at a nce that Shermaine really couldn¡¯t stand him. Shermaine disliked someone, Danielle would naturally stand against them too. Danielle asked, ¡°Is Jason really your dad Jameson¡¯s illegitimate son?¡± The Jean family¡¯s drama was all over the ce; even if Shermaine didn¡¯t say a word, Danielle already knew quite a bit. Yes, Shermaine replied. Danielle asked in surprise, ¡°Wait, he¡¯s even older than you!¡± Shermaine nodded, ¡°Grandmother told me my birthday is March 15th.¡± She¡¯d never known her real birthday growing up, so she¡¯d never celebrated it. That checked out. Jason¡¯s medical records show his birthdate is in January. It seemed Jameson really was a scumbag The illegitimate son was actually two months older than Shermaine. Danielle cursed, ¡°Your dad is a jerk.¡± Shermaine handed over the coffee. ¡°He¡¯s always been like that,¡± she said. Her mood clearly soured just thinking about them. ¡°Here, I brought you some coffee. I brewed it myself¡± Danielle took the co ¡°Also, remember to always lock your door when sleeping. Someone almost tried something on you just now, you know.¡± 1/2 4:07, Mor:9 son Danielle pressed her lips, a flicker of disgust crossing her brow. She said, ¡°I¡¯m transiering his case to another doctor Asnot¨Cnosed brat actually dared to hit on her. Danielle absolutely despised conger rtionships, so she¡¯d never go for a younger guy. But serves these young boys keep chasing after her. And now, this one was even Shermaine¡¯s half¨Cbrother. It was unbelievable. Danielle eximed, ¡°But seriously, howe you didn¡¯t tell me about your engagement Shermaine would just get engaged to a man like that. ¡®If she hadn¡¯t seen it in the news, she never would¡¯ve Shermaine said frankly, ¡°Joshua and I are just in ake engagement, a mutually beneficial arrangerent. That was why I didn¡¯t bother telling you. Danielle teased, ¡°I saw reports saying you two might even tie the knot next June¡± ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Shermaine replied. Once the thought of breaking off the engagement popped up, it just wouldn¡¯t go away. The two women chatted over coffee for a while. After finishing his checkup, Joshua took out his phone and called Shermaine Bradley told him that Shermaine was at the hospital. Though she was really there mainly to visit a friend, he just dropped by to check on her. Shermaine answered, ¡°Come to Dr. Shelly¡¯s office in Neurosurgery. I¡¯ll wait here. Bring your best results, I need to review them.¡± Nurse walking 111 Chapter 111 Joshua walked in, holding the medical report. As soon as Shermaine saw him enter, she set down her coffee and gestured toward the chair in front of her desk. ¡°Have a seat.¡± Danielle thought to herself, ¡°What a refined, elegant, and handsome man. Still, he¡¯s a bit older there likely won¡¯t be any real entanglement or development between them! than Shermaine. But since their rtionship is superficial, Before sitting down, Joshua gave Danielle a slight, courteous nod and said, ¡°Good day, Dr. Shelly.¡± ¡°Hello, Mr. York.¡± Shermaine extended her hand. ¡°The medical report, please.¡± Joshua handed it to her Shormalne opened the medical report and began to pore over it with meticulous attention, Soon, she finished reviewing it. All test results showed Joshua was perfectly healthy, with no issues whatsoever. Joshua looked at Shermaine, seeing her brows knit ever so slightly. With a faint, almost teasing smile, he asked, ¡°So, what¡¯s the verdict?¡± ¡°Everything appears normal.¡± Shermaine frowned slightly. That was odd. His heart rate had definitely been elevated that night, and he hadined of a headache. She set the report aside. ¡°Let me check your pulse again. Give me your hand.¡± ¡°Okay¡± Joshua rolled up his sleeve and offered his wrist to her. Off to the side, Danielle shot Joshua a strange look, ¡°No way this man has no feelings for Sheary she thought. ¡°Not a chance¡± Given Joshua¡¯s sterling reputation, she would hold off on exposing his little act for now. He could have a chance to win Shermaine¡¯s heart When Sharmaine was abroad, even a heartthrob like Trance couldn¡¯t win her over. She wondered if Joshua could leverage their fake rtionship and finally seed where others failed. I she mustpare, the two were evenly matched: equally stunning in looks, matched in talent, and both from equally prestigious families. But clearly, Joshua is way more cunning and scheming than Trance. He really knew how to y the game. Shermaine would never have guessed that Joshua¡¯s pounding heart was all because of her. As for that so¨Ccalled headache, it was nothing but a ruse, just a pretext to capture her attention. Shermaine began examining Joshua once more, this time with far greater thoroughness than before ¡°Open your mouth,¡± she Joshuaplied. Shermaine examined him and found nothing unusual. Then, she said, ¡°Take off y ¡°your sses¡± Joshua recalled how, thest time Shermine got drunk, she¡¯d tried to take off his sses. He¡¯d refused, and just like that, she lost all interest in him and promptly fell fast asleep. 14-07 Mon, 90¨¹n or GE Back then, he didn¡¯t want Shermaine to see that side of him, or maybe he was just pretending to resist. Honestly, if she had insisted, let her have it. With a gentle voice, Joshua said, ¡°Go ahead, just do it yoursel Shermaine paused. She vaguely remembered asking him to take them off, and he had been clearly reluctant. So why was he being so cooperative ¡°Well, maybe he valued his own health more than I thought, she mused. ¡°171 do it, then,¡± Shermaine said evenly. ¡°Alright,¡± Joshua replied softly. Shermaine reached up, her two fingers finding the silver nose piece. Then, she took his sses off. The office was well¨Clit, with soft sunlight filtering through the ss. Joshua¡¯s features were exquisitely defined, especially his brows and eyes. His irises were a deep, dark shade, and the slightly elongated shape with a subtle upward tilt at the corners only enhanced their captivating allure. Joshua¡¯s gaze softened then, the usual sharpness bing less intense. As he looked at her, his eyes oozed charm, which was teasing and undeniably sensual Shermaine had always appreciated beauty in all its forms. But Joshua¡¯s eyes were different. They seemed to be maic, drawing her in irresistibly There was no denying that she kind of wanted to collect those eyes. They were just so beautiful. Shermaine lowered her head, meeting his gaze as she prepared to examine his eyes. Joshua¡¯s eyes were pure, his smile faint and untainted. It was like a winter night sky where stars shimmered in the boundless expanse. Shermaine thought, ¡®Are you flirting with me? Not that I have any proof.. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Nurse walking 112 Doubts aside, Joshua didn¡¯t seem ¡ñ that type, Sn, Shermaine brushed off the strange feeling he gave her Afterpleting the examination and finding no abnormalities, Shermaine fall into deep contemtion Joshua quietly put his sses back on. ¡°So, how is it?¡± Shermaine asked, ¡°Have you ever experienced anything to that before when you drank?¡± ¡°No,¡± Joshua replied. Shermaine asked, ¡°Was that the first time it happened?¡± Joshua smiled faintly and hummed in agreement. Shermaine wondered to herself, I really that bad at medicine? How can I out figure out what¡¯s wrong with past a headache and a fast heartbeat She paused, then said, ¡°All your vitals indicate you¡¯re perfectly healthy. After another moment, she added with concern, ¡°But if the headaches pert please let me know immediately.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Joshua replied softly. They¡¯d better not dwell on this topic any longer. Otherwise, Shermaine might be overly concerned about his condition. ¡°Bradley mentioned that the organism you found in Wendelyn¡¯s corpse was something you¡¯d never seen before.¡± The world was vast and full full of all kinds of things. It was perfectly normal for her toe across things she had never seen before. ¡°Yeah¡± replied Shermaine.
  1. d. ¡°Send
Joshua said, ¡°Send me the photos. I¡¯ll have my team look into it.¡± ¡°That couldn¡¯t be better,¡± Shermaine said. Then he added, ¡°Just send it to me on WhatsApp¡± In fact, they weren¡¯t even WhatsApp contacts. Joshua wasn¡¯t one to frequently use messaging apps, so he barely opened WhatsApp. Normally, they just called each other. After the engagement party, Owen added Shermaine on WhatsApp and invited her into the family group chat. The next day, Joshua logged in and asked Owen to invite him into the same group Shermaine pulled out her phone, located Joshua in the York family group chat, and quickly found his number. ¡°Done. We¡¯re friends now.¡± ¡°Just a moment,¡± Joshua said. Sipping her coffee, Danielle watched with amuserpent. Joshua, what a schemer, she thought. ¡°He went through so much just to add her on WhatsApp. Impressive Back in his hospital room, Jasony back on the bed, hisce dark with displeasure. As soon as Jason saw Danielle, he was overwhelmed by the urge to make her his Never had he been so infatuated with a woman, which drove him to seek every opportunity to get close to her time and again. But Danielle was always swamped with work. When he finally got a rare chance to see her, Shermaine had to go and ruin it. At the thought, gloom 10 14:07 Mon, 9 Jun 9 GE clouded his eyes. Jason waited for quite a while. When the door finally opened, he thought it most be Danielle. A smile tugged at his lips, and the gloom in his e dissipated, anticipation written all over his face. ????? But when he saw it was actually David who entered, his smile faded. ¡°What brings you hire?¡± he asked David nced at his medical records and exined, ¡°Dr. Shelly has been overwhelmed with surgeriestely, so your case has been transferred to asa? After a brief pause, he asked, ¡°So, what¡¯s bothering you today?¡± With David taking over his case, Jason knew his chances of seeing Danielle would be slim to none. If it weren¡¯t for Sharmaine, he woulder than ended up were off like this. Jason pressed his lips together. ¡°My wound¡­ It¡¯s not feeling right, Really hurts.¡± ¡°Let me check,¡± David said, bending down to examine the wound. It was almost lunchtime. Upon meeting Shermaine¡¯s close friend for the first time, Joshua took the initiative to suggest they have lunch at a nearby restaurant. Shermaine didn¡¯t mind; it was up to Danielle. Danielle had a 2 p.m. surgery. Having lunch now would leave her just enough time to rest before the operation, so she agreed. As they stepped out of the office, Joshua took ok Shermaine¡¯s hand, their fingers intecing tightly. Shermaine¡¯s hand was pillow¨Csoh, yet, as always, cool to the touch. Shermaine looked up sharply. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Joshua replied, ¡°Bradley said my hospital visit drew media attention. The paparazzi might be lurking. As pretend fianc¨¦s, they had to maintain the loving couple act in public. On his way back to the office, Bradley suddenly sneezed. Rubbing his nose, he muttered, ¡°Who¡¯s talking about me? I keep feeling a chill down my back If Bradley, who was in the know, heard about this, he¡¯d bepletely baffled. When did he ever say there were reporters at the hospital? Shermaine wrinkled her nose in slight distaste at first, but after a moment¡¯s thought, she decided to let it go. His hand was actually pretty warm anyway. so she allowed him to keep holding it Still holding her hand, Joshua tucked it into his pocket. ¡°Your hand is cold again. Let me warm it up for you,¡± he said. What he hadn¡¯t gotten to dost time, he could finally do now. Danielle was starting to regret agreeing to this meal. Joshua never missed a chance, always looking for an opportunity to make moves on Shermaine. AD Comment Send gift Nurse walking 113 As dusk descended that day, snowkes began to drift down once again. That evening, Shermaine followed her usual routine. Aber tutoring her ssmates on Zoom, she performed frame interption on the blurry vident, Just before bedtime, Joshua brought her a ss of warm milk. After falling asleep, Shermaine had a dream. ¦° The sun was shining brightly as five¨Cyear¨Cold Shermaine, hot hair in cute pigtails and dressed in a pretty little dress, was gently helped into the car by her mother, who wore a warm, gentle smile. Behind the wheelsat Jameson A kissnded en Shermaine¡¯s check. ¡°My sweetle,¡± Huth said, ¡°have fun at the amusement park with Daddy Shermaine frowned. ¡°Mommy, aren¡¯t you kiss on Ruth¡¯s cheek. ¡°I¡¯ll miss you, Mommy¡± she said sweetly. ¡°That¡¯s my good girl.¡± With that, the car pulled away. In the car, Shermaine reached into her little backpack and pulled out a book. She opened it and started reading intently. When they stopped at a red light, Jameson nced back at her and asked, ¡°What are you reading, Sheary?¡± Shermaine answered seriously, ¡°A magazine.¡± Jameson said, ¡°Clever girl¡± ¡°Yup Maybe because Jameson was hardly ever home, things always felt a bit awkward between him and his daughter, and they just couldn¡¯t seem to find anything to talk about Ater about twenty minutes of driving, Jameson spoke up again, ¡°Sheary, how about I bring a little boy to y with you at the amusement park today ¡°Who is he?¡± Shermaine asked. ¡°It¡¯s the son of my friend,¡± said Jameson. Shermaine nodded and said, ¡°Okay!¡± Soon, Jameson pulled over by the roadside. A woman opened the car door and lifted a little boy into the car. The little boy looked glum. Shermaine wasn¡¯t the outgoing type, so when she saw him, she didn¡¯t bother to say hello, Chapter 113 After a brief exchange with the woman, Jameson drove off again. Shermaine instinctively frowned at the woman outside the window but kept quiet. Before long, they arrived at the amusement park. But soon, the little boy threw a tantium, tears streaming down his face. ¡°You¡¯re my dad!¡± he sobbed. ¡°Why do I have to call you uncle?¡± Jameson was at a loss. He stammered, ¡°Jason, don¡¯t cry. I will get you some ice cream, okay?¡± Shermaine¡¯s chubby face scrunched up in displeasure. ¡°That¡¯s nonsensel How could my daddy be your daddy? My daddy only has one son, and that¡¯s my brother¡® The little boy cried out. ¡°No, you¡¯re lying! He is my daddy Mommy said he¡¯s my daddy¡± The argument quickly escted into a fight. Shermaine balled her tiny fists and punched the boy square in the no nose, giving him a nosebleed. He fell to the ground and burst into even louders. At the sight, Jameson roughly shoved Shermaine aside and rushed to help the boy up. ¡°Jason, are you okay?¡± he asked anxiously. Jason sobbed, ¡°Daddy, it hurts so much!¡± Jameson gently aly said to Jason,¡± ¡°I¡¯m taking you ou to the d doctor now. Don¡¯t cry, okay?¡± Panicked, Jameson scooped Jason into his arms and rushed toward the clinic. Shermaine watched her father¡¯s receding figure, and in an instant, her eyes reddened as tears streamed down her chooks. She was crying so hard that when someone handed her a tissue, she took it automatically. After wiping her tears, her vision went ck, and she fainted. Just then, Shermaine jolted awake and sat up in bed. Even though the room was warm from the heater, she was drenched in sweat. She realized that what she had dreamed about was actually her own memory from before she was abducted at the age of five. So that was how she was abandoned back then. No wonder she always felt such intense loathing whenever she saw Jason. Sure, hearing it from Janice was one thing, but recalling it firsthand was something else entirely. Only by reliving that memory did Shermaine realize just how absurd¨Cand heartless¨Cit all was. Her own father, for the sake of his illegitimate son, abandoned her without a second thought, leaving her there as he rushed off to the clinic with Jason Nurse walking 115 Logically, Zack and Madeline were siblings, yet it was her own brother who killed her in that crash. Why would Zack murder his own pisteri ¡®secret lied behind this? Could it be connected to Shermaine¡¯s mother? After sending the clear video to her phone, Shermaine put on her coat and went downstairs, where the bumped into Joshua, who had just returned front outside. He had a long overcoat casually draped over his shoulders, with a formal gray pinstriped suit underneath, looking asposed and meticulous as ev ¡°Where to?¡± Joshua asked, Lately, Joshua had been a bit ton attentive, but Shedine didn¡¯t mind. She replied sinctly, ¡°I was looking through my n documents and got curious about a woman named Madeline who was often around her, y mother¡¯s old photos and ¡°I wanted to ask her about my mother, but she died in a hit¨Cand¨Crun fourteen years ago. Just now, I found out the driver was actually her own brother, Zack¡± After a brief pause, she added, ¡°I¡¯m going to visit Sanderson Grove again, the ce where they used to live.¡± ¡°Let me go with you,¡± Joshua said. They arrived at Sanderson Grovete at night. The wind howled through the deserted streets, From the darkers came the asional cries of stray cats, piercing the eerie silence. Having been here before, Shermaine got out of the car and headed straight to Building 125, Unit 5, Apartment 3003. Joshua followed close behind. With the stairwell light out, he pulled out his phone and switched on the shlight, lighting the way for Shermaine. Shermaine knocked repeatedly, but the door remained unanswered. Just then, a neighbor came downstairs to take out the trash and remarked, ¡°Freya and her son Zack moved out half a month ago. When they left, I almost held a party to celebrate.¡± ¡°Any idea where they went?¡± Shermaine asked. ¡°How should I know? They never interacted with any of the neighbors. All we know are their names, nothing else.¡± Shermaine paused briefly, then said to the neighbor, ¡°Thank you.¡±¡°¡± Only half a month had passed, just days after herst visit. The timing was too close to be a coincidence. Most likely, her appearance spooked them; they must have been afraid she¡¯d uncover their secrets, so they moved out. With so many people out there, if they¡¯re really trying to avoid her, finding them would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. The neighbor was about to say ¡°you¡¯re wee¡± when he saw Shermaine kick the door open and stride right in. If they weren¡¯t so good¨Clooking, he¡¯d have been scared shitless. Joshua watched Shermaine¡¯s actions, a faint smile tugging at theer of his lips as he followed her inside and closed the door behind The lights were still on, dust coated the table, and all the valuables in the house had been cleared out Shermaine went straight into Zack¡¯s room. The walls were stered with pin¨Cup posters¨Cscantily¨Cd women in seductive uniforms, unting long legs, nothing short of vulgar. On the desky piles of pornographicics and magazines. But to be fair, the women Zack had pinned up on his walls, whether for their looks or their figures, were undeniably attractive, the kind most men would Chapter 115 ind hard to resist. Joshua followed her in. Find anything?¡± he asked, his gaze briefly sweeping the wall before he looked away nonchntly and turned to Sherma Shermaine studied his face with amusement. Here was a grown man faced with all these provocative pin up posters, yet he showed no reaction whatsoever. It seemed Joshua¡¯s self¨Ccontrol was truly remarkable. ¡°Nothing yet,¡± Shermaine replied. Noticing Shermaine¡¯s scrutinizing gaze, Joshua asked, ¡°Why are you staring at me like that?¡± ¡°Not even a little turned on?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Joshua asked. Shermaine squinted yfully, pointed at the posters, and teased,
  1. ¡°I meant those girls.¡±
Joshua replied without a second thought, ¡°No.¡± He thought, if it weren¡¯t for Shermaine, he might have believed he¡¯d never feel anything for a wor his life. He almost said, ¡°You¡¯re the only one I have feelings for.¡± But openly making advances like this probably wasn¡¯t appropriate, especially since Shermaine clearly wasn¡¯t interested in him right now. Besides, she was still too young. He should show some restraint. ¡°Oh.¡± Shermaine finally dropped the subject. In Zack¡¯s room, she found several photos of him and Madeline tucked inside a book. These were clear evidence of a close sibling rtionship, which effectively ruled out any motive for murder. Yet, DNA testing confirmed that Ruth was indeed rted by blood to Shermaine and Ross, which made things even more puzzling Noticing her deep in thought, Joshua proposed, ¡°Could she be a clone?¡± §¿ AD Comment Nurse walking 116 Hearing this, Shemaine paused briefly. The reason she had never considered human cloning was that, back then, technology and regtions were just too limited for any real breakthroughst Besides, not long after Ruth left the biological research Institute, the government ordered all rted research to stop. 5, it was possible they kept doing legal research in secret. ¡°Why would you think that?¡± Shermaine questioned. Cloning a human body alone was already extremely challenging, let alone transnting neurons into a brain. That was practically impossible. She had looked into that biochemist. While he was somewhat capable, this kind of research was way beyond his expertise. Joshua chuckled, ¡°Shermaine, sometimes the possibility you deny most vehemently is exactly whates to pass.¡± Shermaine fell silent for a moment, choosing not to argue. He raised his hand, holding up a book. ¡°This is what I found under the old woman¡¯s mattress, a primer on cloning. She studied it meticulously, even marking the parts she didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Back then, she probably nned to ask Madeline about these questions, and after getting her answers, she hid the book away.¡± As for why she chose to hide it instead of throwing it out¨Cmaybe she simply forgot, or perhaps there was another reason. Jeshua continued, ¡°Why would an elderly woman with little education read such aplicated book? Just out of curiosity? I doubt it.¡± There must be more to it. Shermaine flipped through the book and quickly agreed with Joshua¡¯s reasoning. Madeline must have told Freya something. That was why Freya went to research human cloning. That scientist might not have figured it out, but Shermaine¡¯s mother was also involved in the research. After all, she gave birth to an incredibly talented daughter, which clearly showed she was exceptionally intelligent herself. She simply kept a low profile in those days, never revealing her true abilities. However, Madeline, having stayed by her biological mother¡¯s side, had witnessed that hidden brilliance. If the current Ruth was indeed Madeline, a woman so wain and ambitious, it was highly probable she orchestrated such a scheme back then. So that was why Zack had a real motive to run over and kill Madeline. It was all part of the scheme, What a brilliant switcherool Everything clicked for Shermaine, her face lighting up. ¡°Turns out bringing you along was the right call.¡± Joshua fixed his deep, intense gaze on Shermaine and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you? I¡¯m very useful.¡± ¡°Yeah, I get it now,¡± Shermaine responded. There was no point in staying in Zack¡¯s room any longer. What Shermaine needed to do now was either track down Freya and her son to get the truth out of this so¨Ccalled ¡°Ruth.¡± But clearly, thetter would be much harder. After all, she didn¡¯t have a shred of evidence yet. Zack¡¯s room was an absolute mess, almost unbearable to look at ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here,¡± Shermaine said. As Shermaine turned around, her hand knocked a manga off the table, sending it ttering to the floor where ity open. nother way Chapter 116. She bent down to pick it up, only to find Joshua reaching for it at the sime time; sach grasping opposite corners of the For What was truly awkward wasn¡¯t the situation itself, but the manga¡¯s content: its pages showed a man and woman in a steamy i explicit that they¡¯d send anyone¡¯s pulse racing. The posters on the wall paled inparison to this. As for her, she didn¡¯t really care; she just worried she might have ¡°corrupted¡± Joshua, who always seemed ascetic and detached. Joshua nced at the pages, his eyes darkening slightly but hisposure unshaken. He said evenly, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it? Shermaine released her grip and straightened up. ¡°I¡¯ll wait outside,¡± she said. ¡°okay.¡± Joshua had seen things far more explicit than the manga, Still, nothing could faze him, and he prided himself on hisposure. Yet somehow, the scenes in thisic brought back those erotic dreams he¡¯d been having¨Cdreams where he indulged without restraint¡­ ¡°You¡¯re done for, Joshua, he thought with a wry smile, yet found himself relishing the feeling. AL Nurse walking 117 Chapter 117 As if by tacit agreement, when it came to finding Freya and her son Zack, Joshua simply instructed his people to handle it, while Shermaine could fully exploit her status to boss him around. Shermaine smiled and said yfully, ¡°If you ever run into any tricky project issues you can¡¯t handle, just let me take care of them. It¡¯s on the house.¡± Joshua knew there were certainly things he needed, but he didn¡¯t want Shermaine to feel obligated to repay him for everything. So he said casually, ¡°Not for now. I¡¯ll let you know if anythinges up.¡± Just then, the car pulled over by the roadside. Shermaine hopped out, dashed across the street to a chestnut vendor, and returned with a small bag of freshly roasted, steaming hot chestnuts. Joshua was behind the wheel. Shermaine peeled a chestnut and popped one into her mouth. It was absolutely delicious. Joshua teased, ¡°Shermaine, don¡¯t keep all the good stuff to yourself.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll save some for you,¡± she replied. Joshua said, ¡°They¡¯ll get cold.¡± Their ce had a microwave. If she heated them upter, it wouldn¡¯t affect their taste. However, Joshua insisted with a yful pout, ¡°I want them right now.¡± Shermaine had no choice but to peel a chestnut for him. Seeing his hands firmly on the steering wheel, she held it up to his mouth with a smile and said, ¡°Here, you really earned this today.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Joshua smiled as he ate the chestnut. Honestly, this might just be the best chestnut he had ever tasted. The monthly exams were held on the 21st of this month. Perhaps it was the pressure from exams, or maybe it was those low¨Cquality e treatment products she used, but Summer¡¯s e not only failed to clear up; it actually worsened aggressively. To make matters worse, she had an allergic reaction, leaving her cheeks flushed like sunburned hignd redness. It was quite an unsightly sight. So after the exam, she looked really gloomy and seemed to be crying. Her ssmates gathered around tofort her; some suggested effective e treatments, while others advised her to see a doctor to get it checked out. Since Shermaine finished her exam early, she slipped off to theb for a while. When she returned, she found Summer sniffling at her desk. Shermaine took her seat and asked with concern, ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong?¡± One of the ssmates exined, ¡°Summer didn¡¯t do well on the exam. What¡¯s worse, it looks like she had an allergic reaction to some e product. Now, not only is her e getting worse, but her face is also breaking out badly.¡± ¡°Hey, look at me. Let me check it out,¡± Shermaine said gently. Chapter 11? Summer backed up, only to be struck by shermaine¡¯s knockout beauty in the matant, the pudd wanted to Frasi tute a les shermaine examined her skin, then handed her a small ss pur containing the miracle cream she had finally perfected that day Though it hadn¡¯t been tested on anyone yet, she was confident in her creation With a reassuring smile, she said, ¡°Here, take this. Wash your face thoroughly tonight before applying it. And don¡¯t drea yourself out. You¡¯ve got six months until the college entrance exams. That¡¯s plenty of time to improve? To just scared, Summer said quietlys ¡°What are you afraid of?¡± Shermaine asked ¡°Mom said it I don¡¯t get into a top university. I shouldn¡¯t even bother continuing my education/ Summer replied hesitantly as she epted the small bottle from Sherisine Shermaine arched her brow and said directly. ¡°If you start preparing early, you¡¯ve got a great shot at making it. You patta believe in yourself. Want to fet? This time your exam results will top thest ones¡± ¨¦sam ¡°No way. That¡¯s impossible,¡± Summer muttered, feeling utterly defeated she was convinced shed bombed the seam and had pero confidence she could do better thanst time. Shermaine said calmly, ¡°I never make empty promises¡± she gently handed her a theme ¡°Just listen to me, okay? After Shermaine¡¯sforting words, Summer felt much better emotionally. Wiping away her tears, the end gratefully, ¡°Thank you¡± No problem. If this cream causes any irritation, just let me know and stop using it right away, okay? ¡°Alright,¡± Summer replied softly.. Since it was winter, darkness tell early Around 5 pm, the capital city was already enveloped in night. But with Christmas approaching, the shops lining the streets were adorned with festive decorations, brimming with holiday spirit There were also noticeably more couples strolling hand in hand, enjoying the romantic atmosphere, That night, following Shermaine¡¯s instructions, Summer carefully washed her face with cleanser before bed. Then she applied the pearly cream, gently spreading it evenly across her skin, hoping it would really work. The cream felt cool and refreshing against her skin, causing no irritation whatsoever. In fact, it was extremely soothing as she applied it to her face. With that done, she climbed into bed, pulled up the covers, and drifted off to sleep The next morning, as soon as Sumner woke up, her first instinct was to look in the mirror habit she¡¯d developed over the past few days. But when she saw her reflection, her eyes widened in disbelief. Where¡­ Where did her pimples got Summer gasped, ¡°Oh my god!¡± Her pimples were all gone! The cream Shermaine had given her was just amazing! Meanwhile, Shermaine and Joshua were having breakfast when Joshua suddenly asked, ¡°Got any ns for Christmas Day?¡± Nurse walking 118 Today was the 22nd. Christmas fell on Saturday, just three days away. Shermaine thought for a moment. ¡°No ns.¡± ¡°Wanna go skiing?¡± Joshua asked. ¡°Sure,¡± Shermaine agreed without hesitation. She actually liked skiing; it sounded like a great way to unwind and have some fun. Joshua had thought it would take some persuading, but to his surprise, Shermaine agreed so quickly that he wouldn¡¯t need to think of other ways. ¡°Great, it¡¯s settled then. I¡¯ll take you skiing this Saturday,¡± he said with a smile. ¡°No problem,¡± Shermaine said. Meanwhile, at Brightwater Academy. After seeing that her pimples hadpletely disappeared, Summer was so overjoyed that she sprang up from bed, only to bang her head hard against the wooden board above with a loud thud. Though it hurt, she didn¡¯t care at all, grinning like an idiot in sheer delight. ¡°My e¡¯s gone! Even the allergic redness on my cheeks has cleared up! Oh my god, I adore Sheary!¡± she eximed. It was just about time for her roommates to wash up. Everyone knew Summer had been so stressed about her aely that she¡¯d lost her appetite and could barely focus on her studies, always checking herself in the mirror, even while doing homework. And now? Overnight, her skin was suddenly clear? What on earth had she used? The effect was so miraculous! Out of curiosity, Evelyn and the other girls from the dorm hurried over to check it out. Then there was Hannah, who had always followed Alice¡¯s lead in bullying Shermaine. Though she escaped punishment or expulsion, she wasplicit in all of Alice¡¯s misdeeds. Now at school, especially in her own ss, barely anyone would give her the time of day, let alone her dormmates. Lately, she¡¯d been breaking out nonstop. Even her mom¡¯s expensive skincare products couldn¡¯t help. Now, her e was getting as bad as Summer¡¯s used to be. Now, hearing that Summer¡¯s e had miraculously cleared up, Hannah couldn¡¯t help but steal a nce. To her astonishment, not only were the pimplespletely gone, but there wasn¡¯t a single mark left behind. Her skin looked even smoother and more radiant than before. Evelyn¡¯s eyes widened in amazement. ¡°Oh my god, it¡¯s true! Summer, your pimples are all gone! What skincare product did you use? The results are incredible!¡± Summer was over the moon. ¡°I honestly have no idea. Sheary gave it to me and told me to put it on, so I just did.¡± Last night, there was barely any cream in that tiny bottle, and with so many pimples, Summer ended up using more than half. She thought there wouldn¡¯t be enough for another round, but to my amazement, everything cleared up overnight. Evelyn gave a thumbs¨Cup. ¡°Damn, you¡¯re making me want to transfer to your ss just to be Shermaine¡¯s ssmate!¡± Not only could she boost the others¡® grades, but she was a total all¨Crounder at everything else, too. Summerughed, ¡°No problem! Come to my ss and ride her coattails!¡± 6:35 pm Another roommate chimed in, ¡°Can you ask Shermaine what brand it is? And while you¡¯re at it, see if she knows any good products for dark circles or brightening? We¡¯re dying to buy some!¡± The others all chimed in, ¡°Absolutely!¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Summer grinned. ¡°I¡¯ll ask Sheary for you guys when shees.¡± With her skin finally clearing up, she felt so much more rxed as if half the stress from studying had just melted away. Her roommates¡® reaction was already dramatic. When Summer arrived at the ssroom, her ssmates all looked at her in shock. One of the ssmates blurted out, ¡°Holy crap! What kind of e treatment did Sheary give you yesterday? It cleared everything up overnight!¡± ¡°Wow, this is a miracle product for girls! I¡¯ve gotta get it!¡± ¡°I want some too!¡± ¡°Wonder if it¡¯s pricey?¡± A male student asked tentatively, ¡°Just wondering¡­ can guys use it too?¡± Naturally, they couldn¡¯t wait for Shermaine to arrive. Shermaine was slightly dyed by a traffic jam, but made it just in time. As she stepped into the ssroom, the whole ss turned to look at her in perfect unison and greeted her with a booming, synchronized chorus, ¡°Good morning, Sheary!¡± Shermaine fell silent. For a split second, she thought she¡¯d somehow be the gang leader of some delinquent girls. ¡°Good morning.¡± Summer beamed with excitement. ¡°Sheary, I used your e creamst night. Look, my pimples arepletely gone!¡± Shermaine nced over. Herplexion looked way better than before, and even her pores appeared refined. ¡°Quite effective,¡± she said. Summer nodded eagerly. ¡°Now everyone¡¯s dying to know where you got that product for me. They¡¯re all dying to get some.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not avable for purchase right now,¡± Shermaine said truthfully. ¡°Why?¡± the others chorused in unison. ¡°It¡¯s a product I developed myself. It¡¯s notmercially avable yet,¡± Shermaine exined calmly. The other students were speechless. ¡®Sheary is a legend!¡® they thought. Nurse walking 119 ¡°Sheary, wait, are you really starting your own business?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just a partner,¡± Shermaine said. In reality, she had developed not only an e cream, but also a spot¨Cfading cream and a whitening mask. Last night, she handed the samples to Lily, instructing her to prepare the quality inspection reports and file for product registration. After that, they could purchase a factory to manufacture and sell the products independently. Honestly, as a partner who personally developed the products, she bet there was no one in this world more impressive than her. Moreover, this e cream was bound to be a hit! There was no e product on the market that could clear up pimples overnight. If something like that ever hit the shelves, people would be lining up to buy it. Shermaine added, ¡°If you guys want, I¡¯ll give each of you aplete set when the productsunch.¡± Of course, this offer was limited to her ssmates. If students from other sses also wanted to make a purchase, they would have to buy it themselves. But the price was quite affordable. ¡°That¡¯s so awesome!¡± the ssmates eximed excitedly. ¡°Thanks, Sheary!¡± ¡°Long live Sheary!¡± After receiving the samplesst night, Lily acted swiftly. First thing in the morning, she rushed toplete the product quality inspection. By afternoon, she already had the certification in hand, and the registration was already searchable online. Sure enough, ever since she gained some fame by sticking with Shermaine at that engagement party, everything in Basterel had gone remarkably smoothly for her. She was more than happy to pull a few strings whenever the chance arose. Lily certainly didn¡¯t mind making the most of her connections. Shermaine had not only developed the products herself, but also handled all the packaging and design. She could have easily outsourced production to otherpanies. Now, the only thing left was to acquire a fully operational cosmetics factory with an established production line. Today, she toured several factories whose owners were looking to sell. By the afternoon, she finally found one that checked all her boxes¡ªthe technical staff and the factory¡¯s hygiene standards were exactly what she wanted. After reporting to Shermaine, Shermaine arranged for awyer to review the contract. Only after the confirmed the contract was sound did Lily sign it, officially acquiring the factory for one million dors. Everything was falling into ce. When the monthly exam results were released, Shermaine unsurprisingly topped the grade rankings. As she predicted, Summer¡¯s scores skyrocketed in this monthly exam. She leapt from the bottom 200s straight into the top 6:35 pm
  1. 500.
And it wasn¡¯t just her; the entire ss made quantum leaps in their performance. As for Leslie, he fell out of the top three,nding in fifth ce. Christmas came around quickly. Joshua took Shermaine to Mount les, the most famous ski resort in town, expecting at perfect date for just the two of them. But to his dismay, as soon as their car pulled into the parking lot and they stepped out, he saw Roy and Henry standing there, clearly having waited for them. As soon as Roy spotted Shermaine, he rushed over, fawning like an eager puppy. ¡°Mdy! I haven¡¯t seen you in days. I¡¯ve missed you so much it feels like an eternity!¡± he eximed with a dramatic pout. Shermaine chuckled softly. Then, Roy pulled an apple from his pocket with a grin. ¡°Mdy, this is a Christmas apple for you. May it bring you good luck! Merry Christmas!¡± Shermaine epted it. ¡°Thank you.¡± She then pulled out a piece of candy. ¡°Here¡¯s something in return.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Roy¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement. Roy took the candy and vowed to himself, ¡®No way am I ever eating this. I¡¯m keeping it as my most prized possession!¡® Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened with gloom. Henry grinned and teased, ¡°Hey, Joshua, what a surprise seeing us here, huh?¡± Joshua gave them a silent look. ¡°What are you two doing here?¡± Henry teased, ¡°We asked Bradley about your schedule today. He told us you were bringing Shermaine here to ski. Since we haven¡¯t hit the slopes in ages, we decided to tag along.¡± Joshua pressed his lips together. ¡®Well, there goes Bradley¡¯s year¨Cend bonus. He¡¯s not getting a cent,¡® Joshua thought. With things as they were, their nned date for two had unwillingly turned into a party of four. Little did Joshua expect that while Henry and Roy tagging along was bad enough, even Kingston would show up at the ski resort. Now, 2/2 Nurse walking 120 Chapter 120 Joshua became noticeably frostier around unfamiliar people, merely nodding slightly to make it clear he had no interest in further interaction. Kingston¡¯s gaze quickly settled on Shermaine. He greeted her gently, ¡°Ms. Shue, what an honor to meet you.¡± He then presented his business card. ¡°Hello,¡± Shermaine said, reaching out to take the card. It read: Kingston Wright, ck River Company. The man had striking bone structure, but his androgynous features left her feeling vaguely uneasy. Kingston continued with a polite smile, ¡°What a pleasant surprise to run into all of you. Would you mind if mypanion and I joined your group?¡± Kingston¡¯s femalepanion was delicately pretty. When she saw Joshua and the others, she looked shy and timid, a hint of excitement in her eyes. She greeted them, ¡°Hello, gentlemen. Nice to meet you, Ms. Shue.¡± Yet, her greeting drew little attention from Joshua and the others. Kingston¡¯s words were clearly directed at Shermaine. His tone was so polite and gracious that refusing would seem rude. But Shermaine didn¡¯t really care. Whether there were more people or fewer, she was just here to ski. As long as no one bothered her, it made no difference. Shermaine shrugged and said casually, ¡°Sure, join us.¡± ¡°That¡¯s wonderful,¡± Kingston said with a courteous smile. His date with Shermaine had already gone up in smoke, so with two ring third wheels already hanging around, Joshua couldn¡¯t care less if Kingston and that woman joined them too. After about fifteen minutes, Shermaine had already made her way to the ski slopes. The ski slopes were divided into beginner and advanced trails. The beginner trail was packed with skiers, while the advanced one remained rtively empty. After putting on her ski gear, Shermaine headed straight for the advanced slopes. Naturally, Joshua followed close behind without hesitation. As for Roy, despite being a pro gamer, his athletic abilities were rathercking. With little skiing experience, he had no choice but to stick to the beginner trail with an instructor. Pitifully, Roy watched as Henry followed Joshua, all heading after Shermaine¨Calong with Kingston and his date. Kingston¡¯s date demonstrated impressive skills. After putting on her ski gear, she effortlessly executed a backflip andnded steadily on the snow. Roy gave Henry the finger. ¡®If you¡¯ve got the guts, , a staff member was going over the safety guidelines. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, if your equipment acts up, stop immediately and notify a staff member. Also, while skiing, keep an 6:35 pm D & D D eye on the signs and don¡¯t cross into D Area. That area is still under development and quite dangerous.¡± No sooner had the staff finished speaking than Kingston¡¯spanion, Olivia Cohen, chimed in yfully, ¡°We¡¯re all experienced skiers here. No need to worry.¡± Then she turned to Shermaine with a grin, ¡°Don¡¯t you agree, Ms. Shue?¡± Shermaine had no attention to spare for her at that moment, as Joshua, right in front of everyone, peeled a chocte for her. ¡°You need some energy before you exercise. Eat this,¡± he said gently. The ¡°picture¨Cperfect couple¡± kept up their act of public affection anytime. With Joshua pulling this move, Shermaine had no choice but to y along. ¡°Fine.¡± Shermaine had no choice but to bite into the chocte, her lower lip identally brushing against Joshua¡¯s fingers. A fleeting, warm dampness lingered. His eyes darkened as he quietly slipped a few more chocte pieces into her pocket, so she¡¯d have something to keep her energy up when he wasn¡¯t there. Shermaine murmured around the chocte, offering the barest acknowledgment. Unfazed by Shermaine¡¯s coolness, Olivia smiled warmly, ¡°Mr. York treats you so well, Ms. Shue,¡± she said, then added with a hint of challenge, ¡°You must be quite the skier to dare the advanced trail, no?¡± ¡°Decent,¡± Shermaine said. Olivia¡¯s smile widened. ¡°How about a little race between us? Spice things up a bit, don¡¯t you think?¡± Nurse walking 121 Chapter 121 20 She continued, ¡°How about this? You and Mr. York form one team, and I¡¯ll partner with Mr. Wright. We¡¯ll have a pairs race, and the first team to reach the finish line wins.¡± Shermaine shot her a knowing nce and smiled. ¡°Since it¡¯s apetition, there should be a prize, right?¡± Olivia was taken aback and instinctively turned to Kingston. It was obvious that in their rtionship, Kingston was the one calling the shots. Kingston¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°You make a fair point. The losing team hands over the most valuable gift they¡¯ve received recently to the winners. How about it?¡± Henry raised an eyebrow. ¡°They¡¯re really going all out?¡® he wondered, ncing at Joshua, who showed no intention of stepping in. Wasn¡¯t he worried Shermaine might get screwed by Kingston? From what Henry knew, that two¨Cfaced guy was a master of dirty tricks. Spotting a golden opportunity, Shermaine grinned and licked her lips. She then looked up at Joshua. With a yful glint in her eyes, she asked, ¡°Wanna y for keeps?¡± Joshua lowered his gaze slightly. Amidst the icy mountainndscape, his eyes held a subtle warmth. He said softly, ¡°It¡¯s up to you, Sheary.¡± For the first time, Joshua called her ¡°Sheary.¡± His voice was irresistibly pleasant and maic. For such an unattainable man, there was actually a note of tender affection in his tone. It felt a bit strange hearing Joshua call her ¡°Sheary,¡± but she had to admit that it sounded unexpectedly sweet. ¡°Then it¡¯s my call.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± said Joshua. Shermaine curled her lips into a pleased smile, turned to Kingston, and asked yfully, ¡°If our most valuable gifts aren¡¯t of equal value, how would you handle it?¡± Kingston said casually, ¡°Then we¡¯ll make up the difference in cash.¡± Shermaine nodded, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. ¡°Not a bad idea. Why don¡¯t you start us off, Mr. Wright? Tell us, what¡¯s the most valuable gift you¡¯ve received recently?¡± Kingston had never seen Joshua indulge any woman like this. Shermaine was the first. Anyone with eyes could tell he was into her. ¡®Unbelievable,¡® Kingston thought. ¡®How could the aloof and restrained Joshua York lower his standards and be infatuated with just one woman?¡® Shermaine was nothing but a pretty face. What made her so special that Joshua treated her differently? Kingston subtly clenched his fist and said, ¡°Recently, my father gifted me a luxury mansion worth over 1.5 billion dors.¡± With that, Henry pped and teased, ¡°Such generosity, Mr. Wright. Not afraid to lose it all, are you?¡± He recalled that solo match the other night, when Shermaine utterly dominated Roy, the world¡¯s best jungler. 6:35 pm 20 Now, he couldn¡¯t wait to see Shermaine work her magic and win that mansion just so this arrogant Kingston could finally see what a real pro looks like. Kingston retorted with a smirk, ¡°You gotta give to get, right?¡± Now, Shermaine was determined to win that luxurious mansion. She narrowed her eyes and said, ¡°Just recently, Joshua gifted me a supercar worth more than 600 million dors.¡± Henry teased, ¡°Come on, Mr. York. Only 600 million? That¡¯s a bit tightfisted, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°True, I was being thoughtless,¡± Joshua replied calmly. For someone of his status, that car was indeed unworthy. If he had known earlier, he would have prepared something far more fitting for Shermaine. He resolved to make it up to her with something truly exceptional for her birthday next year. ¡°Henry was just teasing. Why take it so seriously?¡± To Shermaine, given their rtionship at the time, Joshua¡¯s supercar was already incredibly generous. She didn¡¯t have enough money to buy him a simr gift yet. But she would soon. ¡°Because I want to give you something even better,¡® Joshua thought, his gaze burning as it lingered on Shermaine. He paused, then ultimately held back the words. Kingston interjected calmly, ¡°Well, if we win, Ms. Shue, you¡¯ll have to make up the one billion difference. But if you win, my mansion will be yours.¡± Shermaine nodded with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ve got it on record as proof,¡± she said, just in case Kingston tried to renege. ¡°Any official rules?¡± Kingston announced, ¡°Both teammates must cross the finish line for the team to win.¡± Shermaine pressed, ¡°Anything else?¡± Kingston shrugged. ¡°y it however you want.¡± Henry volunteered. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll be the referee. We start in five minutes.¡± Nurse walking 122 Chapter 122 Shermaine obtained a map of the advanced trail from the staff. The trail itself wasn¡¯t particrly difficult, but it clearly marked four entrances to D Area, each bearing bright red warning signs. Under no circumstances should anyone cross over because once inside, it would be extremely difficult to return to the main course, with numerous steep slopes making it especially prone to getting lost. They said there was once a college girl who, though an experienced skier, stormed into D Area after a fight with her boyfriend, just to see if he cared enough to follow her. But to her surprise, as soon as he saw it was D Area, he refused to go in. She ended up lost, and without any location info, by the time the rescue team finally found her, she was nearly frozen to death. Luckily, they got to her just in time. Now that D Area had been partially developed, as long as you stayed close to the marked paths, you could generally find your way back by following the signs. Shermaine listened quietly, absently scrolling through her phone, her gaze distant as if lost in thought. Olivia was warming up. With a confident smile, she said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Wright. I¡¯ll fully cooperate to help you win.¡± After all, if they really pulled it off, she¡¯d get a handsome cut too, which was exactly why Kingston had brought her in. Kingston remained calm. What he really wanted was to make Shermaine suffer. ¡®If not for all these witnesses,¡® he thought darkly, I¡¯d make sure she never gets out of this ce alive! Five minutes passed in a sh. Standing beside the starting line, Henry watched as everyone took their positions. With a sharp whistle, he shouted, ¡°Go!¡± On the beginner¡¯s trail, Roy¡¯s clumsy movements left him iling. He couldn¡¯t even get his legs to cooperate before tumbling face¨Cfirst into the snow. Sitting there with a mouthful of snow, he became the target of mercilessughter from a group of kids. One of the kids burst outughing. ¡°Haha, this guy is so dumb!¡± ¡°He¡¯s ridiculous!¡± ¡°Hey mister, howe you¡¯re even worse than us?¡± ¡°Hey, want us to show you how it¡¯s done?¡± Roy¡¯s face darkened. He thought miserably, ¡®I don¡¯t want to learn to ski anymore. I just wanna go home!¡± Thus, he missed the thrilling action unfolding on the advanced trail. When it came to explosive starts, Kingston was no match for Joshua. Yet he clung stubbornly to Joshua¡¯s heels, refusing to be shaken off. Shermaine glided forward with effortless ease, while Olivia clung stubbornly to her side like a shadow. Acting as referee, Henry couldn¡¯t resist capturing this thrilling match on his phone. That poor Roy shouldn¡¯t miss out on this,¡® he thought, already nning to show him the footageter. Olivia seemed to be a pretty good skier; her skills were clearly well¨Choned. But Shermaine stayed effortlesslyposed, casually brushing off Olivia¡¯s intentional or unintentional provocations. 5:36 pm DD In fact, Shermaine was up against not one, but two opponents. First, she had to shake off Olivia, that clingy shadow, and then face Kingston, a formidable obstacle in her path. No one knew how Shermaine nned to ditch that persistent tail, overtake Kingston, and switch from defense to offense, teaming up with Joshua to win the race together. But she wasn¡¯t worried. With Joshua on her team, there was no way anything would go wrong. She was just worried those two might try some dirty tricks. A few minutes into the race, Shermaine picked up speed. Olivia, noticing this, immediately elerated to keep up, refusing to be left behind. Shermaine was no naive little girl. From the outset, she sensed Kingston¡¯s veiled hostility toward her, though she couldn¡¯t quite tell where it came from. One thing she knew for sure: thispetition won¡¯t be a walk in the park. As they passed the first D Area sign, Olivia shot it a quick nce but made no move. She was biding her time. At the second entrance to DArea, Olivia abruptly cut in front of Shermaine and deliberately slowed down, recklessly disregarding her own safety as if daring them to collide. She was betting that most people would instinctively swerve to avoid her. But Shermaine didn¡¯t flinch. Executing a perfect mid¨Cair spin, shended with wless control, her skis biting into the snow as she glided smoothly right in front of Olivia. Then, Shermaine nced back at her, giving her an icy, dismissive look. Olivia ened. ¡®No way I¡¯m giving up,¡® she thought stubbornly, then immediately picked up speed and raced after a close eye on Shermaine behind him. That move she just pulled was downright badass. If anyone d be screaming. clearly. That woman was actually trying to force Shermaine into D Area. No wonder the only rule was that nmates had to finish together. With so few restrictions, it was all too easy for them to pull off some dirty tricks. The wind howled as they neared the third entrance to D Area. Olivia pulled the same trick again, this time pressing in so close shepletely boxed in all of Shermaine¡¯s maneuvering space. To her surprise, it worked. Left with no choice, Shermaine made a sharp turn and slid straight into D Area. Nurse walking 123 Chapter 123 Up ahead, Joshua saw Shermaine enter D Area. His gaze instantly turned icy as he shot a piercingly cold nce at Olivia, a look so chilling it cut deeper than the freezing air. Meanwhile, Olivia was feeling smug. ¡®Finally got Shermaine into D Area,¡¯ she thought. ¡®Whatever happens to her there isn¡¯t my concern¨Cthe only rule here is that there are no rules. If anyone tries toe after meter, Kingston will definitely cover for me. And honestly, if I get a share, it¡¯s totally worth it. Entering D Area, Shermaine slowed her pace and scanned the area¨Cjust barren, snow¨Ccovered mountains and steep slopes. There was no trace of the signposts the staff had mentioned. It didn¡¯t really matter whether there were signposts or not. But the signal here was spotty, which shouldn¡¯t be the case. That could only mean someone¡¯s tampered with thework in this area. But no matter. She¡¯d already mapped out the route through D Area to the finish line before setting off, and her navigation system had analyzed the terrain and would guide her every step of the way. She¡¯d dly pocket Kingston¡¯s with a smile. With that, she stowed her phone and, without hesitation, attacked the first steep slope. Soaring into the air, she pulled off a wless mid¨Cair flip beforending and gliding forward. The whole journey from start to finish would take just over thirty minutes. With about ten minutes left before the finish line, Shermaine still showed no sign of emerging from D Area. As Joshua passed the fourth entrance to D Area, he abruptly turned and entered. Kingston sensed iting and tried to intervene, but with his limited skills, he was no match for the unfathomably powerful Joshua. All he could do was watch helplessly as Joshua disappeared into D Area. Leaning heavily on his ski poles, Kingston watched as Joshua¡¯s retreating figure disappeared, his eyes dark with malice. He could have stopped Joshua just now. All this time, Henry, trailing behind, couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that the way Kingston looked at Joshua was a little¡­ off. How to put it? It was almost like there was this weird love¨Chate thing going on. Henry hadn¡¯t been sure before, but now it all made sense. He clicked his tongue. Joshua really was the type who turned heads regardless of gender. Henry thought to himself, ¡®Seriously, just look at yourself. Joshua is way out of your league. You really have no business even thinking about it, right? And as for going after Shermaine, that¡¯s just crossing the line. From what he saw just now, Shermaine went into D Area voluntarily, not because she was forced. So, she should be just fine. But Shermaine was Joshua¡¯s sweetheart. He¡¯d love to cherish her, but never really got the chance. Now she had gone into a dangerous area, so of course he¡¯d worried sick. The real question was could he actually find her and bring her back safely. If Shermaine came back but Joshua doesn¡¯t, wouldn¡¯t that just give Kingston exactly what he wanted? Meanwhile, Shermaine was having the time of her life in D Area. She figured she¡¯d reach the finish line about three minutes ahead of the others, perfect timing to wait for Joshua and cross the line together. Just as she was pondering during another mid¨Cair descent, she spotted a tall, straight figure below. It was Joshua. Unbelievable. With D Area being this vast, Joshua still managed to track her down. She glided to a stop in front of him. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± she asked, surprised. 1/2 6:36 pm D 20 ¡°I¡¯m worried about you,¡± Joshua said. ¡°I came prepared,¡± Shermaine replied. She remembered giving Joshua a meaningful look before entering D Area; surely he¡¯d picked up on the signal. Joshua nodded. ¡°I know,¡± he said, gently brushing the snow off her. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go im your prize.¡± Nurse walking 124 Chapter 124 20 Kingston and Olivia were about to cross the finish line. Henry clenched his jaw. ¡®No way I¡¯m letting them win, he thought. If worstes to worst, I¡¯ll take out Olivia and make sure she never gets back up.¡¯ Anyway, in his eyes, there was no difference between men and women. Just as Henry was about to put away his phone and take action, the camera caught Shermaineunching off her board mid- air. ¡®Holy shit, that¡¯s badass!¡® he thought. Even though her face was just a blurry outline, her move was downright epic and totally blew him away. Right after Shermaine emerged, Joshua followed close behind. The two of them pulled off sick aerial tricks one after another. Henry whistled in admiration at their return. Bothnded with wless precision¨Cevery movement crisp and efficient, not a single wasted motion. Overtaking Kingston and his team sealed the deal. That prize was now guaranteed. The moment Olivia saw Shermaine, she saw her share sprout wings and flew right past her. But wasn¡¯t D Area supposed to be a total maze? So howe they were not lost? And now they were even way ahead of her team! Besides, weren¡¯t they supposed to jam the signal in D Area? Even with GPS on, it shouldn¡¯t have worked. Kingston totally screwed her over. Not only did she lose a lot of money, but now she had pissed off both the York and Jean families. Olivia cursed inwardly, ¡®Damn it!¡® Her face darkened with frustration. Suddenly, a wave of snowkes came rushing at her, forcing her to brake sharply. As for Kingston, who was ahead of her, he had no way to dodge. Snow sted his face, and without goggles, it got right into his eyes. Blinded, he lost his bnce and crashed straight into her. In the next instant, the two of them wiped out, tumbling down the slope together in a chaotic heap. They rolled all the way down before finallying to a stop. Olivia ended up sprawled right on top of Kingston. Despite the thick snow, it still hurt like hell. Kingston had it worse. After all, she had way more experience on the slopes than he did. He mmed into the ground, his protective helmeting off as he rolled. It must have hit something sharp. The cracked shell nowy beside him, and his blood seeped into the pristine snow, staining it a vivid crimson. Meanwhile, hand in hand, Joshua and Shermaine soared past the finish line before gliding to a halt. Shermaine saw the two of them wipe out. It looked pretty bad. She turned to Joshua, never expecting him to be so vengeful. 6:36 pm That wave of snow that sshed up and sent them tumbling was all his doing. She had to admit, his fiercely protective streak made her feel warm inside. Henry had seen thising. In his experience, the more refined and gentle a man looked, the more of a real devil in disguise he was. Joshua was the textbook example of that type. One could never imagine just how ruthless he could be when dealing with his enemies. Olivia got to her feet and said with resignation, ¡°Mr. Wright, we lost.¡± Blood dripping into his eyes, Kingston shoved Olivia away, his expression dark. ¡°Cut the crap. I know already.¡± Seeing his dark expression, Olivia wisely stepped aside, not wanting to provoke him further. Staff quickly rushed over to check on Kingston¡¯s condition. Luckily, it wasn¡¯t anything too serious, so they stopped the bleeding first and sent him to the hospital to check for a concussion. At worst, it was just a mild one, and a couple days¡® rest should do the trick. Though he did dislocate one arm in the fall, a doctor could easily pop it back into ce. Joshua, still d in his ski boots, walked slowly up to Kingston. With a smooth tone, he said, ¡°Sorry, I just wanted to show off some moves for Sheary; didn¡¯t mean to take you both out by ident. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll cover your medical bills.¡± Kingston¡¯s medical bills were nothing. First things first, he had to cough up that five billion Shermaine stepped forward, standing demurely beside Joshua, a stark contrast to her carefree grace on the slopes just moments before. She smiled sweetly and said, ¡°Mr. Wright, I don¡¯t really need the mansion. Just wire the money to my ount.¡± Then she added, ¡°A check works too.¡± Nurse walking 125 Chapter 125 Henry figured Shermaine¡¯s words must have made Kingston see red. Unwilling to be outdone, Kingston immediately summoned his assistant for a check. With his uninjured right hand, he wrote out a check, signed it, and handed it to Shermaine. ¡°A bet¡¯s a bet. I won¡¯t welsh on this debt,¡± he said. Shermaine took the check, her eyes crinkling with delight. She said to Kingston, ¡°If you ever feel like gambling again, I¡¯m game anytime.¡± Kingston¡¯s lips twitched with suppressed anger. He shot Joshua a nce, words on the tip of his tongue, but in the end, he turned on his heel and walked away without saying a word. Henry watched the scene. At least Kingston knew when to quit and save his dignity. Once the two of them limped off, the ce finally felt peaceful again. Shermaine knew this prize belonged to both of them. She said generously, ¡°Let¡¯s split it fifty¨Cfifty.¡± Joshua refused, ¡°I don¡¯t need the money. Keep it.¡± ¡°We won this together. How could I possibly take it all for myself?¡± she asked. Joshua insisted, ¡°I¡¯m the one refusing it.¡± Half of the prize was not exactly small change, but not a fortune either. Still, Joshua turned it down. Anyway, he nevercked for anything. Shermaine pressed her lips. ¡°Fine. If you ever change your mind, just let me know. I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± Joshua thought she¡¯d at least ask if there was something he wanted. He asked teasingly, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask me what I want?¡± At that, Shermaine arched a brow. ¡°You actually want something?¡± Not something, actually. It was someone. ¡°Not at the moment,¡± Joshua spoke after thinking for a while. ¡°But if somethinges to mind¡­ May I im it from you?¡± It seemed like a pretty sweet deal. Without a second thought, Shermaine said, ¡°Deal.¡± Joshua smiled knowingly. Henry silently watched the lovebirds. Then, he spotted Roy inching over from another area. Roy was moving at a cial pace on his skis, with an instructor hovering nervously behind him, clearly terrified this klutz might wipe out and end up brain¨Cdamaged. Roy, thrilled to be almost at Shermaine¡¯s side. He waved his ski poles excitedly and called out, ¡°Mdy, I¡¯ming!¡± Before the instructor could catch him, Roy had already tumbled right to Shermaine¡¯s feet. Roy had gotten so used to falling that he barely noticed. Spitting out the snow, he looked up and called out cheerfully, ¡°Mdy! Joshua! Henry! I made it!¡± He scrambled to his feet, beaming with pride. ¡°I did it. I finally learned how to ski!¡± Henry mocked mercilessly, ¡°Why so slow? You totally missed the show.¡± Roy asked, ¡°Huh? What show?¡± Henry grinned, ¡°You missed it just five minutes ago, Sheary and Joshua teamed up for a ski race and won a lot of money from Kinguon Koy was furious. ¡°Why the hell didn¡¯t you tell me? If he¡¯d known, he could¡¯vee to watch the fun and seen Mdy¡¯s barless moves. ¡°Didn¡¯t I do you a favor by letting you focus on skiing Henry said with a grin Roy retorted, ¡°Can¡¯t I watch it first and then learn skiing? Henry shruzzed, stopped teasing him, and tossed his phone over, ¡°See? I got the whole thing on video. Take a look¡± he said. ¡°Alright, you¡¯re actually kinda cool, Henry Roy brightened up. Roy grabbed Henry¡¯s phone and started watching the video. He had to admit that Shermaine looked absolutely badass on skis When he saw her nail that mid¨Cairnding, he got all fired up and shouted, ¡°Mdy, I wanna be just like you! That move was insane. I gotta learn it!¡± ¡°Master the basics first, Shermaine said with a smile. Til teach you when you¡¯re ready?¡± ¡°Got it, Mdy Joshua cast him a brief nce before smoothly changing the subject. ¡°How about we check out the summit? The view up there is breathtaking today? Let¡¯s go Shermaine nodded. Just as Roy was about to follow along like an eager puppy, Joshua preemptively instructed, ¡°Henry, you stay here and teach him how to ski ¡°Got it, Henry said, deciding to y along, Roy was speechless. What he needed right now wasn¡¯t Henry¡¯s ski lesson. The sun zed over the snow¨Ccapped mountains. Joshua knew that Shermaine wanted to take the cable car up to mid¨Cmountain. Using their VIP ess, they bypassed the queue and boarded straight away. The air was thin at this altitude, but it posed no problem for Shermaine and Joshua. They didn¡¯t need any extra oxygen. The snowyndscape was breathtaking, and a crisp winter breeze swept through. Under the sun, the chill felt refreshing rather than cold. The mid¨Cmountain area was packed with crowds, most snapping photos. Shermaine bought two bottles of mineral water from a small kiosk. When she snapped back to reality, she saw Joshua standing nearby, encircled by several women who seemed fascinated but were too intimidated to get any closer. Joshua could read their intentions from their expressions, yet he remained calm and utterly indifferent. Sensing her gaze, he looked up, his eyes meeting hers for a moment before he strode purposefully toward her. His gaze held hers, hypnotic and with dangerous allure. Noticing Shermaine holding two water bottles, Joshua casually took one from her, twisted the cap open, then exchanged it for the other. ncing at her, he remarked, ¡°Your hat¡¯s crooked.¡± 6:36 pm DDD Before Shermaine could react, Joshua leaned in and gently straightened her hat. If Joshua hadn¡¯t made it clear he¡¯d never fall for her, she¡¯d almost think he was into her. Nurse walking 126 Chapter 126 Her radiant beauty made Joshua¡¯s fingers linger as he adjusted her hat. He could barely resist the overwhelming urge to pull her into his arms and steal a kiss. Words once spoken came with consequences. Some of his recent actions had clearly crossed the line, but Shermaine remained oblivious. Even now, she still believed his kindness had nothing to do with romantic feelings whatsoever. Joshua knew he couldn¡¯t rush into anything. Taking things slow was the right choice. But he still grew impatient, especially when Shermaine failed to pick up on his hints. In those moments, he just wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her, to confess his feelings right then and there. But Joshua wasn¡¯t sure. If he really went through with it, would Shermaine be repulsed? Would she end up hating him for it? With these worries in mind, he held back from making any bolder moves. If Joshua ever caught even the slightest hint of Shermaine¡¯s affection, he¡¯d probably let his true nature take over. Nearby, a young couple was all lovey¨Cdovey. ¡°Babe, this photo came out so nice! Let¡¯s set it as our wallpaper.¡± ¡°Sure, whatever you say.¡± ¡°Babe, hand me your phone.¡± The man handed her his phone with a grin. ¡°Go ahead and set the wallpaper so everyone who sees my phone will know you¡¯re my babe.¡± Joshua¡¯s brows knitted together as he overheard the couple¡¯s overly sweet conversation. He could barely stand to listen any longer. ¡°Why were they acting so disgustingly mushy?¡® Joshua thought to himself. Just then, Shermaine¡¯s phone rang. It was her brother, Ross. She gave Joshua a quick nod, then stepped away to a more secluded spot to take the call. ¡°Are you having fun skiing?¡± ¡°Not bad,¡± Shermaine chuckled. ¡°And I made nearly two billion while I was at it.¡± Ross was shocked. Shermaine actually made money while having fun? He eximed, ¡°That much? Where on earth did you make that?¡± Shermaine briefly filled her brother in on what had happened. Back in the office, Ross flipped through some files and replied, ¡°Kingston Wright? I was actually ssmates with him in high school. If I remember right, he might be gay. If he¡¯s targeting you today, it¡¯s probably because of Joshua.¡± That was quite a lot to take in. Honestly, she didn¡¯t catch Kingston¡¯s ulterior motives, but his hostility was unmistakable. 1/2 6:36 pm D 8 ¡°I used to brush it off when others mentioned it, but after hearing you say it, it¡¯s probably true,¡± Ross continued. ¡°Kingston is pretty scheming. If he tries to get close to you, stay alert and don¡¯t fall into his trap.¡± Shermaine filled Ross in on what happened next. ¡°Joshua gave him a proper beating. He¡¯s in the hospital now.¡± Hearing that, Ross finally nodded in satisfaction. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but find Joshua a bit oddtely. Joshua had originally invested hundreds of millions in Jameson, but now he¡¯d redirected the entire sum to Ross instead. Ross wondered what Joshua was really up to. Then, Ross said, ¡°That¡¯s good. I called to wish you a Merry Christmas. I¡¯ve been swampedtely and couldn¡¯t spend time with you. If you get some free time, try to visit Grandma more often, okay?¡± Shermaine wasn¡¯t very busy at the moment, so she replied, ¡°Okay.¡± After wishing Ross a Merry Christmas, she hung up. Then the two climbed from midway up to the summit. Despite the thinning air, they remainedpletely unfazed, not even breaking a sweat, while the couple who¡¯d made the climb with them were left with jelly legs, gasping for air, unable to take another step. The girl nced at Joshua, then turned to her boyfriend with a teasing smile and said, ¡°Babe, now I finally get why you neverst long between the sheets.¡± Joshua was stunned. The guy¡¯s face flushed as he instantly caught on. ¡®Seriously? In public? Keep it down! I¡¯ve got some dignity to maintain!¡® he thought, flustered. The girl pointed at Joshua and teased her boyfriend, ¡°You have no stamina. Look at that guy. He¡¯s not just handsome, but even though he looks older than you, he reached the summit without even getting winded.¡± The guy shot back, ¡°You¡¯re one to talk! Look at his girlfriend! Not only is she gorgeous, but she¡¯s in amazing shape. Didn¡¯t even break a sweat!¡± Joshua and Shermaine were speechless. Nurse walking 127 The sun was already dipping low when they care down the mountain. The restaurant at the foot of the snow¨Ccovered ridge was full of Christmas charm, and the food was surprisingly good. The couple¡¯s conversation hadn¡¯t seemed to affect Shermaine much, and apparently, the same went for Joshua, After dinner, the day¡¯s skiing trip officially came to an end. As the year wound down, everyone got busier. Ross, naturally, had his hands full, and Joshua, who ran an entire corporate empire, was swamped too. Right after Christmas, he left for a business trip to Granatano that wouldst about a week. With Joshua away, Bradley took over Shermaine¡¯s school run. She hadn¡¯t expected him to leave such a capable right¨Chand man behind just to be her driver. It seemed like a waste of talent to her. Time moved quickly. Before long, January arrived. On New Year¡¯s Day, Shermaine once again returned to the Jean residence after school. With Joshua away on his business trip, Shermaine would head straight back here every day. Jameson often imed he was busy with year¨Cend business, leaving early and returningte. Sometimes, he didn¡¯t evene back at all. Janice had long suspected he was back in touch with Natalie. In her room, holding the phone, she snapped, ¡°Jameson, it¡¯s New Year¡¯s Day. A holiday. A time for family. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re too busy with work. Busy doing what, flirting with Natalie all day? ¡°You do realize you¡¯re still married to Ruth. What you¡¯re doing right now is cheating. You think the heavens won¡¯t punish you for this?¡± Jameson didn¡¯t care for lectures. ¡°Mom, if that were true, I should¡¯ve been struck down fourteen years ago.¡± His tone softened. ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of Ruth. I n to divorce her. And Jason¨Che¡¯s innocent. He¡¯s already neen and needs toe home.¡± ¡°Ridiculous,¡± Janice snapped. ¡°I made it clear when he was born. Our family will never ept him. I won¡¯t change my mind, and don¡¯t you even think about bringing him into this household. You will be home on time tonight. That¡¯s final.¡± Janice hung up, furious. She had no idea what Natalie had done to keep Jameson hung up on her for so many years. And now, he even wanted to bring that bastard son home? What a disgrace. To think he had already run wild before even divorcing Ruth! If he really went through with it, wouldn¡¯t he just bring that homewrecker Natalie straight into their house? Though dissatisfied with Ruth¡¯s current state, Janice¡¯s sole objective was to reim the 15% ofpany shares under Ruth¡¯s control. Once recovered, she intended to divide them evenly between Ross and Shermaine. As for Ruth, sure, she¡¯d been a handful before, but as long as she kept to herself from now on, Janice could let bygones be bygones. Lately, Ruth had been bending over backward to please Shermaine, trying every trick she could think of. But Shermaine clearly had no interest in humoring her. She acted like Ruth didn¡¯t even exist, letting her perform her little solo act for an. invisible audience. Janice thought she deserved every bit of that cold shoulder. She¡¯s got some nerve, Janice thought. When Shermaine first came home, she didn¡¯t care a bit, always siding with Wendelyn 173 always criticizing. Now she wants to crawl back? Toote!¡¯ 20 After Janice hung up on him, Jameson darkened with anger. What bothered him most was how Janice rejected Jason without ever meeting him. Jason was a good kid. She just didn¡¯t know it yet. If Janice gave him a chance, she mighte to like him the way she liked Shermaine. He was willing to bet on it. Once Janice got to know Jason, she would gradually warm up to him and ept him. Meanwhile, in the living room. Bradley sat on the sofa and said, ¡°Shermaine, just give me a little more time to track down Freya and Zack.¡± Now that they were on familiar terms, he addressed her by her first name. There was still no trace of Zack or Freya. It was as if they had vanished off the face of the earth. In this digital age, where everything left a footprint, he couldn¡¯t find even the slightest clue about them. As she poured him some water, Shermaine replied, ¡°No rush.¡± m we found in Wendelyn¡¯s body¡­ we¡¯ve traced its origin. The thing is, it¡¯s a bit of a mess,¡± Bradley said, his ning serious. d raft hadrgely fallen out of public belief with the rise of modern science, but the practice still existed, and it was nough that you didn¡¯t want to scoff at it. Not unless you wanted to test fate. Had Shermaine not discovered that poisonous worm, they would¡¯ve all believed Wendelynmitted suicide. Bianca had a reputation for strict professional ethics. She never revealed her clients¡® identities. Bradley managed to trace the worm¡¯s origin, but had no way of knowing who had bought it and used it on Wendelyn. The agents he sent to Xenhall fell violently ill after their encounter with her, vomiting until they nearly passed out. It wasn¡¯t until they sought help from Mysonnian doctors and took their local medicine that their lives were saved. Bradley had nned to send one of those doctors to meet Bianca, but the moment her name was mentioned, they all refused. It didn¡¯t matter how much money was offered. To them, Bianca was both feared and revered. After exining it all, Bradley added, ¡°Bianca is probably the most feared sorceress in Mysonna. She¡¯s temperamental too. If she doesn¡¯t want to talk, there¡¯s no way we¡¯ll find out who ordered that worm.¡± And it wasn¡¯t just Bianca¡¯s silence. Xenhall was remote and disconnected. There were no cameras or tracking. It was a ck hole. Shermaine said, ¡°Given what you¡¯ve said, it seems ordinary people probably can¡¯t get close to Bianca. My winter break starts in about two weeks. I¡¯ll go there myself then.¡± Bradley shook his head firmly. ¡°Absolutely not. It¡¯s far too dangerous there.¡± Shermaine smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve been to far more dangerous ces. Besides, I¡¯m actually quite interested in their skills, so I¡¯d like to learn more about them.¡± Bradley couldn¡¯t make this decision himself. ¡°How about you discuss it with Mr. York?¡± he suggested. She hadn¡¯t been texting much with Joshuately. Still, every night, he sent her a goodnight message. She always replied, but that was it. There was no small talk or follow¨Cups. 6:36 pm Shermaine was never one for idle chatter¨Cand as for Joshua, well, she suspected he was even less inclined. The messaging apps were nothing more than digital decorations. ¡°When is heing back?¡± Shermaine asked. Bradley had been about to give her a date, but remembered the ski trip incident¨Chow he identally let it slip to Henry and Roy, and got half his bonus docked. So he pivoted. ¡°Haven¡¯t gotten the update yet. Maybe you can give him a call when you have time?¡± Shermaine nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± With that, Bradley took his leave. At seven sharp, Ross arrived home. The dishes were alreadyid out on the table, with Janice and Shermaine seated. A momentter, Ruth came downstairs and quietly joined them at the table. Ross hung up his coat and, noticing Jameson wasn¡¯t there, asked, ¡°Dad isn¡¯ting home for dinner tonight, is he?¡± Janice scoffed, ¡°He wouldn¡¯t dare stay away.¡± She was debating whether to call Jameson again when the housemaid came upstairs to announce his return¨Cthough her expression looked distinctly uneasy. 20 Jameson walked in with Jason, who was still in his uniform. Holding his hand, Jameson gently guided him toward the dining room. ¡°Jason,¡± he said softly, ¡°say hello to your grandma.¡± 3/3 Nurse walking 128 Janice could never have imagined Jameson would actually bring his bastard son home, and that kid even had the nerve to call her ¡°Grandma.¡± 20 Jason heard Jameson clearly. He could see the contempt in Janice¡¯s eyes, in and sharp. If she didn¡¯t hate him, he wouldn¡¯t have spent his whole life wearing thebel of ¡°bastard.¡± But biologically, she was his grandmother. So he lowered his head and said quietly, ¡°Hello, Grandma. I¡¯m Jason.¡± That was all he said. Janice ignored himpletely. She had been the first to discover Jameson¡¯s affair. Ruth had been pregnant with Shermaine back then. Jameson was supposed to take her to her prenatal checkup, but imed something urgent hade up. In the end, Janice went with Ruth. And just as they left the hospital, Jameson arrived with his mistress, escorting her to her own prenatal exam. As a mother, Janice had done it all¨Cyelled, scolded, lectured, and cried. She even confronted Natalie and handed her a wad of cash, telling her to get rid of the child. Natalie took the money, but didn¡¯t get rid of her baby. Instead, she vanished overseas and gave birth to him. Janice had known she nned to leave the country. If she had been a little more ruthless back then and dragged Natalie to a clinic herself, maybe none of this would be happening now. But she hesitated. After all, Natalie was a woman too. It was Jameson who made the mistake. Why should Natalie carry the full burden? That one hesitation turned into years of regret. Natalie had returned to Basterel multiple times with the child, meeting Jameson in secret. When Shermaine was five, she was kidnapped, a tragedy born of Jameson¡¯s carelessness and tant favoritism toward his illegitimate son. That one moment had cost them more than a decade. So how could Janice possibly ept Jason now? If Jason were really so well¨Cbehaved, why had he thrown a tantrum at the amusement park? Why had he shed with Shermaine? Kids might be just kids, but how they were raised made all the difference. Luckily, Janice hadn¡¯tshed out yet. But Ruth did. Face dark with fury, she exploded like a wildcat. ¡°Jameson, am I dead to you? You bring this bastard into our home right under my nose?¡± Jameson had anticipated her outburst. With a calm expression, he said, ¡°Jason is my son. What¡¯s wrong with me bringing him home?¡± Ruth¡¯s tone turned vicious. ¡°A bastard son, and you think that¡¯s something to unt? Wait till I go public. Let¡¯s see if all the respect you¡¯ve built over the years goes up in smoke.¡± Jameson didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°Co ahead. Say what you want. I¡¯m bringing Jason home no matter what. And soon, I¡¯ll hold a party to formally acknowledge him. Everyone in Basterel will know he¡¯s my son, a part of our family.¡± ¡®Oh, yes, Ruth scoffed. ¡°And he¡¯s two months older than Shermaine. Unbelievable. 6:36 pm ¡°Jameson, I doubt any other cheating man in Basterel has your level of shamelessness, bringing home a bastard and parading him around like some kind of prize. We may still have pride, even if you don¡¯t She sneered. ¡°A party? What a joke¡± Jameson hadn¡¯t nned to lose his temper, but Ruth¡¯s taunts were too much. His face turned red, ¡°Bottom line is: I¡¯m bringing Jason home. Laugh all you want. I made mistakes, and I¡¯ll take responsibility. Put as for you, let¡¯s see how much longer I can tolerate you¡± Ruth sneered, ¡°nning to divorce me? Keep dreaming¡± The argument was heating up. Janice felt a headacheing on. It was clear now just how determined Jameson was to acknowledge Jason. But had he ever tried to think about how Ross and Shermaine might feel? Especially Shermaine, who had juste home. Beside them, Shermaine eyed the spread of disifes and soup, her stomach growling, Before Jameson could continue, she said evenly, ¡°Grandma, may I start?¡± Janice replied, ¡°Go ahead. No need to wait for others.¡± She picked up a spoon and served Shermaine a chicken drumstick. ¡°Eat more. You¡¯re too thin,¡± she added. Shermaine sipped her soup and nodded with a smile. Ross followed Shermaine¡¯s lead and dug into the meal. After a whole day of business meetings, he was absolutely starving In fact, the siblings had long anticipated that Jameson would bring Jason back. They just didn¡¯t expect it to happen this soon. With Ruth having thrown such a fr, Jameson figured it wasn¡¯t the right time to introduce Jason to Ross and Shermaine. Instead, he told the housekeeper, ¡°Bring another set of cutlery,¡± The housekeeper nced at Janice, and seeing no objection, headed to the kitchen. Janice kept a nk expression. ¡°Whatever needs to be said, wait until after dinner,¡± Jason was just another stranger at their table tonight. 2/2 Nurse walking 129 Chapter 129 Throughout the meal, Jason ate quietly, eating only a little. Jameson kept piling food on his te with obvious eagerness. Watching this, Ross couldn¡¯t help but frown. In his memory, Jameson had never been a decent father. When Ross was young, Jameson hardly ever joined them for meals, Their mother, gentle and gracious, had always made excuses for him. And what did that get her? Betrayal for the rest of her life. Now he had the audacity to bring his illegitimate son back and put on some ridiculous show of fatherly affection? It was pathetic. Then, Shermaine reached over and ced a piece of rib on his te. ¡°Here, it¡¯s yours.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± A smile tugged at the corners of Ross¡® lips. ¡°My little sister is absolutely adorable, he thought. Then Ross also ced a piece of fish on Shermaine¡¯s te. Janice watched the exchange, her heart softening at the sight. ¡®See? These two are so thoughtful. Unlike Jameson¡­ a grown man still causing so much mess. What a curse. ¡°Try this one, Shermaine. It¡¯s really good¡­¡± Jameson said, deliberately picking up a meatball for her. Shermaine moved her te away, and the meatball fell onto the table. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not used to people putting food on my te.¡± Jameson became grim. His attempt to mend things with his daughter had backfired before it even began. How could any father enjoy a daughter like this? She showed zero respect to him. Dinner wrapped up around eight. Shermaine headed upstairs, nning to call Joshua and ask when he wasing back. But before she could shut her door, Ruth followed her up. Ruth called softly, ¡°Sheary.¡± Shermaine turned to look at the woman who shared her mother¡¯s exact face. ¡°What is it? Ruth said in a hushed tone, ¡°Sheary, you mustn¡¯t let Jason into this family. If that bastard steps through our door, that would be disastrous. You need to think of your brother.¡± Shermaine sized her up with a faint, mocking smile. ¡°Are you saying this for my brother¡¯s sake, or for your own?¡± Ruth¡¯s gaze faltered. Truthfully, she was afraid Jason would pose a threat. If Jameson was already this bold, how long before he tried to bring Natalie in too? ¡°Of course, it¡¯s for your brother.¡± ¡°Then you really don¡¯t have to worry. My brother doesn¡¯t see Jason as a threat at all. But you, Mrs. Jean, you might want to start watching your step. So Shermaine didn¡¯t n to intervene? Shermaine looked at her, then spoke in a measured tone, ¡°Come to think of it, I recently recalled some childhood memories. The way you are now ispletely different from what I remember. It actually makes me wonder if you¡¯re really 6:36 pm DD my mother.¡± Ruth¡¯s fingers trembled slightly as her hand dropped, her heart skipping a beat. Still, she forced herself to sound calm. ¡°Sheary, what are you saying? Of course, I¡¯m your mother. ¡°I know my attitude hurt you before; I was blinded by resentment then. But now, I¡¯ve decided to let it go. However Jameson treats me, I shouldn¡¯t have taken it out on you and your brother. Please forgive me.¡± Shermaine remained expressionless. ¡°Broken vase can never look the same.¡± Besides, she wasn¡¯t even her real mother. With that, Shermaine returned to her room, found her phone on the bedside table. She opened WhatsApp, located Joshua¡¯s contact, and directly initiated a voice call. The call rang and rang, but no one answered. ¡®He must be busy,¡® Shermaine thought. Nevermind. She would call himter. Meanwhile, downstairs, ¡°Mom,¡± Jameson said, ¡°just tell me what it¡¯ll take for you to ept Jason as part of the family.¡± In this house, the only person whose approval truly mattered to Jason was Janice. She sighed, visibly worn down. ¡°Jason¡¯s in his senior year, same as Sheary, right?¡± ¡°Yes, his grades are excellent,¡± said Jameson. ¡°Arts or sciences?¡± Janice asked. ¡°Science,¡± Jameson replied. Janice paused for a moment before saying, ¡°If he can be this year¡¯s top science scorer, then I¡¯ll consider it.¡± But deep down, she thought to herself, ¡°That¡¯s not gonna happen because that honor will be Sheary¡¯s! But Jameson¡¯s eyes lit up. He didn¡¯t take it as a brush¨Coff. ¡°Mom, you need to be clear. If Jason bes this year¡¯s top science student, you¡¯ll recognize him as your grandson. Correct?¡± ¡°Yes. But if he fails, don¡¯t ever bring this up again,¡± said Janice. Shermaine was just ~with vocal?n Un said firpmls. ¡°?nnd??t??? Ill d? wt¡¯h?* to bec Only t ace in 2/2 Nurse walking 130 Chapter 130 Shermaine ignored the look Jason gave her and calmly took a seat beside Ross, waiting for Janice. Janice had developed a fondness for evening walks. Andtely, she¡¯d fallen in love with dancing. Sinceing home, Shermaine had been apanying her regrly, helping her stay active. After a while, the conversation between Janice and Jameson wrapped up. Janice stood and called out, ¡°Sheary, I¡¯m ready now Let¡¯s go.¡± She still refused to ept Jason as a rightful member of the family, and part of the reason was simple: he was a ticking time bomb. Janice wasn¡¯t about to let someone so unpredictable get close to Shermaine again. Yes, Jason¡¯s illegitimacy wasn¡¯t his fault, and he was just another victim¨Cbut Janice¡¯s heart had never been impartial. ¡°Okay,¡± Shermaine replied. The two left together, chatting andughing as they headed out. In the living room, Ruth sipped her coffee and threw Jameson a mocking nce. He looked so smug, as if he really believed Jason could be the top achiever in natural science. It reminded Ruth of how foolish she had once been, blindly believing Wendelyn could outshine Shermaine. And when the truth came crashing down, it was like a hurricane of humiliation. She wasn¡¯t going to warn Jameson. Let him experience the sting of public embarrassment for once. Just picturing it gave her a quiet sense of satisfaction. Still, she couldn¡¯t resist getting in a jab. ¡°There¡¯s always someone smarter. You can¡¯t just decide to take the title and expect it to happen.¡± ¡°You only think I¡¯m arrogant because you don¡¯t know me,¡± Jason said, lowering his gaze. ¡°I¡¯m not some adopted girl like Wendelyn, full of useless tricks.¡± Ruth mmed her cup onto the table. ¡°Jameson, this is your beloved son, huh? Thinks far too highly of himself, doesn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Jason¡¯s just telling the truth,¡± Jameson said, backing him up without hesitation. ¡°You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. And you know what? No one asked you.¡± To him, Jason wasn¡¯t just smart. Everyone believed he was a prodigy. Across the room, Ross was silently watching the show. The tables had turned. Ruth had once been just as blindly confident. Now it was Jameson¡¯s turn. Fine, then. In the end, the oue would be the same. Fuming, Ruth stood and stormed upstairs. Seeing the time, Jameson noted that Jason still had assignments to finish, so he told the driver to take him back to Natalie¡¯s. When he came back inside, Ross was still there, lounging in an armchair with a finance paper in hand. He looked rxed,posed, and entirely in his element. Right now, Ross had a natural air of authority. 1/2 6:36 pm D Jameson couldn¡¯t ignore the shift in dynamic. Over the past two years, Ross had gained considerable influence within thepany. He was starting to feel more like the leader than Jameson himself. And now, with Jason in the picture, Jameson wondered if Ross really was as indifferent as he seemed. He also couldn¡¯t forget the project from earlier. Joshua had originally invested a lot of money in it. But then, he withdrew the funds and funneled them into Ross¡® project instead. Jameson hadn¡¯t been able to reach Joshua since. He couldn¡¯t help but suspect Shermaine had said something behind his back. The mere thought of this made Jameson¡¯s blood boil. ¡°Ross,¡± he asked, ¡°what do you think about Jason? As your brother, I mean.¡± Ross looked up from his newspaper. ¡°He¡¯s your son, Father. What does he have to do with me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m nning to transfer some shares to him on¨ºe he¡¯s officially part of the family,¡± Jameson said. Ross chuckled. ¡°Father, I suggest you take some time to really learn what your daughter is capable of. Once you do, you¡¯ll realize how delusional this idea of yours truly is.¡± Jameson said nothing. He didn¡¯t see what was so special about Shermaine. Could her grades really beat Jason¡¯s? Wasn¡¯t she just a spoiled girl, acting high and mighty because she had Joshua backing her? 2/2 Nurse walking 131 Chapter 131 Across the za, Shermaine sankzily into a chair, one leg crossed over the other, head bowed slightly as she scrolled through her phone. There was a casual, unbothered air about her. Nearby, Janice was dancing with a group of women around her age. She¡¯d taken to dancing recently, and having learned some basics when she was younger, she picked it up with ease. Meanwhile, at Granatano. Joshua had just wrapped up business. Checking the time in Basterel, he figured Shermaine was probably done with dinner by now. 20 It had been a week since theyst saw each other, and he missed her deeply. For a man who¡¯d never experienced this kind of emotion before, it was shocking how restless he¡¯d be. Maybe hearing her voice would help take the edge off. Back in his hotel suite, Joshua logged onto the Wi¨CFi, opened WhatsApp, and saw a missed call. Shermaine had tried to voice call him half an hour earlier. He must have missed it due to poor signal. Joshua initially tapped the voice call option, but switched to video at thest moment. After a few rings, Shermaine answered, only for the screen to show Janice dancing with a group of elderly people, before it abruptly cut to ck. ¡°Your grandma looks lively,¡± Joshua said first. Shermaine had her Bluetooth earpiece in. Joshua¡¯s deep, maic voice came through with perfect rity. Her ears flushed with warmth. ¡°Yeah. She¡¯s really gotten into dancingtely.¡± ¡°Is it cold outside? Did you wear an extrayer?¡± Joshua asked. ¡°The weather¡¯s warmed up in Basterel. Not too cold.¡± Besides, her school uniform was quite thick. She leaned back slightly in her chair. ¡°Bradley came by this afternoon. The poisonous worm they found in Wendelyn has been traced. Has he updated you?¡± ¡°No,¡± Joshua replied. ¡°It came from Xenhall in Mysonna. The buyer purchased it from Bianca. ording to Bradley, she never leaks customers¡® information. The people he sent couldn¡¯t get a single word out of her. So I n to head there myself over winter break.¡± Whoever had sent that worm had clearly been aiming for her from the beginning. Shermaine had no intention of sitting this one out. The sooner she handled it, the better. Given Joshua had been involved in the case¨Cand considering the nature of their rtionship¨Cshe felt it was only right to inform him. Whether he approved or not didn¡¯t matter to her. Fortunately, Joshua knew her well. Upon hearing she was heading to Mysonna, his first response wasn¡¯t to object. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you,¡± he said. Shermaine declined calmly, ¡°No need. I can handle it myself.¡± Joshua sounded perfectly reasonable. ¡°Shermaine, you have to consider that the one behind this might already know your movements. They could beying a trap. You¡¯re Ross¡® little sister and my grandfather¡¯s favorite. If anything happened to you, I wouldn¡¯t be able to exin.¡± What he didn¡¯t say was that he simply couldn¡¯t bear the idea of something happening to her. 1/3 6:36 pm Shermaine might be capable, but that didn¡¯t stop Joshua from worrying non¨Cstop. The cold detachment he showed the rest of the world no longer existed when it came to her. 20 Shermaine had wanted to tell him it wouldn¡¯t happen. That with her abilities, anyone trying to hurt her would most likely fail. But Joshua¡¯s reasoning was sound. And more importantly, she wasn¡¯t alone anymore. She had a brother, a grandmother- people who would be devastated if she got hurt. So she relented. ¡°Fine. You cane.¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes softened. ¡°Good. My flightnds the morning after tomorrow.¡± He then said in a lower voice, ¡°Happy New Year, Shermaine.¡± Shermaine smiled faintly. ¡°You too.¡± After they hung up, she turned back to her phone, scrolling through a catalog for an uing auction. It was time to return the favor: to get Joshua a proper gift. Coincidentally, the auction would take ce the evening he returned, at 9 p.m. in Purple Pavilion. One item had caught her eye: a wristwatch. The watch was rare and encrusted with precious stones. The starting price was three million. If the bidding got heated, it might fetch over hundreds of millions. There was one w, though¨Cthe timekeeping was off. The internal mechanics were tooplex for most watchmakers to fix. If Shermaine could repair it, the value would skyrocket. Collectors would kill for it. The day Joshua returned, Bradley picked Shermaine up first, then drove straight to the airport. Technically, it meant she was picking him up. After they retrieved Joshua, Shermaine had nned to grab dinner before heading to the auction. But she hadn¡¯t expected to run into Kingston. Their cars happened to stop on the same stretch of curb. What a damn coincidence. Bradley greeted Kingston politely. Kingston exined that he was picking up his cousin, who¡¯d just flown in from abroad. But ever since Ross hinted that Kingston might swing the other way¨Cand possibly had a thing for Joshua¨CShermaine had started paying more attention. And she noticed something. Wherever Joshua was, Kingston always seemed to appear. It didn¡¯t take a genius to see how hard he was trying to stay close. The guy clearly hadn¡¯t given up, no matter how cold Joshua was. But Joshua was as indifferent to men as he was to women. Completely ascetic. She rolled up the window and chose to ignore Kingston entirely. 2/3 6:36 pm D&D D Not long after, Joshua came out of the terminal. Soon, someone tapped on the window. Reluctantly, Shermaine sighed and rolled it down. Joshua stood there, wrapped in a gray id scarf. His lips were pale, his features impossibly refined¨Chandsome in a way that made people stare. It had been nearly ten days since theyst saw each other. Shermaine was just about to speak when she noticed Kingston approaching, and Joshua spotted him too. Without hesitation, he leaned down, reached through the car window, and gently cupped the nape of Shermaine¡¯s neck, pulling her closer. In a voice so low only she could hear, he murmured, ¡°Shermaine, do me a favor.¡± Then his lips brushed her forehead. As if it wasn¡¯t enough, they slowly moved lower, pressing gently against hers, his mouth barely moving. Her lips were just as soft and sweet as always. Joshua swallowed slightly. He wanted more. Shermaine¡¯s eyshes fluttered. 3/3 Nurse walking 132 Joshua lingered just a moment longer, brushing her lips with gentle pressure before pulling away. Their eyes met. He swallowed slightly, and for a brief second, he almost leaned in again. If he stayed any longer, he¡¯d blow his cover. All that quiet strategy he¡¯d been building up might get exposed. Joshua lowered his gaze, opened the door, and got into the car. Not far off, Kingston, who¡¯d been headed their way, froze in ce. He stood there awkwardly for a second before turning back like nothing had happened and returning to his car to wait for his so¨Ccalled cousin. In the back, Bradley loaded the luggage into the trunk, watching the whole thing unfold speechlessly. ¡®Mr. York is unreal. Using Kingston to steal a kiss? Brazen doesn¡¯t even cover it! Inside the car, Shermaine pressed her lips together. Her ears were hot, and she was annoyed. She could¡¯ve dodged it but hadn¡¯t. She¡¯d gone soft. And for what? ¡®As if Kingston could actually do anything to Joshua. Ridiculous,¡¯ she muttered inwardly. Joshua handed her a small box. ¡°What is this?¡± Shermaine asked coldly. ¡°Just open it, and you¡¯ll see.¡± Shermaine unwrapped the box to find a fountain pen inside. The cap was engraved with her name. And to her surprise, the design was exactly her style. ¡°I thought it suited you, so I got it,¡± Joshua murmured. Shermaine didn¡¯t refuse. ¡°Thanks,¡± she said. After a brief pause, she added, ¡°But if you try to kiss me again, don¡¯t expect me to y along.¡± ¡°Not even if it¡¯s staged?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Her voice was firm. ¡°Your messy admirers are your own problem to deal with.¡± So Shermaine didn¡¯t like it when he kissed her. That stung more than Joshua expected. His eyes darkened slightly. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Bradley finished putting away the luggage and got into the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Shermaine, where do you want to eat?¡± ¡°Somewhere near Purple Pavilion,¡± she said. It was close to the auction, which would be quite convenient. Over dinner, Joshua learned Shermaine would be attending a private auction there at 9 p.m. He decided to tag along. If she ran out of funds, it would be his job to cover the difference. The auction house catered to an elite crowd. VIP clients were given private booths to ensure anonymity and top¨Ctier service. Shermaine, however, only had a standard invite. That meant no booth, just a regr chair in the gallery. 1/3 6:37 pm D&D D & D D Most people probably wouldn¡¯t recognize her. But the moment Joshua appeared, nine out of ten attendees would know exactly who he was. Apparently, the rumors about him spoiling his fianc¨¦e weren¡¯t exaggerated. They¡¯d barely been seated before a staff member approached. ¡°Mr. York, we¡¯ve arranged a private booth for you and Ms. Shue. Please follow me.¡± Joshua turned to Shermaine, admiring her elegant profile. ¡°I¡¯m just tagging along with Sheary. You should ask her.¡± The staff turned to Shermaine respectfully. ¡°No need,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯re fine right here.¡± The staff member hesitated, then nodded. ¡°If you need anything, feel free to call me.¡± He stepped aside, standing by just in case. The auction began quickly. The watch Shermairfe had her eye on was tenth in the lineup. If bidding moved quickly, they¡¯d get to it soon. They were lucky: the early lots went fast. By the time the rare watch appeared, collectors were already eager. The auctioneer reminded everyone: each bid increase must be at least one million. The room buzzed, but Shermaine waited patiently. This was the only one of its kind in the world, and the bidding was fierce. Within minutes, the price had climbed to 30 million. By the time the room began to quiet, it had hit 500 million. 20 ng that no one else was bidding, Shermaine coolly raised her paddle and upped the price by a staggering 100 million in
  1. go.
At that moment, the wealthy man in the private room, who had thought victory was within his grasp, nearly passed out in shock when Shermaine suddenly raised the bid by 100 million. Gritting his teeth, he added another two million, but Shermaine calmly raised her paddle again. ¡°Six hundred million,¡± she announced. If he kept going, he¡¯d lose the watch anyway. And he wasn¡¯t the kind of bidder who drove up prices for sport. So, the wealthy man had no choice but to withdraw. After winning the bid, Shermaine handed her payment card to a nearby attendant. The staff member took it with a polite nod and said, ¡°Ms. Shue, pleasee with me.¡± At 9 p.m., after obtaining the watch, she left the auction house and headed straight back to Riverswood Vi. ¡°Don¡¯t bring me any milk tonight. And don¡¯t disturb me,¡± she said. Joshua opened his mouth to ask why, but Shermaine had already gone upstairs with the watch and closed the door behind her. She set the box on her desk, grabbed her sleepwear, and walked into the bathroom. As she washed her face, she stared at her reflection, and for some reason, Joshua¡¯s kiss shed through her mind. Her ears felt hot again. And honestly, she was kind of annoyed at him. Her first kiss had already been identally taken by him¡­ and now he¡¯d stolen the second one too. Suddenly, that watch didn¡¯t feel like the right gift anymore. 2/3 Nurse walking 133 Chapter 133 On the other side, Joshua was still trying to figure out why Shermaine had refused to drink milk that night. Was it because he had kissed her without asking for her permission? Was she angry? It wasn¡¯t impossible. She probably did mind. If that was the case, did it mean she didn¡¯t like him at all? Joshua sat in silence for a long time. The haze in his eyes deepened. For once, the man who always had everything under control looked a little lost. ***** 20 After showering, Shermaine pulled out the toolkit she kept under the desk and began disassembling the watch. She hadn¡¯t skipped the milk out of anger; she just didn¡¯t want to get sleepy. Shermaine nned to stay upte and finish repairing and modifying the watch so she could hand it to Joshua first thing in the morning. Sitting at the desk, Shermaine studied the watch¡¯s mechanical structure. It was incrediblyplex. No wonder even the most famous horologists hadn¡¯t managed to repair it. Tossing the towel aside, she got to work. The next morning, Shermaine woke upte and hungry. After brushing her teeth, she opened the door and walked right into a pair of deep, wintry eyes. Joshua looked like he hadn¡¯t slept a wink¨Chis eyes were faintly bloodshot, and his voice was a bit husky when he spoke. Truth was, he¡¯d spent the whole night tossing and turning restlessly, unable to fall asleep. The moment he woke up, he just kept waiting for Shermaine, hoping to see her. Joshua gazed at her, his eyes profound. ¡°Good morning.¡± ¡°Morning,¡± Shermaine replied. She paused. ¡°Didn¡¯t sleep well?¡± ¡°Maybe I¡¯m still jetgged,¡± Joshua made up an excuse, hesitating for a moment before finally asking, ¡°About what happened at the airport yesterday afternoon¡­ are you upset with me?¡± Rather than spiral in his head, it was better to ask. If she was upset, he¡¯d apologize properly and make sure it never happened again. Shermaine didn¡¯t overthink it. ¡°No,¡± she said. She had minded a little, but she hadn¡¯t been angry. Joshua exhaled in relief, his voice softening. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Maybe what he did night gave her the wrong impression. Shermaine lowered her gaze and said, ¡°Wait here.¡± She went back into her room, picked up the watch she had fixed and upgraded the night before, then came out and handed it to him. ¡°A return gift for the car.¡± The watch was cold in his hand. Joshua held it, then let out a shortugh. His eyes lit up. He¡¯d thought she might give it to Ross, so he hadn¡¯t expected it to be for him. 1/3 I modified it,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°It has an Al chip linked to a satellite. If you¡¯re ever in danger, you can activate it. It could save your life.¡± Joshua slid it onto his wrist. His voice carried a rare ease. ¡°Thank you. I really like it.¡± Of course, he did. Men loved watches. Even someone as self¨Ccontained as Joshua couldn¡¯t hide the genuine happiness in his expression. What Shermaine didn¡¯t know was that it wasn¡¯t the watch that made him happy; it was the fact that it came from her. With the crisis averted and a surprise gift in hand, Joshua was in high spirits. Joshua was in an uncharacteristically good mood all morning. The senior staff who came in to report were nervous at first, but to their surprise, Joshua didn¡¯tsh out. He just pointed out a few issues and said, ¡°Take it back and redo it. I want it this afternoon.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. York.¡± They left confused until someone checked the morning entertainment news: the heiress of the Jean family had dropped hundreds of millions at an auctionst night on a single watch. That very same watch was now sitting on Joshua¡¯s wrist. No wonder he was so forgiving. Clearly, his future wife had worked her magic. But soon, any trace of their names or appearances vanished from the inte. No doubt, someone had cleaned it all up behind the scenes. With the final exam approaching, the seniors were about to start their winter break. Shermaine¡¯s newly developed product had already gone into production in small quantities. She nned to distribute it to selected people as gifts and gather feedback. Naturally, the task fell to her. There were fifty¨Ctwo students in her ss, and she gave a set to each one. ¡°Let me know what you think after you use it. Send me feedback on WhatsApp.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Consider it done.¡± Winter break started a littleter for seniors, and soon enough, another major holiday arrived. This was Shermaine¡¯s first celebration with her brother and grandmother. The night before the holiday, Shermaine received a decent gift from Janice. Then her brother Ross gave her even more gifts, saying he was making up for all the missed years. Finally, even Ruth and Jameson gave generously. Shermaine didn¡¯t stand on ceremony. She happily pocketed them all. On WhatsApp, Shermaine was flooded with so many greetings that she couldn¡¯t keep up with them all. After a fancy dinner, as Jameson was about to leave, Ruth confronted him in a heated argument that quickly spiraled out of control. She refused to let him go spend the holiday with ¡°that homewrecker and her bastard child.¡± Their shouting match turned physical, and they started shoving each other on the stairs. Jameson, clearly fed up, pushed her hard. Ruth lost her bnce. With a scream, she tumbled down the stairs. Her eyes rolled 2/3 6:37 pm D back and she passed out from the pain. Jameson frowned. ¡°What a fucking buzzkill!¡± ¡± 20 Upstairs, Shermaine heard the scream and rushed out, only to see Ruth lying unconscious at the foot of the stairs. Seeing she was still alive, Jameson stepped over her body and walked out as if nothing had happened. Instantly, Shermaine¡¯s expression went cold. Even though the woman lying there was just a clone of her mother, Jameson¡¯s response made one thing abundantly clear: even if it had been her real mother, he still would¡¯ve treated her the same way. With something on her mind, Shermaine went down to check Ruth¡¯s condition. Ruth suddenly came to. Her head was spinning, and she grabbed Shermaine¡¯s hand with all her strength. ¡°Sheary, help me. I don¡¯t want to die yet.¡± She hadn¡¯t enjoyed her wealth enough. But the dizziness overwhelmed her again, and she passed out. Themotion quickly alerted Janice and Ross. By the time they arrived, Shermaine had already examined Ruth¡¯s injuries. ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious,¡± she assured them. ¡°A couple of days¡® rest, and she¡¯ll be fine.¡± Meanwhile, Joshua was back at the York¡¯s. After dinner, he checked the calendar and asked, ¡°How about we fly to Mysonna three dayster? If that works for you, I¡¯ll book the tickets now.¡± 3/3 Nurse walking 134 Chapter 134 The maids were off for the holiday, so it fell to Ross to carry Ruth back to her room. He did it quickly and withoutint. When he came back downstairs, he saw Janice sitting on the sofa, staring at the festival g on TV. It was supposed to be aedy sketch, but she kept sighing, unable tough. Meanwhile, Shermaine was peeling an orange. How could Jameson be so heartless to Ruth? Had hepletely forgotten what Ruth had done for him? If not for her, would he ever have reached where he was now? Even if there was no love left between them, Ruth was still the mother of his children. She had once loved him deeply, and that had to mean something. How could he be so cruel? Shermaine looked at her and said gently, ¡°Grandma, try not to overthink it.¡± She handed her a sweet, peeled orange. Janice epted the orange and murmured, ¡°Your father wasn¡¯t like this before. Ever since he got involved with that mistress, he¡¯s changed.¡± People loved to me the other woman, but if Jameson had any conscience at all, if he had any sense of duty as a husband and father, he wouldn¡¯t be like this, no matter what that woman had done. Ross sat down beside them. ¡°Grandma, it¡¯s been years. If he wanted toe back, he would¡¯ve done it already. You¡¯ve pulled him out of the water more times than I can count. Has he ever really made it back to shore?¡± No, he hadn¡¯t. Janice was finally beginning to see that. She had grandchildren now. She didn¡¯t need to keep wasting her heart on someone like Jameson. Slowly, she let her attention return to the television, and for the first time that night, a soft smile began to form on her face. Shermaine finally took out her phone from her pocket. WhatsApp was still flooded with unread messages. She scrolled through and responded one by one. When she reached Joshua¡¯s message, she typed back: [No problem. Go ahead and book the tickets.] The moment the message was sent, his side showed ¡°typing,¡± and secondster, a new reply popped up. [Got it. Happy holiday.] Shermaine sent him some money, more than enough for the ne ticket. She didn¡¯t say anything about it. If she told him it was for the ticket, he would just send it back. Joshua felt a novel sensation as he received it. He couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®And the amount she sent was surprisingly generous.¡¯ Honestly, that was unexpected. He started fiddling with his phone, thinking of sending the money back. Just then, Owen saw the transfer record on Joshua¡¯s phone. He teased, ¡°Oh, now you¡¯re taking Sheary¡¯s money? That¡¯s new. Are you that broke?¡± Joshua couldn¡¯t help butugh at Owen¡¯s remark. He replied seriously, ¡°Well, it¡¯s not illegal to take my woman¡¯s money. Are you jealous because she didn¡¯t give a cent to you?¡± Owen would never admit that Joshua had seen right through him. He huffed, ¡°Rather than money, I¡¯d much rather see some 1/2 6:37 pm D progress in your rtionship with Sheary. ¡°But it¡¯s been two months, and nothing¡¯s changed! Can¡¯t you put a little more effort into this, or do you really n to remain single forever?¡± Of course, Joshua didn¡¯t want to stay single. He couldn¡¯t be more devoted and had put his heart into every little trick, but all his carefully nned moves just go unnoticed by Shermaine. ¡°If you¡¯re really set on staying single forever, I¡¯ll make sure Sheary dumps you soon. No need for you to hold her back from finding a real boyfriend,¡± Owen grumbled. He¡¯d always known exactly why he arranged the engagement between Joshua and Shermaine in the first ce; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have pushed them to live together. He¡¯d hoped for some sparks to fly, but it had all been a letdown. Now that Shermaine had nearly cured his illness and he could look forward to a few more good years, Joshua just got more and more on his nerves. So, naturally, Owen seized the opportunity to le¨ºture him at length. Seeing that Joshua offered no rebuttal, Owen felt desperate. With a heavy sigh, he thought, ¡®Looks like my grandson is destined to stay celibate for life.¡® But then, Joshua finally spoke. ¡°Only I can be Sheary¡¯s man,¡± he dered. 2/2 Nurse walking 135 Chapter 135 Well, that was unexpected. The stone man had finally fallen in love. Owen waspletely caught off guard by this oue. But now that Joshua had finally fallen, he was absolutely thrilled. He always knew a girl like Shermaine couldn¡¯t possibly go unnoticed. His grandson clearly wasn¡¯t blind after all. As it turned out, Joshua was just like him; excellent taste ran in their family. It was worth celebrating. Finally, he¡¯de around. That meant the dream of having a granddaughter like Shermaine might actuallye true. Owen patted Joshua on the shoulder with a grin and said, ¡°Work harder, okay? I¡¯m expecting a bunch of grandkids!¡± Joshua fell silent. Owen was truly indulging in wishful thinking. Kids? He could barely even get a kiss from Shermaine right now. Besides, Shermaine would be starting college after her entrance exams¨Cdefinitely not the right time for kids. Honestly, he didn¡¯t want her to have children at all; he just wanted to have her all to himself. Midnight passed, and the holiday officially started. Joshua nned to give Shermaine a lot of money as a gift, but he wanted to give it to her in person. So, he decided to wait. At that moment of family reunion and celebration, while firecrackers and fireworks lit up the countryside in a deafening celebration, the city felt quiet and oddly empty. Those two days flew by in a sh. This morning, Shermaine and Ross apanied Janice back to the countryside. Their grandfather¡¯s grave had been relocated to the family¡¯s ancestral hall, where generations of the Jean family were now honored. Ruth, after hitting her head, took the opportunity to skip the trip. Jameson had left one night and only returned the next morning to pack his things. Then he took Jason and Natalie on an overseas vacation. Janice couldn¡¯t be bothered to stop him. She let him reap what he sowed. In the end, neither Jason nor Natalie would ever set foot in their family. The countryside had fresh air and a stronger sense of the holiday. Janice found herself reluctant to return once she was back in the countryside. The courtyard house was sofortable, and the neighbors were all friendly. Every now and then, they¡¯d gather to y cards, and she could even teach the elderlydies dancing to help them stay fit. Ross didn¡¯t mind the countryside either. There was just one problem¨Ctoo many matchmakers. They were always trying to introduce him to someone. However, he wasn¡¯t interested. Shermaine, on the other hand, was having a great time. She went fishing with the old men and cooked roast chicken in y ovens with a group of kids. It was allid¨Cback and joyful. This made her think of those carefree, peaceful years she¡¯d spent living in Maple Leaf Ville. She couldn¡¯t help but feel a little regretful that she hadn¡¯t been able to return this year to visit the vige chief and the elders. Still, she¡¯d asked Lily to bring back some gifts for them, mostly tonic herbs and fine liquor. On the third morning, Shermaine got up early. She didn¡¯t bring much with her. She¡¯d already told Janice and Ross about the trip to Mysonna two days ago. Janice had no objections after hearing Joshua was going together because she trusted him. Ross knew more details. He was still a bit worried, but he didn¡¯t stop her. He simply said he¡¯d drive her to the airport that day. What he didn¡¯t expect was that Joshua would show up in person to pick her up. When Ross saw the ck SUV pull up, he began to suspect Joshua might have intentions toward his sister. But he couldn¡¯t be sure. Joshua? Catch feelings? Joshua stepped out of the car calmly and greeted Ross, ¡°Morning.¡± Ross looked him over and said, ¡°You really are free these days. Driving out here before sunrise?¡± ¡°I¡¯m pretty free,¡± he said. Though really, he just missed Shermaine. Janice was delighted to see him. ¡°Joshua,e on in!¡± She then turned to Ross. ¡°Go check on Sheary.¡± ¡°No rush,¡± Joshua said. ¡°Our flight¡¯s in the afternoon.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, Joshua can keep waiting,¡® Ross thought, plopping down onto a chair without budging an inch. Janice said, ¡°Alright. Have you had breakfast yet?* ¡°Not yet.¡± Janice offered, ¡°Then join us for a mealter, alright?¡± ¡°Sure, Grandma,¡± said Joshua. When Shermaine came in from the east wing, she spotted Joshua chatting warmly with Janice. Her eyes lit up. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Joshua looked up and smiled. ¡°I wasn¡¯t busy, so I thought I¡¯de pick you up.¡± That actually made things easier. Ross wouldn¡¯t have to make a round trip to the airport. Breakfast was simple but tasty: some bread and mini cakes, all paired with fried eggs and bacon. After eating, Shermaine grabbed a ck waterproof backpack and threw on a light denim jacket. Her hair was tied up neatly with a ck hair tie. She looked fresh and beautiful. After saying goodbye to her grandmother and brother, she left with Joshua and headed toward the SUV. Inside the car, Joshua didn¡¯t start the engine right away. Instead, he pulled out a thick stack of cash and handed them to her. ¡°Happy holiday.¡± Shermaine looked at the bundle and smiled. ¡°You and my brother really think alike. You both gave me a lot of money without blinking.¡± Joshua had originally wanted the gesture to feel special¨Cbut it turned out Ross had beaten him to it. Still, it didn¡¯t matter. His real intention was to make up for all the past years when Shermaine hadn¡¯t received many gifts. Joshua smiled, ¡°Hmm, buckle up. I¡¯m starting the car.¡± The drive from the countryside back to Basterel Airport took just about two hours thanks to clear roads. They didn¡¯t linger after arrival, just went straight through security and boarded the ne. Beneath the clear sky, the ne climbed steadily, eventually disappearing into the clouds, 2/3 Nurse walking 136 +20 Meanwhile, in a dark bedroom inside a vi in Basterel, a battered, bloodied many sprawled on a messy bed. Kingston stepped out of the bathroom when he heard his phone ring. Picking it up, he heard the voice say, ¡°Sir, Mr. York and Ms. Shue have departed for Mysonna.¡± It was nearly 3 p.m. when Joshua and Shermainended in Mysonna. But to reach Xenhall, they¡¯d still have to drive another seven hours. A driver and assistant sent in advance were already waiting at the airport. When Joshua and Shermaine got in the car, the man asked, ¡°Night roads aren¡¯t easy. Do you want to rest overnight here and head out in the morning? Or just drive straight through and stop at a roadside inn if it gets toote?¡± Shermaine had no interest in lingering. She wasn¡¯t there to sightsee. After a moment of thought, she said, ¡°Let¡¯s keep going. If we get too far behind or it¡¯s too dark to drive, we can stop at a motel along the way.¡± As they left the city, the road got rougher. But oddly, they passed quite a few other vehicles. As dusk fell, the sky dimmed into a gray¨Cblue haze, eventually swallowed by night. Shermaine rolled down the window to get a better look. Something in the air told her rain wasing. Once it rained, the road would be even harder to travel. Just then, another car approached from the opposite direction, driving slowly on the bumpy dirt road. The vehicles passed each other close, and the men in the other car stared as soon as they saw Shermaine¨Cher beauty obvious even through the car window. One of them let out a low whistle. Shermaine sized up the man¨Cdark, weathered skin and a burly build; unmistakably a tomb raider. ¡°Holy shit, that chick in the opposite car is smoking hot,¡± he blurted out. Hearing this, the guy next to him leaned over for a look. ¡°Damn, she is a hottie.¡± With a cocky grin, he leaned out the window and called out, ¡°Hey there, prettydy!¡± Another smirked. ¡°Lucky bastard in that car, huh? Bringing a babe like that into this godforsaken ce. You sure know how to live.¡± Their vulgar remarks were impossible to ignore. From the back seat, Joshua heard everything. His eyes darkened, a flicker of menace surfacing in his usually calm gaze. He leaned forward and rolled up the window, cutting off their view of Shermaine. ¡°Where are they headed?¡± Shermaine asked. ¡°Same ce as us,¡± the driver said. ¡°There¡¯s a tomb there?¡± she asked. James Miller, the driver, was surprised that Shermaine had figured it out. She might be young, but she sure knew a lot. ¡°Yeah, I heard it¡¯s the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen. Now, every tomb raider wants a piece of the action.¡± James shuddered inwardly. Mysonna was already known for being eerie. James had suffered more than once since arriving. He was terrified of the area¡¯s reputation. And now these fools wanted to break into some cursed tomb? Shermaine was about to say something, but Joshua cut in, ¡°Step on it. The rain¡¯sing any minute now.¡± 20 ¡°Yes, Mr. York.¡± Shermaine had been about to mention theing rain, but since Joshua had already said it, she kept quiet. Just then, the men in the opposite vehicle turned their attention to Joshua. One of the men nudged his buddy and said, ¡°See that guy in the opposite car? ¡°He looks pretty soft, like some rich city boy. Check out that fancy watch; he¡¯s probably loaded.¡± ¡°What, you got the hots for him?¡± They burst into arrogantughter. ¡°That guy¡¯s an easy mark. I¡¯ve got my eyes on his watch, and the woman next to him too. Out here in this godforsaken ce, we can do whatever we want, and no one will ever know. Am I right, boys?¡± Nurse walking 137 Chapter 137 By the time their car pulled into a roadside inn at the edge of the town, rain had started pouring down in heavy sheets. Thunder rumbled above, and lightning cracked across the sky, making the entire ce feel even more unsettling. The inn looked more like a converted vige home than a hotel. It had a main lobby that doubled as a store, selling cigarettes, alcohol, and snacks. They also offered simple meals but at an extra cost. The lobby was loud and crowded, filled with peopleughing and drinking. Men and women, some half¨Cdrunk, were slouched around the tables, creating a chaotic, smoky atmosphere. As soon as Shermaine stepped inside, the stench of smoke and liquor hit her. The moment she appeared, dozens of eyes turned her way. She was too beautiful, bright¨Cskinned and stunning. Several men immediately stared, expressions nk as they forgot whatever else they¡¯d been doing. Years of self¨Cdiscipline and training had taught him how to conceal the deadly edge beneath his calm exterior. In Basterel, people always sensed his power and never dared to look him in the eye, only because they knew who he was. But in this unfamiliar ce, no one knew who he was. When he saw how many men were openly ogling Shermaine, a cold glint shed through his eyes. Something violent stirred beneath his calm shell. He slid his hand around her waist and murmured, ¡°Over there.¡± He nodded to a quieter corner. ¡°Okay,¡± Shermaine said softly. She knew his gesture wasn¡¯t for show; he was trying to protect her. She didn¡¯t need protection, not really, but she wasn¡¯t about to reject a gesture made out of concern. ¡°James, get the rooms,¡± Joshua said, his tone cool and measured. ¡°Yes, Mr. York.¡± They remained standing, making no move to find seats. Joshua let go of Shermaine¡¯s waist and used his body to shield her from prying eyes. Once the rooms were booked, they coulde back down for some food¨Cor maybe Joshua would borrow the kitchen, cook something himself, and bring it upstairs. In short, there was no way Joshua would let Shermaine dine with that rowdy crowd. Where they were standing, a few young people stood out from the others sitting nearby¨Ctheir vibe noticeably cleaner and more genuine. Among them, a short¨Chaired girl smiled shyly at Shermaine and greeted her, ¡°Hello.¡± Shermaine nced at her. With a shy blink, she stammered, ¡°M¨Cmy name is Cherry Tatum. You¡¯re really beautiful!¡± Shermaine nodded slightly. ¡°Hello,¡± she said. After a brief pause, she asked, ¡°College student?¡± Cherry¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Lowering her voice, she stammered, ¡°Is¡­ is it that obvious?¡± ¡°It is,¡± Shermaine replied. If she wasn¡¯t wrong, this group was likely from the history department. Three guys, two girls- probably drawn here by the rumors of the Cursed Queen¡¯s tomb. 20 20 She added, ¡°If you came because of that tomb, I¡¯d suggest turning back. Now.¡± It wasn¡¯t even about whether they could make it inside. If they shed with the wrong crowd, they¡¯d be the first to get hurt. They really were here out of curiosity about the tomb. Just its name alone sounds unbelievable. Cherry grinned and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ve got a local ssmate to show us around.¡± Shermaine gave a slight nod. Before she could respond, her female ssmate pulled her aside and hissed, ¡°Why are you talking to strangers? Look around. Besides us, do any of them actually look trustworthy?¡± Cherry said, ¡°Oh, Kathy, don¡¯t jump to conclusions. That pretty girl seems really nice.¡± Kathy Holmes shot Shermaine a skeptical look and muttered, ¡°Nice? Yeah, right. Just keep your mouth shut and don¡¯t get us into trouble.¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow. Suspicion was one thing, but that look of disdain? ¡°Sheary,¡± Joshua suddenly said. ¡°Hmm?¡± He nced at the students, his expression cool. ¡°Don¡¯t talk to strangers. None of them look like decent people.¡± Wasn¡¯t he just throwing that girl¡¯s words back at her? Joshua must¡¯ve noticed the way she looked at her, and now he was standing up for her in his own way. mirked faintly. ¡°Okay.¡± ushed, then turned pale. She wanted to retort, but as a stranger here, she didn¡¯t dare offend anyone and held Following Joshua¡¯s instructions, James requested two single rooms¨Cnext to each other¨Cand one double room. But the owner, worried about limited avability and expecting more guests, replied bluntly, ¡°One double room and one single room. That¡¯s all I have.¡± Unable to make the decision herself, James had no choice but to report the situation to Joshua. Joshua immediately said, ¡°Just offer more money.¡± Shermaine disagreed. They had the money, sure. But there was no need to waste it. ¡°Just get two double rooms.¡± Nurse walking 138 Chapter 138 So tonight, Joshua and Shermaine were sharing a room. To Joshua, it was undeniably a raw temptation, an open challenge to his self¨Crestraint. But truth be told, he didn¡¯t feel like resisting. ¡°Two double rooms, then,¡± he said. After James secured the keys, Shermaine and Joshua took their luggage upstairs. Not long after, the rowdy group they¡¯d encountered on the road burst in, cursing loudly as they stumbled through the door. They had three cars, more than ten people. All of them soaked to the skin, shivering from the cold and dripping water onto the floor. Even worse, they were cursing loudly. Shermaine and Joshua¡¯s room was on the third floor¨Cthe top of the old building. The air reeked of mildew, poorly masked by cheap air freshener. The result was a nauseating chemical mess. The stairs were wooden and creaky. Every step groaned under pressure, like it might snap any second. At the door, Joshua unlocked their room. It wasn¡¯trge, but it was clean enough. James, whose room was a few doors away, said, ¡°Mr. York, Ms. Shue, if you need anything, just call me.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been driving all day. Get some rest,¡± Joshua replied. James and another assistant took their leave. Once inside, Joshua closed the door and began checking the room. The two beds were separated only by a wooden nightstand with amp. When he finished the inspection, he went into the bathroom to double¨Ccheck for hidden cameras or surveince devices. Everything looked clear. When he returned, he saw Shermaine crouching by her suitcase, pulling out toiletries. On the white sheets beside her, she¡¯did out a small collection of food. Mostly instant meals. Joshua watched her back, his gaze intense. ¡°nning to eat all that for dinner?¡± Without looking up, Shermaine said, ¡°They serve dinner downstairs. We can grab something light. The instant meals are forter, maybe after we get to the vige.¡± Wherever she was, Shermaine never neglected feeding herself properly. ¡°I¡¯ll head down and see what they¡¯ve got,¡± he said. ¡°Mm¨Chmm,¡± she responded,pletely at ease sharing a room with him. There was no hint of awkwardness. ¡°Need anything while I¡¯m down?¡± ¡°Slippers,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°The ones they gave us are terrible for showering.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Joshua made his way downstairs. Just as he reached the lobby, the same thugs from before came in from the storm. They were dripping wet, teeth chattering from the cold, and cursing nonstop. They were loud, vulgar, and not remotely civilized. 1/2 Joshua approached the front desk. ¡°What do you have for dinner?¡± The innkeeper handed him a menu. Half the dishes were crossed out. Do you still have fresh ingredients?¡± Joshua asked. ¡°Of course we do,¡± the owner replied. Joshua slid a wad of cash across the counter. ¡°I¡¯ll borrow your kitchen,¡± he said. Seeing the hefty payment, the innkeeper eagerly moved to take Joshua to the kitchen. A thuggish guy slung an arm over Joshua¡¯s shoulder and leered, his grin full of mischief. ¡°Well, well, look at the big spender. Must be rolling in it, huh? How about sparing some cash for us?¡± It was practically robbery, only with a smirk. The other guests didn¡¯t intervene. They weren¡¯t stupid. Everyone here was headed for that same tomb in the mountains. Picking fights before they even got started wasn¡¯t worth it. Joshua, unfazed, grabbed the man¡¯s wrist and flung it off. He looked up, voice calm and razor¨Csharp. ¡°You think I¡¯m a charity?¡± Nurse walking 139 Chapter 139 20) The man didn¡¯t back down as expected. In fact, he seemed more smug. That wasn¡¯t unusual. Most rich men brought a few bodyguards and acted tough until someone pulled a gun. Then they all turned into cowards. The thug sneered with utter contempt, reaching behind his waist. In a sh, a pitch¨Cck pistol was aimed at Joshua, chamber loaded. All it would take was a twitch. No one else seemed shocked. These guys were clearly gang¨Caffiliated. But the group of college students who had just finished checking in were still in the small shop next to the lobby. When they saw the gun, their faces went pale. They had nned to get out, but now, they decided to stay. ¡°What do we do? Should we call the cops?¡± one of the students whispered. ¡°If they¡¯re bold enough to pull out guns, they must not be afraid of the cops,¡± another student whispered nervously. ¡°If we make them angry, we¡¯ll be in real trouble. Seriously, don¡¯t even think about it.¡± The thug got even more cocky as he pulled out his gun. ¡°I was giving you a chance to be generous. Don¡¯t be an ungrateful prick.¡± Joshua remained absolutely still. His pulse hadn¡¯t even spiked. It was just a gun The crucial point was who was holding that gun. This man? No threat at all. He¡¯d been eyeing Shermaine from the start. Now, he dared to point a gun at Joshua. This bastard needed a serious lesson. The thug kept talking. ¡°And that pretty little thing you brought with you? Why don¡¯t you call her down here? She can keep uspany¡­¡± Before he could finish, a violent crash cut him off. To everyone¡¯s shock, the refined¨Clooking man exploded with violence. A fierce, lethal energy erupted from him. No one even saw how he moved; just a blur of motion. The next second, Joshua had him by the cor, mming his body straight into a ss fish tank. The ss shattered. Water burst out, mixed with red. The thug thrashed, but Joshua dragged him out and threw him hard against the wall. He copsed instantly. Blood streamed down his face, and he could no longer move. Hispanions never saw thising. They¡¯d all assumed this guy was an easy target, the kind you could push around for some quick cash. Clearly, Joshua was bone¨Cdeep ruthless, which was extremely terrifying. Lesson of the day: never judge by appearances. That pushover you thought might just be your worst nightmare. Joshua let the man go and reached for a pack of tissues. He calmly wiped the blood off his fingers. Despite the brutal attack. he still looked elegant, like nothing had happened. When the thug tried to crawl away, Joshua kicked the gun aside and ced a heavy foot on the man¡¯s back, pressing him into the floor until he choked on his own blood. ¡°You think you¡¯re good enough to touch my girl?¡± 6:37 pm Now the thug truly regretted it. He had taken Joshua for a soft target, but he¡¯d been dead wrong. That killing aura¨Cno one who hadn¡¯t seen war could carry that kind of weight. Instantly, his buddies closed in, grabbing whatever they could find and charging forward without hesitation. After all, with more than a dozen of them, they just couldn¡¯t believe one guy could take them all down. The innkeeper didn¡¯t even flinch. He just picked up his phone and started tallying up how much damage he¡¯d be charging for. Joshua didn¡¯t rush. He calmly took off his sses and set them on the counter. The eyes beneath¨Cnormally gentle when looking at Shermaine¨Cwere now filled with lethal intent, like they could swallow a man whole. +20 Just then, a man lunged at him with a punch. With one swift block, a sickening crack echoed, followed by a piercing scream as the attacker¡¯s arm bent at an unnatural angle. James hadn¡¯t seen Joshua fight like this in a long time. If it weren¡¯t for the public setting, he¡¯d probably be even more savage. The rule was simple: as long as no one died, Joshua could y however he liked. These idiots had iting. They¡¯d dared to think about touching Shermaine. ording to Bradley, Shermaine was now ua¡¯s most precious treasure. If he ever got to meet her, he¡¯d better serve her properly, unlike Bradley himself, who Red Joshua¡¯s date and got his bonus docked. James had no intention of intervening. Joshua had it under control. He¡¯d just handle the aftermathter. But just as he turned to go back upstairs, he saw Shermaineing down. James panicked instantly. ¡®Is it okay for her to witness Mr. York¡¯s violent and gory side?¡® he wondered. Shermaine asked calmly, ¡°What¡¯s going on downstairs?¡± Nurse walking 140 James decided to tell a white lie. ¡°Just a few clowns getting into a scuffle. It¡¯s better if you stay upstairs. It¡¯s not safe down there.¡± ¡°I need to buy something,¡± Shermaine said. Her period wasing soon, and she needed to prepare. James was about to offer to go for her, but Shermaine had already guessed what he was thinking. ¡°No need,¡± she said calmly, then walked right past him and headed downstairs. James scratched his head. He tried to keep Shermaine away from Joshua¡¯s ruthless side, but he failed. As Shermaine descended, the crowd was dazzled by her presence. She saw Joshua first. He was dealing with thest of the men who¡¯d charged at him. His moves were ruthless, precise, and heavy¨Chanded. The final attacker was kicked so hard he flew into a wall and slumped to the floor, unconscious. The man standing amid the wreckage was tall and lean, his sses gone, his damp hair slightly messy. His aura was sharp and cold, and the violence he¡¯d just unleashed still clung to him. Right now, he looked dangerous. Joshua took out a cigarette, walked over to the front desk, and said to the innkeeper, ¡°Got a light?¡± The man pulled out a silver lighter and lit it for him. Joshua lit the cigarette, took a long drag, and exhaled slowly. The scent of blood and tension hung in the air, but little by little, his killing intent began to settle. Only then did the innkeeper dare to speak. ¡°About the damages¡­¡± Joshua didn¡¯t even blink. ¡°I¡¯ll pay.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear,¡± the innkeeper said with a smile. Joshua flicked the ash off his cigarette, turned, and bent down to pick up his jacket from the corner. As he turned, he spotted Shermaine standing there, watching him. Shermaine stood motionless, her clear gaze fixed intently on him as if pondering something unseen. Then, without hesitation, she stepped forward toward Joshua. Others in the room stared. This girl had just witnessed a violent fight and didn¡¯t even blink? Yeah. She wasn¡¯t simple either, probably another predator in disguise. Before Shermaine reached him, Joshua stubbed out the cigarette. His eyes immediately softened. The room was crowded, but he couldn¡¯t see anyone else but her. Suddenly, a figure darted out from behind her, dagger in hand, poised to stab. One of the men Joshua had injured must¡¯ve snapped. He couldn¡¯t get to Joshua, so he went for the girl instead. ¡°Watch out!¡± Joshua¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he lunged forward in a sh. Before the de could descend, Shermaine delivered a brutal roundhouse kick, sending the attacker flying back to their original spot. The impact left him crumpled, unable to get back up. 6:37 pm D The onlookers confirmed their guesses. This woman was a real deal. 26 That group had seriously overestimated themselves. They hadn¡¯t bothered to assess who they were up against, and now they were paying for it. Shermaine lowered her leg and turned to face Joshua, who had stepped in front of her. His eyes were locked on her face, heart racing wildly now,pletely different from just moments ago. Thank God she had the strength to defend herself. If that guy had so much as scratched her¡­ he would¡¯ve never forgiven himself. Joshua pressed his lips. ¡°Why¡¯d youe down?¡± ¡°I needed something,¡± she replied, looking him over. ¡°Aside from the cut on your hand, are you hurt anywhere else?¡± Joshua replied, ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± I¡¯ll check when we get back to the room,¡± she said calmly. ¡°Let me buy what I need first.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± James had already started cleaning things up, paying the owner and quietly warning the rest of the group. As it turned out, Joshua¡¯s image didn¡¯t need protecting. Shermaine didn¡¯t seem fazed at all. If anything, the kick she¡¯d delivered just now told them all they¡¯d underestimated her. Shopping was quick. Shermaine grabbed two pairs of slippers and two packs of sanitary pads. Joshua followed her upstairs, his earlier aggression now fully reined in. She had brought a medical kit with her. No need to buy anything else. Back in their room, Shermaine set everything down and looked at him. ¡°Come here. I¡¯ll check your injuries.¡± 2/2 Nurse walking 141 Chapter 141 As Joshua walked up to her, Shermaine immediately began her examination. There was no need for him to take off his clothes. She could tell just by pressing lightly over the fabric whether anything felt wrong. As her fingers moved along his body, Joshua¡¯s breath hitched slightly. His jaw tensed. Even through the thinyer of clothing, he could feel the warmth of her touch. Something hot and restless stirred inside his chest. When her hands moved around to the front and paused over his chest, she noticed something strange. His heartbeat was too fast. Shermaine frowned, lifted her head sharply, and met his eyes. The longer her hand stayed there, the harder his heart pounded. She looked like she wanted to say something but didn¡¯t. After all, she wasn¡¯t certain. Seizing the moment when she was distracted, Joshua suddenly bent down and pulled her into his embrace. He whispered in her ear, ¡°Sheary, I regret it.¡± Shermaine blinked, stunned for a moment. She hadn¡¯t expected him toe out and say it so bluntly. Regret? So, her guess was right. His erratic heartbeat really was because of her. A strange warmth bloomed in her chest. Joshua actually liked her. Who would¡¯ve thought? The man who never talked about love had finally fallen for her. It felt¡­ oddly good. ¡°I love you, Shermaine.¡± His voice was dangerously smooth, rich with emotion and a hint of seduction. Shermaine smiled faintly. She wasn¡¯t the type to get flustered by a sudden confession. ¡°Too bad there¡¯s no such thing as regret pills.¡± She stepped back, out of his arms, and said, ¡°Mr. York, I¡¯ve always been proper. I never once crossed the line.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t,¡± Joshua said, stepping forward, eyes burning. ¡°I did.¡± He reached for her hand. ¡°I don¡¯t want to keep pretending anymore. I want the real thing.¡± He didn¡¯t just want her affection¨Che wanted her, fully and truly. ¡°I know there¡¯s no undoing what I said before,¡± he added. ¡°But if there¡¯s a chance to start over, I¡¯ll earn it.¡± Shermaineughed softly, eyes gleaming like stars. Joshua looked at her seriously. ¡°Shermaine, will you let me try?¡± Shermaine thought, ¡®Well, I suppose I could¡® Truthfully, she didn¡¯t dislike him. She probably liked him more than she cared to admit. Why else would his embarrassment give her such satisfaction? But the man who had once so confidently told her he¡¯d treat her well but would never love her¡­ Well, he needed to take responsibility for that. She¡¯d even been nning to end the engagement eventually. But ns changed. Shermaine considered it for a moment. Then she said, ¡°We¡¯ll see how you do.¡± Joshua¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. No rejection meant there was still hope. ¡°How long do I have?¡± 1/3 20 ¡°It depends on my mood,¡± Shermaine replied without hesitation. ¡°Got it.¡± Shermaine thought to herself, ¡®Wow, he agreed that easily?¡® Joshua was a businessman. He never did losing trades. And yet- Shermaine narrowed her eyes and asked, ¡°You gonna let go of my hand now?¡± Her hand was small and soft. He didn¡¯t want to let it go. Still, he had to. With visible reluctance, Joshua released her hand. There was still a faint smell of blood on him from the fight downstairs. It wasn¡¯t strong, but enough to be unpleasant. ¡°You should shower,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°Try not to get the cut wet. I¡¯ll redress it afterward.¡± Joshua, of course, did exactly as he was told. After he disappeared into the bathroom, Shermaine pulled out herptop and checked the signal. It wasn¡¯t strong, probably because of the rain, but it was good enough. She scanned the nearby devices, found the ones belonging to the thugs, and hacked into their photo backups. Sure enough, someone had taken pictures earlier. The files had already been uploaded to a cloud server. Quite a smart move, actually. There were no copies on the phones themselves. Shermaine deleted everything permanently. She was getting hungry. While Joshua was in the shower, she went back downstairs to grab some food. Downstairs, the crowd had mostly dispersed. The injured men were being treated by a local Mysonnian doctor the innkeeper had called. When they saw her, none of them dared say a word. The owner greeted her respectfully. He said Joshua had nned to cook for her himself, but he didn¡¯t expect those bastards to start something right before. There wasn¡¯t much food left, so Shermaine went into the kitchen herself. She made some pasta and carried it upstairs. Joshua emerged from the bathroom. The steam clung to him, his skin flushed with heat. His upper body was bare. Water dripped from his hair, traced down his neck, over his corbone, and into his chest. He looked at her, desire raging in his eyes. Shermaine raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you trying to seduce me or something?¡± Nurse walking 142 Joshua didn¡¯te out without clothes on purpose. After confirming that he still had a chance to win back Shermaine¡¯s heart, he was just too overjoyed to notice that his pajamas had slipped off and gotten wet from the floor. A man who rarely made mistakes had such a mishap. Joshua came out, intending to grab a fresh set of pajamas, but he didn¡¯t expect Shermaine to walk in from outside. She was holding a tray with one hand, which had two tes of steaming pasta on it. Upon hearing Shermaine¡¯s slightly teasing remark, Joshua¡¯s lips curled up a bit as he replied, ¡°If I were trying to seduce you, would you be tempted?¡± Shermaine paused for three seconds. ¡°No,¡± she said, then proceeded to walk inside and ce the pasta on the table. Joshua didn¡¯t get the answer he wanted to hear. However, the fact that Shermaine had hesitated for a moment before responding meant that he still had some appeal to her. With a smile, Joshua picked up a ck long¨Csleeved top and put it on directly. Meanwhile, Shermaine had already prepared the antiseptic and cotton swabs, waiting for him. The cut from the ss wasn¡¯t deep. He only needed basic first aid. So, within just a couple of minutes, Shermaine had applied a waterproof band¨Caid to his wound, tossed the ointment back into the medicine cab, and then sat down to eat her pasta. Joshua joined her. Shermaine¡¯s cooking was always good, and the pasta was delicious. She had cooked it with meatballs, vegetables, and tomatoes, which made for a great taste. Although it was a bit on the nd side, both of them still enjoyed it immensely. Shermaine thought the meatballs were quite tasty, but there weren¡¯t enough. ¡®I should have added more when I was cooking,¡± she thought to herself. Just then, Joshua transferred all the meatballs from his te to hers. Shermaine looked at the additional meatballs on her te and raised her head. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to eat them?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter to me whether I eat them or not,¡± Joshua said as he moved the meatballs over. He noticed that Shermaine seemed to really like them, so he decided to give them all to her. ¡°You seem to like them a lot.¡± ¡®If you like them, you can have them all, he thought to himself. Joshua¡¯s affection was just that simple and pure. Shermaine pursed her lips slightly. When she realized that Joshua¡¯s attentiveness and kindness toward her weren¡¯t just because she was his nominal fianc¨¦e, but because he genuinely liked her, she felt a bit flutter in her heart. Shermaine smiled faintly and held her te. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take them all.¡± ¡°Go ahead and eat,¡± Joshua said. Raindrops tapped against the window, and the outside world was pitch ck, with no glimmer of light. Joshua took the initiative to clear away the tes. After resting for a bit, Shermaine picked up her clothes and headed to the bathroom. 6:37 pm The room was really cold, so after Joshua came back, he bought two hot water bottles. One was for Shermaine to warm her feet, and the other was for her stomach. He himself was more tolerant of the cold and didn¡¯t need one. At that moment, the two hot water bottles were already heated and ced on the bed where Shermaine would sleep. The kettle was boiling water. The bedsidemp was on. Joshua was leaning against the headboard, holding his phone and opening WhatsApp. There was a message from Owen on WhatsApp. [How¡¯s everything with you and Shermaine in Mysonna? Are you taking good care of her?] Joshua replied: [Everything¡¯s fine.] As soon as he sent the message, Shermaine came out of the bathroom. The bathroom was filled with steam, and a scent of body wash wafted out. Joshua looked at Shermaine, and his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. Afraid that his too¨Ceager gaze might offend her, he turned his head and decided not to look. Shermaine sat on the edge of the bed, still damp from her shower. Her pajamas were thin, and in the room devoid of warmth, a chill came over her, causing her to shiver. When Shermaine lifted the nket and put her feet inside, she felt a wave of warmth. Then, she touched something. She felt around and realized there were two hot water bottles. ¡®Looks like I can have a good night¡¯s sleep tonight, she thought to herself. Shermaine thanked him, then noticed that there were no hot water bottles on Joshua¡¯s bed. ¡°Don¡¯t you need one?¡± At that moment, Joshua brought over a cup of hot water. ¡°I¡¯m not sensitive to the cold. I don¡¯t need one.¡± After drinking the hot water, Shermaine felt warm all over and couldn¡¯t feel any cold anymore. Although it was still early, they had been traveling all day, and Shermaine was actually a bit tired. After saying goodnight to Joshua, Shermaine curled up under the nket, closed her eyes, and prepared to sleep. Joshua turned off the bedsidemp. He looked at Shermaine. The bed wasn¡¯trge, but Shermaine only upied a third of it. She was a small bundle, looking particrly adorable. And there was definitely enough room for him on the bed. ¡®I want to hold Shermaine while I sleep,¡® Joshua thought to himself. Nurse walking 143 It was a good night¡¯s sleep. The next day, when Shermaine woke up, Joshua was no longer in the bed next door. They were sharing the same room, and Shermaine had thought she might feel a bit ufortable. After all, she was usually very alert. Butst night, she had an unexpectedly good sleep. This meant that her trust in Joshua had reached an unprecedented level. After Shermaine finished her morning routine, Joshua came in from outside, holding breakfast. The two of them ate breakfast and then got ready to leave. The owner of the inn said, ¡°It rainedst night, and the roads are muddy and hard to travel on.¡± What he was implying was that it would be more sensible to stay another night. But Shermaine had checked the weather forecast. It was supposed to rain in the afternoon, and the rainfall over the next few days was not going to be small. Staying would just be a waste of time. Some people chose to stay, while others, like Shermaine and Joshua, continued on to Xenhall after breakfast. The owner, seeing that most people had decided to leave, felt a bit regretful. He had been hoping to get more guests and make more money today. Sure enough, it started raining in the afternoon. While the owner was busy in the back, a group of people who looked like troublemakers came in. This group was led by Kingston, who was wearing sunsses that obscured his face. Sensing something was off, the owner immediately greeted them with utmost respect. Meanwhile, Shermaine and Joshua finally arrived in Xenhall. Compared to the town they hade from, Xenhall was far more backward. There wasn¡¯t a single house made of cement; all the houses were made of wood and were quite small and shabby¨Clooking. The people in Xenhall were dressed in local costumes. Some of the Mysonnians were not very friendly to these outsiders. But fortunately, even after the rain, the paths in their vige were still passable. The stone¨Cpaved roads were not too muddy or dirty, After they entered the vige, James took Shermaine and Joshua to put their luggage down first. He had already arranged a ce for them to stay¨Ca wooden cabin. The only slightly inconvenient thing was that there was only one bed in the cabin. If Joshua and Shermaine had a close rtionship, they could share the bed. However, when they were in the town, they had always booked separate rooms, which meant that Joshua was not yet at a point where he could share a bed with her. So, he would have to sleep on the floor. Joshua didn¡¯t mind sleeping on the floor as long as he could stay in the same house with Shermaine. After putting her luggage down, Shermaine asked, ¡°Where does Bianca live?¡± 6:38 pm James replied, ¡°Bianca lives up in the mountains, not in the vige.¡± He continued, ¡°There are lots of harmful bugs in the mountains. ¡°It¡¯s easy to get bitten once you go in. The closer you get to Bianca¡¯s ce, the more bugs there are. -701 ¡°But there are quite a few precious herbs in the mountains. Most of the vigers here can make a living by digging up some herbs and selling them in town.¡± Shermaine nodded. ¡°Which way do I go to the mountains?¡± ¡°East,¡± James said. ¡°Ms. Shue, are you going now?¡± Shermaine said, ¡°I¡¯m going to see if there are any precious herbs up there.¡± James thought to himself, ¡®I thought you couldn¡¯t wait to find Bianca.¡¯ Of course, Shermaine was going to find Bianca. She just needed to prepare well before going. The sorceress¡® curse was something that could catch one off guard. Shermaine didn¡¯t have much experience in this area, so it was better to be cautious. Joshua naturally followed her. The two of them headed east and soon encountered a group of college students chatting andughing with a local Xenhall girl. Shermaine had no intention of greeting them, but the enthusiastic young girl raised her hand and waved at her. ¡°Miss, hello there. We meet again.¡± The night before, Cherry had seen Shermaine¡¯s spinning kick and thought it was really cool. Even though they were about the same age, Cherry was calm and collected in the face of danger. And Cherry¡¯s boyfriend was so fierce when he fought¨Cit was intimidating and made people want to stay away. Just as Cherry had greeted Shermaine, Kathy, who was standing next to her, scolded, ¡°Are you crazy? Do you want to get into trouble? That guy was terrifyingst night. He was just short of shooting someone. ¡°And you still dare to greet her?¡± ¡°The bad guys started it. Kathy, you¡¯re overreacting,¡± Cherry said, a bit embarrassed. Shermaine nodded slightly and walked past them. Joshua followed behind her, not caring what they were talking about. After all, he really had no need to pay attention to people who didn¡¯t matter. Hearing the two of them arguing, a Mysonnian named Shalene Watson in Wallingtonian asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Kathy exaggerated the story. Shalene realized, ¡°They might really not be good people. Cherry, you shouldn¡¯t just greet strangers. It¡¯s easy to get taken advantage of.¡± ¡°Of course. That guy looked at me so menacinglyst night,¡± Kathy said. Shalene patted Kathy¡¯s shoulder tofort her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If I get the chance, I¡¯ll get revenge for you.¡± At this point, she could barely manage to curse someone without them noticing. 38 pm The roads in the mountains were slippery after the rain. Joshua took Shermaine¡¯s hand. Shermaine looked up at him, and he calmly gave an excuse. ¡°The ground is slippery. I¡¯m afraid I might fall.¡± James thought to himself, ¡®Mr. York, do you really think that excuse is convincing?¡± 20 Shermaine chuckled. ¡®For the sake of the hot water bottles Joshua preparedst night, I¡¯ll let him hold my hand. Besides, the ground really is quite slippery,¡® she thought. Nurse walking 144 After the rain, the mountains were shrouded in mist. As James had mentioned, there were quite a few bugs in the forest, but fortunately, they were all harmless. Before they came, Shermaine had applied DEET on herself and also gave Joshua some. The scent kept the bugs at bay. 20 At that moment, Joshua was holding a basket, while Shermaine, armed with a hoe, squatted on the ground digging for herbs. She wore gloves and worked quickly. In no time, the basket was already filled with quite a few. The deeper they ventured into the mountains, the more valuable herbs they found. James hade to Xenhall to find Bianca but hadn¡¯t found any trace of her. Instead, he developed a phobia of bugs. So, Shermaine simply told James not to follow them further. After all, Joshua would help her. Along the way, they did encounter vigers from Xenhall. Many of these local residents had never been exposed to the outside world and were very simple and kind¨Chearted. One man saw Shermaine heading southwest and said in Mysonnian, ¡°It¡¯s very dangerous over there. Miss, you¡¯d better not go.¡± Shermaine spoke severalnguages, but not Mysonnian. She knew he was talking to her, but didn¡¯t understand, so she frowned in confusion. Seeing that she was having troublemunicating, Joshua said, ¡°He said it¡¯s dangerous over there and told you not to go.¡± ¡°Can you understand Mysonnian?¡± Shermaine asked, curious. ¡°I know many dialects,¡± Joshua replied. Shermaine looked up at him and asked earnestly, ¡°Teach me.¡± Joshua nodded with a smile. ¡°Thank him for the warning,¡± she said. Joshua ryed her message as she had instructed. The man was slightly surprised to find that Joshua spoke Mysonnian. ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± he said before leaving. For ordinary people, a ce considered dangerous was no big deal for Shermaine and Joshua. So, after the man left, the two of them continued heading southwest. Shermaine was still missing one herb and hoped to find it. The fog grew thicker. Within a radius of a hundred feet, one might not be able to see another person. But the two of them weren¡¯t worried about getting lost. However, the bugs were bing more numerous. Some were even unafraid of the DEET scent, flying over andnding on Joshua¡¯s clothes. Joshua seemed unfazed. He was helping Shermaine shoo away the bugs. So far, none had managed tond on Shermaine. After obtaining thest herb, Shermaine tossed it into the basket. Seeing that it was gettingte, she said, ¡°Let¡¯s go. We can head back now.¡± 6:38 pm DXDD Shermaine noticed some bugs perched on Joshua¡¯s jacket. She raised an eyebrow and waved them away for him. ¡°Thanks,¡± she said. Joshua looked at her. ¡°Is there a reward?¡± Shermaine was taken aback for a moment, unable to imagine such a reserved person asking for something in return. ¡°What kind of reward do you want?¡± she asked. Joshua extended his hand. His gesture spoke volumes. ¡®If holding hands was necessary going up the mountain, it should be the same going down,¡® he thought. Shermaine pursed her lips, then took off her left glove and.took Joshua¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± They hadn¡¯t walked far when Shermaine encountered a pleasant surprise. A 1,000¨Cyear¨Cold ginseng was growing in a hole under arge tree. Shermaine spotted its roots protruding. Her eyes lit up. She let go of Joshua¡¯s hand, grabbed her hoe, and was about to dig it up when an elderlydy approached. She seemed to have noticed the ginseng as well. 20 Thedy, carrying a basket and with her hair turning gray, had bright, spirited eyes. She looked at Shermaine, sized her up, and instead of speaking Mysonnian, she used Wallingtonian. ¡°You folks are outsiders?¡± ¡°So what if we are?¡± Shermaine replied, thinking, ¡®Do the things in this mountain only belong to the locals? That¡¯s just unreasonable. Thedy said, ¡°We have a rule here.¡± ¡°Please, go ahead,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°Anyone has to give up precious herbs that a Mysonnian doctor has their eye on,¡± thedy exined. ¡°There¡¯s such a rule? Even if there is, I won¡¯t give it up,¡® Shermaine thought. ¡®It¡¯s like a robber¡¯s logic. Just because you¡¯re a Mysonnian doctor with some medical skills doesn¡¯t mean I have to give you all the good stuff.¡± Shermaine smiled, ¡°Funny you should mention that. I happen to know a bit about medicine, too.¡± Nurse walking 145 Bianca dismissed the young woman with a sneer. There were two reasons for her disdain. First, the youngdy looked far too young to have more than a superficial knowledge of medicine. Second, in Xenhall, no medical skills couldpare to Bianca¡¯s cursing skills. Once she cursed someone, many doctors would be powerless to help. Otherwise, people wouldn¡¯t travel great distances to buy her poisonous worms to harm others. Bianca¡¯s gaze was piercing. ¡°Are you really going to fight me for this 1,000¨Cyear¨Cold ginseng?¡± 20 Shermaine had discovered the ginseng first, beating the madam by a step. ¡®How could she have the nerve to say I¡¯m the one trying to snatch it from her?¡® she thought. ¡°It¡¯s you who¡¯s trying to take it from me, isn¡¯t it?¡± Shermaine said. Bianca let out a cold snort, her wordsced with a threat. ¡°This is Xenhall. I can curse. Aren¡¯t you afraid?¡± Shermaine smiled faintly. She wasn¡¯t afraid at all. ¡°Since I found the ginseng first, it¡¯s mine. No one can take it from me if I don¡¯t let them.¡± Joshua, standing nearby, gave Shermaine a fond smile. He had no intention of getting involved. He didn¡¯t know much about medicine and didn¡¯t want to interfere with Shermaine. Bianca red. ¡®Miss, you¡¯re really asking for it. If I don¡¯t teach you a lesson, you¡¯ll never respect my cursing skills,¡® she thought. ¡°I¡¯ll take it anyway,¡± Bianca said as she bent down to grab the ginseng, but Shermaine blocked her with the hoe. As Bianca reached out, it seemed she was about to grab Shermaine¡¯s hand. Shermaine quickly dodged, and she sneered, ¡°Madam, are you trying to prick me?¡± Bianca hadn¡¯t expected the youngdy to see through the needle hidden in her sleeve. If she had touched Shermaine¡¯s hand just now, she could have shown her the full force of a curse. But Bianca hadn¡¯t anticipated that the youngdy would see through her trick. ¡®She has some insight; she¡¯s a promising one,¡® Bianca thought. ¡°But I didn¡¯t seed, did I?¡± Bianca was rare in her missteps and was a little annoyed. Thisdy was not to be underestimated. Her agility was a clear indication. Bianca suddenly noticed Joshua, who was watching from the side. ¡°Is he your boyfriend?¡± Hearing the madam¡¯s question, Joshua raised an eyebrow, curious to hear Shermaine¡¯s response. Shermaine¡¯s expression was indifferent. ¡°Sort of.¡± Her nominal fianc¨¦ was technically her man, but for now, it was in name only. Joshua smiled. He would work to make Shermaine more certain of that answer. Bianca shifted her cane. ¡°You certainly know how to pick a man.¡± He was handsome and clearly destined to bring good fortune to his future wife. He had grace and a bright future, but that. didn¡¯t matter. ¡®Since you won¡¯t let me have it, I must teach you a lesson, Bianca thought. After a moment of thought, Bianca spoke. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± 1/2 6:38 pm ¡°Shermaine Shue,¡± Shermaine replied. ¡°How long are you staying?¡± Bianca asked. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Shermaine said. There was nothing more to discuss. ¡°Forget it. I can¡¯tpete with you two young people. Bye,¡± Bianca said. ¡®It looks like I won¡¯t get this 1,000¨Cyear¨Cold ginseng. I¡¯ll see if there are any others and dig one up for my granddaughter, she thought. Bianca gradually disappeared into the fog, but she didn¡¯t go far. Instead, she hid in the shadows. In the thick mist, a small, dark bug flew toward Joshua. It was nearly invisible to the naked eye. Shermaine took out a silver needle and flicked it straight toward Joshua. Joshua tilted his head, and the needle whizzed past his ear. He nced back to see the needle impaling a tiny, dark bug with red eyes. Pierced by the needle, the bug soon lost its vital signs. ck fluid oozed from its body, which was oddly repulsive. From her hiding ce, Bianca watched this and couldn¡¯t help but look at Shermaine with new respect. Despite her youth, she was quite capable. Her boyfriend was also agile. Shermaine dug up the 1,000¨Cyear¨Cold ginseng and tossed the hoe into the basket. She hadn¡¯t worn gloves while digging, and now her hands were covered in dirt. Shermaine felt a bit awkward about holding Joshua¡¯s hand again. But Joshua didn¡¯t seem to mind the dirt at all. He reached out and took Shermaine¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± 2/2 Nurse walking 146 Chapter 146 20 When Bianca returned to her mountain home, the sky had long since turned pitch ck. She hadn¡¯t found any more ginseng, and, being older, her energy was waning. If she encountered a wild boar, she wouldn¡¯t be able to handle it alone. Bianca¡¯s doorstep was adorned with many dried herbs and insect repellents, and even animal specimens hung on the walls. Since there was no electricity, she relied on oilmps for light. At that moment, inside the room, the flickering candlelight was apanied by the sound of coughing. Bianca hurried to the kitchen to heat some medicine, then brought it into the room. On the bed inside the cabiny a girl of six or seven, who was very thin and pale due to her illness. Bianca sold poisonous worms to people to harm others just to earn money for her granddaughter Chloe¡¯s medical treatment. However, despite spending the money, Chloe¡¯s illness persisted. Bianca, a sorceress with cursing skills, couldn¡¯t care Chloe¡¯s illness with her magic. She could only watch helplessly as Chloe suffered. ¡®If only Chloe could take that 1,000¨Cyear¨Cold ginseng,¡® she thought. ¡®But I was just a step toote.¡¯ ¡°Chloe, wake up and take your medicine,¡± Bianca said as she walked to the bedside and helped Chloe sit
  1. up.
Meanwhile, in the vige, the lights were bright. There was one downside. Bathing was quite inconvenient. Considering this, Joshua had asked James, who had returned halfway, to build a small shelter and boil some hot water. Joshua was very thoughtful in everything he did, and Shermaine admired him for that. However, the shelter they built was quite small, covered only by a cloth outside, and there wasn¡¯t even a ce to hang clothes inside. It didn¡¯t serve much of a purpose. Shermaine could go a day or two without bathing, but after running around in the mountains to pick herbs, she felt very dirty. Regarding this, James sighed, ¡°Mr. York, I did my best, but resources here are really limited.¡± He paused. ¡°How about I borrow a stool for Ms. Shue to put her things on?¡± There were chairs inside the house, but they were made of stone and very heavy, making them difficult to move around. After they returned, their shoes were all muddy. Shermaine took off her shoes, went inside, found some slippers to wear, and then put her pajamas in a bag. She walked to the back door. ¡°No need, by the time you borrow one, the water will be cold.¡± There were only a few households where they were staying. James and his group were even worse off, sleeping in their car because they were toozy to set up a tent. Shermaine handed the bag over to Joshua and said, ¡°Keep watch for me while I¡¯m in there.¡± Joshua took the bag, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing as he nodded. ¡°Thanks,¡± Shermaine said. 6:38 pm DXD D ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± Joshua replied. It was his duty as her fianc¨¦. James, on the other hand, quietly stepped back. He couldn¡¯t stay and disturb them any longer. He missed his wife already. Shermaine carried the hot water into the shelter and quickly undressed. However, standing outside, Joshua could hear the rustling sounds of her undressing very clearly. Joshua knew that his self¨Ccontrol was very weak in front of Shermaine. His desire for her was intense. In fact, all his desires stemmed from her. Under these circumstances, Shermaine could only take a quick wash. After a few minutes, she stretched her arm out of the shelter, signaling to Joshua outside. ¡°My clothes, please.¡± Since she hadn¡¯t dried off, her delicate arm was dripping with water droplets. At that moment, Joshua, who had been facing away from the shelter, turned around and walked over. Joshua looked at the arm stretched out. Although it was very dark, to Joshua, it seemed to have a magical allure, tempting him to do something wrong. Joshua paused, then stepped forward and handed her the bag. ¡°Here.¡± Shermaine took it and, after putting on her pants, began to button up her pajamas. The pajamas were made of cotton and required buttons. Halfway through buttoning them, in the darkness, she saw a red dot sh. It wasn¡¯t an illusion. Then, she stopped buttoning her pajamas. Joshua¡¯s voice followed. ¡°Sheary, there¡¯s a sniper.¡± Shermaine was very quick and immediately dashed out of the shelter. Just in time, Joshua was right beside her, and she collided into his arms. Then, a bullet whizzed by, piercing through the tent and hitting a tree in the distance. The attacker was using a silenced sniper rifle equipped with a night vision scope, and from the direction the bullet came from, it was clear that the shooter was not far away to the south, at a higher elevation. And, obviously, the target was Shermaine, not Joshua. Joshua, holding Shermaine, quickly moved inside the house and kicked the door shut with his foot. 2/2 Nurse walking 147 Chapter 147 +20) At that moment, Kingston, who was perched high up to the south, lowered his gun with an exceptionally gloomy expression. Ever since Shermaine and Joshua had returned from the mountains, Kingston had been receiving updates from his men, who had been tailing them discreetly. Kingston had intended to seize this opportunity to eliminate Shermaine, but he hadn¡¯t anticipated that she would detect the threat and react so swiftly. Almost in sync with Joshua¡¯s trigger pull, Shermaine had dashed out of the shelter, and Joshua had ushered her back into the house. ¡®This isn¡¯t the time to linger, he thought. ¡®Joshua will surely send someone to investigate.¡¯ And with that, Kingston swiftly vanished into the night. Joshua¡¯s first instinct was indeed to pull out his phone and call James. Upon receiving the call, James promptly headed in the direction Kingston had been, searching for any suspicious individuals. Meanwhile, Joshuaid Shermaine down on the bed. Because she had been carried by Joshua, one of her slippers hade off and was left outside. She was now barefoot on one side, her clothes only partially buttoned. Shermaine¡¯s neckline gaped open, revealing her delicate corbone, smoothplexion, and full chest. Joshua¡¯s gaze fell upon her, taking in the sight. In that instant, his eyes darkened. The beast within him seemed ready to break free. He grabbed a piece of clothing from the bed and wrapped it around Shermaine. However, the image he had just seen lingered in his mind. ¡°Sheary-¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say anything,¡± Shermaine said, a hint of difort unusually visible on her face. She turned away, buttoned up her clothes, and added, ¡°My shoe fell off outside. Go get it for me.¡± Without a word, Joshua went out to retrieve the shoe. When he returned with the shoe, Shermaine had already begun to work on the herbs she had collected. The herbs were spread out on the table, and she had borrowed tools from a Mysonnian doctor in Xenhall. It was unclear what she was up to. Joshua ced the shoe at her feet. Shermaine lifted her foot and slipped it on, while Joshua stood still, watching her intently. That ufortable feeling returned. Shermaine¡¯s expression was nk. ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make something right now,¡± Joshua said. ¡°Okay,¡± Shermaine replied. Joshua headed outside. The kitchen was a small, separate structure, and it only had a wood¨Cburning stove. Twenty minutester, James returned and reported, ¡°Mr. York, I searched the area. There are many people from that line of 6:38 pm work camping on the eastern slope overnight. But I didn¡¯t find any suspicious individuals. ¡°I asked around, and they all said they hadn¡¯t seen anything.¡± Joshua then instructed, ¡°Increase the patrols. I don¡¯t want tonight¡¯s incident to happen again.¡± James nodded. ¡°Yes, Mr. York.¡± The night was long. After eating, it was Joshua¡¯s turn to heat water for a bath. He washed quickly and soon emerged from the shelter, heading back inside. 201 James, ever considerate, had already set up Joshua¡¯s sleeping area. Two thick nkets wereid on the floor, just to the left of the bed. Shermaine was still working on her herbs. Soon, a rich aroma began to fill the room. The scent was strong but not unpleasant. Shermaine had made two bottles in total and tossed one to James. ¡°For mosquito and insect bites, use this.¡± However, she wasn¡¯t sure how long the scent wouldst. Without refining it, it probably wouldn¡¯t linger for long. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Shue,¡± James said as he took it. ¡°I¡¯ll leave now. You two get some rest.¡± After James left, he thoughtfully closed the door behind him. Shermaine made a small sachet and lit it. She nned to sleep and then confront Bianca when she woke up. She wanted to see what kind of trouble the possible mastermind behind it could stir up and how far they would go to try to kill her. ¡°I¡¯m turning off the light,¡± she said. ¡°Okay,¡± Joshua replied. As soon as the light went out, the room was pitch ck. As Shermaine settled under the covers, Joshua¡¯s voice sounded. ¡°Sheary, let¡¯s make a deal,¡± he paused. ¡°Can I have half of the bed?¡± 2/2 Nurse walking 148 420 Sleeping on the floor was indeed a bit of an indignity for a wealthy and influential young man like Joshua. But Shermaine replied without hesitation, ¡°No way.¡± She didn¡¯t have the habit of sharing a bed with anyone. Moreover, she was only giving him a chance to redeem himself; she wasn¡¯t about to offer him the privilege of half her bed. ¡®Mr. York is really shameless, able to say something so outrageous, she thought. Anticipating her response, Joshua smiled. ¡°Sheary, don¡¯t you want to learn Mysonnian?¡± he said, implying something more. ¡°It¡¯s not very convenient to teach you while I¡¯m on the floor.¡± Shermaine paused, then replied, ¡°I¡¯m not learning tonight.¡± The ce was too remote and backward; herptop and phone couldn¡¯t get any signal. Otherwise, she could have learned online and wouldn¡¯t have to rely on this cunning man in front of her. ¡®She¡¯s not learning? What a pity,¡® Joshua thought. He wasn¡¯t really disappointed, but he made up his mind to keep trying. ¡°Goodnight, Sheary,¡± Joshua said. His voice was very sexy in the darkness. Shermaine found Joshua a bit annoying and pulled the nket higher up, but she replied politely, ¡°Goodnight.¡± But the night was still young; it was just past nine o¡¯clock. Maybe it was the hard bed with only a thin nket for padding, which was too ufortable. Shermaine couldn¡¯t get used to it and had no sleepiness at all. She could hear Joshua¡¯s low, steady breathing from the lower left side of the bed, rhythmic and calm. However, she was bing more and more alert. Listening to this breathing pattern, Joshua wasn¡¯t asleep either. But he was very quiet, not even turning over. ¡°This is the third time she¡¯s turned over, he thought. Joshua heard it clearly. ¡®It looks like I have a chance to get into bed tonight.¡® Joshua didn¡¯t mind sleeping on the floor. Before he was discharged, he had endured much worse conditions. After about twenty minutes, Shermaine still couldn¡¯t fall asleep. She gave up. Instead of wasting time, she might as well use it to learn some Mysonnian. The bed was quite wide; it could easily amodate two people. Moreover, she wasn¡¯t sharing a nket with Joshua. After some consideration, she said, ¡°Come up and teach me.¡± Joshua quickly replied, ¡°Okay.¡± He picked up his nket andy down on Shermaine¡¯s left side. Joshua casually turned to his side, as if he could see Shermaine¡¯s silhouette through the darkness. ¡°Sheary, you¡¯re so nice,¡± Joshua murmured, his tone tinged with amusement. ¡°Let¡¯s start the lesson,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°Okay.¡± Joshua began his Mysonnian lesson. 6:38 pm Learning Mysonnian wasn¡¯t difficult, especially for someone as intelligent as Shermaine, who naturally picked things up quickly. 201 Time passed. Shermaine had already grasped the basics and could converse with Joshua in Mysonnian. Plus, she was starting to feel sleepy. With onest turn, she fell into a deep sleep. As dawn began to break, Shermaine was groggy and on the verge of waking up. She turned over and vaguely felt a lump beside her, but she didn¡¯t realize it. Instinctively, she kicked out, with enough force to send someone flying out of bed. After Shermaine moved, Joshua opened his eyes. His beautiful, narrow eyes showed no sign of sleep, meaning he had probably been awake for a while. He hadn¡¯t expected Shermaine to kick upon waking, but a faint smile flickered in his eyes. He reached out from under the nket and caught Shermaine¡¯s kick. His pants were rolled up to his knees, revealing her calf. Joshua held her foot, his fingertips circling the protruding bone on her ankle twice. ¡°Good morning, Sheary.¡± Shermaine felt Joshua¡¯s touch and curled her toes, feeling a bit sensitive. She was now fully awake and tried to pull her foot back, but Joshua¡¯s grip was too tight. Shermaine pursed her lips. ¡°Let go.¡± ¡°Sheary, you asked me toe up herest night,¡± he said. ¡°I know,¡± Shermaine replied, realizing her earlier action had been subconscious. Joshua looked at her, his voice slow. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t woken up earlier than you, I would have been kicked out of bed.¡± ¡®But you weren¡¯t kicked out of bed, were you?¡® she thought. Shermaine felt certain that Joshua was trying to get something out of her again. Since they had arrived in Mysonna, she had already given him quite a few favors. She wouldn¡¯t let him take advantage of her generosity like this. Without another word, she kicked out with her other foot as well. Nurse walking 149 Rexha sased at cordes thinking Looks de hoy se to mess with first thing in the morning. She has quite the tromper when she wakes up The of them were essentially wrestling in bed Anchusa was only on the defensive, countering her moves without attacking back The tens of poesia muring is gea, eager to se e Josh was very cuble. Whether he could overpower her was one thing, but Shermaine was do woulde out on top a teht with Jostresa A frendly sparing match was fine, but in bed it was a bit witte 3s a broke and the sky teda pale white, the roosters in Nenhall crowed even louder. Joshua looked at Shermaine, who was straddling in Aer fists raised and full of energy. As her punch came down, he caught her hand Shears I surend be said Shermaine raised #getrex Nur diet fer back.¡± Shermaine¡¯s parans were way too lose, and with her movements, the hem of her shirt rode up revealing her sexy waist. lestum noticed her enthil wander Justina smiled. His benthal eyes sened to seemed to spark with mischief. Stermaine¡¯s heart skipped a beat and in a moment of dare, Joshua flipped over, pinning her beneath him, holding her hamis and immobilizing her legs Steaming was to restless and he couldn¡¯t take it anymore. I won¡¯t fight back. I can¡¯t bear to hurt you¡± he said Stemmine was trapped under Joshua unable to move. Their breaths intertwined. After struggling a few times without sess, and with Joshua whispering those words in her ear, her ears tingled, and her erelistes funtered. Then get up,¡± she said ¡°Okay he replied. After a mamment, Joshua made no move. He smelled really good, and his lips were a light, faint red, like a fruit that had just pened in the early morning, tempting to taste. Stomaine urged him. ¡°Harry up The proximity was too close for herfort. If she hadn¡¯t been distracted just now, she wouldn¡¯t have been overpowered by Joshua. It was a miscalction. Shermaine¡¯s allure was just too strong, Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened as he leaned down and kissed her forehead. ¡°I¡¯ll go make you breakfast, he said. Then he released Shermaine and got up to put on his shoes. If he didn¡¯t leave the bed right away, he really didn¡¯t know what he might do. As soon as Joshua left. Shermaine sat on the bed, her expression slightly heavy. She raised her hand and touched her forehead, where Joshua¡¯s lips had left a lingering sensation. 13 6:39 pm D & D Light slowly seeped in through the small wooden window. Shermaine¡¯s ears turned unnaturally red. The sun dispersed the mist in the forest, and at the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen, quite a few gravediggers had already gathered at the tomb entrance, entering one by one. There was a rule in their trade. Once one entered a tomb, one would never go in again. So, the first time, they had to be fully prepared. When most of them had gone in, the college students, with their backpacks, stood behind arge tree and asked Shalene, ¡°Are we sure we¡¯re not going in?¡± Shalene replied, ¡°We definitely are going in, but the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen is not that simple. You haven¡¯t seen the cursing skills of Mysonna. They¡¯re really eerie. So, for your safety, I¡¯ll take you to Bianca first to get some protective items.¡± ¡°Bianca?¡± someone asked, puzzled. Shalene nodded. ¡°Bianca is the most powerful sorceress in our vige. I¡¯ve always wanted to learn from her, but she won¡¯t take me as her apprentice.¡± Shalene¡¯s eyes dimmed with disappointment. She thought she had a good talent, but she didn¡¯t know why Bianca didn¡¯t think highly of her. At that moment, on the hillside, a small wooden cabin was emitting a thin trail of smoke. Bianca returned from the vegetable garden to hear Chloe crying out for her grandmother. Her face turned pale as she saw a man carrying Chloe away. Bianca roared in anger, ¡°What are you doing? Have you lost your mind, daring to hurt my granddaughter on my turf?¡± With Bianca¡¯s appearance, the people hidden around her revealed themselves, each holding a gun. They would fire at the slightest movement from her. Kingston¡¯s voice came from a phone, a recording. ¡°Bianca, there¡¯s a reason for this. I¡¯ll personally take care of your granddaughter for a few days, unless you can kill someone for me.¡± Bianca recognized the voice. He had recently paid arge sum for poisonous worms from her. She didn¡¯t know his name. After all, people who bought things from her rarely revealed their identities. However, his men seemed to call him Mr. Wright. With so many guns pointed at her, Bianca dared not make a move. ¡°Who do you want me to kill?¡± Then, a man threw a photo toward Bianca. Bianca picked it up and, upon seeing the person in the photo, her eyes flickered. She thought, ¡®It¡¯s that girl I ran intost night? It seems Mr. Wright failed to kill her. ¡®Instead, she followed him here. Now, he wants to eliminate her, chasing her to Xenhall. ¡°Maybe he can¡¯t show his face, so he wants to use me as a pawn. Does he really think I¡¯m so easy to manipte? 2/3 Prev Nurse walking 150 Bianca stared at the man who had handed her the photo, ying a game of give and take. ¡°Don¡¯t think I¡¯m easy to fool. I ran into her yesterday down in the mountains. ¡°She knows medicine, and it¡¯s not easy to get close to her. ¡°She¡¯s not someone to be trifled with. You tell him that. The most I can do is lure her into the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen. You¡¯ll have to figure out how to deal with her yourselves.¡± The man hesitated for a moment, not expecting that Bianca had encountered Shermaine the night before. He didn¡¯t doubt her, as Shermaine did indeed know medicine. Clearly, Bianca wasn¡¯t lying. They had met. ¡°Also, I¡¯ll provide you with an especially vicious, poisonous worm. I¡¯ve raised this worm for a long time. Just one bite, and a person will drop dead instantly,¡± Bianca said. At the mention of such a sinister worm, the man wavered. Given Kingston¡¯s nature, he would certainly not pass up something so formidable. ¡°Alright, bring the worm over,¡± he said. ¡°Wait,¡± Bianca said as she went into her house to get the worm. She did have such a worm here, but she had no real intention of giving the one she just mentioned to the man. It was a temporary measure. However, this worm was no ordinary creature. Although it wasn¡¯t lethal, a bite from it would leave a person aroused for an entire day. Bianca held a bottle and tossed it over. He caught it. ¡°What if this thing gets loose and bites one of us?¡± he asked. ¡°This creature loves sweet things the most,¡± Bianca replied, tossing over several packets of traditional medicine. ¡°This is the traditional medicine Chloe needs to drink. She¡¯s not in good health. ¡°If anything happens to her, I¡¯ll risk my life to make sure you don¡¯t leave Xenhall alive.¡± He took the traditional medicine. ¡°When do we make our move?¡± Bianca¡¯s expression was nk. ¡°You¡¯ve already calcted that she¡¯lle looking for me today, haven¡¯t you? Let¡¯s do it today.¡± In Xenhall, around nine in the morning, Shermaine left the house after breakfast and encountered several Mysonnians along the way. Learning Mysonnian meant she could quickly grasp the content of their conversations. The locals dared not enter the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen. ¡°These gravediggers are really bold. If they die in there, we can scavenge their left¨Cbehind supplies and sell them for money to support our families,¡± a man said. They dared not enter the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen because they knew the power of the cursing skills. The Cursed Queen from a thousand years ago was their ancestor, and they held her in reverence. In fact, some vigers had entered the tomb before but retreated halfway through. Shortly after they returned, they fell ill. and had to seek Bianca¡¯s help to be cured. Since then, the man never stepped into the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen again, contentedly digging herbs with the others, no longer dreaming of striking it rich with treasures. 1/4 6:39 pm Soon, they left the group of Mysonnians, who were chatting animatedly, behind and headed up the mountain. Joshua wanted to hold Shermaine¡¯s hand, but she quickly dodged. She stuffed her hands into her pockets, hiding them tightly. ¡°The ground isn¡¯t slippery today.¡± Joshua¡¯s attempt was in vain, and a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. ¡°I know. I just wanted to hold your hand.¡± ¡®So what? No way, Shermaine thought. Shermaine walked ahead. ¡®If I don¡¯t put Joshua in his ce, he¡¯ll get even more out of line.¡® Chloe had been taken away. Bianca had no appetite for breakfast, too angry and worried about her granddaughter¡¯s safety. Bianca had been waiting for Shermaine toe to her, but in the end, it was Shalene who arrived. Shalene brought several strangers with her. Bianca had no interest in entertaining them and didn¡¯t hide her displeasure when she saw them. ¡°Why did you bring so many people?¡± Shaleneughed and said, ¡°Bianca, these are friends I know. They¡¯re students of archaeology from a famous university in Basterel. They¡¯re very interested in the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen and want to take a look inside. ¡°I know it¡¯s not that simple in there, so I came to you specifically to get some bug¨Crepellent and protective items.¡± Bianca rolled her eyes. ¡°You know it¡¯s not simple, yet you don¡¯t send them to go home. Instead, you bring them in to risk their lives?¡± ¡°Probably not that serious.¡± Shalene naturally wanted to go in as well. She disdained the idea of teaming up with gravediggers and had no choice bat to join forces with these college students. She hoped to find some cursing skills left behind by the Cursed Queen. If she could master them, she wouldn¡¯t have to constantly ingratiate herself with Bianca just to learn cursing skills. Moreover, every time Shalene humbled herself like that, Bianca still refused to teach her. Kathy then said, ¡°Bianca, hello. The archaeology students are very interested in traditional culture. Besides, we¡¯re about to graduate, and our thesis is on this subject.¡± So, they were definitely going into the tomb. Moreover, they didn¡¯t really think there was any real danger. ¡°We just want to buy some bug¨Crepellent and protective items. If you have them, sell them to us,¡± she continued. Bianca really didn¡¯t care about the small amount of money and found them annoying. So, she packed some talismans into their bags and sent them on their way. She said, ¡°Do as you please. Since you¡¯re so eager to go and risk your lives, it¡¯s none of my business. No need to pay. I don¡¯t value that little money.¡± The college students, holding the talismans, didn¡¯t think much of it. They thought Bianca was just being tough on the outside but soft on the inside, and didn¡¯t take her words to heart. Before leaving, they still left 60 dors. Bianca really couldn¡¯t sit still. ¡®Maybe I should pretend to take a walk in Xenhall and just find Shermaine directly,¡® she thought. Not long after the group of college students headed down the mountain, they ran into Shermaine and Joshua, who wereing up to find Bianca. 2/4 6:39 pm D&D Kathy muttered quietly upon seeing them. ¡°What a coincidence. We¡¯re so unlucky.¡± ¡°Kathy, why are you so hostile toward them? They haven¡¯t done anything to you.¡± Cherry had always been very friendly to Shermaine. Hearing Kathy¡¯s words, Cherry retorted. ¡°Let me repeat this. You¡¯re too naive. They¡¯re not good people.¡± Kathy was stubborn in her opinion. ¡®Is that so?¡® Cherry didn¡¯t believe it at all, thinking, ¡®Kathy is just being petty, holding a grudge after being subtly insulted by the man at the innst time.¡® 20 Shalene then spoke up. ¡°Anyway, anyone whoes to Xenhall with an agenda isn¡¯t a good person. Last time, I said I would teach them a lesson for Kathy. Well, here I go.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Kathy was happy. Cherry looked at the male students beside her. ¡°Why don¡¯t you guys stop her?¡± They had all witnessed the man¡¯s skills at the inf. He was authoritative and not to be trifled with. The male students looked embarrassed and didn¡¯t say anything. Then, Shalene approached Shermaine. At that moment, Joshua was squatting down to tie Shermaine¡¯s shoces. Shermaine was looking down, and although she didn¡¯t want tough, her lips couldn¡¯t help but curl up slightly. Setting aside Joshua¡¯s little schemes, he was actually doing quite well. Shalene¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°Miss, hello there. Are you also here for the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen?¡± Upon hearing this, Shermaine looked up and met Shalene¡¯s smile. Shalene extended a hand, seemingly to shake hands with her. Shermaine nced at Shalene, and in the flicker of her eyes, she sensed the ill intent. But Shermaine still quietly raised her hand and replied, ¡°No.¡± Shermaine gave a perfunctory handshake, and Shalene¡¯s fingernail seemed about to prick Shermaine¡¯s hand, but Shermaine quickly grabbed her wrist. ¡°You¡¯re quite clever to poison your nails,¡± Shermaine said. Shalene¡¯s face turned pale from the pain. The next moment, Shermaine¡¯s hand moved up Shalene¡¯s forearm, and with a crack, Shalene¡¯s arm was dislocated. Shermaine released Shalene and gave her a gentle push. Shalene let out a cry of pain, her steps faltering, and she staggered a few steps before copsing to the ground. ¡°But your skills are not up to par. Want to harm me? You don¡¯t have what it takes,¡± Shermaine said. Shalene¡¯s face turned from pale to sallow. She couldn¡¯t stand being looked down upon. Both Bianca and this woman were like that. ¡°Just you wait,¡± she sneered, thinking, ¡®I¡¯ll learn the true skills of the Cursed Queen from the ancient tomb ande back for revenge! Shalene got up and quickly left. Kathy and the others hurriedly followed, fearing that Shermaine would hold them ountable, Shermaine wasn¡¯t that petty and wouldn¡¯t bother with a few inexperienced college students. As she turned around, she saw the olddy with a caneing down the mountain. It was the same woman they had metst night. 3/4 6:39 pm +201 Bianca looked at her. ¡°What a coincidence, Shermaine.¡± She thought, I¡¯ve been waiting for her for so long, and she¡¯s finally here¡® Shermaine raised an eyebrow. ¡°So you¡¯re Bianca?¡± Shermaine looked at her attire. ¡°Are you heading to the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen?¡± Bianca continued walking down the mountain. ¡°If you want to know who¡¯s been scheming behind your back, follow me.¡± Nurse walking 151 Chapter 151 20 From their encounter in the mountains yesterday, Shermaine knew that Bianca wasn¡¯t really that bad¨Chearted, Although Bianca had pretended to leave and then hid in the shadows, even releasing a worm to bite Joshua, Shermaine guessed that she probably just wanted to probe her strength, to see whether she should try to grab the 1,000¨Cyear¨Cold ginseng again. In the end, after gauging Shermaine¡¯s abilities, Bianca had topletely abandon the idea and truly leave. Bianca walked ahead, with a waist drum fastened to her belt. Every few steps, the drum would make a couple of thumping noises, like a child¡¯s toy, and it even had a cute hair tie attached to it. ¡°How old is your granddaughter?¡± Shermaine asked. Bianca paused for two seconds before replying, ¡°Seven.¡± ¡°Is she in good health?¡± Shermaine said. Bianca felt like Shermaine had seen through something. ¡°So¨Cso,¡± she thought. ¡®Shermaine really has a sharp eye,¡® she wondered. Afraid that Shermaine was trying to get information out of her, Bianca warned, ¡°Say less and keep up.¡± They followed Bianca all the way to the tomb entrance. At that moment, the green vines at the entrance had been cut away, revealing the dark interior, where not even a hand could seen in front of one¡¯s face, and a piercing cold wind blew out from within. es stepped forward and said, ¡°Bianca, don¡¯t y tricks on us. This is clearly the entrance to the ancient tomb of the ursed Queen. Why did you bring Mr. York and Ms. Shue here?¡± Bianca was calm and collected. ¡°I didn¡¯t say I¡¯d tell you who it is right away.¡± She coughed and took out an old, tattered map. ¡°There¡¯s an extremely cold herb inside this tomb of the Cursed Queen. Go and get it for me. Once you bring it back, I¡¯ll tell you who that person is.¡± However, James felt that Bianca was trying to deceive them. Moreover, based on his past experience with tomb raiding, this ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen was quite dangerous. Joshua and Shermaine had no experience entering tombs, and the level of danger would increase significantly if they went down. Shermaine took the map, but she had never seen this herb in any other medical books. ¡°What do you need this herb for?¡± ¡°To cure my granddaughter. Is that not okay?¡± Bianca said. ¡°Medicine shouldn¡¯t be taken lightly. As a sorceress and a Mysonnian doctor, you should understand thismon sense,¡± Shermaine said. Bianca¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°Mind your own business. Are you going or not?¡± Shermaine rolled up the map nonchntly. ¡°I¡¯m going.¡± Seeing Shermaine¡¯s cooperation, Bianca was even more pleased with her. 6:39 pm D +20) Bianca threw her bag over, which contained firewood, shlights, and other such items. ¡°Then hurry up and go. I¡¯ll wait for your good news outside.¡± With that, Bianca walked away with her cane, looking quite dashing. James¡® expression became slightly serious. ¡°Ms. Shue, Mr. York, are you really going? You have no experience with tombs and could easily run into danger.¡± Joshua picked up the bag Bianca had thrown over. ¡°Why are you panicking? We won¡¯t do anything too dangerous.¡± Moreover, Bianca had lured them here for more than just that herb. Shermaine must have discovered something, which was why she had agreed so readily. James said earnestly, ¡°Mr. York, Ms. Shue, we will protect you.¡± They turned on their shlights and walked into the tomb. About two or three minutester, three men emerged from elsewhere, holding walkie¨Ctalkies, and said to the other end, ¡°Mr. Wright, Bianca has led them into the tomb.¡± ¡°Have people guard the tomb entrance,¡± Kingstonmanded. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the subordinate replied. After themunication ended, the man hung up the walkie¨Ctalkie and put it back in his waistband. However, he suddenly felt a prick on the back of his neck. He reached back in pain to touch it, but soon after, he fainted on the ground. The others¡® faces changed as they were about to check on him, but they also felt something bite them. One of them reacted quickly and pped a dark worm to death, but it was already toote. They all fainted on the ground. After that, Bianca came out, kicked them in the face in anger, took their guns and walkie¨Ctalkies, tied them up, and left them to their fate. After dealing with them, Bianca turned and left. She had to go get Chloe home first before she could go into the tomb to find Shermaine. Bianca liked Shermaine. ¡®If something happened to her inside and it wasn¡¯t their doing, that would be bad,¡® she thought. Shermaine and the others walked inside for a long time. James and the others led the way, while Shermaine and Joshua were surrounded and protected in the middle. Joshua held Shermaine¡¯s hand. The warmth from Joshua¡¯s palm came through, and she tried to pull away, but couldn¡¯t. She pursed her lips. ¡°Joshua, that¡¯s enough.¡± She was really about to get angry. In the dimly lit cave, Joshua lowered his voice, speaking seriously. ¡°Sheary, it¡¯s dangerous here. I feel safer holding your hand tightly.¡± Shermaine felt her ears getting warm again. Joshua cane up with any excuse just to hold my hand,¡® she thought. 2/3 Nurse walking 152 Chapter 152 Shermaine had nned to teach Joshua a lesson, so she didn¡¯t continue to indulge him. She curled her lips into a smile. ¡°I have a great idea. Let me go first.¡± Joshua¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he reluctantly let go. Then, Shermaine tied his wrists together with a rope and held the other end. ¡°Now you can feel safe,¡± she said. Joshua was taken aback for a moment, then he chuckled, ¡°Yeah, Sheary, whatever makes you happy,¡± he said. ¡®It seems that morning kiss really got to Shermaine, he thought to himself. They continued to walk downward until finally, the slope ended. When they stood on level ground, they had truly entered the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen. Next was a very ordinary stone door. There was a mechanism beside the door. They simply pressed it down and entered the tomb. During this time, there were no ambushes or strange urrences. However, for James, the more peaceful things seemed, the more dangerous they were bound to be. They couldn¡¯t afford to let their guard down. In front of the third stone door was a cold pool. The pool was very deep, and to go further inside, they had to cross it. There was a wooden bridge that could be used, but the bridge was very old. If it exceeded its weight limit, it would surely copse. Moreover, there were many stone statues around that could be used for cover and ambushes. At that moment, behind one of the stone statues, Kingston was holding a small bottle. He put the bottle to his ear and could hear the worm inside gnawing away. Beforeing here, he had tested the worm on a Mysonnian. As Bianca had said, after being bitten, the man indeed began to sumb to overwhelming arousal. The longer he resisted, the more restless and feverish he became. No matter how strong one¡¯s willpower was, under the torment of time, they would eventually lose their sanity and be obsessed. ¡°What kind of expression would this cold man show if he were bitten by this worm?¡® Kingston wondered. Kingston admitted that he liked Joshua. He had liked men since he was a child.. But throughout his life, he had stumbled more than once with Joshua, leading to a mix of love and hate. Kingston didn¡¯t expect Joshua to belong to him, but he couldn¡¯t stand the thought of Joshua being with other women. Although Kingston really wanted to use this on Joshua, he restrained himself. It would be such a waste not to use something so good on Shermaine. Moreover, Kingston had even prepared a man for her. Suddenly, faintly, the second stone door opened, and footsteps could be heard approaching. A man whispered, ¡°Mr. Wright, there¡¯s movement. Someone¡¯sing.¡± Kingston put the bottle back into his bag. ¡°Everyone, get into position. Make sure to use tranquilizer darts and take them down one by one.¡± 6:39 pm At the same time, the calm surface of the cold pool suddenly rippled. Something seemed to be lurking beneath the water. Through the clear surface, a pair of bright green eyes appeared. It was indeed Shermaine and Joshua who were approaching. She was holding the rope, but she didn¡¯t notice that she had stepped on something slippery and almost fallen. Joshua was quick to react. He tugged on the rope, and in an instant, he had her in his arms. He now enjoyed holding Shermaine more than just holding hands. She was soft and fragrant, and it felt veryfortable to hold her. Shermaine¡¯s expression was nk. Despite being a big shot, even she was bound to make mistakes sometimes, especially in this dark and poorly lit ce, relying only on a single shlight for illumination. ¡°Thanks,¡± she said. Joshua¡¯s eyes were filled with affection. ¡°You¡¯re wee, Sheary. Just give me a kiss,¡± he said. Shermaine naturally wasn¡¯t going to kiss him. She pushed him away and shone the shlight on the ground to see what had made her slip. The light revealed arge pi¨¨ce of snake skin and ayer of shed skin. Joshua looked down as well and said to James ahead, ¡°Go check if there¡¯s a pool up ahead. Be careful. There might be a snake.¡± Looking at the scales and the shed skin, it seemed to be from a python or perhaps a giant snake they hadn¡¯t seen before. But since the people who had gone in before hadn¡¯t had any trouble, perhaps the snake was still asleep. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Nurse walking 153 Chapter 153 Chapter 153 James moved forward. Kingston and his men, hiding behind the stone statues, saw that he was alone and didn¡¯t rush to act. James stopped by the water¡¯s edge and noticed arge patch of snake scales by the pool. He looked at the water but couldn¡¯t see much, but he was certain that there was a snake in there. Three minutester, James returned and reported, ¡°Mr. York, there¡¯s a pretty deep pool. I suspect the snake in the water is probably asleep, which is why the gravediggers before us got through so easily.¡± They needed to take advantage of the snake¡¯s slumber and move quickly. Otherwise, once the snake woke up hungry and started treating them as prey, things would get bad. If there were no other ways out of the tomb and they had to turn back, they would encounter the snake again. It was very dangerous. Moreover, there were people who wanted to harm Shermaine. They didn¡¯t know where these people were hiding at the moment or what kind of tricks they might pull. But James nced at the calm Shermaine and the ever¨Csteady Joshua and felt that there was indeed no need to worry too much. After all, neither of the two leaders was afraid of a little danger. Shermaine and Joshua soon arrived at the edge of the pool. James and the others crossed the wooden bridge first to avoid it copsing and reminded those around them. ¡°Cross two at a time.¡± Shermaine and Joshua were thest two to cross. As soon as they stepped on the bridge, it creaked and swayed. Just as they reached the middle of the bridge, Kingston gave the order. Immediately, his subordinates, hiding behind the stone statues on both sides, shot at Shermaine and Joshua. However, by a stroke of luck, a giant snake emerged from the water, opening its enormous mouth as if to swallow Shermaine and Joshua whole, and the iing tranquilizer darts were deflected. Kingston¡¯s face darkened instantly. ¡®Is this giant snake out of its mind,ing out to eat people now?¡® he thought. Water sshed high into the air as Shermaine and Joshua started running at the same time. The giant snake, feeling no pain, continued to lunge at the two. The snake was at least 60 feet long, and Shermaine had never seen such arge snake before. What she hadn¡¯t expected was that the people who wanted to harm her would be lying in ambush here, but they seemed to be quite unlucky, as their n was ruined by a snake. James pulled out his gun and provided cover fire for Shermaine and Joshua, who were still on the bridge, shooting at the silver giant snake. However, the snake was very agile and dodged the bullets. The wooden bridge, hit by the snake, began to copse. At the moment the bridge started to fall, Joshua and Shermaine, hand in hand, jumped to the shore and, without a word, ran with perfect coordination. ¡°Mr. York, Ms. Shue, hurry,¡± James shouted. On the other side, Kingston, wearing a mask, gave themand. ¡°Follow them.¡± They had a good opportunity now and no reason to abandon their original n just because of the snake. They had brought high¨Ctech equipment with them. They threw a grappling hook that caught the wall on the other side of the pool and swung across. However, shortly after they made it across, many smaller snakes began to crawl out of the water. Seeing this, they felt a chill run down their spines. 12-18, Wed, 11 Jun Chapter 153 As she ran forward, Shermaine¡¯s eyes were cold and stern. She nced back and then said to Joshua, ¡°I¡¯m going to kill this beast. A chilling sura of determination emanated from her. They were in a narrow stone passage where it was hard to maneuver. Joshua had the same idea. ¡°Let¡¯s run a bit further ahead,¡± he said, and then added ¡°Til help you.¡± Killing a snake was not a difficult task for them. Soon, they reached a much wider area with a high ceiling and two coffins on either side. One of the coffins had already been opened. The air was filled with the metallic tang of blood. On the groundy several gravediggers, their status unknown, alive or dead. And a mummy¨Clike creature was slowly advancing toward Cherry, who was cowering in the corner, trembling with fear. Cherry¡¯s face was pale, and she was on the verge of fainting. She had never dreamed that Kathy and Shalene would just abandon her and run away. And the male ssmates who hade with them had vanished without a trace; there was no way they woulde to her rescue. Just as Cherry thought she was about to meet her end, she saw Shermaine emerge from the stone passage, along with the skilled man and his subordinates. But before Cherry could feel any relief or call out, she saw the giant snake follow them out of the passage, lunging menacingly Another huge shock caused Cherry to faint on the spot. After Cherry passed out, the creature immediately shifted its target to Shermaine and the others. At that moment, Shermaine and Joshua were already engaged with the snake. They wielded sharp, curved knives. As the snake¡¯s head lunged forward, Shermaine flipped and dodged, stabbing the knife into the snake¡¯s body. However, the snake¡¯s scales were too thick. The knife couldn¡¯t prate the skin and thus couldn¡¯t harm it. Seeing that the knife was useless, Shermaine shouted, ¡°James, give me a gun.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± James replied, quickly taking out a gun and throwing it to Shermaine. Shermaine caught it with perfect precision, swiftly chambered a round, and pulled the trigger. No matter how fast the snake moved, Shermaine¡¯s marksmanship was spot¨Con. One shot hit the snake, causing it to let out a painful hiss. Joshua then took advantage of the snake¡¯s injury and plunged his knife into the same spot, beginning to slice through its skin. Soon, blood gushed out from beneath the snake¡¯s scales. The two of them worked in perfect harmony. Shermaine stood on one of the coffins and continued to fire at the snake. The snake¡¯s underside and eyes were its weak points. Shermaine aimed for its eyes, hitting them with every shot. However, the snake was incredibly resilient. In great pain, its body thrashed about. Its tail nearly swept James off his feet, but apanion managed to pull James back just in time, averting disaster. At that moment, Joshua¡¯s voice rang out again. ¡°Shermaine, watch out behind you.¡± Shermaine turned around to see a monstrous creature that had silently approached her from behind, kicking toward her. To avoid being struck in a vital spot, Shermaine blocked with her hand. However, the force was immense, unlike anything a normal person would possess. She was kicked off the coffin and collided with the wall beside it. Joshua moved behind Shermaine and acted as a human shield. Shermaine wasn¡¯t in pain. She heard Joshua let out a low grunt. 1218 Wed, Jun Her lips pursed, her tone was one of concern she had never detected before. ¡°Joshua, are you okay?¡± Joshua forced out, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± He would have been much more upset if he hadn¡¯t caught Shermaine. Seeing Joshua take a flesh wound to protect her, Shermaine was a bit angry. That thing didn¡¯t seem human or ghostly, but its strength was extraordinarily powerful, and its sterich was unusually foul. 76% Then, Shermaine nced at the gravediggers lying nearby. Their lips were purple, and they all had w marks on their bodies. She warned, ¡°Be careful. This monster¡¯s body is poisonous. Don¡¯t let it touch you.¡± If it weren¡¯t for the imminent danger, Shermaine would have liked to tie this creature up and conduct research to see how it had survived for so long. While Shermaine was thinking this, Kingston and his men emerged from the stone passage, but they were followed by a swarm of snakes. The creature immediately fled upon seeing the snakes, its shadow disappearing through the fifth stone door in an instant, impossible to catch. One of the snakes had already reached Shermaine¡¯s feet, but after catching her scent, it quickly changed direction. Not only that, but the snakes didn¡¯t even approach Joshua and James. Instead, they began to bite at Kingston and his men. Shermaine looked at the man in the center, surrounded by many people, wearing a mask. Although she couldn¡¯t see his face, he seemed somewhat familiar. As the snakes grew more numerous, Kingston¡¯s face darkened beneath his mask. ¡®These damn snakes havepletely ruined my n,¡® he thought. Unable to do anything about Shermaine, he had no choice but to keep running forward. Shermaine felt that the masked man who had fled so quickly seemed familiar. Although she couldn¡¯t see his face, she had a sense of recognition. She pondered for a moment and then had a thought. ¡®Could it be him?¡® The more she thought about it, the more she felt it was possible. She looked at Joshua, whose facial features were incredibly handsome, and thenined, ¡°Others have female rivals, but because of you, I have a male rival.¡± And that man had always wanted to kill her. Nurse walking 154 Chapter 154 A male rival, he thought. Joshua had a pretty good idea. ¡®It¡¯s most likely Kingston In fact, from the very beginning, Joshua had suspected Kingston. When Joshua and Shermaine came to Mysonna, sensing the threat, Kingston nabrally couldn¡¯t sit still and wanted to take the opportunity to strike at Shermaine. But for Shermaine, Kingston hardly qualified as He was nothing more than aplete lunatic. Joshua didn¡¯t discriminate against men who liked men; love knew no boundaries, no gender. But whoever liked Joshua, whether male or female, had better stay as far away as possible. Before Joshua fell for Shermaine, he had kept himself pure, with love being irrelevant to him. After he fell for Shermaine, she became his only one. However, the implication of what Shermaine said was different. Joshua pondered over her words several times, feeling delighted, and said softly, ¡°Sheary, sorry to have caused you trouble.¡± It was quite troublesome. She hade all the way to Mysonna and entered this strange tomb. But she didn¡¯t really mind. Shermaine pursed her lips, not saying anything. She probably had a bit of a mischievous streak, inexplicably enjoying watching Joshua whisper sweet nothings to her, which was oddly charming and made her happy. Despite herints, Shermaine didn¡¯t take Kingston seriously. He wanted her life, but killing her wouldn¡¯t be that easy. After the silver giant snake¡¯s eyes were injured, it collided and slid around, trying to escape. But it didn¡¯t have the chance. Shermaine had said she would kill the beast, and she would definitely do it. She aimed her gun at the snake again, pulled the trigger, and fired two more shots. The bullets embedded themselves in the snake¡¯s body, and its hissing became more and more miserable. Arge amount of snake blood kept flowing, and soon the giant snake stopped moving, barely alive. In a short while, it lost its breath. The air was thick with the smell of blood, and on the ground, some smaller snakes were scurrying around in panic. Perhaps after the death of their king, they were terrified and quickly disappeared. Shermaine holstered her gun, then squatted down to check the gravediggers lying on the ground to see if they were still breathing. She felt for their breath and found they were alive. They had only temporarily fainted due to poisoning. However, the corrosiveness of the poison was quite strong. A small wound had already be gangrenous, with the upperyer of flesh dead. If not treated, the wound would worsen, and eventually, the entire face could rot away. Shermaine took out some iodine and sprayed it directly onto the man¡¯s facial wound. After doing the basic treatment, she said, ¡°James, take the girl with us. Let¡¯s go.¡± Since Shermaine already knew who wanted her life, of course, she would take this opportunity to settle the score with him properly. On the other side, Kingston had managed to shake off the annoying snakes that had chased him. However, after passing through the fifth stone door, he was surrounded by thick fog and couldn¡¯t tell which direction he was heading. Moreover, there were many human bones on the ground. Kingston identally stepped on one and kicked it away in anger after ncing down. To drive away the snakes, he held a torch. After looking around, he thought it was a perfect ce to ambush again. They had killed the silver giant snake. Kingston figured Shermaine and Joshua would be chasing after them soon. ¡°Put out the fire and prepare the trap,¡± he ordered. Chapter 154 Hearing Kingston¡¯s , they had no choice but to extinguish the torches in their hands. Just as they were about to take out their tools from the bags to start working, a pair of green, eerie eyes appeared above them. It was the mummy¨Clike creature with long, dark, and sharp nails. It had a monkey like face on a human body, was as thiri as a skeleton, but incredibly strong. As soon as the fire was out, it attacked Kingston and his men. Comment Send gift S ed Nurse walking 155 Chapter 155 Chapter 155 When Shermanne entered, the area was shrouded in thick fog, making it impossible to see anything clearly, Suddenly, with a thud, a figure copsed. right in front of them, She looked down and was surprised to see it was Kingston. His mask had fallen off, revealing several deep scratches on his face. Blood was flowing down his face as he clutched it, and he let out an angry roar of frustration. This damned tomb had caused him such bad luck. Everything he had meticulously nned was ruined here. First, it was the giant snake, and now this he Shermaine raised an eyebrow and teased, ¡°M¡°those eyes were as blood¨Cred and terrifying as the blood flowing from his face. Kingston turned his head and saw Shermaine lookin next time you n to kill me, you should choose a location that matches your capabilities.¡± at him with a faint, mocking smile. Despite having traveled the same path, she looked strikingly different. Her long hair was neatly tied up, her lips were red, and her clothes were clean and tidy. Perhaps from killing the snake earlier, she still had an of cold, unyielding fierceness about her. She was beautiful, enchanting, yet not vulgar. In contrast, Kingston was in a sorry state, with his face injured. ¡®Will the scars on my face be repairable once I get out of here? If I¡¯m disfigured-¡® he thought. He couldn¡¯t ept that oue. The stark contrast between the two made Kingston feel increasingly unbnced. ¡°However, it seems you won¡¯t have a next time,¡± Shermaine said. Kingston wanted to say something, but upon seeing Joshua, a flicker of panic crossed his eyes, and he began to prevaricate. ¡°I¡¯m not quite sure what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it you who tried to kill me just now?¡± Shermaine asked. Kingston¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn¡¯t have just used tranquilizer darts.¡± His gaze shifted to Joshua as he said, trying to sound convincing, Mr. York, I never intended to harm Ms. Shue. I just didn¡¯t like her and wanted to teach her a lesson. You know, I-¡± Before Kingston could finish, both Shermaine and Joshua kicked him simultaneously, sending him sprawling backward and spewing blood from his mouth. Double kicks¨Che never stood a chance. Shermaine thought to herself, ¡®What a deceitful coward. He dares to do it but won¡¯t take responsibility, and he even tries to confess? Does he think I don¡¯t exist?¡® Joshua¡¯s eyes were cold and unyielding, like the arrival of winter. He spoke. ¡°Before you say anything else, you should understand one thing. I am Shermaine¡¯s fianc¨¦.¡± Even though they were only nominally engaged, Joshua would never forgive Kingston, not to mention that he loved Shermaine so deeply now. Yet Kingston still dared to say inappropriate things in front of her, which was unforgivable. One kick each was more than enough for Kingston. He rolled twice across the ground in utter disarray. He was already injured, and thebined force of their kicks exacerbated his internal injuries. It seemed unlikely that he would escape their retribution. wed Chapter 155 At the moment, Kingston¡¯s subordinates were still engaged in a fierce battle with the creature, too preupied to protect him, Kingston was ki enough to have survived this long; otherwise, he would have been killed by the creature already. ¡°Or do you think I¡¯m a fool who can be easily deceived by a few words?¡± Joshua¡¯s tone was calm and measured. ¡°You¡¯re overestimating youmelf- Kingston felt as if he had fallen into an icy abyss. Joshua¡¯s gaze seemed to regard him as nothing more than a tiny, Insignificant ant, one that could be mercilessly crushed with a single step. ¡®Why couldn¡¯t you just stay alone? You¡¯re so out of reach. Why did you have to arrange a marriage? Why did you have to get engaged to Shermaine? Kingston thought. At this point, any further attempts at deception by Kingston would be futile. Even if he didn¡¯t die here tonight, he would surely face relentless attacks once he got out, and it might even drag down the ck River Company and the Wright family. Kingston didn¡¯t want to die, nor did he want to bring disaster to the Wright family. He was about to inherit the ck River Company. ¡®It seems I have to kill both Shermaine and Joshua,¡® Kingston thought, the murderous intent growing in his mind. However, amidst the fog, a scream of agony echoed. Faintly, they could see the creature pouncing on a man, biting into his neck as if to suck his blood. It was a truly horrifying sight. In a short while, the man fainted from excessive blood loss. The creature¡¯s target then shifted to Shermaine and the others. With a sh of green light, it lunged forward. At the same time, Kingston gave the order. ¡°Do it. Kill them.¡± AD Comment Nurse walking 156 Chapter 156 Chapter 156 Quickly, the foggy area was plunged into a chaotic melee. Kingston had brought in no fewer than ten to twenty subordinates, all of whom were skilled and fiercely loyal. Upon hearing their boss¡® order to kill, they immediately opened fire on Shermaine and Joshua with the guns they already had in hand. However, they wasted quite a few bullets, and none hit their mark. Subsequently, Joshua¡¯s subordinates moved in to interfere and engaged in a fierce fight with them. Meanwhile, the creature continued to attack Shermaine. It was incredibly agile; it couldn¡¯t be killed with a gun and couldn¡¯t be injured with a knife. It was unclear what its weakness was. Seeing this as a good opportunity, Kingston took out the poisonous worm that Bianca had given him. If the worm bit Shermaine, she wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand the creature¡¯s attack. So, he took out a bottle of syrup from his bag and threw it at Shermaine. As the bottle was in mid¨Cair, he shot it, causing the syrup to rain down on Shermaine. Then, he released the worm from the bottle. The worm, smelling the sweet scent, immediately spread its wings to feed. The creature seemed to dislike the sweetness and shifted its target to attack Joshua. Shermaine wiped the water droplets off her body. Smelling the sticky sweetness mixed with a faint blood on herself, she longed to leave immediately, go outside, and take a hot bath to clean herself thoroughly. Joshua kicked the creature aside, grabbed a chain, and tied it up, binding it to a stone. He then took out a handkerchief and wiped Shermaine¡¯s face. The worm was now hovering above their heads, seemingly about to swoop down at any moment. ¡°The smell on me is really unpleasant,¡± Shermaine muttered, frowning. Joshua didn¡¯t think so. He could still smell the scent of the incense fromst night on her. ¡°No, it smells nice.¡± ¡®Really? Perhaps it¡¯s just the coat that smells too strong,¡® she thought. So, Shermaine took off her trench coat and threw it on the ground, deciding to abandon it. As he wiped the water off her head, a bugnded on his hand. Immediately, he felt a slight sting. Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened as he flicked the worm that had bitten him off. The worm, flicked with such force, hit the wall behind them and got stuck in a crevice, barely alive. Joshua¡¯s grip was strong; the worm wouldn¡¯t be flying again even if it survived. Kingston, who had seen this from a distance, twitched his lips. ¡®Why is it that every time I try to harm Shermaine, she always manages to escape danger? However, since it bit Joshua, it might work too. Without Joshua¡¯s help, Shermaine won¡¯t defeat this creature and get out of here,¡® Kingston thought. The fog was too thick here, and the surrounding noises were too loud, masking the subtle sounds. Joshua didn¡¯t notice the worm¡¯s approach Getting bitten by a worm outside wouldn¡¯t be a big deal, but in Mysonna, in the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen, a worm bite had to be taken seriously. Joshua didn¡¯t feel very ufortable at the moment. He hesitated for a moment. ¡°Sheary?¡± 12 Chapter 156 Yes? she said. ¡°I got bitten by a worm,¡± he said. Shermaine¡¯s head snapped up, and she immediately ced her hand on Joshua¡¯s wrist to check his pulse. The pulse was steady, showing no problem Joshua¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple moved as he looked into Shermaine¡¯s eyes, his gaze bing deeper, However, he didn¡¯t make any moves. Shermaine was skilled in medicine. Even though she hadn¡¯t detected any issues, she could still sense Joshua¡¯s abnormality. He was holding her hand tightly. She needed to find a way to deal with Joshua¡¯s current problem. ¡°Let go of me, and I¡¯ll go find some medicine for you.¡± Joshua obediently released her. On the other side, the creature that had been chained had broken free. It was vengeful, making gurgling noises in its mouth. After locking its gaze on Joshua, it lunged forward again. However, Joshua was no pushover now. He found this creature incredibly annoying. His whole body was filled with a violent, restless energy, making him exude a murderous aura. As Joshua engaged with the creature again, Shermaine squatted on the ground and emptied the contents of her bag. She was searching, thinking, ¡®Is there any medicine that can calm Joshua down?¡® But after looking through everything, she found nothing. In the darkness, Kingston took out his gun and aimed at Joshua. Just as he was about to pull the trigger, Bianca suddenly appeared and struck him on the head with her cane. His head buzzed, and he fell to the ground, unconscious. Bianca stomped on him and cursed, ¡°Deceitful viin, you deserve to die.¡± AD Nurse walking 157 Chapter 157 Bianca hadn¡¯t intended to show up sote. With her age, she naturally walked slowly, and she hadn¡¯t anticipated that Shermaine and the others woul move so swiftly. They were almost at thest level of the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen. As soon as Bianca arrived, she saw the man, who had ordered his men to tie up her granddaughter, aiming a gun at Sherrmaine¡¯s boyfriend, about to shoot. She quickly knocked him unconscious and, for good measure, cursed him to make him suffer a bit. Bianca seemed to be quite familiar with the tomb. Upon seeing the creature, she spoke to Joshua without any panic. ¡°It¡¯s afraid of fire It had to be said that the relics left by history were eerie and terrifying. This thing was a cursed man. He was dead, but the worm living inside him wasn¡¯t. It survived by drinking blood, and the more blood it drank, the stronger it became. However, due to its age, the worm inside had somewhat degenerated: It wasn¡¯t like the one Bianca had encountered in her youth in this tomb, which had almost cost them all their lives. Fortunately, they knew its weakness and managed to kill it. But this one was still very strong. It just so happened that it was up against Shermaine and Joshua, who were incredibly formidable. Even if they didn¡¯t know its weakness, they wouldn¡¯t let it harm them in the slightest. Joshua picked up the chain from the ground again, not very patient. While dodging the creature¡¯s attack, he wrapped the chain around its neck, forming a loop and securing it. He took out a lighter from his pocket, and as the blue me flickered to life, the creature sensed it and emitted a sense of panic. However, it was toote to run. The moment the blue me touched its body, it was instantly reduced to a pile of ash. Joshua¡¯s patience was truly remarkable. He took out a bottle of water from his bag and calmly took a sip. Bianca felt a bit guilty when she saw this. It seemed that the worm she had given to Kingston had bitten Joshua. Shermaine looked at Bianca with a stern expression. Bianca coughed and, since she didn¡¯t admit to anything, Shermaine wouldn¡¯t know that the worm was raised by her. ¡°Why are you looking at me? I don¡¯t have any medicine on me that can solve his problem.¡± Shermaine pursed her lips. Bianca stopped teasing her and said, ¡°Go through this maze and keep moving forward. There¡¯s an herbal field ahead. All the herbs grown there are cooling in nature. You can see if there¡¯s any herb that can alleviate his problem.¡± Shermaine saw that James and the others had almost finished dealing with Kingston¡¯s subordinates. At the moment, Joshua¡¯s condition was of utmost importance. ¡°Lead the way,¡± Shermaine said, picking up the bag from the ground and walking over to take Joshua¡¯s hand. She managed to hold his hand, realizing Joshua¡¯s palm was very hot, almost burning. However, instead of pulling him away, she was pulled back into his embrace. He held Shermaine, pinched her chin, and lifted her face. Jo came down. kiss Unlike the previous times when their kisses were just a brief touch of lips, Joshua broke through her teeth and entered. Shermaine pushed him, but she couldn¡¯t budge him. Joshua sensed Shermaine¡¯s struggle and spoke in a husky voice, releasing her lips. ¡°Sheary, let me kiss you for a bit, okay i Shermaine¡¯s cheeks were tinged with a light blush. ¡°It¡¯s not going to help.¡± ¡°It does,¡± he said. Shemaine tasted so sweet, and he indeed felt much better. Shermaine was speechless. Joshua moved closer to her lips again and gently kissed her twice. Shermaine¡¯s eyshes fluttered, and she ultimately couldn¡¯t bring herself to push Joshua away. James and the others, upon seeing this, quickly turned away, not daring to look any longer. Bianca, on the other hand, looked up at the sky and hummed to herself. Shermaine, seeing that Joshua was bing even more unrestrained, shook off his hand from her waist. ¡°Wait for me here.¡± AD Nurse walking 158 Chapter 158 Shermaine¡¯s lips glistened with moisture, resembling a blooming red rose, vibrant and dewy. She could still feet a slight numbness on her l?n Joshua, still not satisfied, licked his lips. His usually gentle eyes now held a strong sense of aggression, fixated on the woman he loved. The fame wande him continued to burn.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± he replied in a hoarse voice. Shermaine then had Bianca lead the way to find the herbal field. James and the others were left behind to look after Joshua. As soon as Shermaine and Bianca left, James turned his head, nced at Joshua, swallowed hard, and thought to himself, ¡®He is fucking sexy Joshua was sitting on the ground, leaning against the wall. Perhaps because of the kiss, his lips were also very red. His prominent Adam¡¯s apple moved as he lowered his eyes, like a wild animal lying in wait, motionless. Joshua was indeed brimming with hormones. After Shermaine left, the surging desire within him was somewhat restrained. He took off his coat, now using it to cover himself. He reached into his pocket for a cigarette, intending to get a lighter, but he had used the lighter to burn the creature earlier, and it was gone. So, he said to James, ¡°Lighter, please.¡± James quickly took out his lighter and tossed it over. Joshua caught The faint blue me flickered to life. He held the cigarette between two fingers, smoking and exhaling. He tilted his head back and closed his eyes. Shermaine¡¯s lips had tasted so sweet. At this moment, he was like an addict, craving more. As Bianca had said, this ce was indeed a maze. If one wandered around aimlessly, they wouldn¡¯t get through. If they tried to force their way through, they might trigger the traps here and meet their end, unable to escape. Previously, so many gravediggers hade into the tomb, and naturally, some had fallen here. Shermaine could smell the strong scent of blood in the air, estimating that quite a few people had been caught in this trap. Bianca approached a device. ¡°Restore this thing.¡± Shermaine took a look. ¡°What¡¯s the difference between this and a Rubik¡¯s Cube?¡± ¡°At least it¡¯s harder than a Rubik¡¯s Cube,¡± Bianca said. Shermaine didn¡¯t think so. Reassembling a Rubik¡¯s Cube had a calcted form, and of course, this device did too. Shermaine nced at it and started working on it. Two minutester, it was reassembled. The fog ahead, which had been thick and imprable, gradually cleared, revealing a path. Bianca looked at Shermaine, her lips twitching. ¡°Your math is pretty good. You solved this thing so quickly.¡± Back in the day, it had taken them a whole day and night to crack this device, but Joshua had done it in less than two minutes. ¡®This is the downside of not having much education,¡® Bianca thought. Come to think of it, if her granddaughter hadn¡¯t been sick, she should be in elementary school by now. However, Xenhall was too b Forget about schools; even the vigers struggled to make a living. To get to school, they had to go to town, and walking there would take two or three hours. If it weren¡¯t for her granddaughter¡¯s illness, Bianca would have wanted to raise cursed worms to make money and help develop Zenhall, but unfortunately, she couldn¡¯t for now. Her granddaughter¡¯s life was more important at the moment. Shermaine replied indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s a piece of cake.¡± Except for Millennium Prize Problems, she could solve any other math problem. After all, she loved mathematics and had been studying it since she was a child, never ceasing to explore. ¡°You also know medicine?¡± Bianca said. Shermaine nodded. ¡°Then you might be interested in some of the scrolls left by the Cursed Queen,¡± Bianca said. Shermaine¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Where can I read them?¡± ¡°Of course, at my house,¡± Bianca said. When Bianca hade to the tomb back then, she hadn¡¯t dared to touch those precious items, especially the crystal coffin of the Cursed Queen. She hadn¡¯t dared to touch it at all because it was very eerie; trouble would arise as soon as it was touched. Bianca had only taken some books, pots, are pans and then left. never Since then, Bianca had nevere to the tomb again and had even gone out of her way to cover it up. The reason the tomb was discovered again was quite a coincidence. Recently, there had been a lot of rain, and andslide had revealed the entrance. It was discovered by vigers who were gathering herbs on the mountain, and the news eventually reached the gravediggers. Bianca strongly suspected that Shalene was behind it. Shalene had a motorcycle and would leave town every few days. Unlike most vigers who couldn¡¯t even use a phone, not only could she use a phone, but she could also use aptop and keep up with the outside world., This exined why Shalene knew a group of archaeology students. It was likely that she had been keeping an eye on the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen for some time. They walked down the path and soon arrived at the herbal field Shermaine had mentioned. At that moment, the herbal field was dotted with green- glowing worms, resembling fireflies, but they were not. ¡°Are those worms harmful?¡± Shermaine asked. ¡°No, they are harmless,¡± Bianca said. Shermaine nodded. Thinking of Joshua¡¯s current condition, she quickly searched for any herbs that could be made into a juice for him to drink to qui reduce his fever. However, as Shermaine was looking for the herbs, suddenly a person¡¯s scream was heard. The person¡¯s face was filled with panic, his hands waving around as if driving something away, muttering, ¡°Don¡¯t bite me.¡± But, aside from himself, there seemed to be nothing around him. As soon as the harmless green worms Bianca had mentioned approached him, suddenly, fierce blue mes burst into life, and the man was burned t death right in front of Shermaine. Nurse walking 159 Chapter 159 Chapter 159 Shermaine¡¯s face was stein. ¡°Harmless worms?¡± Bianca coughed awkwardly again. ¡°He deserved it. He must have touched the crystal coffin. These green worms are somewhat connected to the cr coffin. Anyone who has touched it will have problems.¡± In other words, those who haven¡¯t touched it won¡¯t have any issues. Shermaine finally took a bit of interest in the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen. She was curious about how these green worms could determine who had touched the crystal coffin and then attack them. Shermaine pondered for a moment. Bianca¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you are interested in the crystal coffin?¡± ¡°I want to take a look,¡± Shermaine said. Bianca rolled her eyes and let out a sigh of relief. ¡°It¡¯s fine to look, but don¡¯t get any ideas. That thing is not to be touched.¡± Shermaine felt that she needed to see it for herself to decide whether it could be touched or not. She pulled a few cooling herbs, thinking that should be enough. Too many cold herbsbined might cause unnecessary side effects on the body. After pulling the herbs, Shermaine walked over to the charred corpse, squatted down, and took a look. The burned body had a strange and unpleasant smell. She sniffed with her nose and detected that a part of the odd odor was the smell of sulfur. Shermaine stood up. ¡°Take me there.¡± ¡®Shouldn¡¯t you hurry back to cool down your boyfriend¡¯s fire at this moment? Do you trust his self¨Ccontrol so much? Aren¡¯t you afraid he¡¯ll be too frustrated?¡® Bianca thought to herself. In fact, Bianca didn¡¯t think it was necessary to find herbs. It would be faster and more direct to just leave the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen and go back to have sex. It could also enhance their rtionship. Moreover, Bianca¡¯s cursing skill could increase the chances of conception. These two were so good¨Clooking; the children they would have would probably be incredibly cute. Bianca¡¯s train of thought had derailed into absurdity. Seeing Shermaine heading toward the crystal coffin, she snapped back to reality and quickly followed. The closer they got to the crystal coffin, the more people they saw lying beside it, their status unknown. The crystal coffin was particrly beautiful, made of some unknown material that was transparent, allowing them to see a figure lying inside. ¡°Ah.¡± A scream rang out. Shalene¡¯s eyes had lost focus, and she was grinning maniacally, holding a knife and stabbing at someone, muttering, ¡°Kill you.¡± Shermaine recognized the person who had been stabbed twice. It took her a moment to remember that this girl was the one who had been badmouthing them since they were at the inn/Her name was Kathy, if she remembered right. People with evil intentions would have their malevolence amplified once they got close to the crystal coffin. Bianca had refused to teach Shalene cursing skills because Shalene had ill intentions. Shalene would use the skills she learned to trimes and harm others. It was fine to seek wealth, but people with ill intentions were too easily tempted by money and could easily do things that were murally content. Their profession had its rules: they couldn¡¯t indiscriminately kill innocent people. Kathy¡¯s face was filled with terror. She was so scared that s wet herself, crying and retreating backward. Kathy had a bit of a petty mind. Joshua had just reprimanded her once, and she held a grudge, spreading rumors among her ssmates that they wate not good people without any basis. But after all, she was a human life, and Shermaine could still try to save her. She couldn¡¯t save the person who had been burned to death just now because she hadn¡¯t reacted in time. Shermaine picked up a stone and threw it at Shalene. Shalene turned her head and swung her knife over. Shermaine, with an expressionless face, kicked her directly. Shalene flew backward, fell on the steps, hit her head, and was knocked unconscious. When Kathy saw Shermaine, she wanted to say something, but didn¡¯t¡® know what to say. However, she was bound to feel ashamed. After all, the so¨Ccalled bad person in her mind had saved her life. Shermaine, driven by curiosity, stepped onto the altar and walked toward the crystal coffin. As soon as she stepped on it, she felt a maic fluctuation that seemed to interfere with her brainwaves. However, after a while, the interference faded away. It didn¡¯t have any impact on Shermaine. Then she walked to the crystal coffin and saw a woman lying inside, the Cursed Queen, who had been extremely powerful in Mysonna a thousand years ago. After a thousand years of death, all that would remain would be a pile white bones. However, this Cursed Queen was well¨Cpreserved, lying there as if she were a beautiful princess sleeping, not like a dead person at all. Shermaine saw some very strange and iprehensible symbols s on the coffin lid. After studying them, she found that they didn¡¯t match any of the writtennguages that had appeared in world history. Shermaine felt that the text on it seemed to float like water. She was about to reach out and touch the crystal coffin when Bianca came over and grabbed her hand. ¡°I warned you not to touch it. Otherwise, if you lose your life here, I won¡¯t be able to go back and exin to your boyfriend,¡± said Bianca. Shermaine licked her lips. ¡°Why not just touch it?¡± She had a hunch that she might be okay if she touched it. ¡°No way,¡± Bianca firmly refused. After a stalemate, Shermaine gave up, feeling a bit regretful. ¡®I don¡¯t necessarily have to touch this crystal coffin. Since Bianca doesn¡¯t allow it, I won¡¯t go against her good intentions,¡® she thought. Shermaine pulled her hand back. ¡°I won¡¯t touch it. Let me go.¡± ¡°You have to promise,¡± Bianca said. Shermaine felt a bit helpless. ¡°I promise.¡± After getting the promise, Bianca let her go. The two of them came down from the altar together. Shermaine looked back. On the other side, James was counting the time. Shermaine and Bianca had been gone for half an hour, and Joshua had almost drunk all the water they had brought. Because of the heat, Joshua had taken off his shirt. At that moment, Joshua was doing one¨Cfinger push¨Cups, one after another. Sweat droplets were dripping from his jawline to the ground. When Shermaine came back, she mixed the herbs together, made a juice, and poured it into a mineral water bottle, the squatted in front of Jesus ¡°Joshua, drink this.¡± Nurse walking 160 Chapter 160 Chapter 160 Joshua had been exercising while trying to calm himself down, so he hadn¡¯t noticed Shermaine¡¯s return. Now, hearing her voice, he didn¡¯t look at her but drank the herbal concoction she handed him. It tasted bitter and astringent. He wasn¡¯t sure if it would quench the intense heat within him. His voice was still hoarse as he wiped the sweat from his brow and put his shirt back on, covering his tanned and well¨Cdefined abs. ¡°Why did you take so long?¡± he asked. Shermaine replied, ¡°I took a look at the crystal coffin.¡± ¡°What did you find?¡± he inquired. ¡°There were very peculiar symbols on the coffin lid, and the altar¡¯s maic field was quite strange,¡± Shermaine said. She was always curious about the unknown, but she also knew her limits. With Bianca¡¯s intervention, she hadn¡¯t delved any deeper. ¡®I¡¯ll have to study the scrolls Bianca brought back once we get home and see if there are any clues,¡® Shermaine thought to herself. The way back was different from the original path. This one had been dug by Bianca when she hade to the tomb before. James tied up Kingston, grabbed the other end of the chain, and dragged him away, regardless of whether he was injured or if he would get bumped around. After about twenty minutes of walking, they emerged from the tomb. It was already dark outside. Unexpectedly, time had slipped by before they knew it. A cold gust of wind blew, and James, who hadn¡¯t felt the cold inside, shivered instantly. After descending the mountain, they came across a river flowing down from the mountain, with a gentle murmur. James and the others might have felt the cold, but for Joshua, it was just right. He had been smoking the whole time. Shermaine walked ahead. Along the way, Joshua was extremely quiet, speaking very little and not engaging with her at all. After a while, Shermaine couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and turned back to ask, ¡°Aren¡¯t you feeling any better?¡± Joshua, staring at the murmuring river, seemed lost in thought. Hearing Shermaine¡¯s voice, he shifted his gaze to her, hesitated for a moment, and said, ¡°Sheary, I¡¯m not feeling better.¡± Just thinking about Shermaine or catching a glimpse of her was enough to make Joshua¡¯s blood boil, and he couldn¡¯t suppress the intense urges. But he was trying very hard to restrain himself and endure it. He and Shermaine hadn¡¯t reached the point of sex yet. Moreover, Shermaine was under 20 and still in school. He couldn¡¯t take advantage of the situation and think about how to take advantage of her. Shermaine hadn¡¯t expected that the herbal juice she had prepared would have no effect at all. Since it didn¡¯t work, everything that followed would have to rely on Joshua¡¯s willpower to fight it. Even if something went wrong, Shermaine could handle it. However, Shermaine couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of sympathy for Joshua. Seeing him in distress made her heart feel a bit heavy. Shermaine had nned to make more medicine for Joshua once they got back, but he took off his coat and jumped into the river. The night was quite dark, with a faint moon in the sky and twinkling stars. Suddenly, sshes of water and ripples appeared, but after a while, the river surface became calm again, with no sign of movement underwater. The weather is so cold now. Joshua really jumped into the river without warning. He doesn¡¯t seem to care if the water is too cold and might frei Shermaine thought. Seeing no movement underwater, Shermaine couldn¡¯t stay calm. She was also a bit angry. She put down her bag and jumped in after him. James, who had heard the ssh and turned around to see what was happening, was about to go over when Bianca spoke up. ¡°Why worry about those two? ¡°Save yourself the trouble and hurry back to heat up some water for them. When they get back, they can have a nice, warm bath.¡± James thought she made sense. After a brief moment of calm on theke surface, both of them emerged from the river. Under the moonlight, with their hair clinging to their faces, Shermaine¡¯s delicate cheeks had water droplets sliding down. She was indeed angry and pped Joshua¡¯s chest. ¡°Are you crazy? It¡¯s so cold. Aren¡¯t you afraid of freezing yourself?¡± Joshua held Shermaine close, his voice deep. ¡°Sheary, if I don¡¯t cool down, I will suffer badly.¡± AD Nurse walking 161 Chapter 161 Chapter 161 ¡®Humph, a stinky rogue in a suit. Let him soak for a while. After all, no matter what illness he has, I can cure it,¡® she thought to herself. Shermaine began to swim toward the shore, her body drenched and ufortable. She wrung out the water from her clothes. Although it was cold, fortunately, she had a strong constitution and could withstand it. Joshua followed her ashore and draped the coat that had been lying on the ground over her shoulders. ¡°I didn¡¯t think this through. I didn¡¯t expect you to jump in after me. Sheary, it won¡¯t happen again.¡± Shermaine also realized that she had been too impulsive just now. Morning swims were part of Joshua¡¯s physical exercise routine; he wouldn¡¯t have run into trouble in the river. Indeed, worry led to confusion. Shermaine had been a bit angry, but seeing the faint tenderness in his eyes, she softened. ¡°Good that you know.¡± After being soaked in the cold water, the difort and restlessness were suppressed and alleviated. He picked up the bag from the ground and took Shermaine¡¯s hand again. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Under the starry sky, the wind rustled the surrounding vegetation. The two walked one after the other, their hands tightly intertwined. When they returned to the wooden cabin, James had already started a fire to heat up some water. Today, he had actually instructed others to go to town to purchase some essentials. Now, the shower area they had set up was quite spacious, with arge bathtub. After Shermaine washed her hair and took a bath, she realized her period had started. Fortunately, she had prepared sanitary pads in advance. Once her period started, even the most energetic Shermaine would feel half as lively and would need to rest for a night to recover. Moreover, she had spent some time in the cold river today. She wasn¡¯t particrly ufortable, just very sleepy. Joshua had cooked a stew. It was delicious, with pork ribs and peanuts. Shermaine had expended a lot of energy today and was extremely hungry. Without even drying her hair, she picked up a te,dled some stew, and sat down to eat. After returning, Joshua changed his clothes but didn¡¯t take a hot bath. Perhaps the restlessness hadn¡¯tpletely subsided, as he didn¡¯t even wear a coat. At that moment, Shermaine¡¯s long, damp hair cascaded down, enhancing her beauty. However, wet hair could easily lead to a cold. Joshua took a towel from nearby and began to dry her hair. By the time Shermaine had finished eating and her hair was almost dry, she climbed into bed, immediately wrapped herself up tightly, yawned, and prepared to rest. She still had to visit Bianca tomorrow. The night was quiet, and only an oilmp illuminated the wooden cabin. After Joshua took a hot bath, Shermaine had already curled up and fallen asleep, revealing only her clean face. Her lips were not as red as usual but rather pale. Joshua had been worried that Shermaine might catch a cold at night. He reached out and felt her forehead, which was not feverish but si cool Joshua found a bottle, filled it with hot water, and then ced it into Shermaine¡¯s nest of nkets. Shermaine wasn¡¯t in a deep sleep. Sensing the added warmth in her nest, she curved her lips, her slightly furrowed brows slowly rxing, and she Chapter 161 thanked Joshua. ¡°Goodnight, Sheary,¡± he said. ¡°Goodnight, Joshua,¡± she replied. After Joshua extinguished the oilmp, he naturally also slept in the bed. Shermaine hadn¡¯t slept in the middle, clearly leaving a spot for him. He spread out the nket andy down beside her. His body temperature was still high, but the distracting thoughts had beenpletely suppressed, allowing him to sleep soundly next to Shermaine without any distractions. As the night deepened, the hot water in the bottle cooled down. Shermaine felt her nest wasn¡¯t warm enough and tossed and turned a couple of times, but she was already in a deep sleep and didn¡¯t wake up. Joshua had been sleeping well when he suddenly felt Shermaine¡¯s foot slip into his nest. Her foot was icy cold, devoid of any warmth. Before long, Shermaine shifted closer, her cheek pressing against his arm. Shermaine was usually a peaceful sleeper, able to maintain one position until dawn, but today was a bit odd; she felt cold. Sensing the warmth, Shermaine rolled into Joshua¡¯s embrace in a rather possessive manner, her hand resting on his waist. Joshua held her close. The desire he had been controlling so well began to surge, the heat rising like waves, one after another. Joshua¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple moved as he pinched Shermaine¡¯s cheek, then, with a resigned air, he gave in and relinquished the bed to her. When Shermaine woke up, the sky was already bright. Sunlight streamed through the window, and she realized she had taken over the entire bed. A flush of embarrassment crossed her face. She got up from the bed, but without paying attention to where she was stepping, she was suddenly tripped by something and fell forward. Shermaine was dazed for a moment before realizing she hadnded on Joshua. Shermaine thought to herself, ¡®If I stay calm, he¡¯ll be the one to feel awkward.!¡® She could tell Joshua had been woken up by her fall. She licked her lips, hardly able to believe her own crazy move. ¡°Sorry,¡± she muttered. Joshua¡¯s voice was hoarse as he shook his head and nuzzled Shermaine¡¯s neck, as if he wanted to take a bite. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t know what to say. She quietly disentangled herself from Joshua¡¯s embrace and got up. After a good night¡¯s sleep, she felt refreshed and invigorated. However, Kingston, who had been tied up and left to sleep in the small kitchen by James the night before, was making a lot of noise, like a mad dog, barking incessantly. After washing up, Shermaine pushed open the door to the small kitchen. Kingston¡¯s face, which had been scratched by the creature in the tomb and left untreated overnight, had be swollen, pus¨Cfilled, and looked particrly disgusting. As soon as Kingston saw Shermaine, his eyes filled with hatred, and his expression became ferocious. ¡°Shermaine, you bitch, you whore, why don¡¯t you just die?¡± Shermaine kicked him without hesitation, making Kingston¡¯s head spin and his vision blur, feeling as if his bones had been broken. You think you have the ability to kill me?¡± she retorted. Kingston was indignant. ¡°If I get another chance, I¡¯ll definitely kill you.¡± Chapter 161 Shermaine kicked him again. ¡°You couldn¡¯t kill me even in your dreams. She calmly retracted her foot. ¡°No wonder Joshua and Roy hang out with each other but not with you. You¡¯re selfish and filthy. How could you pre?iti catch his attention? ¡°Seeing your n fail, you even tried to kill Joshua. As he said, you¡¯re overestimating yourself¡± She continued, ¡°I have a small mind, and since you¡¯ve tried to harm me repeatedly, I can¡¯t just let it go. James, give him what I gave you The item was a pill that Shermaine had made while creating the incense the night before, specifically prepared for those who had tried to kill her. You like Joshua? I¡¯ll make sure you can¡¯t even have sex the rest of your life,¡® she thought. James came in. ¡°Got it, Ms. Shue.¡± James took out the pill, pinched Kingston¡¯s mouth open with a look of disgust, and forced the pill down his throat. To make sure Kingston swallowed it, James poured water down his throat, ensuring he had taken it. After that, James dragged Kingston out and locked him up elsewhere. Nurse walking 162 Chapter 162 Shermaine made breakfast. There was leftover stew fromst night, which she reheated. She also made a pie after seeing some flour, When Joshua got up, he seemed sluggish, as if he hadn¡¯t slept well. He asked, ¡°Sheary, when do you n to go back to Basterel?¡± They had been out for a few days, and now that they had gotten Kingston, the matter was considered resolved. Shermaine replied, ¡°I¡¯ll go see Bianca first.¡± She was still thinking about the scrolls Bianca had mentioned and wanted to learn some cursing skills. This time, Joshua didn¡¯t follow her. After breakfast, he intended to sleep a bit more to regain his energy. The weather was nice that day. As Shermaine walked toward the mountains, she nearly reached the halfway point when she saw Bianca, carrying her granddaughter Chloe on her back and leaning on a cane, rushing down the mountain in a hurry. Chloe, who was strapped to Bianca¡¯s waist, looked pale and lifeless due to her illness. She had a feverst night that hadn¡¯t subsided, and her breathing was very weak. Bianca needed to take her to the town hospital for a routine check¨Cup and treatment. Bianca was particrly anxious. ¡°You came just in time. Did you drive into the vige? Have the young man who followed youst night take us to the town hospital.¡± Shermaine asked directly, ¡°What¡¯s the illness?¡± ¡°Congenital heart disease,¡± Bianca said. Shermaine took Chloe¡¯s pulse. Fortunately, it was just a fever; there was no abnormality with her heart. ¡°Take her back to the house and let her lie down. Her heart is fine. She just has a fever. She¡¯ll be okay once the fever breaks.¡± ¡°But the medicine she took didn¡¯t bring the fever down,¡± Bianca said. ¡°Use physical cooling methods,¡± Shermaine said. Shermaine knew medicine, and Bianca trusted her. Following her advice, Bianca took Chloe back to the house andid her on the bed. ¡°Is there any alcohol?¡± Shermaine asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Bianca said. ¡°Bring it here,¡± Shermaine said. After Bianca brought the alcohol, Shermaine instructed her to wipe Chloe¡¯s neck, groin, and armpits with the alcohol and to ce a cool towel on her forehead. After doing all this, Shermaine also said, ¡°Bring me her medical records.¡± Bianca had them with her and took them out from her canvas bag, handing them over. Shermaine reviewed the records. Congenital heart disease was not difficult to treat with current medical standards. Chloe¡¯s condition could be cured with surgery, but since she had been weak since childhood, the risk of going under the knife was high. Before that, they needed to strengthen her body. ¡°Chloe is so frail. Why didn¡¯t you take care of her health?¡± ¡°I did. She took medicine every day,¡± Bianca said. ¡°Did you prescribe it yourself?¡± Shermaine asked. 1/3 nca shook her head. ¡°Although Mysonnian doctors are also doctors, healing and harming, we tend more toward thetter a to prescribe medicine for Chloe casually. That was prescribed by a doctor in the city.¡± She leaned on her cane. ¡°Do you think I wanted to fight you for that 1,000¨Cyear¨Cold ginseng time? I wanted to cook it for Chloe to eat.- ¡°Do you think eating it would make her better?¡± Shermaine confirmed that Bianca wasn¡¯t very good at healing. Shermaine flipped to the back of the traditional medicine prescription. The doctor who wrote this prescription was average; no wonder Chloe didn¡¯t get better after taking it, and it even damaged her health. ¡°Teach me cursing skills, and I¡¯ll take care of Chloe¡¯s illness,¡± said Shermaine. ¡°Shermaine, can you really cure Chloe¡¯s illness?¡± Bianca asked. ¡°I never joke about a patient¡¯s life,¡± Shermaine said. Bianca believed in Shermaine¡¯s abilities and agreed without hesitation. ¡°It¡¯s a deal.¡± It just so happened that she was getting old and wanted to take on an apprentice. She had actually had the thought long before. When Joshua found out that Shermaine might have to stay in Xenhall for a long time, he didn¡¯t object. He quietly prepared everything she would need to stay here, including building a signal tower so that she could have a signal to contact the outside world while she was here. And if he went back, he would be able to find Shermaine. Building a signal tower was quite aplex project, but within just over a week, not only did Xenhall have a signal, but it also began to have electricity. For the Mysonnians in Xenhall, it was like a dreame true. On the day Xenhall got electricity, Joshua could no longer stay. Although Shermaine had been busy these past few days, often visiting Bianca and leaving him on his own, Joshua found the rural life surprisinglyfortable and pleasant. If it weren¡¯t for Basterel sending someone to urge him to return, he really wouldn¡¯t want to leave. For over a week, Shermaine hadn¡¯t treated the poison on Kingston¡¯s face. Now, half of his face was rotten and emitting a foul odor. When James dragged him into the car, he almost vomited from the stench. Kingston, who hadn¡¯t bathed for more than a week, was already quite slovenly, and the injuries on his face were severe. Anyone who looked at him for too long was afraid they would have nightmares. The morning sun was spreading its light. After breakfast, Joshua was ready to set off for Basterel. The journey was long, so he had to leave immediately. At that moment, James had already loaded Joshua¡¯s suitcase into the car. In the wooden cabin, only Shermaine and Joshua remained. ¡°Remember to water the vegetables I nted,¡± Joshua said. Mentioning the vegetables, Shermaine couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. When she had been too busy to pay attention to Joshua, he had actually started a vegetable garden in the backyard. The seedlings, grown for over a week, were doing quite well. She curled her lips into a smile and replied, ¡°Got it.¡± She paused. ¡°No other business, then you should go. I¡¯ll see you off.¡± Joshua, who had been sitting on the edge of the bed, reached out and pulled Shermaine back as she started to walk away. Shermaine tumbled into his arms and ended up sitting on hisp. Come to think of it, their current way of interacting was a bit like that of a couple who had just started dating However, Shermaine hadn¡¯t given Joshua any official title yet. So, his actions were restricted, and he had to be very restrained, unable to act on any of his desires. He had promised, and he was responsible for his words. It had only been a short while, and he already wanted to transition from a nominal fianc¨¦ to Shermaine¡¯s actual one. It was simply impossible. ¡®Does he think it¡¯s that easy to be my boyfriend?¡® Shermaine thought to herself. Shermaine¡¯s eyes sparkled as she looked at Joshua. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll call you every day, Sheary,¡± Joshua said, holding Shermaine¡¯s waist with a burning gaze. Shermaineughed. ¡°Once a day? Mr. York, you don¡¯t have to be that eager.¡± Joshua pinched her ear, his voice low and gentle. ¡°When ites to bing your boyfriend, I¡¯ve always been very eager.¡± Shermaine pursed her lips. ¡°You can worry about that when you have the time.¡± They had been in the countryside for nearly two weeks, and he was going to be busy with work when he got back. No matter how busy he was, he would always find time to call Shermaine. Joshua¡¯s eyes deepened as he changed the subject. ¡°Sheary, do you remember that time skiing when you owed me something?¡± Shermaine naturally remembered. She had wanted to split the money with him, but he refused, instead promising that if there was something he wanted, he could take it from her. ¡°What do you want?¡± she said. Joshua smiled and said, ¡°A kiss from you.¡± Nurse walking 163 Chapter 163 This was very much in line with Joshua¡¯s style. He didn¡¯t want 800 million dors, all he asked for was a kiss from her. ¡®Even as he¡¯s about to leave, he can¡¯t help but flirt with her onest time and make sure he gets his reward, Shermaine thought to herself. It seemed like Shermaine had always been on the receiving end of his flirtations, without ever lighting back. This didn¡¯t match her usual assertive and bold way of handling things. She narrowed her eyes slightly. ¡°Does it matter where I kiss you?¡± Joshua wanted Shermaine to take the initiative to kiss him, so he nodded. ¡°Yes, anywhere.¡± He paused for a moment. ¡°But you can¡¯t just go through the motions.¡± Shermaine nodded in agreement. Joshua¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed up and down. Noticing how quickly Shermaine had responded, he scrutinized her carefully, his gaze deepening, Shermaine simply offered him a faint smile, and his heart couldn¡¯t help but race, pounding fiercely against his chest. ¡®She¡¯s so charming, always enticing me, Joshua thought to himself. Shermaine, who had been casually resting her hand on his shoulder, gently ced it on Joshua¡¯s cheek and slowly leaned in, bringing their faces closer. As they gazed into each other¡¯s eyes at such close range, a maic force seemed to swirl between them, pulling and tugging. Their breaths mingled and intertwined, creating an atmosphere of undeniable intimacy. Joshua had expected Shermaine to kiss his lips. But at thest moment, when they were just inches apart, Shermaine shifted downward. Her cool lips pressed against his Adam¡¯s apple, where she sucked gently twice before suddenly biting down. Joshua was caught off guard by this unexpected counter¨Cflirtation. His eyes darkened, and his body was consumed by a surge of passion that left his throat hoarse and his palms sweaty. Shermaine pulled away from him, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she looked at Joshua. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re pretty satisfied,¡± she said with a smile. ¡®Just a little bit of flirting from Shermaine, and I¡¯m already losing it. She¡¯s so captivating,¡® Joshua thought to himself. ¡°I¡¯m going to head out first. You cane outter,¡± Shermaine said as she walked away. Outside, many of the Mysonnians from Xenhall had heard that Joshua was leaving and hade to see off the man who had brought electricity to Xenhall and built the signal tower. They brought homemade wine and pickled vegetables as gifts. James and the others, who had been there for a while, had learned quite a bit about the Mysonnians. They tried to refuse the gifts, but the vigers were just too warm and hospitable. As a result, the car was loaded with quite a few bottles of wine and jars of pickled vegetables. When Shermaine came out of the house, many Mysonnians greeted her warmly. During her stay, she had treated the sick in the vige and achieved remarkable results. Word spread quickly, and soon Shermaine became the most popr person in the vige. Inside the house, Joshua¡¯s desire had not yet subsided. He looked down at the bulge, then shook his head with a helpless smile. A Mysonnian helped a man forward. The man had broken his leg while gathering herbs in the mountains a few months ago and was still in pain. He couldn¡¯t work in the fields, and his already impoverished family was struggling even more. They couldn¡¯t even afford new clothes for the children for Chapter 163 the New Year. When Joshua came out of the house, Shermine was treating the man¡¯s leg. She was always very focused on her work. The sunlight fall on the Joshua¡¯s outline appeared unexpectedly soft and faint. He nced at her, then looked away, got into the car, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Find these herbs and boil them in water. Soak your feet once in the morning and once in the evening. This will help you recover faster, Shermaine san The doctor hadn¡¯t corrected the dislocated bone in time, so even though it had healed, it still hurt. Shermaine had already corrected the bone for her but it would take quite a few days of rest before he could fully recover. ¡°Doctor, thank you so much,¡± the man said gratefully. ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± Shermaine replied with a smile. After finishing her consultation, Shermaine had some free time and noticed that Joshua was gone. All that was left on the ground were the tracks of the car¡¯s wheels. During this period, he had always been by her side. Now that he was gone, Shermaine felt a bit out of sorts at first. Without overthinking it, Shermaine washed her hands and went to see Bianca. Most of the scrolls left behind were rted to cursing skills, and there were no records about the crystal coffin. Now, the gravediggers who hade to the tomb and hadn¡¯t lost their lives had mostly left. They hade with high hopes and great ambitions, but they left cursing andining. After all, they hadn¡¯t gained any benefits. Instead, they had been injured or even killed. The group of college students had been fortunate. They left here all alive. However, perhaps they would no longer be friends. Shermaine spent the entire day learning with Bianca, from morning till night. As night fell, thest rays of daylight were reced by darkness. When Shermaine returned to the vige entrance, she ran into Shalene. Ever since Shalene hade out, she had gone mad, probably because she had encountered the crystal coffin. At that moment, she was in a daze, holding a stick and scribbling on the ground. Shermaine approached and shone her shlight on the ground. She discovered that Shalene was drawing mechas that only appeared in anime and warnes of unfamiliar models. Back at the cabin, Shermaine was toozy to cook. She took out her instant meal and ate it to fill her stomach. Afterward, she turned on herptop and took out her phone, opening WhatsApp. Shermaine hadn¡¯t been online for nearly two weeks. As soon as she opened WhatsApp, she saw a flood of messages from family, ssmates, senior student Danielle, and others like Lily and Roy. Her ssmates naturally gave her feedback on the product¡¯s effectiveness. Each one said they had never used such effective skincare products before. The effects were amazing. After using the face masks, their skin felt smooth, firm, and revitalized the next day. And the main products, the e¨Cclearing cream and the essence that could remove spots, reduce wrinkles, and lighten dark circles, were even more effective. Even their mothers praised the products and inquired about their origin, nning to rmend them to friends. Lily had sent the most messages to Shermaine. When Shermaine opened them, she found that they were all about how great the effects were, After the New Year, Shermaine had already had a batch of products manufactured, and the brand¡¯s official website was up and running tow, the only thing left was to promote the products. Lily had initially wanted to hire a very popr star to endorse and promote the products, hoping to quickly boost their popnty But upon hearing that it was an obscure brand, the star tly refused. Lily contacted other stars with the same result, which frustrated her to no end. Lily had sincerely sent aplete set of the products to those stars to try out. She was confident that they would love them. After all, the skincare products that Shermaine had developed were truly a woman¡¯s best friend. However, those stars didn¡¯t even bother to try them. It was clear that they only endorsed products from well¨Cknown brands. Seeing that no big stars were willing to endorse their brand, Lily decided to give up and vowed that once their brand became popr, they would never ask those stars to endorse any of their products in the future. Now, Lily was thinking of promoting the products through many beauty bloggers on social media to see if that could increase their popnty and traffic, but she was still hesitant. Shermaine replied: [It¡¯s feasible. I had nned to do it this way from the beginning. It¡¯s more cost¨Ceffective than hiring celebrities for ads. I¡¯ll rmend someone to you. Send them a set of the products.] Shermaine then sent Roy¡¯s business card to Lily, and had previously informed Roy. [The skincare products I developed are going to beunched. I need you to give them a shoutout on Twitter.] Roy responded almost instantly: [Got it, Mdy.] He then asked: [Mdy, during your time in Xenhall, did Joshua take advantage of you?] Comment Nurse walking 164 Chapter 164 Chapter 164 In fact, Ray would never have imagined that Joshua would take a liking to Shermaine. When he learned that Shermaine and Joshua were heading Mysonna to investigate something, Roy had wanted to tag along He was bored out of his mind and figured that following Mdy might lead to some interesting adventures. After Roy approached Joshua with the idea, Joshua tly rejected him. Roy could sense the disdain through the screen, so he went to Henry, hoping he could soothe his bruised ego. But Henry just gave Roy a withering look. ¡°Can¡¯t you see that Joshua has a thing for Shermaine?¡± Roy was taken aback and shook his head. ¡®What the hell? Is that even possible?¡® he thought to himself. Henry smiled, ¡°Your powers of observation really are terrible.¡± Roy wanted to argue but, upon reflection, it seemed like there might actually be something to it. That night, when Roy had been ying games with Shermaine, he kept feeling like Joshua was staring at him. He hadn¡¯t paid much attention to it at the time, but thinking back on it now, it was kind of eerie. Roy pped the table. ¡°This is bad. Joshua hasn¡¯t been in a rtionship in thirty years. What if he takes advantage of Mdy?¡± Henry thought to himself, ¡®Why do you even care?¡® and asked, ¡°You¡¯re not still into Shermaine, are you?¡± Roy shook his head vigorously. ¡°No way, absolutely not. I just think Mdy is still young and can¡¯t handle Joshua.¡± Henry rolled his eyes again, thinking, ¡®Why is your focus so bizarre? Besides, is Joshua really that unsportsmanlike? And is Shermaine really that weak?¡± So, during the days when he couldn¡¯t get in touch with Shermaine, Roy kept imagining her being taken advantage of by Joshua. After all, Joshua was a thirty¨Cyear¨Cold virgin. Shermaine couldn¡¯t help butugh and casually replied: [Why not the other way around?] On the other end of the phone, Roy gulped and thought, ¡®Alright, Mdy is really assertive. My worries are unnecessary. Mdy is unbeatable, and naturally, Joshua is no match for her.¡¯ Roy sent an emoji to show his admiration. Roy asked curiously. [So, did you bully Joshua?] Shermaine pondered, ¡®Did I bully Joshua? A little, maybe. But he benefited quite a bit too!¡® She didn¡¯t reply to Roy. After all, it was between her and Joshua. Without an answer, Roy had no choice but to obediently do the task Shermaine had assigned him. After epting Lily¡¯s friend request, the two started chatting. Then, Shermaine saw a message from her senior, Danielle. Danielle, who was usually cold and distant,ined about Jason¡¯s persistent pursuit. Even after being discharged from the hospital, he kept showing up, sending her flowers and treats. It wasmon knowledge around the hospital. Danielle had sent the message two days ago and hadn¡¯t heard back from Shermaine, so she hadn¡¯t tried to contact her again. Sher settled now?] Given Danielle¡¯s personality, she wouldn¡¯t tolerate an unwanted man constantly disturbing her life and work. replied: [Is it Chapter 164 Jason could pursue Danielle, but he wouldn¡¯t seed. Shermaine knew Danielle too well she didn¡¯t like guys younger than herasiCa When faced with rejection, those pursuit tactics should know when to stop; otherwise, they would only cause unnecessary resentment. Within a couple of minutes, Danielle sent a voice message. (it¡¯s settled.] That was good. In Shermaine¡¯s eyes, Danielle deserved someone better. Jason wasn¡¯t a good match for her. Danielle sent another voice message. [It was pretty dramatic.] Shermaine replied: [What happened?] Danielle exined: [The day before yesterday, I went to a high school reunion at Crown¡¯s nightclub and ran into Jason. After it ended, he insisted on walking me home.] She continued: [refused, but he kept pestering me, so I just found a guy to y along with me.] It was an idea that came to Danielle because of Shermaine. Shermaine and Joshua had initially started with a simr arrangement. They had begun as an engaged couple, and now it was clear that Joshua had feelings for Shermaine. Shermaine replied with a voice message. [y your boyfriend?] Danielle said: [Yes.] The man Danielle found was a perfect match for her, both in appearance and temperament. After she exined the situation, he happily agreed to help. What Danielle didn¡¯t expect was that this man she¡¯d pulled in to y along was actually Shermaine¡¯s brother, Ross Jean. A love child up against the legitimate heir of the Jean family¨Cno wonder Jason had made such a hasty exit. In terms of presence alone, Jason, a young man still wet behind the ears, was no match for Ross. Danielle was very satisfied with the oue and grateful for Ross¡® cooperation. Shermaine offered an objectivement. [So you and Ross have quite the connection.] Danielle didn¡¯t deny it. The trouble was that Jason didn¡¯t seem like the type to give up easily; he was a bit obsessive. She and Ross would have to keep up this fake rtionship for a while. Danielle chuckled. [Why don¡¯t you say I have a connection with the entire Jean family?] Shermaine teased. [Are you thinking of getting together with Ross? He¡¯s not bad.] Danielle replied: [Ross doesn¡¯t like my type of woman.] Shermaine was skeptical. [And how would you know?] Danielle replied: [I¡¯ve done my research, Ross had a girlfriend in high school named Amelia Diaz.] In terms of temperament and type, she was theplete opposite of Danielle. Shermaine quickly searched for Amelia online and found her information. She was a well¨Cknown painter, with a gentle and pure appearance, indeed very different from Danielle¡¯s vibe. Amelia was simr in type to Wendelyn. In terms of looks and figure, Danielle naturally had the upper hand, but she seemed harder to get along with. Shermaine even thought Ross¡® taste in the past wasn¡¯t that great. Her research showed that Amelia¡¯s private life wasn¡¯t so great either. Chapter 164 Although Shermaine thought they were quite a good match, she didn¡¯t push them together. If Danielle were really interested in Rov, ch? l definitely make a move. The start of the school year was on February 13th. Currently, the senior ss had already been in session for a while. Beforeing to Mysonna, Shermaine knew she wouldn¡¯t be able to return early, so she had alreadymunicated with Isabel and taken leave, The students in ss Nine only found out about Shermaine¡¯s leave after returning to school. They probably wouldn¡¯t see her at school for a while and couldn¡¯t get in touch with her. At this moment, in the ss group chat, it was another day of everyone missing and calling out for Shermaine. (Today is another day of missing Sheary.) This message was repeated almost every day in the group. Shermaine typed: [I¡¯m back online. Starting tomorrow night, I can continue to help you with remote problem¨Csolving.) As soon as she appeared, the ss group exploded. [Oh my, Sheary is back.] [Group photo.] [Without Sheary, even my meals taste nd.] [Sheary, our longing for you is deeper than the ocean. When are youing back?] [Yeah, same question. When are you returning, Sheary?] Shermaine: [Return date uncertain.] While replying to messages, Shermaine took a moment to log in to the tech forum on herptop. The private messages on the tech forum were also numerous. Some were supportive, expressing belief in her character, while others were harsh, calling her shameless, using her of being part of a team that couldn¡¯tpete with Dolcie. They even suggested that was why she dared not attend the offline event organized by the tech forum when she couldn¡¯t cheat there. The offline event included a tinum¨Clevel expertpetition. The winner would receive an official trophy and a prize of 5 million dors. The event was to be held in Rodunst on June 30th. It was only today that Xenhall had ess to the inte, so it was normal that the tech forum officials couldn¡¯t contact Shermaine. Shermaine found the official invitation in her email and replied: [I will attend the meet¨Cup. Please be informed.] AD Comment Nurse walking 165 Chapter 165 Chapter 165 Shortly after receiving Shermaine¡¯s reply, the tech forum officials announced it across the entirework. This was the standard procedure for pers tinum¨Clevel expert who had received an invitation and agreed to attend, In the forum area, posts from Dolcie¡¯s fans attacking Shermaine were going viral one after another. Just as the twon bases were shing fiercely, the announcement popped up. Fans who were on Shermaine¡¯s side expressed their approval. [Amazing.] [Perfect counterattack, absolutely amazing.] [When I saw the announcement, Iughed for a long time. A bunch of brainless fans were leading the charge against Boa. Now they must feel awkward, right? Shame on them.] [I¡¯ll definitely try to get the limited¨Cedition tickets issued by the tech forum and go to Rodunst to witness Dolcie¡¯s embarrassment in person.) After replying to the official message, Shermaine took the electric kettle and went out to fetch water to boil. During this time, Roy sent another message. He and Lily had already settled the advertising deal, and he would meet her in person tomorrow. Not only that, but he also had his team members promote it as well. Shermaine replied: [Yes, well done.] Roy was over the moon and could hardly contain his excitement. [Mdy, want to y a game? Let¡¯s go kill in the Koandria server.] Shermaine¡¯s favorite single¨Cyer game in Xenhall was Endless Escape, which she yed to pass the time when she was bored. However, her all¨Ctime favorite was Heroic Epic. [You go ahead and y first. I¡¯ll join in the next round.] He replied: [Alright.] Roy, who had secured a game with Mdy, was eagerly looking forward to the moment when they would once again dominate the strong yers in Koandria Region 1. It was going to be exhrating. By this time, a pot of hot water had already been boiled, and Shermaine immediately started boiling a second pot. She nced at the time; Joshua should be arriving at Basterel and returning to Riverswood Vi around now. As Shermaine had guessed, five minutester, a ck Bentley pulled up in front of Riverswood Vi. Joshua got out of the car, ck trench coat that gave him aposed and handsome look. After entering the house, he took out his phone and made a WhatsApp video call to Shermaine. tall and upright, wearing a However, at this moment, Shermaine had already taken the boiled water to the newly built bathroom in the backyard to take a shower. In the cabin, the ck phone on the table kept vibrating. Seeing that no one was answering, Joshua put down his luggage and went upstairs, thinking he would call backter. About fifteen minutester, Shermaine came out after her shower. She washed and hung up her clothes and undergarments, then leisurely sat down in a chair. Instead of picking up her phone, she directly opened Heroic Epic and logged in. The signal tower was built nearby, so Shermaine didn¡¯t have to worry about a poor inte connection. If it really affected the gaming experience, she could write a small program to enhance the signal. Chapter 165 As soon as she logged in, she received a team Invitation from Roy. Besides Roy, there were three other people in the tears once chapra a full five person team. These three other members were from Roy¡¯s gaming team. They had heard that he was going to y with King tonight and were all moring to tak screenshot together. However, when Shermaine arrived, they becamepletely different from their usual lively selves. They became very quiet and didn¡¯t, zgjedh a carora if they were intimidated by the aura of a gaming master. Roy initiated a voice chat. ¡°Mdy, I¡¯m starting now.¡± Shermaine replied with a text message. ¡°Go ahead.¡± The three team members were puzzled, thinking to themselves, ¡®Is the legendary King actually a girl?¡± Roy naturally took the jungler position. During the ban selection, he asked, ¡°Mdy, what are you going to y?¡± ¡°What positions are they taking?¡± she asked. ¡°Topner, midner, and support,¡± Roy replied. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take the botner,¡± she said. The botner was the marksman position. With Shermaine ying the marksman position, Roy felt extremely reassured. He immediately chose a Kazik jungler. The other positions were filled by LeBron as the midner, the Monkey King as the topner, and Titans as the support. The opposing team had also chosen some very strong heroes with Lee as the jungler, Mage as the midner, Raven as the topner, Blits as the support, and Jinks as the botner. Shermaine was on the fifth and was thest to pick. After the opposing marksman locked in Jinks, she selected Kesha. Jinks was arguably one of the most beloved heroes among marksman yers, known for its incredible burst damage, agility, and a mix of crowd control and slows that made it easy to dominate early on. However, Kesha was no slouch either, with a Q skill that dealt significant physical damage, an E skill that boosted movement and attack speed and offered invisibility, and an ultimate thatbined a dash, discement, and a shield. It was a hero well¨Csuited for the average yer, not overly demanding in terms of skill. Once the game started, Roy realized that they seemed to have run into the Young Guns, the world champions from Koandria two years prior. Their team names were identical, and the Young Guns weremunicating in Ustranasian in the public chat. Young Guns¡® marksman asked: [Is it Roy? Are you bringing your team to y in the public matches?] Roy replied: [Not exactly.] Young Guns¡® marksman: [Is your marksman King, who topped thedderst season? I¡¯ve seen videos of you and King going head¨Cto¨Chead. He¡¯s really strong.] Roy: [Huh? You want to duel King?] Young Guns had imed the Season 4 World Championship, with the marksman making a name for himself by pulling off a miraculous Baron 1v5 166 Chapter 166 Shermaine froze for a moment. The opposing team¡¯s bottomne was quick to capitalize on her slight mistake. Blits lunged at her, but she managed to sh away just in time. However, Jinks, sensing an opportunity, shed in aggressively, and the fight was on. The result of the engagement was that their support, in an effort to protect Shermaine, the marksman, was taken down by the opposing Jinks. Shermaine narrowly avoided being double¨Ckilled. ¡°Are you busy?¡± she asked. ¡°I¡¯m not busy,¡± he replied. Shermaine, hiding in the bush, said, ¡°Download the game first. Once this match is over, I¡¯ll invite you.¡± Joshua agreed. He put down his wine ss and headed to the study. He turned on hisptop, first familiarizing himself with the game Heroic Epic, and then followed the instructions from Baidu to install it. Meanwhile, those watching the live stream were quick to mock Shermaine¡¯s mistake. [Is this the level ofst season¡¯s number onedder yer, King? Feels pretty weak. Totally threw the support under the bus.] After returning to full health at the base, Shermaine immediately rushed back to the bottomne, with the resurrected support right behind her. Roy¡¯s Kazik had also quietly made his way over, undetected by the opposing support, and even their jungler seemed unsure of Roy¡¯s location, failing to send out any warning signals. ¡°Mdy, I¡¯m moving in,¡± Roy announced. With that, his Kazik leaped out, charging straight at the opposing marksman. Since Jinks had already used her sh, she couldn¡¯t retreat in time when Kazik engaged. A fullbo from Kazik would have kill her, had it not been for Blits, who absorbed a significant amount of damage for her. Even so, Jinks was in a precarious position. No worries, though. Shermaine was there. Her Q skill dealt a massive amount of physical damage, killing Jinks in one hit. Subsequently, Roy¡¯s Kazik finished off Blits as well. Both yers secured a kill each. Roy was highly popr among yers across various servers, so his impressive y earned him cheers from the fans watching the live stream. After securing the kills, Kazik retreated. By the time the othernes could send reinforcements, it was toote. However, while Roy was reaping rewards in the bottomne, the opposing jungler had gone top to gank Raven. The Monkey King engaged them head¨Con. Given Raven¡¯s high damage output, Monkey King fell in battle. But they didn¡¯t mind. With Roy and King on their side, they were confident. They¡¯d crush the opponents in thete game. By the time Joshua had finished downloading the game and obtained a Koandria region ount from Bradley, he logged into Heroic Epic on the Koandria server. The video call between them remained connected. Joshua listened to the rapid tapping of the keyboard, patiently waiting for Shermaine to finish her 1/3 pame The time Shermaine yed, her matches seemed tost around twenty to thirty minutes before she started a new one, But this time a forty minutes, and there was still no sign of it ending. At this moment, they were in the middle of a crucial team fight. Both sides had already taken down each other¡¯s high towers. Whoever won this team con fight would win the match. In the end, Shermaine¡¯s team was down to her and the support, while the opposing team had their marksman and top faner. In terms of damage output. the opponents had the upper hand. Naturally, they chose to go all¨Cin, aiming to take out King and secure the victory in this ranked match. However, to their surprise, after taking the support¡¯s kill, Shermaine still managed to outy them. A well¨Ctimed ultimate allowed her to dash in, reposition, and the shield from her ultimate yed a crucial role in absorbing damage. In the end, they all went down. The creep wave happened to be in the middle of the river. After clearing the wave and healing up, Shermaine pushed forward with her troops. However, they were not ready to concede. The Mage, who had been taken out earlier by Roy¡¯s ambush, had respawned. If she could hold on, they could still make a y. But that idea quickly dissipated when Shermaine charged straight into the enemy¡¯s base and engaged the Mage. With a series of slick maneuvers that left the mage reeling, it became clear to everyone that there was noing back for the opposing team. After the Mage was once again taken down, Shermaine dismantled the crystal, securing victory. Those who had been watching the live stream and questioning Shermaine¡¯s skill were now left with nothing but admiration. Shermaine¡¯s marksman in thete game was truly formidable¨Caggressive, with impable positioning that exuded confidence. Even through the screen, viewers could feel the sheer dominance of her marksman. Undoubtedly, King had be even more of a sensation in the esportsmunity, with manymenting that she wasn¡¯t pursuing a professional career. After winning the ranked match, Roy and the others were overjoyed and extremely satisfied with their performance. Back in the game room, Shermaine typed: [Joshua ising. I¡¯m out.] Roy was taken aback. ¡®Joshua is actually going to y?¡® he thought to himself. Roy felt like he was living in a fantasy world. He said, ¡°Mdy, you don¡¯t have to leave. Just let them make room for him.¡± Then, one of the yers spoke up. ¡°Roy, King, I¡¯ll just leave. My live stream duration isn¡¯t enough, and I need to get back to work. Bye.¡± With that, he exited the room, but not before adding Shermaine as a friend. With the spot now vacant, Shermaine, noticing that the video call was still connected, spoke up. ¡°Joshua, are you in the game?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Joshua replied. ¡°What¡¯s your game ID?¡± she asked. Joshua provided his ID. After seeing Shermaine add him as a friend, he immediately epted. Then, Shermaine invited him into the room. The ount he borrowed was a Diamond¨Cranked one, capable of ying ranked matches. Roy called out. ¡°Hi, Joshua?¡± Joshua typed back, his response cold and distant. [Hi.) After confirming that it was indeed Joshua joining the game, Roy decided to continue with another match. Four Kings leading a novice ¨C vois piece of cake; Joshua would definitely coast to victory. Shermaine asked, ¡°Joshua, what position do you want to y?¡± Joshua, who had done his homework, replied, ¡°Support.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Shermaine said, wondering, ¡®He can stick close to me to avoid getting crushed by the enemy. As a result, the young yer who was originally ying support switched to the midne. After the ban selection, Joshua chose Tam Keech as his support hero. Among all the support heroes he had studied, he was most satisfied with this one¡¯s abilities. The hero could swallow Shermaine¡¯s character whole if she were in danger and then make a run for it. The only downside was that the hero was a bit on the ugly side. In this match, Shermaine picked Caitlin as her marksman hero. The opponents this time were regr yers, not professionals, but they were still strong enough to reach Master and Challenger ranks. Without needing Shermaine¡¯s guidance, Joshua proactively bought a ward and ced it in the river. However, being new to bit slow and clumsy. If a fight broke out, he would definitely be the first to go down, with no chance of escape. the game, his actions were a When Tam Keech reached level four, Joshua used his ultimate ability and swallowed Shermaine¡¯s Caitlin whole, then hid in the bushes, staying still. Shermaine watched helplessly as the cannon minion she was about to kill was taken down by her own minions, causing her to fall short of the gold needed to buy her desired equipment. Shermaine pursed her lips. ¡°Spit me out.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Joshua responded and obediently spat Shermaine out. ¡°I was just testing the skill.¡± Shermaine wasn¡¯t angry. She focused on clearing the minions and asionally harassed the enemy, preventing them from farming. At that moment, Roy came to gank. He saw Joshua¡¯s ultimate swallow Shermaine¡¯s Caitlin again, and then he strolled past him leisurely. As a result, Ro was surrounded and taken down by the enemy marksman and support. Roy was momentarily stunned, thinking to himself, ¡®Joshua, I think you¡¯re trolling me right now.¡± Shermaine sighed and thought, ¡®I really want to help, but there¡¯s nothing I can do.¡® Joshua, who had been carrying Shermaine around, finally put her down and typed an exnation. [Misclick.] AD Comment Nurse walking 167 hapter 167 Chapter 167 Roy felt he shouldn¡¯t harbor any resentment toward Joshua just because he had been identally carried in the previous game. Joshua¡¯s aplete novice, as green as they came. It must have been an idental slip, Roy wondered. In fact, it really was just a slip. Joshua had intended to rush forward to protect Shermaine, but in the process of clicking on other skills, he inadvertently activated his ultimate ability, swallowing Shermaine whole. With the enemy constantly attacking him, he ended up running away with Shermaine inside his character. As a result, Roy charged in, only to have a perfect near¨Cmiss with the enemy. Joshua had never been exposed to video games in his life. This was his first time ying, and despite having done some research beforehand, he found it very hard to adapt. ¡°No worries, Joshua. I could have survived that just now. It¡¯s just that your moves threw me off,¡± Roy said. Joshua remained expressionless and silent. However, Shermaine couldn¡¯t help butugh. Their call was still connected, and Joshua could hear herughter clearly. Shermaineposed herself and said, ¡°Let¡¯s head back to base and heal up.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Joshua replied. He had an extraordinary learning aptitude, but surprisingly, he seemed to be a ck hole when it came to esports. Joshua didn¡¯t have many expectations when he started ying; he just wanted to be closer to Shermaine, to step into her world. Fortunately, they still managed to break through the enemy¡¯s defenses and win the match. Afterward, Shermaine decided she was done ying for the night. Since Shermaine was done, Joshua naturally followed suit and logged off quickly. After shutting down the game, Shermaine remembered something, and her fingers danced lightly over the keyboard. Soon, she found the forum and Twitter, where Shalene used to be very active before her mind went haywire. Shalene was a girl who loved beauty. Her social media was almost entirely about makeup, fashion brands, and celebrity chasing. The TV shows she watched were mostly melodramatic romance dramas, and she rarely watched any adrenaline¨Cpumping anime. It was clear that she wasn¡¯t interested in anime. ¡®So how did mechas and warnes end up in her memory?¡® Shermaine wondered. ¡®Perhaps it has something to do with the crystal coffin. If that¡¯s the case, then this is really something.¡¯ After all, such mechas and warnes didn¡¯t exist in the current civilization, and even in a few decades, they might not appear. The universe is vast, and there are too many unknowns. Shermaine¡¯s curiosity about the crystal coffin was piqued once again. ¡°Sheary?¡± Joshua said. ¡°Yes?¡± Shermaine snapped back to reality, closed herptop, and seeing that it was gettingte, she decided to chat with Joshua for a few more before going to sleep. She sat on the bed with her phone, finally aligning the camera with her face, and teased slightly. ¡°Mr. York, how was your experience ying the game with us?¡± Chapter 167 The experience was far from good. At any time, he was always the one who nned and strategized, allowing no room for any mistakes or riska However, when it came to controlling a game character, he stumbled. Joshua looked at the video, where the lighting was a bit dim. Shermaine¡¯s skin was delicate, her eyes held a smile, her lips were a deep red, and her hair fell casually over her shoulders. Even through the screen, he was still captivated by her beauty. Joshua had seen many beautiful women, but Shermaine was different. At this moment, Shermaine was wearing pajamas that she had never worn when Joshua was around. It was a two¨Cpiece set, with what seemed to be a camisole underneath and a thin outer garment on top. The outer garment was loose, revealing the graceful lines of her neck and the prominent corbones. Joshua¡¯s throat felt a bit dry, and he wanted to drink some water. He slowly replied, ¡°It was quite average.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just making trouble for yourself.¡± Shermaine could guess his thoughts. Joshua smiled, ¡°Sheary, although the experience was quite average, I was still happy to y the game with you.¡± Especially that skill of Tam Keech, swallowing Shermaine whole and running away with her, was particrly interesting. ¡®Yes. A super terrible record, getting dominated by the enemy. We kept dying over and over. All the setbacks he¡¯s never experienced in his life, he probably faced in the game,¡® she thought to herself. Shermaine curled her lips into a smile and thenzily yawned. ¡°I¡¯m sleepy.¡± Joshua noticed that Shermaine¡¯s hair was a bit damp. ¡°Dry your hair before you sleep.¡± Without a shower cap, the back of her hair easily got wet during the shower. Shermaine pulled the nket up,y on her side, and ced her phone aside. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine as it is.¡± Joshua wanted to say something more. Shermaine didn¡¯t give him the chance, saying, ¡°Goodnight, get some rest early,¡± and then abruptly ended the call. With Joshua not by her side, he truly couldn¡¯t do anything about her. The long night stretched on, and so did the longing. The next day, James drove with Kingston on the highway and finally arrived in Basterel around ten in the morning. The murderer of Wendelyn was him. James directly handed him over to the police department, , Wendelyn. For a while, the stock market of ck River Company was in turmoil, teetering on the edge of danger. Shermaine, apart from learning cursing skills from Bianca, had an additional task to asionally observe Shalene. Shalene had be particrly fond of drawing and was prone to talking nonsense, speaking words that others couldn¡¯t understand. Shermaine meticulously recorded everything. 12:09 Thu, 12 Jun G Time flew by, and before they knew it, it was March 5th, the season when spring warms and flowers bloom, The good news that came with it was that the skincare products Shermaine had developed, due to their incredible effectiveness, quickly sold like hotcakes after promotion. Within a week, the first batch of goods was sold out. Oliger Company stood out among many well¨Cknown major skincare brands. Chloe was still in the process of recuperating, with her surgery scheduled for April. Shermaine woulde over at that time. And March 15th was Shermaine¡¯s birthday. Janice had instructed Shermaine that she must return home before her birthday. 784 Before leaving Xenhall, Shermaine, without Bianca¡¯s knowledge, went back to the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen. Shermaine was truly curious about the crystal coffin and wanted to solve the mysteries in her heart. However, upon her return, the crystal coffin had vanished from the altar, nowhere to be found.. Its disappearance was not without reason. Judging from the scene, someone hade here stealthily and used some special method to shield the maic field fluctuations of the crystal coffin, stealing it away. At the Basterel airport, at nine o¡¯clock at night, it was Ross who came to pick up Shermaine. Joshua had wanted toe, but Ross had beaten him to it. Shermaine had told him not to bother. Shermaine¡¯s return this time was naturally to first go back to the Jean residence and then to Riverswood Vi. The siblings, after a long time apart, hugged each other. After that, Ross took her luggage, and the two of them headed toward the parking lot. The bustling city, with its bright lights and vibrant nightlife, weed Shermaine back to the Jean residence. Upon her return, Janice fussed over her, even preparing a pot of soup, worried that Shermaine, having been in the backward ce of Xenhall, hadn¡¯t been able to eat anything nutritious. Shermaine seemed a bit thinner and needed to consume more nourishing food. Shermaine, however, didn¡¯t feel that she had be thin. Even after Joshua left, supplies were sent to her ce every now and then. Ruth tried to get close to her, but Shermaine¡¯s coldness left her at a loss. As for Jameson, upon returning from outside and seeing Shermaine, instead of offering any concerned greetings, he said, ¡°You¡¯re back just in time. ¡°Go tell Joshua that Kingston has already paid a heavy price, and he should stop suppressing the ck River Company.¡± AD Comment Nurse walking 168 Chapter 168 Shermaine was sipping her soup when she heard Jameson¡¯s words. She looked up at him briefly, then continued with her meat. Ruth, upon seeing Jameson, seemed to regard him as a sworn enemy. Ever since Ruth had fallen down the stairsst time, the two had been at each other¡¯s throats. What made matters worse was that Jameson had transferred Natalie to thepany and had her follow him around as his secretary. It was utterly shameless. Ruth was curious how Natalie managed to keep Jameson¡¯s interest for over a decade without him growing tired of her. It was as if he were brainwashed, with only Natalie and Jason on his mind. Janice frowned. ¡°Sheary just got back. Why are you bringing this up with her?¡± Jameson had intended to warm up to Shermaine before discussing the matter, but the thought of making an effort only to be rebuffed was too much for him. So, he decided to get straight to the point. However, in response to Janice¡¯s reprimand, he softened his tone. ¡°Mom, ck River Company is willing to pay 3 billion dors inpensation to settle the matter. It¡¯s such a huge benefit, and we might as well take it. ¡°After all, it was Kingston whomitted the crime, not ck River Company. Why make things difficult for them?¡± In fact, there was another reason. The Wright family, who owned ck River Company, had some distant familial connection with Natalie. Natalie was Kingston¡¯s aunt. With Natalie acting as an intermediary for ck River Company and the promise of 3 billion dors, Jameson, after some consideration, agreed to the deal. But Janice still didn¡¯t look pleased with Jameson. ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know about ck River Company¡¯s dirty dealings. Whether that 3 billion dors is clean or not is still a question. And here you are, blinded by the money.¡± Jameson dismissed her concerns. ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of?¡± Ross¡® eyes flickered with disapproval. ¡°Mr. Jean, as your son, I advise you not to get involved in this mess.¡± Jameson frowned. ¡°I have my reasons for what I do. I don¡¯t need you to tell me what to do. Speaking of which, how¡¯s that project factory issue you¡¯re handling? I heard there were problems.¡± In mid¨CFebruary, the factory associated with Ross¡® project was reported to have vited regtions. It was said that counterfeit drugs had been mixed in, and arge batch of goods had been seized and investigated by the drug administration. ¡°It¡¯s been resolved,¡± Ross said. So quickly?¡® Jameson thought to himself. His face darkened slightly. He had intended to undermine Ross¡® influence within the group, but he hadn¡¯t expected Natalie to be so capable. Perhaps because his heart was no longer in it, Jameson was more wary of Ross and had never considered leaving thepany to him in the future. ¡°Very well,¡± Jameson said indifferently, then shifted his gaze back to Shermaine. ¡°When I¡¯m talking to you, you should at least respond.¡± Shermaine finished her soup and spoke calmly. Are you the businessman or am I? Why should I care if you want to make 3 billion dors?¡± ¡°I¡¯m making money for the Jean family,¡± Jameson said. ¡°The Jean family doesn¡¯t need that 3 billion dors. Don¡¯t think I can¡¯t see your selfish motives,¡± Shermaine said pointedly. ¡°Besides, why would tr for the family of someone who tried to kill me? Mr. Jean, you¡¯re overestimating me.¡± 12.09 Thu, 12 Jun Jameson¡¯s face turned ashen. ¡®Shermaine always opposes me and never does as I wish he wondered. Moreover, under her gaze, Jameson leit Inexplicably uneasy. Unable to reach an agreement with Shermaine, Jameson said nothing more, turned on his heel, and went upstairs to his study, As soon as Jameson entered his study, Natalie¡¯s call came through. ¡°Jameson, how¡¯s the plea for the Wright family going?¡± ¡°Forget it. Shermaine is driving me up the wall. She never listens to me,¡± Jamesonined. ¡°Shermaine¡¯s back?¡± Natalie inquired. ¡°Yes, she just got here,¡± Jameson replied. Natalie thought for a while and said, ¡°She¡¯s in her senior year of high school, right, just like Jason? And you made a bet with your mom. She doesn¡¯t have to study?¡± Jameson said, ¡°Whether she studies or not doesn¡¯t matter. She¡¯ll never outshine Jason.¡± He plopped down on the sofa. ¡°Jason is great, filial and sensible.¡± Most importantly, Jason was so outstanding that he was Jameson¡¯s pride and joy. ¡®It¡¯s even better if Shermaine doesn¡¯t study. That way, Jason can take first ce, return to the Jean family immediately, and be the heir, Natalie thought to herself. After Shermaine returned to her room and came out after a shower, she heard her phone ringing incessantly¨Cit was Joshua calling. Joshua had been calling every day without fail. Shermaine tapped the answer button. Joshua¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Sheary, I¡¯m downstairs at the Jean residence.¡± He knew Jameson was inside and, not wanting to discuss any business tonight, just wanting to see Shermaine, he had no intention of going in. ¡°What are you doing here sote?¡± she asked. ¡°I wanted to see you,¡± he said. ¡®He wants to see me? Why not another time?¡® Joshua thought to himself. Hesitating for a few seconds, Shermaine pursed her lips. ¡°Wait a moment. I¡¯ming down.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Joshua said. Five minutester, Shermaine emerged. Joshua was leaning against his car, a cigarette between his fingers. Upon seeing Shermaine, his gaze locked onto her. The lighting was dim, and the tree shadows danced gently. Joshua stubbed out his cigarette, said nothing, and simply pulled Shermaine into his arms, holding her close. Joshua¡¯s body heat enveloped her. Shermaine didn¡¯t push him away, but she said, ¡°Don¡¯t hold me so tight.¡± She felt as if an incrediblyrge ko was hanging off her, and it w heavy. Joshua loosened his grip slightly and spoke in a low voice. ¡°Sheary, I¡¯m applying to be your official boyfriend.¡± Le 12:09 Thu, 12 Jun G He yearned for Shermaine, and she felt the same way. On this matter, Jeshua couldn¡¯t be patient. Shermaine narrowed her eyes. ¡°Application denied.¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes drooped. Shermaine smiled. ¡°Are yo you upset?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Joshua said. ¡°Serves you right,¡± Shermaine replied. Joshua¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, a mix of helplessness and indulgence. ¡°Yes, I deserve it.¡± If he had known he woulde to like Shermaine so much one day, he would never have said that sentence. He lowered his head, nuzzling against her neck, inhaling her scent, and wanting to kiss her, to leave his mark. But after his application was denied, he couldn¡¯t do anything. After all, Joshua wasn¡¯t Shermaine¡¯s boyfriend. Leaving a mark was something only her boyfriend could do. However, Shermaine was ticklish from his nuzzling. She shivered slightly, her voice bingnguid and soft, especially alluring, ¡°Stop it. It tickles.¡± Joshua felt as if he had been electrified, the sensation incredibly intense. He almost couldn¡¯t control himself. He quickly released Shermaine and didn¡¯t touch her again. Shermaineughed again, herughter sultry. ¡®Mr. York¡¯s self¨Ccontrol is reallycking,¡¯ she thought to herself. Joshua didn¡¯t mind, though, because he felt this way only for Shermaine. Although it was March, the weather was still chilly. Shermaine didn¡¯t stay outside for long. After Joshua smoked another cigarette, he drove away. The next day, Shermaine returned to Brightwater Academy for school. The students in ss Nine were especially delighted. For some reason, as long as Shermaine was in the same ssroom with them, they felt particrly motivated, even finding their homework and studying more enjoyable. March 15th was Shermaine¡¯s birthday. She was turning twenty, the age at which she could go to City Hall to apply for a marriage license. AD Comment Nurse walking 169 Perhaps the person who most wanted them to get their marriage license was Owen. On the morning of the 15th, he was eager for Joshua to take Shermaine to City Hall to get their marriage license. ¡°Joshua, how about I talk to Janice and see if you and Shermaine can go to City Hall today to register? She¡¯ll definitely agree. What do you think? Chan suggested. Joshua dashed his hopes in a second. ¡°Grandpa, I haven¡¯t won Sheary over yet.¡± Ever since Owen had taken the prescription Shermaine gave him, his health had improved remarkably He walked with a straight back and didn¡¯t pant. Hearing Joshua¡¯s response, he roared, ¡°How useless are you? It¡¯s been so long, and you still haven¡¯t seeded¡± It had been two months since they went to Mysonna, but Joshua still hadn¡¯t managed to win Shermaine over. Even a turtle reaching the finish line would have been faster than him. Joshua¡¯s ears rang from the shouting. He pursed his lips and didn¡¯t respond. He certainly didn¡¯t dare mention that the real reason he hadn¡¯t been able to bring her home yet was due to the ill¨Cadvised words he had spoken before. ¡°Grandpa, Sheary will be mine,¡± Joshua said. ¡°What if some other manes along andpetes with you? Rivals can be terrifying,¡± Owen said. Yesterday, Owen had read a novel where the male lead had been foolish and ended up getting divorced. The male secondary character had then stepped up, taking the female lead and living happily ever after. Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Never mind, I don¡¯t want to talk about it. Today is Sheary¡¯s birthday. You¡¯d better prepare well and make her happy,¡± Owen said. Without needing his grandfather to remind him, Joshua had already prepared in advance. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the Jean residence,¡± Owen said. ¡°Yes.¡± Joshua nodded. On the other side, after Shermaine returned to the Jean residence, she had recently changed her date of birth to March 15th, as Janice had suggested. As for her surname, she didn¡¯t change it back to Jean. Jay gave Shermaine her name, and because she had been in school at the time, she had gone through a lot of trouble to get her independent documentation. That period of her life was unique and unforgettable, so she wouldn¡¯t change her surname. Janice understood her and didn¡¯t insist on the change. However, when entering the Jean family¡¯s genealogy, the name used was Shermaine Jean. Janice was determined to make Shermaine¡¯s birthday party grand. She had invited families that were close to the Jeans, bringing along their granddaughters, nieces, and daughters. Mainly, they nned to use Shermaine¡¯s birthday party as an opportunity to find a suitable match for Ross. At that moment, a stack of photos and profiles of debutantesy in front of Janice. ¡°Sheary, take a look and see if there¡¯s anyone suitable for Ross, said. Regarding the connection between Danielle and Ross, it seemed rather insignificant. ording to Danielle, the two had exchanged contact information 1/3 Chapter 169 at that time. After Jason stopped pursuing her, they had never been in Touch again.. ¡°Grandma, if I were to choose, none of them would meet my standards,¡± Sherinaine spoke honestly. ¡°Besides, even if they met my standards, what good would that do? Ross has to like them.¡± This was what particrly troubled Janice. She had previously Introduced several girls from good families to Ross, but none of them had worked out in fact, some hadn¡¯t even been given a chance to meet, left hanging without any follow¨Cup. With Ross turning twenty¨Cseven and approaching his thirties, it was imperative to find him a partner to settle down with. As for marriage, that could be nned and wealthy youngdies. When Ross returned and saw the group of women, he was truly annoyed. Seeing them about to swarm toward him, he turned and went upstairs. ¡°Ross, you¡¯re back,¡± Shermaine said. Ross looked up and, upon seeing Shermaine, his stern expression rxed a bit, revealing a smile. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Grandma invited these debutantes and youngdies,¡± Shermaine exined. It was more exaggerated than a matchmaking event. Ross seemed thoughtful. ¡°I know.¡± He would find a way to deal with it. Just thinking about being surrounded by those cooing women made his headache worse. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this. Sheary, happy birthday,¡± Ross said as he returned, the gift conveniently in his hand. He handed it directly to Shermaine. Shermaine¡¯s lips curved into a smile as she took it. ¡°Thank you, Ross.¡± The siblings chatted for a while, and then Ross went back to his room, untied his tie, and hung his jacket aside. He was truly the epitome of a gentleman from a distinguished family, exuding warmth and sophistication. At that moment, he thought of someone, took out his phone, opened his contact list, and resolutely dialed the number marked Danielle. Danielle was a bit surprised when she received his call. She was on her way to the Jean residence. It was Shermaine¡¯s first birthday, and she definitely had to attend to offer her blessings and a gift in person. Danielle stared at the phone screen for a moment, realizing that Ross must be in trouble. She pondered for a bit and then answered. Summer and the others were experiencing the Jean family and the vibe of therge Basterel family for the first time, feeling quite reserved. However, after Shermaine took them to the game room, they quickly got into the groove, diately recognized her as Ross¡® ex¨Cgirlfriend from high school, Amelia. Ross was sitting on the sofa. Upon seeing his ex¨Cgirlfriend introduced by Jameson, his expression was indifferent, showing no signs of any lingering affection for his so¨Ccalled ex. 12 Jun The cooing women around him were envious when Jameson introduced Amelia to Ross. We came so early and didn¡¯t get a chance, yet Amelia managed to cut in line,¡® they wondered. Amelia nced at Ross several times before lowering her eyes. ¡°Mrs. Jean, hello, I¡¯m Amelia Diaz. You can call me Amy¡± Janice sized her up. She wasn¡¯t part and of this type of girl, not out of discrimination, but because Wendelyn had left her with a heavy shadow. However, Jameson kept praising Amelia¡¯s achievements. She was a well¨Cknown domestic painter, absolutely genuine, because she was a student of the famous foreign painter Oliver. Janice had heard of Oliver Green, who was on the same level as the renowned domestic painter Wesley. His art exhibitions featured paintings that easily fetched millions, even tens of millions, and were highly collectible. Shermaine perked up upon hearing Oliver¡¯s name ¡®Howe I didn¡¯t know Oliver had taken on Amelia as a st¨²dent?¡® she thought to herself. Back then, Oliver had been impressed by Shermaine¡¯s casual doodles and even wanted to take her on as an apprentice, saying she had talent. Shermaine, busy with her studies, had no time to learn painting and thus declined. Subsequently, Oliver had pursued Shermaine for half a year, wanting she to be his student. Soon after, his nephew, Trance, imed to have fallen in love with her at first sight during their first meeting and then pursued her for over a year. It was only when she joined the ser team that it finally stopped. Before she returned, Trance seemed about to confess to her. Fortunately, Shermaine had left quickly; otherwise, with Trance¡¯s aggressive advances, she would have been in quite a predicament. Meanwhile, at the airport, as the nended, everyone was drawn to a tall, handsome foreign man. Soon after, a male fan spotted him and excitedly rushed forward. ¡°T¨CTrance, I¡¯m your fan. Can I have your autograph?¡± Nurse walking 170 Chapter 170 As Danielle was escorted in by the maid, the atmosphere in the room shifted. A cold, aloof beauty had just taken off her whiteb coat to reveal an elegant evening dress. After the group of debutantes had been captivated by Shermaine¡¯s stunning beauty, another beauty walked in. Upon entering, Danielle spoke up. ¡°Hi, Ross.¡± Ross turned at the sound of her voice, stood up, and under the watchful eyes of everyone present, walked over and took Danielle¡¯s hand. He then led her to Janice. ¡°Grandma, I¡¯d like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Danielle Shelly.¡± The debutantes, all dressed to the nines, were stunned. ¡®We came here topete for your affection, and yet you¡¯ve already found someone? they wondered. ¡°Mrs. Jean, hello,¡± Danielle greeted with poise and grace. Janice was taken aback, but quickly her face lit up with delight. However, she was also a bit puzzled by the suddenness of it all. Nevertheless, she couldn¡¯t help but be fond of Danielle. She concealed her joy and replied with a polite ¡°Hello¡± before asking, ¡°Danielle, how long have you and Ross been together?¡± ¡°Almost a month, Grandma,¡± Danielle replied after a moment of thought. Janice was overjoyed. ¡°Ross, take Danielle and sit by me,¡± she instructed. Ross led Danielle past Jameson and Jason and took a seat on the sofa. When Jameson saw Danielle, his eyes darkened slightly. ¡®Just as Natalie said, Ross¡® girlfriend is Danielle,¡¯ he wondered. The Shelly family might not have much of a reputation in Basterel, but in Neclen, they were the top family. Danielle was now a renowned surgeon at Yaleview Hospital. If Ross were to marry Danielle, that would be disastrous. So, no matter what, Jameson had to prevent Ross and Danielle from being together. Ross didn¡¯t need to marry a woman with such a prestigious family background. Someone like Amelia would be more than enough. Jason, watching Ross, clenched his fists slightly but quickly rxed/them. He was well aware that the rtionship between Danielle and Ross was fake. After all, since Jason had stopped pursuing Danielle, she and Ross had never been in contact. Today, Ross had simply brought Danielle along to cover for him at the matchmaking event. However, Jason had never been so infatuated with a woman before. Seeing Ross casually holding Danielle¡¯s hand made him feel a pang of jealousy, a very intense pang of jealousy. Nevertheless, Jason still felt a strong sense of crisis. He was extremely curious about how Shermaine had met Danielle and how they had be such good friends. Previously, at the hospital, Shermaine had interrupted Jason¡¯s ns, and he had been holding a grudge ever since. Upon hearing that Danielle had graduated from Sterling University, Janice¡¯s eyes lit up. Danielle was 23 years old, just three years older than Shermaine, and they might know each other. Janice was about to ask something when Shermaine¡¯s voice came from the side. ¡°Hi, Danielle.¡± Danielle looked up and smiled. ¡°Hi, Sheary.¡± She stood up, handed over the gift, her eyes softening slightly. ¡°Happy birthday.¡± ¡°Thank you, Danielle,¡± Shermaine said, taking the gift and hugging Danielle briefly before handing it to the maid to take upstairs. She then sat down next to Danielle, her demeanor natural and rxed. Anyone with eyes could see that their rtionship was very close. Ross was taken aback, seemingly not expecting that Danielle and Shermaine would know each other, and apparently, they were quite close, exuding an unspoken rapport. Jameson and the others were curious about how Danielle and Shermaine knew each other. Shermaine even introduced Danielle as her senior. Danielle was a doctor, well¨Cknown for her medical skills, while Shermaine only had a basic understanding. But Danielle was a top graduate from the medical department of Sterling University. They couldn¡¯t believe Shermaine was also from there. Jameson quickly dismissed the thought. ¡®Maybe she¡¯s her senior in some other aspect,¡® he wondered. But even so, the closeness between Shermaine and Danielle was enough to make him feel frustrated. ¡®How did Shermaine, who grew up in Maple Leaf Ville,e to know someone as privileged as Danielle? Could it be that Shermaine knew Danielle was Ross¡® girlfriend and theymunicated in advance, deliberately putting on this show to make herself seem more sophisticated?¡® Jameson thought to himself. Jameson found it very logical and was convinced that it had to be the case. He immediately thought that Shermaine was extremely tacky, with no real talent, resorting to such methods to elevate herself. He couldn¡¯t expose her in public, though; otherwise, the Jean family would end up being embarrassed as well. Perhaps because his gaze on Shermaine was too direct, she sensed it and looked over. Her eyes were too candid, showing no sign of guilt. Jameson immediately felt ufortable and spoke up. ¡°Ms. Shelly, I was wondering in what capacity you are Shermaine¡¯s senior?¡± Danielle, meeting Shermaine¡¯s deadbeat father for the first time, didn¡¯t expect him to ask such a question. It seemed he truly didn¡¯t care about Shermaine at all. ¡°Mr. Jean, as is well¨Cknown, I studied medicine.¡± Jamesonughed, ¡°Are you saying that at Sterling University, Shermaine could have had the same teacher as you?¡± Danielle countered, ¡°Mr. Jean, are you unaware that Sheary spent several years abroad?¡± Jameson was taken aback. He genuinely didn¡¯t know. ¡®Could it be that Shermaine has been doing well abroad?¡® he thought to himself. ¡®No, that¡¯s impossible.¡® Jameson wanted to say more, but Janice interrupted, ¡°Enough, today is Sheary¡¯s birthday. Say something nice, okay?¡± ¡®How foolish. He doesn¡¯t understand his own daughter and just says whateveres to mind,¡® Janice thought to herself. Shermaine had always been low¨Ckey and never unted her achievements. However, her father really underestimated her, even bringing Amelia to the Jean family. Although Amelia was Ross¡® ex¨Cgirlfriend from high school, that was all in the past. Moreover, their rtionship onlysted a month before they broke up, and it seemed that Amelia was the one who ended it with Ross. After breaking up with Ross, Amelia resolutely followed a rich second¨Cgeneration to study abroad. Her romantic escapades abroad were even more scandalous. As for her being a well¨Cknown painter, it was merely hyped¨Cup fame with no real substance. Shermaine said, ¡°During my years abroad, I not only became Danielle¡¯s junior but also had the fortune to meet Mr. Green, whom my father just mentioned.¡± She spoke calmly. ¡°I¡¯ve known Mr. Green for many years, and I¡¯ve never heard of him taking on a student like Ms. Diaz.¡± Upon hearing this, Amelia¡¯s expression subtly changed. 12:09 Thu, 12 Jun G A ¡®How could Amelia not be Mr. Green¡¯s student?¡® Jameson thought, ¡®Shermaine iming to know a master painter like Mr. Green is nothing but a pipe dream. Shermaine must be talking nonsense.¡® Jameson said, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why don¡¯t you give Mr. Green a call and have him wish you a happy birthday?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Shermaine replied with a faint smile. Nurse walking 171 Chapter 171 Jameson hadn¡¯t anticipated that Shermaine would agree so readily. However, since she had spoken with such confidence, she must have been well¨Cprepared to handle the situation. Yet, he couldn¡¯t believe she would genuinely be able to get in touch with Oliver. Perhaps she might find a stranger to impersonate Oliver, counting on the fact that Amelia wouldn¡¯t expose her, which was why she could act so recklessly. To tell one lie, one needed countless other lies to cover it up. ¡®I¡¯ll see just how many lies she¡¯ll need to concoct to back up such a bold im, Jameson thought to himself. With a cold expression, Jameson said, ¡°I¡¯m waiting.¡± Shermaine took out her phone and opened Skype, an app she hadn¡¯t used in a long time. Skype was a global, free voicemunication software, simr to WhatsApp, which was more widely used abroad than WhatsApp. She hadn¡¯t logged in for quite some time and had numerous messages from various people. The most recent ones were from Trance, just twenty minutes ago. Trance: [Sheary, I¡¯vee to Wallington to find you.] Trance: [I miss you.] Trance: [Danielle told me that after you returned to your country, you found your family, and today is your birthday. I want to wish you a happy birthday in advance. Also, I¡¯ve prepared a surprise for you, so wait for me.] Seeing Trance¡¯s messages, Shermaine pursed her lips. She looked up at Danielle. Danielle innocently blinked and nonchntly shrugged her shoulders, exining, ¡°A while ago, Trance applied for a leave of absence. He immediately contacted me to ask about your whereabouts after you returned to your country, so I told him some things about you.¡± She nced at her wristwatch. ¡°Trance should bending about now.¡± Trance? Upon hearing this name, everyone felt a sense of familiarity, as if they had heard it somewhere before. The King of Football seemed to have the same name. ¡®Could it be that the Trance Danielle mentioned is the same Trance who is an idol in many people¡¯s hearts, including Joshua¡¯s?¡® they wondered. Trance was incredibly popr, not just among female fans but also male fans. There had been instances where female fans fainted in the stands because they were too excited after he scored a goal. In fact, it wasn¡¯t just one or two; security had to carry several of them out. Trance¡¯s poprity wasn¡¯t solely due to his exceptional football skills but also because of his strikingly handsome face. He had arge following in Wallington as well. Moreover, he wasn¡¯t just a great football yer; he was also a noble from Ustrana, from a wealthy and prestigious family,parable to the York family in Basterel. ¡®Is the Trance Danielle mentioned really such a person, or is it just a coincidence with the same name?¡® they pondered. ¡°Alright,¡± Shermaine sighed. She longed for love. Most of the time, when she hadn¡¯t met someone who truly caught her eye, she would be veryzy and simply refuse any advances without giving any chances. Joshua was the only man she had encountered who had stirred somepassion in her. Even though he had initially said something that wasn¡¯t rted to romantic love, Shermaine had a very positive feeling toward him She hadn¡¯t expected that while she was engagement between them. always being sensible and keeping her boundaries, Joshua would be the one to step over and break the nominal She subconsciously liked him. That was why she felt deligh after Joshua confessed his feelings. Trance¡¯s feelings for her were indeed intense and sincere, but love was such a peculiar thing. If she didn¡¯t feel it, she wouldn¡¯t be moved by someone¡¯s strong affection for her and then consider responding out of sentimentality. Shermaine wouldn¡¯t do that. She was rational enough to believe in a lifelongmitment to one person. She would only treat the one she liked differently and indulge only that one man. Thus, for other suitors, it was a fatal blow. Before returning, Shermaine had clearly told Trance that there was no possibility between them, but it seemed that Trance hadn¡¯t taken it to heart. ¡®If he¡¯sing, then so be it. I can handle it, and I¡¯ll have a serious talk with Trance,¡® Shermaine thought to herself. ¡®What I need to do now is contact Oliver and get that birthday wish.¡® Shermaine found Oliver in her contact list and clicked to make a video call.. The video call was answered almost instantly, and a lively, middle¨Caged man with a bushy beard appeared on the screen. Before Shermaine could say anything, Oliver¡¯s voice came through. ¡°My goodness, Sheary, you¡¯ve actually taken the initiative to contact me. I¡¯m absolutely delighted.¡± ¡°Long time no see, Oliver. How have you been?¡± Shermaine asked. ¡°I¡¯m doing well, and you?¡± Oliver replied. ¡°Not bad,¡± she said. He spoke very quickly. ¡°That¡¯s great. Wallington has always been a ce I¡¯ve wanted to visit, but I¡¯ve been too busy to find the time. When I do get the chance, I¡¯ll definitely take a trip there. ¡°And dear Sheary, happy birthday. I¡¯ve already asked Trance to deliver your gift. Have you seen him yet?¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t even need to ask for a birthday wish; Oliver had already wished her a happy birthday. She simply thanked him and then answered Oliver¡¯s question. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen Trance yet.¡± ¡®He hasn¡¯t arrived yet. Trance is really taking his time,¡® Oliver thought to himself. Oliver really hoped that Trance would be able to win over Sheary, such a lovely, beautiful, intelligent, and talented young woman. Unfortunately, Sheary had repeatedly rejected his passionate pursuit. ¡®Will this trip to Wallington be sessful for him? And will there be any particrly strong rivals in Wallington? If there are, Trance might be out of luck, Oliver thought. At that moment, as everyone¡® watched Shermaine converse in perfect Ustranasion with the person on the other end of the video call, they were envious. Her fluency and ent were something many people struggled to achieve. Jameson¡¯s expression changed slightly. Just by hearing the voice, he couldn¡¯t tell if it was Oliver. Anyway, he didn¡¯t believe that Sh chatting with Oliver like an old friend; it had to be fake. Jameson nced at Amelia, and seeing her calm demeanor, he became even more convinced of his suspicion. ¡®It¡¯s fake. Shermaine must have found someone to pretend to be Oliver. He¡¯s acting so convincingly. I have to admit, I¡¯m impressed. e was really ¡®No wonder she could make Wendelyn lose so badly and even make Joshua go to any lengths to deal with the Wright family. It shows how deep her scheming and cunning are,¡® Jameson thought. In reality, Amelia was just putting on a brave face. Inside, she was starting to panic, her limbs growing cold. ¡®I¡¯ve worked so hard to build my reputation here, and it can¡¯t be ruined now, especially in front of Ross, she thought. After chatting with Oliver for a while, Shermaine got down to business and asked, ¡°Oliver, I heard you¡¯ve taken on a student from Wallington?¡± ¡°Where did you hear that?¡± Oliver expressed his confusion. He hadn¡¯t taken on any students from Wallington, or any other country for that matter, in fact, the only student he was interested in taking on was Shermaine. Shermaine turned her phone to face Amelia and Jameson. ¡°See thedy in the white dress? She says she¡¯s your student.¡± AD Nurse walking 172 Chapter 172 When the camera turned toward them, Jameson and Amelia saw the person on the screen. There was no doubt about it; he looked exactly like Oliver To be precise, he was Oliver. His beard was thick and full, his green eyes bright and shining, and his aura was cool and edgy. At that moment, he was in the studio, and behind him, on the shelf, there was a half¨Cfinished oil painting. Oliver¡¯s painting style leaned toward the dark and eerie, and the sense of emptiness and despair in the painting was palpable even through the screen. Not just anyone could create such a piece. Jameson waspletely stunned. ¡®Shermaine is actually on ¨¢ video call with Oliver, and they were chatting like old friends. How could this be?¡® he thought. He had assumed that, given Shermaine¡¯s background, it would be impossible for her to have connections with someone of Oliver¡¯s caliber. So, not only was Shermaine Danielle¡¯s junior, but she was also on good terms with Oliver. His suspicions and assumptions about her lying and fabricating had been proven wrong. Jameson¡¯s expression suddenly darkened, and his mood became particrlyplex. He had thought too poorly of Shermaine. After all, she was his daughter. He couldn¡¯t possibly wish ill upon her. A flicker of guilt began to rise in his heart. But it seemed that Shermaine no longer regarded him as her father. Since her return to the Jean family, she had always been cold and distant toward him, and quite disobedient. Jameson didn¡¯t like Shermaine at all. She reminded him too much of Ruth. She had been like an omnipotent deity, capable of turning the tide for the Jean Group and winning the trust and affection of thepany¡¯s employees. It felt as if she were a beacon of hope. This made Jameson feel as though he had married not a wife, but a goddess. ¡®Natalie and Jason are much better. ¡®Natalie is so docile and always defers to my decisions. She might offer suggestions at times, but she¡¯s the perfect supportive partner. And Jason is filial and obedient, always mindful of my wishes,¡® Jameson thought to himself. Quickly, the guilt he felt seemed to dissipate entirely under this line of thinking. He didn¡¯t think he had any reason to feel guilty. Shermaine now had everything she wanted, even more so than Jameson. With this new evidence before him, Jameson felt that Shermaine was being extremely tactless. ¡®Even if I was wrong first, she shouldn¡¯t leave me any room at all,¡¯ he thought. Amelia¡¯s face turned even paler. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, her carefully constructed image as a talented painter was about to copse. Oliver, seeing thedy in the white dress that Shermaine had mentioned, responded without hesitation, ¡°Sheary, I don¡¯t know this woman. How could I have taken her on as a student? ¡°As I¡¯ve said before, unless you agree to learn painting from me, I won¡¯t take on any other students.¡± Oliver was a man of his word. The crowd murmured in astonishment inwardly, ¡®The long¨Clost heiress of the Jean family, who has been abroad for fourteen years, is truly something extraordinary. ¡®Oliver wanted to take her on as a student, but she refused. It seems she must have done quite well for herself abroad. Whoever spread the rumors about her being a country bumpkin must have been driven by jealousy. 1/3 Chapter 172 Moreover, even Jameson, her own father, was so unfamiliar with and skeptical of his daughter, it was quite a joke it was a matter of pride fee ashamed instead. Indeed, rumors weren¡¯t always false. Jameson began to stray after taking a mistress and having an illegitimate child. His conscience, once tempted, waspletely lost, and he started to turn against his wife, his eldest son, and his youngest daughter. ¡®If we had such outstanding children, we would be extremely proud,¡¯ they thought. Shermaine turned her phone back on. ¡°Then, Oliver, you might never take on a student in your lifetime.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I won¡¯t feel any regret,¡± Oliver said. Originally, before meeting Shermaine, he had no intention of taking on students. Her doodles had shown him her astonishing talent. He thought it would be a pity to waste such a gift. He hadn¡¯t expected that Shermaine would also be exceptionally talented in other fields, even bing an idol and a role model that many people could only look up to. ¡°Are they all here for your birthday?¡± Oliver asked. ¡°I didn¡¯t invite them,¡± Shermaine replied. ¡°No wonder,¡± Oliver said, understanding the situation. Shermaine didn¡¯t chat with Oliver for long. When it was about time, she ended the call, nning to have a proper conversation with him when she had more time. Amelia felt like dying; her smile was forced as she tried to exin. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to meet Mr. Green in such a way today. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not sure why there are rumors that I¡¯m Mr. Green¡¯s student. When Mr. Jean mentioned it just now, it was my fault for not having the chance to exin.¡± Everyone knew full well that she hadn¡¯t had the chance to exin, or rather, she hadn¡¯t wanted to. Amelia deliberately lowered her stance, trying to gain sympathy, but it was toote. Her behavior now only made her look ridiculous. People weren¡¯t fools; they wouldn¡¯t be swayed by her act. It was only after being exposed by Shermaine that Amelia felt the need to exin, which was quite unnecessary. Those who spent hundreds of thousands, even millions, on Amelia¡¯s paintings, and her fans online who praised her, perhaps didn¡¯t truly see the shining points in her that they imed to admire. Shermaine smiled, ¡°Is that so?¡± Amelia¡¯s hands clenched, and her eyes reddened slightly. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry for causing any trouble for Mr. Green, Mr. Jean, and everyone else.¡± Jameson, with a gloomy expression, didn¡¯t actually me her for anything. Shermaine put her phone away. ¡°Mr. Jean, you should get to know me better before questioning me. Otherwise, it¡¯s quite embarrassing for you in front of everyone.¡± Already in an awkward situation, Shermaine¡¯s words only added fuel to the fire. Jameson¡¯s face turned red, and he tried to argue back. ¡°Knowing Oliver is nothing to be proud of. ¡°When Jason was abroad, there were plenty of such famous masters who wanted to take him on as a student. You should learn from him and strive to be excellent.¡± 12:10 Thu, 12 Jun GA Upon hearing this, everyone felt puzzled, ¡®If Oliver illegitimate child? Is he really that impressive?¡® so eager to take Shermaine on as a student, how could she not be excellent? And what about that Shermaine didn¡¯t respond directly. Soon, time would reveal who was truly excellent and who needed to learn from whom. She had no interest inparing herself with Jason, but Jameson kept bringing them up, belittling her. Shermaine became serious. If once wasn¡¯t enough, then twice would do. Janice¡¯s long¨Cdormant headache began to re up. ¡°Sheary is very excellent. Stopparing her to Jason all the time.¡± She thought to herself, ¡®You can¡¯t win byparing, and in the end, it¡¯s you who will be hurt! ¡°Mom, I¡¯m just stating the facts,¡± Jameson said. ¡®Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know you¡¯re putting on an elder¡¯s demeanor to save face after being embarrassed, Janice thought. ¡°Forget it. I don¡¯t want to argue with you. You¡¯ll understand eventually,¡± Janice said. On the sofa, Ross pursed his lips, looking indifferent, but Danielle could clearly sense that he was bothered by Jameson¡¯s constantparisons between Shermaine and Jason. Even when upset, the refined gentleman showed no obvious signs of anger. As for Jason, Danielle found it hard to judge. His situation was delicate, pitiable, yet also a bit detestable. He should have kept a low profile, but instead, he was unwilling to ept his status as an illegitimate child. He could fight for what he wanted, but- Jason, I hope you just don¡¯t use the wrong methods. Don¡¯t even think aboutpeting with Shermaine,¡® Danielle thought. Jason nced at her, and Danielle subtly turned away, not wanting to get too involved with him. She preferred Ross¡® type. At that moment, Shermaine¡¯s phone rang again. It was an unfamiliar number. After a moment of hesitation, she answered. Trance¡¯s pitiful voice came through. ¡°Sheary, Basterel is so big, I¡¯m lost.¡± Nurse walking 173 Chapter 173 Basterel was indeed a vast city. Many foreigners who came to Wallingtonian often found themselves disoriented due to the iprehensible maps and road signs. And if they happened to catch a taxi with a driver who didn¡¯t speak Ustranasian, it would be very terrible. Trance was indeed a bit careless. As a friend, she should take care of him in this unfamiliar ce. Shermaine thought for a moment and asked, ¡°Where are you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he replied. ¡°Ask the person who lent you the phone,¡± she suggested. ¡°Okay,¡± Trance responded and went to ask. Although the person¡¯s Ustranasian wasn¡¯t very fluent, Shermaine was able to urately pinpoint his location, Silvero Center. ¡®He¡¯s quite impressive, making it all the way there from the airport, Shermaine thought to herself. ¡°I¡¯lle pick you up. Don¡¯t wander around,¡± she said. Trance¡¯s eyes, those crystalline orbs, sparkled with a dazzling brilliance. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you, Sheary,¡± he said before hanging up the phone. Trance had borrowed the phone from a fan who recognized him. As he made the call, he transformed from a formidable presence to an adorable boy in an instant. The fan found it truly incredible. He was genuinely good¨Clooking, with wavy golden hair that was smooth and fluttering in the sunlight. His eyes were deep, his features chiseled, and he exuded an air of masculinity. Perhaps he wasn¡¯t used to wearing suits, for now, his suit hung on his arm, and his white shirt was unbuttoned at several spots, giving off a sense of unrestrained charm. Trance returned the phone and thanked the fan in Ustranasian. ¡°Thank you for your phone.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± the fan replied. In return, Trance signed an autograph for him and took a photo together. The fan was overjoyed. As the most bustling shopping center in Basterel, Silvero Center was packed with people. Trance, being a well¨Cknown and exceptionally handsome figure, soon attracted more and more people asking for autographs and photos. In a good mood, Trance didn¡¯t refuse anyone. Ross noticed Shermaine get up after answering the phone. ¡°Going to pick up a friend?¡± Shermaine nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± She nced at Danielle, who was eating the fruit handed to her by her grandmother, looking calm andposed. The two were chatting andughing, creating a harmonious and warm atmosphere. Shermaine then said to Ross, ¡°Ross, please take good care of Danielle.¡± ¡°Got it. I will,¡± Ross replied in a gentle, even tone. He would take care of Danielle, after all, she was currently ying the role of his girlfriend, and she was Shermaine¡¯s good friend. Hearing their conversation, Danielle nced at Ross. ¡®What a gentle and refined young master,¡® she thought. Although Danielle had a she wasn¡¯t rigid. She took an instant liking to Ross and naturally paid attention to him. ersonality, Even though Danielle knew she wasn¡¯t the type he usually favored, she still felt a bit fempted to give it a try, to pursue him and see it there was any real possibility of them being together. ¡°Drive safely,¡± Ross said. ¡°Okay,¡± Shermaine replied before heading upstairs to get her car keys. Ross turned back and noticed Danielle still looking at him. She was stunningly beautiful, with a cool and elegant demeanor, wearing a in evening dress that entuated her curvaceous figure, making her incredibly charming. Ross met her gaze. ¡°Why are you staring at me?¡± Danielle leaned closer. Ross felt her softness against his arm. She whispered into his ear, her warm breath causing a shiver down his spine. Ross caught a whiff of her fragrance and was momentarily stunned. Danielle was usually cool and aloof, but when her voice softened, it seemed to have the power to make one¡¯s bones go limp. ¡°Jason keeps staring at me, Ross. You need to act more like my boyfriend and help mepletely dissuade him.¡± Ross was a bit surprised. He didn¡¯t expect Danielle, the ice queen, to be so unexpectedly flirtatious. He wasn¡¯t exactly a veteran in matters of the heart, but frequenting nightclubs for business deals had broadened his horizons and made him adept at handling such situations. At that moment, with his grandmother watching them intently, Ross casually draped his arm around Danielle¡¯s waist. He then picked up a fresh strawberry from the table and brought it to Danielle¡¯s lips, speaking softly, ¡°Try this.¡± Danielle¡¯s ears turned slightly pink. She yed along perfectly with Ross, without a hint of awkwardness, as if she were truly his beloved. Her eyshes fluttered as she opened her mouth to take the strawberry from him. Her lips brushed against Ross¡® fingers. The sensation was moist and soft, and the feeling transmitted by her tongue was incredibly subtle. After chewing slowly, Danielle said, ¡°It¡¯s very sweet.¡± Janice was overjoyed inside. She was extremely pleased with Danielle. ¡®If Danielle could continue to develop a stable rtionship with Ross and eventually get married, that would be perfect,¡® she thought to herself. Meanwhile, Jason clenched his fists tightly, but he remained outwardly calm. Jameson, unaware of Jason¡¯s feelings for Danielle, was worried that Janice might bring up marriage right away. Fortunately, she didn¡¯t. After observing their interaction, Janice nodded approvingly and then turned to chat with the others. Shermaine grabbed her car keys and headed straight to the garage. She only had one car, a gift from Joshua. She could have driven Ross¡®, but among all the sports cars, the one Joshua had given her was her favorite. She rarely had the chance to drive it, and today seemed like a good opportunity to pick up Trance and take a little spin. Just a few minutes after Shermaine left in her car, Joshua arrived at the Jean residence with Owen. Owen, looking quite well and leaning on a cane, quickly outpaced Joshua and happily entered the main gate. Joshua followed at a leisurely pace, carrying several gifts. As soon as he appeared, the debutantes who hade to meet Ross for a potential match couldn¡¯t help but nce over, their hearts racing. ¡®Mr. York is as handsome as ever. No wonder he¡¯s the man every woman in Basterel dreams of sleeping with. He¡¯s so desirable,¡® they thought to themselves. 12:10 Thu, 12 Jun G A The Jean family¡¯s maid, seeing them arrive, hurried to inform Janice. Upon seeing Owen, Janice¡¯s face lit up with joy as she greeted him warmly. ¡°Oh, you look great.¡± ¡°Thanks to Sheary,¡± Owen sighed with relief. Without her, he might not have made it. Mentioning Shermaine, Owen, who hadn¡¯t seen her in a while and missed her dearly, asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Sheary?¡± After handing over the gifts to the Jean family¡¯s maid, Joshua was eager to see Shermaine. They hadn¡¯t seen each other for several days, and he missed her terribly. He wanted to hold her and give her a kiss. He thought Shermaine might be upstairs or somewhere else, but Janice said, ¡°Sheary went to pick up a friend. She just left.¡± ¡®Friend? What kind of friend needs to be picked up personally? Male or female?¡® he wondered. Joshua looked at Danielle curiously. Feeling Joshua¡¯s gaze, Danielle smiled and mouthed, ¡°It¡¯s a very close male friend.¡± Nurse walking 174 Chapter 174 Danielle wasn¡¯t aware of how things had progressed between Joshua and Shermaine. As far as she knew, they were still a couple in name only. So other men were free to pursue Shermaine. Trance was one such suitor¨Cardent and highly capable. Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened. Though his expression remained neutral, understanding Danielle¡¯s words, his possessiveness toward Shermaine caused his mood to shift from sunny to gloomy in an instant. He was extremely jealous. At this point, since Shermaine had already left to meet Trance, there was nothing he could do to stop her. For one thing, he had no chance to intervene. For another, he wasn¡¯t her boyfriend. Joshua was confident about being with Shermaine. She would be his girlfriend, no doubt. But when a rival actually appeared, he still sensed a significant threat. So much so that beneath his usually gentle demeanor, his eyes turned menacingly dark. Seeing Joshua¡¯s expression, Danielle knew he cared deeply for Shermaine. ¡®If only you had thought of this earlier, she thought to herself. Still close to Ross, Danielle leaned in and spoke to him with a charming gaze and a sweet voice. ¡°Ross, I want more strawberries,¡± she whispered in his ear. ¡°And I want you to feed them to me.¡± Ross felt utterly captivated and couldn¡¯t help but tremble. Reluctantly, he picked up another strawberry from the table and fed it to her. As Danielle bit into it, the usually unsmiling beauty now had a faint smile. Her fragrance wafted over again as she said thank you. Ross ignored the strange feelings Danielle stirred in him. Just now, he had discovered something surprising and asked, ¡°Does Joshua like Sheary?¡± Danielle nodded. ¡°You¡¯re just figuring that out now?¡± Ross was indeed just realizing it. He hadn¡¯t expected Joshua to have feelings for Shermaine. Originally, he had nned to find a suitable opportunity to dissolve the arranged marriage between their families, giving Shermaineplete freedom. ¡®What a dramatic turn of events,¡® he wondered. Previously, he had repeatedly warned Shermaine not to get too involved with Joshua. But now, Joshua had fallen for Shermaine. ¡®No wonder Joshua was so proactive with Shermaine. During the New Year, he even drove all the way to the countryside to pick her up. He must have had ulterior motives from the start,¡® Ross thought to himself. He found the situation somewhat amusing, but then he thought of Shermaine facing this suitor and felt unhappy again. Forty minutester, Shermaine arrived at Silvero Center and quickly located Trance. Amidst the bustling crowd, the handsome foreign man was quite eye¨Ccatching and had already attracted the attention of several street photographers. Trance had no luggage with him, and noticing this/Shermaine¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. Spring had arrived, and seagulls were circling by the river. At a nce, the river¡¯s surface sparkled, and passersby were feeding the bread. Shermaine didn¡¯t approach immediately, but france spotted her presence and stood up happily, walking toward her with open arms for a warm hug. ¡°Sheary, you¡¯re finally here,¡± he said, having waited for a long time. Hugging and kissing on the cheek aremon, enthusiastic greetings abroad. However, Shermaine usually greeted people outside with a handshake. 12:10 Thu, 12 Jun She only hugged those she was close to and asionally kissed girls on the cheek, but she had never done so with a man. After a brief hug, Shermaine calmly pushed Trance away with a neutral expression. ¡°Happy birthday, Sheary,¡± he said, his bright blue eyes filled with tenderness. Without changing her expression, Shermaine asked, ¡°Why did you deliberately lure me here?¡± AD Nurse walking 175 Chapter 175 Trance had already booked the presidential suite at the five¨Cstar hotel in Silvero Center. Naturally, as soon as hended, someone was there to pick him
  1. up.
After he had settled his fuggage, Trance made his way to the center of the za, found a passerby, and borrowed their phone to call Shermaine. Trance spoke mysteriously. ¡°Of course I wanted to surprise you,¡± he said, taking the opportunity to make another grand gesture of affection. It was the perfect n. Shermaine raised an eyebrow, sensing that Trance was about to pull off something outrageous. With a snap of his fingers, Trance set his n into motion. The huge electronic screen in front of them, which had been disying an advertisement for a celebrity, suddenly changed. In the next moment, it read: [Shermaine, Happy Birthday. Will you be with me? Love, Trance.] Shermaine was stunned for a moment. It wasn¡¯t just the screen in the za. Several high¨Crise buildings around Silvero Center, and even the tallest, the 88¨Cstory modern tower, were all disying the same message: [Shermaine, Happy Birthday. Will you be with me? Love, Trance.] The onlookers were bewildered. ¡®Which tycoon is making such a bold confession from afar? It¡¯s so extravagant. Trance? That name sounds familiar, they thought to themselves. In a short span of time, Twitter and various forums were abuzz with the story of an unknown wealthy individual who had bought out all the advertising screens in the Basterel area to make a romantic gesture. The cost of such advertising must have been astronomical. At that moment, in the game room of the Jean residence, Summer was scrolling through Twitter on her phone when she came across a trending topic that was quickly climbing into the top ten on Twitter. She let out an exmation. Her ssmates asked, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Summer handed over her phone. ¡°Someone¡¯s confessing to Sheary,¡± she said, adding that it was an incredibly expensive gesture. They all became intrigued and took out their phones to follow the story with great interest. As the sun was about to set and the dinner was about to begin, Shermaine still hadn¡¯t returned. Joshua, in the courtyard, kept ncing at his watch and chain¨Csmoking. It seemed that only through smoking could he keep himself in check and stay rational. For the first time in his life, Joshua felt that time was so agonizingly slow. In the information age, it didn¡¯t take long for Shermaine to trend on social media, and the news quickly spread throughout the Jean family. When Owen saw the trending topic, his face changed repeatedly. ¡®This is bad. A rival has appeared,¡® he thought to himself. The novel he had read the day before had been such a shock that Owen was now very worried about Shermaine being with another man. ¡®If Trance ends up with Shermaine, I¡¯ll kick Joshua out of the house. He keeps emphasizing that Shermaine is his, but in reality, she has ning to do with him,¡® Owen thought. With quick, determined steps, Owen went to the backyard and found Joshua, shouting, ¡°Call Sheary right now.¡± Joshua had already been thinking the same thing, but he was taken aback by his grandfather¡¯s sudden urgency ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked, frowning ¡°What¡¯s going on? Some guy named Trance has beaten you to it and confessed to Sheary. He¡¯s made a city wide announcement that he likes her, and it¡¯s super shy,¡± Owen said, looking at him reproachfully. ¡°Why can¡¯t you do something romantic? Where have you been all this time?¡± he added. Just from his grandfather¡¯s description, Joshua could almost picture the scene of Shermaine being confessed to by the so¨Ccalled close male friend. Without hesitation, Joshua immediately called Shermaine. On the other end, Trance, like a child who had done something wrong, followed behind Shermaine with a look of grievance. He was even quite upset because Shermaine had rejected his confession once again. ¡®Why doesn¡¯t Sheary like me? I¡¯m a good person. I¡¯m loyal and can love Sheary for a lifetime, he thought to himself. Trance felt as if he had reached a dead end, his mind full of confusion and his heart heavy with sorrow. Of course, he wanted to force the issue, but Shermaine wouldn¡¯t fall for that. If he did, he might lose her altogether, not even being able to remain friends. Shermaine walked ahead, and as a breeze blew, her long hair fluttered. Under her ck knit jacket, she wore a red dress that entuated her beauty and graceful figure. She looked like an angel, cold and distant yet stunningly gorgeous. The surroundings were too noisy, and it took several rings before Shermaine heard her phone. She took it out and saw it was Joshua. She was about to answer when the call ended. As Shermaine was about to call back, Joshua¡¯s call came through again. Almost as soon as it had disconnected, he was calling again. Shermaine pressed the green button and said, ¡°Hello?¡± Joshua got straight to the point. ¡°Are you back yet?¡± ¡°On my way,¡± she replied. Joshua fell silent, not uttering a word. The atmosphere grew a bit eerie. Shermaine sensed that something was off with Joshua. ¡®Could it be because I went to pick up Trance?¡® she wondered to herself. Little did she know that Trance¡¯s city¨Cwide confession had already trended and that Joshua was aware of it. Without asking any questions, Joshua remained remarkablyposed. It seemed he had other ns. He lowered his voice. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you, Sheary.¡± For some reason, whenever Joshua spoke in that hushed tone, Shermaine became particrly sensitive. Her ears tingled, even over the phone. ¡®Do I really like his voice that much?¡® she thought to herself. Shermaine couldn¡¯t help but touch her ear, a faint smile ying on her lips. ¡°Got it, I¡¯m heading back now.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you,¡± Joshua said. ¡°Okay,¡± Shermaine replied. As soon as she hung up, she looked up to see Trance¡¯s pitiful expression instantly transform into one of grave seriousness, like a wild animal that had sensed danger. Trance was extremely perceptive and could easily detect his rival. Moreover, when Shermaine had been talking to the man on the phone, her voice had softened noticeably. She had evenughed just now. Clearly, her indulgence and pleasure indicated that the person on the other end of the line had a significant rtionship with aine. Trance took a slow breath. ¡°Sheary, may I ask who was on the phone with you?¡± He was always a straightforward person. If he had doubts, he needed to get to the bottom of them. Shermaine put away her phone, her demeanor open and calm. ¡°Trance, that was my fianc¨¦ It was a devastating blow, like being struck by lightning. It left him dazed and unable to think straight, Trance felt as if he was about to faint at any moment. ¡®No wonder Danielle told me to be mentally prepared when I came to Wallingtonian. So this is what she meant. How could Sheary be engaged in such a short time?¡¯ he thought to himself. It was too much to take in. ¡®And it seems Sheary has some special feelings for this fianc¨¦ of hers,¡® he thought, though he didn¡¯t want to dwell on it. Trance¡¯s heart shattered into pieces. ¡°Sheary, can I go over there right now, tear your fianc¨¦ limb from limb, and then take you back to Ustrana?¡± AD Nurse walking 176 Chapter 176 ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Shermaine delivered the final blow. ¡®To tear Joshua into a thousand pieces? Impossible. To forcibly take her back to Ustrana? Even more impossible¨Cunless she goes willingly thought he Then she added, ¡°Trance, just leave him alone.¡± And just like that, Trance¡¯s heart was ground to glittering dust again. Shermaine was defending her fianc¨¦. Trance thought, ¡®Like hell I¡¯ll let this go! I¡¯ve got to see what kind of guy thinks he can be Sheary¡¯s fianc¨¦. No way am I backing down¨CF¡¯ll make him back off, and if I can, I¡¯ll get that so¨Ccalled engagement called off, too. Trance was already imagining all the ways he could outshine Shermaine¡¯s fianc¨¦ when they met. He¡¯d make sure the guy knew he was the perfect hatch for Shermaine¨Cno one else. Absolutely furious, his handsome face in a deep scowl, he slumped into the car and yanked the seatbelt across his chest with a huff. Shermaine pressed her lips together, a slight sense of helplessnessing over her. Before leaving Silvero Center, Shermaine first took Trance back to his hotel to retrieve the painting Oliver had given her. Only after collecting the artwork did they return to the Jean residence. Shermaine took nearly an hour to return after picking up Trance. Night fell. The moonlight was pale, the breeze soft. The car pulled up before the vi. As Shermaine stepped out of the car, she saw Joshua standing by the doorway, cigarette in hand and phone to his ear. Under the night sky, his tall, lean frame in a ck shirt, one hand casually tucked in his pocket, was partly veiled in shadow¨Cyet he still exuded a breathtaking elegance. He was dangerously attractive, devilishly handsome and refined, And he looked exceptionally sexy. Shermaine thought, ¡®He looks incredible in that ck shirt.¡¯ Ever since she gave Joshua that watch, he seemed to have taken a real shine to it¨Cnever wearing any other since. Joshua had long since caught the distant roar of an approaching engine. The instant he saw Shermaine emerge from the car, he ended his call and strode toward her. His eyes zed as he restrained the barely¨Cleashed longing within. He murmured, ¡°Sheary, you¡¯re back.¡± His voice, though soft, lingered with deep tenderness. For a brief moment, Shermaine found herself captivated by his voice again. She gave a slight nod and asked softly, ¡°When did you ¡°I arrived right after you left,¡± Joshua said casually. ¡°A pity I couldn¡¯t apany you to pick up your friend myself.¡± Shermaine felt a bit dazed as she looked up into Joshua¡¯s profound eyes. She thought, ¡®Is that a tang of jealousy I¡¯m sensing from him? 1/4 ere?¡± ¡®That vibe was radiating from him.¡® She couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Joshua smoothly changed the subject, his voiceced with gentle concern. ¡°It¡¯s quite chilly out. You should¡¯ve put on anotheryer before stepping outside.¡± Shermaine shook her head. ¡°Not cold,¡± she insisted. The sun had kept her warm during the day, but now that night had fallen, the chill was unmistakable. ¡°Give me your hand,¡± Joshua said. Without hesitation, Shermaine slipped her hand into his. Joshua took her hand in his, wrapping it tightly in his own. ¡®Cold,¡® Joshua thought. Joshua enveloped her hand in his, his grip firm and unyielding. Trance had dozed off in the car. After Shermaine woke him, he quickly fixed his appearance. But the moment he stepped out, he saw a man holding Shermaine¡¯s hand. ¡®I¡¯ll chop that bastard¡¯s hand off!¡® the thought shing through his mind. Trance shot a dark, hostile re at the man in the ck shirt standing before him. ¡®Fine,¡® he thought, ¡®I¡¯ll admit it¨Cthis guy¡¯s looks and build are on par with mine. But so what? I¡¯ve never relied on my appearance. What really matters is my own strength and ability.¡® ¡°Sheary!¡± Trance called out intively. ¡®Damn it!¡® Trance thought, his blood boiling with rage. ¡®Sheary, can¡¯t you just not let that man hold your hand? I haven¡¯t even had the chance to do that myself¡­¡® Trance thought bitterly, jealousy burning in his heart. ¡°Is he your fianc¨¦?¡± he asked. Shermaine turned to look at Trance, whose pitiful expression made it seem as if she¡¯d just abandoned him. The corner of her mouth twitched slightly. Joshua added, his voice deceptively light, ¡°Sheary, aren¡¯t you going to introduce us?¡± Upstairs by the window, Summer and the others covered their mouths to stifle giggles as they watched the scene unfold below. This was the legendary face¨Coff between the fianc¨¦e and the love rival. Amid the palpable tension between the two men, Shermaine remainedpletely unfazed. ¡°Joshua, my fianc¨¦,¡± Shermaine said calmly, gesturing between them. ¡°And Trance, a friend.¡± The difference was striking. Trance gritted his teeth in annoyance. He stepped forward and extended his hand. With a forced smile and a challenging tone, he said, ¡°Hello, Joshua.¡± Joshua was still holding Shermaine¡¯s hand with his left when Trance stepped forward challengingly. Without letting go, he extended his right hand in a measured response, his voice cool andposed. ¡°Hello, Trance.¡± Shermaine watched as their hands sped. Trance suddenly tightened his grip, and Joshua immediately countered. The veins on the backs of their hands bulged as they engaged in a silent battle of strength. After a tense standoff, they finally released their grips simultaneously. Trance withdrew his hand, his fingers giving an almost imperceptible twitch. Trance thought, ¡®Bloody hell! This guy¡¯s got some serious strength!¡® Joshua withdrew his hand with deliberate grace, slipping it into his pocket. With cool politeness, he said, ¡°Wee to Wallington. Trance¡¯s face was stormy, but in the blink of an eye, he shed a wide, toothy grin. ¡°Thanks,¡± he said, and just as quickly, the smile vanished as he turned his attention to Shermaine. ¡°Sheary, I haven¡¯t had a drop sincending. I¡¯m parched¨Ccould I have some juice?¡± ¡°Come with me,¡± Shermaine said, gently slipping her hand free from Joshua¡¯s grasp and heading inside first. After all, Trance hade from afar¨Cas their guest, she couldn¡¯t very well neglect him. ¡°What kind of juice would you like?¡± ¡°You know,¡± Trance said. ¡°Orange juice?¡± Shermaine asked. ¡°Yeah,¡± Trance murmured. Joshua watched as Shermaine walked ahead, with Trance trailing after her like a devoted shadow, his eyes lowered¨Cdark and unreadable. He stared at his own hand, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing as a hollow ache settled in his chest. After a pause, he let his hand fall and quietly followed behind them. He was convinced Shermaine held some affection for him, so all this time, he had approached her with an air of certain victory. Yet her neither refusing nor drawing closer suddenly made his confidence waver. Instead, that sense of insecurity only grew stronger. After all, it was just a passing fondness. Nothing more. It was not like Shermaine ever said she liked him or anything. But then again, he had no one to me but himself. He epted it. But there was no way he¡¯d ever hand Shermaine over to someone else. Joshua thought, ¡®Shermaine is mine¨Cmine alone.¡® Meanwhile, inside the house, Roy and Henry were also there. Lily also hurried over from work. All of Shermaine¡¯s dinner guests were now there. The moment Shermaine entered, everyone noticed the strikingly handsome foreigner by her side¨CTrance. Trance, the undisputed king of ser,mands such poprity that roughly 80% of football fans¨Cmen and women alike¨Care his devoted followers. One of the friends gasped, ¡°Holy shit! Is that really Trance? So the one who confessed to Shermaine is actually our ser legend¨Cnot just some namesake!¡± 12:11 Thu, 12 Jun G This instantly sparked a wave of excited chatter. Roy and Henry exchanged uneasy nces, their expressions darkening They knew Joshua had been waiting outside for Shermaine. But now, standing beside her wasn¡¯t Joshua¨Cit was Trance. Could it be Joshua was actually losing to Trance? Just as they were still puzzled, Joshua walked in from outside. The man who was always invincible and a master strategist now looked oddly subdued¨Ca little forlorn¨Camid all the excited chatter. Nurse walking 177 Chapter 177 Roy thought to himself, ¡®No way¡­ This must be an illusion. ¡®No way Joshua would lose to that Trance guy. ¡®But damn¡­ Trance is actually¡­ pretty handsome. ¡®Also the King of Football? Damn, he¡¯s got more fans than me.¡® Shermaine took the painting Trance had been carrying and handed it to the maid, who then carried it upstairs. She then asked Trance to sit with Danielle before going to pour him a ss of juice. The party was packed with guests and short¨Cstaffed. With everyone swamped and the pre¨Cmade orange juice already gone, Shermaine headed straight to the kitchen to make a fresh batch herself, not wanting to trouble the other staff. When Trance saw Danielle, they greeted each other with a warm hug¨Cthey were already acquainted and on good terms. As he leaned in close, he whispered in her ear, ¡°Danielle, could you introduce me to Sheary¡¯s family?¡± Danielle smiled and said, ¡°Sure thing.¡± Janice had to admit, Trance was dashingly handsome¨Chis looks alone were certainly appealing. But with Joshua already lined up, she couldn¡¯t possibly consider a second candidate. Danielle started by introducing Ross. Ross¡® face remained impassive. Trance blurted out, ¡°Hey, bro! I¡¯m Trance, Sheary¡¯s friend.¡± ¡°Hello,¡± Ross replied coolly. Trance wasn¡¯t just the sunny, handsome image he projected. Born into aristocracy, he had been taught from childhood to read people¨Cit came as naturally as breathing. He could tell that Shermaine¡¯s brother, Ross, didn¡¯t like him. Otherwise, why would he be so cold? Logically speaking, most men adored him, even saw him as an idol. After all, his football skills spoke for themselves. ¡®Damn, how do I get her brother to like me?¡® Trance was itching to grab his phone and ask the family group chat for advice. Then came Janice. Naturally, Janice understood Ustranasian. Back when the Jean family conducted business with foreign clients, she served as the interpreter. Trance was absolutely thrilled when he realized Janice could not only understand Ustranasian but alsomunicate with him effortlessly. He started showering her with sweet talk, soon having her beaming from ear to ear. Next, Danielle turned to Ruth and Jameson, her tone noticeably cooler as she made the introductions. Trance picked up on the shift. After exchanging greetings, he didn¡¯t say much Ruth stayed invisible all night, silently soaking in the spectacle. When Ruth saw Jameson getting humiliated, she thought to herself, ¡®Serves him right! ¡®He¡¯s finally getting a taste of his own medicine -exactly what he once did to me. ¡®He¡¯s always calling me stupid, but isn¡¯t he just as bad? Hopelessly dumb himself ¡®This is so damn satisfying!¡® Ruth had already given up trying to please Shermaine. Her past misdeeds hadpletely turned Shermaine¡¯s heart cold. More than anything, the hoped Shermaine wouldn¡¯t focus on her deep down, she was terrified Shermaine might dig up secrets she desperately wanted to keep hidden. Ruth thought to herself, ¡®I¡¯m done with Jameson. But as for being Mrs. Jean, I¡¯ll never let that vizen Natalie take my ce. I¡¯m determined to remain the wealthydy of this household, living infort and luxury for the rest of my days! As Jameson watched Trance make his entrance, he felt as if another invisible pnded across his face¨Cthe sting of humiliation burning hot. It wasmon knowledge that the renowned painter Oliver Green had a nephew who was none other than the King of Football¨CTrance. And as for Trance¡¯s family, they were bona fide Ustrana aristocracy¨Ca noble house with centuries of history. For the Jean family, this association was a huge social boost¨Cif word got out, they¡¯d be the envy of everyone. But somehow, Jameson just couldn¡¯t bring himself to feel happy. Jameson couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡®Could the daughter I¡¯ve always looked down upon actually be¡­ outstanding?¡± As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he immediately dismissed it. Jameson thought to himself, ¡®No way. ¡®Shermaine must have used some underhanded means to win Oliver and Trance¡¯s favor. ¡®Honestly, with her looks and figure, she could easily get by on her appearance abroad. There¡¯s no way she actually impressed them with real talent. Darkly twisted thoughts churned in Jameson¡¯s heart. Shermaine was making fresh juice in the kitchen when Summer slipped in unnoticed from outside, watching her with a mischievous grin. Shermaine asked, ¡°Hey, are you hungry?¡± Summer shook her head. ¡°Not hungry,¡± Summer replied. ¡°Already ate a ton of snacks.¡± Shermaine said, ¡°That¡¯s good. If you get hungry, feel free toe down for some snacks and desserts. Or just let the chef know¨Che can whip up whatever you¡¯d like.¡± ¡°Hey Sheary,¡± Summer said, ¡°the guys in our ss sent me down to ask¨Cwould it be okay if they got Trance¡¯s autograph?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Shermaine replied. ¡°Trance never turns down autograph requests from ser fans. They can just go ask him directly.¡± ¡°That¡¯s awesome!¡± Summer grinned, clearly shipping Shermaine and Trance. ¡°Trance is so dreamy! He even rented billboards all over the city to dere his feelings for you. But too bad, Sheary¨Cyou already have a fianc¨¦.¡± Summer simply had a thing for gorgeous mixed race guys like Trance¨Cno wonder she was head over heels. Hearing this, Shermaine paused mid¨Csqueeze, surprised. ¡°How did you guys find out?¡± she asked. Summer grinned and said, ¡°It¡¯s trending!¡± Shermaine thought to herself, ¡®I really underestimated how fast news spreads in the digital age¨Cand just how obsessed the gossip¨Cloving crowd can be with a confession like this.¡® Shermaine wondered to herself, ¡®So, does Joshua also know that Trance confessed to me? ¡®Now it makes sense. No wonder Joshua had been giving me this vibe that something was off. But true to his character, he¡¯d been remarkably restrained -not a word about it since we met.¡® Shermaine was lost in thought. ¡°Hey, Sheary,¡± Summer asked curiously, ¡°do you really like Mr. York?¡± She didn¡¯t know much about Shermaine and Joshua¡¯s marriage, but online rumors said it was just a business deal. In her experience, marriages like that usually meant there weren¡¯t any real feelings involved. Summer couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®Shermaine is so remarkable¨Cshe really didn¡¯t need to go through with that business marriage to the York family at all. With her abilities, she could¡¯ve just chosen to be with a man she truly loved. Summer got her answer right away. Because Shermaine said she did. Shermaine repeated firmly, ¡°Joshua is wonderful. I love him.¡± Trance was great too, of course, but she just didn¡¯t have feelings for him. It was an unexpected answer. Though a bit disappointed her Trance¨CShermaine ship didn¡¯t sail, Summer was even more thrilled when Shermaine openly admitted she liked Joshua. Shermaine pressed her lips, her eyes showing a hint of tenderness. ¡°I¡¯m nning to make it official with him.¡± She just hadn¡¯t found the right moment to tell Joshua yet. Summer thought excitedly, ¡®So they actually have feelings for each other! ¡®So Trance is the major obstacle standing in Mr. York¡¯s way to winning Shermaine¡¯s heart!¡® Summer couldn¡¯t help but click her tongue at this revtion, a mix of amusement and resignation flickering in her eyes. ¡°The juice is ready,¡± Shermaine said as she poured it into a ss. ¡°Get a pen and paper¨CI¡¯ll take you to get his autograph.¡± ¡°Great!¡± In the living room, Owen looked troubled. Trance, Joshua¡¯s rival suitor, was quite impressive¨Cwith looks and physique that could rival Joshua¡¯s, and he was even more silver¨Ctongued and charming. Owen couldn¡¯t bring himself to say anything that might discourage Joshua at this moment. After all, if Shermaine truly didn¡¯t have feelings for his grandson, there was simply nothing he could do about it. Matters of the heart grew especially tangled when three souls were caught in the web. In the end, it all hinged on who captured Shermaine¡¯s favor. Joshua walked in without saying a word, a cigarette clenched between his lips as he flicked his lighter and lit another. Shermaine came out just then with a ss of orange juice and handed it to Trance. He epted it with a beaming smile and said. ¡°Thanks, Sheary!¡± Trance took a sip of his juice and said, ¡°Sheary, I just had a great chat with your grandma¨Cwe really hit it off. So, what do you think I should do now?¡± Ross smirked coldly. ¡®What a carefully crafted verbal trap. He seems carefree, but every word is calcted.¡® Between the two suitors pursuing Shermaine, Ross clearly favored Joshua, a known quantity, who would treat Shermaine exceptionally well. 1 Shermaine chuckled, ¡°You could just adopt my grandma as your own.¡± Then her gaze shifted to Joshua, who stood apart from the crowd, a Cigarette between his fingers, exhaling slow streams of smoke his detached indifference making him seem utterly out of ce here. Shermaine thought to herself, ¡®He was chain¨Csmoking by the entrance earlier, and he¡¯s still at it. How many has he had tonight? At this rate, it must be quite a few. Trance clearly wasn¡¯t satisfied with that answer and was about to say more when he saw Shermaine walking straight toward Joshua. In that instant, he felt as if his heart shattered into pieces all over again. Trance thought bitterly, ¡®Tearing Joshua to pieces wouldn¡¯t be enough. Right now, I just want to challerige him to a duel and steal Shermaine zway! Shermaine stepped beside Joshua and plucked the cigarette from his fingers. ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± she said gently. Joshua let her take the cigarette away. Looking up at her with deep, intense eyes, he teased, ¡°Sheary, are you trying to boss me around?¡± Before Shermaine could reply, he added with a smirk, ¡°I only take orders from my woman.¡± Comment Nurse walking 178 Chapter 178 Shermaine thought to herself, ¡®There he goes again, openly pushing to define our rtionship. If I¡¯m giving him the official title, then he¡¯d better put out that cigarette Besides, this was Jean residence. If Shermaine said no smoking, then Joshua had to obey In this way, she was being quite adorably bossy. Of course, if it were anyone else, she wouldn¡¯t have bothered. Let them smoke themselves silly¨Cif they virecked their health, that was a problem for the doctors to handle. Shermaine paused for a moment, then stubbed out the cigarette herself. She nced at Joshua and teased, ¡°You¡¯re not getting any younger, you know Maybe it¡¯s time to start taking better care of yourself.¡± Joshua let out a quiet sigh of relief¨Cat least Shermaine didn¡¯t shove the cigarette back into his hand after what he¡¯d just said. But when she mentioned his age, he couldn¡¯t help feeling a little down, ¡®I¡¯m eleven years older than her. Back when I didn¡¯t care about her, it never bothered me. But now that I¡¯m in love, it¡¯s all I can think about.¡® Especially about physical condition¡­. Joshua pursed his thin lips, giving Sheary a teasing look. ¡°I¡¯m in excellent condition. Care to put me to the test?¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow. ¡®Test what? How?¡® Shermaine instantly caught his innuendo¨Cfar from being the type to blush at risqu¨¦ talk, she curved her lips in a sultry, breathtakingly alluring smile. ¡°Dare you?¡± ¡°If you agree, I¡¯m game.¡± If a subus drained a man¡¯s vitality, then Shermaine was downright lethal¡­ Those days in the Xenhall had taught him that firsthand. But if he could, he¡¯d dly lose himself in Shermaine. ¡°Not a chance,¡± Shermaine shot back. Joshua said, ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you to say yes.¡± Shermaine snapped, ¡°Shut it!¡± Joshua replied, ¡°Alright.¡± Standing behind them with paper and pen, Summer overheard their conversation, her eyes widening in surprise. ¡®So this is how Shermaine and Mr. York usually interact? So spicy!¡® she thought, her cheeks flushing and her heart pounding. Joshua hadn¡¯t smiled once since arriving at Jean residence, but now, with Shermaine before him, the gloom in his eyes melted into tenderness. He took her hand, his thumb tracing slow circles on her palm, He murmured, ¡°Save some time for me before midnight.¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow at him, yful. ¡°What for?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you somewhere special.¡± Today was supposed to be packed, with hardly any time to spare. But since Joshua asked, she had to indulge this almost¨Cboyfriend. Besides, it was the perfect chance to bring up making him official. ¡°Got it,¡± she said after checking the time. ¡°Will an hour be enough?¡± He said, ¡°Yes.¡± 12:11 Thu 12 Jun By helicopter, it was about twenty minutes to get there. Summer waited until their conversation wound down, then cleared her throat softly and said, ¡°Sheary, I¡¯ve got my pen and paper ready?¡± Shermaine looked back. ¡°Got it.¡± As Shermaine brought Summer back to Trance, Joshua resembled a wolf that had been pacified¨Cnow obedient, with none of that earlier possessiveness. Shermaine said, ¡°Let me introduce my ssmate Summer¨Cshe¡¯s a huge fan of yours.¡± ¡®ssmate?¡® Trance raised an eyebrow. Trance looked surprised. ¡°You¡¯re back in school?¡± ¡°Yep,¡± Shermaine replied. ¡°What¡¯s your major?¡± At this moment, Summer was equally bewildered. Her Ustranasian was excellent¨Cin fact, her spoken skills were second only to Shermaine¡¯s in the ss. That was precisely why her ssmates had chosen her to approach Trance for his autograph. ¡°Wait, what major? One can choose a major only in college!¡¯ Summer thought in bewilderment. ¡°High school,¡± Shermaine answered nonchntly. Trance asked, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Just going with the flow.¡± But now, she realized Ruth was most likely not her real mother. From Shermaine¡¯sst probe, the woman was tight¨Clipped but clearly nervous¨Cshe only acted bold because Shermaine had no evidence. That woman and her son had vanished without a trace sincest year. In this digital age, their ability to hide so thoroughly showed just how much they feared her investigation. Trance nodded, then finally turned his gaze to Summer¨Ca fresh¨Cfaced, rather cute girl. With a slight curl of his lips, he smiled and said, ¡°Hello there, Summer.¡± Summer was still puzzling over their conversation, but the moment Trance spoke to her, her mind wentpletely nk. It took her a moment to snap back to reality. ¡°H¨Chi, Trance,¡± she stammered. ¡°Your football skills are amazing! M¨Cmy ssmates and I were wondering if we could get your autograph?¡± Trance was charmed by her flustered rambling¨Cwhat an adorable little girl! With a smile, he gave her hair a light tousle and said, ¡°Sure.¡± -Summer waspletely swept away, her mind drifting even farther in ecstasy. ¡®Holy crap!¡® Summer thought, her mind reeling. ¡®Trance just ruffled my hair! Did that really just happen? ¡®Are foreign guys always this smooth?¡® Summer¡¯s face turned even redder, her heart pounding wildly. A little flustered, she awkwardly handed over the pen and paper. Trance took the pen and paper and, with care, began signing autographs for all of Shermaine¡¯s ssmates. A few minutester, clutching the autograph, Summer excitedly threw her arms around Shermaine and spun her in a circle. ¡°Thank you, Sheary! the absolute best!¡± Shermaine smiled. ¡°My pleasure.¡± As Shermaine¡¯s senior sister, Danielle was genuinely pleased to see her getting along well with the other girls. Back when they were abroad, Shermaine had virtually no female friends besides her she never took the initiative, and others naturally assumed the was unapproachable. Seeing Shermaine open up now, Danielle couldn¡¯t help but feel relieved and happy for her. Only a radiant girl like Summer¨Ca veritable ray of sunshine¨Ccould look past Shermaine¡¯s intimidating aura and break through to her. After some thought, Trance moved closer and asked in a hushed tone, ¡°Danielle, how far along are Sheary and her fianc¨¦?¡± At this, Danielle beckoned with a finger, motioning for him to lean in. At eight o¡¯clock that evening, surrounded by cheers and blessings, Shermaine made the first cut into the towering five¨Ctier cake. Cake distributed, the mingling was winding down. Around nine o¡¯clock, Shermaine rounded up Summer and the others and took them to the club they¡¯d all been dying to visit for some singing, Roy and Henry enthusiastically took charge of escorting everyone to the Gxy Club. The entire Gxy Club was booked out, meaning they had free rein over all the facilities¨Cthe billiards room, swimming pool, tennis courts, and even the spa area¨Cto enjoy as they pleased. Of course, Trance was there¨Cwherever Shermaine went, he¡¯d be right there with her. Ross had been swamped with worktely and hadn¡¯t had a chance to catch up with Henry and the others in ages. With Jason keeping a close eye on things, he ended up bringing Danielle along too. Danielle sidled up next to Ross as they sat down. But with Janice and Jason absent, he inched away slightly. Sensing this, Danielle followed, one hand reaching out to toy with his tie, her face perfectly icy. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of eavesdroppers?¡± she said coolly. Ross reassured her, ¡°They¡¯re all trustworthy.¡± Danielle narrowed her eyes slightly. ¡°Oh,¡± she said tly, finally letting go of him and moving to sit a noticeable distance away. ¡®Stubborn man,¡® she thought irritably. ¡®So hard to charm.¡® Summer thought, ¡®Wait, are Ross and Danielle just pretending to be a couple?¡® In the restroom, Joshua pumped soap into his hands and began washing. Having been following Shermaine, Trance came in from outside. He leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, and said, ¡°I hear you¡¯re after Sheary now too.¡± Danielle said that although the two were technically engaged, there hadn¡¯t been any real feelings between them before. It was only recently that Joshua began trying to win her heart. We¡¯re basically in the same situation,¡¯ Trance thought, ¡®The only difference is, I¡¯ve been after Shermaine for nearly two years now.¡¯ Joshua finished washing his hands, pulled a paper towel from the dispenser, and dried them methodically. In a deliberately measured tone, he asked, ¡°And?¡± Trance lifted his chin slightly, giving Joshua a once¨Cover. ¡°Sheary is the most extraordinary and beautiful woman I¡¯ve ever met. Frankly, you¡¯re not worthy of her.¡± Nurse walking 179 Chapter 179 Trance and Joshua were equals in both family backgrounds and as romantic rivals. openly provocative. Trance saw no reason to show Joshua any raspect his mouls were Hearing this, Joshua patised mid¨Cwipe before tossing the tissue into the trash. He thought, the whole world says we¡¯re not a match, as long as she wants me, I¡¯m the real winner! Whether I¡¯m good enough for Shermaine is her call. Even if Joshua never cared what others thought of him. The only person who mattered was Shermaine. What he really wanted to know was, ¡®When will the finally acknowledge me as her one¨Cand¨Conly? ¡®Normally I couldn¡¯t care less, but Trance is seriously getting on my nerves. ¡®He¡¯s been hovering around Shermaine all damn night.¡® he thought. ¡°Get to the point,¡± Joshua said coldly. ¡°Sheary¡¯s favorite thing is drinking. I dare you to a drink¨Coff with me,¡± Trance challenged. ¡°Bring it on.¡± Joshua never engaged in meaningless challenges. ¡°If you lose, stay away from Shermaine.¡± ¡°Hmph! As if I¡¯d lose. But if you do, you¡¯d better call off your engagement with Sheary¨Cimmediately.¡± Trance retorted. The air between them crackled with hostility. When Joshua returned to the private room with Trance trailing behind, Danielle nced up, her eyes lighting up with interest as she watched the two, clearly eager to see what might happen next. As soon as Joshua entered, he ordered Roy, ¡°Get us as much alcohol as you can find¨Cthe more, the better.¡± Roy asked, ¡°What kind of booze?¡± ¡°All of them,¡± Joshua replied tersely. Roy went off to get someone to bring the booze¨Cbeer, red wine, champagne, whiskey¨Cthe whole lot. Danielle thought, ¡®Sure, Trance can hold his liquor, but does he really think he can outdrink Joshua¨Cwho basically grew up sealing business deals over drinks? Is he out of his mind?¡® Then it struck her¨Cthe drinking contest was probably just because Shermaine loved alcohol. Danielle almostughed. Danielle thought, ¡®Well then. Hope he won¡¯t lose too badly. Otherwise, this is gonna be a terrible trade¨Coff for Trance.¡± Danielle wasn¡¯t taking sides¨Cshe just had a mischievous streak and enjoyed watching these two men vie for her junior sister¡¯s affection. Besides, she could tell Trance didn¡¯t stand a chance, She hoped this would help him face reality, let go of his obsession, and move on when he returned to Ustrana. In the end, she would support Shermaine no matter who she chose. But to be honest, she thought Joshua suited her better. As for Trance, he was simply no match for her. When it came to drink¨Coffs, Henry believed Joshua was practically invincible in their circle¨Crenowned for his iron liver and never getting drunk. It all started with the legend of his ¡°iron liver.¡± A few years back, at Roy¡¯s birthday party, he invited all the heavy drinkers into their circle. Somehow, some smartass suggested a drinking contest: whoever got wasted first would have to climb to the top of the mountain wearing a T¨Cshirt that Chapter 179 said ¡°I¡¯m a Big Pig,¡± and, once at the summit, shout, ¡°I¡¯m a pig! I¡¯m the super¨Cduper pighead!¡± Joshua hadn¡¯t wanted to join at first, thinking it was childish. But then that jerk actually provoked him. ing T¨Cshirts that said ¡°I¡¯m a pig¡± on a hike up the mountain. Alt of In the end, that same idiot had to lead a bunch of cked out rich kids¡ªall wearing Basterelughed about it for a whole month, with the gossip magazines running the story every single day From that day on, no one in their right mind dared challenge Joshua to a drink off again. Looks like Trance really knew how to pick the worst possible fight. Of all things topete in, it just had to be drinking. Even before it began, everyone already knew how it would end. In no time, a stream of waiters filed in carrying trays of alcohol, and therge ss table before them was instantly covered with bottles of every imaginable variety. Nurse walking 180 Chapter 180 Trance rolled up his sleeves, grabbed two sses, popped open a bottle of champagne, and deliberately filled them both to the brim Joshua casually undid a few buttons before epting the ss Trance handed him. His eyes remained icy, showingplete indifference to Trance¡¯s provocation. He thought to himself, ¡®It¡¯s just drinking. I¡¯ve been drinking since childhood. I¡¯ve never been afraid of anyone! Meanwhile, Shermaine was teaching Summer and her ssmates how to y pool. At first, one of the guys who knew how to y challenged Shermaine to a game of pool. Shermaine, intrigued by the challenge, agreed to y a round with him. But in the end, that guy got utterly wrecked. The guy pocketed the first two balls, but missed the third. After that, once Shermaine took over, he was left with almost no chance to score. Beating Shermaine was seriously tough! Summer and the other girls were totally blown away by how badass Shermaine looked ying pool. They all crowded around her, begging her to teach them. At the moment, Shermaine was too tied up teaching to slip away and find Joshua and the others in the private room. In the blink of an eye, an hour passed¨Cit was already past ten. As their fun¨Cfilled day was drawing to a close, the ssmates¨Cthough reluctant to say goodbye¨Cgathered around Shermaine and sang her a heartfelt ¡°Happy Birthday.¡± ¡°Wishing Shermaine, our dear Shermaine.¡± ¡°May joy andughter fill your days so bright.¡± ¡°May sun, moon, and stars guide your way right.¡± ¡°With every step, may your fortunes rise ever higher.¡± ¡°And may happiness forever chase your worries away.¡± If Shermaine had initially stayed for her senior year just to go with the flow, now she genuinely felt this decision was totally worth it. Meanwhile, the table was already littered with empty bottles, most of them drained dry. Trance was one sip away from copsing¨Cbut Joshua, damn him, kept drinking like it was water. Jaw clenched, Trance forced his trembling hand to refill his ss. Joshua put away his sses, revealing sharp, unreadable eyes with upturned corners¨Cradiating both danger and allure. His ck shirt hung open at the cor, exposing a sweep of skin and the faint outline of a dragon tattoo. Tipping his head back, a trail of liquid slid down his jaw, vanishing into his chest¨Cthe bob of his throat damnably sensual. After downing yet another ss, Joshua set it aside, his voice hoarse yet bone¨Cchilling, ¡°Keep up.¡± Trance¡¯s hands trembled again. He felt like he was challenging a god of wine to a drinking contest. Refusing to admit defeat, Trance forced down two more drinks, But he really felt like he was going to throw up. Noticing his distress, Danielle quickly set a trash can beside him. After forcing down several more drinks, Trance couldn¡¯t hold it in and threw up. Shit, this is killing me!¡® After throwing up, Trance felt a bit more clear¨Cheaded, but seeing Joshua still stone¨Ccold sober made him nearly lose his shit. ¡®Damn it! Jesus Christ! For God¡¯s sake, just get drunk already, you bastard!¡® Trance gritted his teeth and kept drinking, refusing to back down. In the end, far from getting Joshua drunk, Trance was the one who ended up under the table. Trance¡¯s head slumped heavily onto the table, his golden hair the only thing visible as it wobbled unsteadily. Though barely conscious, his body hadpletely betrayed him. Joshua leaned back in his seat, perhaps a little tipsy. The hint of intoxication made his already intense eyes even more dangerously alluring. Roy held out a cigarette. ¡°Joshua, want a smoke?¡± Joshua waved him off. ¡°No, Sheary won¡¯t allow it.¡± He thought to himself, ¡®Gotta keep myself in good shape and save my energy. When the timees, I¡¯ll make sure Sheary ispletely convinced.¡® ¡°Ugh.¡± Roy thought, ¡®I¡¯m so sick of being force¨Cfed all this PDA. It¡¯s fucking disgusting.¡® ¡®Ugh¡­ I wish I had a fianc¨¦e too,¡® he wondered, feeling a little sorry for himself. Joshua paused briefly, then forcefully draped his arm over Trance¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Stay away from my Sheary,¡± hemanded in a low, icy tone. Rising immediately, he pulled out his phone and called Bradley, ordering him to have the helicopter ready at the Gxy Club. Roy asked again, ¡°Joshua, where are you headed?¡± ¡°Rooftop. I have a date with Sheary.¡± Roy thought to himself, ¡®Never again will I be that nosy guy asking all sorts of questions.¡® Ross, who had been observing the whole scene, spoke up to warn him, ¡°Sheary is still young. Don¡¯t take liberties with her.¡± Joshua said, ¡°I know.¡± He thought to himself, ¡®I won¡¯t do anything she disapproves of.¡¯ Trancey slumped on the table, his body wracked with nausea and his heart heavy with defeat. Trance thought to himself, ¡®Sheary¡¯s brother clearly approves of Joshua. ¡®And Sheary seems to have feelings for him too. ¡®No wonder Joshua had been keeping a low profile tonight¨Che must have already nned a date with Sheary!¡® ¡®Damn, his alcohol tolerance is insane! After drinking so much, he can still walk as steady as a rock,¡® Danielle thought as she watched Joshua¡¯s retreating figure. Trance slumped over the table, too drunk to stand. Danielle patted his shoulder. ¡°Need me to take you back to the hotel?¡± All Trance could muster was a slurred grunt. The hotel was close by. Danielle stood up and said to Ross, ¡°Lend me a hand, will you?¡± Trance was, after all, a guest from afar. Other than his intention to whisk his sister away to Ustrana, Ross found nothing particrly objectionable about him, so he nodded. Ross hauled Trance up and out, with Danielle grabbing her bag and following close behind. Joshua stepped onto the rooftop, the strong wind whipping away any trace of alcohol from him There was still half an hour until eleven. He popped a mint into his mouth to freshen his breath, then sent Shermaine a message. [Waiting for you on the rooftop of Gxy Club. After dropping Summer off herself, Shermaine was on her way back to the Gxy Club. With music ying in the car, she missed the ping of her phone when a message came in. By now, Trance had been brought back to the presidential suite. Danielle noticed his dejection, sighed softly, and said, ¡°Trance, just give up this time. Sheary¡¯s just not into you¨Cno matter what you do, it won¡¯t make a difference.¡± ¡°Danielle, I¡¯m crazy about Sheary.¡± ¡®But I lost to Joshua. It just¡­ really hurts.¡® thought he. ¡®Damn it! That guy can really hold his liquor¨Cno wonder he was so cocky about going head¨Cto¨Chead with me in a drinking contest. ¡®Damn myself for being so careless. ¡®I should¡¯ve been more cautious.¡® Trance thought bitterly. Danielle said gently, ¡°Trance, honestly, Sheary does have feelings for Joshua. Unless something unexpected happens, they¡¯ll probably be an official couple.¡± Trance¡¯s heart turned to ice. Seeing he offered no reply and worried that Ross might get impatient, Danielle said gently, ¡°Get some rest, okay? We¡¯ll head out now.¡± As soon as they left, Trance staggered, simply unable to ept defeat. Maybe, driven by the petty jealousy of a rejected suitor, he panicked at the thought of Shermaine meeting Joshua tonight. With trembling hands, he pulled out his phone and dialed Shermaine¡¯s number. The phone rang three times before Shermaine finally picked up. Trance whispered weakly, ¡°Sheary¡­ I drank way too much tonight. My stomach¡¯s killing me, and I think I might be having some kind of reaction. Could you pleasee check on me?¡± Shermaine checked the time. ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± AD Comment Send gift Nurse walking 181 Chapter 181 70% +20 Trance had expected to feel excited when he heard Shermaine wasing, but to his surprise, he felt nothing. Instead, he thought he was so despicable. He still wanted onest shot, but in the end, he lost the drinking contest. As per their agreement, he had to let go of Sheary and keep his distance from her. With his head bowed in dejection, he was still torn inside. Liking someone for real¨Cit was never easy to just let go. Shermaine called, ¡°Trance, I won¡¯t being over. Since you¡¯re clearly not feeling well, I¡¯ll have Danielle check on you.¡± She spotted a pregnant woman slumped by the roadside, clutching her lower back with a pained expression. Though people hurried past and cars drove by, not a single one stopped to help. At Shermaine¡¯s words, Trance unclenched his fist and let out a quiet sigh. ¡°Oh, never mind then. I can handle it myself.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Shermaine responded curtly, steering the car toward the pregnant woman. Trance hesitated for a moment before asking again, ¡°Sheary, I¡¯ve never really asked you¡­ do you actually love your fianc¨¦?¡± Without hesitation, Shermaine replied, ¡°I do.¡± Her tone turned solemn. ¡°Trance, he¡¯s the first man I¡¯ve ever loved¨Cand he¡¯ll be thest.¡± ¡°Yeah, I get it,¡± Trance said. ¡°Life goes on. You¡¯ll find someone who truly loves you back¨Cyour perfect match,¡± Shermaine said. Trance continued with a hint of grievance, ¡°Sheary, I¡¯m four years older than you, you know.¡± ¡°Only Sheary would say something so grown¨Cup,¡® Trance mused inwardly. ¡± Shermaine chuckled. ¡°Alright, enough talk. I¡¯ll go check on the pregnant woman.¡± ¡°Bye¡± From the moment Shermaine rejected his confession without hesitation yet again, Trance knew that pursuing her would only mean getting rejected time and time again. Trance thought to himself, ¡®Honestly, I should¡¯ve seen thising from the first time Shermaine rejected me.¡® Trance felt utterly defeated. He flopped back onto the bed, buried his face in the couch, and rolled around in frustration several times before finally Coming to a stop ¡°This Wallington chapter will haunt me for life,¡± Trance mused bitterly. Shermaine got out of the car to check on the pregnant woman. Realizing her water had broken and she was about to go intobor, Shermaine asked urgently, ¡°Can you hold on? ¡°No. I can¡¯t the pregnant woman gasped, her face deathly pale. ¡°L¡­ I¡¯m carrying twins. ¡°Holy shut, this pain e killing me!¡± Sharmaine shop her had helplessly. ¡°Your due date o just days away why aren¡¯t you resting at the hospital like you¡¯re supposed to?¡± se realist,¡± she muttered. But the moment she freshed, her stomach started to ache. Now she was paying for it. 18:13 Fri, 13 Jun TO¡¤ Shermaine paused briefly, then said, ¡°Get in the car. I¡¯ll take you to the hospital.¡± 76% +20) The Provincial Women¡¯s and Children¡¯s Hospital was a fifteen¨Cminute drive away, but Shermaine sped through and got the pregnant woman there in just ten minutes. But her speeding caught the attention of a traffic cop. The cop chased her all the way to the entrance of the hospital with his siren ring. When he realized she was rushing a pregnant woman to the ER, he exercised discretion¨Cafter checking her license, he didn¡¯t deduct any points, but still gave her a stern lecture for several minutes, which cost her some precious time. Shermaine nced at the time, snatched her license back from the cop, jumped into the car, floored it, whipped the car around the corner in a smooth drift, and rocketed off¨Cleaving only a trail of exhaust behind. ¡®Seriously? I just finished lecturing her about speeding, and now, right in front of my eyes, she floors it again? Unbelievable!¡® the cop thought, his face stern with disbelief. ¡®After her! Don¡¯t let her get away! I¡¯m docking points from her license again! ¡®All points off her license! ¡°But a two¨Cwheeler stands no chance against that four¨Cwheeled supercar. Looks like the only reason I managed to tail her to the maternity hospital earlier was because she wasn¡¯t even going full throttle yet. ¡®Catching up is impossible, but I sure as hell remember your te.¡¯ The cop still deducted points from her license anyway. When it came to professionalism, he was in a league of his own. Meanwhile, Shermaine sped back to the club. ncing at the clock¨C11:15 PM¨Cshe cursed under her breath. She waste for the appointment. AD Comment Send gift No Ads 10.13 FII, 13 JUN Chapter 182 Nurse walking 182 Joshua was probably still waiting for her at the Gxy Club. She reached for the phone in the passenger seat, got out of the car, and called him right away. 20 He answered in the first ring. ¡°Where are you?¡± ¡°On the rooftop,¡± Joshua replied. ¡°I¡¯ming up now,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°Okay.¡± The call was suddenly disconnected. Shermaine froze¨CJoshua had never hung up on her like this before. ¡®Is he angry because I¡¯mte? ¡°If he¡¯s angry¡­ ¡°Should I just try to coax him?¡® Shermaine wondered. Shermaine had never coaxed anyone before. ¡®If I try coaxing Joshua, maybe he won¡¯t mind me beingte. ¡®Besides, it¡¯s not like I wanted to bete. ¡®Saving a lifees before anything else. ¡®If no one helped that pregnant woman, it would make this world seem too callous and heartless. Besides, as a doctor myself, there¡¯s no way I could just pretend not to see it,¡¯ Shermaine thought. Shermaine stepped into the elevator when her WhatsApp pinged. Opening it, she realized Joshua had messaged her fifty minutes ago. ¡®He was already waiting for me on the rooftop¨Ca full thirty minutes early?¡® Shermaine thought, a wave of guilt washing over her. On the drive back, Shermaine had meant to let Joshua know, but her phone had slipped onto the passenger seat. As a result, she didn¡¯t see his message and couldn¡¯t give him a heads¨Cup that she might bete. She was racing against time to get the pregnant woman to the hospital. And the return trip was just as rushed. Reaching the rooftop, she was greeted by strong winds. Shermaine spotted the helicopter parked in the middle, the pilot already seated inside. She headed straight for it, and once she boarded, there in the back sat Joshua. His long legs stretched out imposingly. In the darkness, his face¨Ca mesmerizing blend of allure and refinement¨Cwas wless. She caught a strong whiff of alcohol mingled with tobo notes from him¨Csurprisingly, it wasn¡¯t unpleasant. ¡°Wow, but just how much did he drink?¡± Shermaine wondered. Seems like Trance also mentioned he¡¯d been drinking a lot. Joshua kept tes eyes closed, not even bothering to open them when shermaine entered. ¡°Ms. Shue, please faster your seatbelt,¡± the plot said. 1/3 18:13 Fri, 13 Jun TO¡¤ ¡°Okay.¡± 76% Shermaine settled into her seat and buckled up. ¡®How do I coax an angry man? I¡¯ve never done this before,¡® she thought, feelingpletely out of her depth. The helicopter lifted off. Its rotors thundered as it lifted off. In no time, the helicopter soared into the sky, heading straight south. For twenty long minutes, the helicopter left Basterel, crossed the sea, and finally touched down on a helipad on an ind. Yet the usually sharp¨Cwitted Shermaine, so capable in every other way, found herselfpletely at a loss when it came to coaxing an angry man- something she was surprisingly clueless about. Mr. York, we¡¯ve arrived at the ind.¡± After a pause, Joshua finally said, ¡°You go down first.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± The pilot quickly unfastened his seatbelt, hopped out of the helicopter, and vanished in an instant. +20) Having been with Joshua the whole time, he knew better than anyone how stormy Joshua¡¯s expression turned when eleven o¡¯clock came and there was still no sign of Shermaine. Joshua had always been a stickler for punctuality¨Cnever missing an appointment and especially despisingteness in others. Yet this time, not only was Shermae, she hadn¡¯t even bothered to inform him of the reason in advance. But Joshua would probably be easy to cate¨Cespecially when it came to Shermaine. Maybe all it would take is a piece of candy from Shermaine to smooth things over. 252 2 2 399 As it turned out, Shermaine actually had candy in her pocket¨Clychee¨Cvored fruit drops. Back in the private room, Summer had said the lychee¨Cvored candy was delicious and stuffed a piece into Shermaine¡¯s hand. She hadn¡¯t had a chance to eat it, so she just slipped it into her pocket. An awkward silence stretched between them. Shermaine broke the silence and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t we getting out?¡± Joshua unbuckled his seatbelt, his dark gaze piercing. ¡°Shermaine,¡± he finally said, ¡°don¡¯t you have anything to say to me?¡± Shermaine paused. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯mte.¡± But Joshua¡¯s expression remained stormy. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to bete,¡± Shermaine quickly added. ¡°On my way back, I ran into a pregnant woman in distress and had to take her to the hospital.¡± Honestly, if she hadn¡¯t run into that pregnant woman, she would¡¯ve gone straight to the hotel to check on Trance, then headed back to the club. With perfect timing, she definitely wouldn¡¯t have beente. 23 18:13 Fri, 13 Jun Nurse walking 183 Chapter 183 ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier?¡± he asked. 76% (20 11 ¡°On my way back, the car was speeding and my phone slipped onto the passenger seat,¡± Shermaine exined patiently, her clear eyes fixed on Joshua. Joshua wasn¡¯t truly angry. The moment Shermaine exined, his heart melted. He wouldn¡¯t hold it against Shermaine, as long as she wasn¡¯tte because she forgot about their date. Even if she really did forget, a little coaxing from Shermaine was all it took for him to let it go. Besides, the moment he heard she¡¯d driven fast to see him, any trace of anger vanished. Shermaine teased with a yful smile, ¡°If you¡¯re still mad, I can make it up to you.¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes gleamed with anticipation. ¡°What kind ofpensation?¡± Shermaine produced the lychee¨Cvored candy, putting on a serious face. ¡°Have some candy.¡± A piece of candy suddenly appeared in Joshua¡¯s palm. Somehow, he felt a strange tickle in his heart, like the soft caress of a feather. He was utterly charmed by Shermaine¡¯s serious¨Cyet¨Cadorable demeanor ¨C the stark contrast between her typically cool disposition and these unexpectedly endearing moments was as captivating as watching her tipsy self, both sweetly charming and unintentionally alluring. Joshua hinted, his voiceced with faux helplessness. ¡°I¡¯ve been drinking¨Cno strength left to peel this.¡± Even though she knew he was lying, Shermaine still indulged him. She unwrapped the candy and held it to his lips. ¡°Here, have a bite,¡± she said softly. The candy tasted sweet. Even sweeter than anything else I¡¯ve had tonight! Joshua thought to himself. With the candy in his mouth, a faint smile curved Joshua¡¯s lips. A faint lychee sweetness lingered in the air. Seeing the smile dancing in his eyes, Shermaine knew he wasn¡¯t upset with her anymore. ¡®He¡¯s really easy to please,¡¯ Shermaine thought. Shermaine caught the sweet scent and yfully asked, ¡°How does it taste?¡± Joshua¡¯s smile deepened as he pulled Shermaine over, and she settled onto hisp. His warm palm cupped her waist, their lips now only a breath apart. He murmured, ¡°Why don¡¯t you taste it yourself? Then you¡¯ll know how good it is.¡± Joshua cupped the nape of her neck, leaning in to im Shermaine¡¯s lips. Shermaine pressed a finger to his approaching lips. He softly called, ¡°Sheary¡­¡± He thought he was being rejected, and his eyes dimmed with disappointment. But instead, Shermaine wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her delicate face against his shoulder. She teased softly, ¡°Someone seems disappointed.¡± Joshua¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he asked softly, ¡°Sheary, can we make it official?¡± Shermaine grinned. ¡°Guess.¡± The two were so close that the lychee sweetness lingered between them. 18:13 Fri, 13 Jun TO Joshua couldn¡¯t quite read what was on Shermaine¡¯s mind¨Cor perhaps he was afraid to try. But whatever her answer was, he could ept it. If she refused, he wouldn¡¯t mind patiently courting her in the days toe. He had all the patience in the world. Äî 76%ðN Shermaine curled her lips, dropping the riddles atst. ¡°After my exams, we¡¯ll be together,¡± she replied, cheeks dusted pink, her whole demeanor shimmering with a newly awakened femininity. ¡°And you¡¯d better bring your A¨Cgame¨Cone wrong move, and I¡¯ll dump you on the spot.¡± ¡°Deal,¡± Joshua said softly, his voice warm with promise. He was determined to prove himself. He vowed to be her one and only¨Cfor life. Joshua pressed his forehead against hers, his voice thick with emotion. ¡°Sheary, I¡¯m so happy.¡± He hadn¡¯t even begun to ¡°perform¡± today, yet she had already promoted him to official status. All the gloom that had weighed on him evaporated in an instant, reced by a tidal wave of joy so overwhelming it nearly drowned him. In all my thirty years, he had never experienced such emotional highs and lows. Thanks to Shermaine, he finally got to ride a real emotional rollercoaster. Of course he was over the moon right now. With Sheary sitting on hisp and finally bing his woman, how could he not be grinning from ear to ear? Shermaine curved her lips into a yful smile and tugged at his cor. ¡°It¡¯s almost midnight, and you haven¡¯t even wished me a happy birthday¨Cnot even once today!¡± Nurse walking 184 Chapter 184 76% 0 20 Joshua gently straightened Shermaine¡¯s hair, then stealthily nted a tender kiss on her eyelids before taking her hand and leading her down from the helicopter. ¡°Come with me,¡± Joshua said gently, taking Shermaine by the hand. Three years ago, he bought this ind with the dream of creating his own private paradise. Now, with most of it nearlypleted, he wanted to present this dream world to Shermaine as a gift. The stars twinkled overhead. A gentle evening breeze drifted through the air. Joshua led Shermaine to the peach blossom grove behind the vi. While most people nted fruit trees, Joshua cultivated an entire grove of peach blossoms. It was March, when the peach blossoms were in full bloom, their sweet fragrance permeating the air. In the midst of the peach blossom grove stood a pavilion. Shermaine instantly envisioned a carefree, idyllic life in a fairy¨Ctale paradise. With a sudden crash, a thunderous boom echoed across the sky. Shermaine looked up just as a dazzling firework exploded overhead. Then, one after another, countless fireworks erupted across the night sky. Joshua had never been one for romance, but upon learning it was Shermaine¡¯s birthday, he began making meticulous preparations. Besides, with his grandfather¡¯s high expectations weighing on him, he couldn¡¯t possibly let him down. Joshua embraced Shermaine from behind, lowered his head, and softly whispered in her ear, ¡°Sheary, may we share this day forever, year after year.¡± He paused, then added, ¡°Happy birthday.¡± Shermaine gazed at the dazzling fireworks, her eyes curving into gentle crescents. ¡°Thank you,¡± she murmured. He then said, ¡°From now on, you¡¯re the queen of this ind.¡± Shermaine was speechless. ¡®Wait, what? I thought the fireworks were the gift, but the real present is an entire ind?¡® She looked up and teased, ¡°Are your gifts just going to keep getting more and more extravagant, aren¡¯t they?¡± She was a big shot, but strapped for cash¨Cbarely had a penny to her name. Ever sincepleting those two SSS¨Clevel missions, she hadn¡¯t taken on any other jobs. Plus, she¡¯d effortlessly scored 750 million dors from Kingston. For her, money was the least of her worries. ¡®Butpared to Joshua, I realized one really can never have too much money,¡® Shermaine mused. ¡®At least now, I¡¯ll never have to worry about what to buy for the holidays,¡® she thought with relief. Joshua said with a teasing smile, ¡°It¡¯s not about the price. Now you have me too¨Cand believe me, I¡¯m worth far more than this ind.¡± When he put it like that, Shermaine epted the ind without a second thought. Shermaine mused, ¡®Well, if Joshua¡¯s worth more than the ind and now he¡¯s mine¨Cwhat¡¯s one little ind anyway? 18:13 Fri, 13 Jun ¡®With my skills, if I really put my mind to making money, I could easily afford this myself,¡® she thought with confidence. If she¡¯d just focused on making money from the start instead of getting into academic research, she might even be richer than Joshua now. 76% +20) After the fireworks, it was well past midnight. With thete hour making it unwise to linger in the peach grove, the two of them headed back to the vi. Looks like they were staying the night there after all. They were still sharing a home, and from time to time, Shermaine would stay over with Joshua at a different ce. For them, switching where they slept was perfectly natural. Riverswood Vi had been decorated in a traditional style, and this ind retreat followed the same aesthetic. Shermaine saw that the ind was only half¨Cfinished, with the rest still untouched. Eager to explore the possibilities, she asked Joshua for the full set of blueprints for the entire ind. Wow that the ind is mine, I can do whatever I want with the remaining half, right?¡® Shermaine thought. The vi was brightly lit. Shermaine slipped off her jacket and settled onto the plush wool carpet, the crimson hem of her dress fanning out around her. With her wless skin and that innocent¨Cyet¨Calluring charm, she casually popped cashews into her mouth, a bottle of red wine by her side, utterly engrossed in blueprints. Joshua was in the shower. The alcohol¡¯s h¨¢ze had lifted. He stepped out of the bathroom, towel¨Cdrying his hair, only to freeze at the sight of Shermaine crouched on the carpet, her focusser¨Clocked on blueprints. His throat went parched¨Csuddenly, it felt like his veins had been pumped full of kerosene and lit. He called out, ¡°Sheary, your turn to shower.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Shermaine responded absentmindedly, still focused on the blueprints. ¡°What should I wear?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got some clothes ready for you in the closet¨Cjust pick whatever you like.¡± Shermaine nodded. ¡°Which room am I sleeping in tonight?¡± 2/2 Nurse walking 185 Chapter 185 Joshua said, ¡°Sheary, as thedy of the ind now, you can sleep wherever you please.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll sleep here,¡± she replied. Joshua chuckled, ¡°Mm¨Chmm. I¡¯ll sleep here too.¡± After all, they had shared a bed before. But back then, it was out of necessity. Now it was different¨CJoshua actually liked Shermaine. If they slept together again, there¡¯d be no avoiding the inevitable. Shermaine hesitated for a moment, biting her lip before saying, ¡°You should sleep somewhere else.¡± Joshua chuckled again, ¡°Alright, Sheary, I¡¯ll take the couch.¡± Shermaine paused briefly before conceding, ¡°Fine.¡± Shermaine went into the walk¨Cin closet and opened the wardrobe. She picked out a ck nightgown with built¨Cin bra pads, grabbed a new set of underwear, and then headed to the bathroom. The bathroom was still warm and steamy from thest shower. As soon as Shermaine saw the bathtub, she couldn¡¯t help but feel tempted¨Cshe wanted to take a long soak. With that thought, she started running the bath. Everything was perfectly prepared¨Canything she could want was right there. Shermaine soaked in the bath for a full hour. When she finally emerged, she smelled heavenly from head to toe¨Ceven her hair carried that sweet, lingering fragrance. Joshua sat on the couch, pretending to read a book. He didn¡¯t want toe off as a creep whose eyestched onto Shermaine the moment she appeared, but honestly, it was almost impossible not to be drawn to her. The burning affection in his eyes was impossible to conceal. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined he could love someone this much. By now, the blueprints and wine that had been on the carpet were put away. It was gettingte¨Ctime to turn in for the night. Shermaine went around to the other side, slipped off her shoes, pulled back the covers, and got into bed. Momentster, Joshua turned off the lights in the room. The bedroom was lit only by a single wallmp¡¯s soft glow. Outside, the bright moon poured its silvery light through the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, bathing the entire room in moonlight. Joshua settled onto the couch. ¡°Good night, Sheary.¡± Shermaine replied softly, ¡°Good night.¡± In the dead of night, Joshua suddenly awoke, his eyes snapping open. He had a dream. In his dream, he was trying to steal a kiss from Shermaine. ¡°Your future boyfriend wants a goodnight kiss¨Ccan he have one?¡± ¡®Well, since he¡¯s going to be my future boyfriend, I might as well spoil him,¡® Shermaine thought. 1/3 +201 18:13 Fri, 13 Jun ? ???,76% +20 Shermaine slipped out of bed and padded over to the couch. Propping herself up with one hand, she leaned in close, and a teasing hint of her fragrance drifted over. Her soft lips pressed against his forehead. And then she pulled away and returned to her ce in bed. Suddenly, Joshua¡¯s shadow fell over her, and before she knew it, he was kissing her. His lips burned with passion. His kiss carried a subtle, almost imperceptible dominance¨Cdemanding, yet restrained. Joshua grew more addicted with each kiss, consumed by the urge to devour herpletely. 13 After kissing for what felt like forever, Shermaine felt her lips were starting to go numb. The moment she tried to push Joshua away, he caught her wrists and pinned her down against the pillow. ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep, Joshua.¡± ¡®Still not enough after all this kissing?¡® she wondered. Joshua panted softly, his voice low and tempting. ¡°Come on, just two more minutes,¡± he coaxed. After two minutes, Joshua¡¯s persistent behavior finally got on Shermaine¡¯s nerves. The mighty Shermaine raised her leg and gave him a swift kick. Just likest time, Joshua caught hold of her foot. Last time, at least she¡¯d been in pants¨Cbut now, the sleep dress clung to her thighs, her legs a stretch of bare moonlight, toes peeking out like blush- colored shells polished to a gleam. Even painted rouge couldn¡¯tpete. Joshua lowered his head and ced a reverent kiss on her knee, with solemn devotion. Shermaine¡¯s ears flushed pink with a mix of embarrassment and anger. Holding nothing back now, sheunched into kicking Joshua off the bed with unstoppable force. Naturally, Joshua didn¡¯t fight back¨Che merely blocked her kicks and murmured, ¡°Sheary, you really should get some sleep now.¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± Shermaine snapped. ¡®If I don¡¯t kick him off, I won¡¯t feel right. ¡®You shameless jerk¨Calways pushing your luck!¡® Shermaine thought. In the end, both of them somehow got tangled up in the same nket and tumbled right off the bed together. Joshua ended up on the bottom. Theynded on the floor with a loud thud. Tangled too tightly in the nket, Shermaine couldn¡¯t move an inch, Annoyed, she abruptly bit down on Joshua¡¯s neck. A low groan escaped Joshua¡¯s lips as his body reacted involuntarily. 2/3 Nurse walking 186 Chapter 186 They were so close that Shermaine could feel every subtle shift in Joshua. Her ears burned bright red as she gritted her teeth and hissed, ¡°Joshua!¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes gleamed with mischief as he nted a coaxing kiss on her forehead. ¡°Sheary,¡± he murmured, ¡°I had a few drinks tonight¡­ I just can¡¯t help myself around you.¡± ¡°Stop holding me like this!¡± Shermaine protested. Shermaine struggled to free herself from the tangled sheets, but Joshua only grew more restless. With one firm hand, he pinned her against his chest, refusing to let her squirm around like a restless little worm. Joshua¡¯s voice came out husky. ¡°Sheary, let me take a moment¡­ hmm?¡± Shermaine nced at him, noticing how seductively alluring he looked, flushed with desire. She bit her lip, then rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes withnguid contentment. His heartbeat was steady and strong. Outside, the moonlight spilled across the night, quiet and endless. The room was wrapped in tranquil silence. The next morning, Trance woke up with a splitting headache,pounded by heartbreak. Without hesitation, he called his uncle Oliver to vent. Sobbing, he said, ¡°Uncle Oliver, I got rejected again! I¡¯m totally heartbroken. Sheary has a fianc¨¦¨Cshe told me herself she¡¯s in love with that guy.¡± By the next morning, Oliver lookedpletely unfazed. He said matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, ¡°I knew you¡¯d fail. Gave up hope ages ago. Better luck next time, Trance.¡± ¡°Uncle Oliver,¡± she whined, ¡°why won¡¯t you at least try tofort me?¡± Oliver shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m used to it.¡± Every time Trance got rejected, he¡¯d call Oliver to sob his heart out¨Cand if he was nearby, he¡¯d show up clutching a bottle, bawling his eyes out. By now, his heartbreaks were just another day at the office for Oliver. Oliver asked with a grin, ¡°By the way, is Sheary¡¯s fianc¨¦ hot? Got a picture of him? Send it over- -I¡¯m dying to see what he looks like!¡± Annoyed, Trance hung up. But Oliver, relentless as ever, immediately called back¨Cso Trance hung up again. The helicopter touched down on the rooftop of the Gxy Club. Since Trance hade all the way there, Shermaine decided to skip school today and show him around Basterel. Afternding the helicopter, the pilot couldn¡¯t help but sneak a nce at Joshua behind him. Joshua was dressed in a crisp white dress shirt, and there, clear as day on his neck, was a very obvious hickey. ¡®Wow. Looks like things got pretty heated between Mr. York and Ms. Shuest night.¡¯ the pilot wondered. As soon as the helicopternded, Shermaine unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out. She looked effortlessly stylish in light¨Cwash jeans and an oversized white sweater, her long hair braided into a loose it that fell to her waist, topped with a ck hat. Joshua stepped after her, catching Shermaine¡¯s hand and intecing their fingers as they descended from the rooftop. At the parking lot, Shermaine took out her car keys with a gentle smile. ¡°You should head back to work. I¡¯ll go meet up with Trance.¡± Joshua pressed his lips. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you,¡± he said White Trance wasn¡¯t much of a threat as a romantic rival in his eyes, their close friendship meant he still needed to stay cautious. 1/2 18:14 Fri, 13 Jun 76% 20 ¡°No need. Trance isn¡¯t some pestering admirer. Besides, I made things crystal clear to himst night. So rx, Mr. York,¡± Shermaine¡¯s voice dripped with yful sarcasm. At Shermaine¡¯s words, Joshuapletely dismissed Trance as a romantic rival. ¡°Yeah, I trust you, Sheary,¡± he said. Sheary always knew where to draw the line. She opened the car door and nced up at Joshua. The refined yet sensual man wore a faint, alluring smile, but the only thing marring his image was the visible hickey on his neck¨Ca love bite bound to raise eyebrows. With a teasing tone, she reminded him, ¡°You should cover that up before going to the office.¡± 2/2 Nurse walking 187 Chapter 187 Joshua replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. No one will know this hickey is from you.¡± Shermaine arched her brow. ¡°And whose fault is that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± Joshua admitted. It was his greed that ended up pissing her off. Seeing that he was being sensible and there was nothing left to say, Shermaine got in her car and drove off. Watching Shermaine¡¯s car disappear into the distance, Joshua finally turned and stepped into the ck Bentley parked nearby. Bradley had been waiting dutifully for quite some time. In the car, Joshua took out his phone, grinning ear to ear, and cheerfully texted his grandpa. [We¡¯re together now!] His grandpa hadn¡¯t replied yet. Then Joshua texted Roy and Henry. [We¡¯re officially together now.] Both Roy and Henry were surprised. Roy sent the message. [Joshua, so it¡¯s official now?] Joshua replied: Isn¡¯t that obvious?] Jason: Joshua, you¡¯re getting cocky!] Henry, ever the tactful one, said, ¡°Congrats. Got a tricky business deal here¨Cmind if I pick your brain?¡± Joshua replied: [Come on over. I¡¯m on my way back to the office now.] Henry sent: [Got it!] ¡¢76%L +20 Owen didn¡¯t see the message until half an hourter. When he finally did, he couldn¡¯t stop grinning. ¡®My grandson finally got the girl! Maybe I¡¯ll have two grandkids in three years¨Cwouldn¡¯t that be wonderful!¡® he thought, feeling absolutely delighted. Owen replied: [Well done! Keep it up¨Cand don¡¯t forget to make it official. Go get that marriage certificate!] Joshua had grown up surrounded by praise, but this time, thepliment brought him a joy beyond words. Upon arriving at thepany, Joshua returned to his office, which had a private lounge. Standing before the mirror, he traced the hickey on his neck, and his mind instantly drifted back tost night. With Shermaine lying quietly against him, unmoving, he found himself wanting her even more. Somehow, Shermaine¨Ceven in such a situation¨Cmanaged to fall sound asleep, draped over him with the serenity of a sunbathing cat. As her faint fragrance drifted over him, the fire within only burned hotter. Left with no choice, he carefully pulled back the nket, gently lifted her onto the bed, and then retreated to the bathroom. Joshua lowered his eyes, found a high¨Ccored jacket to put on, and only then went to meet his guest. Meanwhile, Shermaine had arrived at the hotel to pick up Trance. Though nursing a broken heart, Trance wasn¡¯t about to waste his first trip to Wallington without seeing the sights. 1/2 18:14 Fri, 13 Jun TO. After tidying himself up, Trance went out to have fun with Shermaine. Before long, he found himself utterly captivated by the local cuisine. A luxury sedan pulled up at York residence, and out stepped an elegantly dressed elderlydy. A#76%; 1 She wore pearl earrings and an emerald ring on her finger. Her hair was neatly pulled up, and her whole look was immacte¨Cshe looked every bit the Ustranasian dowager. She was Owen¡¯s younger sister, Sarah. However, after her second marriage took her abroad, she never returned to the York family, nor had she had any contact with them since. In the York family, men and women alike were fiercely loyal to their partners. However, back then, Sarah stubbornly divorced her first husband to marry abroad, causing such a rift with the family that they practically disowned her. She was the sole ck sheep who broke with family tradition. Decades had passed since Sarahst set foot in the York residence, yet everything remained achingly familiar. She stepped up to the wrought¨Ciron gate and pressed the doorbell. The butler¡¯s voice came through immediately, asking formally, ¡°Who may I say is calling?¡± The elderlydy announced, ¡°Sarah York.¡± The butler, Logan, couldn¡¯t believe his ears when he heard the name. The young mistress who had nearly severed ties with Owen decades ago had actually returned. Though Owen had never mentioned her, considering her standing in the family, he instructed the guards to open the gate and let her in. 2/2 Nurse walking 188 Chapter 188 76% After letting the visitor in, the butler went to inform Owen, who was puttering his nts in the backyard. He used tock the energy for this, but now that his health had improved, he wanted to do everything himself¨Ceven raising yellow chicks. Once he was done tending to his nts, he grabbed a handful of grain and went to feed the yellow chicks. A dozen or so little yellow chicks were penned in one area, busily pecking at the scattered grain. He nned to raise these little yellow chicks until they were plump and healthy, then make a nourishing soup for Shermaine. The butler approached respectfully and said, ¡°Mr. York, um¡­ Ms. Sarah York has returned.¡± Upon hearing the name, Owen paused. ¡°So she really came back?¡± ¡°You knew?¡± the old butler asked. ¡°She told Jenny,¡± said Owen. Jenny was the fifth youngdy of the York family. Jenny was attending university overseas. She came back during the holiday, but only stayed for a couple of days before iming she had ns with friends and taking off again. Jenny had originally nned to meet Shermaine, but Shermaine had already gone to Xenhall with Joshua on the third day of holiday, so she couldn¡¯t see her. Then Jenny took off traveling again, saying her great¨Caunt hade to see her and told her she¡¯d be making a trip back to Wallington. Now that she was back in the country, where else could she go but the York family? After all, her ex¨Chusband¡¯s ce wasn¡¯t her home anymore. Owen finished feeding the chicks. ¡°I bet she¡¯s back because of ck River Company,¡± he muttered. The Wright family behind ck River Company seemed to have kin in every sphere of power. Word was, Jameson tried to get Shermaine to dissuade Joshua from going after the Wrights for the sake of 3,000 million dors, but Shermaine t¨Cout refused. The head of the Wright family, Mr. Wright, had six daughters. Each married into a powerful family, but the youngest daughter definitely made the best match¨Cher husband, Johansen, was the second son of Sarah¡¯s current husband. Now that ck River Company had been cornered by their own heir and was struggling to stay afloat, they could only rely on others to mediate and help. After all, once a girl was married off, she was no longer part of her birth family. Without the lure of 3,000 million dors, none of those families would risk offending the York family¨Cor Joshua¨Cfor the Wrights. After all, ck River Company made its money through shady means. Owen thought, ¡®But why would Sarah go out of her way to defend ck River Company, even traveling all this way back? Could the temptation of 3,000 million dors really be that great?¡® Owen decided to let Joshua investigate Bynes finances. ¡°Go attend to the guest, I¡¯ll go upstairs to change,¡± Owen instructed. ¡°Right away, sir,¡± replied the old butler. 1/2 18:14 Fri, 13 Jun TO The car stopped in front of the mansion. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Sarah stepped right inside, as if she¡¯d never left. Immediately to the left was a reception room. 707% A grand piano stood nearby. She was about to head further inside when the old butler politely stopped her. ¡°Miss, please sit here. Mr. York will be down shortly,¡± he said. Sarah was clearly displeased to be shown only to a side parlor¨Cthe kind reserved for ordinary guests. Still, after decades away from the York family, she wondered, ¡®Does my elder brother even consider me his sister anymore?¡® If possible, she still hoped to see her grandnephew, Joshua. The York family wasrge and thriving, but without a doubt, Joshua had always been her favorite. Back in those days, she had truly doted on him. Sarah settled onto the sofa. ¡°Bring me a cup of coffee,¡± she ordered. ¡°One moment please.¡± After changing upstairs, Owen took out his phone and texted Joshua: ¡°Have someone look into the Bynes, your great¨Caunt¡¯s inws.¡± After giving his instructions, he made his way downstairs at a measured pace. From dawn till dusk, Trance kept eating. The exquisite cuisinepletely took his mind off his heartbreak. He devoured a meatball in one bite. Trance waspletely absorbed in the delicious food, his earlier heartbreak momentarily forgotten. Seeing Trance drenched in sweat as he ate, Shermaine handed him a tissue. ¡°Here, wipe your face,¡± she said. ¡°Thanks, Sheary,¡± he replied. However, while dining with Jason, Natalie secretly snapped a photo of the scene with her phone. Seeing the picture, she smirked, then immediately contacted a paparazzi and sent it over. Jason didn¡¯t stop her. After setting down her phone, Natalie said, ¡°Jason, help me delete the historyter.¡± Jason, mouth full of food, just grunted in response. 2/2 AD Comment Nurse walking 189 Chapter 189 ? ???, 76% +28 Natalie knew she was no match for Joshua, the third master of Basterel¡¯s York family. But pulling a few tricks to embarrass him? That was doable. ¡®Since he¡¯s targeting ck River Company anyway, and I can ruin Shermaine¡¯s reputation in the process¨Cwhy not? Jason¡¯s a whiz withputers anyway,¡® Natalie thought. ¡®Wiping the digital trail to cover my tracks is a piece of cake. Even if someone tries to investigate, they¡¯ll never trace it back to me.¡® she thought. Jason had been in a foul mood since yesterday. He could tell that Danielle was quite interested in Ross. He¡¯d also looked into her and found she had a soft spot for gentle, refined men¨Cjust like Ross. He was just her type. ¡°Jason,¡± Natalie said with motherly warmth, ¡°after you start college, if you still have feelings for Dr. Shelly, Mom will make sure you win her heart.¡± ¡°No need, Mom. The woman I like¨CI¡¯ll win her over myself,¡± Jason replied. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. If you ever need help, just let Mom know¨CI¡¯ll always have your back,¡± she said gently. That paparazzo, Marcus Leonard, had exposed plenty of dirt on celebrities, making him the most hated paparazzo in showbiz. True or not, anything he leaked would inevitably go viral. The moment he received those photos taken from suggestive angles, he immediately recognized the woman as Shermaine and the man as Trance, the football legend. The real bombshell? Shermaine was engaged to Joshua. With these photos¨Cespecially after Trance¡¯s citywide, sensational confession yesterday¨Cthis was bound to spark wild spection and was prime tabloid material. Truth be told, no one in Basterel ever dared to write about Joshua¨Cpartly out of fear, and partly because there was simply nothing scandalous to report. He stood at the pinnacle, and his private life was so impable that there was nothing for anyone to write about. But now, the game changed. He¡¯s got a fianc¨¦e, and she was out having ate¨Cnight dinner with a guy who once confessed his feelings to her. ¡®Does this mean the mighty Mr. York is getting yed? Or maybe his engagement to Shermaine isn¡¯t as picture¨Cperfect as it seems?¡® Without wasting another second, he opened a document and began drafting tonight¡¯s breaking story. Meanwhile, night had fallen. After dinner, Owen didn¡¯t invite Sarah to stay at mansion. Once it was gettingte, he simply signaled that it was time for her to leave. Sarah didn¡¯t state outright the purpose of her return. Noticing that her elder brother had no intention of asking her to stay, she simply said she¡¯de back another day for a game of chess, then called her driver to take her back to her hotel. However, she did know some updates about Joshua. For instance, the Jean family¡¯s lost heiress had been found and had gotten engaged to him. She had even moved into his residence, and the two were now practically living together. At that moment, unaware that paparazzi were secretly taking her photos, Shermaine was engrossed in her meat fondue when Joshua¡¯s call came through Without a second thought, she picked up. ¡°Done with work?¡± Shermaine asked. ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Have you had dinner yet?¡± 18:14 Fri, 13 Jun ¡°Not yet,¡± Joshua replied.
  1. TO.
¡°Trance and I are at Fondue Paradise,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Shermaine said. Joshua called right at dinnertime¨Cobviously angling to mooch a meal. Anticipating his arrival, Shermaine signaled the waiter. ¡°Set an extra ce, please.¡± Then she ordered beef slices, and plenty of greens. 76% Truth be told, none of the other diners recognized Trance at all. He kept his cap on the entire time¨Ceven while eating¨Cand only took it off briefly to wipe his sweat before immediately putting it back on. As for Shermaine, while everyone knew of the Jean family heiress by reputation, only those in high society had actually seen her in person. Despite her social status, she could sit there eating and not a single person would recognize her ore to say hello. At the mention of Joshua¡¯s arrival, Trance let out a dismissive snort. Still sore about losing their drinking contestst night, he was clearly a bit miffed. Of course, it was just being a sore loser¨Cit had nothing to do with Shermaine at all. By then, Natalie and Jason had already slipped out through a side exit. In less than fifteen minutes, Joshua arrived. Without hesitation, he took the seat beside Shermaine. After being apart for most of the day, he missed her terribly. The man who never made a single mistake when reviewing documents¨Cthis time, absentmindedly wrote Shermaine¡¯s name on the file, leaving Bradley no choice but to prepare a new contract. The waiter handed him a hot towel. Joshua took the towel and wiped his hands, then nodded to Trance across the table with a faint smile. ¡°We meet again, Trance,¡± he said. Trance noticed the cold hostility in Joshua¡¯s tone had faded. ¡®Damn,¡¯ he thought bitterly, ¡®overnight, I¡¯m not even worthy of being his rival anymore. But he couldn¡¯t help himself¨CTrance blurted out, ¡°Man, I gotta know, how did you get to be such a heavyweight when ites to drinking?¡± Joshua smiled gently. ¡°Been at it since I was knee¨Chigh.¡± That exined everything. A strikingly handsome couple was joined by a man in a baseball cap. Even with most of his face hidden, the glimpse of his chiseled features made it clear he was just as good¨Clooking. Truth be told, the trio was a real feast for the eyes. Having had meat fondue with Joshua before, Shermaine remembered he was particrly fond of potato slices. So this time, she ordered two extra portions just for him, carefully timed when to add them to the pot, and now they were almost ready to serve. Shermaine scooped up som¨¦ potato slices and ced them in Joshua¡¯s bowl. ¡°Did you two go drinking togetherst night?¡± ¡°To be precise, it was a drinking contest,¡± Joshua replied. Shermaine looked at Trance with a teasing smile. ¡°So, was it your idea to start the drinking contest?¡± Trance nodded, looking a bit sheepish. ¡°Well, I lost. I¡¯ll keep my word and just be friends with you.¡± Joshua delivered the final blow. ¡°Sorry, but friends is all you¡¯ll ever be. Shermaine is my girl now¨Cand unless something crazy happens, she¡¯s not going 2/3 18:14 Fri, 13 Jun anywhere.¡± Trance was utterly crushed. ¡®Man, if I were the viin here, I¡¯d have taken this arrogant guy down in a heartbeat,¡® he thought. 76% +28) Anyway, Trance was utterly satisfied with meal¨Che¡¯d fallen head over heels for authentic meat fondue. Once he got back home, he already knew he¡¯d be making regr trips to the meat fondue joints in Wallingtontown. At 9 PM, after finishing their meal, the three of them finally stepped out of the restaurant. After dropping Trance off at his hotel, the two returned to Riverswood Vi. The moment they stepped inside, Joshua wrapped his arm around Shermaine¡¯s waist and pulled her in for a deep, hungry kiss, as if only this could ease the ache of missing her all day. The taste of lemon iced coffee lingered on Shermaine¡¯s lips as his kisses grew deeper and more demanding. Teasing her relentlessly, he coaxed her into responding. Just then, King Tiki waddled out from inside, teasing, ¡°Ooh! Get a room!¡± He covered his eyes with his paws, clearly embarrassed by what he saw. Shermaine had to admit, kissing Joshua was really nice. But she knew that if she didn¡¯t stop him, he wouldn¡¯t stop himself. The sudden appearance of King Tiki snapped her out of it. Realizing it was about time, she pushed him away and said, ¡°We both reek of the food. I¡¯m heading upstairs to shower and get some sleep¨Cgotta take Trance to Mount Longty first thing tomorrow.¡± Joshua lowered his head and gave Shermaine¡¯s arm a yful nip, as if reluctant to let her go. É« Nurse walking 190 Chapter 190 Shermaine pressed her lips and thought, ¡®Fine, I¡¯ll let it go this time. But just while Shermaine was taking a shower, a paparazzi¡¯s explosive report catapulted her to the top of the trending list. The headline screamed for attention: [Mr. York Cuckolded! Jean Heiress Caught in with Admirer at Fondue Paradise!] Instantly, it rocketed to the top of hot searches. On the other end, Bradley was on a video call, reporting to Joshua. ¡®That paparazzo really has some nerve! Just to make headlines, he even dared to write about Mr. York¨Cand the story is downright explosive! Cuckolded Seriously? Come on, Mr. York finally made it official with her. ¡®This should be a joyous asion for everyone. They¡¯re just stirring up nonsense.¡¯ Bradley thought. The paparazzi¡¯s article went viral, with hundreds ofments pouring every minute. The photos, taken from tricky angles, easily misled viewers and sparked misunderstandings. [Holy shit, is this for real? The Jean heiress actually cuckolded Mr. York?] [And with Trance? Oh my, he¡¯s my idol!] [This heiress is something else¨Calways surrounded by big shots. She¡¯s definitely not your average girl!] [First time getting tea on Mr. York, and it¡¯s this wild? Somehow feels so satisfying, LOL!] [What a juicy scandal. Wonder how Mr. York feels seeing himself get so cuckolded.] Mr. York, look at the fianc¨¦e you picked. Who knows how many more ¡®green hats¡® she¡¯s given you?] [Gotta hand it to Marcus¨Che¡¯s got guts writing about Mr. York. I bet this¡¯ll get buried in half an hour, though.] Joshua couldn¡¯t care less about people saying he¡¯d been cheated on¨Che knew exactly what had happened. But when it came to those badmouthing Shermaine, his eyes darkened with fury. ¡°If I could reach through the screen, he thought coldly, ¡®I¡¯d make sure those keyboard warriors never type another word.¡± Dark fury swirled in Joshua¡¯s eyes as Bradley cautiously asked, ¡°Mr. York, should we take down the trending topic immediately?¡± ¡°Keep the buzz under control, but don¡¯t scrub it entirely,¡± Joshuamanded. ¡°By any means necessary, make that paparazzo issue a public retraction himself Also, trace the source of these photos and find out who leaked them.¡± ¡°Understood. Mr. York¡± As the mastermind behind it all, Natalie lounged on a chaise longue, sipping her tonic soup with a smirk as she relished the gossip about the couple¡¯s Downstairs. Joten took surveince footage from a man in a baseball cap. The man pocketed the cash and chuckled styly, ¡°Hey bro, if you¡¯ve got more jobs like this, keep the orders to Coming¡± ¡°Anyone catch us on camerat Jason asked 18:14 Fri, 13 Jun TO ¡°Rx, I¡¯ve been doing this for years¨Cnever slipped up once.¡± the man reassured Jason. 75% 28) Jason just grunted in acknowledgment. Once the man left, he snapped the footage in half and tossed it into a nearby trash bin. Earlier, when he¡¯de out the side door, he¡¯d spotted Bradley, Joshua¡¯s secretary¨Cwhich meant Joshua was there too. ¡°I have to clean up my mother¡¯s mess thoroughly. If they catch wind of it, things could get ugly,¡® Jason thought. Fresh out of the shower, Shermaine was already aware of online gossip using her of cheating on Joshua. When she checked online, she noticed the trending topic had been suppressed but not removed¨Cclearly, Joshua was already handling it. ¡®Since he¡¯s already dealing with it, there¡¯s no need for me to get involved,¡® Shermaine thought. What really intrigued her was who took those photos and caused such a stir. As soon as theputer booted up, Joshua approached with a ss of warm milk. ¡°Why are you on yourputer thiste?¡± he asked. ¡°Checking Fondue Paradise¡¯s surveince footage from tonight,¡± she replied, epting the milk. ¡°The surveince footage from tonight was stolen,¡± Joshua said. Now there was no proof left of the three of them having dinner together. Hearing this, Shermaine arched a brow. ¡®Well, isn¡¯t that interesting,¡® she mused. ¡®They¡¯ve covered their tracks well. But in a public ce like that¨Ceven without the footage, there are always other ways to find traces.¡® Sipping her milk, she let out a teasing ¡°oh¡± and, with a hint of mockery, asked, ¡°So, how are you going to respond to those online rumors about me cuckolding you?¡± Joshua gazed at her, idly ying with her fingers. ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll join you and Trance for that Mount Longty hike.¡± AD Comment Nurse walking 191 Chapter 191 ¡°This is the best way to debunk those rumors,¡± Shermaine thought. Shermaine finished her milk, stuffed the cup back, and said, ¡°Good night.¡± Yet Joshua remained motionless, cup in hand, his gaze still locked on her. Shermaine drawledzily, ¡°What, Joshua? Still want to leave more marks on me?¡± She¡¯d left a love bite on him, and Joshua made sure to give one right back.. Joshua grinned shamelessly. ¡°I¡¯d love to keep going.¡± His eyes were aze. ¡°What do you say, Sheary? Will you let me?¡± 75% +28) She kicked him out without a second thought. Honestly, ever since they made things official, Joshua had shown his true colors¨Che was so bold and direct about what he wanted from her. If she were some sweet, innocent girl, she¡¯d be no match for a wolf like him. In the early hours, Marcus realized his scoop had been suppressed online, but he wasn¡¯t worried. He nned to repost it across major online forums, then just wait for Joshua¡¯s men toe knocking. ¡°They¡¯ll definitely pay me off to kill the story¨Cjust like all those trust fund babies and A¨Clisters I¡¯ve caught before. Jackpot!¡® Marcus thought. Marcus was feeling smug after finishing his fried rice downstairs, already dreaming of his next big scoop. Just as he was about to head home for some sleep, a van screeched to a halt, the door flew open, and before he could react, he was yanked inside. In the dead of night, an abandoned high¨Crise, Marcus was bound to the edge of a forty¨Cstory skyscraper. The icy wind howled past, making his heart pound and his whole body tremble. One nce down revealed nothing but a sheer drop into oblivion. Instantly, his legs turned to jelly. Marcus was terrified of heights! Bradley wasn¡¯t wearing a suit; instead, he exuded a thuggish air. After finishing his cigarette, he finally spoke, ¡°Now you¡¯re scared for your life? Didn¡¯t cross your mind when you posted that report, did it?¡± Marcus¡® face went deathly pale; he felt dizzy and sick to his stomach. Holy shit! How was I supposed to know Joshua could be this brutal? Damn, he must¡¯ve found out about my fear of heights¨Cthat¡¯s why he set this up!¡® he wondered. Bradley pped him hard across the face. ¡°Those celebrities might be scared of you, but Mr. York sure as hell isn¡¯t. And what the hell is this garbage you reported¨Cinfidelity rumors? Mr. York and his wife are rock solid. ¡°You call yourself a reporter? Just making things up without checking the facts¨Cever heard of professional ethics, huh?¡± Marcus wondered, ¡®I mean, who am I kidding? I¡¯m just a bottom¨Cfeeding paparazzo¨Cprofessionalism, my ass. But there¡¯s no way in hell I¡¯d ever dare breathe a word of that in front of these thugs. No wonder there¡¯s an unwritten rule in the industry you can report on anyone, but never mess with Joshua¨Cespecially not with take scandals. If you pss him off, he might not kad you, but you¡¯ll wish you were dead hadley uneered, ¡°It¡¯s clear youck even bask professional integrity.¡± Auta was pnded street Marcus face th attes, pleaded desperately. Please spate une i swear I¡¯ll never do d again¡± ¡°Let you go? After tasteding the fork and has side reputation fo way. You won¡¯t get off easy even if we spare your life, you¡¯ll wish we hadn¡¯t 18:14 Fri, 13 Jun TO. Marcus was in panic. 75% Early the next morning, since Shermaine was nning to hike Mount Longty, she skipped her usual morning workout and let herself sleep in. After all, everyone had thosezy days when they just wanted to stay in bed a little longer. Little did she know, an unexpected visitor had arrived downstairs. It was Sarah. Joshua had known since yesterday that his grandaunt had returned from abroad¨Cshe¡¯d already visited York residence. But he never expected her to show up at his doorstep today. Sarah gazed at her grandnephew with undisguised admiration. He was indeed the most outstanding of all the York family¡¯s descendants over the generations. Sarah recalled the online reports she¡¯d seen¨Cwere they really saying his fianc¨¦e had been unfaithful to him? +28) ¡°With Joshua being so outstanding, we absolutely can not allow some Jean family heiress to tarnish his reputation and make him the subject of public criticism, Sarah thought to herself. ¡°Joshua, dear, it¡¯s been so many years since Ist saw you,¡± she said warmly. ¡°Your grandfather raised you well¨Cyou¡¯ve turned out truly exceptional.¡± Joshua began brewing some coffee and said, ¡°Grandpa really did nurture me with great care.¡± ¡°Is your father still the same?¡± Sarah asked gently. Joshua nodded. Ever since his mother died giving birth to him, his father had shut himself away in his researchb¨Che hadn¡¯t been home or contacted anyone in the York family for years. 2/2 Nurse walking 192 Chapter 192 ? 75%! +28) Back then, Sarah had been the only one to oppose Theodore marrying that sickly femme fatale. Still, at least the woman bore such an outstanding heir for the York family before she died¨Cthat made up for it somewhat. The only thing that truly unsettled her was Theodore¡¯s unwavering devotion¨Cafter she died, he withdrew from the world like a monk, as if nothing in the world mattered to him anymore. Sarah scoffed at the York family¡¯s blind devotion¨Cbeing devoted was fine, but only if the person was truly worthy. Sarah took the coffee and muttered to herself, ¡°Your father is truly a lost cause.¡± Joshua¡¯s expression remained impassive, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Joshua thought coldly, ¡®A woman who cheated on her husband has no right to judge my father¡¯s unwavering devotion.¡± Sarah took a sip of coffee and asked, ¡°I heard you¡¯re engaged and already living together. So where is she?¡± She thought, ¡®Afterst night¡¯s scandal, I suppose she wouldn¡¯t dare show her face around Joshua anymore.¡® At the mention of Shermaine, Joshua¡¯s gaze softened. Just as he was about to reply, Shermaine padded down the spiral staircase in a white silk slip dress, radiating a sleepy charm that was both pure and alluring¨Clike a pampered housecat stretching after a nap, clearly on the prowl for breakfast. But when she saw the empty dining table, Shermaine made her way into the living room, her eyesnding on his back. ¡°Joshua, I¡¯m hungry,¡± she called out. Only then did Shermaine notice an elderly woman seated in the living room, her presence exuding unmistakable luxury and authority. Her gaze swept over her with unmistakable scrutiny. Joshua stood up, walked over, and pressed a tender kiss to Shermaine¡¯s lips. His voice gentle, he said, ¡°The housekeeper took the day off. What would you like for breakfast?¡± ¡°Sandwich,¡± Shermaine said yfully. ¡°Anything else?¡± Joshua asked gently. ¡°Seafood soup.¡± There weren¡¯t ingredients at home. They had someone delivered. Joshua took out his phone to order breakfast, then gently guided Shermaine to the sofa. He said, ¡°Sheary, let me introduce you¨Cthis is my great¨Caunt, Sarah¡± So she¡¯s Owen¡¯s sister? Owen never introduced her at our engagement party. Shermaine thought to herself. Stermare smiled family and said, ¡°Hello, Ms. York¡± Sarob studied thermains with a critical eye, thinking to herself, Like father, like son¨Ctheir taste in women is truly identical. Always drawn to these waaiens deminstales who can¡¯t even keep a proper home and go around flirting with every man in sight! She didn¡¯t let her disapproval show, merely dodding with a curt team. Sarah said, ¡°As Joshua¡¯s fianc¨¦e, shouldn¡¯t you be naing cather than him?¡± With the hour per day, should be be the one getting up early to make breakfast for Joshua? On the contrary, he ends up having to tend to her instead cow though 18:14 Fri, 13 Jun In fact, Joshua had always been ustomed to tending to Shermaine¡¯s every need. It was the same in Xenhall, and it remained so now. 75% Joshua had just poured her a ss of warm water. Shermaine took it, absently tracing the rim with her fingertip as she met his gaze. ¡°Problem?¡± she asked. ¡°No,¡± he replied. Joshua hadn¡¯t expected Sarah¡¯s words to be so pointed at Shermaine. ¡®What does Shermaine have to do with her?¡® he thought. ¡®She should just mind her own damn business.¡® Sarah¡¯s face darkened, but she held her tongue. The men of the York family are all the same¨Cthey won¡¯t tolerate a single word of criticism about their women.¡® she thought. Sarah didn¡¯t leave until breakfast arrived. Joshua finally exined, ¡°She attended those outdated women¡¯s virtue sses¨Cshe never reflects on her own ws, just loves nitpicking at others. She only returned yesterday. Years ago she had a falling¨Cout with the York family over her divorce. ¡°ording to Grandpa, she¡¯s probably back to lobby for ck River Company.¡± Shermaine said, ¡°ck River Company sure has a lot of well¨Cconnected people.¡± ¡°Having more offspring.¡± That was how some big family patriarchs built their connections. But none couldpare to that elder from the Wright family. The York family despised that kind of thing the most. Shermaine murmured, ¡°Oh,¡± her tone light and unconcerned. Joshua shifted the conversation, his tone softening. ¡°Let¡¯s just have one kid in the future.¡± C AD Comment Send gift No Ads 18:14 Fri, 13 Jun TO $75% 0 Nurse walking 193 Shermaine narrowed her eyes. ¡°Joshua, don¡¯t forget you¡¯re still on probation as my boyfriend.¡± nning for kids already? Isn¡¯t that moving a bit too fast? ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t start nning our future,¡± he teased. Honestly, his next move was to make it official¨Cget their marriage license, then finally get her into bed. ¡°Sheary, I¡¯m already thirty¨Calmost thirty¨Cone, you know.¡± Shermaine pursed her lips, thinking, ¡®This guy is actually ying the sympathy card!¡® Keeping a straight face, she said, ¡°Then work harder if you want me to like you more.¡± Joshua shed a wicked grin. ¡°I got it.¡± Since Sarah wasn¡¯t worth her attention, Shermaine focused instead on the seafood soup in front of her¨Crich, savory, and absolutely delightful. After breakfast, they traveled light and headed straight to pick up Trance. The Mount Longty scenery was absolutely magnificent. The ce was quite crowded. Trance stared at the serpentine Mount Longty stretching endlessly before him, utterly awestruck by its grandeur. Hand in hand, Joshua and Shermaine strolled leisurely up the Mount Longty,pletely at ease. It was also Shermaine¡¯s first time there. The gentle breeze caressed her face, and she felt amazing. Joshua had actually been there before¨Cbut only as a kid. After climbing Mount Longty and getting plenty of photos taken, they wandered around and sampled delicious food. By 9 p.m., Fondue Paradise¨Cthe ce they¡¯d visited the night before¨Cwas already packed. However, when Shermaine and Joshua arrived at Fondue Paradise again, the staff had no choice but to usher them into a private VIP room. The theft of their video footage yesterday had been officially reported to the police station. However, as the day drew to a close, the officers still hadn¡¯t managed to track down the culprit. ording to the police, the culprit was a professional thief¨Csomeone highly skilled who left absolutely no trace behind. They feared the case might end up being dropped. The Fondue Paradise manager served them juice while Shermaine picked up a pen and began sketching on a piece of paper. A few minutester, she handed it to the manager and said, ¡°Please post this missing person notice at the entrance.¡± The manager took the portrait and studied it¨Ca rather plump middle¨Caged woman. He vaguely remembered her from yesterday; she had been constantly recording videos from the moment she entered, andter, she seemed to be sitting diagonally across from their table while they were eating. The manager thought, ¡®Isn¡¯t this just like looking for a needle in a haystack? That woman isn¡¯t a regr and might nevere back. Still, the two guests in front of him were VIPS, and the higher¨Cups had made it clear¨Cthey had to be treated with the utmost care, and offending them was out of the question. Shermaine added, ¡°Also, ask the members who dined here yesterday if they remember what the people at Table 09 looked like. If anyone does, notify me immediately¨CI¡¯ll pay them a personal visit.¡± The manager replied politely, ¡°Certainly. I¡¯ll call you if we get any leads.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± 1/3 75% 10.15 Fri, 13 Jun Clumsy as this method seemed, she believed it might just lead to some unexpected surprises. Meanwhile, by the time night fell, Marcus was finally dragged down from the rooftop. He hadn¡¯t eaten or drunk anything since thatte¨Cnight snack yesterday, and was now so hungry he felt dizzy and weak all over, as if he¡¯d just made a round trip to death¡¯s door. Bradley handed him a bottle of water. ¡°Finish the rification article, and you can go home.¡± Marcus took several desperate gulps of water before blurting out, ¡°I¡¯ll get it written now!¡± Anew folder appeared on hisptop, packed with nothing but photos of Shermaine, Joshua, and Trance exploring Mount Longty. +28) The photos clearly showed the three of them getting along swimmingly. It was obvious that Joshua and Shermaine were like a couple in love. In one picture¨Cperfect shot, Joshua was putting a hat on someone and sneakily nted a kiss on Shermaine, making the whole scene exceptionally romantic. He thought to himself, ¡®They were getting along so well on their outing. What exactly was that woman¡¯s game, giving me those photos? No wonder when I offered her a tip¨Coff fee, she just brushed it off, saying money was no object to her.¡® If Marcus ever found out who she was, he¡¯d make sure to ruin her reputation online. ¡®What a scheming bitch,¡¯ he thought bitterly. Once the rification article was published, the tide turned and the whole incident finally died down. Even more unexpectedly, those photos of Joshua stealing a kiss from Shermaine sentizens into a frenzy¨Ceveryone started shipping them hard. Their chemistry was so palpable. Netizens were going wild in thements, gushing about how perfect they were for each other¨Ca match made in heaven! Aizen mentioned Marcus: [Keep posting more sweet content of Joshua and Shermaine, and I might just forgive you for all the dirt you dug up on my idol in the past.] Thisment blew up, hitting 10k+ likes in just one hour! The couple even got their own shipping hashtag. Three dayster, Trance had to return to his home country. In just a few days in Wallington, he¡¯d managed to pack on several pounds¨Cand he¡¯d even packed a whole stash of snacks to take back with him. Needless to say, if his coach ever found out, he was doomed. With Trance back in his home country, Shermaine returned to Brightwater Academy and settled back into the rhythm of normal student life. Shermaine¡¯s teachers were genuinely worried that her frequent absences would hurt her grades. But when exam results came out and she still ranked first, her homeroom teacher finally breathed a sigh of relief and stopped worrying about her grades altogether. In April, Shermaine made another trip to Mysonna¨CChloe¡¯s surgery required her personal expertise. All the while, Bianca remained suspicious, convinced that Shermaine had stolen her precious crystal coffin. Shermaine had actually wanted to steal the crystal coffin herself, but a mysterious group beat her to it and took it away. She tried to track them down, but came up empty handed. Afterpleting Chloe¡¯s surgery, Shermaine finally returned to Basterel. By now, Oliger Company was booming As she walked past its only gship store in Eudaemonia, she saw a snaking queue of customers stretching out the door ording to Lily, those advertisers who had previously turned down the product endorsement are now kicking themselves, sending representatives in droves to see if they can still secure the endorsement. But unfortunately, that ship had sailed. 1010 F11, 13 Jun 75% +28 Although thepany was thriving and there was ample funding for the high¨Ctech farm, Shermaine¡¯s personal savings were a far cry from Joshua¡¯s. So, from time to time, she still took on frence gigs on tech forum to earn some extra cash. As for Fondue Paradise, it truly was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Even after the notice had been posted for over a month, that woman was still nowhere to be found. The regrs barely remembered the guests at Table 09¨Cjust that it was a man and a woman, most likely a mother and son. Beyond that, there were no other leads. Shermaine wasn¡¯t worried¨Cshe remembered the woman¡¯s words: if she got the chance, she¡¯d return to that Fondue Paradise. Fondue Paradise, on the other hand, was getting pretty desperate¨Cthey evenunched a special promotion just to lure her back. As days slipped by, June arrived¨Cbringing with it the all¨Cimportant SAT. On SAT day, Natalie personally escorted Jason to the exam venue. She was brimming with confidence in her son, certain that the moment the results were announced would mark his official recognition by the family. The thought filled her with excitement and anticipation. Natalie thought, ¡®Shermaine¨Cwho just idles her days away¨Cdoesn¡¯t stand a chance against my son. The SAT top scorer title is destined for Jason!¡® 3/3 Nurse walking 194 Chapter 194 As fate would have it, Shermaine and Jason were assigned to the same examination hall. For the exam, she had an impressive entourage of four family members seeing her off¨Cher brother and grandmother, along with Joshua and Owen. Janice asked, ¡°Sheary, got your exam ticket?¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Janice continued, ¡°Got your pens, ruler, and all that stuff?¡± Shermaine replied, ¡°Got it all, Grandma.¡± Janice knew that Shermaine had never taken SAT before. On top of that, the bet weighed heavily on her mind¨Cshe was terrified that even the slightest mistake would mean Jason being officially weed into the family by Jameson. Owen then said, ¡°Sheary, here¡¯s some strawberry milk for you.¡± Shermaine showed no sign of nervousness. She took the milk from Owen, finished drinking it, and then took her backpack from Joshua. ¡°I¡¯m going in now. You guys can head back.¡± The elders encouraged her, ¡°Do your best!¡± ¡°Mm¨Chmm,¡± Shermaine nodded with a smile. She handed her exam admission ticket to the security guard for inspection, entered, and quickly found her exam room and seat for the Wallingtonian test. Her seat was toward the back of the second row. As fate would have it, Jason was sitting directly to her left. It seemed like fate had deliberately orchestrated this encounter. Jason looked a bit surprised to see her, but maintained his usual harmless demeanor. ¡°Shermaine, I didn¡¯t expect we¡¯d end up in the same exam room.¡± Shermaine dropped her backpack and slouched into her seat. ¡°Makes no difference to me who I share it with.¡± ¡°For me, being here with you feels like fate,¡± Jason said, as if they¡¯d always been rivals¨Clike warriorspeting for supremacy, whether fighting for a father¡¯s attention as kids or now, for the top science student title. Shermaine chuckled. ¡°Yeah, fate put you right in front of me¨Cso you can kneel in defeat before me.¡± A shadow flickered in Jason¡¯s eyes as he clenched his fists, but he held back. ¡®We¡¯ll see who really has to admit defeat when the resultse out,¡® he thought. But his ambitions went far beyond just being the top achiever in natural science. Getting into the Jean family was only his first step¨Che had much bigger ns, and what he wanted, he was determined to take for himself. The morning session was the Wallingtonian exam. It ran from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM. Shermaine got her exam paper, wrote her name and examinee number on the answer sheet, and started on the questions. As always, she breezed through them, but since the exam was long, she deliberately slowed down. When she finished her essay and checked the clock, only an hour and a half had passed. With nothing left to do, she propped her chin on her hand and promptly fell asleep. 1/2 75% 1 (28) The proctor noticed someone napping and walked over, intending to wake her. But when she saw Shermaine¡¯spleted answer sheet, she was stunned. She remembered this girl had started dozing off half an hour ago¨Cyet her test was already finished. Since there was nothing left for Shermaine to do, the proctor decided to let her be and turned around to walk away. As soon as the bell rang, Shermaine finally woke up. She handed in her exam and walked out of the hall. Right after her, Jason followed suit. As soon as Shermaine left the exam hall, she spotted the two elders waiting for her. The moment she appeared, they rushed over with concern. ¡°Did the exam go well?¡± ¡°Are you tired?¡± ¡°Hungry yet?¡± they asked. Shermaine smiled warmly and left with them, heading to a restaurant for lunch. Jason came out shortly after, his expression gloomy as he watched the scene. But when he saw Jameson appear with his mother, the storm in his eyes dissipated. ¡°Father loves me more. ¡®Shermaine and Ross? They¡¯re nothing to father. ¡°They can¡¯t even hold a candle to me.¡¯ he thought. 2/2 ? Nurse walking 195 Chapter 195 On the other end, Ross learned that Shermaine had finished her exams and was now dining with his grandmother and Owen at Riverdale Restaurant. It was close by. Ross said. ¡°I¡¯ll head over now.¡± ¡°No rush. Grandma wants you to bring your girlfriend along.¡± Of course, his girlfriend was none other than Danielle. More than two months into their fake rtionship, there seemed to be no real progress between them. Ross paused briefly before responding, ¡°Let me check with her.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Shermaine replied. After hanging up, Shermaine got up and headed to the restroom. +28 As soon as she stepped out of the VIP booth, Joshua arrived. Their eyes met as he approached with a gentle, almost affectionate smile. He felt the urge to kiss her, but seeing her in that blue¨Cand¨Cwhite school uniform, he just couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it. ¡°How did your morning exam go?¡± he asked. ¡°It went well,¡± Shermaine replied. Joshua gently pinched her cheek and said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯ve got some more good news. Wanna hear it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to the restroom. Tell me about it when I get back,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°Alright,¡± he replied. Meanwhile, Ross was already calling Danielle. Danielle, in her white coat, was reviewing medical records with her head lowered, phone in hand. ¡°Come pick me up yourself, or I¡¯m not going,¡± she said. Ross had originally nned to wait at Riverdale Restaurant for Danielle to arrive so they could go in together and save time, but his fake girlfriend was having none of it. Being the gentleman he was, he replied, ¡°Got it. Wait for me; I¡¯lle get you.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Danielle replied. Danielle set down her phone, a faint smirk ying at the corners of her lips. Half an hourter, Ross arrived at the Surgical Building of Yaleview Hospital. Following the nurse¡¯s directions, he headed straight to Danielle¡¯s office. Ross knocked on the door. ¡°Come in,¡± Danielle said. He pushed the door open and stepped in, The office carried a cool, subtle fragrance mingled with the scent of disinfectant¨Can unexpectedly pleasantbination. The curtains were half drawn, casting a muted light across the office. At her desk sat a woman in a white coat, her icy demeanor evident as she kept her head bowed, fully absorbed in her work. ¡°Just a monient, almost done,¡± Danielle said without looking up. 1/2 X75% 28 Patient as ever, Ross pulled out a chair and sat down. His gaze lingered on Danielle¨Che found himself momentarily captivated. By the time Ross snapped out of his daze, Danielle was already standing before him, waving a hand in front of his face. ¡°What¡¯s with that look?¡± she teased. Ross snapped out of his daze and replied, ¡°You look really attractive when you¡¯re focused on your work.¡± Danielle chuckled, ¡°You should see me saving lives¨Cthat¡¯s when I truly shine.¡± As a doctor, she was at her best when saving lives. Ross watched as she brimmed with professional pride, his lips quirking slightly. ¡°Let me get changed, then we can go,¡± Danielle said. ¡°Alright,¡± Ross replied. Ross stood up and discreetly stepped outside to wait in the hallway. Danielle took off her white coat, opened the locker, and drew the privacy curtain shut. Ross stood in the hallway outside, leaning against the wall and scrolling through messages on her phone. Suddenly, a man in a hospital gown appeared, moving suspiciously¨Che first peered through the small window, then quickly grasped the doorknob, about to push the door open. Ross gripped his hand firmly. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The man instantly turned hostile, snarling, ¡°I¡¯m here for my gorgeous wife. What¡¯s your damn business?¡± It didn¡¯t take Ross long to figure out¨Cthis guy was nuts. ¡®He¡¯s probably a mental patient. ¡®No wonder being a doctor is such a high¨Crisk job. If it¡¯s not one thing, it¡¯s another¨Calways caught between a rock and a hard ce.¡® Ross thought. ¡°Back off now, or you¡¯ll regret it.¡± The mental patient¡¯s expression grew even more sinister, his face twisting with suspicion. He snarled, ¡°Are you the other man my wife¡¯s been seeing?¡± Ross fell silent, his face darkening. Nothing disgusted him more than homewreckers. Then he shot back, ¡°Dr. Shelly is my girlfriend.¡± Nurse walking 196 Chapter 196 Reasoning with a mentally ill patient was futile¨Cyou have to y alone, or risk triggering a violent outburst at any moment. The moment Ross spoke, the man lunged at him. Luckily, the doctors and nurses arrived just in time and managed to pin him down. ¡°You homewrecker! You stole my wife! I¡¯ll kill you!¡± the mental patient screamed, thrashing his legs wildly in an attempt to kick Ross. Ross pressed his lips together, his face turning grim. It was absurd¨Ca scion of nobility being called a homewrecker, the verybel he despised most. ¡°Sorry, sir. He has delusions¨Crefuses medicine and treatment, and now he¡¯s having an episode.¡± the doctor exined. ¡°Does he oftene looking for Dr. Shelly?¡± Ross asked calmly. ¡°Actually, this only started recently. Ever since he transferred from psychiatry to neurosurgery, the moment he saw Dr. Shelly, he¡¯d im she was his w Last time, he nearly kissed her¨Cthankfully, Dr. Shelly was quick to react, or that would¡¯ve been a real disaster. ¡°Ever since then, the psychiatric patient had tried every possible way to see Dr. Shelly, but each time, the medical staff intercepted him before he could reach hier.¡± the doctor replied. ¡°Let go of me! I need to see my wife!¡± Hearing it again, Ross snapped, ¡°She is not.¡± ¡°She is!¡± Ross shot back, ¡°No, she isn¡¯t!¡± ¡°She is!¡± ¡°No, she¡¯s not,¡± Ross shot back. The psychiatric patient¡¯s face contorted, tears welling up but refusing to fall. Inside, hearing themotion outside, Danielle fastened her buttons, tucked a stray lock behind her ear, and stepped out the door. Having just taken off her white coat, Danielle appeared in a fitted dress, her hair cascading down, wless skin and delicate figure exuding elegance. Seeing Ross at the door nearly driving a psychiatric patient to tears, she thought, ¡®This is almost too funny! ¡°She is, because i said sor¡± the psychiatric patient snarled, his eyes bloodshot and his teeth gritted. Ross yanked Danielle close¨Cone hand gripping her waist possessively, the other tilting up her chin¨Cand kissed her hard. The crowd let out a collective sigh at the scene. Some male doctors felt their hearts shatter into pieces. The ka qen had been kissed by a man who might just be her boyfriend. bow¡® kissing technique was clumsy, but as a man, he had a natural instinct for it. bandon, and Danielle obediently parted her lips for him. The mosptare megy wild, worthing it could make clockers blush. Damn. Both of them were stupidly gorgeous. That wasn¡¯t just a kiss; it was 12
  1. 10.
75% 28 The psychiatric patient sat frozen on the ground like a statue¨Cthen, all of a sudden, burst into loud sobs. Ross had only intended to give her a quick kiss and stop, but the moment Danielle responded, it was like a spell¨Che just couldn¡¯t stop himself from wanting more. The patient¡¯s incessant crying finally got to Ross. Breaking the kiss, he saw Danielle¨Cher lips slightly swollen, looking breathtakingly alluring. Without hesitation, he grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the elevator. After they left, Jason emerged from the shadows, his gaze dark and menacing. At Riverdale Restaurant, Shermaine returned to the private room after using the restroom, took her seat, and said, ¡°So, what¡¯s the good news you wanted to share?¡± Under the table, Joshua took her hand again and gently squeezed her soft palm. He said, ¡°The Fondue Paradise manager couldn¡¯t reach you, so they called me about that aunt you¡¯ve been looking for.¡± Shermaine gave a faint smile. ¡°So you found her?¡± ¡°Mm¨Chmm,¡± Joshua nodded. ¡°When do you want to meet her? I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Shermaine thought for a moment. ¡°Right after my mathematics exam this afternoon,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up this afternoon,¡± Joshua said. Owen watched the scene with approval¨Chis grandson was really growing up. Still, there were matters that only he, as the family elder, needed to handle personally, especially since his grandson had called to ask for his help himself. Owen stroked his grey beard and chuckled, ¡°Hey, Janice, once Sheary¡¯s done with her college exams, she and Joshua can finally tie the knot, can¡¯t they?¡± Nurse walking 197 Chapter 197 475%•þ +28) Joshua was the perfect choice Janice had always wanted as Shermaine¡¯s husband. Now, all she could think about was having a great¨Cgrandchild. With a smile, she said, ¡°It¡¯s about time you two made it official.¡± Janice looked up at Shermaine affectionately and suggested, ¡°Sheary, why don¡¯t you and Joshua go get your marriage license right after you finish your exam?¡± I remember Joshua had always nned for us to get engaged in December and married in June,¡® Shermaine thought. ¡®Back then, I didn¡¯t care, since we were just going through the motions as an engaged couple. But now we¡¯re truly together as boyfriend and girlfriend. Since neither of us ns to break up, there¡¯s no reason to change those arrangements.¡® ¡°Let¡¯s get registered,¡± Shermaine said calmly. Janice turned to Sheary with a gentle smile and asked, ¡°So, Sheary, what about the wedding? When would you like to have it?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do itter,¡± Shermaine replied casually. ¡®Weddings are such a hassle,¡® Shermaine mused. ¡®Now that we¡¯re already registered, there¡¯s really no rush¨Cwe can just have the ceremony whenever the mood strikes. Owen smiled kindly and said, ¡°Whenever you¡¯re ready for the wedding, just let Joshua know.¡± Shermaine agreed, let go of Joshua¡¯s hand, and reached for some sunflower seeds to shell. Noticing the sunflower seeds were hard to shell, Joshua gently offered, ¡°Let me do it for you. Why don¡¯t you snack on something else first?¡± Shermaine happily enjoyed his attentive care, piling a bunch of sunflower seeds and an empty te in front of him, then waited expectantly for him to feed her. So there they were in the private room¨CJoshua diligently shelling sunflower seeds, while Shermaine sat beside him, contentedly munching away. Half an hourter, Ross finally arrived with Danielle. ¡°Mrs. Jean,¡± Danielle said in her sweet voice. ¡°Oh my, Danielle, you¡¯re here! Come, have a seat.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Jean,¡± Danielle said sweetly, The moment Danielle arrived, Shermaine could tell she was in high spirits. The usually cool and aloof beauty would speak to her brother in a soft, sweet, almost childlike voice. Shermaine took a sip of her coffee and teased, ¡°Someone¡¯s in a good mood today, huh?¡± Danielle leaned in close, blushing, and whispered in her ear, ¡°Earlier at the hospital, Ross kissed me right in front of everyone.¡± Shermaine arched her brow. Given her brother¡¯s usual character, she couldn¡¯t believe he¡¯d actually do something like that. ¡°Spill the details,¡± she said. The two girls leaned in close, whispering secrets to each other. The math exam this afternoon was from 3 to 5 PM. After lunch, thermaine went straight to Joshua¡¯spany with him, as it was conveniently located near her exam venue, The York Group headquarters stood as an imposing 36 story skyscraper, 1/2 18:15 Fri, 13 Jun TO Joshua¡¯s executive office upied the penthouse level of the skyscraper. £¤75% The car stopped at the corporate headquarters. Shermaine stepped out¨Cher school uniform a stark contrast to the sea of business suits around her. But when it came to presence, none of them could hold a candle to her. Even in her school uniform, the Jean heiress carried an undeniable executive presence. Joshua followed her out, carrying her backpack in one hand and gently taking her by the hand as he led her inside. The employees chorused in unison, ¡°Good afternoon, Mr. York. Good afternoon, Mrs. York.¡± Joshua gave a slight, dignified nod. Shermaine was momentarily speechless, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks at being called ¡°Mrs. York.¡± Shermaine¡¯s sudden appearance sent a wave of excitement through the York Group staff. The staff couldn¡¯t contain their excitement! Finally! Fresh shipping material! Time to flood forums with updates. $29 They took the private elevator straight up to the CEO¡¯s office on the 36th floor. Feeling drowsy, Shermaine made a beeline for the rest area to take a nap. The rest area was sparsely furnished¨Cjust arge bed and a sofa. After slipping on disposable slippers, Shermaine made a beeline for the bed. Joshua set down her backpack and followed her in. She watched as Shermaine kicked off her shoes and flopped onto the big ck bed, then yfully nudged the man sitting at the bedside with her foot and said, ¡°Wake me up at two, okay?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Joshua replied softly. He clearly had work waiting, but he just wouldn¡¯t leave. After lying there for a while, as if she couldn¡¯t take it anymore. Shermaine sat up and pointed out matter¨Cof¨Cfactly. ¡°If you want to kiss me, just do it. I¡¯m not stopping you.¡± Ever since they met, he¡¯d been eyeing her like a predator stalking its prey. Did he really think she wouldn¡¯t notice? Hearing this, Joshua chuckled and gently pulled Shermaine, still in her blue¨Cand¨Cwhite school uniform, onto hisp. His lips met hers as they melted into a lingering, tender kiss¡­ 2/2 Nurse walking 198 Chapter 198 75% 287 Joshua had never learned restraint¨Ckissing her wasn¡¯t enough; he had to pin her down, his sses discarded somewhere, forgotten. Fabric rucked up. The dip of her waist beneath his palms. The drag of his calluses against her skin. Shermaine pped his hand away and wrapped herself tightly in the nket. ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep,¡± she said. Joshua was still craving more, but he knew he had to stop. ¡®If I go any further and things get out of hand, Shermaine won¡¯t take any responsibility for me,¡® he thought. Meanwhile, after Ross and Danielle had lunch and left Riverdale Restaurant, Ross had to take her back to the hospital. In the parking lot, Danielle perched herself on Ross¡®p, yfully tugging at his tie. ¡°So, tell me¨Cwhy did you kiss me back at the hospital?¡± she asked. Her soft, honeyed voice dripped with yful seduction. With the woman perched on hisp in the cramped space, Ross¡® hands hovered awkwardly. Yet he remainedposed. ¡°I don¡¯t like being misunderstood.¡± Danielle pressed closer to him. ¡°Did you really have to kiss me in front of everyone?¡± she murmured yfully. ¡°Now the whole hospital thinks I have a boyfriend.¡± But this so¨Ccalled boyfriend? It was all just for show¨Cnothing real. Ross pressed his lips. He had to admit, back then, he¡¯d acted on impulse without thinking things through. ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± he asked. Danielle gave his earlobe a yful pinch. ¡°I¡¯m taking my kiss back,¡± she murmured, her warm breath brushing his lips before she pressed hers softly to his pale ones. At first, Ross just sat there, letting her kiss him. Yet Danielle pressed against him with softness, asionally rubbing against him. Her delicate fragrance enveloped him, and those few teasing movements were enough to ignite his desire. For a moment, the usuallyposed gentleman now had a flush creeping into his eyes, his expression strained. His crisp shirt bore the marks of her grasping fingers. Danielle chuckled softly. ¡°Ross, you¡¯re getting so flustered¡­ Want me to give you a hand?¡± ¡°Get off me,¡± Ross said firmly. Danielle¡¯s eyes crinkled into a mischievous smile. ¡°Take a doctor¡¯s advice¨Cdon¡¯t hold it in. It¡¯s bad for your health.¡± Ross studied her¨Cwhat a picture of innocence, yet the words from her lips were downright audacious, nothing like a properdy. Danielle¡¯s heart raced¨Cears burning crimson, palms slick with sweat. It was the first time she¡¯d ever truly liked a man, and no matter how much she pretended to be experienced, nervousness still coiled tight in her chest, ¡°Dr. Shelly, this is my limit,¡± Ross said with polite finality. In other words, he wasn¡¯t going to take things any further with Danielle. ¡°Why?¡± Dare asked. Dr. Shelly, this is just a mutual arrangement between us, isn¡¯t it?¡± Ross said with polite restraint. Danielle bilud her head, a yful glind in her eyes. ¡°Then, what do you think should we turn this act into something real?¡± 1/2 75%0 18:15 Fri, 13 Jun TO ¡°Don¡¯t be silly,¡± he said. He wasn¡¯t in the mood. Her smile faded, keeping herposure. ¡°Fine.¡± Deep down, she was fuming. And honestly, she couldn¡¯t help feeling a little sad. Does Ross really not go for girls like me?¡® she wondered, a pang of disappointment twisting in her chest. At 3 p.m. sharp, the math exam began. +28 Shermaine arrived punctually for the exam. After it began, she finished and submitted her paper a full thirty minutes before the end. The moment she stood up to hand it in, Jason immediately followed suit, submitting his paper right after her. However, even after submitting their papers, they were not permitted to leave immediately, but were directed to wait in a nearby ssroom. Only after the proctor announced they could leave did Shermaine and the others, who had been waiting in the ssroom, finally get up and head out together. A crowd of parents had gathered at the school gate, with even a few reporters among them. All in all, the ce was buzzing. A sleek ck Bentley waited discreetly by the roadside, its understated presence almost lost in themotion. As soon as the reporter saw Shermaine emerge, they hurried over and said, ¡°Miss, you finished so early! Would you mind sharing how you feel after the exam?¡± 2/2 Nurse walking 199 Chapter 199 ¡°It was a piece of cake.¡± The reporter asked, ¡°So, what score do you think you¡¯ll get on the math exam?¡± ¡°A perfect score,¡± Shermaine answered instantly. That answer caught the reporter off guard. The reporter was momentarily stunned by her deration. Since when did top scorers get this audacious? And damn, she was pretty. The reporter mused, ¡®Once this story is out, pitching her as the prettiest high schooler could really make headlines! The reporter asked, ¡°Hi, which school are you from, and what¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Brightwater Academy. Shermaine Shue.¡± The reporter smiled and said, ¡°Shermaine, I¡¯m really looking forward to your SAT results.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Shermaine replied curtly. 75% +28) Just as the reporter was pondering this, he spotted Jason standing behind, and his face immediately lit up with renewed interest. Turning to him, the reporter asked eagerly, ¡°Young man, could you share your thoughts on the exam?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Jason replied with a slight smile. ¡°How difficult was this year¡¯s math exam?¡± Jason replied, ¡°Not difficult at all.¡± The reporter asked, ¡°So, what score do you think you¡¯ll get?¡± Jason replied, ¡°A perfect score.¡± The reporter¡¯s eyes lit up at the juicier story potential. He added excitedly, ¡°You know, just now, Shermaine also imed she¡¯d ace the test!¡± ¡°She¡¯s confident,¡± Jason said. The reporter grinned and teased, ¡°And aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yeah, confidence is what gets you good results,¡± Jason added with another smile. For some reason, the reporter sensed a trace of condescension from this male student toward the female student who just left. Did he doubt she could pet a perfect score? He immediately followed up, ¡°And which school are you from? May I have your name?¡± Jason replied, ¡°Jason Jean.¡± The reporter then quickly jotted down his name. A strikingly elegant woman stepped out of the car¨Cshe looked barely thirty with her youthful figure. To everyone¡¯s surprise, this was actually Jason¡¯s either Staking out this meam she has really paid off the reporter thought to himself. He then turned to Natalie and asked, ¡°Ma¡¯am, do you think your son can make it to the providice¡¯s top 50 this year?¡± 18:15 Fri, 13 Jun TO. 75% +28 Natalie replied haughtily, ¡°Top 50? That¡¯s nothing. This year¡¯s top achiever in natural science will definitely be my son¨Cno one else evenes close.¡± By this time, Shermaine was already in the car with Joshua, on their way to meet the woman she¡¯d been searching for all this time. The woman was warm and hospitable. As soon as she realized they wanted to see the footage she¡¯d taken that night, she immediately handed her phone to Shermaine and said, ¡°Here, take a look.¡± All told, there were well over a hundred photos and video clips from that night! Shermaine scrolled through the photos and soon found one that clearly showed the face of the person at Table 09. The photo clearly captured Natalie¡¯s full face as she aimed her phone at the spot where Shermaine had been sitting. Beside her, only Jason¡¯s profile was visible. Just as expected, Shermaine wasn¡¯t surprised. Although Natalie¡¯s actions didn¡¯t cause much trouble thanks to Joshua¡¯s timely intervention, a minor impact didn¡¯t mean Shermaine would just let it go. ¡°Did you find it, dear?¡± the woman asked. ¡°Got it,¡± Shermaine said as she shared the photo to her own phone via Bluetooth. ¡°Thank you.¡± The woman waved it off and said warmly, ¡°No need to thank me, dear. Just d I could help.¡± Meanwhile, in the car, with a cold expression, Jason said, ¡°Mom, you shouldn¡¯t have said those things in front of the reporters just now.¡± Natalie said while driving, ¡°I wasn¡¯t wrong. Don¡¯t tell me you can¡¯t be the top science scorer.¡± Jason snapped, ¡°You¡¯re giving people ammunition against us. Just like that incident at Fondue Paradise¨Cif I hadn¡¯t helped you delete the surveince footage, the York family would have traced it back to you.¡± ¡°Fine, I just got carried away,¡± Natalie said defensively. ¡°If you really don¡¯t want this to end up in the news, I¡¯ll have your dad take care of it.¡± Jason fell silent for a moment, weighing his options. Then he said, ¡°Let it go this time.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Natalie conceded. Predictably, thanks to Natalie¡¯s remark, Jason was sensationalized by that reporter and went viral,nding on the trending topics¨Cboth mother and son became overnight sensations. The SAT alwaysmanded the whole city¡¯s attention¨Cany minor incident could instantly go viral. Natalie scrolled through inte, seeing people praise her youthful looks, well¨Cmaintained figure, and outstanding son. But all this admiration also drew some bacsh from otherizens. Uh, hello? Did you all forget about champ?] Then, students from other schools started chiming in with their ownments. The most likedment came from a Brightwater Academy student: [Dream on! Your son is the top science scorer? Just wait¨Cwhen Shermaine¡¯s results are out, she¡¯ll wipe the floor with him.] Nurse walking 200 +28 Natalie scoffed when she saw thement. ¡®Shermaine? She could neverpare to my son,¡® she thought with disdain. Her boy had always been first in every exam since childhood and was already studying university¨Clevel material. He could have gone straight to Basterel University¨Che¡¯d even received offers from top foreign universities. But because of that bet with Janice, he turned them all down and insisted on taking the SAT. Meanwhile, Jameson was already preparing for Jason¡¯s official homing party: the hotel was booked, the media invited, and even the guest invitations had been printed. Meanwhile, Ruth was ying cards with her high¨Csociety friends. ¡°Mrs. Jean,¡± one of thedies asked casually while ying her cards, ¡°aren¡¯t you going to do something about your husband¡¯s affair?¡± ¡°Last time he pushed me down the stairs¨CI nearly died! How could I dare meddle in his affairs with other women now?¡± she said with a bitterugh. For her, life and money mattered most. As long as she could keep her social standing and reputation, she couldn¡¯t care less about the rest. ¡°Has Jameson really been that cruel to you?¡± one of thedies asked. ¡°You bet.¡± ¡°My husband told me Jameson might be bringing that illegitimate son into the family.¡± Ruth scoffed, ¡°He¡¯s in such a rush to throw that homing party¨Cbut has he even checked if that illegitimate son of his is capable of bing this year¡¯s top scorer in science?¡± Thedies chatted idly while ying their cards. It was well past midnight when Ruth finally had her driver pick her up. As the car drove out of the estate, a figure suddenly darted from the shadows, blocking its path. The driver mmed on the brakes. Suddenly, someone began hammering violently on the car window. Ruth jolted awake in fright. When she nced outside, her face instantly drained of color. ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± she shouted urgently. ¡°Drive! Now!¡± At her shout, the driver snapped out of his daze, floored the elerator, and sped away. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡®Why did that strange man call Ruth sis?¡± As the car sped away, Zack stood rooted to the spot, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. He and his mother had been hiding in the mountains for months, terrified that Shermaine would track them down and uncover the shocking truth: the woman now known as Ruth wasn¡¯t her real mother at all. Her birth mother had fallen off a cliff into the sea years ago and vanished without a trace. The woman now known as Ruth was, in fact, none other than his real sister¨CMadeline Guston. Years ago, the real Buth had already cracked cloning technology. She kept her research secret, but her sister discovered it and forced the scientist to perform a neural brain Trancent¨Ccopying her mind into a cloned body, thus achieving resurrection. This was nothing short of a true wonder of the world. 1/2 75% 18:15 Fri, 13 Jun TO After much effort, he finally made it to the capital to warn his sister about Shermaine, but instead of being grateful, she recoiled from him in sheer terror, as if she¡¯d seen a ghost. June 8th¨Cthe final two exams. Time slipped away like sand through fingers. In a blink, thest test was nearing its end, signaling the end of this year¡¯s SAT. Outside the exam hall, a sea of people had gathered. But for the students, finally done with their tests, it felt as if a huge weight had been lifted¨Cthey could finally breathe easy. Joshua was still the one who came to pick her up. He checked his watch¨Cthe marriage office would close in just half an hour. But he¡¯d already called ahead, so even if they arrived a littlete, the staff would still be waiting for them. As they headed to the City Hall, Shermaine changed into a crisp white blouse for the asion and pulled her hair back into a neat ponytail, wanting to look her best for this special moment. The marriage registration process was straightforward, taking barely ten minutes. What was more, the staff had stayed past closing time just to wait for them. Shermaine looked at him with a teasing smile and asked, ¡°So, you didn¡¯t prepare a prenup?¡± Joshua¡® chuckled, ¡°Why would we need that?¡± Shermaine teased with a yful smirk, ¡°Just saying, if we ever split up, you¡¯d stand to lose a lot.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no ¡®what if¡® with us. We¡¯re not splitting up¨Cthis is forever. I won¡¯t let you down, and you¡¯ll never want to leave me.¡± As it happened, Shenmaine hadn¡¯t prepared that prenup thing either. Hearing his words, she picked up the pen and decisively signed her name without hesitation. Without hesitation, Joshua followed suit, signing his name with equal certainty. From start to finish, Shermaine never really felt like a married woman. But the moment that marriage certificatended in her hands, her mood subtly shifted¨Cshe could hardly believe it: at just twenty, she was now married to thirty¨Cone¨Cyear¨Cold Joshua. Crowds of newlyweds came and went at the entrance of the City Hall, where flowers bloomed in full glory. Overhead, the clouds looked as if they¡¯d stolen a sip of wine, drunken into a crimson sunset. Joshua longed to pull her into his arms and kiss her right then, but with Shermaine just finishing her SAT, they needed to keep a low profile. Once in the car, he leaned in, resting his forehead against hers, his eyes brimming with tenderness. Smiling, he kissed her lightly and murmured, ¡°Sheary, now that you¡¯re with me, there¡¯s no escaping me for the rest of your life.¡± He would cherish her with all his heart, for all their days toe. 2/2 AD Comment Send gift No Ads Nurse walking 201 Chapter 201 Although Joshua and Shermaine kept their marriage quiet, their close friends were in the know, For example, Roy and Henry were among those who knew. The two insisted oning over for drinks with Joshua. In high spirits, he weed them warmly. But as soon as Roy suggested a barbecue, more friends ended up joining in all from their circle, plus Joshua¡¯s cousins. Shermaine winced at the dwindling stock of fine wine in the cer¨Cso many bottles already gone, yet they kept drinking As for her brother¨Cconstantly away on business and currently overseas¨Che had initially objected to her registering the marriage with Joshua. But after a private talk with Joshua, all his objections vanished. She wondered what Joshua could have said to prompt such an abrupt change of heart. She then invited Danielle and Lily to join them. But Danielle couldn¡¯t make it tonight¨Cshe was tied up in the OR, performing a brain tumor removal surgery. Lily came straight over after work. At the moment, the two of them were chatting away. Shermaine asked, ¡°Any tricky issues at thepanytely?¡± ¡°Not really,¡± Lily replied. ¡°It¡¯s just that our products are flying off the shelves right now, but our production can¡¯t keep up, so we keep running out of stock. I¡¯m nning to expand the factory and add more production lines.¡± Shermaine reminded her, ¡°Product efficacyes first. Make sure you keep a close eye on quality.¡± ¡°I will,¡± Lily replied. Unlike those shady cosmeticspanies that only cared about profits and ignored product quality, Lily was perfectly content with how far herpany hade. She believed that true sess came from staying grounded and moving forward step by step. They hadn¡¯t been chatting long when Lily¡¯s phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, her eyes lit up with a smile¨Cshe lookedpletely smitten. ¡°Boyfriend?¡± Shermaine asked. Lily smiled and said, ¡°Not quite a boyfriend yet¨Cjust a suitor.¡± She was actually pretty satisfied with him; both his family background and looks met her standards. Then she gestured that she needed to take the call. Shermaine nodded. ¡°Go ahead,¡± she said, then pulled out her phone and scrolled through some forums, and short¨Cvideo apps. Scrolling through the app, her feed was flooded with SAT news. Now that the SAT was over, everyone¡¯s attention naturally turned to the results. The SAT results won¡¯t be avable until the 20th or 21st. While browsing, Shermaine noticed someone had started an online poll ranking this year¡¯s top arts and science SAT scorers from Basterel¡¯s major high schools. Jason was leading by andslide, with Shermaine trailing far behind in second ce. Shermaine nced at it and lost interest. ¡®What a meaningless poll,¡¯ she thought. ¡®Jason and his mom went viral recently- the votes.¡® -no wonder he¡¯s miles ahead in A few minutester, Lily returned with her phone, giving Sheary an apologetic smile. ¡°Sheary, I think I¡¯ll have to head out early.¡± 12:06 Chapter 201 So, did he just ask you out?¡± Shermaine teased. ¡°Yeah, Lily nodded, a shy smile on her lips. Shermaine nodded. ¡°Alright, go ahead. Stay safe.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Lily replied. After Lily left, Roy and the others also prepared to call it a night. Before leaving, they gave Shermaine ingratiating grins and said, ¡°Happy newlywed days, Shermaine! We won¡¯t bother you lovebirds anymore¨Cwe¡¯ll get out of your hair now,¡± they added with knowing smirks as they slipped away. They were considerate enough to tidy up thoroughly before leaving. But those knowing chuckles of theirs were downright baffling Joshua escorted the guests out. When he returned, Shermaine was no longer in the living room¨Cshe had gone upstairs. He¡¯d had quite a few drinks tonight, but getting drunk was out of the question¨Cwith his legendary tolerance, he could drink anyone under the table. Now, the only thing left was to move Shermaine¡¯s belongings into his room. After all, there was no way they¡¯d still be sleeping apart now that they were married. Stepping out of the bathroom, Shermaine froze¨Cher room had beenpletely emptied out, not a single thing left. She stood there, dazed for a few seconds before the realization hit her. She thought to herself, ¡®Now that we¡¯re officially married, there¡¯s really no reason to keep separate rooms anymore. I guess from now on, I¡¯ll be sharing both a room and a bed with Joshua.¡® At this thought, Shermaine pressed her lips. ¡®Having to share a bed with him every night¡­ he is going to drive me absolutely nuts,¡® she thought. Before Shermaine realized it, Joshua had slipped into the room unnoticed. Before she could react, he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. In that deep, velvety voice of his, he murmured right next to her ear, ¡°Sheary, you smell good.¡± AD Nurse walking 202 Send gift No Ads Chapter 202 Chapter 202 Hearing that, Shermaine couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®Why does it feel like I¡¯m being nuzzled by a hungry wolf who¡¯s clearly got his eyes on mate Shermaine said calmly. ¡°You can borrow my body wash?¡± She wasn¡¯t so easily charmed. Joshua agreed, but seeing Shermaine remain unfazed and emotionally steady, he kept calm and patient, quietly biding his time like someone lying in wait. Right after that, he gently released his hold on her, making no further moves. He just said softly, ¡°Sheary, I¡¯ve already moved all your things over.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Shermaine shuffled over to Joshua¡¯s room in her slippers. The room was nearly twice the size of her old one. She¡¯d barely set foot in there before, but now, with a bold move, she was moving in for real. Outside the window, the moon shone bright in a star¨Csparse sky. The cool¨Ctoned room basked in a warm glow¨Cspacious yet not cavernous. With her belongings moved in, it felt even more lived¨Cin andplete. By the window stood an antique piano, its well¨Cworn keys bearing witness to its age¨Ca truly precious instrument. ¡°Can you y the piano?¡± Shermaine asked. ¡°I can,¡± Joshua replied. ¡°y something for me?¡± she asked. Joshua led her to sit in front of the piano and gently lifted the lid. ¡°This was my mother¡¯s piano,¡± he said softly. ¡°A token of love from my father. After she passed away giving birth to me, it¡¯s been with me ever since.¡± He could y, but it had been years since hest touched the keys. When he was a child, every time he yed the piano, his father would have an emotional breakdown, as if the music brought back memories too painful to bear. Even at their engagement, his father never appeared¨Creportedly. He hadn¡¯t returned to the York family in ten years. His mother died giving birth to him, so Joshua grew up without a shred of parental love. No wonder his childhood was anything but easy. Even though Owen raised him, there were wounds in his heart that could never truly heal. That was why, when she remembered how she had been taken, her hatred for Jameson and Madeline only deepened. Madeline had been living a high life, pretending to be her mother all these years¨Cbut her days were numbered. As for her real mother, after so many years with no word, she had most likely met with foul y. Those two were nothing but wicked sinners. They deserved nothing but divine retribution. Shermaine said softly, ¡°You have me now.¡± This was probably the only words of love she ever spoke to him while they were together. It was simple, yet enough to warm his heart. Chapter 202 Joshua armiled, warmth shining in his eyes. ¡°Yes, from now on, I¡¯ll always have you with me, Sheary¡± He thought to himsell, ¡®Maybe from the very first nce at Shermaine, I was already captivated. She was as radiant as the moon¨Cit really wa sight But back then, I didn¡¯t understand the stirrings of love. Fortunately, it isn¡¯t toote¨Cwe finally found our happiness ever after! Joshua¡¯s elegant fingersnded on the piano keys, and a gentle melody began to weave through the room. It was a melody Shermaine had never heard before. The melody was tender and lingering, sending sweet shivers through the listener and making it easy to be intoxicated by its charm It was like a man whispering sweet nothings into a woman¡¯s ear, or two lovers nestled together in a boat, drifting across a moonlit, ripplingke, lost in each other¡¯s embrace. Shermaine listened with great pleasure, a faint smile ying on her lips. Yet it was the pianist himself who captivated her most. Unlike his usualposed and sensual self, Joshua at the piano radiated a magical allure¨Csomething utterly mesmerizing that made it impossible to look away. As thest notes faded away, Shermaine asked curiously, ¡°I¡¯ve never heard this melody before¨Cis it your ownposition?¡± ¡°Yeah, I yed it thinking of you, Sheary.¡± Improvising like this¨Conly a true genius could listen to the whispers of all things and spin them into moving melodies. Shermaine, usually so unppable, now felt gentle ripples stirring in her heart. She looked at him and softly said, ¡°y it for me again.¡± Joshua grinned yfully. ¡°How about a kiss, Sheary?¡± ¨C AD Comment Nurse walking 203 Chapter 203 Joshua couldn¡¯t get over how farely Shermaine initiated their kisses. He knew Shermaine was usually calm and emotionally restrained, but every now and then, she could be surprisingly forthright Though she never showed it through words or actions, she actually enjoyed it whenever he kissed her. But humans were greedy creatures. He wanted Shermaine to make more exceptions for him. Why shouldn¡¯t she? Shermaine slightly raised her eyebrows, then without hesitation cupped Joshua¡¯s face and leaned in to kiss him. Not just once. She nted kiss after kiss -first on his forehead, then his eyes, his cheeks, and finally those thin lips of his. Joshua was over the moon¨Che honestly hadn¡¯t expected this. ¡®Looks like Shermaine really does like it when I y piano, he thought, a smile tugging at his lips. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as his eyes darkened with desire. He had no trouble remembering the melody of the piece he¡¯d just improvised. With a deepening smile, Joshua returned to his ying. After a while, Shermaine¡¯s hands joined his on the keys, and they began ying a duet. 1 Whether it was the haunting, lingering improvised melody, or the lurking wolf finally losing patience, Joshua¡¯s kisses were feather¨Clight, as gentle as a breeze, yet burning with undeniable intensity. Joshua lifted her from the piano bench, his arm sliding around Shermaine¡¯s waist as their lips remained locked, guiding them toward the bed in a slow, deliberate motion. Shermaine gazed up at the ring chandelier, its brightness almost blinding. Momentster, a shadow loomed over her¨CJoshua¡¯s lips descended upon hers again. She truly loved the sensation of Joshua¡¯s kisses. And when she kissed him back, his kisses became even more intense, almost desperate. This time, Shermaine could clearly feel him was losing control. Shermaine thought, ¡®We¡¯re already married¨Csome things just can¡¯t be helped. The moon is beautiful tonight, the mood is perfect¡­ why put on the brakes now? ¡®Wait, my period is supposed toe any day now¡­ Could it start tonight? Probably not¨CI¡¯m usually right on schedule.¡¯ But as luck would have it, her period arrived early. The cramps hit hard. Shermaine realized she needed to excuse herself to the bathroom to take care of it immediately. ¡®Ah, the joys of womanhood,¡® Shermaine thought to herself. She had always been careful about her health. Chapter 203 Jos¡­ Shermaine was about to say something, her voice barely above a whisper. But Joshua cut her off, leaning in to whisper huskily in her ear, ¡°Sheary, I want you.¡± Shermaine pursed her lips and said softly, ¡°Not now, I¡­¡± But he tightened his hold on her, cutting her off with a murmur, ¡°I can¡¯t hold back.¡± Shermaine thought, ¡®You don¡¯t have to say it¨CI can already tell. Several vivid hickeys stood out starkly against her slender neck. Completely losing control, Joshua left no room for refusal. No sooner had the words left his lips than his mouth crashed onto hers again, his kisses searing, his hands wandering restlessly over her body. Maybe it was because Shermaine¡¯s period had just started, but her body was unusually sensitive. The moment Joshua touched her waist, she wentpletely limp¨Cher hands were so weak she couldn¡¯t even push him away, let alone kick him off. She thought, ¡®I¡¯m no saint¨Cit¡¯s not like I¡¯m immune to feelings. If Joshua insists on having his way, fine. After all, he¡¯ll be the one suffering in the end, not me.¡® Then Joshua froze mid¨Caction, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing as he gazed at Shermaine. After two seconds of heavy silence, he carefully adjusted her nightgown, rolled off the bed, and scooped her up in his arms. He carried her straight to the walk¨Cin closet to fetch her fresh undergarments and a sanitary pad, then headed to the bathroom. The bathroom door mmed shut. Joshua¡¯s eyes still burned with unspent passion, his body echoing the same burning need. But given the circumstances, even his desperate desire to devour herpletely stood no chance of being fulfilled. He stood there in silence for a moment, then turned and went downstairs to make her some sugar water¨Ca traditional remedy for period cramps. ? Nurse walking 204 Chapter 204 In the bathroom, Shennaine finished up and came out after washing her hands. Joshua had prepared steaming sugar water, with slices of ginger floating inside. Joshua sat on the edge of the bed, his cor slightly open. He exuded an intensely sensual, almost irresistible allure. He handed her the steaming cup of water. Shermaine took it and settled onto the bed beside him, blowing gently at the hot liquid before taking careful sips. ¡°Are you feeling alright?¡± Joshua asked, his voice low and husky. Shermaine replied confidently, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m as fit as a fiddle.¡± She thought, ¡®Menstrual cramps? That¡¯s never been an issue for me.¡¯ If a girl suffered from period cramps, it was usually due to uterine coldness. She should pay attention to her diet¨Cavoid too many cold drinks and spicy foods. If the pain was severe, herbal remedies could help regte her body. Joshua didn¡¯t say anything more. He gently stroked her head. ¡°Get some rest,¡± he murmured. Shermaine sipped the ginger tea and softly said, ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m unwilling.¡± ¡°I know, it¡¯s just bad timing,¡± Joshua said softly. The moment had been perfect, but fate seemed to have other ns for him. Late at night, the lights in the room were turned off. Shermainey in bed, the space beside her was still empty. The sound of running water drifted from the bathroom. After what seemed like ages, Joshua finally emerged, with a chill still clinging to him, and settled in beside her. ¡°Good night, Sheary,¡± Joshua whispered. ¡°Good night,¡± Shermaine murmured. Even though the SAT was finally over, Shermaine¡¯s days remained quite packed. The next morning, Shermaine dropped by Brightwater Academy. That evening, her ss 9 ssmates threw a karaoke party. After months of hard work preparing for the SAT, most of ss 9 could finally breathe easy, feeling they had no regrets about their performance. Summer really wanted to get into Basterel University to stay ssmates with Shermaine, but she wasn¡¯t sure if her grades would make the cut. She felt pretty good about her SAT performance, but she¡¯d have to wait for the results to know for sure. ¡°Everyone online is saying Jason will be this year¡¯s SAT science champion. What do you guys think?¡± ¡°No way! The science SAT champion must be Shermaine!¡± ¡°Exactly! That Jason¡¯s mom is totally delusional.¡± Chapter 204 Shermaine neither agreed nor disagreed. While listening to their chatter, she kept ncing at her phone Halfway through the party, she quietly stipped out. She slipped away to a jewelry store. As soon as she walked in, a sales associate greeted her, ¡°How can I help you today?¡± ¡°A ring,¡± she said. ¡°This way, please.¡± When she arrived at the ring disy area, a dazzling array of rings glittered in the ss cases. Shermaine had decided on tinum, and with so many designsid out before her, she carefully examined each one. Joshua actually had a ring ready¨Ca jade heirloom from his family, so precious it was practically a relic. Rumor was, every descendant received one upon adulthood, carved from rare Imperial Jade. Too exquisite to wear; too sacred to hide. That morning, Shermaine tried it on briefly before can returning it to its box for safekeeping. ¡°Hey, Mdy.¡± A voice called from behind. It was Roy. Shermaine turned around. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Roy said, ¡°I was grabbing dinner with my squad.¡± He was just about to leave the mall when he unexpectedly ran into Shermaine. Shermaine said, ¡°Hey,e help me pick¨Cwhich style do you think Joshua would like?¡± Having been childhood friends, Roy naturally understood Joshua¡¯s taste much better than Shermaine did at this point. ¡°Let me see,¡± Roy said, stepping up to take a look. Just then, several well¨Cdressed and distinguished¨Clooking elderly people stepped out of a nearby elevator. Among them was a familiar face¨CSarah. AD Nurse walking 205 Chapter 205 For over a month after her return, Sarah frequently visited both the York family and Riverswood Vi, Yet despite her efforts, she failed to make emotional band with either her older brother or her grandnephew. One friend said, ¡°Divercing your ex¨Chusband was definitely the right call. If it weren¡¯t for the York family bailing them out, his family would¡¯ve gone bankrupt ages ago.¡± One of her friends teased, ¡°Well, look at you, living the good life! You look so much younger than the rest of us.¡± Another friend said, ¡°You¡¯ve been abroad all these years¨Cwhy didn¡¯t visit us more often? We missed you so much!¡± Sarah listened to her old friends¡® ttery, feeling a bit smug inside though she didn¡¯t show it. With a modest smile, she said, ¡°I¡¯d love toe back more often, but my old man just can¡¯t do without me. And he¡¯s not too keen on traveling around Wallington, so there¡¯s nothing I could do.¡± While chatting, the elevator arrived at the lobby and they made their way out. But since their chauffeur hadn¡¯t arrived yet, thedies waited by the entrance, chatting idly as they looked around. Perhaps the elderlydies were dressed so fashionably that passersby couldn¡¯t help but steal nces at them. But Sarah ignored the curious stares around her¨Cher attention waspletely drawn to Shermaine in the jewelry store with a man. And that man was definitely not Joshua. Seeing this, Sarah frowned. ¡®I knew it¨Cwomen like Shermaine can never be trusted,¡¯ she thought. ¡®She just got married and she¡¯s already out buying jewelry with another man? And that guy looks exactly like some sugar baby. ¡®What rotten luck for my poor grandnephew to fall for a woman like this!¡® ¡°The car¡¯s here, Sarah! Let¡¯s go. What are you staring at?¡± her friend called out. ¡°Nothing,¡± Sarah replied, not wanting to air the family¡¯s dirtyundry. She adjusted her shawl and walked out with them. Following Roy¡¯s suggestion, she chose a very simple tinum ring. Both Roy and Shermaine agreed it was a style Joshua would like, so she paid for it right away. As they exited the store, Shermaine said, ¡°Thanks.¡± Roy scratched his head and said, ¡°Hey, no need to thank me.¡± Then he turned to the youngsters waiting nearby. ¡°Let me introduce you¨Cthis is Shermaine, the King you¡¯ve all been dying to meet and admire.¡± The five young men were stunned. So King really was a girl¨Cand so young and beautiful! In unison, they said, ¡°Hi, King!¡± Shermaine gave a slight nod. ¡°Hello.¡± Roy grinned cheekily and said, ¡°Mdy, since I just helped you pick out that ring, can I ask you a little favor?¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± Shermaine said.) Roy motioned her aside for a private word. Roy said, ¡°The coach I hired quit for personal reasons. Could you fill in temporarily? Our AD gotpletely demoralized during the Spring Game¨Che¡¯s in terrible shape right now. If we don¡¯t get him back on track, his career might be over by the Summer Game. ¡°He¡¯s got great potential, just still a bit green for the pro scene.¡± Chapter 205 Shermaine thought for a moment, ¡°Alright,¡± she said, ¡°but you¡¯d better find a proper coach soon. She had mentored graduat H?n plenty of professional knowledge, but this was her first time with games¨Cshe really had little relevant experience. ¡°Got it, I will,¡± Roy promised. At 9p.m., Shermaine returned to Riverswood Vi. Joshua was already home, working in her study. Shermaine went upstairs, knocked twice, and walked right in without waiting for a response Joshua was in the middle of a video conference. Seeing he was in a video conference, she turned to leave but was gently pulled back. She plopped right down on his . Joshua always loved holding her. After pausing the meeting for a ten¨Cminute break, Joshua turned to her and asked, ¡°So, what did you get, Sheary?¡± ¡°A ring,¡± Shermaine replied. ¡°Don¡¯t we already have a pair at home?¡± Shermaine said calmly, ¡°That one¡¯s not really convenient to wear outside.¡± She handed him the box. ¡°Try this one on¨Csee if it fits.¡± He opened the box, revealing a simple ring¨Cexactly his style. Extending his hand toward her, he said softly, ¡°Sheary, help me.¡± Shermaine took the men¡¯s ring and slipped it onto his ring finger. The ring fit perfectly. Joshua took the initiative to pick up thedies¡® ring and gently slipped it onto her finger. Their fingers intertwined, the wedding band on her ring finger gleaming beautifully. June was hot and muggy. In the blink of an eye, it was alreadyte June. Shermaine regrly dropped by Roy¡¯s esports team. Sometimes, when Lily needed her to handle business matters, she would go over to take care of things. Lily was now dating the man who pursued her, and they often went out together. After that video conference, Joshua went on a business trip to Moranta for a week. Meanwhile, students across the country were anxiously awaiting their SAT results. Shermaine was also waiting anxiously for her results! On the 21st, the results were finally released. Students everywhere feverishly logged on to check their results. Early that morning, Summer sat in front of herputer, logged onto the exam results website, and entered her exam ID number. Wt. score, she leapt to her feet and shouted, ¡°Mom! Dad! I did it! I got into Basterel University!¡± : saw her Summer¡¯s parents were over the moon when they heard the news. Basterel University¨Ca top¨Ctier institution in Wallington and the dream school countless students aspire to! Their daughter had actually gotten in, and they immediately started nning a big celebration. Chapter 205 Not just Summer¨Cevery single student in ss 9 had scored remarkably well. Except for Sharmaine, whose results were still unknownst surpassed the cutoff score for top¨Ctier universities. The homeroom teacher of ss 9 was absolutely ecstatic, but what concerned her most now was Shermaine¡¯s score. She was anxious to know just haves high the girl had scored, and whether she could clinch this year¡¯s title of top science student. She went to find the academic director, who was busy checking the results while on the phone. Suddenly, his voice boomed with excitement. ¡°What? Both top scorers in science and liberal arts are from our school?¡± The academic director was over students right away.¡± the moon. ¡°Haha! Thanks for this great news! I¡¯ll notify t ¡°Director, is it confirmed?¡± the ss 9 homeroom teacher asked eagerly as soon as he hung up. ¡°The results are in!¡± the academic director eximed. ¡°Shermaine has truly outdone herself¨Ccan you guess what score she got?¡± The homeroom teacher pressed eagerly, ¡°What¡¯s her score?¡± ¡°1590!¡± the academic director eximed, his face bright red with excitement. ¡°She only lost 10 points in the entire exam!¡± At the breakfast table, Jameson was having breakfast with Jason and Natalie. He didn¡¯t rush Jason to check his scores, letting him finish his meal first. Afterward, Natalie voluntarily brought out theptop and asked Jason to enter his exam ID number. Outwardly calm, Jameson was brimming with anticipation inside. The SAT results were in¨CJason scored 1580 points. Jameson nearly jumped for joy when he saw the score. With the SAT¡¯s perfect score being 1600, Jason achieved 1580¡ªjust 20 points short of perfection. The title of top science scorer was absolutely his for the taking. Jameson burst outughing, ¡°That¡¯s my boy! You¡¯re absolutely brilliant!¡± Jason nced at his score, a barely noticeable smile ying at the corners of his mouth. The only thing that bothered him was missing a perfect score in math. Jason said, ¡°Dad, could you find out how Shermaine did on the exam?¡± AD Comment Nurse walking 206 Chapter 206 Trearing this, Jameson immediately responded, ¡°Alright, go ahead and ask.¡± He smiled, ¡°But honestly, it doesn¡¯t really matter. They no way pro could outscore you. Once the rankings are out, that bet with your grandma¨Cobviantly, we¡¯ve won.¡± He was so certain his son¡¯s results were in the bag that checking was pointless. Tonight, he could already hook a hotel and throw a grand party rates everyone to celebrate Jason¡¯s achievement. Jason said, ¡°Thanks for always having my back, Dad.¡± Jameson smiled and said. ¡°You¡¯re my good son¨Cif I don¡¯t support you, who will?¡± As the father and son shared a touching moment, Natalie watched with immense pride. So what if Ruth is more capable and earns more than me? In the end, this man still belongs to me. ¡®Women don¡¯t need to be that capable. Knowing how to please a man and keep him happy is enough, Natalie thought smugly Shermaine knew the exam results would be out today, but she was in no rush to check herself. She was confident the school cared more about her score than she did¨Conce the results were out, they¡¯d definitely call to let her know. A gentle breeze stirred as the early morning sun cast a soft, gentle glow¨Cnever harsh. Early that morning, she headed out with Roy and the others for a team¨Cbuilding hike. By now, they had made it halfway up the mountain. The mountain forest stretched as far as the eye could see, lush and deep green, with sunlight dappling through the leafy canopy. Shermaine¡¯s phone rang. It was her homeroom teacher calling. Even over the phone, Shermaine could feel how excited she was. The teacher¡¯s voice was warm and gentle. ¡°Shermaine, the results are out. Care to guess your score?¡± She said calmly, ¡°1590.¡± The homeroom teacher was left speechless. She had intended to build up some suspense, but Shermaine didn¡¯t y along at all and guessed it right away. ¡®Geniuses really are in a league of their own,¡¯ she thought, feeling both exasperated and impressed. Shermaine continued, ¡°I missed a character in one question worth 10 points.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right¨Cyou lost just 10 points, so your total score is 1590, ranking first in Basterel. You¡¯re absolutely our city¡¯s top science student this year,¡± the homeroom teacher said, beaming with pride. Basterel was a municipality directly under the central government, not part of any province. But with this score, Shermaine had probably outperformed every examinee from any other province. She was just 10 points shy of a perfect score¨Cwho else could be this freakishly OP? Shermaine was by far the most brilliant student Isabel Vaughn had ever taught, and she doubted she¡¯d ever meet another genius like her. Having Shermaine in her ss was the proudest moment of her teaching career. What was more, every student in ss 9 scored no worse than those in the elite sses. It was truly an epic underdog victory for an ordinary ss. ¡°How did the rest of the ss do?¡± Shermaine asked. Chapter 206 The homeroom teacher said warmly. ¡°Thanks to you, everyone did really well. Summer, who¡¯s closest in you, even made the cutan University!¡± She added, ¡°Actually, a few others got in too, but I won¡¯t list them all.¡± Shermaine said, ¡°Good to hear.¡± Honestly, Shermaine¡¯s tutoring in the online group chat was next level. Sometimes, the homeroom teacher couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡°Wosi, Sherman might actually be better at teaching than I am!¡® With the conversation wrapped up, Shermaine put away her phone. Meanwhile, at Janice¡¯s ce, she had Shermaine¡¯s exam registration number memorized. Without wasting any time, she told Ruth to bring out theptop and check the results¨Cso they already knew exactly how well Shermaine had done. Janice was over the moon. ¡®My precious granddaughter is truly outstanding¨C1590 out of 1600! There¡¯s no way that illegitimate son could ever outscore Shermaine,¡® she thought proudly. Ruth gaped in disbelief at the score. ¡®How could I have been so blind, thinking Wendelyn was better than Shermaine?¡± she thought, kicking herself. ¡®But who could me me? After all, I¡¯m not Shermaine¡¯s birth mother. When she first came back, of course I favored the child I¡¯d raised myself. ¡®If only I¡¯d known things would turn out like this¡­¡® She was kicking herself with regret, and ever since Zack appeared, she¡¯d been tossing and turning for nights. Janice was sipping her coffee when the housekeeper approached with the phone. ¡°Madam, it¡¯s Mr. Jean on the line,¡± she said respectfully. ? 1 Comment Send gift Nurse walking 207 As soon as Jameson¡¯s call came through, Janice set down her cup of coffee and took the phone from the housekeeper. Jameson asked, ¡°Mom, SAT results are out. How did Shermaine do?¡± Janice replied leisurely, ¡°Oh, nothing special. Why don¡¯t you tell me how did Jason do?¡± As soon as Janice asked, Jameson swelled with pride and dered, his voice booming, ¡°Jason scored 1580!¡± It was impressive, but it was still no match for Sheary¨Cshe outshined himpletely. Good grades mean nothing. What truly matters is knowing your ce, staying down¨Cto¨Cearth, and not coveting things that don¡¯t belong to you. Jameson said, ¡°Mom, with 1580 out of 1600, it¡¯s uneptable if Jason doesn¡¯t be this year¡¯s top science scorerst year¡¯s champion only got 1570!¡± His voice brimmed with pride. She ¡°Jason outperformedst year¡¯s top scorer by 10 points. Since Shermaine didn¡¯t do as well as him, shouldn¡¯t we honor our agreement? It¡¯s time you acknowledged Jason and officially recognized him as a member of the Jean family.¡± Janice scoffed coldly. ¡°Did I ever say Sheary did poorly?¡± Jameson was momentarily speechless. After a few seconds, he stammered, ¡°But¡­ didn¡¯t you just say she didn¡¯t score that high?¡± Janice said airily, ¡°Oh, nothing special¨Cjust 1590.¡± Jameson thought he must be hearing things. ¡°W¨Cwhat did you say?¡± Janice said firmly, ¡°I¡¯m telling you, Sheary scored 1590 on the SAT. The title of top science scorer belongs to her. As for Jason being recognized as a Jean family member¨Cforget about it.¡± Jameson was stunned. ¡®No way! ¡®How could Shermaine possibly score 1590!¡® He¡¯d already booked the party venue and made all the arrangements with the hotel, fully expecting to celebrate Jason bing the top science scorer. But now he was told Shermaine took the title instead. Jameson¡¯s face darkened. ¡°No way! How could Shermaine possibly outscore Jason? Mom, you¡¯re just saying this because you don¡¯t want him back in the family, aren¡¯t you?¡± Janice snapped, her temper ring as she heard his words. ¡°Who has time for your jokes? Believe it or not, the facts are staring you in the face. ¡°And let me remind you¨CShermaine is your daughter, not your enemy. Stop looking at her through prejudiced eyes. You still have time to change your ways, or you¡¯ll regret it when it¡¯s toote for tears.¡± The higher his hopes had soared, the harder the fall now. Jameson¡¯s face darkened further. Natalie, Jason¡¯s mother, stood nearby and, seeing his thunderous expression, didn¡¯t dare to speak up. Never in her wildest dreams had Natalie imagined her own son would be outscored by Shermaine, who scored 1590¨Cjust 10 points shy of a perfect 1600. The long¨Cawaited dream was shattered. Natalie clearly couldn¡¯t process it right away, muttering to herself, ¡°How could this be? How did Shermaine score so high?¡± Just then, her phone rang¨Cit was a call from the school teacher. Chapter 207. Natalie hesitated briefly before tapping to answer the call. The teacher said on the other end, ¡°Is this Ms. Keller? The SAT results are out. Jason performed exceptionally well and ced second in ¡°I truly thought that score would make him the top science scorer, but as they say, there¡¯s always someone better out there. Shermaine from t Academy actually scored 1590 and became the city champion.¡± The real kicke The top scorer in liberal arts was also from Brightwater Academy. The other schools could do nothing but watch with envy. Brightwater Academy hit the jackpot! There were only two top scorers¨Cone in liberal arts and one in science¨Cyet Brightwater Academy snagged them both at once! Now it was undeniable¨CShermaine was officially the city¡¯s top scorer, leaving these three with no room to doubt it. Jason bit down hard on his lip until he tasted blood, yet he stubbornly refused to let go. He still remembered during the test, she¡¯d start dozing off within half an hour. ¡®Clearly, the SAT was a breeze for her. ¡®Ipletely underestimated her.¡® Jason thought. After years of grinding through countless practice tests, this SAT was his peak performance¨Chis highest score ever, just 20 points shy of a perfect 1500. Yet, even at his very best, it still wasn¡¯t enough. And worst of all, he thought bitterly, this meant his dream of returning to the Jean family and iming his ce as the second young master waspletely shattered. AB Nurse walking 208 Chapter 208 Jason clenched his fists, eyes red and head bowed. He blurted out, ¡°Dad, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve let you down.¡± Quite disappointing indeed, Jameson thought. He had made thorough preparations for Jason to be officially recognized as a member of the family, but to his dismay, the n ultimately fell through. It was really heart¨Cwrenching to him. After all, he held Jason in exceptionally high regard. He firmly believed the son Natalie bore was far superior to Ross¨Clet alone Shermaine. Even if Shermaine turned out to be more outstanding than he expected¨Cso what? She was just a girl, not a son. Besides, he had lost all affection for Ruth¨Ctheir marriage was practically over. He was nning to promote Natalie¡¯s status, but now his rtionships with Ross and Shermaine had be so strained and awkward that he knew he couldn¡¯t count on them when he got old. He simply didn¡¯t trust them anymore. Jameson said gently, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯re still a good son in my eyes. We missed this chance, but we¡¯ll just wait for the next opportunity.¡± ¡®But missing this chance means it¡¯s off the table for the foreseeable future,¡® Jameson thought. ¡®Next time, we¡¯ll need a much more thorough n. Natalie let out a sigh of relief when she heard Jameson say that¨Cher son still held favor in his eyes. She looped her arm through his and asked, ¡°What about the party you¡¯ve prepared?¡± ¡°Of course, it has to be held¨Cand in grand style,¡± Jameson said. He paused for a moment. ¡°But I won¡¯t be making a public appearance myself.¡± ¡®In public, I have to be careful about my image and not draw too much attention¨Cotherwise, people will just have something to gossip about,¡® he thought. Natalie was bitterly disappointed. However, as soon as SAT results were released, Natalie¡¯s earlier interview had already made her a trending topic. Now, of online ridicule. [Your son¡¯s grades are decent, sure, but next time try to be more humble. There are plenty of other high achievers out there¨Cyour precious boy isn¡¯t the only one.] [Honestly, I never liked this mom since herst viral moment¨Cshe¡¯s just so damn thirsty for attention.] [The guy may be handsome, but he¡¯s way too arrogant. Who does he think he is to look down on others?] (told y the capital¡¯s crowit was always going to Queen Shermaine! That woman can keep dreaming, plic |_* When Natalie saw those Without another word, she flung her phone aside. Just after Janice hung up on Jameson, her phone rang again¨CIt was Shermaine calling ¡°Sweetie, aren¡¯t you going hiking today? Make sure to drink plenty of water and put on sunscreen, Janice reminded her. ¡°I know, Grandma,¡± Shermaine replied warmly. Janice said proudly, ¡°Your dad just called to ask about your score. I told him. As for Jason¨Cthere¡¯s no way he¡¯ll ever be weed into our family. ¡®Wasn¡¯t this how it was always going to end up?¡® Shermaine thought to herself. Then she replied softly, ¡°Grandma, could you hand the phone to Ruth? need to talk to her about something.¡± Janice said okay and handed the phone to Ruth. ¡°Sheary wants to talk to you.¡± Ruth was both surprised and ttered. ¡®Shermaine actually reached out to me? What could she possibly want?¡® Ruth wondered. AD Comment Send gift No Ads 12:08 Sat 14 40 d Chapter 209 Chapter 209 Nurse walking 209 Chapter 209 Ruth felt extremely uneasy and spoke in a deliberately gentle tone, ¡°Sheary, you wanted to see me? What¡¯s the matter?¡± Now, she was practically groveling before Shermaine, desperate to win her favor. She was just terrified Shermaine would dislike her and mess with her. Shermaine said coolly, ¡°There were rumors online recently that I cheated on Joshua, which caused a bit of a stir. I¡¯ve already tracked down the culprit Handle it for me.¡±¡± Ruth immediately perked up¨Cwas Shermaine trying to make peace with her? Eagerly, she asked, ¡°Who did it?¡± ¡°It was Natalie.¡± Ruth¡¯s eyes lit up when she heard it was Natalie¨Cshe¡¯d long disliked that woman, and now was her chance for payback. She eximed, ¡°That scheming bitch! Don¡¯t worry, Sheary. Just give me the evidence and I¡¯ll make sure she pays for this.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Shermaine handed the photos to Ruth without ceremony. Done, she pocketed her phone. Roy asked, ¡°Come on, Mdy, I could totally handle this for you! Why wouldn¡¯t you let me?¡± He got ten million followers! ¡°No need,¡± Shermaine replied coolly. After all, she could handle the revenge on her own¨Cshe didn¡¯t need anyone¡¯s help. Clearly, she had her own ns for doing things this way. Roy was clueless. But Joshua knew exactly why Shermaine had gone to Ruth. His girl could be downright scheming¨Cshe wanted to let the wife and the mistress tear each other apart, then swoop in and kill two birds with one stone. With the photos in hand, Ruth wasted no time calling up reporters. Jameson¡¯s affair was already an open secret in the industry, though few dared to openly discuss the Jean family¡¯s business. Jameson had always shielded Natalie from public scrutiny, but now as Jameson¡¯s legal wife, she was stepping in, things were about to get a lot more interesting. Moreover, Ruth had five million followers. When she saw the online mockery of Natalie, she broke her silence and posted: ¡°How dare that homewrecker¡¯s bastard son even think he canpare to my daughter, Shermaine? ¡°Worse still, that shameless bitch actually snapped photos of my daughter having dinner with Trance and sent them to the paparazzi, trying to stir up a cheating scandal with Joshua. ¡°But everyone knows my daughter and Joshua¡¯s love is unshakab -the rumors copsed on their own. That gold¨Cdigging whore makes me sick!¡± Ruth¡¯s socialite friends, all on good terms with her, swiftly reposted the news across their feeds. With the troll army she hired, Natalie¡¯s name was dragged through the mud and trending at the top in no time. Unaware of the brewing storm, Natalie flung her phone aside in frustration and went to take an afternoon nap. After his n fell through, Jason stormed off and vanished without a trace¨Cno one had any idea where he¡¯d gone. Natalie¡¯s friends frantically called her, but she was sound asleep and missed all the calls. As for Jameson, Ross deliberately suppressed the news. So even though he was at the office, exposed by Ruth and was now a top trending scandal. no one dared to tell him that his mistress had been publicly 1/3 Chapter 209 By the time Jameson finally found out, the scandal had been trending for two folf hours with tens of thousands ofmunad Natalle was jotted awake by the relentless doorbell. Still groggy, she stumbled to the door¨Conly to be drenched by a bucket of paint i face. Completely unprepared, she shrieked in shock. The person outside yelled furiously, ¡°You shameless homewreckerl Who do you think you are, trying to y the mistress? And you even have the re to brag about your sen to the reporters? Gold¨Cdigging fox spirit¨Cdisgusting trash!¡± Natalie, never one to take things lying down, exploded in rage, ¡°You bitch! Just wait till I find out who you are¨CI¡¯ll kill you!¡± ¡°Oh yeah? I¡¯ll be waiting!¡± she sneered. And just like that, they bolted. Furious and covered in paint from head to toe, Natalie scrambled to the bathroom to wash it off. After struggling for over an hour to clean up the mess, she finally picked up her phone¨Conly to find it flooded with missed calls from her friends. That was when it hit her: Ruth had set her up. Although Jameson had the trending topic removed to suppress the heat, the scandal had already exploded. Rumors kept surfacing endlessly, circting across major forums and video tforms. For a while, Natalie became the target of public outrage, and even dragged Jason into the mess. Jameson called to console her. ¡°Nat, I¡¯ve had someone take down the trending topic. For now, you¡¯d better stay off the inte.¡± ¡°Got it, Jameson.¡± Jameson asked, ¡°And about that scandal between Shermaine and Joshua¨Cwas it you who leaked those photos to the reporters?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t me,¡± Natalie said, sounding wronged. ¡°I only sent the photos to a friend. I never imagined she¡¯d turn around and sell them to the press.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine¨Ceven if it was you, I don¡¯t really care. Just don¡¯t be so reckless next time. Joshua isn¡¯t someone you want to mess with. Look at ck River Company¨Cthey¡¯ve called in all kinds of reinforcements, and they¡¯re still in deep trouble,¡± Jameson said, his tone casual. Truth be told, he actually enjoyed watching others target Shermaine or Joshua, but unless it caused real harm, half¨Chearted attempts were pointless to him. ¡°Yeah, got it,¡± Natalie replied. After hanging up, a ruthless glint shed in her eyes. ¡°I have to secure the position of Mrs. Jean as soon as possible¡ªthe longer I wait, the more risks there are.¡± After the team¨Cbuilding event, night had fallen by the time Shermaine returned to Riverswood Vi. With Joshua away, the mansion felt eerily empty and deste. Janice was already nning a grand celebration for her tomorrow¨Cafter all, bing Basterel¡¯s top science scorer deserved to be celebrated with great fanfare and let everyone know. So after Shermaine got home, she didn¡¯t do much¨Cjust got ready for bed and went to sleep. Late at night, tree shadows swayed as a Bentley pulled up to the gate. Returningte from his business trip, Joshua keyed in the code, slipped inside, and quietly set his briefcase down. Treading lightly towa he saw Shermaine lying fast asleep. All week on his business trip, every spare moment was filled with thoughts of Shermaine. bedroom, Joshua sat on the edge of the bed, leaned down, and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips¨Cso soft and sweetly scented that he couldn¡¯t help himself and gave them a light nibble. ?? Life did he know, Shenmaine, ever perceptive, had already sensed his retum. She opened her eyes and slipped her stars, aroural his pos Joshua¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. The next moment, he captured her lips, deepening the kiss with urgent passion. The moment his lips met Shermaine¡¯s, an overwhelming unge consumed him to hold her so close she¡¯d be part of his very soul, to love her vi every fiber of his being. His breathing grew ragged as his lips trailed from Shermaine¡¯s ear down to the hollow of her corbone. Beneath the thin, fuzzy nket, his palm traced along her waist with a slow, upward drift. Joshua murmured in a husky voice, ¡°Sheary, is your period over?¡± AD Nurse walking 210 Chapter 210 How could my period not be over by now? It¡¯s been ages,¡® she thought ¡°Go shower first,¡± Shermaine said nomittally. ¡°Alright.¡± Joshua nted two lingering kisses on her neck before rising. He took off his sses, loosened his fie, and headed to the walk in closet. After grabbing his pajamas, he went to the bathroom. The moon shone brightly After waking and finding herself unable to fall back asleep, Shermaine got up, poured herself some water, and settled onto the sofa. About ten minutester, Joshua emerged from the bathroom wearing nothing but sleep pants, his chiseled torso bare as he towel¨Cdried his damp hair His muscles, honed by years of training, were strong and well¨Cdefined. The tattoo on his shoulder seemed to ripple with wild, untamed energy. Shermaine gazed at him, her eyes clear and unflinching. She had always appreciated a handsome man, and made no effort to hide her admiration now. ¡®So sexy and charming,¡® Shermaine thought. Joshua¡¯s alluring masculine scent seemed to deliberately entice Shermaine as she drank her water. After roughly toweling his hair twice, he tossed the towel aside, strode over, and pulled her into his embrace. ¡°Sheary, may I?¡± Joshua murmured. Shermaine sat on hisp, his damp hair brushing against her neck, cool to the touch. She rested her hand on his shoulder and teased, ¡°Go dry your hair. You¡¯re not getting any younger¨Cyou really should take better care of yourself.¡± Joshua fell silent for a moment. His deep eyes seemed to draw her in. With quiet confidence, he said, ¡°Sheary, my age has nothing to do with my stamina.¡± He was in great shape. Besides, age was just a number. ¡®I¡¯m not old at all, Joshua thought to himself. Shermaine pursed her lips. ¡°Are you going to blow¨Cdry your hair or not?¡± ¡®It¡¯s fine if I skip it,¡¯ she thought, ¡®but Joshua absolutely has to.¡± ¡°Will you help me, Sheary?¡± Joshua coaxed, his tone yful and affectionate. ¡®Since when do I ever do this kind of thing for anyone? ¡®But this man was different¨Che was my husband who¡¯s eleven years older¨Che really ought to take better care of himself,¡® Shermaine thought. Shermaine didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Come with me,¡± she said. The hair dryer was stored in the small cab beneath the bathroom sink. Shermaine headed to the bathroom, with Joshua¨Cthat sly fox¨Ctrailing right behind her. Shermaine took the hair dryer out from the cab under the bathroom sink, plugged it in, and began to blow¨Cdry Joshua¡¯s hair for him. Joshua was tall. He tilted his head down slightly to make it easier for Shermaine to blow¨Cdry his hair. Chapter 210 The warm air mingled with her intoxicating fragrance, sending waves of restlessness through his body and mind. Shermaine¡¯s fingers trembled as her ears flushed crimson. She shot him a warning look and scolded, ¡°Keep your hands to yourink ¨C Shermaine had delicate dimples at the small of her back¨Cthe slightest touch there made her shiver. Hoping for future favors, he immediately behaved himself as soon as With his short hair, it only took a few minutes to dry. he heard her words. As soon as Shermaine turned off the hair dryer, Joshua slipped an arm around her waist, effortlessly lifted her onto the bathroom counter, and, without hesitation, captured her lips in a deep, searing kiss. Joshua¡¯s kiss was relentless. Shermaine rested her hand on his neck, refusing to be outdone as she kissed him back¨Conly to be met with an even deeper more intoxicating kiss. Meanwhile, at Yaleview Hospital, after a grueling seven¨Chour surgery, Danielle waspletely exhausted. She changed out of her scrubs, walked over to the vending machine in the hallway, and bought herself a coffee with some spare change. After that lunch with Shermaine and Janice, she flirtatiously teased Ross in the car¨Ctentatively suggesting, ¡°How about being a real couple?¡± But they hadn¡¯t spoken since. Ross might be the golden boy, but Danielle was every bit the golden girl. Danielle thought to herself, ¡®s, my feelings go unrequited.¡® Sipping her coffee, Danielle couldn¡¯t help but feel a wave of disappointment as memories of that awkward parting came flooding back. She turned around and spotted Jason lurking in the shadowy corner. Instantly, a headache hit her. Jason looked rather disheveled. With his deceptively innocent demeanor and good looks, he cut a pitiful figure. ¡®To be honest, guys like him have never been my type,¡® Danielle thought. ¡®Right now, I¡¯mpletely obsessed with Ross¨Call I can think about is getting him into bed.¡® ¡°What are you still doing at the hospital thiste?¡± Danielle asked. Jason hung his head. ¡°I wanted to see you,¡± he said softly. ¡°Dr. Shelly, I¡¯ve been waiting for you for ages.¡± Danielle¡¯s lips twitched in a wry smile. Another woman might have softened, but she wasn¡¯t the type to show mercy to a man she didn¡¯t care about. ¡°Go home. I have work to attend to and no time for this.¡± He stepped forward and sped Danielle¡¯s hand. ¡°Dr. Shelly, can¡¯t you be a little less cold to me?¡± he pleaded earnestly. ¡°I genuinely like you.¡± ¡°Then you should be able to tell I have feelings for Ross,¡± Danielle said without batting an eye. ¡°But he doesn¡¯t like you,¡± Jason retorted. ¡®That stings,¡® Danielle thought. Danielle pursed her lips, her gaze icy. ¡°None of your business,¡± she said coldly. ¡°Let go.¡± Faced with Danielle¡¯s frosty demeanor, Jason had no choice but to let go. ¡°Sorry, did I hurt you?¡± he muttered apologetically. She said coldly, ¡°I want you to understand¨Ceyen without Ross, I wouldn¡¯t be with you. First, because of who you are. Second, I simply don¡¯t date younger men.¡± With that, Danielle strode off without a backward nce. Jason¡¯s face darkened, his eyes burning with frenzy. Failing to be the top scorer in SAT and losing his chance to return to the Jean family really hit him hard. This meant all his carefullyid ns had copsed. ¡®Without enough power or status, I can¡¯t even win over a single woman, Jason thought bitterly. Maybe it was coffee, Danielle felt a dull ache in her stomach. Left with no choice, she headed to the GI clinic to get some medication from the doctor on duty. However, even after taking the medicine, the pain wouldn¡¯t go away. Danielle hadn¡¯t eaten all night¨Cshe was in pain and starving. Slumped in the chair, Danielle pulled out her phone and immediately dialed Ross. Ross had just gotten into bed when Danielle called. He hesitated a moment before answering. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°My stomach hurts,¡± Danielle murmured in a weak, kitten¨Clike voice, sounding utterly listless. Ross paused for a beat. ¡°You¡¯re a doctor¨Cyou should know how to handle a stomachache.¡± ¡°I just got out of surgery and haven¡¯t eaten all night. The pain is so bad I can barely move,¡± Danielle said in a weak, pleading voice. ¡°I¡¯d really love some oatmeal¡­¡± There was no way Ross could miss an obvious hint. Logically speaking, they were just in a rtionship of convenience with no real feelings involved, so Ross had no obligation to care for her. He said coldly, ¡°Order some takeout. It¡¯ste¨CI¡¯m going to bed.¡± The call ended abruptly, the harsh beep still ringing in her ears. Danielle froze in disbelief¨Cshe hadn¡¯t expected Ross to actually hang up on her. Anger twisted her already aching stomach, and soon she broke out in a cold sweat. ¡®He really doesn¡¯t care about me, not even a little bit.¡® Danielle thought. How ironic,¡® she thought bitterly. After giving Jason such a cold rejection, now it was her turn to receive Ross¡® icy dismissal. Danielle felt her heart plunge into icy depths. On the other end, though Ross had hung up, sleep eluded him¨Che just couldn¡¯t get Danielle out of his mind. After all, Danielle was his sister¡¯s senior. Being this cold to her just didn¡¯t feel right. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, he got out of bed again and texted her: [What kind of oatmeal do you want?] Her phone screen, dark just a moment ago, lit up. Danielle nced at her phone, and the dullness in her eyes faded, reced by a faint glimmer. AD Comment Nurse walking 211 Chapter 211 Danielle replied, [Anything works.] Ross got out of bed, quickly changed into fresh clothes, and promptly headed out. Downstairs, Ross ran into Janice, who was getting up to use the bathroom. ¡°Ross,¡± Janice asked, ¡°where are you off to thiste?¡± Ross replied, ¡°I¡¯m bringing Danielle some oatmeal.¡± Janice thought to herself, ¡®My grandson¡¯s really on the balll¡® Hearing this, Janice said warmly, ¡°Go ahead then. Danielle works so hard as a doctor¨Cbe sure to bring her plenty of good food.¡± ¡°Mm¨Chmm.¡± As time passed, a drifting cloud veiled the bright moonlight, plunging the entire city into darkness. It fell silent, as if deep in slumber. In Riverswood Vi, Joshua¡¯s eyes were profound, veiled with deep emotions. His gaze at Shermaine burned like wildfire, scorching her body and soul. Never before had he yearned so desperately to possess someone. Their fingers intertwined tightly. He lowered his head and gently kissed Shermaine¡¯s eyes¨Cthose crystal¨Cclear eyes now glistening with moisture, making her look utterly endearing. Shermaine¡¯s cheeks flushed with allure, her breathing in soft gasps. Beads of sweat trickled down her swan¨Clike neck, and her glistening toes curled slightly as sensations washed over her. Time seemed to stand still as they lost all sense of night and day, until finally the bedsidemp softly lit up. Shermaine pushed aside the light covers and rose from the bed, her legs wobbling slightly as she took two steps. He offered, ¡°I¡¯ll carry you.¡± Shermaine said impatiently, ¡°Hurry up already!¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Joshua murmured, his eyes brimming with adoration. Immediately, the bathroom door mmed shut behind her. Joshua waited outside the door, his gaze brimming with tenderness. ¡®My Sheary is just the cutest,¡® he thought. When Shermaine emerged again, the bed was neatly made and spotless. The lingering traces of their passion had gradually faded. Joshua had lit some sandalwood incense, filling the room with its subtle, pleasant fragrance. In the darkness, a piano melody began to y. It was a wildly exuberant and free piece, perfectly mirroring Joshua¡¯s mood¨Cthe blissful contentment that followed deep satisfaction. Luckily, Riverswood Vi was a detached house with no neighbors nearby, so they didn¡¯t have to worry about disturbing anyone. Shermaine nestled back into bed, curling up under the covers with a Chapter 211 The piano melody suddenly stopped. Joshua asked softly, ¡°Sheary, getting sleepy?¡± ¡°Mm¨Chmm, she murmured, her voicezy and a little breathy, still carrying a hint of allure. ¡°Keep ying.. y that song from before ¡°Of course,¡± Joshua replied softly. Joshua had named that musical piece ¡°Sheary.¡± ¡°When clouds sink into mist, when withered leaves dissolve into autumn¡¯s palette, when stars drown themselves in the Milky Way, and dreams slip into the night¨Cthat is when I fall, endlessly, into you. Every heartbeat whispers your name; every dawn to dusk henceforth is yours.¡± Joshua whispered softly, ¡°Good night, Sheary.¡± As the final notes faded, Shermaine had already sunk into a deep slumber. Joshua gently slipped back into bed and carefully gathered Shermaine into his arms. He nuzzled against her neck, still able to detect his lingering scent and the marks he¡¯d left on her skin. The next day, Shermaine didn¡¯t wake until ten¨Cit had been ages since she¡¯d slept in sote, clear proof of how muchst night had worn her out. She was starving. She sat up in bed, feeling a faint difort. She¡¯d been finest night, but now her legs ached and felt even weaker than before. The next moment, she was enveloped in Joshua¡¯s warm embrace. ¡°Want some water?¡± he murmured tenderly. Shermaine nodded. She felt parched, her throat slightly scratchy. She sipped the warm water, finishing the whole ss in one go. Only then did her throat finally start to feel better. Joshua slipped his hand under the covers. Shermaine feigned indifference and said, ¡°What are you up to?¡± Joshua murmured, ¡°Let me rub them for you.¡± ¡°No need,¡± she insisted stubbornly. Her back was perfectly fine. She had always been radiant¨Cethereally pure yet bewitching¨Cbut after that night, her allure only deepened. Now, every nce from her eyes shimmered with an intoxicating, irresistible charm. With a sleepy drawl, she murmured, ¡°Carry me to the bathroom so I can wash up.¡± AD Nurse walking 212 Chapter 212 Joshua kept ying the role of her personal porter, carrying Shermaine to the bathroom to wash up. Shermaine sat on the bathroom counter, brushing her teeth with her electric toothbrush.. ¡°Sheary, let me take a look at your legs,¡± Joshua said. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to look at,¡± Shermaine replied. Joshua knew he¡¯d gone overboardst night. He gently ruffled her hair and coaxed, ¡°I went out this morning and bought some ointment. Let me put it on for you, okay?¡± ¡°Go get the ointment then.¡± Her words came out a bit garbled through the toothpaste, but Joshua understood. He turned and left to fetch the medicine. When he came back with the ointment, he examined Shermaine¡¯s thighs. The insides of both legs were chafed raw. It happened during theirst round the night before¨Ceven though he knew Shermaine was done and didn¡¯t want to continue, he couldn¡¯t control himself. So he¡¯d made do with her hands and thighs instead. Shermaine must have applied some aloe vera gelst night, which kept the wounds from getting too bad. The ointment would help reduce the swelling and fade the marks. It was effective for this kind of thing. As he spread it on her skin, the cool sensation brought immediate relief, and a subtle medicinal scent filled the air between them. After finishing with the ointment, Joshua put the ointment away while Shermaine finished brushing her teeth and rinsing her mouth. ¡°I need to wash my face,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°Can you grab me a hair tie?¡± Her hair was hanging loose around her shoulders. Joshua found a small stic band and, without asking, gathered her hair up and secured it for her himself. Everything seemed fine until he actually gathered it up¨Cthen it hit them both. Neither of them said a word. Joshua¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he mentally scolded himself. Next, time, he needed to be gentler. Shermaine¡¯s skin was so delicate and fair that it bruised way too easily. After freshening up, they headed downstairs for breakfast. Joshua had prepared everything earlier, so they just needed to reheat it. Later that morning at the Phoenix Hotel, Natalie knew she was getting torn apart online. She¡¯d been avoiding social media and forums as much as possible. The only thing that pissed her off was that woman who¡¯d thrown paint at her yesterday¨Cshe¡¯de prepared for the attack. Jason might not have clinched the top spot, buting in second ce was still a major achievement. Yesterday, Natalie sent out all the invitations for the celebration party. They were throwing it at two in the afternoon to celebrate Jason¡¯s eptance into Basterel University. She¡¯d invited the wealthy socialites and friends she¡¯d made since returning to the country, along with rtives from the Keller family side. But when she arrived at the hotel that afternoon, she was shocked to see a huge banner hanging at the entrance congratting Shermaine on her academic achievements. Natalie¡¯s face turned pale with anger. ¡®Is Shermaine holding her celebration party at the Phoenix Hotel too?¡® she thought furiously. ¡®Is this coincidence, or did she do this on purpose?¡® Just then, a car pulled up at the hotel entrance. Ruth stepped out and immediately spotted her. ¡°Well,¡± Ruth sneered. ¡°If it isn¡¯t the homewrecker who seduced my husband. ¡°After all the public humition you¡¯ve faced, you still have the nerve to show your fare? i guess some people have no dame. But then again, if you had any decency, you wouldn¡¯t have gone after a married man in the first ce ¡°Oh, please, Mrs. Jean,¡± Natalie shot back. ¡°You don¡¯t know the whole story. Jameson was the one who insisted I be his woman. I refused him several times, but he wouldn¡¯t take no for an answer.¡± She continued, her voice steady but bitter. ¡°You¡¯re a woman who couldn¡¯t even keep her own husband faithful, and now you want to me me for seducing him? Have you ever considered that I¡¯m a victim too? I had his child and endured years of humiliation.¡± Ruth sneered. ¡°A nobody like you trying to y the victim card? You know how to put on an act.¡± She looked down at Natalie with contempt. 1 bet you¡¯rs dying for your son to be epted into the Jean family. ¡°Too bad for you¨CSheary just topped the state exams. As long as my daughter and I are around, you and your bastard son will never set foot in the Jean family.¡± The reason Ruth hadn¡¯t confronted Natalie before was simple. She¡¯d been afraid that if she made trouble, Natalie would run to Jameson, and he might divorce her. Ruth had no one to back her up before. But things were different now. Shermaine had asked for her help with something, which meant she was warming up to her. Thest time Ruth called, Shermaine had answered the phone. More importantly, Janice had put her in charge of organizing the celebration party. It meant that if Jameson tried to suppress her or pushed for a divorce, Shermaine would definitely take her side. With that thought, Ruth felt especially confident. Natalie¡¯s face darkened as she watched Ruth waltz into the hotel like she owned the ce. After breakfast, Shermaine crashed again and slept until one in the afternoon. When she finally woke up, she felt refreshed and ready to take on the world. She had to attend the party¨Cthere was no getting out of it. She slipped into a red vintage id sundress with thin straps. As for those marks on her neck, she¡¯d covered them up with foundation so well that you couldn¡¯t tell anything had happened. Joshua was waiting for her downstairs. When Shermaine came down, he noticed her neck looked perfectly clean¨Cnot a single hickey in sight. ¡°What kind of makeup works that kind of magic?¡± Joshua asked, in that typical clueless¨Cguy way. ¡°Foundation,¡± Shermaine said simply. June was already scorching hot. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that feel suffocating?¡± he asked, genuinely concerned. Shermaine looked up at him and shot back, ¡°Well, what do you suggest I do about it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be gentler next time,¡± Joshua said with a slight smirk ying at the corners of his mouth. ¡°You can¡¯t help yourself,¡± she said, then turned and walked out. The way she moved was graceful and alluring, but there was also something fierce and determined about her stride. Joshua couldn¡¯t help butugh, pressing his tongue against the roof of his mouth. He¡¯d spent the entire morning seriously reflecting on his behavior, bu given Shermaine¡¯s denial, he couldn¡¯t help wondering¨Cwas he really incapable of changing? The truth was, he really couldn¡¯t do it. 12:08 Sat, 14 Jun G The party had already begun, and most of the guests had arrived. Owen was there too. Sarah had alsoe. As she stepped out of the car, she was apanied by someone with curly hair and striking features. Despite her deep¨Cset eper and definedce, she had a sweet appearance, dressed in a Lolita style dress. ¡°Kylie,e on out. We¡¯re here,¡± Sarah called. ¡°Okay,¡± Kylie responded. She climbed out of the car and opened her small floral parasol. Standing there like that, she really did look like a little princess who¡¯d been raised in a pce. ¡°Grandma, Wallington is scorching. I don¡¯t even want to leave the house. Why do I have toe to someone else¡¯s party?¡± Kylieined. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to meet that grandnephew I¡¯m always talking about?¡± Sarah replied. ¡°Today¡¯s his fianc¨¦e¡¯s graduation party. He¡¯ll be there.¡± ¡°If you want to see him so badly, why don¡¯t you just call him directly?¡± Kylie asked. ¡°When I married your grandfather, I had a huge falling out with the York family. They still don¡¯t exactly wee me with open arms. Plus, your grandfather¡¯spany is under investigation and could be bought out any day now. ¡°The person behind ck River Company¡¯s crisis happens to be Joshua. I tried asking him to go easy on us, to let it go, but he turned me down. It¡¯s created quite a rift between us.¡± ¡°Why is this Joshua guy targeting Grandpa¡¯spany?¡± ¡°Well, that starts with your cousin Kingston.¡± Sarah patiently exined the whole story. After hearing everything, Kylie let out an ¡°Oh.¡± So Kingston had been thrown in jail by Joshua¡¯s fianc¨¦e and even had his face disfigured in the process. Joshua went all out to defend his woman and targeted ck River Company even harder. Kylie said gracefully, ¡°Grandma, I still have a week before I go back to Rodunst. Let me help you with this.¡± ¡°That would be wonderful.¡± Kylie was the most brilliant member of the younger generation in the Bynes family. At just twenty¨Ctwo, she¡¯d already earned several master¡¯s degrees and was a visiting professor at Harrod University. Her reputation abroad rivaled the famous Professor Jean everyone was always talking about. Nurse walking 213 Chapter 213 The hall was packed with people. Sarah recognized someces in the crowd, though most were strangers. Not that it mattered, she had no interest in making small talk with the ones the did know. Kylie stood out like a doll in her dress, her sweet features drawing curious nces from around the room. Owen was deep in conversation with someone across the room, too busy to notice Sarah had arrived. Sarah marched straight over with Kylie in tow. ¡°Owen,¡± she said, cutting into his conversation. ¡°I¡¯d like you to meet my granddaughter, Kylie¡± Kylie grabbed the sides of her dress and dipped into a perfect curtsy. ¡°Mr. York,¡± she said softly. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡± Owen studied the woman standing before him. She was pretty enough, he supposed, with delicate features that caught the light. But when it came to real elegance and that indefinable allure that turned heads, Shermaine still outshone herpletely. He noticed she¡¯d greeted him in the Wallingtonian style. Her pronunciation wasn¡¯t perfect, but it was decent enough to show she¡¯d made an effort. ¡°Hello, Kylie,¡± Owen replied simply. At least she hadn¡¯t called him ¡°Uncle¡± or some other ridiculous family title. If she¡¯d dared to address him that way, he would¡¯ve shut her down immediately with a look that could freeze hell over. The Bynes family meant nothing to Owen, but as long as she kept things formal, treating him like any other guest, he could y nice for appearances sake. Sarah nced around the room before turning to Owen. ¡°Hey, where¡¯s Joshua? I don¡¯t see him anywhere.¡± Owen kept his expression neutral. ¡°He¡¯s on his way.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Sarah nodded, then pressed on with another question. ¡°So when are Joshua and Shermaine nning to tie the knot?¡± Owen thought, ¡®You¡¯ve got to be kidding me. Joshua¡¯s already a married man. They already got their marriage license.¡¯ But Owen wasn¡¯t about to spill the beans on her. For one thing, she didn¡¯t need to know¨Cit wasn¡¯t any of her business anyway. And besides, Shermaine and Joshua had decided to keep their marriage under wraps for now. They weren¡¯t nning on having a wedding ceremony anytime soon. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± Owen responded coolly. Sarah put on her most righteous tone. ¡°Well, I just think marriage is such a huge life decision. People shouldn¡¯t rush into it without really knowing each other first. They need to truly understand one another before starting a family together.¡± What she was implying was that the York family should think twice before letting Shermaine marry in. They shouldn¡¯t just let anyone waltz through their doors without proper vetting. Sarah was dying to mention that she¡¯d seen Shermaine at the mall the other day, shopping for rings at a jewelry store with some random guy. But she bit her tongue. She didn¡¯t want Owen thinking she¡¯de here to stir up trouble. After all, today was supposed to be Shermaine¡¯s graduation party. Sarah had to admit Shermaine had done pretty well for herself. She¡¯d scored top achiever in natural science at Basterel. That was no small fe But clearly, Shermaine was the type who couldn¡¯t be satisfied with what she had. Having Joshua wasn¡¯t enough¨Cshe had to go and get involved with other guys too. 12:08 Sat, 14 Jun G C Sure, Sarah had cheated on her first husband, but she never wanted to marry hims in the first para. There woe ten husband was her actual soulmate. Owen frowned. ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is that Joshua and I don¡¯t know how to judge people¡¯s charact ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant,¡± Sarah replied. ¡°Then stop meddling in the York family¡¯s business. I¡¯m perfectly happy with Shermaine, and Jothus even more so.¡± Seeing Owen¡¯s expression darkening, Sarah wisely held her tongue and didn¡¯t say another word against Shermaine Sarah and Kylie followed Owen to his table and sat down. Kylie understood Wallingtonian perfectly well. She could tell Owen was fiercely protective of Shermaine. Sarah just loved sticking her nose where a didn¡¯t belong, and saying things like that would rub people the wrong way. If Shermaine wasn¡¯t good enough for Joshua, she should just break them up instead of beating around the bush like this. Just as Kylie was getting bored out of her mind waiting, Shermaine and Joshua walked in from outside, hand in hand, looking like the perfect couple. Joshua wore a white dress shirt with the cor buttoned up, but his sleeves were rolled up to reveal his forearms. Maybe it was because he¡¯d finally gotten some actionst night, but now he gave off thiszy, sensual vibe. That underlying sense of restraint he carried in his bones was even stronger than before. His hand rested on Shermaine¡¯s waist, and you could see it in as day¨Che was intensely possessive of the girl. AD Comment Send gift No Ad¡¢ Nurse walking 214 Chapter 214 The moment Shermaine arrived, everyone at the graduation party rushed over to congratte them. The crowd buzzed with excitement as they offered their best wishes. Kylie sipped her drink and watched the couple at the center of attention. Even from a distance, she couldn¡¯t help but notice how stunning the couple looked together. They both had that ssic Wallingtonian beauty that seemed to light up the entire room. ¡°That¡¯s Joshua, Kylie,¡± Sarah said, nodding toward the handsome man. ¡°I see him, Grandma.¡± Kylie couldn¡¯t help but add, ¡°He¡¯s really good¨Clooking.¡± Coming from Kylie, that was high praise. She had incredibly high standards when it came to beauty and rarelyplimented anyone¡¯s appearance. Sarah felt a surge of pride that Joshua had earned such approval from Kylie. ¡°Too bad he¡¯s engaged to a woman who can¡¯t keep her hands off other men. They¡¯ll probably be married soon.¡± Sarah would¡¯ve been the first to object to Shermaine joining the family if only she hadn¡¯t burned her bridges with the Yorks and lost any right to speak
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Kylie propped her chin on her hand, saying nothing, but her eyes stayed glued to Joshua and Shermaine with obvious interest, As a woman, she wasn¡¯t particrly interested in other beautiful women. But everything about Joshua¨Chis looks, his build¨Cwas attractive. He had more masculine appeal than any man she¡¯d ever dated. Meanwhile, one floor below, things werepletely different. While Shermaine¡¯s party upstairs was buzzing with excitement, Natalie¡¯s celebration felt painfully empty. She¡¯d specifically invited all her friends from their social circle, but not a single one had shown up. Ruth had managed to lure everyst one of them upstairs to the other party. Now, the entire party hall held only Jason¡¯s ssmates and friends, along with some rtives from the Keller family side. The Keller family rtives had shown up expecting to mingle with the wealthy elite, hoping their daughters might catch the eye of someone important. But the turnout was disappointing. There were barely any rich and powerful who had bothered to show up. You could see the frustration written all over the Kellers¡® faces as they stood around with sour expressions. After all, a mistress was still just a mistress. Without official status, Natalie faced cold shoulders and judgmental looks wherever she went. She was shameless, though. She didn¡¯t seem to care. Most people in her position wouldn¡¯t dare parade around so boldly. Jason was in a simr boat. He¡¯de so close to being officially recognized by the family, but close didn¡¯t count. He was almost there. The whole atmosphere was incredibly awkward. Natalie kept that bright smile stered on her face, but inside, she was seething. ¡®Ruth invited all my distinguished guests upstairs,¡® she thought bitterly. ¡®She¡¯s doing this to target me. She wants to humiliate me and watch me squirm.¡® Jason¡¯s expression remained cold and distant. Ever since Danielle had rejected him again at the hospital, his hunger for power and status had only grown stronger. ¡°Mom, when¡¯s Dad nning toe today?¡± Jason asked. Natalie remembered that Jameson had mentioned on theirst call that he might not be able tomake it to the party in person. But for an asion like this, she absolutely needed him here to back her up. I¡¯ll call your father fight now,¡± Natalie replied. ¡°That Ruth has gone too far this time.¡± Jason nodded. ¡°I need to talk to him about something. Make sure he Okay. Meanwhile, Shermaine found herself with an armful of gifts. When she couldn¡¯t hold any more, she started handing them to Joshua: Before long, Joshua¡¯s pockets were stuffed full of presents, and he was juggling even more in his hands. Just when it seemed like he couldn¡¯t possibly carry another thing, the gift¨Cgiving finally stopped. Shermaine held out her purse to him. ¡°Put them in here.¡± Joshua did as she asked. Everyone was genuinely shocked when they saw Joshua, the famously aloof heartthrob, practically glued to Shermaine¡¯s side. It was even more surprising watching Shermaine boss him around, making him fetch her drinks and whatever else she needed. ¡°Sheary, you¡¯re sweating,¡± Joshua noticed. The air conditioning wasn¡¯t doing its job, and with all those people crowding around them earlier, even Shermaine¡¯s light outfit wasn¡¯t keeping her cool. Shermaine held out her palm expectantly. ¡°Tissue.¡± Joshua always carried a handkerchief; it was one of his habits. He pulled it out and gently wiped the sweat from her face himself. ¡°Are you tired from standing?¡± he asked softly. He hadn¡¯t forgotten how he¡¯d used herp for his purposes the night before. 1 AD Comment Nurse walking 215 Chapter 215 Chennaine pressed hai lips together. ¡°I¡¯m not that fragile.¡± Joshua sald, ¡°Then tonight ¡°No,¡± Shermaine cut him off immediately. Joshua¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he swallowed. ¡°Sheary, I haven¡¯t even said what I was going to ask! She gave him a serious look. ¡°I knew it.¡± Joshua¡¯s thoughts raced. ¡®Alright, fine. Sheary is too smart for her own good. Yeah, I do want more. Last night wasn¡¯t nearly enough After Joshua finished wiping the sweat from Shermaine¡¯s forehead, he let the handkerchief trail down to her neck. ¡°Hey, be careful with that,¡± Shermaine warned. She was afraid Joshua would wipe off her foundation. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I promise I won¡¯t expose any of Sheary¡¯s hickey,¡± he said with a grin. Shermaine fell silent, suddenly feeling the urge to make Joshua sleep on the couch tonight. As five o¡¯clock approached, the hotel staff began serving dinner. The Jean and York families had been seated together at arge round table. When Shermaine spotted Sarah, she noticed a stunning woman sitting beside her¨Cpale skin, golden curls cascading down her shoulders. She had to be from the Bynes family. ¡°Joshua, I¡¯d like you to meet my granddaughter, Kylie,¡± Sarah said warmly. She¡¯d always carried a hint of regret about not giving her current husband children of her own, but thankfully, his younger son had passed on some incredible genes. Kylie was the pride of the Bynes family, and everyone knew it. didn¡¯t Joshua took his seat with barely a reaction. He didn¡¯t even nce in Kylie¡¯s direction, just offered a brief smile and murmured, ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Kylie, this is your cousin, Joshua,¡± Sarah introduced them. She wouldn¡¯t dare ask Kylie to call Owen by any family terms, but having her address Joshua as cousin was different. As the elder here, she knew Joshua would at least give her that much respect. Kylie extended her hand gracefully. ¡°Nice to meet you, Joshua.¡± Up close, she couldn¡¯t help but notice how unfairly gorgeous this man was. It was like the universe had yed favorites when creating him. Joshua nced at her but didn¡¯t reach for her hand. ¡°Wee to the Republic of Wallington,¡± he said simply. ¡°Thanks.¡± Kylie pulled her hand back, thinking to herself that this Joshua guy wasn¡¯t exactly a gentleman. But then Joshua turned to Shermaine and spoke in that deep, maic voice of his, so tender and gentle. It was like nothing else in this glitzy world existed for him except her. Sarah didn¡¯t bother introducing Shermaine, but Shermaine didn¡¯t mind. She hadn¡¯t eaten much at lunch, and after all that socializing, she was starving. Kylie¡¯s eyes soon found Shermaine, sizing her up. When Shermaine looked back at her, Kylie smiled sweetly, ¡°You¡¯re pretty.¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t think thepliment was sincere. Kylie radiated arrogance from head to toe, like she thought she was better than everyone else. Shermaine just said thanks in a t voice. The soup arrived, and the dishes starteding out. Joshuadled some soup into her bowl. ¡°Careful, it¡¯s hot.¡± I know. Shennaine sipped her toup. ¡°Just worry about yoursett.¡± Joshua didn¡¯t seem bothered. ¡°Tell me what you want to eat, and I¡¯ll get it for you.¡± All he wanted right now was to take era of his eter way Sarah watched them and frowned. She thought, ¡®Joshua¡¯s being so good to her, and she¡¯s acting like she doesn¡¯t appreciate 107 But anyone who knew Shermaine would understand she wasn¡¯t being ungrateful at all. She was looking out for Joshua, wanting him to eat his mest properly without worrying about her. Yet the man simply wouldn¡¯t listen. At the table, only Clyde looked genuinely miserable. His scores hade back disappointing, crushing his dreams of getting into his top choice university. Andrew was already making ns to send him abroad for his education instead. When Andrew learned that Sarah had married into foreign nobility, he saw an opportunity. Thinking about Clyde¡¯s future, he approached her for advice about studying overseas¨Cwhich universities were worth considering, and what she might rmend. Sarah¡¯s voice carried a note of pride as she replied, ¡°You should ask my granddaughter about that. She¡¯s a visiting professor at Harrod University AD Comment Send gift No Ads Nurse walking 216 Andrew was shocked. A visiting professor at Harrod University? That was seriously impressive! Andrew¡¯s eyes widened in surprise before turning to look at Kylie. He wanted to say something, but his English wasn¡¯t good enough to managel, Clyde¡¯s skills were better. He could speak Ustranasion, but his pronunciation was so hent of Kylie. terrible that he couldn¡¯t bring himself to open his meth in Kylie lifted her chin slightly, offering him a reassuring smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. You can speak Wallingtonian with me. I understand it perfectly.¡± Janice wasn¡¯t happy about this at all. She¡¯d specifically told Andrew that if Clyde wanted to study abroad, he should talk to Shermaine about it. But Andrew didn¡¯t listen to her. And now, at Shermaine¡¯s graduation party of all ces, here he was asking someone else for advice. ¡°I can rmend some well¨Cknown universities in Moranta,¡± Kylie said. ¡°And if you need one, I¡¯d be happy to write you a letter of rmendation. ¡°That would be amazing, Kylie. Thank you so much,¡± Andrew replied. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it,¡± Kylie said with a smile. Shermaine had to admit that while the schools Kylie rmended in Moranta were technically elite institutions, they were just expensive diploma mills. The tuition was sky¨Chigh, but the education quality was mediocre. Students went there to coast through and get a piece of paper, not to learn anything meaningful. ¡°As your cousin, I think you should consider repeating the year,¡± Shermaine spoke up. She figured if he genuinely wanted to study abroad, he could always takenguage proficiency exams and apply to a top¨Ctier university then. It was clear Shermaine was throwing shade at Kylie¡¯s rmendations. She was basically saying those schools Kylie picked were nothing special. Clyde had been avoiding Shermaine ever since Wendelyn died. He used to look down on her and had talked plenty of trash about her behind her back. But in the end, Wendelyn turned out to be the problem, while Shermaine had proven herself to be surprisingly aplished and impressive. He¡¯d wanted to ask Shermaine for advice, but given their history, he felt too awkward about it. So when she spoke up like this, he was caught off guard. Scratching his head nervously, he asked, ¡°My SAT scores aren¡¯t great though. You really think I could do better if I tried again?¡± ¡°If you put in the effort, anything¡¯s possible,¡± Shermaine replied simply. The truth was, Clyde had been too caught up in gaming and chasing girls to focus on his studies. His grades had tanked while everyone around him, all his rtives and friends, had managed to score well on their SATS. After a moment¡¯s thought, Clyde said, ¡°Let me think about it.¡± Then, a bit stiffly, he added, ¡°Thanks for the advice, Sheary. I appreciate it.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Sarah felt Shermaine¡¯s timing was terrible. It seemed disrespectful to both her and Kylie. ¡°You should think carefully,¡± Sarah warned Clyde. ¡°Kylie¡¯s rmendation letters aren¡¯t easy toe by.¡± Her implication was clear that it was a one¨Cshot deal. ¡°What if you fail the test again?¡± Andrew pressed. ¡°You¡¯d be wasting another year. Kylie offered to write you a rmendation letter, and you turned it down? Look, I make enough to pay for your college.¡± With his annual dividends hitting seven figures and his stock investments doing well, paying for Clyde¡¯s education was hardly a concern. In his mind, nothing Shermaine could offer would beat a rmendation from a Harrod University professor. Kylie let out a smile. She wasn¡¯t worried about being rejected¨Cher rmendation letters were hotmodities back home. People had offered emillions of dors for them. If you ace the SAT next year and still want to study abroad, I can get you rmendation letters from top Dniversities, ¡°Sharmaine Land cr could help him prep for thenguage exams and get him into any elite school he wanted. Everyone caught that she¡¯d said top universities. Clyde¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. Andrew froze. ¡®Was Shermaine serious about those top universities¡® connections?¡® Sarah ?¡± visiting professor at Harrod University¨Cher letters carry serious weight. So tell me, Shermaine stayed calm and matter¨Cof¨Cfact. ¡°My rmendations work pretty well.¡± She remembered one wealthy businessman who¡¯d offered five million dors for a single letter for his son. She¡¯d turned him down¨Cthe kid was hopeless. Sarah rolled her eyes, clearly not buying it. ¡°Shermaine, you¡¯re quite the joker,¡± Kylie said smoothly. Shermaine looked up. ¡°Who¡¯s joking?¡± Nurse walking 217 Shermaine looked up. ¡°Who¡¯s joking?¡± She didn¡¯t have time to waste on kylle¡¯s nonsense. The smile on Kylie¡¯s face faltered slightly, though she still carried herself like a princess, her back ramrod straight. ¡°Are you upset with me, Shermaine?! Kylie put on an air of innocence. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to question you,¡± i ¡°It¡¯s fine, Shermaine said smoothly. ¡°I¡¯m always generous when dealing with people who don¡¯t matter.¡± Kylie¡¯s smile grew strained. She quickly turned to Clyde. ¡°If you need a rmendation letter, just let me know. Here¡¯s my card.¡± She pulled a business card from her purse with her email and international phone number printed on it. Andrew thought the card might be useful and tried to signal Clyde to take it. But for once, Clyde actually made a smart move. Clyde politely declined. ¡°Thanks for the offer, Kylie, but I¡¯ve already decided. I¡¯m going to repeat my senior year and apply to universities here in Republic of Wallington.¡± Andrew couldn¡¯t help thinking, ¡®And she says she wasn¡¯t questioning Shermaine? She clearly was, then acted all self¨Crighteous about denying it.¡± Andrew¡¯s face was a mess of frustration. ¡®Didn¡¯t Clyde used to hate Shermaine? Now he¡¯s hanging on her every word. If he blows this chance, Kylie won¡¯t give hint the time of dayter.¡¯ Kylie shrugged and gracefully tucked her business card back into her purse. ¡°Best of luck with your future.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Fortunately, the York family didn¡¯t seem to pay them much attention. Joshua waspletely focused on Shermaine, constantly adding food to her te. ¡°You said you were hungry. Eat up.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t eat bell peppers.¡± Joshua immediately transferred the peppers to his own bowl. They¡¯d lived together and shared plenty of meals, but peppers had never been on the menu. He hadn¡¯t known. ¡°What else don¡¯t you eat?¡± ¡°Onions.¡± ¡°Me neither.¡± Sure, onions smelled great, but the taste was way too strong. Neither Shermaine nor Joshua could stand them. Having one bite and they¡¯d taste nothing but onions for the rest of the day, like their whole digestive system had been hijacked by that single vor. Joshua knew exactly what Shermaine liked to eat. She loved tomatoes, and when it came to fruit, cherries were her favorite. Sarah¡¯s face twisted with displeasure. ¡°You Jeans really know how to undermine people. Now we look like we¡¯re sticking our noses where they don¡¯t belong.¡± But nobody paid her any attention. Owen couldn¡¯t be bothered to acknowledge Sarah¡¯s presence. The fact that he hadn¡¯t thrown her out already was generous enough. ¡®She has the nerve to look down on Shermaine?¡® he thought. ¡®Where does Sarah get off acting like that? Once this party¡¯s over, I¡¯m shipping her back overseas. ¡®I¡¯m sick of her parading around here like she owns the ce. And Kylie¨Cacting all high and mighty around us. Where the hell does her sense of superioritye from?¡® Chapter 217.1 Andrew kept his mouth shut and lowered his head awkwardly. He knew he¡¯d pleked the worst possible moment to bring up that Grandma, I¡¯m sure Shermalne will have no problem getting rmendation letters from prestigious schools to help Chyde get into an by Dann university; Kylie said. Janice had never liked Sarah, not even when they were younger. Back then, she¡¯d found Sarah loud and unreasonable, acting like the whole world revolved around her After Sarah¡¯s affair, Janice¡¯s opinion had only gotten worse the woman was simply trash. Sarah¡¯s ex¨Chusband had treated her like a queen, catering to her every whim, worshipping the ground she walked on. And what he had gotten in returni was betrayal. Janice let out a dismissiveugh. ¡°Of course she will. Sheary spent years abroad. She¡¯s close friends with Trance and that famous artist Oliver. Her senior from school graduated from Sterling University with top honors. Getting a rmendation letter from a prestigious school? Please, that¡¯s child¡¯s y. Nurse walking 218 Sarah thought, ¡°Trance and Oliver? Those two are practically celebrities. Shermaine knows them? No way. She¡¯s probably lying She¡¯d seen plenty of people name¨Cdrop big shots just to make themselves look more important. Most of the time, it was all talk, just a way to boost own image. Sarah was about to say something, but Owen jumped in. ¡°When Trance came to Wallington for Sheary¡¯s birthday, I forgot to get a photo with him,¡± he said with a sigh. ¡°Man, what a missed chance. I did snap a bunch of pics, though. If he everes back to Wallington, Sheary, you better let me know so I can grab a selfie with him next time.¡± Trance wasn¡¯t Joshua¡¯s rival in love anymore, so a photo was a must¨Chave for the memories. Despite his age, Owen kept up with the trends. He devoured sweet romance novels and watched ball games with crowds of young guys. Sarah swallowed the dismissive words that rose to her throat. She knew better than to voice them now, unless she wanted to be the target of everyone¡¯s mockery. Kylie¡¯s grip on the spoon in her hand tightened at Owen¡¯s words. Back when she was abroad, the only man who caught her eye was Trance. But that man had turned her down over and over, even when she¡¯d gone to him personally. All he said was, ¡°I¡¯ve got someone I like. Stay away from me.¡± As far as she knew, that ¡°someone¡± was the genius Professor Shue, who made headlines across top universities at a ridiculously young age. But Professor Shue was like a ghost¨Calways vanishing before Kylie could catch a glimpse. Every time she tried to meet her, she either hit a dead end or got turned away. Everyone knew that in their circles, people were pretty liberal when it came to rtionships. Most of them lost their virginity by sixteen. They believed in sexual freedom and living wild¨Cnothing conservative about their lifestyle at all. But Trance kept his distance from women just for that one Professor Shue. In a world full of libertines, he was practically a saint. To Kylie, that was humiliation. She couldn¡¯t believe Trance was one of Shermaine¡¯s best friends. That was interesting. But Kylie had lost interest in Trance. Now, she found herself far more intrigued by Joshua. She craved the thrill of a new challenge. As for Trance, she could always pursue himter. She¡¯d never tried a man from Wallington before, and she was curious what that might feel like. On the other end, Jameson had no intention of going to Jason¡¯s graduation party. But the moment he heard Natalieining that Ruth had thrown Shermaine¡¯s party right upstairs from Jason¡¯s, even poaching all the guests Natalie had invited, he was instantly furious. ¡®Ruth really had some nerve. Did she seriously think I wouldn¡¯t dare divorce her?! Natalie asked, ¡°Jameson, are you noting? Jason,seems like he wants to talk to you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m on my way,¡± Jameson replied. ¡°Alright, Jason and I will be waiting.¡± Not only did Jameson decide to show up himself, but he also told his assistant to invite a bunch of people to celebrate Jason¡¯s graduation. His assistant worked fast. Shortly after Jameson arrived, a stream of business associates began showing up, all eager to show him respect. Most of them were men, of course. As far as they were concerned, it was perfectly normal for men to have affairs and fool around outside their mardages. None of them batted an eye at Jameson having a mistress and an illegitimate child. After all, they had their secrets too. They just weren¡¯t bad be so open about it. Jason¡¯s graduation party quickly picked up momentum, with guests mingling and the atmosphere grew more festive by the minute. During the celebration, Jason approached his father with an idea that had been brewing in his mind. ¡°Dad, I¡¯m thinking about starting up a gaming this summer,¡± he said casually. Jameson didn¡¯t miss a beat. His response was immediate and enthusiastic. ¡°Absolutely. How much funding do you need? I¡¯ll cover it,¡± he replied without hesitation. * ¡°Ten million dors,¡± Jason stated. ¡°Sure. No problem at all,¡± Jameson answered with a smile. To Jameson, ten million dors was pocket change. Even if Jason asked for another ten million dors, he¡¯d dly give it. Since Jason wanted to prove himself and stand on his own two feet, Jameson was more than happy to support him. A Nurse walking 219 After Shermalne finished most of her meal, Ruth spoke up. ¡°Sheary, your father¡¯s downstairs throwing a celebration party for that barray of hi quite a crowd, and I heard he¡¯s giving Jason ten million dors to start a gamingpany¡± Jameson just handed over ten million to Jason like it was nothing. What a generous father. When Shermaine heard this, she dabbed at the corner of her mouth with a tissue. She remembered how Jameson had only given her a few million as pocket money, and that was it. He never gave her another cent after that. These days, the only ones who put money in her ount were Janice and Ross. ¡°Do you have any ideas on how to deal with this?¡± Shermaine asked. Ruth replied, ¡°Of course I do. If you¡¯re unhappy about it, I can go sort them out right now.¡± ¡°Great, I¡¯m counting on you then.¡± While Ruth talked a big game, her real motivation was purely selfish. She was worried that if she caused too much of a scene, Jameson might go running back to the Jean family to settle scores with her, and she¡¯d have no one to protect her. The moment Shermaine agreed with her n, Ruth whipped out her phone and sent photos to several society wives in their circle. The images showed their husbands caught red¨Chanded with other women¨Cclear evidence of their affairs. At seven in the evening, Natalie barely had a moment to celebrate before a group of wealthy women stormed into the venue. They looked furious as they grabbed their husbands and started screaming at them. The scene quickly descended into chaos. ¡°You piece of shit. How dare you cheat on me behind my back.¡± ¡°We¡¯re going home right now. You must have a death wish, of the venue. Natalie whimpered through her tears. ¡°I can¡¯t take this anymore.¡± Jameson could only offer empty words offort because he knew he couldn¡¯t divorce Ruth and promote Natalie to his wife¡¯s position now. He didn¡¯t even have enough influence to get Jason epted into the Jean family. Natalie kept her head down, but her eyes burned with hatred. ¡®That bitch Ruth had the nerve to mess with my ns.¡® She deliberately excused herself and headed to the restroom. Once inside, she locked the door and pulled out her phone to make a call. ¡°Ms. Helen, I need a favor,¡± she said when the call connected. ¡°What do you need?¡± Helen replied. ¡°I want you to find me a young, good¨Clooking guy¨Csomeone who knows how to y games and can charm women. Make it worth your while when this is over.¡± okay The graduation party finally wrapped up around eight o¡¯clock. Lily didn¡¯t show up until after seven, iming she¡¯d been swamped at work. She brought some guy with her who was dressed way too shy ¡° of cheap cologne that made everyone¡¯s nose wrinkle. Nobody could figure out how Lily stood being around him. Lily made the introductions with a bright smile. ¡°Sheary, this is Warren, my boyfriend.¡± Warren extended his hand with practiced politeness. ¡°Hello, Shermaine. I¡¯ve heard so much about you. He¡¯d definitely heard about her. He knew Shermaine was thergest shareholder in Oliger Company. Joshua stepped forward and shook Warren¡¯s hand on Shermaine¡¯s behalf. When Warren turned to face Joshua, his confidence visibly wavered. His eyes darted away as he stammered, ¡°Hello, Mr. York.¡± Joshua acknowledged him with nothing more than a cool nod. Warren couldn¡¯t help but feel impressed. Lily had really made it big, getting close to powerhouses like Shermaine and Joshua. 401 If he came from some respectable family background, that would be one thing, but he didn¡¯t. Otherwise, he might actually consider settling down and marrying a woman like Lily. Nurse walking 220 Chapter 220 Chapter 220 In short, Shermaine couldn¡¯t stand Lily¡¯s new boyfriend. She could tell he wasn¡¯t genuinely interested in Lily, and a cold glint shed in her eyes as the thought about it. When he excused himself to use the restroom, Shermaine leaned forward. ¡°Lily, you should really take some time to observe this guy before you decide whether to trust himpletely.¡± ¡°But he¡¯s been really good to me,¡± Lily protested. Shermaine couldn¡¯t bring herself to say what she really thought¨Cthat smooth¨Ctalking men were experts at creating false impressions and sweet talking women into believing their lies. ¡°Just take your time and really watch him. Don¡¯t rush into anything,¡± she said instead. ¡°Okay, I understand.¡± Lily nodded thoughtfully. If Shermaine was saying this, maybe Warren wasn¡¯t as great as she¡¯d thought. She¡¯d definitely keep her eyes open from now on. Later that evening at Riverswood Vi, the crescent moon hung in the sky as the oppressive heat lingered. Even though Shermaine didn¡¯t feel like she¡¯d sweated much, her skin felt sticky and ufortable when she got home. She headed straight for the bathroom, desperate for a shower. But just as she stepped inside, Joshua followed her in from outside. Shermaine stared at him. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Sheary, I want to take a shower too,¡± he said with that familiar grin. ¡°Then use the other bathroom.¡± She¡¯d gotten there first, so this one was clearly hers. Joshua¡¯s smile widened. ¡°No need to make thingsplicated. One bathroom is plenty for both of us.¡± Shermaine was speechless. She knew he definitely wasn¡¯t going to give up on whatever scheme he¡¯d been plotting during the day. When they emerged from the bathroom, Shermaine had a towel wrapped around her body. Joshua carried her to the walk¨Cin closet, found a shirt, and slipped it over her head. After removing the towel, he began gently drying her hair with another towel. Joshua was still wearing only his boxer shorts, and his back told the story of their passion. The scratches from Shermaine¡¯s nails that had marked him earlier were now joined by several fresh ones, clear evidence that she hadn¡¯t held back during their recent encounter. As Joshua worked the towel through her damp hair, he couldn¡¯t resist leaning down to capture her lips with a kiss. His tongue parted her lips and slipped inside, deepening their connection. Shermaine pushed against his chest and gave his waist a sharp pinch. ¡°Can¡¯t you give it a rest for five minutes?¡± Joshua chuckled softly, his eyes dancing with mischief. ¡°Sheary, you¡¯re the one who made me like this. That means you¡¯re responsible for dealing with the consequences.¡± Shermaine¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Don¡¯t even start with that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m being serious.¡± His eyes burned with intensity as they met hers. ¡°You can feel how much I want you, can¡¯t you?¡± Shermaine pressed her lips together, unable to find words to respond. Joshua leaned in to kiss her again. Moonlight streamed through the windows as the night stretched on. By the time they finally finished, it was well past midnight. 1/3 Exhausted. Shermaine closed her eyes and fell asleep almost instantly. She made a mental note that she wouldn t fashi next time. He¡¯d kept her octupled all evening, leaving her no time to handle anything else. The next day, Shermale received an invitation from the International Tech Forum, which Joshua had picked up from the canutter f?r var ¡°Sheary, you¡¯re going to Rodunst?¡± Joshua asked. ¡°Yeah.¡± Shermaine had already booked her flight for the morning of the 29th. Her fan meeting was scheduled for the 30th, which meant dhe kad lyde before heading to Rodunst. Joshua couldn¡¯t help but think about how they were still in their honeymoon phase. To be honest, when he¡¯d gone on that week long business thest time, he¡¯d desperately wanted to bring Shermaine along. She¡¯d turned him down, though, saying she had things to take care of ¡°Perfect timing then. I¡¯m thinking of taking a few vacation days toe with you. After your event wraps up, how about we head over to North Sea for some fun?¡± He figured it would make for a nice honeymoon getaway. Everyone else got to have a proper honeymoon after getting married, they should have one, too. Shermaine looked up with a smile. ¡°Joshua, do you realize how clingy you¡¯ve been these past few days?¡± ¡°Do you find it annoying?¡± he asked. It wasn¡¯t annoying exactly, but Shermaine did wish Joshua would tone it down a bit. It would be more in character for him. Shermaine shook his head. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s go together on the 29th. I¡¯ll get you a ticket.¡± Joshua¡¯s n had worked perfectly, and he couldn¡¯t suppress a satisfied smile. He loved it when Shermaine indulged him like this. It made him want to be mischievous, even at his age. The International Tech Forum¡¯s meetup had been in nning sincest winter and didn¡¯t actually happen until June this year, which shows just how much preparation went into this event. Shermaine knew that the International Tech Forum had invited around twenty tinum¨Clevel experts from countries all over the world, including Dolcie Chapman, who was incredibly popr on the tech forum and had countless male fans. Word was that they¡¯d distributed over a thousand entry tickets. Today marked the day when Roy finally revealed Shermaine¡¯s identity as the Challenge King on the Koandria leaderboard to the public, since he had just posted the team¨Cbuilding photos they took earlier. Shermaine had always been a well¨Cknown figure in the gamingmunity. As a former expert yer who once dominated the top spot on Koandria¡¯s first server leaderboard, plus her previous appearances in their livestreams, she already had quite a reputation. Now that she was coaching Roy¡¯s team, the esports world erupted in excitement. As soon as the photos dropped, everyone¡¯s reactions were immediate: [Holy shit, it¡¯s a girl.] I thought I was seeing things wrong, so I looked at Roy¡¯s photos again. Isn¡¯t that Challenger King from Koandria¡¯s District One leaderboard the same person who was Basterel City¡¯s top achiever in natural science this year?] [You¡¯re absolutely right. That¡¯s definitely our Basterel top science achiever. Ipared their photos side by side. It¡¯s the same person.] [Damn, I¡¯m pretty good at League of Legends myself, and Challenger rank is no big deal to me, but my SAT scores areplete trash.] [Really goes to show thatparing yourself to others will drive you crazy. She¡¯s amazing at gaming and she¡¯s a total academic genius. I¡¯m speechless.] [Definitely a legend.] Meanwhile, Shermaine and Joshua were already heading to the airport. When they boarded their flight, they were surprised to d.. Sarah were on the same ne. that Kylie and Exhausted, Shermaine closed her eyes and fell asleep almost instantly. She made a mental note that the walen (let Joshua is next time. He¡¯d kept her upied all evening, leaving her no time to handle anything else. The next day, Shermaine received an invitation from the International Tech Forum, which Joshua had picked up from the cruiver for hun ¡°Sheary, you¡¯re going to Rodunst?¡± Joshua asked. Yeah.¡± Shermaine had already booked her flight for the morning of the 20th. Her fan meeting before heading to Rodunst. was scheduled for the 30th, which meant the had five daya Joshua couldn¡¯t help but think about how they were still in their honeymoon phase. To be honest, when he¡¯d gone on that week¨Clong business tripst time, he¡¯d desperately wanted to bring Shermaine along. She¡¯d turned him down, though, saying she had things to take care of.. ¡°Perfect timing then. I¡¯m thinking of taking a few vacation days toe with you. After your event wraps up, how about we head over to Worth Sea for some fun?¡± He figured it would make for a nice honeymoon getaway. Everyone else got to have a proper honeymoon after getting married; they should have one, too. Shermaine looked up with a smile. ¡°Joshua, do you realize how clingy you¡¯ve been these past few days?¡± ¡°Do you find it annoying?¡± he asked. It wasn¡¯t annoying exactly, but Shermaine did wish Joshua would tone it down a bit. It would be more in character for him. Shermaine shook his head. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s go together on the 29th. I¡¯ll get you a ticket.¡± Joshua¡¯s n had worked perfectly, and he couldn¡¯t suppress a satisfied smile. He loved it when Shermaine indulged him like this. It made him want to be mischievous, even at his age. The International Tech Forum¡¯s meetup had been in nning sincest winter and didn¡¯t actually happen until June this year, which shows just how much preparation went into this event. Shermaine knew that the International Tech Forum had invited around twenty tinum¨Clevel experts from countries all over the world, including Dolcie Chapman, who was incredibly popr on the tech forum and had countless male fans. Word was that they¡¯d distributed over a thousand entry tickets. Today marked the day when Roy finally revealed Shermaine¡¯s identity as the Challenge King posted the team¨Cbuilding photos they took earlier. on the Koandria leaderboard to the public, since he had just Shermaine had always been a well¨Cknown figure in the gamingmunity. As a former expert yer who once dominated the top spot on Koandria¡¯s first server leaderboard, plus her previous appearances in their livestreams, she already had quite a reputation. Now that she was coaching Roy¡¯s team, the esports world erupted in excitement. As soon as the photos dropped, everyone¡¯s reactions were immediate: [Holy shit, it¡¯s a girl.] I thought I was seeing things wrong, so I looked at Roy¡¯s photos again. Isn¡¯t that Challenger King from Koandria¡¯s District One leaderboard the same person who was Basterel City¡¯s top achiever in natural science this year?] [You¡¯re absolutely right. That¡¯s definitely our Basterel top science achiever. Ipared their photos side by side. It¡¯s the same person.] [Damn, I¡¯m pretty good at League of Legends myself, and Challenger rank is no big deal to me, but my SAT scores areplete trash.] [Really goes to show thatparing yourself to others will drive you crazy. She¡¯s amazing at gaming and she¡¯s a total academic genius. I¡¯m speechless.] [Definitely a legend.] Meanwhile, Shermaine and Joshua were already heading to the airport. When they boarded their flight, they were surprised to disco hat Kylie and Sarah were on the same ne. Nurse walking 221 Chapter 221 Time flew by in the blink of an eye, Ten years had passed since Shermaine married Joshua at twenty, and this was their tenth Valentina ¡°Day togeth Now Shermaine was thirty, and Joshua was forty¨Cone. At forty one, Joshua still looked youthful. Apart from the maturity that came with age, the years had only added to his charm, making him even more attractive than he¡¯d been at thirty. These days, they lived a peaceful, leisurely life together, but Joshua never forgot to make their special asions feel meaningful. As soon as the clock struck midnight, he pulled Shermaine close and kissed her slightly damp eyshes. ¡°Happy Valentine¡¯s Day, Sheary, he whispered. At thirty, Shermaine had grown even more stunning than she¡¯d been at twenty. Her natural sensuality and proud confidence deepened into something truly captivating. Shey against him now, her shoulders barely visible in the dim light,pletely rxed in his arms and looking utterly content. Even at forty¨Cone, Joshua still couldn¡¯t get enough of her. She stretchedzily and murmured back, ¡°Happy Valentine¡¯s Day.¡± Joshua nuzzled against her neck and whispered in her ear, ¡°Sheary, I love you.¡± When it came to expressing feelings, Shermaine was never good with words. In their ten years together, Joshua had said ¡°I love you¡± countless times, but she¡¯d never once said those three words back to him. That didn¡¯t mean she didn¡¯t love him. On the contrary, over the past decade, she¡¯d grown more and more dependent on Joshua. She¡¯d always seek him out whenever she had free time, and when she couldn¡¯t find him, she¡¯d throw little tantrums. In the end, she¡¯d be the spoiled one in their rtionship, taking his love for granted. ¡°I know,¡± Shermaine said softly. ¡°I want to hear you say those same three words.¡± Joshua knew Shermaine loved him, even though she¡¯d never said it. But he still wanted to hear it. ¡°You know I can¡¯t say it,¡± she replied softly. Joshua would be lying if he said that didn¡¯t hurt. He leaned down and bit her lip gently, then began kissing her with renewed intensity, drinking her deeply. After a long while, the room finally fell into peaceful silence. Shermaine pressed her cheek against his chest and drifted off to sleep, where she found herself in the strangest dream. In her dream, she traveled to the future where she was eighty years old, a white¨Chaired grandmother who had be a legendary figure revered by countless people around the world. What people didn¡¯t know was that despite her towering achievements, the eighty¨Cyear¨Cold her had been spoiled like a child by the man at her side. But at eighty, she no longer had ny¨Cone¨Cyear¨Cold Joshua by her side. ¡°Where¡¯s your father?¡± she would ask her daughter every morning, the first thing she did when she woke up. ¡°Mom, you forgot again. Dad¡¯s gone,¡± her daughter, Gracelyn York, replied gently. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Your father promised he¡¯d always stay by my side. He would never leave me.¡± The elegant elderly woman¡¯s voice rose with frustration, her refined demeanor cracking under the weight of confusion. Gracelyn patiently coaxed Shermaine along. Ever since Joshua passed away, Shermaine would often forget that he was gone. He had died in the summer of his ny¨Cfirst year. ¡°Mom, you haven¡¯t eaten anything all maining. How about some astmeal?¡± Gracelyn asked, 1 want your father to feed me,¡± Shermalne replied. Whenever she felt unwell or didn¡¯t want to eat in the past, Joshus would always lend ¡°Mom, Dad would be upset if he saw you like this.¡± Shermaine fell silent. ¡°How about I y Dad¡¯s recording of ¡®Sheary¡® for you?¡± Gracelyn asked. ¡°Okay,¡± Shermaine said. Then Gracelyn took out her phone and tapped on the recording of ¡°Sheary¡± she had saved earlier. The piano music began to y, and memories of all the years they¡¯d spent together came flooding back like a tide. Shermaine¡¯s eyes reddened as she whispered, ¡°There¡¯s still so much I never got to tell your father.¡± Later, at eighty years old, Shermaine had be docile. She if Joshua were right there with her. longer demanded to see Joshua, but she would often talk to the empty air beside her, as Even though Gracelyn had inherited Shenmaine¡¯s remarkable medical skills, she was helpless when it came to her mother¡¯s delusions. She still remembered the day Joshua passed away. Shermaine had been soposed¨Cno tears, no hysteria. She¡¯d simply told him to go peacefully. But now, after just a few days, she¡¯d be like this. Everyone had always thought Joshua loved Shermaine more, but it turned out they were equally devoted to each other. Neither could live without the other. Watching this scene unfold, thirty¨Cyear¨Cold Shermaine felt her heart clench with pain. She knew this was just a dream, but even in a dream, she couldn¡¯t bear to see it. When she woke up, tears still warm on her cheeks, Shermaine immediately reached for Joshua. But the other side of the bed was empty¨Cno trace of him anywhere. She threw back the covers and jumped out of bed, not even bothering to put on her slippers as she went searching for him. Joshua couldn¡¯t sleep, so he thought he¡¯d step out for a quick smoke before heading back to bed. He never expected Shermaine to wake up, but when he turned around, she was looking at him with teary eyes. ¡°I told you not to smoke, didn¡¯t I? Have you been sneaking cigarette¡¯s behind my back?¡± Shermaine¡¯s eyes grew even redder. Joshua couldn¡¯t understand why she was reacting so strongly. He hurried over tofort her. ¡°No, Honey. I just couldn¡¯t sleep and thought a smoke might help me rx.¡± ¡°Promise me you won¡¯t smoke anymore. It¡¯s terrible for your health.¡± ¡°Okay, I promise.¡± Shermaine had never cried in front of him before, but now her eyes were welling up with tears. Joshua pulled her into his arms and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Shermaine wrapped her arms around Joshua¡¯s neck and said, ¡°Before we went to sleep, you asked me something.¡± Joshua gently ran his fingers through Shermaine¡¯s hair, and when she brought up his earlier question, his expression grew more serious. ¡°Sheary, do you love me?¡± Shermaine whispered in his ear, ¡°I love you.¡± She had witnessed her eighty¨Cyear¨Cold self in that dream, regretting every day after Joshua¡¯s death that she had never told him she loved him. She would talk to empty air, saying ¡°I love you¡± over and over, consumed with regret. Thank God it was just a dream, not reality. she would way them. deeply moved, and kissed her lips gently. ¡°I want to hear it again¡± wowed, ¡°I love you so much. You have to keep your promise and grow old with me. I won¡¯t let you leave me. You can¡¯t leave me.¡± her, and they kissed their way back to the gerate intensity, as wanted to merge her into has very bones, to be eternally intertwined through sun and moon, in life Later, Insha finally understood the reason behind Shermaine¡¯s strange behavior. He smoothed her hair and thought that if his death would turn her that becken wonnen from her disam, them on the day he died, he would take her with him. ¡°Good night, my lows. Happy Valentre¡¯s bay Nurse walking 222 Chapter 222 They had met in the airport lounge, where the flight attendants kept offering drinks service, even preparing red wine specifically for Kylie She made had stepped away to use the restroom, leaving Joshua alone in the lounge. When Sarah spotted Joshua, her face lit up with surprise. ¡°Joshua, what a coincidence. Are you heading to Rodunst too?* Joshua nodded in confirmation. ¡°Which hotel are you staying at?¡± she asked. ¡°The Benzo Club.¡± The Benzo Club was one of Ariodon¡¯s most prestigious luxury hotels, and it happened to be where the tech forum had booked rooms for their tinum- level experts. Since the reservation was made for Shermaine, Joshua would naturally share the same room without any additional cost. Sarah¡¯s eyes widened with excitement. ¡°No way. We¡¯re staying at the Benzo Club too. What floor are you on?¡± ¡°The 23rd floor,¡± Joshua said. ¡°We¡¯re on the 23rd floor as well.¡± Sarah continued her questioning. ¡°How long are you nning to stay?¡± ¡°About a week.¡± Ever since Joshua had taken over the business, he¡¯d never bothered with vacation time. It had always seemed unnecessary to him. But now that Shermaine was in his life, he¡¯de to realize that taking time off was something worth doing. He also dreamed of traveling the world with Shermaine, each with a camera in hand, exploring mountains and rivers together as partners. After Kylie finished attending the Tech Conference, they had nned to spend some quality time sightseeing in Rodunst. Running into Joshua like this was perfect¨Cnow she could make her move on him. Kylie kept her eyes locked on Joshua the entire time. The casually dressed man held his magazine with long fingers, but there was one thing that bothered her¨Cthe tinum diamond ring gleaming on his ring finger. Still, it seemed like fate was giving her the perfect opportunity to seduce this man. She wasn¡¯t wearing one of her Lolita dresses today; Wallington was just too hot for that. Instead, she¡¯d chosen a cool ck slip dress. Though when it came to curves, she couldn¡¯tpete with Shermaine. Kylie approached with a wine ss in hand, her voice soft and inviting. ¡°Joshua, want some red wine?¡± Her tone struck the perfect bnce between sophisticated and friendly. ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯m good,¡± Joshua replied. From start to finish, he remainedpletely cold toward both of them, his responses purely polite and nothing more. Sarah seemedpletely oblivious to his distant attitude, acting like she didn¡¯t notice a thing. Kylie picked up on it, but she pretended not to care. She figured that if a guy was too easy to win over, she¡¯d lose interest fast. The harder the chase, the more excited she got. Joshua nced at his watch, wondering what was taking Shermaine so long in the restroom. Actually, Shermaine had quite a scare in the restroom. A woman who¡¯de in to use the bathroom suddenly copsed without warning, frightening everyone nearby. Fortunately, it turned out she¡¯d just fainted from mild heatstroke and a weak constitution¨Cnothing more serious than that. Fortunately, it turned out to be nothing serious¨Cjust heat exhaustionbined with a weak constitution. After Shermaine helped revive the woman, she contacted the airline¡¯s medical staff and waited until they arrived before washing her hands and heading back out. With only twenty minutes len before takeof, Joshua had ordered a watermelon juice and a fruit te while waine whet table beside him at ho kept checking for Shermaine¡¯s return Kybe kept trying to strike up conversations with Joshua, but he was naturally afoot and spent most of his time abiorbed in his ne ha Way After finishing her wine and touching up her lipstick. Kylie deliberately fumbled while putting it back in her purse, letting the lipstick fall in the where it rolled toward Joshua¡¯s feet. Jist as Kylie was about to say something, a figure approached and nearly stepped on the fallen lipstick. Shermaine caught herself just in time, puiting her foot back when she spotted the cosmetic on the ground. She pressed her lips together slightly as she took in the scene. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Chapter 223 Chapter 223 Nurse walking 223 Only then did Shermaine notice Kylle and Sarah sitting across from her. She picked up the lipstick from the floor 19 this yours? The moment kylie saw Shermaine, her smile faded considerably. ¡°Thanks, it¡¯s mine.¡± It wasn¡¯t unusual to drop something when your hands were full, but when a woman¡¯s lipstick rolled to a man¡¯s feet, it was hard not to read between the lines. Sarah could clearly see what Kylie was up to, and honestly, anyone with eyes could tell that Kylie had set her sights on that handsome, refined man, Shermaine certainly wasn¡¯t blind to it either. Joshua had attracted his share of admirers before. There was Wendelyn, for one, but Shermaine had never considered her a threat. Wendelyn had a crush on Joshua, but the moment she faced any realpetition, she¡¯d lose her nervepletely. The only time she¡¯d worked up the courage to approach him was at the Jean family gathering, and that was only with liquid courage. Shermaine had gotten a goodugh out of that pathetic disy. But Kylie was ying in apletely different league. She seemed willing to pull any trick in the book to get Joshua¡¯s attention, and she had the boldness, charm, and cunning to back it up. What was more, she acted like Shermaine didn¡¯t even exist. Even if Kylie didn¡¯t know that Joshua was already Shermaine¡¯s legitimate husband, she certainly knew about their engagement. There was no way she could be unaware of that. Shermaine stared at her with a cool expression. ¡°Did you eat breakfast this morning?¡± Kylie¡¯s mind went nk for a moment. Not wanting to appear rude, she forced a smile. ¡°Yes, I did.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Shermaine¡¯s tone remained casual. ¡°You should eat more then. Build up your strength so you can hold your lipstick steady.¡± Kylie¡¯s smile faded a bit more as she caught the dig in Shermaine¡¯s words. Around them, people tried to hide their snickers behind their hands. ¡°I just gave you some helpful advice,¡± Shermaine said as she settled into the seat next to Joshua, casually crossing her long legs. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you should thank me?¡± Left with no choice, Kylie forced out, ¡°Thanks for the advice.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± Shermaine replied smugly. Sarah watched the scene unfold, feeling her anger rise. She¡¯d thought Joshua was going to Rodunst on a business trip, but here he was with Shermaine. No wonder he didn¡¯t have his assistant with him. She¡¯d assumed the assistant was flying economy and hadn¡¯te to the VIP lounge. While Kylie¡¯s dropped lipstick seemed suspicious, Sarah thought Shermaine didn¡¯t have to be so aggressive. Shermaine was nothing but a loose woman who had other men on the side. She didn¡¯t deserve Joshua. Sarah red at Shermaine with obvious hostility. Shermaine found the whole thing bizarre. Sarah had been hostile toward her from the moment she appeared, but there had to be a reason for disliking someone. She didn¡¯t particrly care, but she was curious. Joshua returned and said, ¡°I ordered your watermelon juice.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± She took the juice, bit down on the straw, and took a sip. Joshua had encountered plenty of women who tried to seduce him over the years. Ever since Kylie kept stealing nces at him during Shermaine¡¯s graduation party, he¡¯d figured out that this woman might be setting her sights on him. 1/2 That was why he made it a point to avoid unnecessary Interaction with her. If she didn¡¯t get the hint and back off, he wouldn the site fo crystal clear for her From what he could tell, Kylle had no intention of giving up on her little scheme. It was June, lychee season, and the flight attendants had provided perfectly fresh fruit for the passengers. Joshua peeled one of the sweet, translucent fruits and held it up to her lips. ¡°Here, Sheary, try it. It¡¯s really sweet.¡± Shermaine set down her juice and opened her mouth obediently. The lychee was incredibly juicy, and as she bit down, the sweetness immediately burst across her tongue in the most delightful way. She loved how perfectly sweet it was, and her lips glistened slightly from the fruit¡¯s natural moisture. Joshua gently wiped the corner of her mouth with his thumb, then spread ead out a napkin and gestured for her to spit out the pit when she was ready, The other passengers couldn¡¯t help but stare inplete envy at the scene unfolding before them. ¡®What a perfect husband.¡® Comment Nurse walking 224 Wins me another one,¡± Shermaine demanded without a hint of shame ¡°Sure, Joshua was more than happy to oblige. He¡¯d dly spell Shermaine for the rest of his life. Sarah couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. ¡°You have hands. Why are you making Joshua peel them for you?¡± Before Shermaine could respond, Joshua said, ¡°I spoiled her.¡± Sarah was left speechless. After a pause, she wanted to say that Shermaine didn¡¯t deserve it, but she held her tongue Joshua ignored her and went back to what he was doing. Kylie watched with a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡®Interesting. Joshua¡¯s devotion to Shermaine was quite captivating, it was a kind of affection thed never witnessed before. She wondered what it would be like if that devotion were directed at her instead. Men were all the same though. They couldn¡¯t help but have a change of heart eventually. The truth was, Joshua really had spoiled her. During their time in Xenhall, he¡¯d done everything himself. After they returned, it only got more. Without realizing it, Shermaine had grown ustomed to Joshua¡¯s kindness. She kept it all in her heart, falling a little more in love with him each day Ten minutester, they boarded the ne. In first ss, Shermaine and Joshua had seats in the same row. At least Sarah and Kylie weren¡¯t in their row¨Cotherwise, it would¡¯ve been truly annoying. The first¨Css seats were spacious andfortable, even allowing passengers to lie down and sleep. As soon as Shermaine sat down, exhaustion washed over her. Joshua, when he wasn¡¯t at the office, could be incredibly clingy at night. After takeoff, she put on her eye mask and fell asleep immediately. The direct flight took just three and a half hours, and theynded in Rodunst right on time. Benzo Club had arranged a car to pick them up, and they all rode together. Kylie stood to the side, smiling at Joshua. ¡°Joshua, could you help me and Grandma with our luggage?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have hands?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t lift it.¡± ¡°Maybe you should eat more.¡± Kylie felt like she was about to lose it. He¡¯d just thrown shade at her again. Shermaine slidzily into the car, and Joshua ducked in after her. He grinned and yfully tugged at her ear. ¡°Sheary, how¡¯d I do back there?¡± ¡°Not bad.¡± ¡°How about a kiss?¡± He¡¯d barely kissed Shermaine all day, and he was getting restless. The car was empty. Without thinking much, Shermaine turned to face him. Joshua leaned down and captured her lips, taking advantage when she parted them slightly to deepen the kiss. Before long, her lips were swollen and red, as if she¡¯d been wearing rouge. Joshua gently wiped away the traces from her lips, his eyes dancing with amusement. Outside the car, Kylie stared at the two suitcases with a cold expression, her whole demeanor radiating something dangerous. Fortunateng (1162.. came over and quickly helped her load the luggage. The car was a stretched Lincoln that could seat seven people. They drove all the way to Benzo Club, checked in, and headed up to the 23rd floor together. As they stepped out of the elevator, Kylie asked, ¡°Joshua, Shermaine, are you guys free tomorrow night?¡± Shermaine responded, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Kylie pulled two tickets from her bag. ¡°The International To Conference. It¡¯ll bring together tech geniuses from all over the world. You two should Shermaine nced at the tickets Kylie was holding out and raised sed an eyebrow. ¡®So Kylie is also attending the international Tech Forum¡¯s event? ¡°We don¡¯t need your tickets,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°Grandma told me you¡¯ve been investing in renewable energy and Al,¡± Kylie said, looking at Joshua. ¡°The International Tech Forum conference is a rare opportunity. You should make the most of it andwork with experts in these fields. It could be crucial for your project breakthroughs.¡± Joshua replied, ¡°We have tickets.¡± Kylie took back the tickets. ¡°Well then, wee to join us tomorrow.¡± She couldn¡¯t wait to see their shocked faces when they realized she was one of the keynote speakers invited by the organizers. ¡°Thanks, we¡¯ll be there.¡± With that, Shermaine took Joshua¡¯s hand and led him toward their room. After swiping their key cards, the two entered their room, finally free from Kylie and Sa presence. The room was spacious, with a king¨Csized bed that was six feet wide. The only awkward feature was the bathtub¡¯s cement¨Cit sat right by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, and to make matters worse, the bathroom door was transparent. Anyone taking a bath would bepletely exposed to their roommate. The tech forum¡¯s official meet¨Cand¨Cgreet was scheduled for tomorrow evening, where everyone would gather for the first time. There would be a red carpet event, and the venue was a nearby convention center. Based on what Kylie had just said, she must have been invited by the event organizers too. Judging from her tone, she was clearly someone important- no wonder she acted so arrogant. Her gesture of handing them tickets probably wasn¡¯t just about inviting them to watch; she wanted them to witness her moment of glory. She certainly knew how to put on a show. Shermaine¡¯s eyes darkened as a smile yed on her lips. ¡®If you want to show off, I¡¯ll y along.¡® AD Comment Nurse walking 225 Chapter 225 The right sky sparkled with countless stars. Since both Joshua and Shermaine spoke Rodunstian, they weren¡¯t worried about any Shermaine grabbed Joshua¡¯s hand and pulled him to a local restaurant where they ordered grilled cheese sandwiches and funa pizza. The food absolutely authentic, and they both left feelingpletely satisfied. They walked hand in hand through the streets. While out shopping, Shermaine couldn¡¯t resist buying a little bit of everything when she spotted all the local street food. Luckily, she¡¯d only bought small portions, so they shared everything bite by bite until it was all gone. Back at the apartment, Shermaine sank onto the couch, feeling stuffed. She rested her hand on her belly and rubbed it gently, curled up like a content cat. Joshua came over and handed her a container of yogurt. ¡°It¡¯ll help with digestion.¡± Shermaine took it and sipped slowly. Evening hours always seemed to fly by. Joshua asked, ¡°Sheary, ready for a shower?¡± Shermaine nced at the bathroom¡¯s location and the ss door that left absolutely nothing to the imagination. She had zero desire to shower there. ¡°You need to wait outside.¡± ¡°Do I have to?¡± ¡°Yes, you do.¡± Joshua pulled her into his arms and nipped at her lips, tasting the sweet blueberry vor from the yogurt. ¡°There¡¯s nothing I haven¡¯t seen before.¡± He adored everything about Shermaine, down to every strand of her hair. Shermaine felt her ears burning as she tugged at his cor. ¡°Are you going or not?¡± Joshua smiled, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go.¡± ¡°Then hurry up.¡± ¡°Just a few more kisses.¡± They ended up making out on the couch. Joshua kept kissing her, not wanting to leave. His hands pulled away from Shermaine¡¯s body. ¡°Call me when you¡¯re ready, Sheary.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Shermaine felt weak all over from his kisses, her eyes shimmering with azy, seductive look. After leaving the room, Joshua headed straight to the bar on the 24th floor and ordered a freshly mixed cocktail. The bar was packed with people, both men and women. The soul music ying in the background created aid¨Cback, romantic atmosphere. Joshua¡¯s arrival inevitably drew attention from around the room. He settled at the bar counter, sleeves rolled up, looking somewhat bored. He asked the bartender for a cigarette and soon was blowing smoke rings into the air, exuding raw sensuality. Throughout the evening, several women approached him, but he ignored them all. 1/2 He only took a few drags before stubbing out the cigarette, Shermaine didn¡¯t like him smoking, though he¡¯d still light one up when he had not Joshua sipped his drink, keeping track of time, Only ten minutes had passed since he¡¯d left the room, Shermaine usually took about twenty m shower A wave of perfume hit him, and he frowned. Then he noticed Kylie had sat down beside him in a different dress. This one was much eaxier than what she¡¯d worn during the day. After finishing her spa treatment, Kylie changed into a fresh outfit and headed downstairs, ready to hunt for some fun. She never expected to rm into Joshua here. She was shocked he was actually at the bar drinking alone, without Shermaine. ¡°I¡¯ll have whatever he¡¯s having,¡± Kylie told the bartender. ¡°Miss, this gentleman¡¯s drink might be too strong for you.¡± ¡°I said I want the same thing he¡¯s drinking.¡± ¡°Well. One moment, please.¡± Kylie leaned against the bar, one leg crossed over the other, looking both arrogant and incredibly seductive. Her pose made every man around her restless with desire. ¡°Joshua, what are you doing drinking alone down here?¡± The liquor burned going down. It was harsh and strong. Joshua¡¯s choice of drink wasn¡¯t something most women could handle, but he didn¡¯t bother warning her. His mind drifted to when Shermaine first moved in and discovered his liquor collection, how her eyes had lit up with excitement. Their tastes were so simr¨Cthey both loved drinks that burned the throat. Joshua spoke slowly and deliberately, ¡°Your perfume is nauseating. Could you move away from me?¡± Kylie was left speechless, her mouth hanging open in disbelief. Nurse walking 226 kyde 3 face gradually darkened, her lips pressed into a thin line. ¡°You really hate me that much? I don¡¯t hate you, Joshua r¨¦plied. ¡°Then why are you being such a jerk to me?¡± Joshua twirled the ring on his ring finger. ¡°Because I can¡¯t even be bothered to hate you.¡± He fixed his gaze on her. ¡°Drop the cheap tricks. Any man wit taste wouldn¡¯t give you a second nce myself included.¡± Kylie had never been looked down upon like this. Back in Moranta, men always treated her like a princess. And here was Joshua, showing her nothing but contempt. Her chest heaved with anger. By now, Joshua had finished his cocktail and left. The bartender ced her drink in front of her¨Cthe one she¡¯d ordered earlier. Staring at the deep blue cocktail, Kylie clenched her fists. In a fit of rage, she grabbed the ss and took a swig, only to choke so badly that tears threatened to spill, nearly ruining her carefully applied eye makeup. The bartender silently handed her a napkin. He¡¯d warned her, but she wouldn¡¯t listen. After Kylie finished coughing, her phone rang. It was a call from Moranta. She answered, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°You¡¯re in Rodunst?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°The organization has a job for you,¡± the man said. ¡°It¡¯s not urgent, so you can take your time nning. I¡¯ve sent the details to your email.¡± Kylie mumbled an acknowledgment and hung up. What she was really looking forward to was tomorrow¡¯s International Tech Forumworking event. She knew Shermaine and Joshua would be there, and she couldn¡¯t wait for Joshua to see exactly which field this woman he looked down on was a legend in. She was eager to see how his opinion of her would change. As for the mission, she¡¯d put that aside for now. When Joshua returned to the room, Shermaine had already showered and was wearing a pure white silk nightgown. Her hair was still damp and hanging loose as she toweled it dry. The moment Joshua walked in, Shermaine caught the faint smell of cigarettes and alcohol on him. ¡°You went to the bar upstairs?¡± she asked. ¡°Yeah,¡± Joshua said. ¡°Had a drink?¡± ¡°Just ordered a cocktail.¡± Shermaine asked with interest, ¡°Was it good?¡± ¡°It was.¡± ¡°Order me one.¡± Joshua said he¡¯d already ordered it and someone would bring it down shortly. 18:42: Mons seeing that Joshua was about to hit the shower, she said, ¡°Wait, let me change and get out of your way Joshua swept her up in his arms andid her on the bed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ve got thick skin.¡± He paused, then added with a grin. Besides i body¡¯s all yours to look at, Sheary.¡± Shermaine pressed her lips together. ¡°I¡¯m not looking.¡± Joshua said nothing. He grabbed his pajamas and headed into the bathroom. The sound of running water filled the room. Through the windows, Shermaine could see his back and his long, powerful legs. Everything about himi radiated strength and temptation. The drinks arrived soon after. She settled onto the couch and sipped slowly. Shermaine and Joshua had a taste for hard liquor, and she had to admit, this her lips, still wanting more. The drinks were strong and went straight to her head. She wanted more. was exactly what she liked. When she finished the ss, Shermaine licked So she grabbed the bottle of red wine that was already in the room, popped the cork, and kept drinking. When Joshua saw the rare flush on her cheeks, like she¡¯d been painted with rouge, he thought she looked especially beautiful. He dropped onto the couch beside her, tilted her chin up with his fingers to study her face, and then smiled. ¡°You¡¯re blushing.¡± Shermaine had drunk about a third of the wine bottle. But even though she usually held her liquor well, she was starting to feel dizzy. That cocktail had packed more of a punch than she¡¯d expected. Combined with the wine, she found herself sinking into the couch, drowsy and heavy- lidded. ¡°Carry me to bed,¡± Shermaine told Joshua. É« Nurse walking 227 Joshua swept Shermaine up in his arms and carried her to the bed, tucking the nkets snugly around h?r. The night stretched on endlessly Joshua¡¯s hair had mostly dried by now, and he slipped under the covers, pulling the drowsy woman into his embrace Shermaine yawnedzily and mumbled, ¡°Howe you¡¯re not even tipsy?¡± ¡°I can hold my liquor better than you.¡± ¡°Hey, quit poking me.¡± Joshua shifted back a little. Just holding Shermaine like this was enough to make him lose control of his thoughts. Before long, Shermaine had fallen asleep. The room fell silent except for the sound of her soft, steady breathing The next morning, as dawn was breaking, Shermaine felt a tingling sensation on her neck. When she opened her eyes, she found herself staring into a pair of deep, intense eyes. Seeing Shermaine awake, Joshua kissed her eyelids and murmured, ¡°Good morning, Sheary.¡± Shermaine¡¯s toes curled slightly, her breathing suddenly uneven. She rested her hand on his waist, letting out soft, contented sounds. The morning flew by in a blur, and suddenly it was noon. They had lunch at the hotel. Shermaine didn¡¯t go anywhere. It wasn¡¯t until the afternoon that she finally got out of bed. She pulled out her makeup bag and began getting ready, changing into the dress she¡¯d wear to the evening event. It was a ck embroidered evening dress. While Danielle wore evening dresses with a cool elegance touched by femininity, Shermaine radiated a natural grace and vibrant beauty from within. Shermaine put on pearl earrings and slipped into ck stiletto heels. Her bright eyes and perfect smile lit up her face, making her absolutely radiant. Shermaine rarely wore makeup, but she was already stunning without it. With makeup on, her beauty became even more striking. The event was scheduled for seven o¡¯clock. It was already past six. It would take about half an hour to get there from here. Meanwhile, the person assigned to receive Shermaine at the meet¨Cand¨Cgreet was already waiting downstairs. She grabbed her purse and slipped her hand through Joshua¡¯s arm. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The man responsible for picking up Shermaine was Harold Rhodes, a citizen of the Republic of Wallington who¡¯d been living in Rodunst for years. He worked for the International Tech Forum¡¯s Rodunst branch and was thrilled about meeting Boa Hanks in person. He wondered if Boa Hanks was as handsome as everyone said. If possible, he¡¯d love to get an autograph too. After all, Boa hadpleted two back¨Cto¨Cback SSS¨Clevel missions¨Cthe toughest ones on their board¨Cand executed them wlessly in record time. Though Boa didn¡¯t have as many fans as Dolcie, he¡¯d built up a loyal following. Harold waited patiently. He¡¯d sent Boa his photo earlier to make it easier for Boa to recognize him. 1/3 * Just then, a couple stopped out of the elevator and approached him. ¡°You¡¯re Harold?¡± Harold had been sitting in the lobby reception area and immediately stood up when he heard someone address him. ¡°Yes, I am.¡± Shermaine handed him the invitation she¡¯d received earlier. ¡°I¡¯m Boa Hanks.¡± Harold froze. He¡¯d been expecting a gorgeous guy, but instead, Boa was a stunning woman. He¡¯d met Dolcie beforeing here she was pretty sure but nothingpared to how breathtaking Boa looked in person. ¡°Hello,¡± he stammered. He was so shocked he couldn¡¯t quite process it all. Harold didn¡¯t dare look too long, though. The man beside Boa had such an intimidating P that Harold could barely breathe under his gaze, Then Harold noticed they were both wearing matching rings. He asked, ¡°What should I call you?¡± Shermaine smiled, ¡°Shermaine.¡± ¡°Shermaine, great to meet you. I¡¯m Harold Rhodes, and I¡¯ll be handling your schedule for the entire event tonight.¡± Harold introduced himself. After exchanging greetings and shaking hands with Harold, Shermaine followed him out, bringing along Joshua as they headed to the convention and exhibition center together. The convention and exhibition center was massive. Due to the grand scale of the event, a red carpet stretched for a hundred yards at the entrance, surrounded by fans of various celebrity gamers and media reporters. Among them, Shermaine and Dolcie had thergest fan bases. Dolcie¡¯s fans were mostly male, and so were Shermaine¡¯s. However, Shermaine¡¯s fans had always assumed she was male. They¡¯d organized themselves without her knowledge¨Ca grassroots fan club, essentially. Despite this, their numbers continued to grow day by day. The red carpet entrance had no set order¨Cwhoever arrived first went in first. At that moment, the man in the front seat said, ¡°Dolcie, we¡¯re almost at the convention and exhibition center entrance.¡± Kylie sat in the back seat, touching up her makeup. ¡°Got it.¡± Her fans had always been dying to see what she really looked like, ¡®Now they finally had their chance. When she made her appearance, they¡¯d definitely be blown away. She had the skills, and on top of that, she was young and beautiful. The car slowly pulled up to the red carpet. The man got out and personally opened the door for her. ¡°Dolcie, we¡¯re here.¡± Kylie snapped herpact shut and gathered her dress. She ced one foot on the ground, then ducked out of the car. The host¡¯s voice boomed across the venue. ¡°Please wee tinum¨Clevel expert, Dolcie Chapman!¡± Dolcie wore a strapless midnight blue evening gown¨Ccustom¨Cmade and incredibly expensive. Though she wasn¡¯t particrly busty, the dress created an alluring d¨¦colletage. Her fans went wild the moment they saw how stunning their goddess looked, chanting ¡°Dolcie! Dolcie!¡± like they¡¯d been injected with pure adrenaline. After Kylie stepped out, Sarah followed behind her. She¡¯de too, riding on Dolcie¡¯s coattails. Kylie shed the crowd a smile, and they screamed even louder. After the photo ops and flower presentations wrapped up, Kylie walked forward with Sarah trailing behind. Her pace was measured¨Cneither rushed nor ?? 18:42 Mon, 16 Jun leisurely. Just as they approached the main entrance, another car pulled up. The host¡¯s voice rang out again. ¡°Please wee tinum¨Clevel expert, Boa Hanks!¡± Kylie froze mid¨Cstep at the name. She turned around, wanting to get a good look at the person Pposedly outshone her. The car pulled to a stop, and Shermaine stepped out in a stunning evening dress. Under the shing lights, she looked breathtaking. Her fans, who had never imagined their idol was a woman, had already shouted in unison. ¡°All hail, Your Majesty!¡± Their voices boomed across the venue, practically shaking the heavens. Shermaine froze for a moment. Her fans froze too, shocked to discover that Boa Hanks was female. Then, with perfect synchronization, they quickly corrected themselves. ¡°All hail the Empress!¡± The reason they¡¯d chosen this greeting was simple. Boa Hanks was known as the Pirate Empress in a famous anime. Since their idol shared their love for the character, calling her ¡°Your Majesty¡± seemed fitting. After all, she was just as formidable as the character. Fortunately, even though their ¡°man¡± turned out to be a woman, she stitt carried herself with such amanding presence that she truly looked like she could conquer the world. Standing at the end of the red carpet, Kylie¡¯s face suddenly changed. Confusion filled her mind as she wondered, ¡®Boa Hanks is Shermaine? But isn¡¯t she just a high school student?¡® Sarah frowned as well, thinking to herself, ¡®Shermaine is walking the red carpet just like Dolcie, and people are even calling her an Empress?¡® AD No Ads Nurse walking 228 hapter 228 wait Kylie, how is Shermaine walking the same red carpet as you?¡± Sarah asked, clearly puzzled. Only the top minds in tech were invited to this event. If Shermaine was here, then she had to be a major yer too. Kylie didn¡¯t say a word. But Sarah caught the subtle shift in her expression, and that was enough. Her hunch was right. Shermaine was definitely in tech. And judging by Kylie¡¯s reaction earlier, they probably knew each other. Otherwise, why would she turn around so sharply at the mention of ¡°Boa¡°? Kylie steadied herself quickly. She came to this Tech Conference for one reason, to redeem herself and prove to everyone that she was better than Boa. And now, Boa turned out to be Shermaine. It was even better as she despised both of them anyway. And with Joshua also in attendance, she had no intention of fading into the background. She was going to make sure Joshua saw what kind of woman a man with real taste should choose. Just then, the man in charge of escorting Kylie throughout the event blinked in surprise. ¡°Boa¡¯s a woman?¡± he muttered. He¡¯d volunteered to be Kylie¡¯s liaison because he was a fan. As for Boa, he¡¯d never paid her much attention. She was just a name, and he wasn¡¯t interested in faceless figures. He liked exceptional women, women who turned heads. And Boa? He hadn¡¯t expected her to be this stunning. She was effortlessly elegant, impossibly poised, and carried herself like she owned the ce. It meant Kylie was no longer the only female tech icon in the room. But he quickly snapped out of it, remembering where his loyaltyy, ¡°This way, Ms. Bynes,¡± he said, leading her forward. Even Kylie¡¯s other fans on site seemed momentarily frozen. No one had prepared chants or banners. Compared to the wee Shermaine received, they were already losing momentum. No one had anticipated that someone as low¨Cprofile as Shermaine, practically invisible on tech forums outside of asional project appearances, wouldmand such a devoted fanbase. Shermaine offered a polite nod in their direction. It was minimal, but enough to acknowledge them. She couldn¡¯t just ignore the crowdpletely. A momentter, Joshua stepped out. Dressed to match her in a sharp tailored suit, he ced one hand on her waist with casual intimacy. The ring on his finger matched the one Shermaine/wore. It was obvious that they were together. Surprisingly, the fans didn¡¯t seem to mind. They¡¯d thought their idol was a man. Turned out she was a woman. But it didn¡¯t make them admire her any less. 45 4400 43 Chapter 229 tuire the phares were thing Share a textus ad Metro Heide but cook Nth may up Shaniah was howled hart trage to the waiting thing, thi chndesigns whills destins must mentirted to the Vi was pred day sukandid¨¢te the forming Shenmale write le standing the dedura Tach Conference, dis day dry to get him a test That was when Bradley rerendered something Organisers from the International Tech Form had provingly respihed out, hoping Joshua could serve axsi band wiscarim and present award at the Wallingtob Tech Conference wack then, Bradley had refined on leshus¡¯s behalf With Joshua¡¯s packed schedule, he figured there was no point even asking. What he hadn¡¯t expected was for Shermaine to show up not just as a participant, but as one of the top¨Cfier experts. That changed everything. Stenned, Bradley had called the organizers back and told them Joshua was avable after all. The organizers were overjoyed and locked him in right gway John was, after all, a global powerhouse in renewable energy and Al. His recent breakthroughs had shaken the entire industry, and his worth had top ten at just thirty¨Cone. Once Shermaine and Joshus parted ways, Harold led her backstage. The lounge was expansive and luxurious. Each contestant had a private armchair, and ss tables wereid out with drinks and fresh fruit. When Shermaine walked in, about ten people were already there. With her arrival, that made eleven. Nine more were still toe. Shermaine was a newly promoted tinum¨Clevel expert, having jumped two ranks bypleting two SSS¨Clevel missions back¨Cto¨Cback, an achievement that made her stand out immediately. A massive screen in the lounge was broadcasting the red carpet, so most of the room already knew Boa was a woman, just like Kylie. The experts varied in age, some well into their forties, others barely out of college. But regardless of age, they had all taken notice. After a few polite greetings, Shermaine gave a slight smile and took her seat. Coincidentally, Kylie was seated directly to her left. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect you to be Boa,¡± Kylie said, ncing over with a smirk. Shermaine casually reached for a bottle of water and unscrewed the cap. ¡°Yeah,¡± she replied, ¡°funny how things work out.¡± She hadn¡¯t expected Kylie to be Dolcie, either. Dolcie was the name that had followed her through every mission she¡¯d taken, the constant shadow. Who would¡¯ve thought she¡¯d suddenly reappear as some long¨Clost cousin? A cousin with questionable motives, especially when it came to Shermaine¡¯s man. The whole thing was irritating beyond belief, ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to seeing how you do in the challenge,¡± Kylie said, voice cool but loaded. Truth was, she didn¡¯t take Shermaine seriously. She believed she could¡¯ve handled those two SSS missions herself. The only reason Shermaine¡¯s Al system outperformed hers, in her mind, was that it had been built by a Wallingtonianpany, handpicked for the event. No one could outdo her when it came to Al. Shermaine took a slow sip of water and said calmly, ¡°Looking forward to watching me wipe the floor with you?¡± Kylie¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What makes you so sure you¡¯ll beat me?¡± 18:58 Tue 17 Jun Normally, Shermaine didn¡¯t waste time judging people. But since this was Kylie, she didn¡¯t bother sugarcoating it. ¡°You¡¯re not that impressive.¡± kyle scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re seriously full of yourself.¡± Shermaine smiled, unfazed. She was just stating a fact. If anyone in the room was radiating arrogance, it was Kylie. They were speaking in Ustranasion, the international workingnguage of the conference, so everyone around them understood every word. The tension was thick It was clear that if there was a team round, these two wouldn¡¯t be sharing a bench. Nurse walking 229 Chapter 229 tuire the phares were thing Share a textus ad Metro Heide but cook Nth may up Shaniah was howled hart trage to the waiting thing, thi chndesigns whills destins must mentirted to the Vi was pred day sukandid¨¢te the forming Shenmale write le standing the dedura Tach Conference, dis day dry to get him a test That was when Bradley rerendered something Organisers from the International Tech Form had provingly respihed out, hoping Joshua could serve axsi band wiscarim and present award at the Wallingtob Tech Conference wack then, Bradley had refined on leshus¡¯s behalf With Joshua¡¯s packed schedule, he figured there was no point even asking. What he hadn¡¯t expected was for Shermaine to show up not just as a participant, but as one of the top¨Cfier experts. That changed everything. Stenned, Bradley had called the organizers back and told them Joshua was avable after all. The organizers were overjoyed and locked him in right gway John was, after all, a global powerhouse in renewable energy and Al. His recent breakthroughs had shaken the entire industry, and his worth had top ten at just thirty¨Cone. Once Shermaine and Joshus parted ways, Harold led her backstage. The lounge was expansive and luxurious. Each contestant had a private armchair, and ss tables wereid out with drinks and fresh fruit. When Shermaine walked in, about ten people were already there. With her arrival, that made eleven. Nine more were still toe. Shermaine was a newly promoted tinum¨Clevel expert, having jumped two ranks bypleting two SSS¨Clevel missions back¨Cto¨Cback, an achievement that made her stand out immediately. A massive screen in the lounge was broadcasting the red carpet, so most of the room already knew Boa was a woman, just like Kylie. The experts varied in age, some well into their forties, others barely out of college. But regardless of age, they had all taken notice. After a few polite greetings, Shermaine gave a slight smile and took her seat. Coincidentally, Kylie was seated directly to her left. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect you to be Boa,¡± Kylie said, ncing over with a smirk. Shermaine casually reached for a bottle of water and unscrewed the cap. ¡°Yeah,¡± she replied, ¡°funny how things work out.¡± She hadn¡¯t expected Kylie to be Dolcie, either. Dolcie was the name that had followed her through every mission she¡¯d taken, the constant shadow. Who would¡¯ve thought she¡¯d suddenly reappear as some long¨Clost cousin? A cousin with questionable motives, especially when it came to Shermaine¡¯s man. The whole thing was irritating beyond belief, ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to seeing how you do in the challenge,¡± Kylie said, voice cool but loaded. Truth was, she didn¡¯t take Shermaine seriously. She believed she could¡¯ve handled those two SSS missions herself. The only reason Shermaine¡¯s Al system outperformed hers, in her mind, was that it had been built by a Wallingtonianpany, handpicked for the event. No one could outdo her when it came to Al. Shermaine took a slow sip of water and said calmly, ¡°Looking forward to watching me wipe the floor with you?¡± Kylie¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What makes you so sure you¡¯ll beat me?¡± 18:58 Tue 17 Jun Normally, Shermaine didn¡¯t waste time judging people. But since this was Kylie, she didn¡¯t bother sugarcoating it. ¡°You¡¯re not that impressive.¡± kyle scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re seriously full of yourself.¡± Shermaine smiled, unfazed. She was just stating a fact. If anyone in the room was radiating arrogance, it was Kylie. They were speaking in Ustranasion, the international workingnguage of the conference, so everyone around them understood every word. The tension was thick It was clear that if there was a team round, these two wouldn¡¯t be sharing a bench. Nurse walking 230 Chapter 230 The twenty contestants were evenly divided into two teams of ten for the uing group challenge. Felinaine that would be tha feddenduak-petition, consisting of five consecutive rounds. By the first stage, only three contestants would remain, and the champion wanna be determine among them. Team allocations were assigned by random draw. However, each participant was granted one opportunity to switch teams, conditional goun the content of the individual they wished to exchange with. Shermaine offered no response to any of it. Kylie¡¯s presente barely registered on her radar. Her phone vibrated. A message appeared from Joshua. (Sheary, it¡¯s only been ten minutes without you and I already miss you! A faint smile yed on Shermaine¡¯s lips. He was getting dangerously good at sweet talk and flirting. What amused her most was that she wasn¡¯t the least bit tired of it. She sent back a soft, yful emoji in response. Joshua: [How¡¯s everyone over there? Are they easy to deal with?] Shermaine: [They¡¯re fine.] A few had taken the initiative to greet her, with reasonable warmth. The rest either nodded in passing or chose not to engage at all. It was neither particrly weing nor openly hostile, somewhere in between. But she wasn¡¯t here to make friends, nor did she feel any need to extend unnecessary warmth. Her reasons for attending were pragmatic, and among them, the most persuasive was the considerable prize money. Joshua responded: [Win it, and take me to a hot spring.] [Deal.] Shermaine replied. Roughly twenty minutester, the remaining nine contestants arrived, attending dinner 1/4 as her grandson¡¯s ginhiend, not in any professional capacity Nevertheless, Danielle¡¯s gentleness and attentiveness telt a strong impression. Funive found herself growing davninely fond of her. If the fred for pote the marriage would be settled without dy. Unfortunately, her grandson did not appear to share that sense of urgency ¡°Danielle, Janice asked as she watched hen carefully, ¡°What do you think of Rose?¡± Danielle gave a faint smile. ¡°He¡¯s wonderful.¡± She truly did have feelings for him. Since the day she brought film lunch, she had continued us neprase Interest in subtle but deliberate ways. Buttely, none of it seemed to matter. Ross remainedpletely unresponsive Danielle lowered her gaze, though her demeanor remainedposed. She was not discouraged. She believed some things required time. However, if Ross continued to show no interest, she would not insist on pursuing him further. She was not the type to degrade herself for affection. She had never been the kind of woman to cling to someone who clearly did not reciprocate her feelings. She was proud, aplished, and entirely capable of walking away when necessary. Janice leaned back slightly and asked, ¡°Would you marry him, if he asked?* Footsteps echoed from behind them. It was Ross, returning from the kitchen with a te of fruit. Without turning her head, Danielle responded calmly, ¡°If Ross wanted to marry me, I wouldn¡¯t be opposed.¡± Janice¡¯s expression lit up with quiet joy at the answer. But behind them, Ross paused mid¨Cstep. He hadn¡¯t expected her to say that. The idea of marrying Danielle had never once urred to him. He had said it before. He was content with how things were and had no ns for romance and even less formitment. Ross¡® gaze dimmed slightly, but he acted as though he hadn¡¯t heard anything. He returned with a bowl of fruit and set it down. ¡°Grandma, here are the grapes.¡± It was June, grape season. They were sweet with just the right hint of tartness. Janice smiled. ¡°Peel one for Danielle.¡± Ross took a seat and quietly got to work. He¡¯d fed her strawberries before, so this didn¡¯t seem out of the ordinary. He fetched a clean te, carefully ced the peeled grapes on it, and slid it toward Danielle. ¡°Here.¡± Danielle blinked at him. ¡°I just gave Janice a foot massage.¡± Without hesitation, Ross picked up a toothpick, skewered a grape, and held it out to her. Janice couldn¡¯t help but smile. She loved watching them like this, soft moments of closeness. Since Danielle had made it clear that she¡¯d be willing to marry Ross if he asked, Janice had started seriously considering matchmaking. It was time, she thought, to gently nudge her grandson forward./ Not everyone was like Joshua, who stayed single into his thirties before finally meeting Shermaine. And besides, the Jean family needed fresh blood. A grand estate like this deserved more than just silence echoing through its halls. Chapter 230 Once the fruit was gone and the small talk faded, Janice gave Ross a subtle push to take Danielle upstairs, spending some time togethe She had no intention of ying chaperone. With no excuse to refuse, Ross brought Danielle into his private study. As soon as the door shut behind them, Danielle wrapped her arms around his waist and whispered near his ear, warm breath brushing his skin. ¡°Ross, you know Janice is practically counting down the days until your wedding.¡± Ross maintained his usual calmposure, graceful as ever. ¡°Dr. Shelly, you¡¯re a woman. You shouldn¡¯t be throwing yourself at a man.¡± Danielle raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you saying you¡¯re not interested?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± ¡°You think I¡¯m being inappropriate?¡± Ross didn¡¯t respond, which in itself was answer enough. Danielle let out a short, breathyugh, more frustration than amusement. ¡°If I didn¡¯t like you, do you think I¡¯d be holding you like this?¡± She paused, then asked softly, ¡°So¡­ are you going to let me or not?¡± This was herst try. If he still kept his distance, she¡¯d stop trying altogether. ¡°Danielle,¡± Ross said quietly, ¡°let¡¯s not turn this into something messy.¡± & She stepped back immediately. ¡°What are you so afraid of? It¡¯s not like you¡¯re nning to marry me.¡± She flopped down onto the sofa, crossed her legs, and folded her arms. ¡°But Janice seems pretty set on the idea.¡± ¡°She¡¯s just trying to y matchmaker.¡± ¡°Then maybe it¡¯s time we ended this little act, before she gets her heart set on something that¡¯s never going to happen.¡± In truth, Ross had been thinking the same thing. He¡¯d been trying to find the right moment to bring it up, something gentle that wouldn¡¯t hurt her feelings. He knew she¡¯d hoped their fake rtionship might evolve into something real. What he didn¡¯t expect was for her to be the one to end it first. He couldn¡¯t quite ce the feeling that followed. Watching her sitting there, warm one moment, detached the next, made everything feel strangely distant and unreal even. After a pause, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Danielle nodded, her voice steady, though her heart was sinking. She was ready to walk away from the Jean residence and everything that came with it, but for now, she was stuck. ¡°Where¡¯s Shermaine¡¯s room? I¡¯d like to rest.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll show you.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± When they reached the guest room, Danielle turned to him and said, her tone cool andposed, ¡°I know I¡¯ve made things difficulttely. I¡¯m sorry if I crossed a line.¡± Ross stood silently in the doorway. Danielle had no idea what was going through his mind, nor did she care to find out. She simply closed the door in his face, quietly but decisively. And with that, the world went still. Chapter 230 She¡¯d fallen out of love, and this time, for real. Nurse walking 231 Chapter 231 Ross stood frozen outside the door, a strange tug tightening in his chest as Danielle¡¯s sudden shift in attitude hit him square in the heart. For a long moment, he didn¡¯t move. ¡®So this is how easily a woman can change,¡¯ he thought bitterly. Rodunst Convention and Exhibition Center. The lights dimmed, and the host took the stage, followed closely by twenty tinum¨Clevel experts. One by one, they stepped into view, greeted by cheers and apuse from the crowd. As each expert was introduced, a brief profile appeared on the big screen, useful for those who had missed the red carpet or were tuning in online. When Kylie made her entrance, the live stream chat lit up like fireworks. Comments poured in fast and loud, most of them gushing over her looks. But beauty wasn¡¯t her only headline. At such a young age, she was already a visiting professor at Harrod University and a standout inputer science. With a r¨¦sum¨¦ that sparkled on its own, it was no surprise people were cing their bets on her to break through the ranks and take first ce in the individualpetition. The Tech Conference was held once every three years. For the past four rounds, the top three spots had been swept by experts from Moranta. Four straight cycles without a single finalist from Aploth, Wallingtonian included. And while Wallingtonian had no shortage of talent, its experts were regrly edged out at this global showdown. Over time, expectations dropped. This year, many fans had quietly resigned themselves to another loss. Some still held out hope. Maybe they¡¯d w their way back to third ce, anything to salvage some pride. If they couldn¡¯t even do that, it¡¯d only fuel the usual online trolls who loved to say Wallingtonian has the numbers, but not the brains. But this year was different. Shermaine had shown up. And she wasn¡¯t alone. Another standout from Wallingtonian had made it, Dr. Arthur M, a forty- year¨Cold aerospace scientist with a reputation as solid as his credentials. In the world of tech, beyond the buzz of IT, there were seven other major pirs, energy, biotech, aerospace, marine science,sers, new materials, and automation. Some emerging technologies hadn¡¯t yet been officially recognized, but that didn¡¯t make them any less critical. Backstage, Shermaine found herself naturally drawn to Arthur. Their conversation flowed easily, and it wasn¡¯t long before he tilted his head and said, ¡°You¡¯re Dr. Shue, aren¡¯t you?¡± She blinked, slightly caught off guard.. She wasn¡¯t trying to hide her identity, but still, it was the first time someone had recognized her since she came back. ¡°How did you know?¡± she asked. ¡°I¡¯ve wanted to meet you for years,¡± Arthur said, smiling. ¡°Never had the chance. But I¡¯ve heard recordings of your lectures. I¡¯m good with voices, and yours? It¡¯s unforgettable.¡± The way she spoke Ustranasion, precise, effortless, with thatzy, unapologetic confidence, it wasn¡¯t something you could mistake. ¡°Ah. I see,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯re younger than I imagined,¡± he added. People in Wallingtonian had followed Shermaine¡¯s work for years. She was a prodigy, in and simple. Her papers in mathematics and physics had pushed boundaries that most researchers couldn¡¯t even dream of. She was the kind of genius that came around once in a lifetime if that. ¡°Actually,¡± Arthur continued, ¡°once word got out that you were back in the country, top universities and institutes started trying to contact you. But you vanished. Some thought it was all a rumor.¡± Shermaine gave a tiny nod. She¡¯d known. What she hadn¡¯t told anyone was that she¡¯d returned for personal reasons, specifically to finish hit And now, she had ns. She¡¯d never earned a local degree before. This time, she would. She¡¯d already picked her school, Basterel University id?r chemistry. Then maybe grad school and a PhD. She¡¯d take her time. As for the countless emails asking to meet? Most went unanswered. Unless it was something truly worth her attention, she simply ignored them. ¡°I prefer to stay under the radar,¡± she said calmly. ¡°Can¡¯t me you,¡± Arthur replied. ¡°There aren¡¯t many left who do research just for the sake of it.¡± She didn¡¯t argue. He smiled again. ¡°Well, with you here, I think this might be the year we finally put Wallingtonian back on the map. Let¡¯s give it our best shot. Nurse walking 232 Chapter 232 Kylie went on stage second tost. The final appearance belonged to Shermaine. No one could say for sure if it was because the buzz around her had reached its peaktely, but regardless, that was how the organizers had arranged it. The moment Shermaine stepped onto the stage, the atmosphere shifted. The crowd buzzed with excitement, and even the live stream chat lit up with [Top three? That belongs to Moranta, always has.] [With Dolcie, Dr. Anthony, and Dr. Smith in the running? No way she breaks through.] While debate raged online, the host moved the program forward. It was time to draw lots for the team round. Twenty contestants stood on stage, each drawing a card. Blue meant Team One, and red meant Team Two. After the draw, they were given five minutes to negotiate swaps. Shermaine drew red. Some of the red team members weren¡¯t thrilled with their group and immediately tried to trade with those who had drawn red from Aploth¡¯s delegation. Kylie, meanwhile, had drawn blue. Some Aploth participants agreed to switch, but not all. To a few, borders didn¡¯t matter. What mattered was which team had the better shot at victor. Those who were willing to trade were often viewed as having a bit more backbone. The teampetition was no small feat. It spanned eight distinct knowledge domains, meaning eight challenges in total. Though each team had ten members, certain tasks required two or even three people to tackle them together. And they only had one hour to finish everything. This wasn¡¯t just about intelligence. It was a battle of speed, coordination, and nerves. What was more, there was no limit. One person could take on as many tasks as they wanted. As the questions appeared, eight in total, each contestant stared at their screen, brows furrowed with focus. They had three minutes to n and divide the work efficiently. 15:41 Wed, 18 Jun Chapter 232 Shermaine offered calmly, ¡°You guys go ahead and pick first. I¡¯ll take what¡¯s left.¡± Arthur naturally gravitated toward the aerospace¨Crted question. Once everyone else had made their picks, the only two remaining were tasks involving advanced materials andser technology. Shermaine stepped forward and chose the one on advanced materials. It just happened to align with the chemistry major she was aiming to pursue. A perfect opportunity to see where she stood. Reading through the task, she quickly determined it wasn¡¯t too difficult. All she had to do was purify aplex mixture of organic materials, down to apletely pure sample. Without missing a beat, she walked over to the designated work zone and got to it. Nurse walking 233 Chapter 233 There was no question that Shermaine was incredibly fast. But with most of the audience still fixated on Kylie and the blue zone, hardly anyone noticed just how quickly she was solving problems. The few who did were glued to their screens, thoroughly impressed. Barely ten minutes had passed when Shermaine calmly tapped the ¡°Complete Task¡± button. What made this moment even more thrilling was that at the International Tech Forum, submitting a solution instantly triggered the system to evaluate it. If you failed, that was it, no second tries. The problem would be locked out for you and left to others. A robotic voice chimed out. ¡°Congrattions. Taskpleted.¡± Without hesitation, Shermaine moved on to the next challenge. The fluid confidence of her actions stunned the small group of people who had been watching her from the beginning. She had solved the first problem in under ten minutes, like it was nothing.. The next task, however, was on a whole different level. It required her to write a theoretical research paper onser¨Cirradiated uncooled microbolometer radiometers. A low, murmur of disbelief spread through the crowd. Anyone who¡¯s been through college knew what that meant, long hours, mental exhaustion, sometimes even breakdowns. Some students literally lost weight trying to finish one. And now they wanted these tech elites to write one on the spot? The International Tech Forum really didn¡¯t hold back. To top it off, the paper would be graded not by humans, but by an Al system. Scoring anything below 90 meant automatic failure. The task wouldn¡¯t count, no matter how close you got. Shermaine had never worked directly in this field before. Still, she didn¡¯t seem fazed. If anything, she looked intrigued. She spent five minutes pulling up academic references, skimming through articles, and building the context she needed. Then she sat down, fingers poised above the keyboard, and started typing. In the VIP section, several international ambassadors were seated alongside Joshua, the face of Wallington¡¯s next¨Cgen energy and Al sectors. Everyone around him was trying to strike up a conversation, eager to get in his good graces. The room buzzed with small talk, mostly centered around guesses about which team would win thepetition. Shermaine¡¯s pace had slowed visibly. It was understandable, given she was now writing a full¨Cblown research paper. Most of the other contestants weren¡¯t moving much faster either. Oddly enough, the blue team had picked up speed and just finished their second task. Joshua, however, wasn¡¯t paying attention to any of the chatter around him. His gaze was fixed on Shermaine. She sat at her station,pletely focused, fingers flying across the keyboard. Anyone watching her now would¡¯ve been stunned by the way she wrote, like the words were pouring straight out of her brain onto the screen. 15.41 Wed 18 Jun Chapter 233 That was his Shermaine. d No matter the field, medicine, engineering, and anything, he always gave people a reason to be proud. To Joshua, she was like the ocean, vast, deep, and full of undiscovered brilliance. No matter how much you explored, you always knew there was more The paper took a bit longer than usual, fifteen minutes, to be exact. But that was expected. It was, after all, heavy on theory. Once Shermaine double¨Cchecked everything, she hit submit. The Al system instantly began its evaluation. The final score was 98, which meant the task waspleted. For a moment, the red team stood there in disbelief. No one had expected things to move so quickly. They¡¯d already cleared two tasks in what felt like no time at all. Without missing a beat, Shermaine moved on to help Arthur. His task was moreplicated, involving a slew of forms and equations. It wasn¡¯t the kind of thing one person could tackle quickly, especially not Arthur, who tended to take his time. With Shermaine¡¯s help, everything sped up. The third task was done. Then the fourth. Then the fifth. They fell into a rhythm. With five minutes still left before the hour mark, the red team became the first toplete all eight tasks in the team challenge. Meanwhile, the blue team was still struggling with theirst one. The result was clear. The red team had won. The moment they finished, the system gged the blue team¡¯s mission as terminated. When Kylie heard that the red team had cleared all eight sections, her face darkened. She¡¯d been convinced her team would walk away with the win. But instead, they lost. The red team couldn¡¯t contain their excitement. ¡°Boa, you¡¯re insane!¡± ¡°I honestly thought we were done for. We didn¡¯t have specialists in two of the fields. I figured we¡¯d hit a wall. But then you just¡­ handled it all yourself.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d I stuck to my gut and stayed on the red team.¡± Shermaine offered a cool, understated smile. ¡°Just doing my job.¡± Arthur couldn¡¯t stop grinning. As a fellow Wallingtonian, he couldn¡¯t be prouder. Meanwhile, the spectators, especially those who had been cheering for the blue team, were left in stunned silence. [Everyone was too busy watching the blue team to notice how fast Shermaine was crushing it. My heart was pounding just watching her!] [She wrote that paper in fifteen minutes and scored a 98?! That¡¯s unreal. I think Kylie¡¯s paper only got a 90, right? That gap is massive.] [Shermaine is on another level. No one evenes close.] When everyone gathered back on the stage, the blue team woreplicated expressions. They had lost, not just the glory, but a huge cash prize as well. Some who had originally been ced on the Red Team were now kicking themselves for switching sides. The host stepped forward, mic in hand, ¡°Boa, how did you manage to write a paper scoring 98 in just fifteen minutes? Laser technology isn¡¯t even your: 15:41 Wed, 18 Jun G main area of expertise. ording to our data, you referenced academic papers and pulled up supporting material mid¨Ctask.¡± The question, though neutral on the surface, only made the gap between Shermaine¡¯s 98 and Kylie¡¯s 90 all the more ring. But the host asked it out of genuine curiosity. Shermaine took the mic, pausing a moment before answering. ¡°You¡¯re right. It¡¯s not my specialty. But it wasn¡¯t particrly difficult. If there¡¯s going to be another Tech Forum exchange in three years, I¡¯d rmend raising the difficulty.¡± The host blinked in disbelief. Bute to think of it, that might actually be true for Shermaine. Even in the aerospace form segment, she¡¯d worked so fast it left the staff speechless. Impressed, the host pressed on. ¡°And what about the individual challenge? Any thoughts?¡± Kylie was staring at Shermaine, her eyes faintly red. Shermaine¡¯s tone remained light, unbothered. ¡°I¡¯ll be taking first prize.¡± If she didn¡¯t win it, it would only be because she wasn¡¯t in the game. Nurse walking 234 Chapter 234 Those who once imed on the tech forum that Shermaine was just riding on her team¡¯s coattails were now eating their words. She didn¡¯t need a team. She was the team. Under the spotlight, Shermaine shone with undeniable brilliance. d in a sleek ck dress, she stood tall, exuding effortless elegance and amanding presence that made it clear she was born to lead. Her new fans were practically beside themselves with excitement. They couldn¡¯t get enough of her unapologetic confidence. It was downright maic. Meanwhile, Kylie¡¯s fanbase wasn¡¯t taking the loss well. This was defeat number two. And all they could do now was hope there wouldn¡¯t be a third. If there was, all the mocking posts they¡¯d thrown at Boa on the tech forum woulde back to bite them hard. To make matters worse, Shermaine¡¯stestment had rubbed some of the more self¨Cimportant Moranta contestants the wrong way. The moment she made that proud, unflinching remark, hostility toward her surged, and Kylie, in particr was fuming. She hadn¡¯te all this way to watch Shermaine walk away with all the glory. Her target was clear, first ce in the individual round. ¡®Fine, you got lucky in the team match,¡® Kylie sneered inwardly. ¡®But there¡¯s no way you¡¯re taking this one. Dream on, Shermaine.¡¯ In the academic round earlier, Kylie had barely scraped a 90, just enough to meet the Al system¡¯s passing threshold. It was a topic she didn¡¯t specialize in, but since she had time, she stepped up. Honestly, she¡¯d felt lucky to pass at all. But Shermaine had scored a 98. And that topic wasn¡¯t even her area of expertise either. A perfect paper in a weak subject wasn¡¯t just luck. That was suspicious. ¡®No way she pulled that off without help. Digging through research papers? Gathering data? Please, she probably had someone feeding her the answers. If I couldn¡¯t do it, how could she?¡® Kylie¡¯s thoughts spiraled, trying to make sense of it. The host gave a knowing smile. ¡°Up next, our individual knockout round. Let¡¯s see who rises to the top!¡± As it turned out, just like Shermaine had predicted, she wasn¡¯t leaving without that winner¡¯s prize. The individual round was even more grueling than the team match. yers first had to draw a question from the S¨Clevel pool, then move up to SS and even SSS¨Clevel questions. And if they failed to solve the prompt within the time limit, they were out. It was the ultimate test, not just of intelligence and preparation, but of sheer luck. A single question from a weak subject could end it all. Above the expo center¡¯s transparent ceiling, the night sky stretched wide. Stars glittered in clusters, a silver ribbon of stardust winding across the heavens, beautiful, electric, and timeless. But there was no time to pause and admire the view. There¡¯d be no intermission, and the individual round began immediately. Twenty tinum¨Clevel experts took their seats. Before each of them sat a high¨Cend workstation, and as the system prompted them to draw their questions, tension filled the air. 1/2 Chapter 234 Shermaine didn¡¯t even blink. She clicked to draw. As a woman with the kind of luck that could win her a car in a mall raffle, she ended up with one of the easiest problems in the S¨Clevel pool, one that also happened to be right in her wheelhouse. She nced at the screen, then her fingers danced across the keys. Her speed was unreal. Within minutes, she¡¯d submitted her answer. Bored of waiting, she casually opened up Minesweeper.. The audience, along with everyone watching the live stream, watched her leisurely y the game on the big screen, stunned, and frankly, impressed. By the time she cleared her board, Round Ten had ended. Three contestants had been eliminated. ¤é¤¯ AD Comment S Nurse walking 235 Chapter 235 Even though the S¨Clevel questions were considered easy, one wrong draw from an unfamiliar domain could mean instant elimination. That was exactly what happened to the three contestants who¡¯d just been knocked out. One of them didn¡¯t even try. He withdrew the moment he saw the question was rted to aerospace, a subject he had absolutely no experience with. Then came the SS¨Clevel draw. This round introduced challenges beyond the core eight disciplines, meaning the difficulty spiked considerably. As contestant after contestant dropped out, the tension in the arena mounted. Everyone could see thepetition was bing brutal, Everyone except Shermaine¡¯s fans looked unusually rxed. Kylie, by contrast, approached each task with extra focus. Every time she drew a new question, there was a flicker of tension in her expression. Fortunately, she¡¯d been lucky so far, no obscure topics, nothing that truly tested the limits of her knowledge. Shermaine wasn¡¯t quite as lucky with her draws, but it hardly mattered. She handled every curveball with ease. That¡¯s what happens when you have a strong foundation in math. When logic bes second nature, even foreign problems start to leave clues. By now, the weaker yers had all been eliminated. It was past eleven, and only five contestants remained.¡± The final questions were from the SSS¨Clevel bank, extremely challenging, and under strict time limits. If their answer was submitted and the system cleared them for advancement, they were safe. If not, they were out. The minutes crawled by, but the audience didn¡¯t seem to mind. Most of them yed on their phones or oked up to check the stage. With thirty minutes left on the clock, Shermaine submitted her answer. She was the first. Ten minutester, Kylie finished as well. Once the third contestant submitted their work, the organizers called it. The remaining two be automatically eliminated to save time. Now came the real climax of the event. The final challenge would determine the overall winner. Whoever finished first would take the crown. Thest three standing were Shermaine, Kylie, and Edwin from Frosa. Edwin was only thirty this year, a rising star in his own right. At the same time, the organizers added a twist, a live audience poll. Viewers were invited to vote for who they believed would im first ce, with the promise that fifty voters would be randomly selected to win five thousand dors each. Given Shermaine¡¯s ster performance in both the team and individualpetitions, her poprity was unrivaled. She led the vote by a wide margin, leaving Kylie and Edwin far behind. Shermaine, however, remained unfazed. When she was deep in problem¨Csolving, she slipped into an almost meditative state,pletely focused, and impervious to any outside noise. Kylie, on the other hand, noticed the poll results. Seeing herself stuck in second ce made her visibly tense. It wasn¡¯t that she hadn¡¯t performed well. It was just that Shermaine had been exceptional, so brilliant that Kylie¡¯s efforts seemed to pale in Chapter 235 in the audience, Sarah had been confident that Kylie woulde out on top. But now, she wasn¡¯t so sure. Shermaine¡¯s capabilities were astonishing. She handled every discipline with ease and confidence, to the point that even Kylie seemed outmatched. Sarah couldn¡¯t deny she was impressed. But at the same time, she¡¯d never liked Shermaine, and the idea of her outshining Kylie was hard to swallow. She desperately hoped Kylie would be the first to finish the final task and win the individual title. That way, Shermaine would finally be knocked down a peg. But things rarely go the way people hope. Right as the countdown entered its final thirty minutes, the production team cut the live feed. The massive screens that had been showing each yer¡¯s progress suddenly went dark. No one could see how thepetitors were doing. Shermaine, Kylie, and Edwin had no idea where they stood. Now, all they could do was wait for the official results. When time was up, the three finalists stepped onto the stage. The host turned to the audience with a theatrical pause. ¡°So, tell me. Who do you think came in first?¡± When it came to volume, no one couldpete with Shermaine¡¯s fans. They weren¡¯t shy about showing their support, rowdy, energetic, and loud enough to shake the roof. Among the crowd, one name rang out the clearest. ¡°Boa!¡± The host grinned, dragging out the suspense. ¡°Is that really the name? Let¡¯s find out together.¡± AD Comment Nurse walking 236 Chapter 236 The entire auditorium seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the final results. But the host took a sharp turn with a grin. ¡°Actually, before we get to that¡­ why don¡¯t we ask our brand ambassadors who they think deserves the top spot?¡± The crowd stirred with curiosity. None of them had seen the ambassadors since the show began. No one expected them to be kept under wraps for this long. Suddenly, the massive screen above the stage flickered and switched to a live feed from the VIP lounge backstage, revealing three seated ambassadors. The camera immediately found its focus, Joshua. Amid two older men in their forties and fifties, Joshua stood out like a beam of light, elegant, striking, and unmistakably youthful. Within seconds, the inte lit up. [Holy hell, that man is too young and way too hot!]. [Okay, I¡¯m in love. That¡¯s the ambassador?] [So this is the CEO of York Group from Wallingtonia? Someone drop his contact info.] [Never cared about Wallingtonian men until now. Does he do casual?] [Joshua is the pride of Wallingtonian entrepreneurs.] [Y¡¯all need to calm down. He¡¯s wearing a ring on his left hand.] [Just a reminder, Mr. York arrived with Boa.] [Trantion: that man belongs to Boa. Don¡¯t get ideas.] At just thirty¨Cone, Joshua was already on the global billionaire list, a level of sess neither of the other two ambassadors hade close to at his age. From the stage, Kylie stared up at the screen, her heart sinking into jealousy. If he were hers, she¡¯d be the woman everyone envied. ¡®If I hade to Wallington sooner¡­ would I have had a chance with him? Would Shermaine never have entered the picture?¡® she wondered. Joshua was thest to speak. The first ambassador cast his vote for Kylie. The second chose Edwin. Then the mic passed to him. Without hesitation, he said, ¡°my love.¡± ¡°You mean Boa?¡± He nodded slightly. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Do you support her because she¡¯s from Wallingtonia¡­ or because she¡¯s your partner?¡± Joshua responded in his usual unhurried tone, ¡°I support her because I know she has what it takes to win. But if you¡¯re asking whether my feelings y a role, of course they do. To me, Sheary has always been the best.¡± And just like that, the man known for his cool detachment had, in front of a live audience, dered his faith and affection. The inte practically exploded. Screenshots flooded social media, apanied by frenzied captions and reposts. 16955 Thu 19 Jun ?D Chapter 236 Back on stage, Shermaine allowed herself a faint smile, her gaze quietly finding Joshua¡¯s. Her eyes, calm and bright, shimmered like starlight. Once the ambassador segment concluded, the host returned to the spotlight. ¡°Well then,¡± he said with deliberate suspense, ¡°it¡¯s time to announce the third¨Cce winner of the individualpetition.¡± The room fell into a hush. ¡°The third¨Cce award goes to¡­ Kylie from Moranta! Congrattions, Kylie!¡± She didn¡¯t move. Her fans looked stunned. Even Kylie herself stood frozen, her face paling as reality hit. ¡®Third? How could I be third? Was I really that slow submitting my task?¡® she thought. No one had expected this. Most had assumed she would take first. To see her walk away with third was a blow, not just to her, but to the many fans and supporters who had championed her all along. And for the Morantan crowd who had mocked Wallington earlier in thepetition, it was a public p in the face. Now, with Kylie out of the running, only Shermaine and Edwin remained. The first ce would be decided between them. AD Comment Nurse walking 237 Chapter 237 ¡°And now the host said with a pleasant smile, ¡°let¡¯s go straight to the big moment, first ce. The champion of this is Boa, representing. Wallingtoniant ¡°In this SSS¨Clevel mission, her performance was outstanding. Not only was she the first to finish among the three finalists, but she also made zero mistakes. ¡°ording to the system¡¯s assessment, she¡¯s the only contestant who qualified as a true all¨Crounder. That means, no matter the field, you can count on her to deliver wlessly. ¡°Let¡¯s give her a round of thunderous apuse ore than deserving.¡± The audience shot to their feet in a burst of excitement, the apuse crashing like a tidal wave. The sound was deafening. Shermaine¡¯s fans could barely contain their joy. She wasn¡¯t just the only one who passed the bar. She was officially certified as a top¨Ctier all¨Crounder. Once the news got out, Wallingtonian¡¯s reputation was sure to skyrocket, and Shermaine was bound to solidify her spot at the very top of the tech world. No one would be able to challenge her, at least not anytime soon. For a country that had long been mocked and dismissed, this victory was more than just a win. It was redemption. Some of them were even crying. The Tech Conference, held once every three years, had finally put them on the map. And for the first time, no one dared tough. The results spoke for themselves. No one questioned a verdict handed down by the International Tech Forum. It was globally recognized and beyond dispute. The host handed the mic to Shermaine, and she took it with her usualposure. ¡°Thanks for the votes, and to my fans out there, appreciate the support,¡± she said, ncing toward the crowd. ¡°But seriously, you can put those banners down now. You¡¯ve done enough.¡± She¡¯d seen them the moment she stepped onstage, those massive, attention¨Cgrabbing banners waving like crazy above the crowd. They stood out like a sore thumb. Honestly, they looked like something a bunch of straight guys had thrown togetherst minute. Not that she minded. She just didn¡¯t want them straining their arms for nothing. Then came the award presentation. Three brand ambassadors walked up to the stage. Joshua carried a gold trophy, beautifully carved, and a bouquet of fresh flowers. He didn¡¯t even nce at Kylie as he walked straight to Shermaine. First, he handed her the trophy, then the bouquet. ¡°Sheary,¡± he said, voice low and sincere, ¡°you killed it.¡± Shermaine had held more trophies than she could count, but this time was different. She actually felt happy. It hit her then that praise means something else entirely when ites from someone who matters. She took the flowers and replied,pletely deadpan, ¡°Thanks.¡± Joshua couldn¡¯t help butugh. He leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to her red lips. Shermaine didn¡¯t flinch. She met it head¨Con, unshaken and unapologetically calm. The cheers exploded again, louder than ever. 1/3 Chapter 237 And online, their fans went absolutely feral. Sheary, Joshua teased, ¡°don¡¯t you think it¡¯s my turn now?¡± Shermaine gave a tiny smile, then leaned in and left a perfect lipstick print on his cheek. His handsome face now carried a kind of effortless charm, refined and maic. But everyone knew this man was off¨Climits to the world. He belonged only to Shermaine. The tech conference finally came to a close around one in the morning. As the lights dimmed, the crowd slowly dispersed. Reporters returned to their hotels, already racing against deadlines to file their stories for the next day. There had been no shortage of international media present, an obvious sign of the event¡¯s global clout. Shermaine had be a household name in the tech Wallingtonian, sparking a full¨Cblown frenzy. ch industry overnight. was only a matter of time before her fame sent ripples through The next afternoon, a reception was set to take ce at Benzo Club. It was more dinner with the titans of tech, a front¨Crow seat to the upper echelon of the industry. than just social gathering. It was an exclusive chance towork over Kylie, meanwhile, was fuming. Nothing had gone ording to n. She hadn¡¯t won and certainly hadn¡¯t caught the attention of Joshua or Shermaine the way she¡¯d imagined. All her carefully plotted moves had amounted to nothing more than wishful thinking. And now, that humiliation was simmering into something sharper, resentment. For Kylie, this wasn¡¯t just a loss. It was personal. Back at the hotel, waiting for the elevator, Sarah tried tofort her. ¡°Come on, Kylie, don¡¯t let it get to you,¡± she said gently. ¡°So what if she came out on top? Doesn¡¯t mean she¡¯s better than you. ¡°I mean, Shermaine¡¯s the type who knows how to y the game. Hooks up with Joshua, and probably has a few other guys on the side too.¡± But the words barely made a dent. Kylie had her own affairs, but in front of her family, she still wore the mask of a perfect daughter. She wasn¡¯t done, not by a long shot. There was still time to turn things around. Shermaine did attend the afternoon reception. Compared tost night¡¯s sleek ck gown, today¡¯s flowingvender dress gave her an entirely different aura, cool, elegant, and effortlessly striking, She drew attention the moment she walked in. People flocked to her, hoping for a conversation, a handshake, a sliver of her time. Several extended job offers on the spot from top researchbs, renowned academic institutes, and even Fortune 100panies. But she declined each one with graceful poise. After signing a few autographs and exchanging contact info with a handful of professionals, she quietly slipped away with Joshua to North Sea. A secluded mountain resort known for its steaming hot springs and stunning starlit views. Shermaine stepped out of the room wrapped in a plush white robe. She dipped a toe into the pool, testing the temperature. Then, wordlessly, she untied her belt and sank into the water. She let herself rx, eyes half¨Clidded, features softened by the heat. A ss of red wine rested on a tray nearby. She picked it up, took a quiet sip, and exhaled. Momentster, Joshua appeared. He joined her in the water without a word, then made his way behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. ¡°Beautiful night,¡± he murmured into her ear. ¡°The moon, the stars¡­¡± ¡°They¡¯re stunning,¡± she said softly. ¡°Not as stunning as you,¡± he replied, as if it were the simplest truth. She didn¡¯t respond, just taking another sip of her wine. He leaned in and grazed her shoulder with a yful bite. ¡°Joshua, could you maybe try not being a menace for five minutes?¡± she said, barely holding back a smile. With the stars above and the warmth of the spring below, Joshua couldn¡¯t imagine a better setting. He turned her around to face him, his voice dropping. ¡°Sheary,¡± he said, ¡°how about we make tonight a little more fun?¡± Nurse walking 238 Shermaine didn¡¯t hesitate for a second. ¡°No way.¡± But Joshua kept at it, taking his sweet time with no rush at all. He was getting really good at winning her over these days. The giry who used to have zero interest in this stuffpletely changed when he was around her. Shermaine¡¯s cheeks turned bright red, and even her shoulders had this soft pink glow going on. Hard to tell if it was from the hot spring steam of because he just wouldn¡¯t quit with his moves. They went all out that night. They still had three or four more days left to mess around and see the sights. Next thing they knew, July rolled in with even nastier heat. But North Sea was gorgeous. The ocean looked like gold when the sun went down, and those summer sunflowers were blooming like crazy. They hung out in Peakhill West at night, which turned to be the second biggest red¨Clight district in all of Rodurist. Too bad they came at the wrong time of year though. They totally the best season for North Sea trips and couldn¡¯t check out those snow scenes everyone talked about. People said they were amazing. They spent their days hitting up different spots all over the ce, and their nights were pure passion. Joshua figured this whole honeymoon thing was totally worth it. Right, now they were down at the beach with the sun starting to set. Seagulls were flying around everywhere while Shermaine was out there surfing. Joshua had set up a beach umbre with a lounge chair underneath, and people all around them were having a st in the water. When Shermaine saw it was getting dark, she caught onest wave and headed back to shore. She walked up carrying her surfboard under one arm, and when she got to their umbre, Joshua grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her while he dried off all the water droplets. Shermaine was one of those people who just didn¡¯t tan no matter what. Plus, she¡¯d been religious about sunscreen, so she hadn¡¯t gotten even a little bit darker. Joshua didn¡¯t bother with all that sunscreen stuff himself, but whenever Shermaine want for dinner tonight?¡± he asked. was putting hers on, she¡¯d ther some on him too. ¡°What do you Shermaine thought for a moment before replying, ¡°Crab.¡± They¡¯d done heavy food and barbecue yesterday, seafood. Joshua gave her waist a gentle squeeze. ¡°How do you never gain any weight?¡± SO today she was craving some of the local Their whole trip had been prettyid¨Cback. They had private cars taking them everywhere and ate like kings with all the best local food the ce had to offer. Shermaine felt ticklish and pressed her lips together. ¡°You know very well why I can¡¯t gain weight.¡± All that eating during the day got burned offpletely by night, so there was no way she¡¯d put on pounds. Joshua paused for a second, thenughed. He pressed a soft kiss to Shermaine¡¯s corbone. ¡°It¡¯s because I love you so much.¡± He couldn¡¯t believe he¡¯d turned into this guy with zero self¨Ccontrol, always wanting more. The golden sunlight stretched their shadows long across the ground. To anyone watching, they looked like some perfect fairy¨Ctale couple, all romantic and beautiful. Chapter 238 When it got dark, the streets came alive with bright lights and crowds of people everywhere Alter dinner, Shermaine and Joshua didn¡¯t head straight back to their hotel fistead, they wandered around the streets picking up phe to be hones fomorrow Once they¡¯d bought enough stuff, they stopped at a dessert shop to take a break. Shermaine ordered some ice cream, and while she was really getra into it, a man walked in from outside. The guy looked like he was in his forties or fifties but didn¡¯t seem that old. He was fall with a pretty He looked pretty ordinary, but Shermaine thought there was something different about him. ordinary watch on his wrist. ¡°Mr. Murphy, you really love your wife. Here to buy her ice cream again? Same as usual?¡± the shop clerk asked him. Richard Murphy said yes. ¡°Is he from Rodunst?¡® Shermaine thought. At first nce, she figured he was probably from Wallington. ¡°Just give me a minute,¡± the clerk said. ¡°Sure thing.¡± Richard found a seat at a table just two spots away from Shermaine. Joshua wasn¡¯t in the shop since he¡¯d gone off to buy one more gift. After Richard sat down, his eyes wandered around andnded on Shermaine. He suddenly froze up a bit. AD Comment Nurse walking 239 Chapter 239 Shermaine noticed him staring and looked back at him. She gave him a small nod to be friendly. Richard lealized he was being weird and quickly said, ¡°Sorry about that.¡± ¡°No worries.¡± There was a ss of warm water sitting in front of Richard. He wrapped his hands around it, lost in heavy thoughts. ¡®She looks so much like her way too much,¡® he thought. This was the first time he¡¯d ever seen someone who resembled her so closely. And Shermaine was just a young girl too. She looked pretty young. In Rodunst, people usually drank ice water, but the server had brought him a cup of warm water instead. That was pretty simr to how they do things in Wallingtonian. Richard suddenly switched to speaking Wallingtonian. ¡°Are you from Wallingtonian?¡± Shermaine knew he was asking her. ¡°Yeah, I am.¡± His Wallingtonian was perfect¨Cno ent at all, totally pure. Richard smiled. ¡°You look a lot like her.¡± ¡°Her?¡± When Richard talked about her, his eyes got all soft and gentle. ¡°My wife.¡± That made Shermaine curious. She¡¯d always thought the only person who looked anything like her was Ross. They had simr features around the eyes and face. Well, and that clone too, but that made sense since the clone¡¯s body used her biological mother¡¯s genes. She¡¯d never really met anyone else in the world who looked like her. ¡°Could I see a photo?¡± Shermaine asked. Richard hesitated and looked ufortable. ¡°Sorry, for personal reasons, I can¡¯t show you.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± They chatted for a few more minutes, then let the topic drop. Shermaine went back to eating her ice cream while she waited for Joshua to get back. But then suddenly, a bullet shot right through the ss and hit Richard square in the chest. Richard clutched his chest, but his hand quickly turned red with blood as he copsed to the ground. The whole scene made everyone scream in terror, Shermaine instinctively looked through the bullet hole toward a window across the way. She caught sight of a ck gun barrel pulling back inside before disappearingpletely. Whoever fired the shot was already gone. ¡°Help me,¡± Richard whispered weakly, his face twisted in pain. He couldn¡¯t die, not yet. When Shermaine heard him, she crouched down beside him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯re lucky. I¡¯m a doctor.¡± Richard¡¯s eyes lit up when she said that. ¡°Please, you have to save me. I can¡¯t die now.¡± Shermaine nodded and got to work. Soon enough, Richard¡¯s bodyguards who¡¯d been tailing him from a distance rushed inside. When they saw what happened, they immediately called for an ambnce. 1/3 Shermaine Tooked up at them. ¡°Your boss needs surgery right now. If we wait for the ambnce, it¡¯ll be too freed some surgica is hospital bring them here.¡± Since they were Wallingtonians, they understood exactly what Shermaine was telling them. ¡°Can you save Mr. Murphy?¡± one of the bodyguards asked. ¡°I can do it.¡± Shermaine said. If someone from another country had made that im, they probably wouldn¡¯t have believed it. But since Shermaine was Wallingtonian, they felt an instant connection with her. Plus, she had this natural way about her that made people trust what she said. They rushed around getting everything she needed without question. Before long, they¡¯d cleared everyone out of the pastry shop and set up a bunch of medical equipment inside. When Joshua came back from his shopping trip, he knew something was wrong. Through the window, he could see Shermaine putting on a mask and medical gloves before disappearing into some kind of makeshift tent they¡¯d built inside. Joshua had never seen Shermaine handle a scalpel, but he¡¯d watched her save people before. Since Danielle was her senior, that meant Shermaine wasn¡¯t just good with traditional medicine. She had to be skilled in other areas too. Joshua didn¡¯t try to rush in and find Shermaine right away. The pastry shop waspletely locked down anyway, with police standing guard and running their investigation. Richard was a big deal. He was Wallingtonian but had Rodunst citizenship, kept a low profile but was super famous around here as a phnthropist. Everyone respected him. When someone like that gets attacked, the police take it really seriously. After three whole hours, Shermaine pulled out the bullet and started stitching him up with help from the other doctors. She worked fast ¨C the other doctors just stood there with their jaws hanging open. They¡¯d been worried at first about this woman who imed to be a doctor, wondering if she actually knew what she was doing. But after watching the whole surgery, they werepletely blown away. When Shermaine finished the stitches, she pulled off her mask and stepped out of the tent. ¡°Doctor, how¡¯s Mr. Murphy doing?¡± the bodyguard asked. ¡°Surgery went great,¡± Shermaine replied. ¡°Thank you so much.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± If they¡¯d tried to transfer Richard to a hospital, he probably would¡¯ve bled out and died. Shermaine figured the medical team knew what to do next without her having to spell it out. ¡°Doctor, where are you staying? I can have someone give you a ride back,¡± the guard said respectfully. ¡°That¡¯s okay, my husband¡¯s waiting outside for me,¡± Shermaine smiled. Huh? She¡¯s married already at such a young age?¡® the guard thought. He said, ¡°Well, could we at least get your number?¡± ¡°I¡¯m flying back to Republic of Wallington tomorrow, so there¡¯s no point,¡± Shermaine said. Joshua had been waiting outside for ages, so she grabbeu er stuff and headed for the exit. The bodyguards couldn¡¯t really argue with that, so they focused on what mattered most¨Cgetting Richard the help he needed. They loaded him up with security and rushed him to the hospital for proper treatment and recovery. It wasn¡¯t long before a small sedan pulled up outside the hospital. An elegant, refined woman stepped out of the car. She¡¯d clearly taken good care of herself over the years and didn¡¯t look like someone who was getting on in age. She hurried inside, obviously worried. Richard was already awake in his hospital room when she arrived. One of his personal bodyguards had been quietly filling him in on everything that happened until someone announced from the doorway, ¡°Sir, your wife is here.¡± She walked in right after that. Her voice was soft and gentle as she spoke in Wallingtonian. ¡°Rick.¡± Under the bright hospital lights, one could definitely see the resemnce between her face and Shermaine¡¯s Nurse walking 240 Richard used to go by Richard Garcia back in the day. More than 10 years ago, his wife, Juliana Rivera, had followed him when he moved to Rodonis Juliana had been seriously injured around that time and ended up in aa for several years. When she finally woke up, she couldn¡¯t remember anything that had happened. But the one good thing was that Richard stayed by her side through all of it. Richard was the only family she had left. If she lost him too, she¡¯d probably give up on the worldpletely. ¡°Juliana, you came.¡± Richard¡¯s weak voice instantly softened when he saw her. Juliana sat down beside his hospital bed, her face full of worry but still managing to stay calm. ¡°What happened? Why would someone try to assassinate you?¡± Richard had only lied to Juliana once in their rtionship, and that was 14 years ago. ¡°It¡¯s rted to my work,¡± he said simply. Juliana knew that Richard had been working for years to shut down illegal human experimentationbs. He¡¯d destroyed countless underground facilities across multiple countries, so maybe this time he¡¯d gone too far and made some serious enemies. ¡°Are you going to be in more danger?¡± she asked. He¡¯d been lucky to happened. rvive this time. There just happened to be a doctor in that dessert shop when it Richard tried to reassure her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not going anywhere for a while. I¡¯ve also hired plenty of security to keep us safe.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Juliana let out a relieved breath. ¡°What about that doctor who saved you? Did she leave already?¡± ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s gone.¡± Juliana made a disappointed sound. ¡°Do you have her contact information? I¡¯d really like to thank her.¡± ¡°No, we don¡¯t. She took off right after saving me. Cam asked for her contact details, but she wouldn¡¯t give them.¡± Richard shook his head. In a world this big, meeting someone like that was pretty rare luck. Good people wouldn¡¯t stick around for credit. That was just how Wallingtonians were raised. ¡°You got incredibly lucky this time,¡± Juliana told him. ¡°There happened to be a doctor right there when it happened. If not, things could¡¯ve gone really bad.¡± Richard¡¯s breathing was still rough, and he coughed a couple times. Juliana saw him struggling and said, ¡°Don¡¯t talk anymore. You need to rest.¡± ¡°Will you stay here with me?¡± For someone his age, he sure does ask a lot of questions that sound like they¡¯reing from a twenty¨Csomething,¡® Juliana thought. ¡°I will,¡± she smiled. Richard said, ¡°Juliana, give me your hand.¡± Juliana hesitated for a moment but reached out anyway. They were married, but somehow, she¡¯d always kept her distance from Richard over the years. It wasn¡¯t that she disliked him. There was just this weird ufortable feeling she couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on. That was why they¡¯d barely touched each other in more than ten years of marriage and had always slept in separate rooms. Richard took her hand and closed his eyes with a satisfied smile. When he thought about it, getting hurt wasn¡¯tpletely awful. It had been forever since he¡¯d held Juliana¡¯s hand like this. The shooting made huge news in Rodunst that night because of Richard¡¯s reputation, and Shermaine got dragged into the coverage too. Chapter 240 The next morning, at the luxury hotel, kylle grabbed the newspaper and saw the headline about famous phnthropist Richard getting and female doctor from the Republic of Wallington saving his life right there on the scene. Kylie got so pissed off that she throw the paper across the room. ¡®What kind of asshole has the nerve to mess up my n like that?¡± she thought, Kylie had been given this assignment by the organization. She was supposed to kill Richard. Now that the job had gone sideways, pulling off another attempt was going to be a hell of a lot harder. Her phone rang almost immediately. It was Dominic, the same guy who¡¯d called her before. He asked, ¡°Kylie, howe Richard isn¡¯t dead?¡± ¡°Some doctor saved him right there on the spot,¡± Kylie sighed. ¡°Well, that¡¯s just your luck,¡± Dominic said. ¡°But don¡¯t worry about it. The higher¨Cups aren¡¯t ming you. They just said to be more careful next time. This job¡¯s a wash anyway since the client doesn¡¯t want to put in another order.¡± ¡°If that doctor hadn¡¯t shown up, there¡¯s no way I would¡¯ve screwed this up,¡± Kylie said, her voice dripping with menace. ¡°That doctor¡¯s a dead woman walking.¡± AD Comment Nurse walking 241 Since Kylie was dead set on taking out that doctor, she was going to move heaven and earth to track her down. She bought some photos from a reporter who¡¯d managed to snap pictures of the doctor at the scene. When she finally got a look at the woman in the photos, her face wentpletely dark. It was Shermaine. ¡®Shermaine knows medicine? She actually knows medicine?¡® Kylie thought. She turned to the reporter. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely sure it¡¯s her?¡± ¡°Hey, you paid me good money for this, so I¡¯m sneaking you these photos. Yeah, it¡¯s definitely her. Look what she¡¯s holding in her hand. That¡¯s a medical mask right there,¡± the reporter said. The lighting was pretty terrible, so the photo came out blurry. Kylie zoomed in, and sure enough, just like the reporter said, Shermaine was holding a medical mask. Kylie was grinding her teeth in fury. First, Shermaine had stolen her spot as individual champion in the techpetition, and now she was screwing up her mission. Kylie wanted nothing more than to put a bullet in that woman right then and there. Her face twisted with rage, but after a moment, she broke into a vicious grin. ¡°You had a chance to take the easy road, but you chose the hard way instead. This time, I¡¯m going to make sure you¡¯repletely destroyed, Kylie thought. Meanwhile, Shermaine and Joshua were already on their flight back to Basterel. They¡¯d taken the afternoon flight andnded at Riverswood Vi by six that evening. The moment Shermaine got back, Danielle called her up for drinks. This was pretty unusual since Danielle hardly ever touched alcohol, unlike Shermaine who never missed a chance to have a couple when the opportunity came up. For Danielle to actually suggest going out drinking meant she was in a seriously bad mood. This had to be about Ross. Shermaine grinned. ¡°Perfect timing. I just got that tech conference prize money, so drinks are on me.¡± Danielle had the day off because she waspletely wiped out and needed to rest. That meant Joshua, who usually went everywhere with Shermaine, would be eating dinner alone tonight. After her shower, Shermaine slipped into a mint green slip dress that managed to look both innocent and tempting at the same time. She added six¨Cinch heels that made her long legs look even more stunning. Joshua suddenly didn¡¯t want her leaving the house. ¡°Sheary, I¡¯m sure Ms. Shelly wouldn¡¯t mind one more person joining.¡± He hinted shamelessly. ¡°Maybe not usually, but tonight she would.¡± Joshua wasn¡¯t desperate to tag along. He just hated the idea of Shermaine going out dressed like that. But he was considerate and knew his bour so he wouldn¡¯t restrict her freedom. ¡°Juste home early, okay?¡± Shermaine was surprised he didn¡¯t push it, which actually put her in a good mood. She lifted his chin with her finger and gave him a quick kiss on his lips. ¡°I will.¡± When Shermaine arrived at the lounge, Danielle was already there with champagne, whiskey, and some appetizers spread across their table. Chapter 241 The lounge bar sat right on the riverbank, and Danielle had picked an outdoor table where the evening breeze fell absolutely perfec? The moment Shermaine sat down, Danielle dropped the bomb. ¡°I cut things off with Rose So that was why Danielle was upset it really was about her brother Ross. Shermaine could tell Danielle had fallen for him, but she never expected their whole thing to end so fast. With how amazing Danielle was, Ross should¡¯ve been crazy not to go for her. ¡°Ross is definitely the problem here,¡± Shermaine said. No way was she taking Ross¡® side this time. Danielle squinted a little and poured herself a drink. ¡°Pretty much. He¡¯s got terrible taste. He doesn¡¯t think I¡¯m good enough for him. Everything else about him is fine, but that¡¯s a deal breaker. ¡°I kept testing the waters with him over and over, and he kept shutting me down. So I just gave up.¡± Though Danielle was clearly still bothered by it. Danielle wasn¡¯t the type to throw in the towel easily, which meant Ross had really done a number on her. AD Nurse walking 242 Chapter 242 While Shermaine and Danielle were out drinking, Janice came home from her evening yoga and settled into her massage chair to unwind that w when the housekeeper walked over with her phone. ¡°Mrs. Jean, there¡¯s gossip going around about Mr. Jean and some actress,¡± the housekeeper said. As soon as Janice heard this, she freaked out. ¡°What?¡± The housekeeper handed over her phone right away. Janice pulled her reading sses out of her pocket and squinted at the screen. The headline was stered right across the top: [Jean Group VP Attends Charity G with Starlet Jessica.] There was a photo of the two of them standing together. The girl was looking at Ross all shy and bashful, white Ross had his head tilted down like he was patiently listening to whatever she was saying. Janice took one look and immediately couldn¡¯t stand this Jessica person. The actress wasn¡¯t as pretty as Danielle, didn¡¯t have Danielle¡¯s ss, and definitely wasn¡¯t as aplished as Danielle. If Danielle saw this gossip story, who knew what crazy ideas she¡¯d get in her head. Janice called Ross right then and there. Over at Jean Group, Ross was still at the office workingte when he saw Janice¡¯s calle through. He picked up. ¡°Hey, Grandma.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this nonsense about you and some actress? How¡¯d you end up getting photographed with her out of nowhere?¡± Janice didn¡¯t beat around the bush. She got straight to the point. Ross stopped what he was doing, like he wasn¡¯t surprised at all by the question. ¡°We just ran into each other and talked for a couple minutes.¡± ¡°You need to get someone to pull those gossip stories right now. If Danielle sees them, she¡¯s definitely going to get the wrong idea,¡± Janice said. Ross pressed his lips together. ¡°Grandma, Danielle and I broke up.¡± Janicepletely lost it when she heard that. ¡°What do you mean you broke up? Everything was fine!¡± ¡°We just weren¡¯t right for each other.¡± ¡°Did you dump her?¡± The whole thing had been a business arrangement anyway, so there wasn¡¯t really any dumping involved. But Danielle was the one who ended it first. One second, she was clinging to him and calling his name sweetly, the next second, shepletely flipped on him. Ross looked down and didn¡¯t answer.. Janice felt like she was about to have a heart attack. ¡°Danielle is such a sweet girl, and you went and hurt her. Don¡¯t turn into a scumbag like your father.¡± Ross had always looked down on Jameson¡¯s behavior. ¡°We ended things peacefully.¡± Janice snorted, ¡°I can¡¯t deal with this anymore. If I keep talking to you, you¡¯re going to give me a stroke. You¡¯re unbelievable. You break up with her and then immediately get caught up in gossip with some actress. ¡°Even if you¡¯re not actually a scumbag, that¡¯s exactly how it looks to Danielle.¡± With that, Janice hung up on him. She was absolutely right about that. Danielle had no clue what was going on until her coworkers at the hospital started blowing up her phone. They were all asking her stuff like ¡°Dr. Shelly, isn¡¯t your boyfriend a total yer? He¡¯s getting really cozy with some actress.¡± That was when Danielle saw the screenshots they sent her. In the photos, this actress was practically glued to Ross¡® side. 102 Chapter 242- And when she got a good look at Jessica, she realized the girl was exactly the same type as his one and only ex girlfriend sweek, hell. Danielle had been holding onto some hope before, but seeing this killed itpletely. Sure, maybe the rumors were partly for show, but it just prov that Ross couldn¡¯t change his spots. He had a type, and that was why he never responded to any of her moves. Danielle stared at the pictures and said coldly, ¡°Ross has absolutely Corrible taste. Shermaine pressed her lips together. She grabbed Danielle¡¯s phone and took a look herself. Even though Ross was her brother, she was totally on D¨¢nielle¡¯s side this time. Danielle and Ross still had each other on WhatsApp and social media, but she didn¡¯t bother texting himt. Instead, she posted straight to Instagram: [Thanks everyone for caring, but please stop sending me DMs. Mr. Jean and I have already called it quits on good terms. From now on, we¡¯re going our separate ways.] Danielle attached a photo of her and Shermaine at a bar overlooking the river. Nurse walking 243 Chapter 243 Ross assistant walked in from outside and found Ross sitting in his chair, staring nkly at some documents like his mind was borne where the The assistant stepped forward. ¡°Mr. Jean, we found Ms. Shelly¡¯s earring that she left in the pantryst time.¡± He handed over a small box with stu earring inside. Ross stared at the orange¨Cred earring. ¡°Take it to the hospital tomorrow when you get a chance and give it to her.¡± The assistant obviously knew that Ross and Danielle had broken up, which was really too bad. Danielle was perfect for Ross, but what a shame¨CNe kan wasn¡¯t into her. The whole thing had been nothing but a show to him. ¡°Got it.¡± The assistant was about to take the earring away when Ross stopped him. ¡°Actually, forget it. Just leave the earring here¡± The assistant had no clue what was going through Ross¡® head anymore. He set the earring down and headed out. Ross picked up his phone from the side table, opened WhatsApp, and clicked on Danielle¡¯s profile. He typed: [Found your earring that you left in the pantry. Come by and pick it up when you have time, or I can drop it off if that¡¯s easier.] Danielle happened to be replying to someone else¡¯s messages when she saw Ross¡® text pop up. She responded coldly: [I don¡¯t like that earring anymore. Just throw it in the trash.] Danielle actually loved those earrings. They were her absolute favorites¨Ca gift from her mother that she rarely wore because they meant too much to her. But when she was getting ready to see Ross, she¡¯d put them on with such excitement. What a waste of happiness that turned out to be. Now, Danielle couldn¡¯t stand the thought of seeing Ross at all. When Ross saw her reply, he gripped his phone tighter, feeling this weird mix of frustration and stubbornness that he couldn¡¯t even exin. Ross: [I¡¯ll bring them over tomorrow.] But the message never went through because Danielle had blocked him. Ross felt his head pounding as he stared at those agate earrings. He tried calling instead, but that didn¡¯t work either. The phone rang once and got cut off immediately. She¡¯d blocked his number too. Ross had never dealt with anything like this before, so he just sat there staring at the earrings without saying a word. In the end, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to throw them away and stuck them in his drawer instead. By ten o¡¯clock, both Danielle and Shermaine had knocked back quite a few drinks. Joshua showed up to pick them up. He¡¯d been missing Shermaine like crazy but had to wait since she was taking her sweet timeing home. He dropped Danielle off first, then finally headed back to Riverswood Vi with Shermaine. Joshua sat her down on the shoe cab and slipped off her heels, then helped her into house slippers. ¡°Want to walk or need me to carry you?¡± ¡°Carry me.¡± Shermaine giggled. He scooped her up and headed upstairs. Shermaine looked at him and asked, ¡°You didn¡¯t like me at first either, so how did you end up falling me?¡± Joshua said, ¡°I never disliked you. I just figured it out prettyte.¡± Good thing he came to his senses quickly though. Once he realized he liked Shermaine, he didn¡¯t fight it at all and just wanted her. ¡°You¡¯ve known Ross for years,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°Why do you think he doesn¡¯t like Danielle?¡± She wasn¡¯t exactly great at reading other people¡¯s feelings. She had her own love life figured out, but everyone else¡¯s was a mystery. 1/2 Chapter 243. joshua carried her into the bathroom and grabbed some makeup wipes to clean her face. ¡°Hons might be even more ciueings than t ¡°He had a girlfriend before though.¡± ¡°Yeah, I heard about that. But honestly, Ross probably never even liked that ex of his.¡± Shermaine frowned, ¡°Then why would he date her?¡± ¡°You¡¯d have to ask Ross that one.¡± ¡°Never mind then.¡± Everyone deserved their privacy, including Ross. Shermaine didn¡¯t want to pry too much into his business. Joshua helped her take off her makeup, then pulled her close and kissed her lips. ¡°Sheary, has anyone ever told you that you¡¯repletely different when you¡¯ve been drinking?¡± Shermaine pressed her lips together. ¡°Different how?¡± ¡°You get all cute and flirty.¡± Shermaine just stared at him. ¡®Cute? I¡¯m a boss. What the hell does cute even mean?¡® she thought. They didn¡¯t keep talking about it though. After Joshua finished removing her makeup, he ran her a bath and basically gave her the full spa treatment. He got her all clean and sweet¨Csmelling, then tucked her into bed. About 10 minutester, Joshua finally came to bed himself, totally satisfied as he turned off the lights. In the darkness, Shermaine rested her hand on his waist. When he didn¡¯t make any moves, she couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Howe you don¡¯t want to tonight?¡± AD Nurse walking 244 Chapter 244 Joshua couldn¡¯t help butugh at that. He ruffled Shermaine¡¯s hair and kissed her forehead. ¡°Go to sleep, babe, Not tonight ¡°Why not?¡± Shermaine frowned. They hadn¡¯t done anything yesterday either, but at least she¡¯d had that surgery to perform. That was a decent eeries Joshua nipped at her ear. ¡°Do you really want me to perform my husbandly duties that badly?¡± Now, it was Shermaine¡¯s turn to go quiet. She rolled over so her back was facing him. ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± Joshua didn¡¯t turn her back around. He just pulled her close from behind and said, ¡°You had too much to drink. It¡¯s not good for you to do that stuff As a doctor, Shermaine knew that drinking and physical activity didn¡¯t mix well. It could mess with her heart rate and even be dangerous. But that was mostly for people who weren¡¯t in great shape to begin with. Shermaine hadn¡¯t expected Joshua to be thinking about her health like that. A small smile tugged at her lips, and she seemed to brighten up. She turned her head and gave him a quick kiss on the corner of his mouth. ¡°Good night.¡± ¡°Sleep tight. Good night,¡± Joshua smiled. The next day, feeling totally refreshed, Shermaine headed back to the Jean family house with all the gifts she¡¯d picked up in Rodunst. It was the weekend, so Ross was home instead of at work. The second Shermaine walked in, Janice¡¯s stern expression finally cracked into a smile. ¡°Sheary, you¡¯re back.¡± Shermaine nodded and startedying out all the presents on the table. Then she asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Ross?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even get me started on Ross. Did you know he and Danielle broke up?¡± Just bringing it up made Janice mad all over again. Breaking up with Danielle was bad enough, but now he was linked to some random actress in the gossip columns. It was absolutely ridiculous. Shermaine said she already knew, ¡°I was with Danielle yesterday. She told me everything.¡± Janice snorted, ¡°I asked Daniellest time if she¡¯d be willing to marry Ross, and then he turns around and breaks up with her. If that¡¯s not total jerk behavior, I don¡¯t know what is. ¡°You know what? Bring Danielle around sometime so I can take her out for a nice dinner. I want to make sure she¡¯s doing okay and maybe set her up with someone way better than Ross. ¡°Danielle¡¯s such a catch. If Ross doesn¡¯t appreciate her, plenty of other guys will.¡± Shermaine nodded, totally agreeing with that. Sure, Danielle came across as kind of cold on the surface, but she was actually someone who really loved life and had this warmth about her. When she smiled, it was like sunshine breaking through clouds. Ross, on the other hand, might look all gentle and refined, but deep down, he was probably the coldest person Shermaine knew. One would think they¡¯d bnce each other out perfectly¨Cthe warm one and the cool one should¡¯ve been a great match. But Ross barely gave Danielle a chance before he shut her outpletely. ¡°Danielle definitely doesn¡¯t have a shortage of guys interested in her.¡± Shermaine nodded. Take Jason, for instance¨Che was one of them and didn¡¯t seem like he was giving up anytime soon. Janice thought for a moment before saying, ¡°think Henry would be perfect for her.¡± Henry might share the Jeanst name, but he had absolutely nothing to do with the Jean family. Still, his own family was doing just as well as theirs here in Basterel, so that wasn¡¯t an issue. Chapter 244 Plus, Henry grew up with Joshua and Roy. They were all childhood friends. He was a some big¨Cname firm, good lookup ini vai? around with random women. So he and Danielle would be pretty well¨Cmatched in every way, Henry was way more mature and stable than Roy. To Shermaine, he felt more like some cunning fox who¡¯d seen it all, but he was actuany pretty reache taking care of people. ¡°Sure, sounds good,¡± Shermaine smiled. ¡°As long as he doesn¡¯t mind that Danielle used to date Ross,¡± Janice added. ¡°Though there¡¯s really nothing to mind. Danielle and Ross never actually did anything.¡± ¡°Mm¨Chmm.¡± Ross wasing down the stairs just then and caught their conversation. He Grandma wants to set Danielle up with Henry? What does she mean we never pressed his lips together when he heard it. did anything?¡® Ross thought. He and Danielle had definitely kissed before. She used to wrap herself around him like some little temptress, and if he hadn¡¯t stuck to his principles, they probably would¡¯ve ended up in bed together. AD Comment Nurse walking 245 Chapter 245 Ross wasn¡¯t actually bothered by how Danielle had acted back then. Like she¡¯d said, she only did all that stuff because she liked him. How that she ha like him anymore, she¡¯d cut things offpletely clean. Maybe it was better this way anyway. Ross stayed away from fomantic rtionships. He knew he wasn¡¯t the right guy for Danielle When Janice saw Rosse downstairs, she let out a cold snort and ignored himpletely. ¡°Grandma, you haven¡¯t talked to me all day,¡± Ross sighed. ¡°I¡¯ve got nothing to say to you, you little brat,¡± Janice snorted. Ross just felt helpless about the whole thing. He cut up some fruit for Janice and patiently tried to win her over Shermaine was much more friendly though. ¡°Ross, I brought you a present.¡± Ross dropped onto the couch. ¡°Thanks, Sheary.¡± He obviously didn¡¯t bring up Danielle and changed the subject instead. ¡°I watched the live stream of the tech conference. You were amazing.¡± He felt proud to be Shermaine¡¯s brother, and he was grateful that in a crowd of thousands, he¡¯d recognized her as his sister right away. The tech world in the Republic of Wallington was probably buzzing about Shermaine crushing it at the conference right about now. Republic of Wallington reporters had actually published stories about it. Social media and all the major forms were talking it up, and even official media outlets came out with praise. It made it onto the trending topics for a while, but it didn¡¯t rank that high. Shermaine didn¡¯t ask Joshua to suppress the buzz or anything, but weirdly enough, it just never really took off. She didn¡¯t care either way and didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. It didn¡¯t really matter if random people knew about it, but in Republic of Wallington¡¯s tech circles, the news had probably spread like wildfire by now. The thing was, it never actually blew up because Kylie had quietly killed all the buzz on social media. She didn¡¯t just target Republic of Wallington tforms either. She went after international social media too.] Kylie couldn¡¯t stand the thought of Shermaine shining at that international tech conference and then getting showered with praise and admiration afterward. Meanwhile, she¡¯d be getting roasted by Morantaizens for being so arrogant when she couldn¡¯t even crack the top two spots. Plus, she was losing followers left and right. Once being a young female tech genius wasn¡¯t special anymore, all those guys who were just there for her looks ditched her in a heartbeat. Kylie was supposed to head back to Moranta after finishing her mission, but now she had a new n. She wanted to kill Shermaine for screwing everything up for her. So, Kylie followed Sarah back to Republic of Wallington, but when they got there, Shermaine and Joshua were nowhere to be found. She decided to expand her social circle and stick around longer by applying for a professor position at Basterel University. As for Sarah, she was still obsessed with saving ck River Company from their financial mess. Even though it was clearly hopeless and Joshua kept shooting down her proposals every time she brought it up, she just wouldn¡¯t give up. She acted like if she just kept pushing, somehow things would magically turn around. Shermaine had been back at Jean residence for a while now, but she noticed Ruth wasn¡¯t around. Her eyes swept the room as she asked, ¡°Where is Ruth?¡± FTP 20:00 Chapter 245 Janice answered right away, ¡°she left first thing this morning and said she was going for some beauty treatments Janicece to been doing this for days now out early, backte. Pretty soon, she¡¯ll be just like your dad, never home at all.¡± Shermaine looked thoughtful about that. Ross didn¡¯t say anything either. They basically understood each other without having to spell it out But Shermaine decided to be extra careful about this. Last month, Ruth had been ying nice with her, but then she¡¯d started going after Natalie and Jason constantly. She got people to trash talk Natalie online, even had someone throw paint at Natalie¡¯s house, and totally humiliated her at Jason¡¯s graduation party. There was no way Natalie wouldn¡¯t fight back after all that. When Janice went to the kitchen to check on her soup, Shermaine turned to Ross. ¡°Hey, I need you to get someone to keep tabs on Ruth. Have them report back to me every day about what she¡¯s up to.¡± Ross didn¡¯t ask any questions. He just nodded and said he¡¯d handle it. AD Nurse walking 246 Chapter 246 After having lunch at Jean residence, Shermaine grabbed some gifts and headed off to see Summer and Lily. She hadn¡¯t brought presents for all h? ssmates, but Summer was one of her closest friends, so she definitely deserved something special. These days, Summer wasn¡¯t off partying or anything like that. Instead, she was working at Oliger Company as Lily¡¯s assistant, mostly doing basic errands and grunt work, but she was picking up tons of useful skills along the way. Summer had chosenputer science as her major, and ever since she found out that Shermaine and Lily had started their own business together, she¡¯d been dead set on working with Shermaine someday. Of course, she knew she¡¯d need to bring some real skills to the table first. Oliger Company had already made a huge name for itself back home. Their products just worked incredibly well and appealed to tons of people. But ording to Shermaine¡¯s future ns, they weren¡¯t going to stick with just cosmetics forever. She had all sorts of research directions in mind, including something that only existed in movies so far¨Cgaming pods. Gaming pods were basically like the VR headsets people used in real life, except way better. The problem with VR headsets was that they had major limitations¨Cthey couldn¡¯t handle touch sensations properly, and there were tons of restrictions on what people could actually do. But with gaming pods, one¡¯s mind would connect directly to their brain, making it feel like they were literally inside the game world. That was a ¡°Oh my gosh, Sheary! You¡¯re back from Rodunst.¡± Summer¡¯s face lit up with excitement. Shermaine nodded. ¡°Where¡¯s Lily?¡± ¡°She went out to lunch with her boyfriend.¡± Summer looked totally annoyed. ¡°That Warren is such a pain. It¡¯s bad enough hees here to pick up Lily, but he acts like he owns the ce and keeps bossing me around.¡± Summer really couldn¡¯t stand Warren. She had no idea why Lily hadn¡¯t dumped him yet. Summer continued, ¡°He told me to go buy him coffee, so I did. Then he said he didn¡¯t like that ce and made me go to some shop three miles away to get him a different one.¡± ¡°Did you go?¡± Shermaine raised her eyebrow. ¡°Hell no. Lily finished her meeting right then and they left for lunch together.¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t even work here. Next time he tries to order you around, just ignore him.¡± ¡°Yeah, totally.¡± Around two in the afternoon, Lily came back from lunch. She was thrilled to see Shermaine at the office¨Cperfect timing since she wanted to talk about relocating thepany. Thepany was growing fast with more and more employees, so they needed to move somewhere bigger and more impressive¨Clooking. ¡°Sheary, I had Roy check out two possible locations for thepany move. Take a look and tell me which one you think is better,¡± Lily said. Shermaine didn¡¯t ask about things between Lily and Warren. If Warren turned out to be unreliable, they¡¯d break up sooner orter anyway. She figured Lily was smart enough to see through people. Chapter 246 Time flew by, and within a couple days, Shermaine and Lily headed back to Maple Leaf Ville. The vige hadpletely transformed. All the 10th 200 were built now, nothing like those old mud houses from before. They were currently developing livestock farms and orchards. The climate in Maple Leaf Ville was perfect for raising cattle and sheep, plus growing huic trees. This would be one of their major ie sources down the road. Of course, they were running a high¨Ctech operation with really advanced equipment. Some of the technology Shermaine borrowed from otherpanies, and some she invented herself. Before they knew it, September was right around the corner. Shermaine was constantly traveling back and forth between Besterel and Maple Leaf Ville. Joshua would go two or three days without seeing her sometimes. Not only was she nowhere to be found, but after her big appearance at the tech conference, tons of people wanted to partner with her. All these academics from the tech world couldn¡¯t track down Shermaine, so they came looking for Joshua instead. His ce was packed with visitors every single day. They all wanted to see Shermaine.. Right now, Shermaine and Joshua were video chatting. It waste August, and the weather was getting even more brutal. Shermaine wore a dark green nightgown while towel¨Cdrying her hair, showing off her delicate corbones. ¡°Isn¡¯t anyone looking for me to solve their problems?¡± Joshua nodded. ¡°Yeah, but I turned them down.¡± Shermaine paused. ¡®The guy who¡¯s blocking me from making money is my own husband. What am I supposed to say about that?¡® she thought. ¡°Why would you turn them down?¡± Joshua stared at her through the video screen. ¡°Sheary, it¡¯s been two weeks since I¡¯ve touched you.¡± The implication was clear. She was already swamped with work, so if she took on more cases, she wouldn¡¯t have any time left for Joshua. AD Nurse walking 247 No Ads Chapter 247 Shermaine stopped toweling her hair for a second, then shrugged casually. ¡°It¡¯s only been two weeks¡± She¡¯d been pretty mmed this suminen for that time they spent in Rodunst For one thing, Shermaine was still coaching Roy¡¯s esports team, and apparently her training methods were working since they¡¯d won the summer tournament and earned their spot in nationals. Now, they had to prep for the nationalpetition. On top of that, when Shermaine got back to Maple Leaf Ville, she found a bunch of construction issues that needed her attention. Luckily, the other architects were cooperating with Shermaine. She¡¯d gged all the important stuff they needed to watch out for, and anything they didn¡¯t understand, they could just call her aboutter. Just two weeks?¡® Joshua thought. Ever since he and Shermaine had started sleeping together, his sex life had been pretty much non¨Cstop. Now Shermaine had been gone for a full two weeks, and Joshua missed her like crazy¨Cboth emotionally and physically. Joshua kept his tone casual. ¡°School starts in two days. When are you nning toe back?¡± ¡°Day after tomorrow,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°I¡¯lle pick you up.¡± Shermaine waved him off. ¡°Don¡¯t bother with that. I can just drive back myself.¡± ¡°The helicopter¡¯s faster.¡± When Shermaine heard helicopter, she Shermaine didn¡¯t argue anymore. He was right. I would be way faster. Driving would take around four hours, but flying would cut that down by two. The day Shermaine was supposed toe back arrived quickly. She was wearing a sun hat, walking around the construction site with a bunch of workers when a helicopternded right in the middle of an open grassy field. The countryside always had this peaceful vibe that just hit her. Whether it was at the Xenhall or here in Maple Leaf Ville, there was something calming about it. Though Maple Leaf Ville definitely had better scenery than the Xenhall. When fall rolled around, all those maple trees turned this gorgeous golden color that was absolutely stunning. When Shermaine saw Joshua show up, she led him straight into the house. Without her knowing it, the vigers had arranged for workers to build her own vi right here. The little courtyard even had fish swimming around in a pond. As soon as they walked inside, the vi¡¯s climate control system kicked on automatically, and this three¨Cfoot¨Ctall robot came rolling out to greet them. ¡°Ma¡¯am, it¡¯s so hot today. Would you like some ice cream?¡± the robot asked cheerfully. ¡°No thanks, just get us two sses of water,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°Sure thing! Give me just a sec.¡± Every family in the vige had one of these robots. This one tilted its head at Joshua and asked, ¡°Who¡¯s this gentleman?¡± ¡°That¡¯s my husband. You can call him Mr. York.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you, Mr. York!¡± Chapter 247 The robot was way more human like than King Tiki, though it didn¡¯t have nearly as advanced Joshua had been investing in Al research for years now, and seeing this made him think he¡¯d been wasting his time with other partnere he pre work directly with Shermaine Instead. The robot brought over their water and then wandered off to power down and save battery, The second it was gone, Joshua pulled Shermaine down onto the couch and started kissing her. Shermaine didn¡¯t resist at all. She wrapped her arms around his neck and closed her eyes, just enjoying the moment. Even though she never actually said she missed Joshua, deep down, she really did. They kissed for a while, and Shermaine started feeling all sticky and gross from sweating outside earlier. Joshua had grabbed her the second he walked in without caring how she looked. ¡°I need to take a shower before we head back,¡± she said. Since they were running short on time, Joshua kissed her eyelids and said, ¡°Sheary, give me your hand first.¡± Shermaine bit her lip. ¡°Can¡¯t you just wait a little?¡± Joshua grinned. ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so annoying,¡± Shermaineined, but she still gave him her hand anyway. Joshua kissed the back of her hand and pulled it down. After they got back to Basterel, Shermaine went to check in with the Chemistry Department at Basterel University. The school didn¡¯t automatically provide housing. Shermaine had to apply for it after sses started. She thought staying on campus would be pretty convenient though. Thest time she drove to Basterel University, it took over an hour each way. Rather than waste three hours every daymuting, Shermaine would rather just live on campus. Of course, Joshua wasn¡¯t having any of that. His excuse was pretty simple¨Cif she lived at school, what was he supposed to do? The only solution they coulde up with was to apply for off¨Ccampus housingter and have here home to sleep every night. Joshua was already working on finding them a ce. Right now, Joshua was carrying Shermaine¡¯s luggage as he followed her to the dorm room the school had assigned her. Wouldn¡¯t you know it, they ran right into Jason. Jameson and Natalie hade to drop him off too. The guys¡® dorm was right across the way. Jameson wouldn¡¯t normally feel awkward about this kind of thing, but when Joshua¡¯s gazended on him, he felt pretty ufortable. Joshua¡¯s only problem was that he was way too capable. Shermaine marrying him was like giving a chess master an extra queen. But whatever¨CJameson¡¯d already picked out a wife for Jason from a family with power simr to the York family. That would be Danielle, and perfect ¡®h Ross. timir Comment Nurse walking 248 Chapter 248 Jameson had a business deal he wanted to work out with the Shelly family right now. He was currently getting cozy with Danielle¡¯s father, Tim Shelly and to pave the way for Jason, he was really going all out. He¡¯d figured out what Tim liked and was making trips to Neclen every few days to go fishing and hiking with Tim. Once Jameson got tight with Tim, he¡¯d definitely cook up some big scheme to help Jason get what he wanted andnded Danielle. He figured Ross would actually try to keep things going with Danielle, but turned out Ross saved him the trouble and broke it off all by himself. It made perfect sense though. Ross only cared about business. He was dying to get his hands on all of Jean Group¡¯s power, so there was no way he would waste time on romance. But as long as Jameson was still breathing, there was no way Jean Group was going entirely to Ross and Shermaine. Jason had to get half no matter what. The worse things got between him and Ruth, the more his loyalty shiftedpletely toward Natalie and Jason. As for Shermaine and Joshua, who he didn¡¯t get along with anyway, he cared even less about them now. That whole thing about loving all his children equally didn¡¯t apply to Jameson at all. He had no idea that down the road, he¡¯d be the one drowning in regret. Shermaine was supposed to check into Basterel University today. Janice had nned toe with her, but she had other ns and couldn¡¯t make it. Shermaine¡¯s room was on the seventh floor¨Ca four¨Cperson dorm. Basterel University was famous for having the nicest dorms out of all the colleges around. She found room 703 with the door already open and walked right in. Her roommates had already arrived with their parents, and everyone was busy getting settled. When Shermaine stepped through the door, every single person in the room turned to look. Shermaine was stunning, and the guy following behind her was something else too. Even though he was dressed casually and keeping a low profile, there was still this quiet intensity about him that made them sit up and take notice. Just looking at their faces, one could tell these two weren¡¯t average college students. Shermaine gave them all a small nod as a way of saying hello. Joshua automatically headed to thest unmade bed. It looked clean enough, but since he had a thing about cleanliness, he grabbed the new towel he¡¯d bought and gave everything another wipe down with some water. The dorm was actually a duplex setup with two beds upstairs and two downstairs. Shermaine¡¯s bed was on the upper level facing the window, so she got great natural light. One of the girls with short hair suddenly perked up. ¡°Wait, you¡¯re Shermaine, right? The one who got top scores in science for all of Basterel? I know you. You¡¯re amazing!¡± Shermaine gave her a small smile. ¡°Hi there.¡± ¡°Hey! I¡¯m Yasmine Lane, math major.¡± ¡®Math major? Interesting,¡® Shermaine thought. Yasmine was super friendly and outgoing. She was from Gerton Province and had brought some local treats with her. She pulled out a package of apricot cake and handed it to Shermaine. Shermaine thanked her and took it. Yasmine continued, ¡°I¡¯ve got an open pack here if you want to try some right now.¡± ¡°Sure, thanks.¡± Even though Shermaine and Joshua had this intimidating presence about them, they seemed really easy to get along with and down to earth, Balo long, the other roommates came over to introduce themselves too. Shermaine munched on the apricot cake while chatting with everyone. She found out that her other two roommates were studying economics and chil engineering. After chatting for a while, Shermaine realized everyone was pretty decent. At least personality¨Cwise, they all got along really well. Yasmine especially had an even more cheerful and outgoing nature than Summer. The apricot cake she brought was seriously delicious. Shermaine grabbed a piece and offered it to Joshua to try. He didn¡¯t even hesitate, just opened his mouth and took a bite. ¡°This stuff will make you thirsty, so let me know if you want some water,¡± Joshua said. ¡°Okay.¡± Shermaine nodded. They¡¯d all figured Joshua would just drop Shermaine off at the dorm and leave, but surprisingly, he actually rolled up his sleeves and started making her bed. They watched in total disbelief because Joshua looked way too refined and wealthy to be doing manualbor, but there he was, proving them Being Basterel¡¯s top science student wouldn¡¯t normally drive these professors crazy, but there was one thing that absolutely did. Sharmaine was a legendary Boa Hanks from the tech conference, the genius who¡¯d made the Republic of Wallington¡¯s entire scientificmunity proud. Now line 7/13* different story. The chemistry department professor was probably the happiest of all, since Shermaine had chosen chemistry as her major. He was practically dying to invite her into hisb right away so they could dive into some serious chemistry discussions and tackle some of the field¡¯s toughest problems together. So when all these students and parents showed up at the dorms, they couldn¡¯t help but stare at this whole crowd of famous professors just standing around downstairs. Everyone was totally curious about what was going on. It wasn¡¯t just the freshmen either. Even the sophomores, juniors, and seniors here?¡® they thought. were scratching their heads. ¡®What the hell are all their professors doing These guys usually disappeared after ss and the students never saw them around campus, dorms like some kind of convention. but now, they were all gathered together outside the Naturally, a bunch of students and parents went up to say hi and ask what was happening. The professors actually spilled a little. They said they were waiting for someone. This whole scene was big enough to get Jameson¡¯s attention up in the guys¡® dorm. When he heard there were a ton of professors downstairs, including some from theputer science department, he figured he¡¯d head downter and schmooze a bit. Maybe it would help Jason have an easier time in the CS program. Though honestly, with Jason¡¯s skills, he was definitely going to crush it inputer science no matter what. While Jameson was thinking about all this, some guys in his room started gossiping. ¡°I heard the professors are all waiting for some freshman named Shermaine.¡± ¡°Shermaine? Isn¡¯t that the girl who got the top science scores in Basterel?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s her. This girl must be something else if all these professors are down there looking like about to fight over her.¡± are waiting for Shermaine?¡® he thought. ¡®She¡¯s just the They kept gossiping about Shermaine, and Jameson¡¯s expression shifted. ¡®Wait, those professors. science valedictorian. Previous science valedictorians never got this kind of treatment. Why her?¡® Then, he had another thought. ¡®Actually, the professors are probably waiting for Joshua, right? I mean, Joshua¡¯s invested in several projects running out of Basterel University¡¯sbs. There¡¯s no way it could be Shermaine,¡® he reasoned. Jason didn¡¯t say anything about it. Natalie¡¯s mouth twitched with annoyance, but she kept it to herself. ¡®Whatever, even if Shermaine is amazing, Jameson can¡¯t see it anyway. No big deal,¡® she thought. Once Jason finished setting up his bed, they figured they could head out for lunch and all went downstairs together. Jameson knew how to y the game though. He walked over to the trunk and got Jason toe with him to bring the professors some water. With the sun beating down like that, they had to be thirsty. It was just water, after all. The professors definitely needed it and dly epted the drinks when Jameson offered them so enthusiastically. Just as Jameson was chatting with the professors, Shermaine and Joshua came down from the girls¡® dorm building. They were heading out to grab lunch too. The professors had sharp eyes. The moment they spotted Shermaine, they didn¡¯t care about being thirsty anymore and rushed right over. ¡°Hello, Shermaine, I¡¯m Professor Yoel Lewis.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you, Shermaine, I¡¯m Professor Kenny Gordon.¡± Hello, Shermaine, I¡¯m Professor Sheldon Wendell.¡± They went around introducing themselves one by one. Jameson¡¯s mouth twitched as he watched this bunch of professors fall all over themselves to get in front of Shermaine. His theory just got blown out of the water again. These brainiacs weren¡¯t here for Joshua at all. They came looking for Shermaine. Shermaine had no idea these professors would camp out at her dorm building waiting for her. She felt pretty ttered by all the attention. In fact, Sheldon had some history with Shermaine. The first SSS¨Clevel job she¡¯d taken behind that project. came from Sheldon¡¯sb, and Joshua happened to be the investor After Sheldon finished his introduction, he shot Joshua a look that was pure usation. ¡®You should¡¯ve introduced me to Shermaine ages ago, his expression seemed to say. ¡®I¡¯ve been dropping hints forever, and you didn¡¯t throw me a bone.¡¯ Shermaine responded to each professor individually, then said, ¡°Actually, I was just heading to lunch. Would you all like to join me?¡± Otherwise, standing around chatting here would definitely draw way too much attention. Nurse walking 250 Chapter 250 Jameson watched as all the professors immediately epted Shermaine¡¯s invitation and walked off with her. His expression grew curiosity started eating at him: ¡®Why are these professors so enthusiastic and respectful when they talk to Shermaine?¡® he wondered. ¡®What¡¯s so special about Shermaine that deserves respect?¡® Jameson thought. ¡®Did she actually do something that impressive? Jason had been busting his ass trying to improve himself, but no matter what he did, he couldn¡¯t seem to get ahead of Shermaine. It was driving him crazy. While he was lost in thought, Natalie noticed his expression and quickly] jumped in to distract him. ¡°Jarnie, we should grab lunch too. Jason said he was hungry earlier, so let¡¯s get going.¡± Her interruption worked. Jameson was still curious, but he didn¡¯t dig any deeper into it. Since Sermaine was with a group of professors, the cafeteria was obvious campus instead. the question. They ended up eating at a private restaurant near the seems like overkill,¡± Yoel from the chemistry department said. ¡°Honestly, we ¡°Shermaine, with your abilities,ing to Basterel University for undergrad don¡¯t have much to teach you. If anything, you should be teaching our students.¡± He couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®I mean, why would someone at her level need us to teach her anything?¡± ¡°Yeah, I wish you could just graduate right now ande do research with us,¡± another professor chimed in. ¡°Our physicsb at Basterel University is always open for you to visit whenever you want.¡± ¡°Hey, back off! Shermaine¡¯s in our chemistry department. Quit trying to steal her from us¡± Shermaine gave them a modest exnation. ¡°I just want to get a domestic master¡¯s degree certificate, that¡¯s all.¡± The way she said it made it sound like she¡¯d already been to college before and probably already had a master¡¯s degree¨Cmaybe even more than that. The chemistry professor kept going. ¡°That¡¯s easy enough. You can work with me on the lithium battery project, and once we get some research results, I can apply for your master¡¯s degree with the school right away.¡± Hell, he¡¯d apply for a doctorate too if needed. Then, he added, ¡°Speaking of which, this is actually a project your fianc¨¦ is funding.¡± Joshua stayed quiet, keeping his expression neutral. He had so many investment projects going at Basterel University that it was hard to keep track. Lithium batteries were definitely one of them. The thing was, they¡¯d been working on this battery project sincest year, and they still hadn¡¯t solved some major technical issues. Yoel was really stressing out about it. The funding had gone out, but they weren¡¯t seeing any results yet, and he felt like he was letting Joshua down big time. Joshua wasn¡¯t sweating it though. He was happy to keep funding the research since money wasn¡¯t exactly tight for him. Shermaine didn¡¯t want to waste too much time on just getting a master¡¯s degree, but since she was already at Basterel University and all these pr wanted her help, she figured she might as well stick around for a while. ors She thought it over for a second. ¡°I¡¯ll consider the lithium battery project,¡± she smiled slightly. ¡°If any of the other professors have problems they need help with, they can reach out to me too. I¡¯ll be hanging around Basterel University for a while.¡± Yoel let out a sigh of relief, ¡°Great, let¡¯s exchange numbers so we can stay in touch.¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± Just like that, Shermaine & phone filled up with professor numbers and social media, and their Instagram fends wen fall seateretie st papers. After lunch, the professors started heading out one by one. Next up was two weeks of orientation. The upperssmen from Basterel University Department of Defense would be putting all the freshmen through their paces. When Shermaine showed up, she realized she¡¯d forgotten to pack some essentials¨Csunscreen, toiletries, stuff like that. She¡¯d have to buy everything new. So after lunch, she and Joshua headed to the supermarket to stock up. What Shermaine didn¡¯t know was that she¡¯d caused another huge stir on the Basterel University forums that day. Students were going crazy talking about her all over again. Shermaine already had some name recognition at Basterel. She could thank Wendelyn for that mess. The people who¡¯d originally sided with Wendelyn knew Shermaine wasn¡¯t actually the awful country bumpkin everyone made her out to be, and she definitely wasn¡¯t some bully who threw her weight around. But none of them had any clue that Shermaine was this year¡¯s top scorer in sciences, with grades so incredible that professors were literally fighting over her on day one. Then, someone who knew the real story spilled the tea. It turned out Shermaine was the mystery genius who showed up at this year¡¯s International Technology Conference. Her SAT scores were nothingpared to what she pulled off there. Shermaine absolutely killed it in every field imaginable and made everyone from the Republic of Wallington¡¯s tech scene look amazing. It wasn¡¯t just domestic professors trying to recruit her, universities abroad were going nuts over her too. AD Comment Send gift Nurse walking 251 Chapter 251 50% Word spread like wildfire, and soon, everyone at Basterel University knew that Shermaine was some kind of tech genius. Right then, Jameson was having dinner at a restaurant with Jason and the others. The ce was packed with families and students everywhere. One parent snapped at their kid, ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be eating dinner. What are you doing on your phone?¡± ¡°I¡¯m checking out the school drama, Mom.¡± ¡°What drama?¡± ¡°Mom, I think I totally made the right choice picking Basterel University. You know that freshman Shermaine, right? The SAT was basically nothing to her. She¡¯s like this major tech boss, seriously impressive. e ¡°At the International Tech Conference in June, she beat out all these other geniuses and took first ce. She made the whole Republic of Wallington look good.¡± ¡°She¡¯s really that amazing?¡± ¡°Yeah, let me show you the live stream video from back then. It was incredible.¡± After the parents watched the footage, they werepletely blown away by Shermaine. Just like their kids said, the, SAT really wasn¡¯t a big deal for someone like her. The problems they gave contestants at the international tech conference were way too advanced. Even though these parents had master¡¯s degrees, they couldn¡¯t solve a single question on that test. Those big shots had to solve problems within a set time limit, and Shermaine absolutely crushed it among all those geniuses. She definitely didn¡¯t look like someone who¡¯d just finished taking the SATS. Basterel University really hit the jackpot with her. The school¡¯s admission standards were probably going to shoot through the roof after this. It wasn¡¯t just one family talking about Shermaine either. Conversations were buzzing at several tables around the restaurant. ¡°Shermaine is so damn cool. I swear she¡¯s my idol now!¡± one student eximed. ¡°I really want to know what¡¯s going on in her head. How is she so good at everything?¡± ¡°Right? If she¡¯s that amazing, why is she even taking the SATS to go to school? I feel like she could just teach us instead.¡± Jameson heard every word, and he couldn¡¯t even think about eating. His mind was spinning in circles. ¡®Shermaine, my daughter, is some kind of tech industry big shot? How did she just be this tech genius out of nowhere?¡® he thought. Before, Jameson had figured that no matter how great Shermaine was, she still wasn¡¯t as well¨Cbehaved as Jason. But now, reality was smacking him in the face. Shermaine really was exceptional. The problem was, he wasn¡¯t handling it as well as he¡¯d expected. The more incredible Shermaine turned out to be, the worse he felt. He didn¡¯t deserve any credit for her achievements, and the pressure was crushing him. Even worse, it made Jason¨Cthe son he¡¯d always been so proud of¨Clook pretty ordinary byparison. Jameson was seriously struggling with this whole thing. He couldn¡¯t stand listening to any more of it, and his face looked like he¡¯d swallowed something bitter. He kept trying to convince himself that no matter how amazing Shermaine was, she was still just a woman who treated him coldly. There was no reason for him to feel this upset about it. Jason picked up his utensils and looked at his dad. ¡°Is the food not good or something?¡± Jameson shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just eat your meal.¡± 20.32 Sat, 21 Jun ??? 50% 28 After lunch, Jameson was getting ready to leave when he put his hand on Jason¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You really need to step up your game, Jason.¡± ¡°I will, Dad.¡± Jason had never actually been involved in the tech world before, but now, he was curious to see just how impressive Shermaine really was in that field where everyone treated her like some kind of genius. After they finished grocery shopping, Shermaine followed Joshua to the apartment he¡¯d bought near Basterel University. It was a duplex, around a thousand square feet, and Joshua had already had some clothes and household stuff moved in. ¡°Sheary, would it be okay if we didn¡¯t go back to campus tonight?¡± Shermaine thought it over but didn¡¯t give him an answer right away. ¡®It¡¯s my first day at Basterel University, and I¡¯m already thinking about not going back to the dorm tonight. Is that a bad look?¡® she wondered. Basterel University had this rule where the students had to be back in the dorms by, eleven, or they couldn¡¯t get in. It wasn¡¯t impossible to work around, but Shermaine looked at him and said, ¡°You¡¯ve been with me all day. Don¡¯t you have stuff to handle at the ¡°Bradley¡¯s there, plus the other executives.¡± Shermaine teased him, ¡°Bradley¡¯s probably crying his eyes out right about now.¡± Joshua didn¡¯t really care if Bradley was crying or not. He¡¯d given him a raise, and Bradley had epted it, so he could deal with handling business when Joshua wasn¡¯t around. Joshua pulled her down onto the couch with him and asked again, ¡°Sheary, can we do this?¡± Shermaine couldn¡¯t handle his persistence and reluctantly agreed. When Joshua heard her say yes, he smiled and kissed her eyelids, ¡°I heard there¡¯s supposed to be a meteor shower around ten tonight. Want to go watch it?¡± The way they were acting now didn¡¯t really feel like a married couple. It was more like they were in the middle of some intense honeymoon phase. Except this guy had the marriage license to back him up, which made him way too confident. ¡°Do you have a telescope?¡± Shermaineughed. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Found a good spot?¡± ¡°I know the perfect ce,¡± Joshua said. ¡°Let¡¯s go then.¡± They were totally on the same page, so they headed out that night to catch the meteor shower. Meanwhile, back in Rodunst¡­ Richard was in his study when he got a call from the Republic of Wallington. His voice got all excited as he answered, ¡°You¡¯re saying you found that trafficking ring from back then? Great, I¡¯ll find some time to fly back to the Republic of Wallington.¡± 20.32 Nurse walking 252 Chapter 252 Richard knew he was a pretty pathetic excuse for a man. He¡¯d been hiding out in Rodunst with Juliana for over ten years now, and every time she wanted to go back home for a visit, he¡¯d shot her down. He was scared. Scared of losing Juliana. But even so, his selfish desires had been eating away at him all this time. The guilt kept him up at night, tossing and turning. He¡¯d told himself that once Juliana got her memory back, he¡¯d let her go home. But her memory never came back, and here they were, all these yearster. The longer they stayed together, the harder it got for him to imagine letting Juliana return to Basterel and go back to her old life. That child trafficking ring was the same one that had abducted Juliana¡¯s daughter years ago. Her little girl was only five at the time, and Richard had been searching for any trace of her ever since. If he could find her and bring her back to live with them, it would give him some peace of mind, maybe ease the guilt that had been eating at him all these years. As for Juliana¡¯s older son, Richard knew he¡¯d probably never be able to make up for what he¡¯d done to that kid. ¡®I¡¯m the bad guy who stole his mother away,¡® he thought. Richard told his assistant to book him a flight back to the Republic of Wallington as soon as possible. Juliana walked in from outside just as he was giving those instructions. When she heard he was nning to go back to the Republic of Wallington, something stirred deep inside her¨Ca pull toward that ce she couldn¡¯t quite exin. ¡°Richard, you¡¯re going back to the Republic of Wallington?¡± Richard looked up, feeling a bit guilty. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve got some business to take care of. Need to make a quick trip.¡± ¡°How long will you be gone?¡± ¡°About a week, I think.¡± Juliana studied his face. ¡°Can Ie with you?¡± Even though she¡¯d lost her memory, she always felt this strange longing for the Republic of Wallington, like she desperately needed to go back there. Richard quickly shook his head. ¡°Juliana, I¡¯m going there to handle some serious stuff, not for a vacation.¡± ¡°What¡¯s so important that you can¡¯t tell me?¡± Richard stayed quiet. He wasn¡¯t nning to tell Juliana anything until he found the person he was looking for ¡°You can¡¯t even tell me?¡± Juliana asked again. ¡°Sorry, Juliana. If you really want to go back, I¡¯ll take you next time, okay?¡± Juliana had wanted to return home for years, and Richard had shot her down so many times. Now, he was brushing her off again. She frowned, ¡°When¡¯s next time?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll set it up as soon as I get back. How¡¯s that sound?¡± Juliana pressed her lips together and didn¡¯t say anything else. She just nodded, but the feeling that Richard was hiding something from her was getting stronger by the day. The next day, Shermaine headed back to campus first thing in the morning. On her first day back, she jumped right into the orientation with the rest of 20:32 Sat, 21 Jun GT her chemistry ss. $50% Shermaine thought the whole thing was pretty cool, even though most of the other students wereining about how exhausting it was. For her, it was no big deal. This level of training was nothingpared to what she was used to. It was just basic fitness stuff. After every training session, Summer woulde find Shermaine so they could grab food together at the cafeteria. Shermaine had be such a campus celebrity that other students would see her and immediately call her a genius. She¡¯d just give them a slight nod and keep it cool. The afternoon sun was zing hot. Their instructor wanted to find them a decent spot to train, so he picked out this perfect location right next to outdoor basketball court A. There was this huge tree where they could catch some shade during breaks. Their coach was really thoughtful. But when it came time to get serious, he didn¡¯t mess around either. and The thing was, they weren¡¯t the only ones who had their eyes on this prime spot. A ss from theputer science department was eyeing it too, a that happened to be Jason¡¯s ss. To settle who got the spot, they decided to have a friendly basketball game that afternoon. But the vibe between the two sses was anything but friendly. One could practically feel the tension in the air. The whole thing ended up drawing a crowd, with other instructors bringing their students over to watch. AD Nurse walking 253 Chapter 253 Their instructor, Albert Linton, asked, ¡°Do any of you girls know how to y basketball?¡± Only one or two girls from the chemistry department raised their hands. Shermaine was one of them. Being good at everything wasn¡¯t just talk. She could handle basketball too. Shermaine stood there in her camo uniform with the sleeves rolled up. At five¨Cfoot¨Cseven with that sweet but striking face, she totally stood out from all the other girls. Albert announced, ¡°For this basketball game, we¡¯re doing co¨Ced teams. Each five¨Cperson squad needs two girls.¡± He pointed at Shermaine and another girl who¡¯d raised her hand. ¡°You two are it. Get your positions sorted and get ready to take them on.¡± Once they picked the five¨Cperson team, one of the guys who yed basketball regrly spoke up, ¡°You two can handle guard positions.¡± The other girl said that was fine, and Shermaine nodded along. The remaining three guys would split between two forwards and one center. After they figured out positions, Shermaine stripped off her camo jacket, leaving just a loose T¨Cshirt underneath. By now, the bleachers were filling up with spectators. Theputer science team also went with three guys and two girls, but their female yers looked way more athletic than Shermaine¡¯s side. A bunch ofputer science upperssmen showed up to watch too. Word had gotten out that their department¡¯s new heartthrob was ying basketball, so groups of girls came to check out his moves on the court. But when people realized Shermaine was also ying, the news spread fast and even more people started showing up at the basketball court. One was Basterel¡¯s top science student, the other was second ce. Now, they were going head¨Cto¨Chead. The ce was buzzing with excitement. Though honestly,paring guys and girls in basketball wasn¡¯t really fair. Men already had a natural advantage in this sport. The game kicked off with the referee¡¯s whistle. Right from the opening tip¨Coff, Jason jumped up and grabbed the ball. He was good¨Clooking, which definitely worked in his favor with the female audience. A bunch of girls immediately started screaming and cheering from the stands. Shermaine was standing toward the back, but the opening y never made it to her anyway. The ball went to that other girl from their ss instead, and she lookedpletely panicked. She seemed totally lost about who to pass to, and while she was standing there frozen, someone snatched the ball right out of her hands. Her face just crumpled. She looked like she was about to cry. ¡®I should never have volunteered for this,¡® she thought. She could y baske she sucked at it. Usually she just jogged around for exercise. Shermaine saw how guilty she looked and gave her shoulder a pat. ¡°Hey, rx. It¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°Shermaine, aren¡¯t you nervous at all?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°You really are something else.¡± That was what made a genius a genius. Even in sports, she just stood out from everyone else. About ten minutes in, the Computer Science team was way ahead on the scoreboard. ure, but Jason was actually pretty good at basketball and had some real skills. His performance had all the girls in the audience cheering him on non¨Cstop.. Meanwhile, their Chemistry department had way fewer people, so their cheering gotpletely drowned out. 20.32 Actually, plenty of guys who were fans of Shermaine had shown up to watch, but since the ball never made it to her hands, they couldn¡¯t really cheer her on or anything. Shermaine figured that if they wanted to win, they¡¯d probably need to switch up their positions for the second half. While she was thinking about it, someone passed the ball right to her hands. ¡°Shermaine, quick! Pass it over here!¡± one of the guys on her team yelled. Shermaine nced up and was about to make the pass when aputer science major came charging over to steal the ball. The guy thought he¡¯d snag it easy, but Shermaine suddenly changed the ball¡¯s direction and threw him offpletely. He stood there confused for a second, then kept trying to grab it. There was no way Shermaine was letting him get that ball though. Everyone watching held their breath as they saw Shermaine take total control of the court with thismanding presence that just blew them away. Her ball handling was absolutely incredible. The guy couldn¡¯t even touch the ball once while she basically yed him like a fool. When Shermaine figured she¡¯d messed with him enough, she spun right around him, jumped up, and took the shot. The ball went straight through the hoop with a perfect swish. She nailed the three¨Cpointer without even touching the rim. The crowd went absolutely wild with screaming. ¡°Shermaine, that was so freaking cool!¡± AD Nurse walking 254 Chapter 254 That single three¨Cpointer was all it took for Shermaine topletely win over every girl who¡¯de to watch the basketball game. Jason watched Shermaine, his hands clenching into fists. ¡®She really is my natural enemy, he thought. The guys from ss just stood there stunned. ¡°Damn, you¡¯re insane at basketball too.¡± ¡°I¡¯m alright.¡± Shermaine shrugged. But actually, she wasn¡¯t just ¡°alright¡°. She was nailing three¨Cpointers left and right. Her skills were off the charts. Once Shermaine showed what she could do, her teammates immediately wanted to switch up positions. Before she knew it, she was ying forward. When they faced off, Jason said, ¡°Shermaine, I¡¯m not going easy on you,¡± Shermaine smirked. ¡°Do I need you to go easy on me?¡± Jason had nothing to say to that. And honestly, Shermaine really didn¡¯t need him to. ying forward, she was absolutely unstoppable. It didn¡¯t matter who was guarding her. Once the ball was in her hands, nobody could take it away, For the first time, Jason felt the full force of how intimidating Shermaine could be. It was crushing. The game came to the final shot, which would decide everything. Shermaine stole the ball right out of his hands and sank another three¨Cpointer, ending today¡¯s friendly game. Jason was sweating buckets. The tall, good¨Clooking guy looked pretty beat up. Meanwhile, Shermaine finished the game and grabbed a water bottle from one of her ssmates. She twisted off the cap and tilted her head back to drink. ¡°Shermaine, you¡¯re so freaking cool!¡± one student eximed. Shermaine, the chemistry department¡¯s legend, really was in a league of her own. Shermaine just smiled and didn¡¯t say anything. All the girls watching from the sidelines were totally blown away by her performance. Without even trying, Shermaine had already won over a bunch of academic fans, and now she was collecting a whole army of female admirers too. The shippers were starting to worry though. Shermaine was getting way too popr at school. ¡®Will Joshua feel threatened by this?¡® That night, Joshua got his hands on a video of Shermaine ying basketball. After watching it, he really wanted to see her, but Shermaine had already crashed after a full day of the orientation. She¡¯d put her phone away hours ago. No matter how much Joshua missed her, he couldn¡¯t reach her, so he just kept watching that video over and over again. News of this whole thing eventually made its way to Natalie and Jameson¡¯s ears. Natalie was pissed beyond belief. ¡®It¡¯s bad enough that Shermaine got the top exam scores, but now she¡¯s beating my son Jason at sports too?¡® she thought. ¡®Shermaine was basically a freak of nature, like some kind of monster. What woman could be that insanely good at everything?¡® Jameson felt like he was living in some weird dream. ¡®Jason couldn¡¯t even beat Shermaine at basketball?¡® he thought. He had to see this for himself, so he watched the video. After watching it, his face fell. ¡®Could Shermaine please stop being so damn brilliant at everything?¡® he thought. Having her as some tech genius was already hard enough to deal with, and now she was crushing Jason too. ¡®Just how many hidden talents does she have?¡® 20:32 Sat, 21 Jun G TO In that video, the second Shermaine stepped onto the court, it was like the whole ce belonged to her. She owned that court like a queen, and everyone cheering for her were her loyal subjects. For once, Jameson didn¡¯t spend the night at Natalie¡¯s ce. He actually went back t to Jean residence instead. 50% +za Janice seemed surprised to see him, but her expression stayed cold as ice. ¡°I thought that little home¨Cwrecker had you so wrapped around her finger that you¡¯dpletely forgotten this family existed.¡± Jameson felt pretty awkward about that, but he noticed Ruth wasn¡¯t at the dinner table. ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡°She went on a trip.¡± Jameson just said ¡°Oh¡± and didn¡¯t ask anything else. Meanwhile, in Thymion, Ruth had rented out this super fancy beachfront vi. But she wasn¡¯t vacationing alone. She had some young guy with her who was pretty good¨Clooking, and they were all over each other. Ruth sipped her wine and figured this kind of life beat the hell out of babysitting the Jean family and dealing with Jameson¡¯s crap. Since Jameson had his headpletely turned by that little vixen anyway, she¡¯d decided to go for it when this young stud, Jasper Bell, started throwing signals her way. Jasper was hot and knew exactly what to say. These past few days had been like living in paradise for her. ¡°Ruth, I really want to spend the rest of my life with you,¡± Jasper whispered in her ear, trying to work his magic. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to stop saying that?¡± Ruth wasn¡¯t born yesterday. Her expression immediately turned cold. AD Nurse walking 255 Chapter 255 Jasper¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m only with you for the money?¡± Ruth didn¡¯t say anything. ¡°I¡¯ve been with you all this time. When have I ever asked you for money?¡± Jasper said. She had to admit he had a point. Ruth found herself wondering if this guy who was more than ten years younger than her actually loved her. The thought sent little ripples through her heart, and she felt herself falling even deeper into the trap Natalie had so carefully set for her. Ross was another one who didn¡¯t make it home for dinner that night. That earring of Danielle¡¯s had been eating at him, and he couldn¡¯t let it go. After work, he grabbed the earrings and headed straight to the hospital. When people saw him show up, nobody dared call him a scumbag to his face. Besides, he had this refined, gentlemanly appearance that made him look like some kind of aristocrat, way too ssy for anyone to mess with. Ross walked up to the neurosurgery front desk. ¡°Is Dr. Shelly in?¡± The nurse at the desk looked curious. ¡°What do you need Dr. Shelly for?¡± She thought, ¡®They broke up already, so why¡¯s he here looking for Dr. Shelly? Is he trying to get back together?¡® But she was way off base. ¡°She left something at my ce,¡± Ross said simply. ¡°Oh,¡± the nurse replied. ¡°Dr. Shelly went out to grab dinner, but she should be back soon. She¡¯s got rounds to doter tonight.¡± Danielle definitely hadn¡¯t gone out to eat alone. She never would have expected Janice to set her up on a blind date, especially with Henry, someone she¡¯d only met once before. Luckily, she¡¯d met Henry once before and he¡¯d made a good impression on her. They actually hit it off pretty well when they talked. What surprised Henry the most was that Janice had actively reached out to y matchmaker for him, and the person she wanted to set him up with was Danielle. Sure, there wasn¡¯t any romantic spark between them, but they made decent friends. Ross heard that Danielle would be back soon, so he decided to wait around for her return. He wasn¡¯t about to make the trip for nothing. He stood by the window watching the busy street below, with a clear view of the crowds flowing in and out of the hospital¡¯s main entrance. Just like the nurse had said, Danielle showed up before long. A sports car pulled up in front of the hospital, and Danielle got out. The driver¡¯s window rolled down, revealing Henry with a big smile as he looked at Danielle. Ross couldn¡¯t hear what they were saying, but t to be having a great time chatting. Watching this scene unfold, Ross felt something heavy settle in his chest¨Csome kind of emotion he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on. med Janice had actually followed through on her word and introduced Danielle to Henry. Janice had actually followed through on her word and introduced Danielle to Henry. After saying goodbye to Henry, Danielle headed into the medical building. When she came upstairs, she found Ross standing outside her office door. They hadn¡¯t seen each other since they went their separate ways that day. When Danielle spotted him, she frowned, ¡°Mr. Jean, what are you doing here?¡± ¡°Returning your earring,¡± Ross said. 20:32 Sat, 21 Jun GT ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to throw it away?¡± ¡°That earring was expensive.¡± Danielle rolled her eyes. ¡®Whatever, I¡¯d actually feel bad if he really threw it out,¡¯ she thought. ¡°Thanks. Hand it over.¡± Ross didn¡¯t make any move to give it to her. ¡°I¡¯m thirsty.¡± Danielle stared at him for a moment, then pushed open her office door. ¡°Fine,e in.¡± 50% Ross followed her inside. Danielle grabbed a disposable cup and poured him some warm water, then sat down at her desk and pulled out her phone to check the time. Shepletely ignored him after that. Her attitude couldn¡¯t have been any colder. ¡°How are things going with Henry?¡± Ross asked. Danielle wasn¡¯t nning to respond to him at all, but hearing that question made her inexplicably angry. ¡°Henry and I get along great. He¡¯s funny and thoughtful. Actually, when you get back, do me a favor and tell Mrs. Jean thanks for setting us up.¡± Ross gripped his water ss. ¡°I¡¯m just here to drop off your earring.¡± His tone made it clear he wasn¡¯t about to y messenger for anyone. Danielle didn¡¯t seem to care either way. Her eyes crinkled with amusement. ¡°Fine by me. When Henry and I actually get together, I¡¯ll invite Mrs. Jean to dinner myself. ¡°Just drink up and get out of here. I don¡¯t have time to babysit you.¡± Ross had no words for that. He left the hospital that night with his face stone cold. A AD Comment Nurse walking 256 Chapter 256 Ross was pissed off, and he knew exactly where those feelings wereing from Danielle. People were weird as hell. He¡¯d been trying to keep his distance from her this whole time, but now that she was actually drawing those lines herself, he regretted it. Ross had been regretting it since the night she cut him off. That feeling hit him for the first time ever, but he had no clue what to do about it. Nobody had ever taught him how to love someone¨Cnot once in his entire life. Ross¡® shitty attitude made him lose any hope for romance altogether. He felt like crap. When Danielle said she didn¡¯t like him anymore, she really meant it. It turned out the window for liking someone was really short¨Cso short that if Ross didn¡¯t grab it right away, it just slipped through his fingers like wind brushing past his heart, leaving nothing behind. He was gone. Danielle just stood there in a daze. She didn¡¯t feel happy about making Ross angry. Actually, she felt kind of lost after he left, maybe even a little guilty. ¡®Was I too harsh with what I said back there?¡® she thought. Danielle had no clue why Ross had bothered to bring the earrings over himself, or what he¡¯d been trying to say when he kept starting and stopping. She really wanted to call him back and ask him about it. Richard got another call. He¡¯d be flying back to Basterel from Rodunst in a couple days. He actually came back pretty regrly, so it didn¡¯t feel weird or anything. The airport was packed with peopleing and going. Richard grabbed his luggage and headed outside. His driver was runningte because of traffic, so he had to wait by the curb for a few minutes. Even though Richard was getting older, he still carried himself well. His features had that mature, handsome quality thates with age. He was around the same age as Jameson, but he looked way more distinguished and put¨Ctogether¨Cyounger and more confident too. Ruth came out from inside and got straight into a Rolls¨CRoyce. She had on sunsses and a face mask, but one could tell she was feeling pretty damn good about herself¨Cprobably thanks to all that attention from her young boy toytely. Even with her face covered, she had this confident swagger going on. But when Ruth got in the car, Jasper didn¡¯t follow her. He just stood by the car door and said, ¡°Ruth, let¡¯s just call it quits.¡± He dropped that bomb and immediately hailed a taxi for himself. Ruth sat therepletely stunned. Maybe this felt too much like real love, and it actually freaked her out. When she realized he was really leaving, she scrambled out of the car to chase after him. Problem was, Ruth was wearing heels and couldn¡¯t keep up. She even crashed into some random guy on the sidewalk. Richard had been about to call Juliana to let her know he¡¯d made it to Basterel safely, but Ruth mmed into him so hard that his phone hit the pavement and the screen shatteredpletely. Ruth was in full panic mode, but Jasper was already speeding away in that taxi. There was no point chasing anymore, She was pissed off and didn¡¯t really want to apologize, but when she saw that the guy she¡¯d hit was wearing expensive clothes, she had no choice. She pulled off her sunsses and said, ¡°Sorry about that. How much was your phone? I¡¯ll pay for it.¡± But when Richard looked at her, his expression went ice cold. There was something poisonous in his stare, like pure fury mixed with something way darker. 20.32 Sat, 21 50% Ruth felt a chill run down her spine. This guy was looking at her like he knew her or something. ¡®Could he be one of the Jean family¡¯s enemies?¡® she thought. The idea made her take several steps back to keep her distance. Richard picked up his phone andpletely ignored her. When his car showed up, he bent down to get in and drove off without a second nce. Once Richard was in the car, he looked even more pissed off. This woman who was pretending to be Juliana and living it up as the Jean family¡¯s rich wife in Basterel was out there fooling around with other men. She was basically destroying their reputation. AD Nurse walking 257 Chapter 257 50% 281 Richard never expected to run into Madeline at the airport on this trip back home, especially since she was now calling herself thedy of the Jean family. The world seemed huge, but it was actually pretty damn small. That was how they ended up bumping into each other like this. Richard knew exactly what was going on. The woman everyone thought was Ruth these days was actually Madeline in disguise. Back in the day, Juliana wasn¡¯t Juliana yet. She was Ruth, the powerhouse businesswoman who¡¯d saved Jean Group from going under when it was on the brink of bankruptcy. She was gentle, brilliant, and wise as hell. Ruth had been Richard¡¯s secret crush since high school, the one who got away that he could never forget. He¡¯d been too broke back then to even think about confessing his feelings. Instead, he watched her marry Jameson, then watched Jameson and their so¨Ccalled friendspletely betray her. Ruth had already figured out how to break through the bottlenecks in cloning technology years ago. But she thought the tech was too dangerous for the world, so she kept her research hidden away. Problem was, Madeline had been working alongside Ruth the whole time. One day, she discovered Ruth¡¯s secret and cut a deal with someb doctor to steal the research. But Madeline didn¡¯t stop there. She hatched this whole plot to kill Ruth and take over her identity. The n worked perfectly. Madeline became the new Ruth and stepped into her role as thedy of the Jean family. If Richard hadn¡¯t pulled Ruth out of the ocean that day, there wouldn¡¯t be any Juliana in his life right now. ? Later on, Juliana woke up. Richard kept everything buried deep inside because of his own selfish reasons. He never told her a single thing about what really happened. Over all these years, he hadn¡¯t kept close tabs on the Jean family situation because he felt way too guilty about Juliana¡¯s son, Ross. Back then, Ross was so little when he lost his sister and his mom too. Richard heard from people that after Madeline became Ruth, she put on this whole act like she was devastated about losing her daughter. She brought home an adopted girl, and because of this new kid, Ross got pushed aside and ignored. Madeline never showed him any motherly love at all. Richard could imagine how rough things were for him back then. Sitting in his car, Richard¡¯s mind was all over the ce, and the guilt just hit him like a wave. What he really wanted to know was how Ross was doing these days. After thinking it over for a while, Richard made a phone call. ¡°I need to know what¡¯s been going on with the Jean familytely,¡± he told whoever picked
  1. up.
Once Richard got that sorted out, he headed to the prison. The guy who ran that child trafficking ring was locked up in the north part of Basterel. From what Richard learned from the person who actually abducted Juliana¡¯s daughter, the kid got sold to some family in a small town really far from Basterel. Richard didn¡¯t know the family¡¯sst name, but the one thing he remembered was that the man was blind and couldn¡¯t have kids of his own. As soon as Richard got this news, he immediately sent people to investigate. After Richard left the prison, another ne from Rodunstnded in Basterel. Juliana stepped off the aircraft carrying just a small suitcase. She¡¯d used some clever tricks to slip under the radar and fly back to Basterel from Rodunst. Something about Richard hiding things from her made her feel like it was connected to her somehow, so she really wanted to know what exactly he was 20:32 Sat, 21 keeping from her. 50% The night stretched on under a sky full of twinkling stars. It was Shermaine¡¯s third evening of the orientation, and she¡¯d just gotten out of the shower when she received a WhatsApp message from Joshua. [Sheary, want some ice cream and desserts?] Water droplets were still falling from her silky long hair, and her delicate corbones peeked out from her shirt. She licked her lips and texted: [Yes.} Joshua: [Come downstairs.] Shermaine smiled when she saw that. Joshua really couldn¡¯t sit still. Shermaine: [Give me two minutes.] Shermaine put down her towel, threw on a T¨Cshirt, and headed downstairs. Following the directions he¡¯d given her, she found a low¨Ckey Bentley parked under the cotton tree. Since hardly any students were walking around, she casually opened the car door and got in. Shermaine looked at Joshua. ¡°Where¡¯s the ice cream and desserts?¡± Joshua reached into the back seat and handed the stuff over to her. Shermaine was absolutely delighted as she pulled out the ice cream and started eating it with a little spoon, one bite at a time. She licked her lips. ¡°Want to try some?¡± Nurse walking 258 Joshua gazed intently at Shermaine. ¡°Feed me, Sheary.¡± Shermaine scooped a spoonful of ice cream and brought it to his lips. Joshua had gone out of his way to bring her snacks. She was willing to indulge him. Just then, another WhatsApp notification chimed. She nced down but didn¡¯t check it immediately. The message was from the person tailing Madeline, delivering the daily report. Joshua reached up, brushing away a smudge of chocte at the corner of her mouth. ¡°Ross came to drink with me yesterday.¡± ¡°He was in a bad mood?¡± Shermaine asked casually. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Probably because of Danielle.¡± Though Ross hadn¡¯t said a word, nothing escaped Joshua¡¯s notice. A soft warmth flickered in Shermaine¡¯s eyes. ¡°So, there might still be a chance for Ross and Danielle.¡± She had always believed Ross needed someone like Danielle by his side. Danielle was such a warm person. Once Ross experienced that, he wouldn¡¯t want to let her go. Even after returning to the Jean family, Shermaine had maintained a close rtionship with Ross. He doted on her, and naturally, she cared about him. Still, he needed someone who would love him wholeheartedly. Ross was reserved by nature, but he was starved for affection and lonelier than she was. Joshua smiled but didn¡¯t borate. Once Shermaine had finished eating, he put her onto hisp and leaned in to kiss her. The spot was secluded, and rarely frequented by others, so Shermaine didn¡¯t worry about being seen and allowed it. Two days without intimacy, and Joshua missed her kiss so much. Shermaine wore a loose T¨Cshirt, and now one shoulder was bare. Joshua nuzzled against her neck, kissing and nipping lightly, tempted to leave his mark. Shermaine immediately warned, ¡°No marks.¡± The weather was too hot, and she still had orientation. If she sweated, the concealer would smudge. Joshua paused, then tugged her cor down slightly and sucked hard, leaving a hidden but clear hickey. Shermaine let out a soft gasp. After returning to Jean residence, Madeline was consumed by despair over Jasper¡¯s words at the airport, unable to shake off her gloom. Jasper had blocked her number. It seemed he truly meant to cut all ties with her. She missed him, yet she wasn¡¯t willing to give up her status in the Jean family. Lost in thought, she was caught off guard when Jameson, whom she hadn¡¯t seen in a long time, stormed into the room in a rage and pped her hard. He roared, ¡°You bitch! How dare you cheat on me?¡± The p left Madeline dizzy, but she quickly regained herposure. Lifting her chin, she sneered, ¡°Oh? You¡¯re out there keeping a mistress and fathering an illegitimate child, but I can¡¯t date another man? And you have the nerve to p me?¡± Still resentful over being pushed down the stairsst time, she stood up and pped Jameson hard. 49% This enraged Jameson further. He was the kind of man who believed he could have mistresses, but Ruth, as his wife, had to be loyal to him. Furious that she dared to p him, he grabbed her by the hair. ¡°You think just because you¡¯ve patched things up with Shermaine, and I won¡¯t touch you? You filthy bitch! I¡¯ll teach you a real lesson today.¡± Janice, hearing the violentmotion upstairs, rushed to the scene and nearly fainted from shock. Madeline, being a woman, was no match for Jameson¡¯s brute strength. By the time the beating stopped, shey battered and bruised on the bed, barely breathing. Horrified that Jameson had resorted to domestic violence, Janice raised her cane and thrashed him. By ten that night, Ross had taken Madeline to the hospital. Weeping pitifully, Madeline tried to win his sympathy, hoping he would seek justice for her. When she clutched his sleeve, Ross frowned in disgust. He yanked his sleeve back, his usual gentle demeanor reced by obvious disdain. ¡°I don¡¯t have a mother like you.¡± Madeline sobbed, ¡°Ross, I¡¯m your mother. How can you stand by and watch me get beaten like that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see anything wrong with it.¡± ¡°You bastard! How could you be so heartless?¡± ¡°Get some rest.¡± With that, Ross strode out of the hospital room. The usually refined young man now carried an unshakable air of fury. Jameson was despicable, but the woman before him disgusted him just as much. At Basterel University, Shermaine had already learned about Madeline being beaten by Jameson. Her eyes were cold, but she remained silent. She had no sympathy for that despicable woman. Yet Jameson¡¯s actions disgusted Shermaine to the core. If her mother were still alive and knew how vile he was, Shermaine couldn¡¯t even imagine how she would react. ¡°The dorm closes in ten minutes. I should head back,¡± Shermaine sajd, slipping her phone into her pocket. Joshua ruffled her hair. ¡°Zack has back in Basterel.¡± ¡°Have they caught him yet?¡± ¡°He¡¯s still atrge. I¡¯ll bring him to you within days.¡± ¨C¡°Mm.¡± Shermaine hadn¡¯t extracted any useful information from Madeline, but Zack might know something about what had happened back then. After being beaten by Janice, Jameson spent the night at Natalie¡¯s ce. Natalie¡¯s gentle, doting care instantly made him feel she was far better than Ruth. He couldn¡¯t wait to marry Natalie and bring her home. Natalie was a master at turning the tables. The next day, news of ¡°Mrs. Jean¡¯s Secret Affair¡± trended online, withizens marveling at the drama of high- society scandals. Ruth was livid, thinking, ¡®That damn bitch! Here I am, lying alone in the hospital with no one visiting me, not even Shermaine, and her phone is still unreachable.¡® At that moment, she desperately wished Jasper woulde for her. 49% Richard had tracked down Maple Leaf Ville¡¯s location through various leads, but his first impression upon arriving was that he must havee to the wrong ce. Rumor had it that this was a poor, remote vige, yet every household lived in cozy vis, and cutting¨Cedge robots were everywhere. Richard soon met Jay Gill, the mayor of Maple Leaf Ville. He pulled out a photograph and asked, ¡°Sir, have you seen this little girl before?¡± Jay studied the photo and blinked in surprise. ¡°Isn¡¯t this Sheary?¡± Richard exined his purpose, ¡°I¡¯m a rtive of hers. Could you tell me where she is now?¡± Jay eyed him carefully. The man carried an air of integrity and didn¡¯t seem like trouble. After a brief hesitation, he replied, ¡°Sheary has already been reunited with her family. Are you sure you¡¯ve got the right person?¡± A sinking feeling settled in Richard¡¯s gut. ¡°Who imed to be her family?¡± Jay answered inly, ¡°The Jean family from Basterel.¡± AD Nurse walking 259 Chapter 259 At these words, Richard¡¯s expression darkened. .49% He thought, ¡®The Jean family found their long¨Clost daughter? It must have been Ross who found her. No one else would go to such lengths to find his sister.¡® Coincidentally, the details of the Jean family had just arrived in Richard¡¯s inbox. It detailed the breakdown of Jameson¡¯s marriage, his frequent overnight stays at his mistress¡® ce, as well as the power struggles between him and his eldest son in thepany. The root of the conflicty in Jameson¡¯s illegitimate child. Blinded by favoritism, Jameson grew increasingly wary of Ross, his firstborn. Ross had once been sidelined and stripped of authority, but after taking the reins, he led Jean Group to its most prosperous era in years. Richard thought, ¡®I could help Ross seize full control of Jean Group.¡¯ Last autumn, Ross had located his sister, Shermaine, who had been missing for 14 years, and brought her back to the Jean family. The siblings shared an exceptionally close bond. When Richard saw Shermaine¡¯s photo, his hands trembled. He had never imagined that the doctor who had saved him in Rodunst was Shermaine, Juliana¡¯s daughter, the heiress of the Jean family, and the wife of York Group¡¯s CEO. The revtion left him pale and unsettled for a long time. This discovery shattered Richard¡¯s long¨Cheld ns. His original intention had been to find Juliana¡¯s daughter and bring her to Rodunst to keep Julianapany. But as always, ns never survived reality. Richard owed Shermaine a life debt. He might never be able to repay what he owed her and Ross. More importantly, after years by his side, Richard couldn¡¯t bear the thought of parting with Juliana. Jameson didn¡¯t deserve her, but keeping her away was deeply unfair to Shermaine and Ross. Torn by guilt, Richard left, weighed down by his thoughts. Unbeknownst to him, Juliana had arrived shortly after his departure. She was a sharp woman, so neither Richard nor his subordinates had realized she had left Rodunst and followed him here. Juliana had no idea why Richard hade here, but after arriving, she unexpectedly found herself enchanted by this ce. The moment Jay saw her, his eyes lit up. ¡°You¡­ You look just like Sheary! You¡¯re her mother?¡± Juliana froze. ¡°Sheary? I don¡¯t know her.¡± Jay eagerly told her all about Shermaine, even pulling out photos¨Cone from when she was six and the rest were taken recently after her return. As Juliana stared at the childhood photo, her breath hitched. It felt like a stone had been dropped into the stillwaters of her heart, sending ripples surging. She continued studying the photos, watching the little girl blossom into a stunning young woman. Suddenly, a splitting pain shot through her brain as if fragmented memories were forcing their way in. In her mind, a sweet, giggling little girl called her ¡°Mommy.¡± Juliana felt like she was sinking into quicksand, struggling to stay afloat. Her face twisted in agony, and with a stagger, she copsed unconscious. Jay panicked and immediately called for help. After leaving Maple Leaf Ville, Richard dialed Juliana¡¯s number. However, the call was answered by her friend in Rodunst, who imed Juliana was ¡°busy with something else¡± and couldn¡¯te to the phone. ?? 49% Richard¡¯s mind was too tangled to question it further. He hung up without pressing the issue. In no hurry to return to Rodunst, he decided to extend his stay in Basterel for a while longer. AD Comment Nurse walking 260 Time flew by, and Shermaine¡¯s orientation had been going on for nearly a week. She hadn¡¯t tanned much. It was mostly because her professor had frequently called her into theb, leaving little time for outdoor training with her ssmates. That morning, while in theb, she received a phone call from Janice. Janice¡¯s voice carried a hint of worry. ¡°Sheary, Ross suddenly broke out in terrible rashes all over his body. Come home and take a look at him.¡± Shermaine said, ¡°Grandma, don¡¯t panic. I¡¯m on my way.¡± Instead of rushing Ross to the hospital, Janice immediately called Shermaine because she knew her granddaughter¡¯s medical skills surpassed those of most doctors. Besides, Ross had stubbornly refused to go to the hospital. Now, he was even showing signs of a fever. Shermaine excused herself from school and took a cab back to Jean residence. After examining Ross, she confirmed it was hives. His skin was already inmed in patches, unbearably itchy, with his neck area looking particrly severe. Lying in bed, the usuallyposed and handsome man now looked pale and fragile, his lips faintly colorless. Ross asked, ¡°Sheary, can you suppress the allergy quickly?¡± Shermaine frowned, ¡°You have something urgent to do?¡± Ross nodded. ¡°Yeah. There is a crucial business deal this afternoon.¡± She pressed. ¡°What did you eat this morning?¡± Ross was meticulous about hygiene, so hives shouldn¡¯t have been an issue for him. Ross had oatmeal for breakfast with Janice, so that shouldn¡¯t have been the culprit. However, he admitted to poor sleeptely and an extra cup of coffee this morning. Shermaine asked, ¡°Did you make the coffee yourself?¡± Ross shook his head. ¡°No, the maid made it.¡± The maid, standing nearby, paled and immediately stepped forward to exin, ¡°Sir, I swear I didn¡¯t put anything harmful in it.¡± Shermaine turned to her. ¡°Did you leave the kitchen at any point while preparing it?¡± The maid thought for a moment, then nodded. ¡°Yes, I did.¡± ¡°What for?¡± Shermaine asked. The maid replied honestly, ¡°Jameson asked me to fetch a document for him upstairs while I was grinding the beans.¡± A heavy silence fell over the room, It was clear who had tampered with the coffee. Ross was certain Jameson had drugged him to sabotage the business deal. The client despised tardiness or cancetions. If Ross couldn¡¯t make it, Jameson would step in as his recement. But Ross needed concrete proof, Shermaine pressed her lips into a thin line, her gaze icy. Jameson had dared to poison his son. There was no telling what he might do next. After checking Ross, Shermaine wrote two prescriptions, one for oral medication and the other for topical treatment. ¡°Ross, rest for now. I¡¯ll prepare the medicine. The itching is unbearable, but try not to scratch.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Ross had impressive self¨Ccontrol. Despite the maddening itch, he hadn¡¯t once touched the inmed areas. ¡°Thanks, Sheary.¡± Shermaine gently tucked his nket before leaving the room. Janice¡¯s face remained stern throughout. ¡°Ross, I¡¯ll hold your father ountable for this.¡± 20:33 Sat, 21 Jun Ross shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t, Grandma. Stay out of it.¡± ¡°No. I can¡¯t let him keep getting away with this. He¡¯s bold enough to drug you today. Who knows what he¡¯ll¡­¡± Janice didn¡¯t finish, but they both imew that Jameson was capable of far worse o Nurse walking 261 Chapter 261 Ross¡® voice was weak but resolute. ¡°Grandma, I just hope that when the timees, you won¡¯t plead for my father.¡± Janice shook her head firmly. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± She wasn¡¯t so senile as to enable Jameson¡¯s recklessness. Still, she trusted Ross would show restraint. Shermaine drove to the pharmacy and handed the prescriptions to the clerk. By 1 p.m., after taking the oral medication and applying the ointment, Ross¡® hives had significantly subsided, though his fever lingered. When Shermaine saw him dressed and ready to leave, she frowned, ¡°You¡¯re really going?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Ross nodded. With his allergic reaction under control, he wouldn¡¯t let Jameson steal the hard¨Cwon client. Shermaine packed fever patches and pills for him, then slid something else into his hand. ¡°You might want to give this to Jameson.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Something that will make him feel pretty awful.¡± Ross chuckled, pocketing it. ¡°I¡¯ll put it to good use.¡± And he intended to. Jameson had already arrived at the golf course where the meeting was scheduled. That morning, he had spiked Ross¡® coffee with penicillin to trigger an allergic reaction. Jameson was determined to secure the deal for himself. Ross had secured several major clients this year, his influence in thepany now eclipsing Jameson¡¯s. Another sess would tip the scales irreversibly. Jameson thought, ¡®If Ind this client myself, the board will overlook my indiscretions.¡¯ Yet when he strode onto the green, he froze. There was Ross, who should have been hospitalized with hives,ughing with the client over a casual game. ¡°Dad, what brings you here?¡± Ross feigned surprise. Jameson cleared his throat. ¡°Just meeting a friend for golf.¡± His eyes narrowed. ¡°Weren¡¯t you unwell this morning?¡± Ross said, ¡°Sheary fixed me up.¡± Jameson¡¯s jaw tightened. He hadn¡¯t forgotten Shermaine¡¯s offhand remark about ¡°dabbling in medicine.¡± He thought, ¡®That damned girl! She ruined my n. She¡¯s as sharp as Ruth. No, she¡¯s even sharper than Ruth.¡¯ Ross gave a mild smile. ¡°Dad, you look disappointed.¡± Jameson forced an awkward smile. ¡°You¡¯re seeing things.¡± Ross scoffed coldly, ¡°I wish I were.¡± Jameson swiftly changed the subject. ¡°How did the meeting go?¡± ¡°Mr. Murphy already signed the contract,¡± Ross replied tly. Richard, burdened by guilt and eager to make amends, had approached Ross under the guise of a client. Jameson was stunned, It moved too fast. Richard, perceptive to the tension between Jameson and Ross, interjected gently, ¡°I chose to work with Jean Group solely because of Mr. Ross Jean¡¯s 20:33 Sat, 21 Jun capabilities. .. ¡°Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have considered it. Ross, given your condition today, you shouldn¡¯t have pushed yourself toe. A simple call to reschedule would¡¯ve sufficed.¡± Ross smiled courteously, ¡°You tter me, Mr. Murphy.¡± ¡°Jean Group¡¯s current sess is undeniably your doing, isn¡¯t it?¡± Richard added pointedly. Beside them, Jameson, the president of Jean Group, turned ashen. His jaw clenched. He thought, ¡®What the hell is Richard ying at? Acting like Ross alone built thispany from the ground up?¡® AD Nurse walking 262 Chapter 262 Jameson was fuming but had no outlet for his anger. He could only swallow it. Unexpectedly, someone arrived to ease the embarrassment. It was Tim, Danielle¡¯s father, and Danielle was with him. Danielle¡¯s expression shifted slightly as she watched Jameson and Tim chat amiably. When her gazended on Ross, she didn¡¯t greet him, but her trained medical eye noticed his pallor. She wondered, ¡®Is he sick?¡® Ross met her gaze calmly, though his grip on the golf club tightened imperceptibly. Danielle looked away, standing quietly beside Tim. Soon after, Tim introduced Danielle to Jameson. Jameson said smoothly, ¡°We¡¯ve met before. Danielle attended my daughter¡¯s birthday party.¡± Danielle offered a polite but distant smile, unfazed by Jameson¡¯s attempt at familiarity. Still, she added, ¡°Dad, that is Sheary¡¯s brother, Ross Jean.¡± Tim studied Ross¨Chandsome, refined, exuding quiet nobility. Ross smiled, ¡°Hello, Mr. Shelly.¡± Tim nodded amiably and shook his hand. ¡°Good to meet you.¡± Seizing the moment, Jameson feigned ignorance about their breakup. ¡°Danielle, how are things between you and Ross these days?¡± Ross stiffened, and Danielle pressed her lips together. Tim blinked. He thought, ¡®Wait, Ross was dating my daughter? Since when?¡® Danielle kept her tone even. ¡°We¡¯ve already broken up.¡± Jameson pretended to be shocked. ¡°Why? You two seemed perfect.¡± He turned to Ross with mock disapproval. ¡°Was it that scandal with the actress? Did you upset Danielle?¡± Tim¡¯s opinion of Ross instantly soured. He thought, ¡®This guy looks like a gentleman but ys the field?¡® A cold glint shed in Ross¡® eyes. Danielle said tly, ¡°Mr. Jean, Ross and I parted amicably. It had nothing to do with that.¡± She thought, ¡®Technically true, but it still stung. Did he have to pick someone who looked exactly like his ex for that stunt? Is that innocent, delicate girl really his type?¡® After leaving Jean residence, Shermaine didn¡¯t rush back to school. Instead, she called Joshua. ¡°Where are you?¡± ¡°Bradley has located Zack. I¡¯m heading there now,¡± Joshua replied. He had been about to call her when he was surprised to receive her call first. He thought, ¡®It¡¯s daytime. She¡¯s supposed to be in prientation where phones aren¡¯t allowed. Why¡¯s she calling me now?¡® ¡°Give me the address. I¡¯ming too,¡± Shermaine said. Joshua paused. ¡°Where are you now?¡± Shermaine replied, ¡°Jean residence.¡± Joshua was surprised. ¡°Why did you go back there?¡± 1/2 14:26 Mon, 23 JJ¨²n co ¡°Jameson spiked Ross¡® coffee with something.¡± Shermaine exined bluntly. ¡°It gave him hives. I came back to treat him ¡°How¡¯s he now?¡± Joshua frowned, Jameson drugged his own son. He wouldn¡¯t hesitate to hurt Shermaine if she crossed him. ¡°Better, but he¡¯s still running a fever,¡± Shermaine sighed. Though the hives had faded, Ross should¡¯ve been resting, instead of chasing business deals. ¡°If he needs anything, tell him to call me,¡± Joshua offered. ¡°I¡¯d be happy to help.¡± Shermaine chuckled, ¡°No need. He¡¯s got me.¡± For some reason, Joshua felt a pang of jealousy. Nurse walking 263 Chapter 263 But the pang of jealousy faded. Ross was Shermaine¡¯s brother, after all. Joshua thought, ¡®That brief jealousy is just possessiveness talking. I should be thanking Ross. If he hadn¡¯t recognized Shermaine at first nce and brought her home, I¡¯d probably still be single.¡® He loved Shermaine. Once given, this depth of feeling could never be taken back. Joshua asked, ¡°What about me?¡± Shermaine wasn¡¯t one for sweet talk, but seeing his expectant look, she smiled, ¡°You¡¯ve got me, too.¡± Bradley had tracked Zack down to a rundown motel¨Cthe kind with peeling wallpaper and the stale stench of mildew, a stark contrast to the bright world outside. Though unharmed, Bradley had struggled with Zack, who nearly escaped before being restrained with ropes binding both hands and feet. When Shermaine arrived, Joshua was waiting downstairs. His cold expression softened the moment he saw her, warmth flickering in his eyes. Dressed in a ck shirt with the top buttons casually undone, he looked striking under the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. Taking her hand, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡± The motel had no elevator, just a dim, garbage¨Cstrewn staircase leading up. On the third floor, Bradley greeted them. ¡°Mr. York. Mrs. York.¡± They nodded before entering the room. At the sight of Zack, unshaven and disheveled, Shermaine said tly, ¡°Long time no see.¡± Zack didn¡¯t respond. If he had a gun or a knife, he would have dly shot them all, buried the pieces, and ended this miserable life on the run. ¡°I just have one question for you.¡± Shermaine cut straight to the chase, her words deliberately measured. ¡°Is my mother still alive?¡± Zack looked up at her, feigning confusion. ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± ¡°You know exactly what I mean.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Madeline took my mother¡¯s ce and became the current Mrs. Jean. What did you people do to my mother back then?¡± Zack had killed someone at a young age. His nerves were steel. Even under Shermaine¡¯s piercing gaze, he yed dumb, lowering his head and closing his eyes. ¡°Do whatever you want to me. I¡¯ve got nothing to say.¡± Madeline despised him. She wouldn¡¯t spare him a single word. Zack¡¯s mother had warned him never to reveal the truth. One slip, and their family would be ruined. Not that it mattered now, their ¡°good days¡± were already over. Killing Zack wouldn¡¯t bring Shermaine peace anyway. The best revenge was making him suffer, forcing him to live with his guilt. She pressed. ¡°You killed my mother, didn¡¯t you?¡± Zack remained stubbornly silent. Bradley lost patience and kicked him hard. 14:26 Mon, 23 Jun GDJ Zack mmed into the wall, blood instantly streaming down his face, his vision swimming. Shermaine ordered, ¡°Put him in the chair.¡± Bradley hauled Zack up and forced him onto the seat. ¡°Lift his head,¡± Shermaine instructed. Bradleyplied. Zack met those eyes again, but now, with blood clouding his vision, they seemed to bore into him, dizzying his mind. Bradley realized what was happening. Shermaine was hypnotizing Zack. Within moments, Zack¡¯s gaze went vacant. Shermaine asked, ¡°Did you kill Ruth?¡± Zack replied, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°I knocked her out, stuffed her in a suitcase, and then th her into the sea.¡± & Nurse walking 264 hapter 264 Shermaine pressed. ¡°Which part of the sea?¡± Zack answered, ¡°Lostaria.¡± ¡°What color was the suitcase?¡± ¡°ck.¡± Joshua shot Bradley a nce. Bradley immediately understood. Shermaine was gathering details to recover her mother¡¯s remains. But the ocean was vast. Finding it would be near impossible. Still, he quietly dispatched a team to investigate. Perhaps they would get lucky. All Shermaine had wanted was confirmation about Ruth¡¯s fate. Now she had it. Ruth had been murdered. Thinking of her mother, who had loved and doted on her, Shermaine felt a wave of silent fury rise inside her like a great tide threatening to swallow her. Shermaine had remembered so much about her childhoodtely¨Cbedtime stories, hand¨Csewn dresses, warm embraces. Though distant, those childhood moments with Ruth and Ross remained vivid. However, Madeline¡¯s family had snuffed it out for wealth and status. Madeline had even reced Ruth to climb the socialdder. Shermaine would never let them get away with it. She had already set her n in motion. It was time to reel in the. Outside the motel, Shermaine stood under a tree, the breeze stirring her hair. She said nothing, lips pressed tight, eyes suspiciously red. She told herself in her mind, ¡®It must be from the dust.¡® Joshua stepped behind her, drawing her into his arms. Some part of her had clung to hope¨Cthat maybe, just maybe, Ruth was still alive. However, Zack¡¯s confession shattered that fantasy. Grief settled where rage had burned. Her mother was truly gone. Madeline had ruined Ruth¡¯s reputation and caused Ross untold pain over the past fourteen years. The damage could never be undone. Joshua kissed her forehead, holding her tighter. At the golf course, Ross was visibly ufortable because of his fever. Though he should¡¯ve left after signing the contract with Richard, he stayed for Danielle. Jameson, ever the smooth talker, had Tim thoroughly charmed. Tim seemed guileless,ughing along with Jameson¡¯s stories. Ross considered joining the conversation, but Tim had been cold toward him ever since learning about the breakup and the tabloid scandal with that actress. Richard, still lingering nearby, watched with disdain. He thought, Jameson is badmouthing Ross right in front of Tim. That bastard. Richard interjected abruptly, ¡°Mr. Jean, I read your wife was hospitalized. How is she?¡± Jameson¡¯s smile stiffened. He was surprised that Richard suddenly brought it up. Richard sneered, ¡°Yet here you are, grinning like it¡¯s nothing. It¡¯s odd, isn¡¯t it?¡± 1/2 Chapter 264 ¡°Why should I care about a woman who betrayed me?¡± Jameson retorted. ¡°Not divorcing her is mercy enough. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it you who cheated first?¡± Richard shot back. Jameson¡¯s face darkened. He wondered, ¡®Damn Richard. How does he know so much? Did Ross feed him this?¡® The recent media leak about Jameson¡¯s affairs made this thought usible. Tim stayed silent throughout the exchange. His next golf swing sent the ball flying far across the field. Nearby, Ross coughed violently, his pale face now flushed. With a polite nod, he excused himself toward the lounge. Danielle¡¯s gaze trailed after him, her worry obvious. Tim had been quietly observing Danielle¡¯s reaction. It didn¡¯t take much to tell she still had feelings for Ross. Tim thought, ¡®My precious daughter has been pampered since birth. How dare Ross break her heart because of an actress? It¡¯s uneptable. Danielle finally said, ¡°Dad, I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡± Nurse walking 265 Chapter 265 Tim knew it was an excuse but didn¡¯t call Danielle out. ¡°Come back soon.¡± Danielle nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± In the lounge, Ross hadn¡¯t taken the medicine Shermaine prescribed. He slumped on a couch with his eyes shut as if waiting for something, Minutester, Danielle entered. Spotting him on the couch, she called him softly, but he didn¡¯t respond. Frowning, she stepped closer and pressed a hand to his forehead, which was burning up. She thought, ¡®He¡¯s this sick and still won¡¯t rest? Does he even care about his own health?¡® Danielle considered calling Shermaine instead of dealing with this herself. As she pulled her hand back, Ross suddenly grabbed her wrist. His eyes flew open, locking onto hers. His skin scorched against hers. ¡°Let go,¡± Danielle snapped. Ross held on. Danielle yanked her hand free. Ross¡® grip loosened. Theposed man seemed momentarily stunned as her hand slipped away. Danielle stepped back. ¡°You¡¯re running a fever. Go home and rest.¡± Ross shook his head. ¡°No.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll call Sheary to drag you back.¡± Danielle reached for her phone. In a sh, Ross snatched it from her. Danielle lunged to reim it. A wave of her perfume hit him, heady and familiar. Dizzy with fever,/Ross acted on impulse, pulling her into his arms. ¡°Be good.¡± Danielle froze. This was the first time he had ever taken the initiative to hug her. Yet instead of joy, she felt only anger. In the past, she would have melted into his embrace like a contented cat. ¡°Do you want brain damage?¡± Outwardly aloof, she could be surprisingly clingy around someone she liked. Despite her struggles, Ross¡® arms stayed locked around her. She frowned, ¡°This isn¡¯t proper.¡± Ross chuckled weakly, ¡°You never used to say that before.¡± Danielle stiffened, at a loss for words. With a sigh, Ross murmured, ¡°Don¡¯t call Sheary.¡± Danielle pursed her lips. ¡°Then go home.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± Ross hugged her. His arms tightened around her, and his hot breath brushed against her neck. ¡°Not unless you take me.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± Danielle shook her head. Ross felt her resistance, yet he only held her closer. ¡°Remember when you had stomach hurt before? I got up at midnight to bring you soup.¡± Danielle¡¯s resolve wavered. She had pursued him relentlessly once. Now that they had broken up, she still owed him more than she could repay At the hospital, Madeline had been desperate after days of unanswered calls to Jasper, Just as despair crept in, the door swung open, and there he stood, masked but unmistakable. Her eyes lit up like a dying ember reignited. What she didn¡¯t know was that this was all a trap. Jasper¡¯s tenderness would cost her everything After enduring Jameson¡¯s abuse, Madeline fantasized about leaving with Jasper. She had even decided to sell her shares in Jean Group and leave this ce with the money. Nurse walking 266 Chapter 266 In Maple Leaf Ville, Juliana remained unconscious after fainting. ??? 68% Jay was beside himself with worry. He called a doctor, but the examination revealed no apparent issues. The doctor assured him that Juliana would wake in a day or two. With no other options, Jay settled Juliana into a guest room and asked a local woman to tend to her. Richard took visible pleasure in needling Jameson in front of Tim. Jameson seethed but bit his tongue to save face, which only amused Richard further. Tim had only been polite to Jameson. His earlier politeness stemmed solely from the man being Shermaine¡¯s father. After arriving in Basteret, Tim noticed Jameson¡¯s indifference toward Shermaine. Every mention of her was deftly redirected to Jason, Jameson¡¯s illegitimate son. Later, after asking Danielle, Tim finally learned the truth. Jameson had always favored Jason over Shermaine. What really caught Tim off guard was finding out that Danielle had been in love with Ross. After all, she had never mentioned that before. Instead of returning to Jean residence, Ross went to his city¨Ccenter apartment, his usual refuge during hectic work periods. That evening, Danielle stayed to care for him. Danielle fed him medicine and prepared soup before leaving. She considered informing Shermaine but decided against disrupting her. Shermaine didn¡¯t return to campus. With Zack captured, tracking down Freya would be simple. Late at night, in Riverswood Vi, Shermaine had been drinking. Alcohol became her sce. When troubled, she drank, and tonight, the bottle of whiskey on the table was a third empty by the time Joshua found her curled on the sofa, drowsy and disheveled. He changed her clothes, tucked her into bed, andy down beside her. He watched her sleep for a long while. Meanwhile, oblivious to her family¡¯s arrests, Madeline fixated on two goals¨Cselling her Jean Group shares and divorcing Jameson for good. The night was thick and starless. When Natalie learned Ruth nned to sell her shares, she could hardly contain her glee. It moved even faster than she had expected. Natalie asked Jasper, ¡°Did she mention who¡¯s buying?¡± Jasper shook his head. ¡°No specifics.¡± ¡°Make sure she sells to ck River Company,¡± Natalie instructed. The shares would go to the corporation, but ultimately, they wouldnd in her hands. There was just one problem. Natalie didn¡¯t have the funds to buy them outright. So she turned to Jameson with a carefully crafte mine knows the man Ruth was seeing. Apparently, she¡¯s going to sell her shares to run off with him.¡± Jameson¡¯s face darkened. ¡°You¡¯re serious?¡± Natalie said, ¡°Absolutely true. What if I helped you buy those shares back?¡± Jameson jumped at the chance to sever ties with Ruth. ¡°Perfect. Just get it done.¡± Natalie feigned hesitation. ¡°But I don¡¯t have that kind of money.¡± Jamie, a friend of ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Jamesonughed. ¡°Just secure the shares.¡± He had long feared Ruth would transfer the 15% stake to Ross or Shermaine, but he had never expected that Ruth would sell it for a fling. 14:28 Mon, 23 Jun GO ¡°Okay,¡± Natalie said, masking her triumph.¡± 68%D Guided by Jasper¡¯s whispers, Ruth met with a representative from ck River Company. They settled on a price swiftly¡ªTen billion dors for the 19% stake. By the end of the day, the full amount had been transferred into Madeline¡¯s ount. She was overjoyed. Her hands shook as she signed the contracts, barely skimming the pages in her euphoria. Whether she ended up divorcing Jameson or not didn¡¯t really matter. After all, she wasn¡¯t the real Ruth. Still, she had papers drawn up and sent them to Jameson, who signed without a second thought. Their prenuptial agreement, drafted when Jameson married Ruth, had always kept their assets separate. This clean break suited them both. Flush with her newfound billions, Madeline had no need to chase Jameson¡¯s money anymore. That night, she drank herself into oblivion, celebrating her wealth and freedom. But when she woke the next morning, Jasper was gone. Blinking away her hangover, she grabbed her phone and saw several unread messages. Without thinking, she called Jasper, only to hear the robotic voice. ¡°The number you have dialed is not in service.¡± Instantly, her blood ran cold. Frantically, she tore through her purse. The bank card was missing. At Basterel University, Shermaine stood at the campus gate as Jasper handed her the stolen card. She took the card and said tly, ¡°The money has already been transferred to your ount.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Jasper didn¡¯t linger. He had a flight to catch, one that would take him far from Natalie¡¯s wrath and Shermaine¡¯s reach. He had originally been hired by Natalie to seduce Madeline, but halfway through the task, Shermaine had tracked him down. Knowing which side not to cross, he switched allegiances without hesitation, carefully bncing between both women. ¡­ Jameson, meanwhile, was over the moon when he received the agreement. Little did he know it was a forgery. The real one was in Shermaine¡¯s hands. Without spending a single cent, Shermaine had reimed the 15% stake and seized Madeline¡¯s ten billion dors. She had pulled off the perfect con. Shermaine thought, ¡®I¡¯m looking forward to seeing the moment Madeline would hit rock bottom¨Cdesperate, broken, and out of options. As for Jameson? How generous of him to fund his downfall. No one steals what belongs to my mother.¡® 272 AD Nurse walking 267 Madeline had never imagined her paradise wouldst only one night before plunging into hell. The money was gone. Jasper had vanished. Worst of all, after selling her shares and sigrting the divorce agreements, she was no longer Mrs. Jean, Well, not officially, at least she hadn¡¯t yet gone to the courthouse to finalize the legal procedures. Heartbroken and betrayed, Madeline felt like a fool. She thought she had found love, but it turned out to be nothing but a scam. At her age, losing both love and fortune left her feeling decades older overnight. Desperate, Madeline went to the police and reported that her bank card had been stolen, along with ten billion dors inside. At first, the police thought she was a delusional escapee from a psych ward. But once they verified her identity, they opened a case. However, there were no results. Jasper was clearly a pro. He didn¡¯t appear on any of the hotel¡¯s surveince footage that day, and his name was fake. Every piece of information he had given Madeline was false. There was almost no chance of tracking him down. That ten billion dors was likely gone for good. Madeline nearly lost her mind. With nowhere else to go, she decided to return to Jean residence. After all, the divorce wasn¡¯t official yet. Legally, she was still Jameson¡¯s wife. But if the Jean family found out she had sold her shares, they would never forgive her. Still, with no other options, she swallowed her pride and returned. Madeline barely crossed the threshold before Janice stormed over and pped her hard. ¡°How dare you show your face here?¡± Janice was livid. News had spread through Jean Group¨C15% of thepany¡¯s shares had been sold for 10 billion dors. The transfer was confirmed, but the buyer¡¯s identity remained a mystery, fueling rampant spection. Janice fumed. She thought, ¡®How could Ruth be this stupid? Dumping all her shares at once? Unless she had decided to cut ties with the Jean family, she wouldn¡¯t have dared do that. ¡®Jameson told me this morning that Ruth sent him a divorce agreement, and he already signed it. Now, only courthouse formalities remain. Just as Janice was about to hunt ¡°Ruth¡± down, she showed up uninvited. Clutching her stinging cheek, Madeline sobbed, ¡°I was scammed.¡± ¡°Idiot! I don¡¯t care who scammed you. You brought this on yourself!¡± Janice roared. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t been scheming, would you be in this mess?¡± A chilling thought struck Janice, ¡®This is an obvious trap. Ruth has always been sharp, but now she¡¯s acting like a brainless fool. Same face, but is this even the same person?¡® Years of reading novels made Janice wonder that something might have possessed ¡°Ruth¡°. Madeline cried, ying the victim, ¡°If Jameson hadn¡¯t cheated on me, would I have run off with another man? He ruined Janice¡¯s anger wavered. The logic was twisted, but she couldn¡¯t entirely refute it. ¡°Jameson will drag me to finalize the divorce the second he¡¯s back,¡± Madeline sobbed. ¡°He¡¯ll parade that mistress and bastard son here. You have to stop him!¡± Nurse walking 268 Chapter 268 Madeline deserved this, but the Jean family owed her too much. Considering Ross and Shermaine, Janice couldn¡¯t simply hand Madeline¡¯s position to Jameson¡¯s mistress. If Madeline wanted to keep the marriage despite being swindled, Janice might just back her this once. Lost in thought, Janice studied Madeline until Shermaine¡¯s arrival cut the tension. ¡°Sheary, you¡¯re back?¡± Janice¡¯s anger cooled at the sight of Shermaine. Shermaine said, ¡°I heard someone got conned out of money and dignity, even sold her shares. So I came to see the spectacle.¡± Janice sighed. ¡°Ross will be here soon,¡± Shermaine added. ¡°Good.¡± Janice nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll handle this together when he arrives.¡± Madeline¡¯s face flushed beet red. Being mocked outright by Shermaine made her wish the floor would swallow her whole. Then a thought struck Madeline, ¡®Shermaine is sharp. Maybe she can recover that ten billion dors for me. As for the shares? It¡¯s toote now. Anyway, they didn¡¯t go to Jameson and that mistress.¡® Ten minutester, a car pulled up outside the residence. Danielle nudged Ross in the passenger seat. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± Ross opened his eyes, held her hand, and murmured, ¡°Mm.¡± Danielle had been repaying her ¡°debt¡± by taking care of Ross through his fever since yesterday. When he didn¡¯t let her go, she yanked her hand back. ¡°Your fever just broke. Remember to take your meds tonight.¡± ¡°I will.¡± Ross nodded. ¡°Go inside,¡± she urged. ¡°Don¡¯t keep Sheary waiting.¡± Ross watched Danielle, this handsome man with his striking features, his gaze simmering with quiet intensity. A sudden urge surged within him. He missed Danielle, the one who had teased him in that sweet, yful voice. If she flirted with him now, he couldn¡¯t resist. But ever since she had broken up with him, her warmth had vanished. D S Lowering his gaze to hide his disappointment, Ross asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t youing in to see Sheary? Danielle shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s a family matter. Wouldn¡¯t my presence be awkward?¡± Ross said, ¡°We wouldn¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°No. Janice might read too much into us arriving together.¡± Danielle stayed firm. Frustrated, Ross got out of the car. Inside the house/he greeted Shermaine and Janice, while pointedly ignoring Madeline as if she didn¡¯t even exist. Janice studied him. ¡°Ross, how¡¯s the fever?¡± Ross replied, ¡°Mostly recovered.¡± The healthy flush on his face told Shermaine everything. Danielle had taken excellent care of himst night. Seizing the moment, Madeline shamelessly pleaded, ¡°Sheary, I was wrong. I¡¯m your mother. You¡¯re so capable. Can you track down that scammer ander get my money back? Just thinking about the lost billions made her feel heartbroken, 1/2 Shermaine¡¯s gaze turned cial. Her voice; though soft, struck like a de. ¡°My mother wasn¡¯t this stupid. She was brilliant. And that money was never yours to begin with. Even if I find it, you won¡¯t see a cent.¡± Janice stiffened. She thought, ¡®What does Sheary mean? This woman isn¡¯t Ruth?¡± Ross pressed his lips into a thin line, silent. Madeline¡¯s face drained of color. Janice stammered, ¡°Sheary, you¡­ Are you saying she¡¯s¡­¡± Shermaine nodded. ¡°Grandma, she¡¯s not my mother. Shot Madeline Guston.¡± # Nurse walking 269 Chapter 269 68% At the sound of that name, everyone froze. Neither Janice nor Ross had ever imagined that the woman standing before them was once merely Ruth¡¯s maid. Madeline¡¯s face twisted in panic. ¡°Sheary, how dare you! Madeline died years ago. ¡°If you won¡¯t help me, fine, but don¡¯t spin these ridiculous lies. Is this payback because I wasn¡¯t motherly enough? My husband cheats on me. daughter nders me. I might as well just go die.¡± Shermaine sneered, ¡°By all means, but wait a bit. After you die, I¡¯ll dump you in the ocean and keep my mompany.¡± Madeline shuddered, her blood running cold. Janice asked in shock, ¡°Sheary, what is going on?¡± My ¡°Grandma, Ross, Madeline stole my mom¡¯s cloning research. She grew a perfect replica of Ruth¡¯s body, then transnted her dying brain into it. After that, she and her family murdered Ruth and threw her body into the sea.¡± Shermaine delivered the horrific truth. ¡°Lies!¡± Madeline shrieked, her voice cracking. ¡°What cloning? I don¡¯t know anything.¡± Janice and Ross were dumbfounded. If Shermaine said it, it had to be true. She would never lie about this. That exined why someone could change sopletely. It was because this woman wasn¡¯t the same person at all. The unthinkable had happened. Ross had once suspected this woman might have undergone stic surgery to look like Ruth, faking her identity. But after having the paternity test and finding a match, he had ruled that out. But if she were a clone, that made sense of everything. The woman standing in front of them wasn¡¯t Ruth. Their real mother had been dead for fourteen years. And her killer had been living under their roof all along. Shermaine¡¯s gaze was icy as she stared down at Madeline. ¡°Denial won¡¯t help. Your brother is in my hands. He confessed to everything.¡± Madeline trembled all over, her eyes bloodshot. She returned to Jean residence to salvage her position, only to have Shermaine rip her disguise to shreds. Now, she stood to lose everything. The thought of her stolen wealth slipping away drove her to the brink of hysteria. ¡°I¡¯m Ruth!¡± Madeline snarled, her face contorting. ¡°Brother? I don¡¯t know him. You little bitch!¡± She lunged at Shermaine, only to be kicked back with brutal efficiency, sprawling onto the floor. Shermaine said, ¡°Every atrocity your familymitted against my mother, I will repay tenfold.¡± The words hit Madeline like a death sentence. This was no empty threat. ¡°A clone like you?¡± Shermaine said coldly. ¡°You¡¯d make the perfect test subject for ab.¡± Her words hung in the air like a demon¡¯s whisper, flooding Madeline with primal terror. No lies could save her now. Her days were over. Bradley, who had been waiting outside, walked in. Shermaine ordered, ¡°Take her away.¡± ¡°Yes, Mrs. York.¡± Two men hauled the shrieking Madeline out. Janice and Ross ignored her protests. They were still numb with grief over Ruth¡¯s true fate. 14:28 Mon, 23 Jun GO Nurse walking 270 A heavy silence settled over Jean residence. After a long pause, Ross asked, ¡°Is there any chance of finding Mom¡¯s remains?¡± Shermaine shook her head. ¡°Zack stuffed her into a suitcase and dumped it in the ocean.¡± Finding the remains would be like searching for a needle in a haystack. Ross frowned, ¡°We have to try.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Shermaine nodded. ¡°If Mom were here, she would never have treated us this way.¡± Janice copsed onto the sofa as she gasped for air. ¡°That damned Madeline! How could she do something so monstrous?¡± Her heart ached for Shermaine and Ross. They grew up with a neglectful father, only to learn their mother had been murdered and reced by a maid living in luxury for over a decade. The sheer absurdity of it left Janice reeling. Ross took the news with eerie calm, though the truth of Ruth¡¯s death cut deep. Shermaine, having known longer, could only give them time to process. Eventually, Janice steadied herself. ¡°Ruth is gone, but those shares Madeline sold¡­ Sheary, do you know who bought them?¡± She silently prayed Jameson hadn¡¯t orchestrated this. ¡°Natalie set the trap,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°Jameson funded ten billion dors.¡± But the entire scheme had been her design. Janice paled. ¡°So the shares went to Natalie?¡± That was as bad as Jameson getting them, and maybe worse. ?? ¡°No,¡± Shermaine smiled, pulling the genuine transfer agreement from her bag. She handed it over. ¡°Ross, keep these safe.¡± He was the beneficiary. Ross stared in shock. ¡°Sheary, you¡­¡± Shermaine simply exined, ¡°I turned Natalie¡¯s hired seducer against her.¡± Ross took the paper, stunned. He hadn¡¯t realized just how much Shermaine had done behind the scenes. ¡°Sheary, thank you.¡± Janice exhaled in relief. ¡°Brilliant work.¡± Jameson would probably have a fit if he learned his ten billion dors bought worthless papers. Madeline had already been taken away to face the punishment she deserved. Shermaine hadn¡¯t turned her or her family over to the police. A cloned identity was too vtile. Exposing it risked attracting dangerous attention. Meanwhile, Natalie was celebrating with a ss of red wine, clutching the share transfer document like a trophy. The beneficiary wasn¡¯t Jameson but herself. She had be a shareholder of Jean Group. Tomorrow, she could stride into thepany, and soon after, she would be Jameson¡¯s rightful wife. All day, Jameson had been trying to reach Madeline to finalize their divorce, but her phone went unanswered. Then, he heard the news that Ruth had been swindled out of ten billion dors by Jasper. Jameson immediately called Natalie. ¡°Nat, did you tell that guy to steal Ruth¡¯s money?¡± ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Natalie denied sharply. ¡°He ran off with it?¡± Jameson frowned, ¡°Yeah. He vanished without a trace. Not even the police can find him.¡± Natalie scoffed, ¡°How stupid can Ruth be? Letting some conman trick her out of all that money? She¡¯ll probably cling to you even harder.¡± The thought wiped the smirk off her face. Jameson never imagined ¡°Ruth¡± tould be this gullible, trusting a stranger with everything. ¡°She must¡¯ve crawled back to Jean residence,¡± he muttered. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with her myself.¡± 1/2 4.20 Jameson arrived at Jean residence. He found Janice sitting stiffly on the sofa, rosary beads slipping through her fingers. He asked, ¡°Mom, has Ruth home?¡± It was the only ce she could go after losing everything. Janice¡¯s voice was cial. ¡°After you cheated on her with Natalie all these years, you¡¯ve been so eager to divorce, but did it ever ur to you that the woman in your bed wasn¡¯t your wife?¡± Jameson frowned, utterly confused, ¡°What does that mean?¡± Janice stared back at him and asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you ever wonder how Ruth, once such a brilliant woman, could suddenly turn into a brainless fool? Jameson had wondered about that, but he had chalked it up to trauma, never digging deeper. Janice delivered the truth. ¡°Ruth died fourteen years ago. The woman you¡¯ve known since then is an imposter.¡± Jameson¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°Mom, it¡¯s not April Fools¡® Day. I get that you oppose the divorce, but Ruth filed first.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a joke,¡± Janice said coldly. ¡°That Ruth was Madeline Guston.¡± Jameson froze. He thought, ¡®So for fourteen years, I¡¯ve been sharing a bed with that lowly maid I despised?¡® The realization turned his stomach. His real wife was long dead. The fact left him both shocked and strangely hollow. ¡°Sheary exposed her today,¡± Janice continued. ¡°Bradley took Madeline away.¡± Jameson¡¯s face darkened. ¡°What about my divorce?¡± It would only need a courthouse stamp to finalize the divorce. ¡°Even if this Ruth is fake, that divorce won¡¯t happen,¡± Janice said firmly. ¡°Natalie will never set foot in this house as your wife.¡± At Hilton Hotel, Richard¡¯s growing suspicion about Juliana¡¯s silence led him to interrogate her closest friend, Ximena. Under pressure, she told him that Juliana had gone to Wallington. If Juliana had been reachable, the lie would have been held. But after arriving in Wallington, she hadpletely disappeared. When Richard heard that Juliana was in Wallington, his face went pale, sweat beading his brow. In Maple Leaf Ville, Juliana finally stirred after a day¨Clong sleep. She had unlocked fractured memories. She knew name was Ruth Jean, the true hostess of the Jean family. e wasn¡¯t Juliana Rivera. Her real Çú AD Comment Send gift Nurse walking 271 Chapter 271 When Ruth awoke, she clutched her chest, gasping as if the past fourteen years had copsed into a single, suffocating moment. Jameson¡¯s betrayal and Madeline¡¯s treachery were as fresh as yesterday¡¯s wound. But nothingpared to the agony of remembering how Ruth had trusted Jameson to take Shermaine out that day, only to learn he had let Shermaine be abducted because of his bastard son. Before Ruth could retaliate, disaster struck, trapping her in amnesia¡¯s void for fourteen years. The more Ruth dwelled on it, the more her heart ached. Her eyes reddened as tears streaked her face. After a long while, she wiped them away with trembling fingers as she sat up. Love or hate, she had always drawn clear lines. Her affection for Jameson had evaporated the moment she had discovered his infidelity. As for Richard, her gratitude for him warred with fury. He had saved Ruth, but he had also stolen fourteen years of truth. Just thinking about it made Ruth furious all over again. She couldn¡¯t believe he had taken such a selfish path, using her amnesia as an excuse to keep the truth hidden. If Ruth hadn¡¯t suspected Richard of keeping secrets, hadn¡¯t followed him to Basterel, hadn¡¯t seen Shermaine¡¯s childhood photo, and hadn¡¯t been shocked back into remembering, she might never have discovered the truth. Luckily, there was still time to fix things. Desperate for details of Shermaine, Ruth needed to see Jay. She had to figure out if Madeline was still livingfortably under her stolen identity. It was unbearable for Ruth to think her children called Madeline ¡°Mom.¡± Ruth thought, ¡®Now that I¡¯ve regained my memory, it¡¯s time to reim my name and my children.¡® She got off the bed and went to find Jay, eager to learn everything he knew. Shermaine, listening from upstairs, overheard Jameson and Janice¡¯s conversation. Her face turned cold. Even after learning the truth, Jameson¡¯s sole concern remained the divorce, not a shred of grief for Ruth¡¯s death. Jameson did feel a flicker of grief. Over the years, he had med himself at times for Ruth¡¯s drastic decline and even taken secret pride in watching the once¨Cexcellent woman grow petty and dull. Now, the revtion that it had been Madeline, that lowly maid, all along made his skin crawl. Jameson remembered how Madeline had once tried to seduce him in Ruth¡¯s absence, wearing Ruth¡¯s clothes. He had recoiled then, disgusted by her looks and figure. Never did he expect that Madeline would go as far as changing herself to take Ruth¡¯s ce. Yet for over a decade, he had unknowingly shared a bed with Madeline. The thought turned his stomach. The real Ruth had died. Yes, it stung briefly. They had been married, after all. But the pang faded as quickly as it came. Natalie¡¯s call came moments after Jameson returned Jean residence. ¡°Jamie, did you find Ruth?¡± Jameson didn¡¯t want to share something so shameful and disgusting with Natalie. And on top of that, Janice had already made it clear. As long as she was around, Natalie would never step foot in this house. So he brushed it off casually. ¡°No, she¡¯s not back.¡± Natalie asked, ¡°Then where could she have gone?¡± Jameson shrugged. ¡°No idea.¡± Natalie spected maliciously. ¡°What if your mother¡¯s hiding her to stop the divorce?¡± Nurse walking 272 Chapter 272 Jameson couldn¡¯t bring himself to deny Natalie¡¯s assumption. Better let her think that than admit this humiliating truth. Natalie gripped her phone tightly when he didn¡¯t respond. She thought. ¡®That damn Janice! She hides Ruth just to stop me from marrying Jameson: But Natalie¡¯s anger eased slightly when she remembered the 15% stake in Jean Group now in her hands. She said, ¡°Looks like the divorce is on hold for now. Jamie, didn¡¯t you always want to strip Ross of his power and remove him as CEO? This is the perfect chance.¡± ¡°I have my ns,¡± Jameson replied. ¡°Come to thepany tomorrow.¡± After all, those shares were still in Natalie¡¯s hands. ¡°Fine.¡± Natalie¡¯s anticipation simmered. That evening, Joshua went to Jean residence. Shermaine had no ns to return to school that evening, so Joshua came to see her and stayed the night. Still grieving over Ruth¡¯s death, Shermaine stepped out of the bathroom and saw Joshua sitting on the sofa, flipping through a book. With his head bowed, themplight caught the sharp angles of his face¨Chis longshes casting faint shadows, his sses lending him an air of restrained temptation. Hearing her footsteps, Joshua nced up and set the book aside. ¡°Still feeling down?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll manage.¡± Shermaine wasn¡¯t drowning in grief, but the pain of Ruth¡¯s death and Jameson¡¯s heartlessness still gnawed at her. As for Madeline¡¯s family, she wanted them to suffer. Joshua studied her for a moment before offering softly, ¡°Need a hug, Sheary?¡± Without another word, Shermaine walked over and sat sideways on hisp. Joshua tightened his embrace, breathing in her sweet scent. It sent shivers through him. Though September¡¯s heat lingered, the air¨Cconditioned room kept them cool. Nestled against Joshua, Shermaine grew drowsy, but the sound of Jameson¡¯s car jolted her awake. She knew exactly where he was going. She thought, ¡®What an ultimate piece of trash.¡± Fiddling with Joshua¡¯s tie, Shermaine fixed him with a suddenly sharp gaze. ¡°Joshua.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Joshua looked at her, attentive as always. ¡°If you ever betray me, I¡¯ll break your limbs, gouge out your eyes, and keep you prisoner on that ind until you beg for death,¡± Shermaine said seriously. Joshua didn¡¯t flinch. Instead, he pressed a kiss on her palm. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± The world was full of scumbags, but he would sooner carve out his own heart than betray her. His body and soul were hers forever. Shermaine believed him. And what she had just said wasn¡¯t a joke either. If that day ever came, she would carry out her threat without hesitation. A shiver ran from her palm to her chest as Joshua¡¯s lips grazed her skin. ¡°Sheary,¡± Joshua murmured between kisses. ¡°Men like Jameson exist, but I¡¯m not one of them. Never.¡± Shermaine nodded. ¡°I believe you.¡± After kissing her palm once more, Joshua seemed almost greedy¨Ckissing down each finger as if one promise could never be enough. 1/1 Nurse walking 273 Chapter 273 Lately, Shermaine and Joshua had barely found time for intimacy. Between her grueling orientation at Basterel University and professors constantly pulling her intobs, her days were packed. Joshua, too, was swamped. Since theirst passionate encounter, they had settled for fleeting embraces and quick kisses, but they were never enough. Joshua¡¯s warm breath brushed Shermaine¡¯s ear as he murmured, ¡°Sheary, I only ever want you.¡± His lips trailed down her neck, each kiss featherlight yet searing. Shermaine smiled and cupped Joshua¡¯s face in her hands. She gently removed his sses. His usually sharp gaze softened, his eyes, charming and deep- set, holding only her reflection. The faint flush at their corners betrayed his longing for her. She ran a hand gently down his cheek. ¡°I know.¡± Her heart fluttered. She wanted him just as much. Joshua kissed her lips hungrily as if trying to fuse his soul with hers. Shermaine¡¯s fingers traced the line of his throat downward, pausing just long enough to tease in his ear, ¡°I¡¯ll take responsibility.¡± Ross lit a cigarette, the smoke doing little to dull the ache in his chest. After catching the smell of smoke on his clothes, he turned and headed into the bathroom for a shower. He knew Joshua was here to stay the night. Truth be told, he was really satisfied with the guy, and more importantly, Shermaine liked him. After showering off the scent, Rossy in bed, forcing his thoughts away from Ruth¡¯s death fourteen years ago. The truth was unbearable, yet undeniable. His mind drifted to Danielle. Suddenly, he craved the sound of her voice. Reaching for his phone, he dialed her number before he could second¨Cguess himself. Ross never imagined that in just a few months, Danielle¡¯s absence would leave him feeling hollowed out. Now, he was willing to try to win her back. He dialed her number several times, but she didn¡¯t pick up. Frustrated, he tossed his phone aside. Ross had never pursued a woman before, let alone knew how to mend things after angering one. Eventually, he grabbed his phone and posted on a forum: [How do I win back my ex¨Cgirlfriend?] Soon enough,ments starteding in: [Are you hot?] Ross: [Fairly.] Truthfully, he was attractive, one of the most popr guys in Basterel, with plenty of admirers. Comment: [Got abs?] Ross: [Yes.] Comment: [Dude, you¡¯re hot and ripped, then just seduce her. She¡¯ll cave.] Ross frowned at the screen and replied; (She¡¯s not that shallow.] Comment: [Trust me, I did this with my ex¨Cwife,/Now we¡¯re back together, and damn, life is so good.] Another added: [Just chase her. If she still has feelings, she¡¯ll give you another shot.] Ross thought, ¡®Would seduction even work on Danielle? But how am I supposed to do that if I don¡¯t even get the chance to see her? ¥µ¥à¥Õ Danielle hadn¡¯t ignored Ross on purpose. She had been busy and only noticed the missed calls an hourter. Curiosity prickled, but she resisted redialing. Unexpectedly, his number shed on her screen again. After a brief hesitation, she answered, ¡°It¡¯ste. What¡¯s up?¡± After a brief pause, Ross said, his voice, warm and measured, ¡°Nothing, really.¡± Nurse walking 274 Chapter 274 Ross¡® voice was deep and attractive. Danielle rubbed her ear and sighed in mild annoyance, ¡°Then I¡¯m hanging up.¡± 68 ¡°Wait-¡± Ross hadn¡¯t even finished speaking when the line went dead with a series of beep tones. He shook his head with a bitter smile, thinking about how he could ever find a chance to seduce Danielle. In Shermaine¡¯s dimly lit bedroom, faint moonlight spilled through the curtains, casting shadows over the tangled sheets. Muchter, Joshua carried Shermaine to the bathroom, and then back to bed half an hourter. He cracked the window open, letting the fresh night air sweep in. Shermainey on the bed, her skin lightly flushed pink, her skin still flushed pink, her eyes heavy¨Clidded with exhaustion and post¨Cpassion glow. Yawning, she suddenly remembered and tilted her head up at Joshua, who still seemed wide awake and not the least bit tired. ¡°Did you finish inside me thatst time?¡± Joshua¡¯s throat bobbed as he nodded. He hadn¡¯t been able to hold back thatst time. Sliding into bed beside her, he murmured, ¡°I¡¯ll be more careful next time.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just take pills tomorrow,¡± Shermaine said. Joshua frowned, ¡°Pills aren¡¯t good for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make my own form. No side effects,¡± Shermaine said hoarsely, her voice still husky from earlier. She studied him through half¨Clidded eyes. ¡°Do you want me to have your baby?¡± She had no intention of getting pregnant anytime soon. If she got pregnant, it wouldplicate everything. A low chuckle rumbled in his chest as Joshua pulled her closer. ¡°Not at all, I¡¯m only invested in the process.¡± The pill was unnecessary anyway. The was likely in a safe window. The odds were slim. At thirty¨Cone, he had zero interest in fatherhood. He and Shermaine had fought too hard to be together. A child would only disrupt that. Shermaine huffed lightly and shut her eyes. ¡°Sleeping.¡± Joshua kissed her forehead and followed suit. In Maple Leaf Ville, Ruth listened as Jay shared everything he knew about Shermaine. Pride swelled in her chest. Her daughter, even after being lost so young, had grown into someone extraordinary. She was even more brilliant than Ruth herself had ever been. Jay stared at her, stunned. ¡°You¡¯re really Sheary¡¯s birth mother?¡± ¡°Yes, I am,¡± Ruth replied. Though Jay found the story unbelievable, he trusted Ruth. ¡°Should I contact Sheary for you?¡± Ruth considered it. ¡°I¡¯ll return to Basterel tomorrow to reunite with her myself.¡± She ached to see her son, Ross, too. That night, Richard arrived in Maple Leaf Ville. The moment he met Ruth, he knew her memories had returned. Even before speaking, the guilt choked him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Juliana,¡± Richard whispered. ¡°For lying to you.¡± To his surprise, Ruth wasn¡¯t furious. ¡°I forgive you.¡± 14:29 Mon, 23 Jun G Richard hadn¡¯te to drag her back. Doing so would¡¯ve made him irredeemable. ¡°If you want to return to the Jean family, I¡¯ll help.¡± ¡°I intend to,¡± Ruth said calmly. ¡°But I know nothing of what¡¯s happened there all these years.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you anything you want to know.¡± Richard handed her a document. Every detail about the Jean family was meticulouslypiled. 68% With her memories restored, Ruth was just as she had always been¨Cpoised, elegant, her grace undimmed by time. If anything, age had refined her beauty. At nearly fifty, she looked no older than thirty. The next morning, Jameson called a shareholder meeting for 1 p.m. The entire board was buzzing. Everyone wanted to know who had acquired that 15% share. But Jameson had bigger ns. Today, he intended to strip Ross of his authority within Jean Group. He had already prepared the excuse¨Csending Ross overseas to handle international expansion and transferring him out of headquarters to manage foreign operations. Ross had also received the meeting notice. Janice had long since transferred her shares to Shermaine. As one of Jean Group¡¯s official shareholders, Shermaine had every right to attend the meeting. Over breakfast, Ross nced at Shermaine. ¡°Sheary, are you going?¡± Shermaine nodded. ¡°Absolutely.¡± She wouldn¡¯t miss that uing show. ***** Meanwhile, in Maple Leaf Ville, Richard¡¯s car idled outside, ready to send Ruth back Nurse walking 275 The entire morning, the Jean Group staff scrambled to prepare for the shareholder meeting. After breakfast, Ross headed straight to the office, while Shermaine and Joshua headed to York residence to visit Owen. At York residence, Owen sat stewing in frustration. He couldn¡¯t understand why his youngest sister, Sarah, who had practically cut ties after her distant marriage, still hadn¡¯t returned to her husband¡¯s side. Instead, she kept dragging that nuisance Kylie around. Worse, Kylie hadn¡¯t technically done anything offensive. For the sake of the York family¡¯s dignity, Owen couldn¡¯t just kick them out. ¡°Mr. York, what are you up to? Need help?¡± Kylie smiled sweetly, walking over in her frilly dress. Owen¡¯s skin crawled when he heard her voice. He tossed a handful of corn into the chicken coop. His plump birds were still waiting for their destined role in Shermaine¡¯s soup pot. The moment Kylie caught wind of the coop¡¯s pungent aroma, her smile stiffened. She thought, ¡®The York family is Basterel¡¯s first family, yet Owen keeps chickens and grows vegetables like some peasant.¡® Disdain in her eyes before she smoothed it over. licker could Her reasons for lingering in Basterel were simple¨Ckill Shermaine and steal Joshua. Her grandmother, Sarah, fully supported this, hoping Kylie defeat Shermaine. That was why Sarah kept bringing Kylie to York residence, trying to win Owen¡¯s favor. Coincidentally, in August, the organization had assigned Kylie a new mission. She needed to infiltrate Joseph Brightman¡¯s secretb in Wallington and help him resolve the bottlenecks in his longevity n. Owen found Kylie utterly insufferable. Her barely concealed disgust shed with her sharine act. ¡°I¡¯ll be fertilizing the vegetable patchter. Care to help?¡± Kylie froze. ¡°What? Not willing?¡± Owen pressed. Forcing a smile, Kylie said, ¡°Of course I do, Mr. York. I¡¯ve just never done it before.¡± ¡°Then start by weeding,¡± Owen said, pointing to the overgrown plot. ¡°Right away,¡± Kylie beamed, misinterpreting his request as eptance. She thought, ¡®If I impress himter, he¡¯ll y see my worth.¡® When Joshua arrived at York residence with Shermaine, they found Sarah lounging in the hall. Her initial delight at seeing Joshua vanished the moment she noticed Shermaine. The butler greeted them. ¡°Good morning, Mr. York. Mrs, York.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s my grandpa?¡± Joshua asked. ¡°He¡¯s in the backyard,¡± the butler replied. Joshua led Shermaine over, Sarah¡¯s jaw tightened at the butler¡¯s use of ¡°M/s. York¡± for Shermaine. Sarah thought. ¡®They¡¯re not even married yet. But she held her tongue, praying Kylie would win Owen over and expose Shermaine¡¯s promiscuity. 14.29 Mon, 23 Jun GO ¨C 68% $420 In the backyard, Owen stood under the sun, his wide¨Cbrimmed hat shielding him as he barked orders at Kylie, who was crouched on the ground pulling weeds. ¡°Faster.¡± He took a swig of water and continued directing her. ¡°Be careful. Don¡¯t trample my cabbages.¡± Those were for Shermaine¡¯s dinners, after all. Kylie¡¯s designer dress was now sweat¨Csoaked and dirt¨Cstreaked, her makeup melting. She bit back curses until Shermaine¡¯s voice shattered her Shermaine thought, ¡®Kylie is still here. Looks like she won¡¯t give up on Joshua so easily!¡® With a small smile, she greeted, ¡°Hi, Owen.¡± < Nurse walking 276 Kylie hadn¡¯t expected Shermaine and Joshua¡¯s visit, and they actually saw her like this¨Csweaty and disheveled. It was embarrassing enough. After not seeing Joshua for over a month, Kylie¡¯s longing for him had only grown stronger. She thought. ¡®Maybe seeing me like this will make him reconsider. At least I¡¯m proving I¡¯m not some pampereddy! Owen spun around at Shermaine¡¯s voice, his face lighting up. ¡°Sheary!¡± Shermaine nodded. She rarely visited York residence. Joshuaced his fingers with hers, radiating quiet affection. Seeing them like this, Owen beamed. ¡°I¡¯ve been saving these plump chickens just for your soup.¡± Joshua often came to York residence, but Owen had never offered him the chickens. What a stark contrast. ¡°Thank you,¡± Shermaine smiled. Owen went to the chicken coop and grabbed a plump chicken. Whether it sensed its fate or not, it struggled and pped its wings wildly, squawking loudly as it broke free from his grip. ¡°Joshua,¡± Owen barked, embarrassed. ¡°Stop gawking. Catch it!¡± This chicken was for nourishing Shermaine. Afterst night¡¯s exertions, she needed nourishment. So the ever aloof Joshua rolled up his sleeves and gave chase. Under the bright sun, Shermaine bit back augh. The dignified man whose mere presence kept others at arm¡¯s length was now chasing a chicken like a hunter stalking prey. As Joshua neared, Kylie forgot the fleeing chicken. Her gaze locked on him until the panicked chicken flew straight at her. On instinct, she grabbed its head, nearly snapping its neck. The chicken shrieked, iling so violently it defecated mid¨Cair. A glob of chicken feces sttered Kylie¡¯s designer dress. As the stench hit her nose, she screamed and flung the chicken away in revulsion. Joshua ignored her, scooping up the dying chicken and handing it/calmly to Owen. Shermaine was intrigued by Kylie¡¯s fast reaction. That chicken¨Ccatching move revealed that Kylie was well¨Ctramed. Clearly, she was better at hiding her abilities than she let on. Owen hadn¡¯t expected the chicken to poop all over Kylie¡¯s dress. He called a servant to help her clean up and then headed to the kitchen with the chicken in his hand. Kylie showered in the bathroom, drowning herself in body wash to erase the stench. Freshly changed, she emerged to find Shermaine alone in the living room, but Joshua was nowhere in sight. Kylie wandered through York residence and finally cornered him, who was clutching a bottle of white wine. ¡°A month apart, and you have nothing to talk to me?¡± Kylie blocked his path. Joshua nced at her, icy disdain in his eyes. ¡°Actually, I do have something to say.¡± Kylie¡¯s face lit up with joy. ¡°What is it?¡± Joshua said coldly, ¡°Get out of here. You¡¯re an eyesore.¡± Privately, he saw no reason to be polite to her. 1/2 14:29 Mon, 23 Jun GOR Hearing this, Kylie nearly broke apart inside.. Owen¡¯s chicken soup, simmered with a ssh of white wine, was served exclusively to Shermaine. Despite Joshua¡¯s blunt dismissal, Kylie stubbornly joined lunch with Sarah. Each spoonful of soup Shermaine savored made Kylie feel like salt in her wounds, especially after the chicken¡¯s ¡°gift.¡± After lunch, Joshua and Shermaine left for Jean Group¡¯s shareholder meeting. Outside thepany, a fleet of luxury cars lined the entrance. Executives stood ready to greet a attendees. The Bentley pulled up at the curb. Joshua pulled Shermaine close, kissing her deeply. After a while, he asked, ¡°You don¡¯t want me to drop you at school?¡± Shermaine had worn makeup today, but her lipstick had smudged onto Joshua¡¯s lips. She pushed him away gently. ¡°No, you go do your thing.¡± Before getting out of the car, she carefully applied lipstick. Noticing a streak of red on his lips, she said, ¡°Wipe your lipster.¡± With that, she stepped out of the car. Shermaine was well¨Cknown in Basterel. Besides, Ross had specifically mentioned. Ther Nurse walking 277 Chapter 277 Shermaine gave a slight nod in response. An executive gestured toward the elevators. ¡°This way, Ms. Jean.¡± While waiting, response spotted Jason and Natalie approaching. Natalie was dressed to impress today. She wore a tailored white zer over a body¨Chugging dress and essorized with a dazzling luxurious ne and a limited¨Cedition handbag. Beside her, Jason looked equally polished in his bespoke suit. The moment his gazended on Shermaine, he clenched his hands into fists. Every time she appeared, his ns crumbled. The thought was burned into his mind. Natalie, however, strutted forward in her stilettos, oozing faux warmth. ¡°Shermaine, what a coincidence.¡± ¡°Quite,¡± Shermaine replied, eyes sharp. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Chin lifted, and Natalie smirked. ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± Shermaine sneered, ¡°Hope you¡¯re not here to embarrass yourself.¡± Natalie seethed inwardly, ¡®Damn bitch. Today, I¡¯m helping Jameson dethrone Ross and drive him overseas. Once we control Jean Group, I won¡¯t even care if I can marry Jameson. Maybe then, that old hag Janice will grovel at my feet.¡® The elevator arrived. Shermaine stepped in. Jason and Natalie followed. The 23rd¨Cfloor conference room was already half¨Cfull when they entered. The meeting would begin promptly at 2 p.m. All eyes turned to Shermaine as she strode in¨Csome recognizing her, others sizing her up. Instantly, all eyes in the room turned to her. Andrew and Brandon were both there, too. Despite Shermaine¡¯s understated outfit, she carried herself with an unmistakable aura. She walked calmly to her seat, pod out the chair, and sat down. Brandon greeted her warmly, but Andrew pointedly looked away. Other shareholders were unfamiliar with Natalie and Jason. They had never seen or heard of them before. The shareholders began whispering, guessing that they might be new shareholders. Natalie and Jason took seats directly across from Shermaine. Ross entered momentster, taking the seat beside Shermaine with a faint smile. Together, their striking looks made them the room¡¯s visual centerpiece. Jameson soon followed, settling at the head of the table¨Ca vantage point to scrutinize every shareholder¡¯s reaction. Spotting Shermaine, he frowned slightly, but he held his tongue. If she caused trouble, he could simply have her removed. After all, this was hispany, and he was in charge here. ¡°Jamie, you¡¯re here,¡± Natalie smiled. Jameson¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Have you eaten lunch yet?¡± ¡°Jason and I had lunch beforeing,¡± Natalie replied sweetly. ¡°And you?¡± The exchange confirmed what everyone suspected. The two ¡°new shareholders¡± were Jameson¡¯s mistress and illegitimate son. The stark contrast in Jameson¡¯s demeanor, warmth for them, and cold indifference to Ross and Shermaine. It drew puzzled nces. One shareholder 14:29 Mon, 23 Jun Ga Jun GOJ asked, ¡°Mr. Jean, are they Jean Group¡¯s newest investors?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jameson replied. ¡°We heard Mrs. Jean sold her shares. Is that true?¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± The shareholder suppressed a scoff and thought, ¡®What kind of fool sells her stake and leaves her son in such a terrible situation?¡® Promptly at two o¡¯clock, Jameson straightened. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s begin.¡± 08% The meeting was pretty dull. Nothing important was discussed during the early part. Shermaine kept her head down and glued to her phone. Ever since she started at Basterel University, professors often reached out to her for discussions, and she was replying to their messages. That didn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t listening, though. The first half of the meeting was just routine, reporting the profits and losses from the first half of the year. After summarizing that, the meeting finally came to the real agenda¨CJean Group¡¯s business expansion in Archulea. Nurse walking 278 Chapter 278 68% The shareholders reacted predictably when Jameson announced the overseas expansion. Most were eager to invest, seeing it as a low¨Crisk venture. But a few smelled trouble. Jean Group already had overseas branches, but business there had always beenckluster. Bringing this up so suddenly now made them suspect there might be a trap. They were right. Jameson was indeed setting a trap, and the target was his own son. Jameson¡¯s next words confirmed it. ¡°I propose assigning Ross to lead this initiative. Any objections?¡± The shareholders who sided with Ross balked. Jean Group¡¯s recent sess was his doing. Without him, thepany would flounder. Others remained silent, but their eventual votes sided with Jameson, It was obvious. This was a power grab. And some shareholders had long held a grudge against Ross. Shermaine opposed the move, but Andrew¡¯s vote tipped the scales. Only Brandon stood firmly with Ross. In the end, the votes in favor of Ross taking charge of the overseas operations won by a single vote. Jameson smiled, ¡°The majority supports Ross overseeing the overseas division. Ross, hand off your current projects and depart for Archulea.¡± Ross remained unruffled. ¡°I question one voter¡¯s eligibility.¡± Shermaine set her phone down. ¡°As do I.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s ineligible?¡± The meeting room erupted in whispers. Ross locked eyes with Natalie, his words deliberate. ¡°Ms. Keller, you¡¯re not a board member. Your vote doesn¡¯t count.¡± Natalie smirked. ¡°Poorly informed, Mr. Ross Jean. I hold 15% of Jean Group¡¯s shares. Of course, I have voting rights.¡± The room buzzed with shock. Someone thought, ¡®The mistress got Ruth¡¯s shares? How could Ruth, the woman who once saved thispany, lose to some gold¨Cdigger?¡® Though some mused, the fact was obvious. Without Jameson¡¯s financial backing, how could she possibly afford to buy so many shares? Ross sneered, ¡°Is that so?¡± Jameson cut in, ¡°Ross, shareholder votes are binding. You know this. Stop causing a scene.¡± ¡°When have I ever caused a scene?¡± Ross countered. Jameson faltered. It was true. Ross endured every injustice silently, only to emerge victorious. Shermaine signaled an aide. ¡°Call the legal team¡¯swyer.¡± The aide nodded. ¡°Yes, Ms. Jean.¡± Natalie smiled smugly. She thought, ¡®Let them try. The contracts bear my name. I¡¯m the thirdrgest shareholder now. Crossing her legs, she looked on disrnissively. ¡°Just wait. I¡¯ll prove to you whether or not I have the right to vote.¡± Within minutes, the corporatewyer arrived. 14.27 MIUII, 20 Jul Nurse walking 279 Vance Larson, the corporatewyer, stepped forward and asked Natalie with polite professionalism. ¡°Ms. Keller, may I review your shareholding documents?¡± Natalie confidently retrieved a file from her bag. She had anticipated skepticism and came prepared. A tense silence filled the room as Vance scrutinized the papers. About ten minutes passed, he removed his sses. Natalie tilted her chin up, radiating triumph. She eagerly anticipated Vance announcing the results. Ross and Shermaine were about to be humiliated. She was absolutely certain that Ruth¡¯s shares were rightfully in her hands. Vance said, ¡°As Mr. Ross Jean stated, Ms. Keller holds no valid voting rights.¡± Natalie¡¯s face paled in an instant. ¡°What nonsense! How could I not have voting rights?¡± Jameson stiffened. He thought, ¡®I paid ten billion dors. How is the agreement fake?¡® The shareholders erupted in murmurs. No one had seen this twisting. Vance continued, ¡°This shareholding agreement is forged.¡± ¡°How can it be fake? I paid ten billion dors for these shares.¡± Natalie shot up from her seat, her voice sharp and trembling. She couldn¡¯t ept this result. Vance pointed to the fine print. ¡°Ms. Keller, observe here.¡± Natalie¡¯s hands trembled as she leaned in and saw a line of tiny text. It was almost invisible. This wasn¡¯t the document Jameson had given her. Someone had switched it. She thought, ¡®Jasper didn¡¯t just trick Ruth. He tricked me, too.¡® The realization hit her like a sledgehammer. In an instant, her legs felt weak, nearly giving out beneath her. Jameson, seeing Natalie¡¯s expression and thinking about the ten billion dors he had spent, snatched the contract, his expression darkening with word. every Jason hadn¡¯t anticipated this twist. Natalie had been ecstatic for days after iming she had secured Ruth¡¯s shares, even calling to assure him that Jean Group would soon be his. He had allowed himself to believe Ross¡® reign was finally ending, especially with Jameson exiling him overseas. No more Ross meant no risk of Danielle rekindling old mes. But the documents were undeniably fake. Vance advised, ¡°Ms. Keller, you may want to file a police report to recover those ten billion dors.¡± Jameson¡¯s fury erupted. He thought, ¡®Report what? That conman vanished without a trace. Where exactly is the real contract now? Could it be with him? Wait, Ross knew Natalie had no voting rights, and considering everything else, the 15% shares hadn¡¯t gone to an outsider.¡® Jameson¡¯s gaze snapped at Shermaine. ¡°You have the real transfer document, right?¡± Shermaine¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Ross has it, which practically means it¡¯s in my hands. It amounts to the same thing for you, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°This is a fraud!¡± Jameson snarled. ¡°Careful with usations, Mr. Jean,¡± Shermaine said calmly. ¡°The scammer took your Natalie¡¯s money, then came to me with the real document for another payout.¡± Jameson¡¯s jaw tightened visibly. Clearly, he didn¡¯t buy it. 1/2 14:29 Mon, 23 Jun GOT ¡°Lies!¡± Natalie shrieked. ¡°You bribed that man. This was your scheme all along!¡± Shermaine¡¯s smile didn¡¯t waver. She thought, ¡®Exactly. But without proof, what can they do?¡® With a faint smile, she said, ¡°That¡¯s nder, Ms. Keller. I could sue.¡± Nurse walking 280 Chapter 280 Natalie seethed, but without proof, she dared not provoke Shermaine further. Jameson, however, was beyond reason. ¡°You im you paid that scammer? Show me the evidence.¡± Shermaine replied calmly, ¡°I didn¡¯t pay a cent.¡± She paused, then added, ¡°My husband did. If you want proof, I can call him over right now.¡± Everyone knew her husband was Joshua, a man no one dared to question lightly. Jameson¡¯s face purpled. He feared Joshua, who had never spared him courtesy. Worse, Shermaine didn¡¯t even pretend to respect him. The fact choked Jameson. Shermaine smiled, ¡°Oh, it seems you¡¯ve changed your mind.¡± Jameson could only re at her. Shermaine continued, ¡°Mr. Jean, question me like this again, and I won¡¯t bother with familial niceties next time.¡± ¡°You¡­ You ungrateful brat!¡± Jameson sputtered. ¡°If I¡¯m a brat, you¡¯re the deadbeat dad?¡± Shermaine snorted. Jameson was left speechless. He couldn¡¯t refute the fact. ¡°Since Ms. Keller isn¡¯t a shareholder, her presence is inappropriate.¡± Ross nodded to his secretary. ¡°Lead her out.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Ross Jean.¡± The secretary approached Natalie, stone¨Cfaced. ¡°Ms. Keller, please leave.¡± Humiliation burned through Natalie. The feeling was worse than being stripped naked in public. She couldn¡¯t believe Ross was really kicking her out. She turned tearfully to Jameson. ¡°Jamie.¡± ¡°Stay,¡± Jameson barked, flexing his authority as the president. ¡°No one removes anyone under my watch.¡± Feeling supported, Natalie lifted her chin proudly. Her smirk returned. ¡°Hear that? I don¡¯t need shares to stay. No one can throw me out.¡± Even Jameson¡¯s allies grew uneasy. One shareholder cleared his throat. ¡°Mr. Jean, protocol dictates she shouldn¡¯t be here.¡± Another added pointedly, ¡°If confidential information leaks, the responsibility falls on you.¡± The unspoken warning was clear. If Jameson insisted on breaking the rules, Ross would have more than enou son to move against him. Jameson wanted to argue, but under overwhelming pressure from Shermaine and Ross, he relented. Defeated, he gritted out. ¡°Nat, just go outside for now.¡± Natalie¡¯s lips whitened from pressure. With a final re, she stormed out, her stilettos stabbing the floor. The revote ended in a tie. Jameson¡¯s n to exile Ross to Archulea copsed. Worse, Ross owned Ruth¡¯s 15% stake, and his influence had only grown. But this agreement wasn¡¯t without ws. The person who had actually signed it wasn¡¯t Ruth at all. Technically, this agreement was legally invalid. valid. Madeline signed the agreement. She used a cloned body. Her appearance, DNA, and fingerprints were identical to Ruth¡¯s, making her signature legally ????? But Jameson couldn¡¯t possibly reveal that scandal. If he did, no one would believe him. They would think he was just making up stories to target Ross. The shareholder meeting ended, leaving Jameson humiliated, and worse, everyone knew he had lost ten billion dors in a failed scheme. 14:30 Mon, 23 Jun GO 68% By mid¨Cafternoon, Ruth¡¯s car idled outside Jean residence. She sat in the car, studying the house, familiar yet foreign after all these years. Richard, though deeply reluctant about her decision to return, knew he had no choice but to let go. ¡°Only Janice is home right now.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Jameson?¡± R¨²th asked. ¡°At the office.¡± Richard clenched his fists. ¡°He has spent years undermining Ross. Today, he called a shareholder meeting to exile him to Archulea.¡± It was a tant power grab. ¡°How did it go?¡± ¡°Backfired spectacrly. Natalie tried scamming the shares, but Shermaine outmaneuvered them. Cost Jameson ten billion dors and humiliated them both in front of everyone.¡± Ruth exhaled in relief, proud of her children. Still, Jameson had betrayed her and allowed Natalie to strut around Jean Group as if she belonged there. Ruth would never forget that humiliation. And there was a matter of how Jameson had endangered Shermaine years ago. That debt was still unpaid. ¡°Madeline has been exposed and detained,¡± Richard added. ¡°They think you¡¯re dead. Your timing is perfect.¡± Inside Jean residence, Janice skipped her nap. She sat in an armchair, listening absently to the radio. Just then, the doorbell rang. None of the servants were in the living room. Janice got up to open the door. ¡°Who is it?¡± Ruth stood with her back to the door. At the sound of Janice¡¯s voice, she slowly turned around, ¡°It¡¯s me. I¡¯m Ruthie.¡± Janice¡¯s eyes widened in shock the moment she saw Ruth. At Jean Group, Shermaine had nned to have high tea with Ross at the office before heading to school. Suddenly, her phone rang. It was Janice calling. AD Comment Nurse walking 281 Chapter 281 ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Grandma?¡± Shermaine asked. ¡°You¡¯ll see when you get here,¡± Janice replied, her voice tinged with something unreadable. ¡°Alright,¡± Shermaine replied. Janice knew they would be overjoyed. None of them had imagined the woman they had mourned was still alive. After hanging up, Janice returned to the living room, her eyes welling as she watched Ruth sit quietly on the sofa. Janice was absolutely certain that this was Ruth, the woman she had once loved and adored so much. No one could fake that kind of presence, not even Madeline. Janice had already asked about everything. Years ago, Ruth had indeed been injured and thrown into the sea, but someone had rescued her. Unfortunately, she had beenatose for years. Only recently did she regain her memories, and she came straight back. Janice¡¯s heart ached for all Ruth had endured. Ruth could clearly sense how moved and happy Janice was to have her back. Still, Ruth felt uneasy. She wondered how she should face Shermaine and Ross when they arrived. She thought, ¡®Will they ept me as their mother?¡± With that unease weighing heavily on her mind, Ruth waited anxiously. Outside, the sound of a car pulling up broke the silence. Momentster, footsteps approached. Shermaine and Ross had returned. As soon as Janice called, they didn¡¯t ask any questions. They just jumped in the car and drove straight home, though Janice¡¯s cryptic tone had hinted at some grand surprise. ¡°Grandma?¡± they called in unison upon entering. Janice sprang up from the sofa, cheeks flushed, pulling them toward the sofa. ¡°Sheary, Ross, look who¡¯s here.¡± As Shermaine and Ross approached the sofa, the woman seated there came into view. Her face was exactly as they remembered. She was elegant and poised, and her smile radiated the warmth Madeline had never possessed. Shermaine and Ross froze in shock. Ruth stood, her eyes instantly glistening with tears, voice trembling. ¡°Rossie, Sheary.¡± Before Shermaine had been abducted, Ruth had always called her Sheary. In Maple Leaf Ville, Jay had named her Shermaine after finding the characters engraved in her bracelet. When neither of them responded, Ruth¡¯s tears spilled over. ¡°Rossie, Sheary, it¡¯s me. I¡¯m Mom.¡± Her greatest fear wed at her. Ruth thought, ¡®What if Madeline¡¯s impersonation made them hate the very sight of me and refuse to ept me as their mother?¡® Shermaine moved first. She saw the irreplicable gentleness in Ruth¡¯s gaze, which was something that Madeline had never captured. Without a word, Shermaine stepped forward and wrapped her arms around the weeping woman, feeling the tremors of fear in Ruth¡¯s frame, especially after their silence. Ruth clung to her, the tension melting. ¡°Sheary,¡± she whispered, stroking Shermaine¡¯s hair. ¡°You¡¯re all grown up.¡± For Ruth, the recovered memories were still fresh. Every time she thought about it, her heart ached deeply. 14.30 Mon, 23 Jun Go Shermaine¡¯s kidnapping had shattered her sopletely that she had copsed on the spot. After waking up, she had personally searched for Shermaine, only to be betrayed and walk into Madeline¡¯s trap. 68% 14:30 Mon, 23 Jun J Nurse walking 282 Chapter 282 Ruth¡¯s heart ached. She had missed fourteen, almost fifteen, precious years of her children¡¯s lives. Shermaine blinked back tears, smiling, ¡°Mom, you¡¯re back. We thought you were gone.¡± Janice exined, ¡°Ruth was rescued but spent years in aa. When she woke, her memories were gone. She came straight here the moment she regained her memories.¡± Understanding dawned on Shermaine and Ross. That exined Ruth¡¯s gauntness. Without proper care, she might notst long. Dabbing her eyes, Ruth turned to Ross. ¡°Rossie, no hug for me?¡± Ross snapped out of his daze and stepped forward. Though older than Shermaine, his joy at reuniting was tempered by years of Madeline¡¯s impersonation, leaving him stiff and hesitant. Reading his hesitation, Ruth closed the distance herself, pulling him into the embrace. Janice watched the three of them, her chest swelling with gratitude. Ruth¡¯s return was fate¡¯s greatest gift to Shermaine and Ross. 68% 20 At Jean Group, Jameson stormed into his office, unleashing his fury. Natalie wisely stayed silent until his tantrum subsided, then approached with a cup of coffee. ¡°Jamie, have some coffee.¡± Jameson ignored the cup. This disaster stemmed from blindly trusting her. He had handed her ten billion dors without hesitation, only for it to vanish into thin air and end up with Ross. Jameson was angry at her, frustrated just by her presence. Natalie¡¯s tears flowed on cue. ¡°You¡¯re angry with me?¡± She hung her head. ¡°It¡¯s my fault. If I had scrutinized the contract, none of this would¡¯ve happened.¡± Her crying softened Jameson. ¡°Don¡¯t me yourself,¡± he muttered, though the irritation lingered. Seizing her chance, Natalie said, ¡°You really don¡¯t hate me?¡± ¡°How could I?¡± Jameson forced a smile. ¡°I adore you.¡± Natalie knew how to work him. ¡°You¡¯re so sweet. Meeting you was my life¡¯s greatest blessing.¡± Her seductive perfume wrapped around Jameson, reigniting his hunger. But with Jason present, he couldn¡¯t act on it. Ten billion dors were gone. Jameson needed allies. The Shelly family was the best one. A marriage alliance would secure their backing, especially with his rapport with Tim. Jameson had just wanted Ross exiled. But Ross insisted on ying hardball. Jameson thought, ¡®Ross, you brought this on yourself.¡® Jameson said suddenly, ¡°Jason,e here. We need to talk.¡± Jason moved closer and sat beside him. ¡°Dad, what is it?¡± Nurse walking 283 Chapter 283 Ruth¡¯s health was indeed fragile. After the emotional reunion, she suddenly fainted. This startled Janice badly, but luckily, Shermaine was there. After settling Ruth in a guest room, she examined her. The years as aa patient had taken a toll, but nothing irreversible. Shermaine was confident she could help Ruth recover with proper care. That night, Jameson¡¯s absence was a blessing. His presence would only aggravate Ruth further. That afternoon, Shermaine didn¡¯t return to school. She prepared medicine and fed it carefully to the unconscious Ruth. Suddenly, her phone rang, It was Joshua calling. Handing the medicine to Ross, Shermaine said, ¡°Take over for me.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Ross nodded. Shermaine stepped out to take the call. ¡°At school yet?¡± Joshua asked. He had heard about Jean Group¡¯s shareholder meeting and how Shermaine had dismantled Jameson. Just thinking about the scene Bradley described amused Joshua. Shermaine replied, ¡°I¡¯m not going back to school today.¡± Joshua raised an eyebrow. Shermaine¡¯s voice carried rare lightness as she said, ¡°Joshua.¡± Joshua hummed in response. She continued, ¡°My mom is alive. She was rescued years ago.¡± ¡°So your birth mother returned?¡± Joshua caught on quickly. ¡°Yes,¡± Shermaine replied. Given how perfectly everything had timed out, Joshua asked, ¡°Confirmed?¡± ¡°Undeniably. Come and meet her tonight.¡± That first nce had erased all doubt. Shermaine was sure that Ruth was her mother. The timing was uncanny but perfect. Joshua smiled, ¡°I¡¯ll be there.¡± Under the bright moonlight, Ruth awoke just in time for dinner, and she met Joshua. She vividly remembered that Shermaine had been engaged to him years ago. Back then, Joshua had already been a prodigy, his brilliance undeniable. That was why Ruth hadn¡¯t objected to their age gap when Owen proposed the match. Ruth smiled gently, ¡°Joshua, it¡¯s been years.¡± Any lingering doubts about her identity vanished the moment Joshua saw her. He greeted her with a smile. ¡°You and Sheary married?¡± Ruth asked. ¡°Legally, yes,¡± Joshua said. ¡°But we¡¯ve yet to hold the wedding.¡± 1/3 00:03 Tue 24 Jun ma Chapter 283 Relief washed over Ruth. At least she could witness her daughter¡¯s wedding. Today had given her everything¨Creunited with Shermaine and Ross, meeting Joshua. Happiness radiated from Ruth. Tonight, Jean residence buzzed with rare warmth. Shermaine drank happily. Even Ross, who usually restrained, indulged in a few sses of red wine. Ross didn¡¯t have much of a tolerance for alcohol. Normally, at business dinners, his assistant would drink for him. But tonight, after just two sses of red wine, he already felt a bit light¨Cheaded. Ruth, still weak from her condition, only sipped on soup but kept serving dishes to the others, her face glowing with joy. Shermaine couldn¡¯t help but think how blind Jameson had been. Ruth was stunningly beautiful, intelligent, and graceful. How could he have chosen someone like Natalie? That woman didn¡¯t evene close to matching Ruth¡¯s qualities. ¡°Mom, you¡¯re piling our tes. Focus on your own meal,¡± Shermaine said gently. ¡°Okay,¡± Ruth smiled, but she kept serving them anyway, peeling shrimp and cing them onto their tes. In her eyes, they were still her children who needed her care. Overjoyed, Shermaine drank a little too much. Joshua finished his meal and walked over to her side, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. ¡°Need me to carry you upstairs?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Shermaine nodded. Joshua opened his arms, and she leaned right into him, clinging like a ko. Watching them, Ross couldn¡¯t help but think of Danielle. He thought, ¡®If I hadn¡¯t hesitated, she might be here tonight, sharing this joy!¡® At Yaleview Hospital, Danielle was mid¨Cmeeting when her phone buzzed. It was a photo from Ross. In the photo, Ross bathed in warm light and reclined on a sofa. His cor was slightly undone, revealing a hint of corbone. The usual cool detachment in his eyes had softened into something intoxicating. Danielle¡¯s breath hitched. She had first fallen for his appearance. And over time, that attraction had only deepened. Now, seeing him like this, sexy and attractive, sent a flutter through her chest. Pursing her lips, Danielle ignored the message. She thought, ¡®What¡¯s his game?¡® Ross waited, deting when no reply came. He thought, ¡®I¡¯m not tempting enough?¡® He sent: [Not good?] Danielle: [¡­] Ross had never done anything like this. Ears burning, Ross gave up. Seduction wasn¡¯t his forte. Danielle wrapped her meeting. In two days, she would leave for Lightspring City¡¯s earthquake relief efforts. It was a grueling three¨Cweek mission. The casualty reports were grim. Upstairs, Shermaine, thoroughly tipsy, straddled Joshua¡¯s waist, yanking at his buttons. ¡°Show me your tattoo.¡± Joshua indulged her. ¡°What¡¯s so interesting about it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s sexy,¡± Shermaine insisted, slurring slightly. ¡°Take it off.¡± 2/3 Chapter 283 Laughing, Joshua . The past few days, Shermaine had been shuttling between school and home to spend time with Ruth. Danielle, now on her relief mission in Lightspring City, had heard the news. as had Lily. Even Lily caught wind of the news somehow. ¡°So Ross drank because he was celebrating?¡± Danielle asked during their call. Shermaine chuckled, ¡°A little.¡± ¡°That exins it.¡± ¡°Did he do something?¡± ¡°He sent me a photo.¡± Shermaineughed, ¡°It seems he¡¯s trying to reconnect.¡± Danielle neither confirmed nor denied. She could tell that Ross had been trying to get closer to her again. It seemed like he was making a move. Jameson hadn¡¯t returned to Jean residence once at all in those days, opting to stay with Natalie as if her ce were now his home. That evening, after dinner at a restaurant, Shermaine took Ruth shopping for essentials. In the private dining room, Ruth put down her fork. ¡°I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡± Shermaine offered to go with her, but Ruth shook her head. Ruth stepped out and asked a waiter for directions before heading toward the restroom. Inside, Natalie stood in front of the mirror and touched up her makeup, phone on speaker. ¡°Jason, don¡¯t waste this chance your father gave you. And stay safe out there.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Jason replied. As soon as the call ended, Natalie finished fixing her makeup. At that moment, Ruth walked out of one of the stalls. She squeezed some hand soap into her palm and began washing her hands. Natalie spotted Ruth in the mirror. Her grip tightened around Ruth¡¯s arm. ¡°Ruth? It¡¯s really you!¡± Her smile turned venomous. ¡°Jamie has been looking for you.¡± 3/3 Nurse walking 284 Chapter 284 Ruth had only seen Natalie in photos, but she recognized her instantly, especially when the woman called Jameson ¡°Jamie. Jameson was her husband, yet his betrayal fourteen years ago had long killed any love or anger in Ruth. But she could never forgive him for losing Shermaine. The thought of her daughter, so young and helpless, suffering alone, made Ruth want to tear him apart. Natalie sneered, ¡°I thought you had pride. Now you crawl back to Jean residence, clinging to a man who doesn¡¯t want you.¡± Her voice sharpened when Ruth stayed silent. ¡°Jamie loves me. Be smart and file for divorce, or don¡¯t me me for getting rough. In the next instant, Ruth pped her hard. Natalie staggered, stunned. ¡°A homewrecker lecturing me about divorce?¡± Ruth¡¯s elegance was innate, unlike Madeline¡¯s cheap imitation. Anyone who looked at her could sense the quiet authority she carried. ¡°I¡¯d love to see how you n to ¡®get rough¡® with me.¡± Natalie had faced ¡°Ruth¡± before. Sure, she had lost a few rounds in the past, but she had always managed to regain the upper hand. But now, the pressure radiating from Ruth was suffocating. ¡°You dare hit me?¡± ¡°Try hitting back.¡± Ruth challenged. Confident that Jameson had her back and believing Ruth had already lost all influence, Natalie couldn¡¯t swallow the humiliation. She swung, only for Ruth to catch her wrist and shove hard. Natalie stumbled, twisting her ankle with a gasp. Ruth washed her hands again, feeling disgusted. ¡°If you¡¯ve got a problem with me, tell Jameson toe find me himself. I¡¯ll be waiting at Jean residence.¡± Natalie never imagined the ¡°Ruth¡± she had known, the one who¡¯d only ever thrown tantrums, was a fraud. The woman before her now was the real deal, and she was being utterly outssed. Chin jutting defiantly, Natalie spat, ¡°What¡¯s there to gloat about? You slept around and got your shares scammed.¡± ¡°Which ended up with my son,¡± Ruth countered. She knew Natalie had orchestrated Madeline¡¯s swindle, but not that it was all part of Shermaine¡¯s countery. ¡°I lost nothing.¡± And truthfully, Madeline hadn¡¯t suffered either. That conman was good¨Clooking and well¨Cbuilt. He had been exceptionally skilled in more ways than one. Why else would she have been so eager to abandon everything for him? ¡°Jameson can sleep around all he wants,¡± Ruth said coldly. ¡°And I can do whatever I please. He forfeited any right to judge me.¡± Unlike Madeline, who had let Jameson hospitalize her, Ruth would¡¯ve let him backy a finger on her. Natalie¡¯s face twisted in a rage. Ten billion was gone, the shares lost, and now Ruth was looking down on her. Natalie barked, ¡°So what if you got lucky? Do you think Ross will respect you? Don¡¯t pretend you¡¯re some happy family.¡± ¡°Save your concern for your bastard,¡± Ruth shot back. ¡°I said it already. Tell Jameson toe find me. I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± Nurse walking 285 Work that bulletrede out of the restroom, leaving Natalie seething in he wake Walshe thought, How dare the dismiss me like that? Back then, Ruth used to bristle at nore the stewed, the angrier she grew. sight of me, but now she acts like I¡¯m beneath her notice! The Natalie would tell Jameson. How else would he know that during a simple dinner outing, she had hun into Ruth, gotten pped by her, and even twisted Natalie limped out, already dialing his number with practiced theatrics. Jameson frowned as Natalie¡¯s tearful ount poured through the phone. ¡°Ruth hit you? Twisted your ankle?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Natalie sniffled. ¡°I barely said to her, and she attacked me.¡± But something didn¡¯t add up. Jameson thought, Janice swore the real Ruth was dead, and Madeline had impersonated her. Besides, Shermaine had Madeline detained. Jameson had asked Janice for details, but she had imed ignorance. Asking Shermaine was pointless. Anyway, she would never tell him. All Jameson wanted was to drag Madeline to the courthouse to finalize the divorce. Her fate afterward meant nothing to him. Yet Natalie imed Ruth was back. It was strange. Jameson wondered, ¡®ts Janice lying to block the divorce?¡® The possibility gnawed at him. Natalie¡¯s voice quivered. ¡°Ruth said if you want the divorce,e to Jean residence. She¡¯s waiting.¡± Jameson¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°She actually said that?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Alright, I got it.¡± Shermaine apanied Ruth to a nearby mall. After buying some daily necessities, she insisted on getting Ruth some new clothes and shoes. Ruth barely nced at items for herself, instead nudging Shermaine toward every beautiful dress she spotted. Shermaine couldn¡¯t refuse Ruth¡¯s enthusiasm, shuttling between the racks and fitting room. Ruth¡¯s taste was impable. Every piece she chose suited Shermaine perfectly. She even picked out several outfits for Ross. Money wasn¡¯t an issue. During her years as ¡°Juliana,¡± Richard had entrusted most of his wealth to her, though Ruth had relied on her own earnings from selling paintings in Rodunst. Shermaine never imagined Richard had been Ruth¡¯s rescuer. Their paths had crossed in Rodunst once, and Shermaine had even saved his life. In a way, she had indirectly repaid Ruth¡¯s debt to him. When Richard appeared unexpectedly, Ruth¡¯s expression soured. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Richard¡¯s chest tightened at her tone. ¡°Juliana, I just wanted to see you. I bought some food for you and Shermaine.¡± ¡°Keep it,¡± Ruth said tly. ¡°Now that I¡¯m back, we should keep our distance.¡± At least until her divorce from Jameson was finalized. Richard turned helplessly to Shermaine. Long time no see, Shermaine.¡± Chapter 286 Nurse walking 286 Chapter 286 Ruth was taken aback. She hadn¡¯t realized Richard knew Shermaine. ¡°Thank you for saving me,¡± Richard said earnestly. Shermaine smiled. ¡°Consider it repayment for what you did for my mother.¡± Rath thought, ¡®So Shermaine was Richard¡¯s rescuer in Rodunst?¡® Richard¡¯s expression turned wistful as he offered a cake box. ¡°Please take this. It¡¯s delicious.¡± Unlike Ruth, Shermaine held no grudge. Although his methods were wed, Richard¡¯s devotion to Ruth was genuine. Shermaine epted graciously. ¡°Thanks.¡± Relieved, Richard turned to Ruth, his gaze brimming with restrained longing. ¡°I¡¯ll go, Juliana. Take care of yourself.¡± The contrast stung. Jameson had discarded Ruth like trash, while Richard treasured her like gold. After dinner, Ross went straight to the surgical wing at Yaleview Hospital for Danielle, only to learn she had already left for Lightspring City. Knowing the earthquake zone desperately needed medics and supplies, Ross called her immediately. Danielle answered after endless rings, her voice clipped. ¡°Make it quick. I¡¯m swamped.¡± ¡°Stay safe out there,¡± Ross said. Danielle paused for a moment, thenughed, ¡°You¡¯re worried about me?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Thanks, but unnecessary.¡± Ross clenched his phone. ¡°The forecasts predict aftershocks. Avoid crowded areas. Don¡¯t take risks.¡± ¡°Uh¨Chuh.¡± Danielle¡¯s tone was pure indifference. Ross swallowed hard, his throat tightening with frustration. He wished he could fly to Lightspring City and drag this reckless woman back, but he had no right. ¡°Danielle, just behave, okay?¡± ¡°What am I, your cat?¡± Ever since his rejection, Danielle had made it her mission to defy him. It was the only way to soothe her pride. As the Shelly family heiress, she had never been refused before, except by Ross, repeatedly. ¡°When you act spoiled, you really do,¡± Ross chuckled, especially with that sweet, pleading voice she used when begging for kisses. The unexpected flirtation threw Danielle off. She stammered, clearing her throat, ¡°Uh¡­ I gotta go.¡± ¡°Did you hear what I said?¡± ¡°Loud and clear.¡± Only then did Ross feel slightly relieved. By month¡¯s end, the full moon hung like a silver coin. 1/2 Nurse walking 287 A sheer what?¡± Janice looked baffled. Jameson said, ¡°Te etop me from divorcing Ruth, you imed Madeline was impersonating Ruth and that Shermaine had her locked up. But the truth is, she wasn¡¯t hiding at all. Natalie van into Ruth tonight. That shrew pped her and made her twist her ankler Janice nearly taughed at his delusion. She thought, ¡®What nonsense is he spinning now? Before she could respond, Ruth descended the stairs, he voice icy. ¡°That¡¯s too much? I could do far worse.¡± Jameson¡¯s head snapped up at the sound. There, on thending, stood Ruth¨Cno garish makeup or shy clothes, just a simple white dress and an aura of quiet elegance. She had something that the so¨Ccalled ¡°Ruth¡± had never truly possessed. Or rather, this was the real Ruth he had known fourteen years ago. ¡°You¡­¡± Jameson choked on the words. ¡°Fourteen years, Jameson,¡± Ruth said, her gaze freezing him in ce. ¡°I never got to punish you for losing Shermaine. And now, you dare squabble with me over your mistress?¡± Jameson¡¯s blood ran cold. He thought, ¡®This tone¡­ This presence¡­ This is really Ruth.¡® A strange sense of fear crept up inside him. ¡°Mom¡­ She¡­ She is¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t even finish his question, or he wasn¡¯t ready to admit the truth out loud. Janice snorted, ¡°Yes, she¡¯s Ruthie. We thought she was dead, but she¡¯s back.¡± It felt like lightning had struck Jameson¡¯s brain, leaving him dazed and stunned. He just couldn¡¯t believe it was real. With a final re, Janice turned off the TV and walked straight to her room. She had no more patience for Jameson and decided it was better not to see or hear any more of this mess. With Janice gone, the living room held only Jameson and Ruth. With each step Ruth took toward him, Jameson¡¯s legs weakened further. He had assumed the fear she once instilled in him had faded, but he was wrong. The impostor had never made his scalp prickle like this. Ruth stopped seven feet away. ¡°Jameson, do you remember your wedding vows?¡± Jameson stayed silent. ¡°Need a reminder?¡± Ruth¡¯s smile was cial. Jameson¡¯s lips moved soundlessly. He remembered exactly¨Cthe oath to remain faithful, to cherish her forever, or else ¡°may lightning strike me dead.¡± Avoiding her gaze, he muttered, ¡°Why bring this up now?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need lightning to punish you,¡± Ruth said. ¡°But you will repay what you owe me.¡± Jameson narrowed his eyes. ¡°What exactly do you want?¡± ¡°Knee,¡± Ruth said simply. Jameson¡¯s face darkened. ¡°You want me to kneel to you? You¡¯ve got to be joking.¡± But before he could say more, Ruth snatched a feather duster from the side table andshed it across his shoulders. Jameson flinched hard from the sudden strike. ¡°Have you lost your mind, Ruth?¡± 2/2 22 Ruth tilted her head. ¡°You want the divorce? kneel, take your punishment, and it¡¯s yours.¡± Upstairs, Shermaine watched, impressed by Ruth¡¯s ruthlessness. Jameson¡¯s pained expression confirmed each strike carried full force. She snapped a photo and sent it to Joshua. [Future reference. This is how I¡¯ll handle you if you piss me off.] Nurse walking 288 Chapter 288 shus was at a business dinner when the message arrived. The private room buzzed with suited men clinking sses,ughter swirling through cigar oke Adian Campbell offered him a cigarette. Joshua reached for it, then paused at Shermaine¡¯s text. ¡°No, thanks.¡± Adrian smirked. ¡°Your wife banned smoking?¡± No one had thought Shermaine could tame Joshua, Basterel¡¯s most untouchable man. ¡°Mm. Don¡¯t want to upset her,¡± Joshua admitted, amused. Truthfully, Shermaine never forbade it, just nagged about health risks. Joshua had nned to take one cigarette tonight, but her message changed his mind. Adrian pocketed the pack. Joshua refused, and he didn¡¯t push. Besides, after watching this disy of affection, only envy remained in his mind. Joshua replied: [Should I prepare a whip?] Shermaine pictured it andughed. [nning to misbehave?] Joshua chuckled. He thought, ¡®My girl is learning to flirt.¡¯ He sent: [Sheary, I¡¯d never dare.] The man who feared nothing now had one terror¡ªhis wife¡¯s temper. It was just a joke, but seeing how indulgent he was being, Shermaine¡¯s smile deepened. Joshua added: [If I screw up, hit me all you want. Just don¡¯t banish me on the couch.] That was true torture for a married man. Even asional solo nights were agony. Shermaine shook her head with a smile. Downstairs, Jameson winced in pain. The man who had once beaten Madeline now flinched at the sight of Ruth¡¯s feather duster. Her ferocity made his knees buckle. He nearly bolted, but her offer stopped him. ¡°You mean it?¡± He gritted out. Ruth scoffed, ¡°When have I ever lied to you?¡± Jameson clenched his fists. ¡°I cheated. That¡¯s on me. Losing Shermaine was my fault. Hit me all you want, then we¡¯re done. But I¡¯m not kneeling.¡± Not for anyone, especially not for Ruth. ¡°Fine.¡± Ruth swung the duster, striking strategically. She was selective about where she hit¨Cces that hurt like hell but left no real damage. Yet Jameson, aged and weakened by years of heavy drinking, couldn¡¯t endure it. Within a few strikes, he was pale, drenched in cold sweat, barely standing. Seeing him trying to stubbornly stand, Ruth aimed straight at his calves. ¡°Ah!¡± With a thud, Jameson copsed to his knees, humiliation burning his face. ¡°Enough! Aren¡¯t you satisfied yet?¡± ¡°A few strikes won¡¯t repay what you owe me,¡± Ruth spat. Jameson¡¯s face darkened, but he had no retort. Finally, Ruth tossed the feather duster aside, satisfaction coursing through her. ¡°I¡¯ll hav Nurse walking 289 Chapter 289 Jameson felt an unexpected pang as Ruth mentioned divorce without hesitation. When Madeline had been posing as Ruth, he had been desperate to end the manage. Yet now, faced with the real Ruth¡¯s Indifference, it stung. He couldn¡¯t exin this feeling. Gritting through the pain, he stood and studied Ruth. Fourteen years had treated her well. Her hands were still delicate, and her hair was elegantly half pinned. That simple white dress made her look ethereal. She was more striking than aging starlets. Madeline had deceived him for fourteen years, and he hadn¡¯t noticed a thing. Or perhaps he had suspected something but chose not to dwell on it. Ruth added coolly, ¡°I¡¯ve heard about your attempts to undermine Ross at Jean Group. Thepany¡¯s sess has nothing to do with you. If you want to keep your title, tread carefully. I¡¯ll let that shareholder meeting slide. Cross me again, and you¡¯ll regret it.¡± Jameson¡¯s expression flickered. He had been scheming, though now, under her re, he wasn¡¯t sure whether to scrap those ns or double down. The frustration was suffocating. Fourteen years ago, Ruth had dominated him like this, stripping him of any dignity as a husband. It was nothing like the sense of power he got from being with Natalie. Without another word, Jameson limped out. This ce hadn¡¯t been his home for years. Natalie¡¯s arms were where he belonged now. Natalie had been waiting for Jameson¡¯s replies impatiently after her shower, eager to hear how he had put Ruth in her ce, preferably back in the hospital. The doorbell rang. Natalie hurried to answer it, finding Jameson on the threshold. ¡°Jamie, did you see Ruth?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jameson grunted, his expression stormy. Natalie eyed the bag in his hand. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Medicine,¡± Jameson replied curtly. Baffled, Natalie followed as he slumped onto the sofa and ordered her, ¡°Rub this on me.¡± Still confused, Natalie obeyed and walked toward him. When he lifted his shirt, her breath caught. Red welts crisscrossed his back, and some were swollen to grotesque ridges. She asked in shock, ¡°Did¡­ your mother do this?¡± Jameson stayed silent. Admitting Ruth humiliated him was too much. ¡°Answer me. What happened?¡± Natalie pressed. ¡°Just fucking do it,¡± Jameson snapped. Biting back her irritation, Natalieplied. That night, pain and Ruth¡¯s warnings kept Jameson awake. Finally, he grabbed his phone and went outside. ¡°Cancel the muttered. ¡°You¡¯ll still get paid.¡± ¡­ assigned you,¡± I Natalie, who had followed stealthily, went rigid when she heard that. She thought, ¡®He is backing out? Disabling Ross isn¡¯t even killing him. What coward. All these years, he still can¡¯t give Jason and me our rightful ce. I¡¯m so sick of living under people¡¯s noses like this. If he won¡¯t act, I will!¡® 1/1 Nurse walking 290 hapter 290 That night, Joshua went to Jean residence again, slipping into bed with Shermaine. Fresh from a shower and slightly tipsy, he pulled her close with a contented sigh, pressing a kiss to her lips. ¡°Goodnight, baby.¡± At that, Shermaine lifted her head slightly, puzzled. ¡°What did you just call me?¡± Baby Joshua repeated, kissing her again. Her nose scrunched. ¡°Just use my name.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t like it? Joshua had taken Owen¡¯s advice. Women melt for pet names like ¡°baby¡± or ¡°sweetheart.¡± Sweetheart was toomon, but baby sounded especially sweet. But apparently, Shermaine wasn¡¯t a fan. Not that it mattered. She was his treasure. ¡°Too cheesy,¡± Shermaine muttered, eyes glued to her phone, where she was seconds away from beating a puzzle game. Joshua nipped at her earlobe, his warm breath tickling her skin as he murmured, ¡°Baby.¡± Thebination of his voice and touch made Shermaine¡¯s fingers twitch. Still hovering near her ear, Joshua asked with a soft chuckle, ¡°How about now?¡± ¡°Stop messing with me.¡± ¡°Baby.¡± Shermaine¡¯s heart suddenly raced. ¡°Joshua, you¡¯re so annoying,¡± she muttered. ¡°Game Over¡± shed on her screen. Joshua grinned, confiscating her phone and guiding her hand under his shirt. ¡°Touch my abs, baby.¡± Shermaine hadn¡¯t expected Joshua to get so good at teasing her. It reminded her of that time she had gotten drunk and insisted on touching his tattoos. She rolled her eyes butplied. His muscles were taut under her fingers. His breathing hitched after just a few strokes. She couldn¡¯t help but tease him. ¡°You¡¯ve got zero self¨Ccontrol now.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never had any self¨Ccontrol with you,¡± Joshua admitted, reaching for the nightstand. When he rolled over, pinning her with another kiss, his voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°You¡¯re so sweet, baby.¡± Shermaine pinched his waist, fighting the shiver his words sent down her spine. Azy yawn escaped her. The crisp autumn night carried the scent of roses from the garden through the open window. Joshua settled back into bed, savoring the breeze. He had discovered the power of the pet name. Shermaine melted under that endearment far quicker than usual. He made a mental note to use it more often. After their yful tussle, Shermaine yawned, a sudden thought striking her. ¡°Your birthday is , though he had never been one for celebrations. Even Owen rarely remembered, let alone brought it up. Come to think of it, Joshua had met Shermaine around this season. It had already been over a year. ¡°What do you need?¡± Shermaine asked. ¡°Nothing,¡± Joshua replied simply. ¡°I¡¯ve got everything I want.¡± She sighed quietly. 1/2 Chapter 290 Chuckling, Joshua pulled her closer. ¡°Sleep. Gifts don¡¯t matter,¡± Shermaine closed her eyes and drifted off soon after, her breathing soft and steady in the quiet night. 2/2 Nurse walking 291 Chapter 291 The ton se?ak orientation Nad Wrapped up, though shermans had barely pwiriputed ching ton. anks to professors pulling her intobs, sparing her the tady that morning, a professor Intercepted her on her way to the chemistry Wastination. Sharmaine, Kylie is hosting a public lecture here. You don¡¯t mind, right? ye, aten known as Dolcie Chapman Ahe the Tech Conference, she had be a tech darling Sh?rmaine smiled, ¡°Why Wild 17¡± ¡°Good,¡± the professor sighed. ¡°Frankly, if I could, I¡¯d push the school to promote you straight to a professor. You¡¯d probably do a better job teaching students than most of us¡± ¡°No rush¡± ¡°How¡¯s the lithium battery issueing?¡± ¡°Almost solved.¡± ¡°So soon?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Shermaine¡¯s nod left the professor awestruck. Where she went, impossible problems crumbled. It hadn¡¯t even been that long, yet she had already found a solution. ¡°Actually¡­ The professor hesitated. ¡°Shermaine, would you mind doing me a favor?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Well¡± The professor began. ¡°I¡¯ve been working on the twin prime conjecture for a while now. I¡¯m scheduled to present my work at the math conference in Ustrana this October, hoping to bring some honor to our country¡¯s mathematicalmunity. ¡°But honestly, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to solve it on my own. I was wondering if you might want to give it a shot.¡± The October summit was prestigious, and cracking this millennium¨Cold problem could clinch the Filz Award, math¡¯s highest honor. Shermaine hadn¡¯t tackled world¨Css proofs in years. Back when she studied abroad, she had once beenpletely absorbed in mathematics, regrly publishing in journals and winning numerous awards. She had even held a respected position within the International Federation of Mathematics. But back then, she had always kept a low profile. Her achievements were never publicized. Although she had earned them as a citizen of Wallington, none of the credit went to her homnd. Instead, Pouton University quietly imed them under its name. After graduation, Pouton University¡¯s leaders had tried hard to keep her on as a professor, but she had refused. They had even suggested she consider changing her nationality¨Csomething she absolutely refused to entertain. She was born and raised in Wallington, and no matter where she went, she would never forget where she came from. Most people didn¡¯t even know she was a true¨Cblue Wallingtonian. ¡°Alright,¡± Shermaine agreed. The professor gaped. ¡°Just like that?¡± Shermaine gave a small nod. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± The professor looked thrilled. ¡°I¡¯ll get together everything I¡¯ve worked on so far and send it over. Maybe it¡¯ll spark some ideas for you.¡± 1/2 Chapter 291 Kylle¡¯s public lecture on physics drew crowds. Students were eager to see if the young professor lived up to the hype. Kyle¡¯s basic theories offered nothing new. Shermaine sat in the audience. Her desk was buried in scratch paper, which was covered in equations for the twin prime conjecture. Time flew when she dove into math. She didn¡¯t even notice ss had ended until a ssmate nudged her. Kylie, basking in post¨Clecture admiration, yed the rtable schr by joining students for cafeteria lunch. In the cafeteria, the moment Lorenzo entered, he caused an instant stir. Shermaine took a moment to ce him. He was the substitute math professor from her first Basterel University visit, the one whose problem Wendelyn had panicked over until Shermaine solved it. ¡°Professor asked me to deliver these,¡± Lorenzo said, handing her a folder. Shermaine took it and said, ¡°Thanks.¡± He studied her. ¡°You don¡¯t remember me?¡± Shermaine blinked. ¡°Should I?¡± Lorenzo sighed, ¡°Six years ago, youpeted in the International Mathematical Tournament. You came in first ce, and I was second.¡± Even with her usually sharp memory, Shermaine had no recollection of him. She simply apologized again. Across the cafeteria, Kylie watched Shermaine chat with the handsome man. They looked awfully close. Kylie thought, ¡®Just like my grandmother said, Shermaine is a shameless flirt. Joshua is blind to overlook her for this, never even ncing my way.¡® Kylie wasn¡¯t the faithful type, but she at least waited until after a breakup to eye new men. Shermaine had blocked Kylie more than once, and now, watching them interact, a cold edge returned to Kylie¡¯s bright blue eyes. Later that evening, Shermaine stayed in the library until nearly closing time. Her stack of scratch paper was almost gone, so she packed up her things and headed back to her dorm. On her way, she talked on the phone with Joshua. A breeze blew through the trees, rustling their leaves softly. For part of the path, the streetlights were broken, leaving the area dark and shadowy. asionally, a stray cat cried out in the night. Just as she reached the dorm building, someone suddenly called her name. Shermaine stopped and turned around. At that exact moment, someone on the rooftop calcted the timing perfectly and pushed a potted nt off the edge. 2/2 AD Comment Nurse walking 292 Chapter 292 Iver a small egg dropped from that height could crack a skull. If it hit someone on the head, it could result in brain damage at best or death at worst. When Shermaine turned, the girl who had called out stammered incoherently. Shermaine frowned and turned back toward the dorm entrance. ¡°W¨Cwait¡± The girl¡¯s voice sharpened with urgency. Shermaine had already given her a chance to speak. If she couldn¡¯t spit it out now, she never would. Sighing, she resumed walking. Just then, a loud shout came from the opposite dorm building. ¡°Watch your head, Shermaine!¡± Her reflexes kicked in. Shermaine instantly looked up and saw the potted nt falling rapidly straight toward her. In one swift motion, she stepped backward just in time. The pot shattered inches from her feet. Shermaine¡¯s gaze snapped to the rooftop. For a split second, she had seen a shadow on the rooftop. By legal definition, that was attempted murder. She nced upward again, but whoever had been there was already gone. She turned back to the girl who had called her name. The girl lookedpletely stunned, her face pale with shock, clearly not part of the plot. Throughout all of this, Shermaine¡¯s phone call with Joshua had never disconnected. He had heard everything. His expression darkened. ¡°Sheary, are you okay?¡± he asked, his voice low and tight. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Shermaine replied calmly. But Joshua wasn¡¯t convinced. ¡°I¡¯ming over right now.¡± She didn¡¯t try to stop him. ¡°Bring me something to eat. I¡¯m hungry.¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Lobster soup.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± As soon as Shermaine hung up, she called the police. She filed an official report. Later, she could make sure the culprit was locked up for good. The voice that had shouted the warning from the opposite dorm belonged to Lorenzo. He hurried downstairs to Shermaine. ¡°You alright?¡± Shermaine had just finished reporting to the police. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Did you see the person on the roof?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Lorenzo said. ¡°But it was too dark and far to make out the face.¡± Plus, the person had been wearing a mask and hat. Shermaine nodded. ¡°Thanks.¡± Without his warning, that nter might¡¯ve crushed her head. ¡°If you ever need help, just ask.¡± Lorenzo shrugged. ¡°Just instinct.¡± He would have done the same for anyone. The police arrived swiftly, followed by a teacher. A deliberately dropped nter constituted attempted murder. It was unthinkable on campus. Officersbed the dorm, but the surveince footage showed no trace of the suspect. The rooftop yielded no clues either. The nt itself belonged to a girl living on the 14th floor. She grew sulents, but after investigation, she was quickly ruled out as the culprit. With no leads, finding that would¨Cbe killer seemed impossible. But one thing was clear. This was a premeditated attack. Whoever it was wouldn¡¯t stop at one attempt. Nurse walking 293 hapter 293 *Ats, Jean, think carehilly. Have you angered anyone recently?¡± the officer pressed. Shermaine ran through possibilities. Jameson¡¯s mistress was certainly suspicious, but she had already ruled her out. Back overseas, Shermaine had always kept a low profile and hadn¡¯t made any real enemies. But soon, she remembered something. Back in June, she had saved Richard in Rodunst. At that time, he had been targeted by an assassin. She thought, Could it be because I saved Richard and ruined the assassin¡¯s mission? And now has targeted me instead? ¡®That¡¯s definitely possible. Plus, there were so many reporters at the scene. It wouldn¡¯t have been hard for the assassin to trace my identity! Shermaine answered calmly, ¡°Yes, there is someone.¡± The officer continued, ¡°Who was it?¡± Shermaine told them exactly what happened. If this was the assassin, his caution made sense¨Cdodging cameras, leaving zero traces. ¡°We¡¯ll assign protective detail,¡± the officer offered. Shermaine declined. ¡°No, thanks.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not afraid?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°For your safety, we have to protect you.¡± Shermaine turned down the offer again, and the officer didn¡¯t push further. He knew her family background was impressive. Even without police protection, her family would arrange for bodyguards after such an incident. By the time Joshua arrived, the police had left, but Lorenzo, the eyewitness, was still there. Joshua¡¯s presence was overwhelming, a caliber Lorenzo knew he could never match. The man was Shermaine¡¯s fianc¨¦, and they fit together seamlessly, like two halves of a perfect whole. Lorenzo had no ulterior motives. ¡°Shermaine, I¡¯ll head out.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°My offer stands anytime.¡± With a faint smile, Lorenzo left. He didn¡¯t live on campus. He had only dropped by to check on his freshman cousin per family request. If he ever needed Shermaine¡¯s help, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate. Shermaine had nned to stay in the dorm tonight, but with Joshua here, she opted for their nearby home instead. Back at their ce, Shermaine sipped on lobster soup, rich and full of vor. Joshua grilled her about the attack. At the word ¡°assassin,¡± his frown deepened. ¡°I¡¯m assigning you a bodyguard.¡± ¡°Waste of resources,¡± Shermaine chuckled. Joshua frowned, ¡°Sheary, I can¡¯t rest easy.¡± Shermaine raised a brow. ¡°You¡¯ve seen what I can do.¡± When they were in Xenhall, she had even taken down a serpent. *^* | know. Then stop went yine True Shrimalne had outmaneuvered threats before, like Wendelyn and Kingston. But Joshua couldn¡¯t help it. She meant everything to him. Not being Able to watch over her constantly made him uneasy, especially now that this new threat was clearly a trained killer. This time was different. A professional killer was much more dangerous than those people Shermaine had faced before. Joshua¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°I can¡¯t just sit back when someone is targeting you.¡± Shermaine understood his concern. ¡°Then help the police speed things up. Basterel is your territory, after all. What could possibly happen to me under your watch?¡± She smirked, reaching up to gently scratch his jawline. ¡°What would people say if they knew you were so cautious?¡± ¡°Let them talk,¡± Joshua said. ¡°Your safety is all that matters.¡± Nurse walking 294 Chapter 294 Shermaine¡¯s heart softened at his concern. ¡°Fine, have it your way. But even without protection, I promise no one will ever hurt me.¡± Her confidence was absolute Joshua gripped her hand. ¡°Sheary, even a single hair out of ce would gut me.¡± Shermaine¡¯s heart beat faster, warmth flooding her chest. She thought, ¡®This man really knows how to get to me.¡® Lowering her head to hide a smile, she changed the subject. ¡°Don¡¯t tell Mom or Ross.¡± No need to worry them over something so trivial. Otherwise, they would probably lose sleep over it. Kylie rarely failed missions. This was her second strike. Fuming, she had barely left campus when someone from theb called her, saying the experiment results had gone wrong and needed her immediate attention. E ? She had no interest in dealing with thatb at all, but the assignment came from the organization. She couldn¡¯t say no. ¡°Fine. I¡¯m on my way now.¡± At 10 p.m., Joshua stepped out of the shower and froze when he saw the bed and the floorpletely covered in sheets of scratch paper. Shermaine had fallen asleep on the bed, still fully dressed, her head resting on her arms. The room was chilly with September¡¯s night chill. He tucked her under the nkets, gathered the papers neatly onto the nightstand, and then sat watching her. Five days slipped by. The twin prime conjecture proved as stubborn as expected. Despite Shermaine¡¯s efforts, the solution eluded her, though she wasn¡¯t losing sleep over it. Since the falling object incident, the assassin had vanished. Clearly, the assassin was surprisingly patient. During ss, Shermaine received a message from Danielle. It was a photo of Jason unloading relief supplies. Frustrated, Danielle sent another message: [Sheary, how do I make him give up?] Jason might have been persistent, even better at chasing girls than Ross, but he just wasn¡¯t Danielle¡¯s type. Shermaine replied: [Just ignore him.]. Danielle: [I am ignoring him!] [I¡¯m technically keeping things under control, but that doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s totally safe. What if something happens to Jason? That would be troublesome.] From the way Jason had tried to impress Danielle¡¯s father, it was clear he had his own agenda. At the golf course, Danielle keenly discerned Jameson¡¯s intentions. Shermaine: [Get him to talk and record it.] Danielle: [Good idea.] In Lightspring City, right after sending the message, Danielle saw Jason approaching with a bottle of water. He looked handsome and definitely drew attention wherever he went. The nearby female doctors and nurses even gave Danielle teasing looks. 1/3 Chapter 291. ¡°D. Sheth, here¡¯s some water, velle ehdn¡¯t take it. ¡°Not thirsty. This isn¡¯t a field trip. You should leave.¡± She was genuinely annoyed by Jason, who had skipped school just to show she was. You re here. Why wouldn¡¯t i be?¡± Jason said, still smiling as he held the bottle tightly. I¡¯m scared, but I¡¯m a doctor. It¡¯s my duty to help. The supplies have been delivered. There¡¯s no reason for you to stay. If anything happens, no one will take responsibility for you.¡± ¡°Dr. Shelly, are you afraid you¡¯d have to take responsibility for me?¡± Danielle rolled her eyes. Jason continued, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry. Even if something does happen, I won¡¯t hold you responsible. I¡¯m an adult. I can take care of myself.¡± His words earned him approving looks from others around them. After all, he was only twenty, yet he sounded surprisingly mature. Such a good¨Clooking guy kept chasing Danielle, but she still wasn¡¯t interested. People around them couldn¡¯t help but shake their heads in disappointment. ¡°Dr. Shelly, Jason is a catch, way better than your scumbag ex,¡± a nurse chimed in. Danielle instinctively retorted, ¡°Ross isn¡¯t a scumbag.¡± The nurse snorted, ¡°He had tabloid scandals.¡± Danielle clenched her jaw. The nurse eyed Jason. ¡°Look at him. He¡¯s young and handsome, yet you don¡¯t even notice.¡± Her tone turned sour. ¡°Well, with your standards, you¡¯re no shortage of amazing suitors. Tsk, no wonder he¡¯s not good enough.¡± Danielle¡¯s gaze frosted over. ¡°d we agree.¡± The nurse recoiled, chastised. But Danielle¡¯s mood had soured. No one got to judge Ross, especially not in front of her. After all, she still had feelings for him. Ross received the photo from Shermaine¨Cthe one showing Jason unloading supplies. There was no way Ross could sit still anymore. He missed Danielle. Buttely, she hadn¡¯t been replying to his messages. He thought she must¡¯ve been busy. Only when he saw the photo did he realize the truth. Danielle wasn¡¯t too busy to check her phone. She just didn¡¯t want to reply to him. Jason¡¯s presence set off rms. Ross thought, ¡®That scheming brat is up to something. In addition, Jameson¡¯s sudden camaraderie with Tim at the golf club only deepened this suspicion. The assistant droned on with a report until Ross cut in, ¡°Get the VP here.¡± The assistant nodded and hurried off to fetch the VP. Once the VP arrived, Ross handed over all his responsibilities. After wrapping things up, he turned to his assistant. ¡°Prepare some relief supplies. We¡¯re heading to Lightspring City tomorrow morning.¡± The assistant asked, ¡°You¡¯re going yourself?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Ross nodded. 2/3 Chapter 294 The assistant hid a grin and quickly got to work. He thought, ¡®Mr. Jean is finally making his move on Dr. Shelly.¡® 2% The next afternoon, after working nonstop without even a sip of water, Danielle finally got a chance to catch her breath and return to the camp for a short rest when another doctor finally took over her shift. As she walked into the camp, three trucks full of aid supplies were arriving. She caught a distant nce and then spotted a familiar figure stepping out of one of the vehicles. She thought she was seeing things. But soon, she recognized that it was Ross. In an instant, her heart started racing uncontrobly. Nurse walking 295 Chapter 295 Danielle hadn¡¯t expected Ross to She steadied her breathing, refusing to let her emotions show. She thought, ¡®After all those rejections, did he really think I¡¯d melt just because he showed up now?¡® With fights grounded due to the earthquake, Ross had considered a helicopter, but it was too shy, too likely to spark gossip for Danielle. His assistant had pushed for it. After all, it was faster and morefortable. If they took a car instead, it would probably take over ten hours. And for a m¨¢n used to luxury, that kind of travel wasn¡¯t exactly ideal. Ross had set off from Basterel at 5 a.m. At first, the road had been smooth, but as they neared Lightspring City, part of the road turned out to be extremely bumpy. In the end, the trip took more than ten hours. When Ross stepped out of the car, he felt terrible¨Cdizzy, weak, with a dull pain in his stomach from not having eaten all day. The assistant, aside from a stiff butt, seemed fine. ¡°Mr. Jean, maybe you should call Dr. Shelly and let her check on you.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Ross nodded. He hade here specifically to see Danielle. If he needed medical help, he wanted her to be the one to treat him. But he was worried that she was too busy to spare him any attention. Ross dialed her number, and a few secondster, the ringtone came from somewhere nearby. He immediately recognized the sound¨Che had heard it countless times before. He turned around and saw Danielle standing near a blue tent, wearing her white coat, looking almost sacred. Ross ended the call and strode toward her. Danielle studied him. Usually dressed in a sharp suit, this time his shirt was wrinkled from over ten hours in the car. He looked pale, clearly exhausted, and his lips were almost colorless. A man so used tofort had chosen to endure a long, bumpy drive instead of taking a helicopter. ¡°Ross, what brings you here?¡± Danielle asked, even though she already knew the answer. Ross said, ¡°For you.¡± Hearing exactly what she expected, Danielle tried to suppress a smile. ¡°You¡¯re being reckless.¡± His gaze stayed measured, careful not to scorch. ¡°Can I have a ss of water?¡± ¡°Come in,¡± Danielle said, turning around. Ross followed her into the tent. It was packed with medical supplies, leaving little room to sit. The small table where she ate wasn¡¯t much bigger than a cutting board. Besides, there was a cot. Danielle had brought it for quick naps between shifts. She had nned to rest there after dinner. Finding no disposable cups, Danielle handed him her own mug. ¡°No cups. You¡¯ll have to use mine.¡± Ross took it. ¡°Yours?¡± She gave him a t look. ¡°Got a problem?¡± Ross took it, smiling, ¡°I¡¯ve tasted far more of you than this, like your saliva.¡± The usuallyposed beauty flushed instantly, making her look incredibly tempting. Danielle thought, ¡®Since when did he start talking like this?¡® She watched his lips press where hers had been, his Adam¡¯s apple moving as he drank. The once distant, unapproachable man now had no airs about him at all. 1/1 Nurse walking 296 Chapter 296 After drinking the water, Ross felt his aching stomach ease slightly. Danielle lowered her gaze. ¡°You drank the water. Time to go.¡± She hadn¡¯t even eaten yet and needed to restter before heading out again for rescue work. She didn¡¯t have time to entertain him. Ross handed back the mug. ¡°Dr. Shelly, I¡¯m still unwell. Could you examine me?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°My head hurts, and my stomach too.¡± Ross had motion sickness from the long ride, and he hadn¡¯t eaten much during the trip. Danielle sighed, ¡°What were you thinkinging all the way here from Basterel? Just sit tight. I¡¯ll get you some medicine.¡± With that, she walked off to find him something to take. Ross swallowed the pills obediently. ¡°Have your assistant fetch you food,¡± Danielle added. ¡°Mm.¡± Ross nodded. ¡°That cot is mine, but you can rest there.¡± Danielle turned to her simple lunch¨Csoup, vegetables, and toast. She wasn¡¯t in the mood for the toast, but the soup tasted just fine. If she got hungryter, she could snack on biscuits. She had told him he could stay, and Ross remained seated on the edge of the cot, his eyes drifting toward her every so often. As Danielle sipped her soup, she picked up her phone and messaged Shermaine: [Ross is Shermaine: [Good. He arrived safely.] [You wanted to shake Jason off, right? Use Ross to scare off him.] [Order him around. He won¡¯t mind.] here.] Danielle couldn¡¯t help smiling at thest message. [Last time we ¡®acted close,¡® Ross pretended not to care. Probably hated it.] Shermaine: [If he did, he wouldn¡¯t have chased you there.] Shaking her head, Danielle nced up. Ross was asleep. There were dark circles under his eyes. He was still the same man she had fallen for. The more she looked at him, the more she liked him. Her opinion of him improved slightly. The tent¡¯s peace was shattered by Jason¡¯s arrival. He strode in with a food box in hand, only to freeze at the sight of Ross asleep on the cot. Danielle was gently draping her coat over him. In an instant, Jason¡¯s face darkened. Danielle saw him and asked, ¡°Need something?¡± Jason forced a smile. ¡°I brought you cake.¡± ¡°I¡¯m almost done,¡± Danielle replied, not really interested in what he had brought. ¡°You¡¯ve lived on bread and veggies for days,¡± Jason insisted. ¡°You¡¯re losing weight.¡± Danielle didn¡¯t see it that way. She shrugged without saying anything. Chapter 296 Jason had already ced the box on the small table, ¡°Dr. Shelly, I made this cake. Everyone loved it. Try a piece?¡± His tone was sincere. If Danielle refused again, she would seem impolite. She hesitated for a moment. Already, Jason had picked up a piece and handed it to her. ¡°Just one bite. Try it, please.¡± Danielle didn¡¯t refuse this time. Just as she was about to take a bite, Ross, still lying on the cot, suddenly leaned in close and ate the piece of cake. He chewed slowly, then swallowed. ¡°Not bad.¡± Nurse walking 297 Chapter 297 Jason clenched his fists, clearly annoyed by Ross¡® behavior, but he forced himself to stay calm. He didn¡¯t want to look petty in front of Danielle. Danielle frowned, ¡°Why did you take mine?¡± Ross shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± Danielle reached for another piece. This time, Ross grabbed her wrist and took it straight into his mouth. As her fingertips brushed against his warm lips, her face flushed once more. Ross smiled, ¡°I didn¡¯t eat much on the way here. You don¡¯t mind sharing your cake with me, do you, Jason?¡± Jason forced a smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be here. I would¡¯ve made more if I knew. Oh, does Jessica know you¡¯re visiting Dr. Shelly?¡± Jessica Adams was the actress who had been linked to Ross in that scandal months ago. At the time, many people in showbiz assumed she had a wealthy boyfriend. ¡°In fact, she had tried to seduce Ross, but she had failed. She could only use the photos to create some buzz for herself. Ross had allowed the rumors to spread, partly to keep up appearances and send a message to Janice. Thinking about that still upset Danielle. Back then, she had believed Ross liked sweet, delicate girls like Jessica, and it had hurt her deeply. Even now, it remained a sensitive wound. Danielle thought, ¡®Maybe Ross regrets what happened, but that doesn¡¯t mean he really likes me.¡® Ross frowned slightly. ¡°Who?¡± Jason was speechless. He couldn¡¯t believe Ross was pretending not to know the name of the woman he had supposedly had a scandal with. Jason gave a faint smile. ¡°You sure you don¡¯t remember who she is?¡± Ross replied coolly, ¡°Irrelevant people don¡¯t get space in my head.¡± Before Jason could retort, Ross¡® assistant arrived with steaming takeout. ¡°Mr. Jean, your meal.¡± ¡°Set it down.¡± Ross nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± The assistant ced the tray down. Yet Ross ignored the food, deliberately polishing off Jason¡¯s cake instead. Danielle found his behavior both childish and amusing. Truth be told, she had never wanted Jason¡¯s cake. Ross had done her a favor. Still, doubt nagged. She thought, ¡®Does he really not remember that woman¡¯s name?¡® ¡°Get up and eat,¡± she said, pushing the thought aside. ¡°I need rest.¡± ¡°I¡¯m full,¡± Ross replied, turning slightly on the bed and pulling Danielle into his arms. A faint scent of aftershave drifted toward her. She squirmed, but his arm locked around her waist. Ross whispered in her ear, ¡°Annoyed by Jason? I¡¯m helping you with that.¡± Biting her lip, Danielle relented. She thought, ¡®Fine. He¡¯s just here as a tool to keep Jason away.¡® Feeling Danielle rx in his arms, Ross nced at Jason. ¡°We¡¯re sleeping. Leave.¡± Jason¡¯s knuckles whitened, and his face darkened with frustration. But there was nothing he could do. He turned and stormed out. The moment Jason was gone, Danielle started squirming again. ¡°Let me go now.¡± Ross sat up, removed her muddy shoes, and then tugged her back down, draping his coat over them both. ¡°This cot is wide enough.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sharing with you,¡± she huffed. Ross looked at her. ¡°Supplies are limited. You¡¯ll have to make do.¡± She held in a sigh and tried not to let her irritation show. Nurse walking 298 Chapter 298 ¡°Enough.¡± Danielle hissed. She thought, ¡®Since when did Ross be this cheeky? It shed entirely with his usual icy demeanor. He won¡¯t leave? Well, I¡¯ll go.¡® She tried to get up, but under the nket, Ross wrapped his legs around hers and rested his chin on her neck. ¡°Danielle, just sleep, okay?¡± He had a stomachache, and he should¡¯ve eaten something warm, but instead, he had gone and devoured all that cold cake. It made the pain worse now. He murmured, ¡°My stomach really hurts. Have some mercy.¡± The unexpected vulnerability disarmed Daniellepletely. Outside, Jason called Natalie. ¡°Mom, move the n up. Ross is here, clinging to Danielle.¡± Upon hearing that Ross had actually left Basterel to chase after Danielle in Lightspring City, Natalie was angry. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll make the arrangements right away.¡± She thought, ¡®It¡¯s better that Ross left Basterel. It makes it easier for me to deal with him. Jameson couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it. I¡¯ll handle Ross myself.¡± At Basterel University, the math professor poured Shermaine coffee. ¡°Ms. Jean, any progress on the twin prime conjecture?¡± October was just around the corner, and the professor was getting seriously worried. Around the third of the month, he would be flying to Loang for an academic conference. Many top mathematicians would be attending. Shermaine replied, ¡°Not yet.¡± The professor sighed, ¡°Even you¡¯ve taken this long. It really must be difficult.¡± Shermaine smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll get there.¡± It was tough, but no matter how hard a problem was, she always found a way to solve it. ¡°I have to leave for Loang on the first of the month,¡± the professor said. ¡°I¡¯m afraid we¡¯re running out of time.¡± If it hadn¡¯t been for thatment from a professor at Pouton University, saying Wallington¡¯s math scene was getting worse every year, he wouldn¡¯t have felt so insulted. That was why he wanted to solve the twin prime conjecture. But he couldn¡¯t crack it himself. He had reached out to several mathematicians in Wallington¡¯s mathmunity, and they all agreed it was challenging. Plus, they were busy with their research and didn¡¯t have the mental space to spare. After watching Shermaine¡¯s live stream at the International Tech Conference, the professor decided to ask for her help. If she managed to solve it, it would shake the entire global mathmunity. Shermaine asked, ¡°Should I go with you?¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯d never steal your credit.¡± The professor had already booked the flight and hotel. Even if she didn¡¯t finish solving it in time, he would bring her along to gain some experience. She was only twenty, yet had already made such an impact in the tech world. Her future was incredibly bright. The professor had a strange, unshakable confidence in her. ¡°Alright,¡± Shermaine nodded. ¡°I heard someone¡¯s trying to harm you. Is that true?¡± the professor asked. 1/2 22.38 Jun Shermaine nodded. ¡°True, but it¡¯s manageable.¡± Kylie had just returned from teaching a public lecture when she overheard their conversation. She thought, ¡®Twin prime conjecture? Shermaine? If it hadn¡¯t been for someone calling her name that night, that potted nt would¡¯ve smashed her head open. Now she dares to go to Loang for a math conference?¡® A cold smirk curled on Kylie¡¯s lips. She wondered, ¡®Shermaine thinks she can solve the Twin prime conjecture? Loang is my territory. If she¡¯s dumb enough to go, I¡¯ll finish the job.¡® Nurse walking 299 Knowing that Shermaine was working on the twin prime conjecture, Kylie left campus with a new goal in mind¨Cto try solving it herself. But soon enough, she realized how difficult the problem was. She couldn¡¯t even begin to make sense of it. That feeling of losing control frustrated her deeply. Sarah came to her door, knocked, then walked right in. ¡°Kylie, Joshua¡¯s birthday ising up. Are you going to get him something?¡± ¡°When is it?¡± Kylie asked. ¡°The 20th,¡± Sarah replied. Kylie checked the calendar. That was the day after tomorrow. ¡°He¡¯ll be at York residence that night,¡± Sarah added. ¡°Perfect chance to impress.¡± Kylie thought, ¡®I¡¯ve shown him I care plenty of times, but he keeps stepping all over it. As long as Shermaine exists, he won¡¯t even look at me. ¡®Still, I have to give him something. My consistent sincerity will eventually win his heart.¡¯ That night, in Shermaine¡¯s apartment near campus, scratch paper avnched across the desk. Shermaine sat cross¨Clegged on the floor with a pen,pletely unaware of when Joshua had arrived or when he had sat down beside her. Once she got into her zone, nothing could pull her out. Joshua didn¡¯t say a word. He wanted to see how long it would take for her, who had been so absorbed in this math problem that she barely noticed himtely, to notice him. After finishing thest page of notes, Shermaine put her pen down. She could feel she was just one step away from cracking the twin prime conjecture. She stretched her arms and turned to move to the couch, only to find Joshua sitting there. His eyes fixed on her. Joshua hooked his arms around her waist, lifting her effortlessly. ¡°How long have you been here?¡± Shermaine asked, settling onto hisp. ¡°An hour.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say something?¡± ¡°I wanted to see how long my baby would ignore me.¡± And sure enough, she hadn¡¯t noticed him until her work was done. Shermaine leaned in and kissed his cheek. ¡°I¡¯m paying attention now.¡± Joshua chuckled. Truthfully, watching her deep in mathematical thought was mesmerizing, and time flew. ¡°Any progress?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll figure it out before leaving for Loang,¡± Shermaine said confidently. Prise swelled in his chest. Joshua couldn¡¯t crack this kind of problem. Yet this genius was his. Shermaine shifted, her legs numb from sitting/cross¨Clegged. Noticing her wince, Joshua massaged her calves. ¡°Have you had dinner yet?¡± With a yful smile, she said, ¡°Yeah. But I¡¯m craving your midnight snacks.¡± 1/2 22:38 Tue, 24 Jun Joshua¡¯s hands slowed, turning mischievous. ¡°Mm. But I¡¯ll need payment upfront.¡± Shermaine traced his Adam¡¯s apple, then nipped his chin. The kiss that followed left them tangled on the sofa, moonlight painting their silhouettes through the window. Joshua¡¯s palm slid under her shirt, skimming the dip of her waist while his other hand guided hers lower. ¡°Touch me.¡± Shermaine¡¯s fingers trembled. ¡°Why do you love this so much?¡± Joshua looked straight into her eyes. ¡°Feels good.¡± ¡°That good?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± His voice was rough now. Nurse walking 300 Chapter 300 Shermaine usually avoided touching Joshua there. Her hands got tired. But with his birthday approaching, she indulged him. Once started, though, stopping was impossible. She didn¡¯t get her midnight snack until Idawn, copsing into sleep immediately after. Joshua¡¯s birthday dinner would be held at York residence. He hadn¡¯t nned anything big, just a casual dinner with family and close friends. Before everyone presented their gifts, Roy created a group chat to avoid duplicates. Around ten people were in the group, including Shermaine and Ross. Ross, however, was still in Lightspring City chasing after Danielle and wouldn¡¯t make it back in time. Still, he had already prepared a gift, and his assistant would deliver it on Joshua¡¯s birthday. Roy asked in the group chat: [What did you all get for Joshua?] Replies came in quickly. Most of them were extremely expensive items. Roy: [No originality.] Henry: [What are you giving then?] Roy: [Secret.] Then Roy turned to Shermaine: [Shermaine, ready with your gift?] Shermaine: [Still deciding.] Roy: [Need ideas?] Shermaine: [No. I¡¯ll manage.] Roy: [Alright.] He wanted to help Joshua get even more great gifts and make this 31st birthday extra special and memorable. The day of the birthday arrived. Around five in the afternoon, Shermaine walked out of the chemistryb on campus. She ced a document she had just finished into her bag and headed toward York residence. Just then, she received a message from Roy. [Shermaine, when are you heading to York residence? I¡¯m near Basterel University. Can you give me a ride?] His car was in for maintenance, and he didn¡¯t feel like driving any of his other cars. These days, he always had a driver take him around. Shermaine replied: [Now.] Roy sent her an address. Shermaine: [Wait.] About seven or eight minutester, Shermaine pulled up to the address Roy had given her, right in front of an inte caf¨¦. She rolled down the window. Roy had been waiting outside and. As soon as he saw her, he grinned and opened the passenger door to hop in. Shermaine asked casually, ¡°What were you doing here?¡± ¡°Looking for someone,¡± Roy said. ¡°He oftenes here to y online games. Thought I¡¯de to talk to him.¡± ¡°And how did that go?¡± ¡°Pretty well.¡± Little did they know, Kylie, watching this scene in the ck Porsche behind them, snapped a photo and sent it to Sarah. Sarah was already at York residence. After seeing the picture, she thought, ¡®There you go. Shermaine really is a flirt. It¡¯s Joshua¡¯s birthday today, and she¡¯s meeting other guys behind his back.¡® After Kylie saw the car drive off, she continued tailing them. Shermaine had nned to head straight to York residence, but halfway there, Lily suddenly called, her voice trembling with panic. ¡°Sheary, help me Her first instinct in times of crisis wasn¡¯t to call the police but to reach out to Shermaine. In her eyes, Shermaine was the only one who could fix things. After all, Shermaine had saved her before, and Lily trusted herpletely. ¡°Where are you?¡± Shermaine asked calmly. ¡°I¡¯m at Creston Hotel on Transkurt Road,¡± Lily said. ¡°Warren wanted the skincare form you developed, and when I refused, we broke up. ¡°I didn¡¯t think he¡¯d be this sneaky. He set me up and tricked me intoing here. He even drugged me.¡± She was hiding in the bathroom, locked inside with the door secured. AD Nurse walking 301 Warren hadn¡¯t expected Lily¡¯s defiance. He had assumed her devotion would override everything, but she had dumped him the moment he demanded Shermaine¡¯s skincare form. Warren was unwilling to give up, and he didn¡¯t want to lose Lily. He had been plotting for months just to get his hands on that form. Once he had it, his , and she felt helpless and close to tears. Shermaine heard the noise from the other end of the line and calmly reassured Lily, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. I¡¯ming right now. Just hold on.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Lily whispered. As soon as the call ended, Shermaine mmed her foot on the elerator. Kylie, still tailing from behind, saw how fast Shermaine was driving and sped up, too. But to avoid being noticed, she remained cautious and kept a safe distance. About fifteen minutester, the car screeched to a stop in front of the hotel. Roy followed Shermaine inside. Seeing this, Kylie smirked. She thought, ¡®So that¡¯s where she was rushing to, checking into a hotel with another guy.¡¯ She didn¡¯t follow them in. After all, what else would a man and a woman be doing at a hotel? Kylie wondered, ¡®Shermaine sneaking off with another man on Joshua¡¯s birthday? If Joshua finds out, will he still love her? No man could ever tolerate his woman cheating on him.¡® Snapping photos, she sent them to Sarah before driving off. Henry and the others had already arrived at York residence, lounging in the hall. Dinner time was approaching, yet Shermaine and Roy were nowhere to be seen. Joshua called Shermaine, but she didn¡¯t pick up. Worry gnawed at him. Owen, unaware of the recent incident at the university, tried to lighten Joshua¡¯s mood. ¡°Rx. She¡¯s probably setting up a surprise for you. Dying dinner¡¯s no big deal.¡± Sarah chimed in, ¡°A surprise? More like she¡¯s off fooling around with some other man.¡± 64.00 24 F The hall fell silent. Someone thought, ¡®Did she really front of e everyone was beyond disrespectful.¡® just say knew that? Everyone Shermaine¡¯s ce in Joshua¡¯s heart, and outright standering her in Joshua¡¯s f face darkened, his gaze icy. Owen frowned with fury. He snapped, ¡°One more word like that, and I¡¯ll kick you out.¡± Nurse walking 302 Chapter 302 Sarah felt confident now that she had ¡°evidence.¡± She said, ¡°Owen, you¡¯ve been fooled by Shermaine. She¡¯s not the saint you think she is. I saw her buying jewelry at Kingswood za with some guy. They were all over each other, definitely more than friends. ¡°And today? She didn¡¯t go to prepa a She checked into a hotel with him.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not making this up,¡± she insisted. ¡°My probably still there right now.¡± ughter Kylie saw them and told me. Check the hotel security footage if you don¡¯t believe me. They¡¯re Getting cozy with another man and going to a It sounded bad, but it was just her side of the story. Everyone there trusted Shermaine¡¯s character. How could she be seeing someone else after getting engaged to Joshua? That wasn¡¯t like her at all. Joshua¡¯s expression turned colder by the second. Sarah kept pushing. ¡°Owen, a girl like Shermaine isn¡¯t good enough for Joshua. You need to think twice about this.¡± Owen lost it. ¡°So what if she went to a hotel? Does that automatically mean she was doing something shady? The older you get, the more twisted your mind gets. ¡°I know Shermaine¡¯s character better than anyone. If you say one more bad thing about her, don¡¯t evere to this house again. You¡¯re not family to me anymore.¡± Shocked by how fiercely Owen was defending Shermaine, Sarah wondered, ¡®What spell did she put on him?¡® She turned to Joshua. ¡°Joshua, I¡¯m not trashing your fianc¨¦e. This is the truth. Shermaine is two¨Ctiming you. She doesn¡¯t deserve you. Call off the engagement tonight.¡± Just then, Kylie, Janice, and Ruth were shown into the parlor by a maid. Janice and Ruth frowned at Sarah¡¯s usations, while Kylie watched eagerly for Joshua¡¯s reaction. She thought, ¡®Grandma has done her job. Surely he¡¯ll break things off once he knows Shermaine¡¯s true nature.¡® Joshua ran his thumb over the tinum ring on his ring finger, his eyes as fathomless as a deep pool. ¡°In our family, when wemit to someone, it¡¯s for life.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re an exception, Aunt Sarah,¡± he said coolly. ¡°Abandoning your husband to remarry abroad. With your track record, do you really think it¡¯s appropriate to badmouth Shermaine?¡± Sarah¡¯s face paled. That was the skeleton in her closet, and having Joshua throw it in her face was humiliating. Joshua asked coolly, ¡°You say Shermaine isn¡¯t good enough for me. So who, in your opinion, is?¡± Taking his question as a sign of openness, Sarah pressed on. ¡°My granddaughter, of course. Kylie is talented and has integrity. ¡°Joshua, Kylie has feelings for you. After calling off the engagement, give her a chance. I guarantee she¡¯s a thousand times better than Shermaine.¡± Her words wereughable. Since when did her promises hold any weight? The truth was, Owen had never liked Kylie. She was maniptive, two¨Cfaced, and arrogant enough to think she was unmatched. In his eyes, she couldn¡¯t hold a candle to Shermaine. Kylie was confident Joshua would heed her grandmother¡¯s advice. She¡¯d dressed exactly to his taste that day, certain he¡¯d be captivated. Then Joshua spoke, his voice low but lethal. ¡°Is that so? Because in my eyes, your granddaughter doesn¡¯t evene close to Shermaine in any way Kylie¡¯s expression crumpled like paper. ¡°A woman who goes out of her way to fish for attention from a man with a fianc¨¦e, and you¡¯re talking to me about her integrity? Aunt Sarah, did you ever teach her what decency means?¡± Joshua rarely snapped, but when he did, his words cut to the bone. He continued, ¡°You broke ties with our family when you remarried abroad. Grandpa only let you back in out of respect for blood. Don¡¯t confuse hospitality with status. ¡°Also, Aunt Sarah, my wife is none of your concern. We can¡¯t afford your ¡®prestige¡® tonight. Please leave with your granddaughter. Now.¡± ¡®Wife? Didn¡¯t he say fianc¨¦e?¡® Sarah wondered. Her face went pale. ¡°W¨Cwife?¡± Owen exploded. ¡°Exactly. Shermaine is already Joshua¡¯s wife. They registered months ago. I never thought you¡¯d sink so low as to plot against Joshua Kylie isn¡¯t fit to be my granddaughter¨Cinw, and your delusions stop here. Both of you, get out.¡± Kylie was stunned that they didn¡¯t mind Shermaine seeing another man. ¡®Aren¡¯t Wallington people supposed to be traditional?¡± she wondered. She stepped forward. ¡°Joshua, you must care about her actions. You¡¯re just pretending to be gracious for appearances.¡± Just then, Shermaine arrived at York residence with Roy and Lily, fresh from rescuing Lily from the hotel. As they entered, Shermaine heard Kylie¡¯s usation and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Care about what, exactly?¡± AD Nurse walking 303 hapter 303 Chapter 303 Shermaine walked in. She had on a ck spaghetti¨Cstrap mini dress,yered with a lightweight zer to fend off the night¡¯s chill. ck ¡± Joshua grunted. ¡°She¡¯s unhinged. Don¡¯t pay her any mind.¡± ¡°What exactly did she say?¡± Shermaine asked. Joshua¡¯s expression hardened, refusing to repeat the nder. The fact was, Kylie wasn¡¯t fit to tie Shermaine¡¯s shoces. Sarah burst out. ¡°You know damn well what you did. Quit ying innocent.¡± Shermaine stayedposed, her voice even. ¡°Please, enlighten me, what exactly did I do to wrong Joshua?¡± Sarah asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you buy jewelry with some guy at a boutique?¡± Jewelry? Shermaine had only been to a jewelry store once to buy the tinum ring on her finger. She¡¯d run into Roy there and asked for his input. ¡°Yes,¡± she replied simply. Beside her, Roy suddenly realized Sarah must be talking about him. Sarah said, ¡°Exactly. As Joshua¡¯s fianc¨¦e, you went jewelry shopping with another man in public. What else would that be but being disloyal?¡± Shermaine gave a faint smile. ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°Did you also go to a hotel with a man today?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Roy realized he was being dragged into this again. Sarah went quiet, stunned that Shermaine had t¨Cout admitted both ¡°offenses¡°. Sarah thought, ¡®Clearly, she¡¯s cunning. She must know her actions couldn¡¯t be hidden and is counting on Joshua never leaving her.¡® ¡®No, I have to make them break up. Even if it means Owen and Joshua hating me, I won¡¯t let them stay together.¡® ¡°You actually admit it? And you have the gall to show no shame,¡± Sarah spat. ¡°I¡¯m warning you, end things with Joshua now. Stop clinging to him, or you¡¯ll be sorry.¡± She threw in a threat. 1/2 S 23:32 tue 24 Jun 20 Chapter 303 Ruth was the first to lose her temper. ¡°Are you out of your mind? using my daughter of indecency over this? Want me to sue you for nder?¡± Barsh sneered at Ruth. ¡°Like mother, like daughter. The great Mrs. Jean, out partying with toy boys. I bet Shermaine learned her loose ways from you? ¡°Who are you to lecture my family? As if you didn¡¯t cheat on your husband. That¡¯s a fact, unlike those baseless online rumors.¡± Janice shot back angrily. ¡°Keep running your mouth and I¡¯ll tear it right off your face.¡± Owen stepped in. ¡°Janice, don¡¯t bother. I¡¯ll throw them out myself. We don¡¯t need traitors like them in this family.¡± 2/2 Nurse walking 304 Chapter 304 ¡°Owen, you¡¯repletely senile,¡± Sarah groaned, shaking her head in dismay. Kyle bitted her chin up. ¡°Joshua, did you hear that? The woman you like admitted being with another man. If you still stay with her, it just proves your Judgment is awful Sharmaine actuallyughed out loud. ¡°Ray,e here,¡± she said calmly. Roy stepped forward. Shermaine said. ¡°Tell them what I bought when we were at the jewelry store.¡± ¡°She took my advice and picked a tinum ring she knew Joshua would love,¡± Roy said, rubbing his nose sheepishly. ¡°Look, isn¡¯t he wearing it now?¡± Joshua, i helped her choose that ring. You like it, right?¡± Roy added. This ring was simple yet elegant. Joshua nodded. Of course, he did. Roy, his lifelong buddy, knew his taste. Sarah couldn¡¯t fathom that Shermaine had been buying their wedding ring. And the ¡°other man¡± was Joshua¡¯s own friend? Sarah said, ¡°How do I know you¡¯re telling the truth?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t believe me? Let¡¯s check the security footage. Give me five minutes, I¡¯ll pull it up,¡± Shermaine said. Sarah went silent. Shermaine turned to Roy. ¡°And why did we go to the hotel today?¡± ¡°Lily¡¯s jerk ex drugged her to assault her,¡± Roy exined. ¡°Shermaine rushed to rescue her. I was handling something near Basterel University, so I tagged along for the ride.¡± He added before Sarah could interject, ¡°Hotel staff can back us up, and there¡¯s security footage. I can provide both.¡± ¡°You ndered Shermaine¡¯s reputation out of thin air,¡± Roy snapped. ¡°You even dragged me, an innocent bachelor, into this. You two need to apologize now.¡± Shermaine turned to Kylie and Sarah. ¡°You heard it,dies.¡± How could they not feel embarrassed? All their preconceived ¡°truths¡± had beenpletely demolished. Shermaine hadn¡¯t been with any men. Those were just their wild fantasies. Kylie took the blow the hardest, Sarah, desperate to save face, insisted, ¡°Then produce the evidence.¡± ¡°I¡¯m the witness,¡± Lily whispered weakly, propped/up by Roy. The drugs had left her exhausted and needing rest. They ignored the very victim Shermaine had rescued. Roy didn¡¯t waste time. He had Joshua bring aptop, and five minutester, the evidence was projected. Now the users were speechless. 20 23:32 Tue 24 Jun Chapter 304 ¡°Apologize, Roy demanded firmly. But neither moved. ??????? 11 ?? Sarah, as an elder, refused to apologize to young people even if it was a misunderstanding. She thought they were disrespectful for pressing the issue. Kylie, meanwhile, saw apologizing as beneath her. ¡®Bowing to Shermaine? Out of the question,¡¯ she thought. Joshua had enough. ¡°Logan, show them out.¡± Sarah¡¯s face fell. ¡°Joshua, you¡¯re really throwing me out?¡± ¡°Escort them,¡± he said tly. ¡°Yes, Mr. Joshua York,¡± Logan said. Sarah turned to Owen. ¡°Owen, you can¡¯t mean to throw me out too?¡± ¡°Did you ignore every word I said earlier?¡± Owen said. Sarah was speechless. She¡¯d assumed they¡¯d spare her dignity, but as Joshua had warned, they¡¯d wildly overestimated their ce. 2/2 Nurse walking 305 Shermaine didn¡¯t give a damn about apologies from Sarah or Kylie. She didn¡¯t take them seriously in the slightest. Now that the troublemakers had been shown the door, everyone could finally rx in the peaceful atmosphere. Owen was intrigued by Ruth¡¯s drastic change. ¡°Sheary, your mother¡­¡± Strice they were among family, Shermaine exined, ¡°Owen, the ¡®mom¡® before was a fake. My real mom just came back recently.¡± She paused. ¡°It¡¯s a long story. I¡¯ll fill you inter.¡± Joshua had never told Owen about the cloned Ruth, so he waspletely in the dark. Owen nodded. That made sense. No wonder the previous Ruth seemed so off. Ruth smiled gently, ¡°Long time no see, Mr. Owen York.¡± Owen smiled back. The mood at York residence turned cozy, withughter drifting from the living room. Half an hourter, everyone gathered for dinner. The spread was impressive. Shermaine carefully ced a shrimp on Joshua¡¯s te. ¡°Here, eat up.¡± Joshua blinked, thinking, ¡®Birthdays have their benefits.¡¯ His girl was being extra sweet today. His eyes lit up like starlight as he leaned in. ¡°Thanks, honey.¡± She smiled, ¡°Anytime.¡± After dinner came the cake, an elegant three¨Ctiered one Owen had ordered, topped with candles spelling ¡°31¡°. Joshua rarely celebrated his birthday, but this year was an exception. ¡°Make a wish,¡± Owen urged. ¡°Nah.¡± Joshua thought he was too old for that. ¡°Pride doesn¡¯t put food on the table,¡± Owen said. Skipping the wish altogether, Joshua just started cutting the cake. Shermaine held back at dinner, saving stomach space for extra cake. It was delicious, cherry vored, her favorite, sweet and rich. But Joshua, probably the least sweet¨Cloving guy there, wasn¡¯t interested in the cake. He stayed on the sofa ying cards with the others. Shermaine carried over a small slice. ¡°Want some?¡± Joshua caught the sugary aroma. ¡°Will you feed me, Sheary?¡± She speared a bite and held it up. The others watched, amused. 1/3 Chartiy ??, Joshua letting 2014 got heed ten rate? What & sight They move hummelt pren with erry, sudderity caper in hd kaimonia to date UN Pain Bely Shemale fed him the whole slice withsul a encond thought beshes really dislived weals. The richness toh his thermal trading cloying, en hinsipiped red wine before returning to his game. At 10PM, the guests finally departed York residence. Ray, clear tipsy, whispered to Joshun before leaving. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to open my gif tonight.¡± ¡°Got a Jeshua replied. ¡°Promise you will.¡± ¡°Alright, go already.¡± Roy climbed into Henry¡¯s car with Lily, who was getting a ride home. As for Warren, the creep, he was in the police station. Solid evidence and witnesses meant Lily nned to press charges for attempted rape. No way he was escaping jail time. Joshua had received tons of gifts like wine, cars, and even property. The same stuff every year. He didn¡¯t need any of it, but the presents kepting. Shermaine was staying the night. After seeing Ruth and Janice off, she headed up to Joshua¡¯s room. It was huge, smelling faintly of cedar. He wasn¡¯t in the main room, but his voice came from the walk¨Cin closet. Joshua held the phone, scowling at Roy on the other end. ¡°What the hell did you give me?¡± Roy didn¡¯t mince words. ¡°Sex toys, dude. Don¡¯t knock them. They¡¯re custom¨Cmade and cost a bomb.¡± Joshua rubbed his forehead in exasperation. ¡°You think I¡¯d use this crap?¡± Roy clicked his tongue. ¡°They¡¯re pretty spicy. You should give them¡¯a try.¡± ¡°Stop giving me this garbage.¡± Roy figured Joshua wasn¡¯t into it or maybe Shermaine wouldn¡¯t y along. He scratched his nose. ¡°Fine, but that bunny costume is cute. Get Shermaine to wear it for you.¡± Joshua hung up mid¨Csentence. Roy shrugged, thinking, ¡®Am I wrong? Doesn¡¯t every guy want to see his girl in a bunny costume?¡® He¡¯d bet those toys would collect dust, but the bunny costume, Joshua had to be tempted. Men did know men, after all. After hanging up, Joshua stared at the skimpy bunny costume in the box. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, suddenly feeling antsy. He hadn¡¯t thought about it before, but now, ¡®The problem is, could I convince Shermaine to wear it?¡® he wondered. 2/3 Chapter 305 Just then, a delicate hand lifted the bunny costume. ¡°Roy gave you this for your birthday?¡± Joshua had been too lost in thought to hear here in. When he saw her hold the lingerie, his breath was caught. ¡°Mhm.¡± Shemaine pecked at the other toys in the box, not blushing or flustered, just curious. She even studied their functions. ¡®Does this stuff actually feel good?¡® she wondered. Before she could look for too long, Joshua shut the box. ¡°Sheary, we don¡¯t need these.¡± Shermaine smiled, pointing to the bunny costume. ¡°What about this? Do you want it?¡± Joshua¡¯s gaze heated. ¡°Would you wear it if I said yes?¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t answer immediately. The outfit was sexy¨Ccute, not her usual style, but if Joshua wanted to see it, she¡¯d wear it for his birthday. She wanted him happy. When she paused, Joshua thought she was reluctant. He pulled her waist close, kissing her cheek. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal.¡± He tossed the outfit back in the box, forcing himself to look away. ¡°Total lie, Shermaine thought and bit back augh. The moon was full tonight. Joshua said, ¡°Gonna shower.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Shermaine said. Joshua grabbed his pajamas and headed to the bathroom, still itchy from the bunny costume¡¯s image. Another call came; he checked the ID and stepped out. It was a Basterel University professor, first wishing him happy birthday, then saying, ¡°Mr. York, your wife is one in a million. ¡°All those projects you invested in? Shermaine wrapped them up. Returns will hit at least three billion dors, maybe over 30 billion dors.¡± And the profits keep rolling in¨Cpure gain, really. Who else could be as incredible as Shermaine, churning out results in just over a week? Joshua¡¯s eyes softened. ¡°My Sheary¡¯s always been a badass.¡± ¡°Sent the project reports to your email. Take a look.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± After hanging up, Joshua hit his study and called Bradley. With results in, time to file patents and put Shermaine¡¯s gift to work¨Cno wasting her efforts. Meanwhile, Shermaine stepped out of the shower, still steamy. She went to the walk¨Cin closet, opened the box, and without hesitation, dropped her towe 3/3 AD Comment Send gift No Nurse walking 306 Chapter 306 After slipping into the outfit, Shermaine checked herself in the mirror. The fabric hugged her curves so tightly that it practically invited nosebleeds. With the snowy bunny ears and fluffy tail, her usual pure beauty took on a seriously seductive edge. She bit her lip, rubbing her forehead. She thought, ¡®Maybe this is too cheesy. It isn¡¯t my vibe at all. Even if Joshua¡¯s into it, I can¡¯t indulge every whim! Just as she started peeling off the costume, Joshua¡¯s voice rumbled. ¡°Sheary.¡± His tone was gravelly, thick with raw need. He¡¯d wrapped up work ande to grab his pajamas for a shower, never expecting to find her there in the bunny costume. Her porcin skin and killer curves looked dazzling, especially those legs. But there was something undeniably cute about her too. And the stupid bunny ears and tail? They turned his gorgeous girl into a walking temptation he wanted to devour. Joshua kept his cool, but his eyes burned into her like a furnace. Shermaine turned, cheeks flushing pink to the tips of her ears at the sight of him. How had she not heard hime in? But she was not a shy girl. She schooled her expression, acting totallyposed. ¡°I need to change,¡± she said primly. ¡°Out you go.¡± Instead of leaving, Joshua shut the closet door behind him with a click, like he was afraid she¡¯d bolt. ¡°Wasn¡¯t this little show for me?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve seen it.¡± ¡°I have.¡± His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. ¡°You¡¯re stunning. Wanna kiss you.¡± He said, ¡°Remember when you asked what birthday gift I wanted? My present is right in front of me.¡± Shermaine couldn¡¯t ignore the heat in his stare. Her round toes curled involuntarily as she dropped her gaze, surrendering. ¡°Come here.¡± Joshua stepped closer, circling her waist. A sweet scent clung to her skin. ¡°What bath stuff did you use?¡± ¡°Added some bath oil.¡± ¡°Smells amazing.¡± He nuzzled her neck, pressing his lips to her skin. His palms were burning hot. Joshua kissed her corbone, trailing up to her lips. He sucked her lower lip hard. ¡°Love this gift.¡± Shermaine smiled, looping her arms around his neck. ¡°So you like the look.¡± Joshua didn¡¯t reply, but his needy kisses said enough. Of course, he loved it because it was her in it. He didn¡¯t care about the bunny costume. He just wanted her. He deepened the kiss, slipping his tongue in, his rhythm unraveling. Soon her lips were swollen red, like a rose ready to be picked, tender and tingly. Tired from standing, she murmured, ¡°Pick up.¡± Joshua lifted her easily, cradling her legs, never stopping the kiss. His hand tugged the fluffy tail, making his breath hitch. He held back, fearing he might go too far. Chapter 306 Shermaine rested her forehead against his ¡°it¡¯s your birthday, so I¡¯ll be nice. 2/2 Nurse walking 307 Chapter 307 Rice Joshua was into it, Shermaine decided to tough it out and keep the outfit on, letting him have his way for once. At that, Joshisa¡¯s eyes lit up with amusement. ¡°You¡¯re the best, Sheary.¡± He kissed her again. ¡°Help me take off my shirt.¡± He was roasting hot. Spermaine reached up to undo his buttons. When her fingers hit the metal buckle at his waist, she asked, ¡°Want me to undo this too?¡± ¡°eah Secondster, a faint click sounded. Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened with need, and he all but devoured Shermaine right then and there. In the heat of the moment, Shermaine kissed his eyelids. ¡°Happy birthday, Joshua.¡± ¡°Thanks, Sheary.¡± He nuzzled her ear. ¡°I love you.¡± His monotonous life, once a ck¨Cand¨Cwhite fairy tale, had burst into color since she came along. The night had been wild. Shermaine had totally underestimated Joshua. What she thought was his limit turned out to be nothing. Dawn was breaking when she finally crashed, too wiped out to move a finger despite her usual energy. Joshua kissed her shoulder before falling asleep beside her. She slept till noon. The most thrilled one in the family to see her sleep in was Owen, already picturing holding a cute grandbaby within a year. He prepared a big meal for her. When Shermaine woke, she didn¡¯t head to the bathroom first. She padded barefoot to the study, where Joshua was on a video call. Seeing her in the cream nightgown she¡¯d changed into at dawn barefoot, he frowned, though his voice was gentle. ¡°What¡¯s up, hon?¡± ¡°Give me a pen and scratch paper,¡± Shermaine replied. ¡°Sit down. I¡¯ll grab them.¡± She plopped into the chair he¡¯d been using. Earlier in the video call, Joshua had already killed the camera, so the execs on the other end could only ho But their boss had gone soft, a total 180 from his usual cold, intimidating self. Joshua handed her a pen and paper. ¡°Got a breakthrough?¡± ¡°Yep,¡± Shermaine replied. his voice¨Cthe screen was pitch ck. chapter 307 he rumed her hair, thinking, ¡°My Sheary is one of a kind, solving world¨Css problems after a nap. Guess I hadn¡¯t worn her out enough night if she had brain space to think about math in her sleep. Shermaine saw the ¡°Meeting in Progress¡± banner. ¡°I¡¯ll move so you can keep the call going.¡± she held her down. ¡°No shoes. Stay put.¡± He told the call, ¡°The meeting¡¯s adjourned. Reconvene at 10 AM tomorrow when I¡¯m back in the office.¡± He cut the call immediately. With the meeting done, Shermaine made herself at home in his chair, cross¨Clegged, and started reworking the twin prime conjecture from the ground up. Basterel University, Kylie noticed Shermaine hadn¡¯t shown up for ss¨Cnot even a trace of her all day. She had a rough idea of what the two had been up tost night. Getting kicked out of York residence had been mortifying, so she¡¯d taken it out on Sarah when she got back. # Sarah hadn¡¯t used Shermaine of two¨Ctiming Joshua, Kylie never would¡¯ve thought Shermaine was the type to sneak into a hotel with some guy. Turned out the whole thing was a joke. The memory sent Kylie¡¯s killer vibe spiking. But after the York family¡¯s cold shoulderst night, especially Joshua¡¯s, she finally got the memo¨Cthey didn¡¯t give a damn about her. PrevN Nurse walking 308 Kylie didn¡¯t just stop liking Joshua. Now she was starting to hate him. She thought, ¡°What does Shermaine have that I don¡¯t? How could he be so cold and heartless toward me? If he¡¯s that into Shermaine, I¡¯ll just have to take her down. The thought of Shermaine dying by her hand and picturing Joshua¡¯s face gave Kylie a sick kind of thrill. In Lightspring City, it was Ross¡® third day on the ground. The pampered rich kid hadn¡¯t griped once, even trailing Danielle straight to the rescue zone. She was mmed, barely able to spare him a look. Ross wasn¡¯t expecting attention. He just needed to keep Jason in his sights. ¡°Danielle, drink some water.¡± Noticing her chapped lips, he held out her thermos. She looked up, spotting bloodstains from helping victims on his shirt, his hair a mess and clothes wrinkled. She almost smiled. ¡®He¡¯s hardly the polished yboy now, more like a disheveled aristocrat,¡® she thought. ¡°Mr. Jean, you¡¯ve been here days. nning to leave soon?¡± she asked, taking the thermos. Ross kept his tone t. ¡°If Jason¡¯s not rushing off, why should I?¡± The real headache was Jason, who seemed to materialize everywhere, killing any chance at alone time. ¡®This guy¡¯s tricks have gotten way more underhanded and brazen than at first,¡® Ross thought. If Danielle still acknowledged him as her official boyfriend, Jason wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. ¡°He¡¯s here because he likes me. What¡¯s your excuse?¡± Danielle asked. ¡®Like you. Love you. Scared Jason will snatch you up. That¡¯s why I came. I¡¯m terrified I¡¯ll regret staying away,¡® Ross thought. But the emotionally constipated Ross couldn¡¯t spit that out. He just muttered, ¡°To watch out for you.¡± Not getting the answer she wanted, Danielle huffed in annoyance, ¡°I don¡¯t need a babysitter. I¡¯m good.¡± Just then, the ground jolted with an aftershock. Aftershocks had been rattling Lightspring City for days. The area was safe, but the sudden jolt caught Danielle off guard. She almost went down before Ross yanked her into his arms. The ce was a total dump, but as shended in his warm embrace, that faint, familiar scent hit her. She used to be addicted to it. It was their first hug since they called it quits. Ross didn¡¯t want to let go. Like, ever. Danielle tried shoving him, but he didn¡¯t budge. ¡°Let me go,¡± she said. ¡°Be a good girl, Danielle,¡± he murmured. I¡¯ll let go when the shaking stops.¡± 1/3 Chapter 309 Danielle flushed. ¡°Tean stand fine¡± ¡°Well, Teant.¡± Danielle was speechless. The aftershocksted a minute or so. When it stopped, Ross let her go reluctantly. She didn¡¯t say a word. Soon a guy with a leg injury was carried in, covered in dirt, head bleeding, clearly in agony. Danielle checked him out and confirmed a broken leg that needed surgery ASAP. Just like that, Ross was left in the dust. He turned to see Jason ring at him like a pissed¨Coff wild animal, his eyes full of rage, bitterness, and jealousy. Danielle wouldn¡¯t even let Jason hold her hand, but she¡¯d gone soft on Ross, not pushing him away even after he¡¯d broken her heart. ¡®If this keeps up, she¡¯ll forgive him and take him back for real,¡® Jason thought. ¡®I love Danielle too, so why wouldn¡¯t she give me a shot?¡® Ross shook it off and went to help with the rescue. By the time the surgery wrapped up, it was pitch¨Cck. Lights came on at the rescue center. Danielle was dead on her feet, just wanting to crash. But despite the exhaustion, it was all worth it. ¡°Dr. Shelly, go get some rest. I¡¯ve got this,¡± someone said. ¡°Will do,¡± Danielle replied. Danielle made her way to her usual sleeping spot and pulled out her phone. A message from Shermaine popped up: [Heard Lightspring City might get another big quake these next few days. They can¡¯t pin down the time. Stay safe with Ross. Text me the second anything happens.] Before she could reply, someone snuck up from behind, pressing a white towel over her mouth and nose. She was out cold in seconds. Drugged. She cked out and was quickly taken away. Her phoney there mid¨Ctext, but someone scooped it up, exited the message, and shut it off. Shermaine noticed the sudden silence and frowned. When Danielle didn¡¯t respond and her phone went dead, Shermaine wondered, ¡®Maybe the battery died?¡® She called Ross, who picked up fast. ¡°Ross, you and Danielle wrapped up?¡± ¡°She just finished surgery,¡± he said. ¡°Heading to find her now.¡± ¡°Go on, stay safe.¡± But within 20 minutes, Shermaine got a text from Ross: [Danielle¡¯s gone. I scoured the entire rescue center but didn¡¯t find her.)] 2/3 Chapter 308 All signs screamed abduction, Shermaine¡¯s gut had been right. Someone had cut Danielle off, so the message sat unsent for those long seconds. Ross was losing his mind. He was frantic about Danielle. Every avable person was sent out. Even rescue workers who¡¯d just crashed to rest jumped up when they heard she was missing Shermaine had actually been prepping for a rescue all along¨Chelicopter on standby, just in case. At seven that night, she headed out for Lightspring City. An hourter, there was still no news on Danielle. Ross hated this feeling. It took him back to when Shermaine went missing as a kid¨Cwaiting for police updates, the agony, the dread. It was unreal that after all these years, he was living through it again. Just then, Ross got a call from an unknown number. He picked up. The voice on the line was distorted, totally robotic. ¡°I got the woman. Wanna save her? Come alone.¡± The guy gave an address. He added, ¡°Listen,e by yourself. Anybody with you, I¡¯ll off her right then and there.¡± Ross¡® face went stone cold. He knew this was about him. ¡°I¡¯lle alone. Don¡¯t touch her.¡± The caller didn¡¯t answer and just hung up. Ross had no clue where the ce was. He pulled up the map and saw it wasn¡¯t too far. He didn¡¯t breathe a word to anyone. He couldn¡¯t risk screwing up Danielle¡¯s safety. Nurse walking 309 Joshua knew Sharmaine was en route to Lightspring City over Danielle and Ross. He¡¯d heard Danielle had been kidnapped. While her identity could make her a target, it had been tightly guarded. She¡¯d been safe there till now. The fact someone risked striking with Ross around made Joshua suspect it was a setup. Shermaine sat in the helicopter, which hadn¡¯t taken off yet. Saying she wasn¡¯t worried was a lie. The earthquakes were still a threat. When she called Ross again, his phone was unreachable. Her gaze hardened as a call came in. was Joshua. ¡°Be careful in Lightspring City, Sheary.¡± ¡°Yeah, I will¡± she replied. Hearing her tense voice, Joshua soothed her. ¡°Try not to stress.¡± He paused. ¡°Ross is good.¡± ¡°How good?¡± Shermaine knew little about Ross¡® past and felt curious now. Joshua drawled, ¡°Don¡¯t let that posh rich kid act fool you. In college abroad, he was wild¨Cstreet fighting, mercenary gigs, and undercover work. He¡¯s done some nuts stuff.¡± That eased Shermaine¡¯s worry. She had to trust Ross wouldn¡¯t let Danielle get hurt, that he¡¯d bring her back safe. After a brief chat, she hung up, rested herptop on her knees, and typed one¨Chanded. She tried tracking Ross¡® phone, but thest signal was at the rescue center. It meant his signal was jammed. ¡®Smart move¨Cblocking his phone on purpose,¡® she thought. Shermaine¡¯sptop was linked to a satellite, and she¡¯d coded a GPS program. All she needed was Ross¡® photo and the location, and the program would automatically scan the area. It wouldn¡¯t be long before it found him. She hardly ever used this GPS program. The tech was straight¨Cup cutting¨Cedge. Its big data was a prime target for all sorts of people. Firing up the GPS would instantly tip off whoever was monitoring it to her whereabouts. Shermaine wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble, but Ross was her brother. No matter how capable he was, she felt like tracking his every move was the only way to guarantee his safety. The snag was that Lightspring City¡¯s earthquakes had knocked out most of the surveince, which made tracing his movements way tougher. Even so, Shermaine activated the GPS. Trickier, but not impossible. Since Ross was going in alone, he¡¯d need a ride. And if he was driving, she could track him. Right then, Ross had a ck cap pulled low and was behind the wheel of a ck sedan, heading for the address he¡¯d been given. He¡¯d swiped the car from the side of a main road near the rescue center. No keys needed, since hot¨Cwiring it was a piece of cake for him. The abandoned factory was overrun with weeds, pitch¨Cck all around. The road was muddy from the recent rain, dotted with shallow puddles. The sedan¡¯s tires sshed through puddles as he pulled up to the factory gate. Ross climbed out, the night chill biting at him through his long ck trench coat. He didn¡¯t pause for a second, just marched straight inside. 1/1 Nurse walking 310 Shenmaine used GPS to find Ross, then zeroed in on Danielle. The results were clear. They were on opposite ends of the city. This wasn¡¯t about Danielle. They¡¯d used her to bait Ross. She called Alex, Ross¡® assistant in Lightspring City, and gave quick orders, and the helicopter took off. Phones weren¡¯t allowed mid¨Cflight because they interfered with helicopter signals, but Shermaine bypassed that. She texted Joshua: [Reach out to Danielle¡¯s dad.] The night stretched on, bringing a chill. Deep in the abandoned factory, lights glowed, revealing a dozen so dark figures. Ross slipped in unnoticed until he demanded, ¡°Where is she?¡± His voice was icy, nowhere near the warm, easy tone that usually felt like a spring breeze. This sounded like a harsh autumn wind, making them shiver. The sudden voice jolted everyone. They went stock¨Cstill for a beat before realizing Ross was standing there in the murky light. ¡°Jesus, you nearly gave me a heart attack!¡± someone yelped. ¡°Who dropped the ball on guard duty?¡± growled a fierce¨Clooking guy in a leather jacket with a gold chain. ¡°Paul was supposed to be watching,¡± someone muttered. ¡°Where the hell is he?¡± the fierce¨Clooking guy asked. They called for Paul, but only echoes answered. Pauly crumpled on the floor, his face bruised and swollen, knocked out cold. Ross repeated, ¡°Where is she?¡± The guy in charge, wearing a leather jacket and a thick gold chain, sneered, ¡°You really came alone?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Ross replied. ¡°Huh, you actually showed up by yourself. Impressive,¡± the man said with a nasty smirk. ¡°You¡¯re a straight shooter. I thought I¡¯d need all these guys to deal with you, but looks like I can handle you on my own.¡± ¡°So she¡¯s not here,¡± Ross said, his voice turning menacing. The man stepped forward, pulling off his jacket to show off his massive arm muscles. ¡°That¡¯s right. You got conned. The woman isn¡¯t here.¡± Ross rolled his neck, joints cracking, and undid a couple of buttons on his shirt. ¡°As long as you know where she is.¡± ¡°Even if I do, you¡¯re dead tonight,¡± the man boasted, oblivious to the danger he was in. Over at the dock warehouse, Danielle was still unconscious from the drugs. Footsteps echoed, and someone crouched beside her, gently touching her cheek. His voice was cold and possessive. ¡°Dr. Shelly, you belong to me.¡± He stared at her for a moment, then turned to the man behind him. ¡°When will she wake up?¡± ¡°Maybe ten more minutes.¡± Came the reply. ¡°Make sure you y your part perfectly,¡± he ordered. Chapter 310 The rat faced man grinned at the young, good looking guy. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Jean. We¡¯re professionals. Your money¡¯s worth it.¡± Mr. Jean was Jason. Nurse walking 311 It was a typical ¡°save the damsel in distress¡± scheme, all so Jason could win her over. They¡¯d gotten this act down pat. Around ten minutester, Danielle began to stir. Her head still swam as she opened her eyes, but she quickly realized her hands and feet were bound and she was stuck in a ce that made her really ufortable. Danielle kept her cool. She tugged at the topes, but they were tied too snugly and dug painfully into her skin. A man sat on a wooden chair across from her, spitting out swear words as he yed a mobile game. He nced at her when she woke up, then ignored her. Danielle broke the silence. ¡°How much ransom do you want?¡± The man smirked. ¡°Look at that, rich girls know the score.¡± To sell the fake kidnapping, Tim in Basterel actually received a ransom demand. The caller wanted 300 million dors. Since he couldn¡¯t involve the police and Lightspring City was too far away to reach quickly, and with the kidnappers insisting on a tight deadline, Tim had no choice but to gather the money. Lightspring City was in chaos after the earthquake. Most of his local contacts had fled, leaving him with no one to turn to for help. His worst fear was that they¡¯d kill Danielle if he didn¡¯t pay up. Tim was beside himself. She was his only daughter. Losing her would be unbearable. ¡°Mr. Shelly, don¡¯t worry,¡± his assistant said. ¡°I heard both Jean brothers are in Lightspring City. They¡¯ll keep Ms. Shelly safe.¡± ¡°Reach out to them and see what¡¯s going on.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Ross was impossible to reach. Tim¡¯s phone didn¡¯t even ring. That set off rm bells for Tim. But at least he managed to get through to Jason. Tim wasn¡¯t blind to Jameson¡¯s agenda. Jameson kept hinting that Jason, though younger, had more drive than his oldest son Ross and that Jason was sure to surpass him. Tim had met Jason who was young but mature and made a solid first impression. Still, in Tim¡¯s book, he wasn¡¯t quite up to par for his daughter. Ross was a different story. He had it all. But then he broke up with Danielle and got caught up in a celebrity scandal, which put Tim off. What was worse, Danielle was still pining for Ross, adding to his irritation. Finding out Ross was in Lightspring City was a shock, but now he waspletely out of touch. When Jason heard about the ransom call, he said, ¡°Mr. Shelly, keep them talking. I¡¯ll get Dr. Shelly back to Basterel safe and sound.¡± ¡°If you bring my daughter back unhurt, consider it a debt owed,¡± Tim said. ¡°I don¡¯t want a debt,¡± Jason said, his ns for Danielle clear as day. ¡°I want your blessing to marry Dr. Shelly. That¡¯s the only thing I want.¡± The fact that Jason had followed Danielle to Lightspring City and put up with god knows what showed he was dead serious. He¡¯d been rejected before but never backed down. Tim thought for a beat. ¡°Only if you bring her back.¡± He thought, ¡®If Jason pulls this off, I wouldn¡¯t mind arranging the marriage. After all, when someone saves your life, marrying them is the traditional way to repay the debt.¡¯ We¡¯re big on gratitude. Right now, nothing matters more than Danielle¡¯s safety. Sill, he was puzzled and couldn¡¯t shake the thought, ¡®Is Jason overconfident, or does he have inside info?¡® Tim tumed to his assistant. ¡°Still no word from Ross?¡± The assistant shook his head. ¡°His phone¡¯s still not picking up.¡± Tim was silent for a moment, reaching for his phone to call Shermaine when his assistant said, ¡°Mr. Shelly, Mr. Joshua York from York Group is here.¡± ¡°Send him in,¡± Tim said. Meanwhile, Natalie wore a calcting smile. By the end of the night, her son Jason would have Danielle, and Ross would be out of the picture for good. Neither she nor Jason had a clue that Shermaine had seen through their borate scheme shortly after they set it in motion. In the abandoned factory, screams rang out nonstop. The man never dreamed the gold chain around his neck might be his undoing. Now he was choking, lips turning purple, begging the polished man in front of him, ¡°Sir, I messed up. Please let me go.¡± Appearances were clearly deceiving. The wealthy guy he thought he could take down with one punch was a demon there to im his life. Ross asked again, dead serious, ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡ª 3 ¡°Sir, I have no idea.¡± The man was stalling, sweat pouring down his forehead, lips trembling, but still holding out. O ¡°No idea, huh?¡± Ross picked up a knife from the ground, twirling it. ¡°Last chance. Talk or I¡¯ll blow your leg off.¡± ¡°I swear I don¡¯t know.¡± The knife came down in an instant. Ross didn¡¯t hesitate for a second. If Danielle saw him now, she¡¯d be shocked. This wasn¡¯t the Ross she knew. He was savage, full of ferocity, a total stranger. Ross had quit this life years ago and sworn off violence, but for Danielle, he¡¯d broken every vow. His hands were bloody again. The man¡¯s screams were ear¨Csplitting. Ross pinned his hand to the floor. ¡°One more time, where is she?¡± ¡®Jesus Christ! This psycho is terrifying,¡® the man thought, watching in terror as Ross aimed for his fingers. He couldn¡¯t take the torture. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you. She¡¯s at Lightspring Dock.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re lying to me, I¡¯ll end you.¡± Ross yanked him up and dragged him outside, where Alex stood stunned. One look at Ross, and he found no trace of the wealthy guy left. ¡°Mr. Jean, are you all right?¡± ¡°To Lightspring Dock,¡± Ross barked. ¡°Ms. Jean told me Dr. Shelly was there 40 minutes ago,¡± Alex said. ¡°Our team should have arrived by now.¡± Then let¡¯s go get Dr. Shelly Convinced the man wasn¡¯t lying, Ross threw him to the ground. ¡°Have someone stay and handle this.¡± Yes, st. In the dock warehouse, Danielle heard scuffles outside. Minutester, Jason staggered in, bloodied. Her eyes fell at the sight of him¨Cnot Ross. Dr. Shelly, I came to save you,¡± Jason panted. Danielle felt no surge of emotion but managed a sincere ¡°Thank you.¡± Jason untied her ropes, then held out his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go. This ce isn¡¯t safe.¡± She didn¡¯t take his hand, standing on her own. As they reached the door, a violent tremor hit out of nowhere. In the decrepit warehouse, the wall cracked wide open in an instant, and ceiling beams groaned overhead. Another earthquake struck Lightspring City¨Cpowerful this time. Aftershocks rocked the area. Lightspring Dock, a coastal zone, had long been a red¨Calert danger zone. This was exactly what Shermaine had dreaded most. 3/3 Nurse walking 312 Faithquakes are downright terrifying. This wasn¡¯t Danielle¡¯s first quake, but this one was way more dangerous than any before. The shaking just wouldn¡¯t let up. As they dashed out of the warehouse, the whole ramshackle structure came crashing down with a thunderous roar. Outside, the kidnappers who¡¯d been ying dead on the ground scrambled to their feet the second they saw the earth splitting open. Survival was all that mattered now. Danielle watched in mute astonishment. Something seemed fishy, but she held her tongue. ¡°Maybe they were just faking unconsciousness to avoid more beatings, she thought. Still, being in a red¨Czone danger area was every bit as bad as advertised. The sky had turned a murky purple, and the sea churned like boiling water with each tremor. Danielle almost tripped over a ground fissure but managed to catch herself. She ran for dear life, desperate to get the hell out of there. One warehouse after another copsed. More than once, she dodged falling stones and bricks by a hair, her quick reflexes keeping her safe. Others were running too, but not all made it. In the dark, some stepped into cracks and got swallowed up by copsing buildings, not even a chance to shout for help. As a doctor, Danielle knew there was nothing she could do about natural disasters, and she sure as hell wasn¡¯t nning to die there. Under the grim sky, the dock¡¯s massive crane teetered dangerously, looking like it could topple any second. She was the first to spot it. ¡°Jason, move!¡± she yelled. Jason¡¯s face went ashen. Not used to this kind of chaos, he froze up, his mind nk. Seeing the crane starting to fall, he kicked into high gear and bolted, Boom. The crane crashed down, sending up a massive cloud of dust and debris. Danielle dodged the falling crane, but she stepped into a fissure and sprawled facedown, her cheeks coated in dust. A rock came tumbling down and pinned her foot, sending searing pain shooting through her. Her face went deathly pale. Jason saw her and turned back, struggling to lift the rock. But it was too massive and maybe his panic made him weak. He couldn¡¯t budge it. But he had to move it. He couldn¡¯t leave. If he did, Danielle might die and everything he¡¯d schemed for would crumble in the quake. ¡°Dr. Shelly, I won¡¯t leave you,¡± he said. Danielle¡¯s eyes reddened from the pain, but she stayed silent. She thought she was insane, still thinking of Ross in the chaos, desperate to see him, aching for him. Then the wall of the next warehouse copsed. Jason went pale and leaped back. By the time he regained his wits, Danielle was buried under the rubble. ¡°Dr. Shelly!¡± he yelled. No answer. Chapter 313 Jason¡¯s face turned ashon. Without a second thought, he spun around and fted. candle, Alex nearly lost control of the wheel in the quake, almost crashing the car. Even with the earthquake raping, Ross was hell bent on reaching Lightspring Dock for Danielle. Tell the team to turn around,¡± Ross ordered. The quake must have thrown everyone into disarray. He was worried about Danielle¡¯s safety. Alex knew Ross was trying to keep them safe, so he told everyone, ¡°Anyone who wants to pull out could go, and those who volunteers could stay¡± The threat of natural disaster was too real. Most turned back, spooked by the coastal danger. Two men stayed, sticking with them in a second car. About five minutester, they reached Lightspring Dock. The area was a ruin. People were streaming out, but Danielle wasn¡¯t among them. Nurse walking 313 Ross climbed out of the car. From the rubble, another figure stumbled out¨CJason. But Danielle wasn¡¯t at his side. In an instant, Ross¡® face turned deadly cold. ¡°Where is she?¡± Ross barked, stepping forward. Jason stayed mute, too scared to answer. He¡¯d left Danielle behind. He didn¡¯t want to die. Alex felt sick to his stomach. ¡®Dr. Shelly¡¯s still in that wreckage. She couldn¡¯t be¡­¡¯ he thought. Just then, the aftershock that hadsted over ten minutes finally stopped. ¡°I asked where Danielle is,¡± Ross snapped again, his voice more furious than ever. Seeing the shaking end, Jason swallowed hard, like he was weighing his options. ¡°She¡¯s buried under the rubble. I couldn¡¯t get her out alone. Come help.¡± Under the debris, Danielle was coated in dust, surrounded by total darkness. Her mind was fuzzy, but she knew Jason had bailed. Biting her lip, she was terrified and helpless, with no phone to call for help. She feared the stones above might copse any second, crushing her to bits. Jason led them to a pile of rubble. ¡°Dr. Shelly¡¯s down here.¡± Ross didn¡¯t say a word, stepping up to move the stones. He was afraid to call Danielle¡¯s name, scared of getting no response. Danielle faintly sensed someone above, her mind clearing a bit. ¡°Ross, is that you?¡± she croaked. He heard her. ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± he said. Danielle felt like an eternity had passed, her eyes filled with tears, her voice quivering. ¡°What took you so long?¡± Jason stood quietly by. To him, Danielle had always been tough, but in front of Ross, she showed her soft side. Ross¡® heart broke at the sight. ¡°Stay right there. Don¡¯t move.¡± Thankfully, they had enough hands. Five men worked together to shift the stones, and soon they were cleared one by one. The moment Ross saw Danielle under the rubble, he lunged forward, lifted the stone pinning her foot, and scooped her into his arms. His hands shook as he held her. ¡°Thank God you¡¯re alive.¡± Danielle counted herself lucky. After all those stones came crashing down, she¡¯d only hurt her foot¨Cway luckier than those who didn¡¯t make it. Wrapping her arms around Ross¡® neck, she closed her eyes. ¡°Ross, my foot is killing me.¡± Her voice was tiny. ¡°I thought I¡¯d never see you or Sheary again.¡± ¡°Shh. It¡¯s okay now. You¡¯re safe,¡± Ross said. The terror that had consumed her melled away the second he was there. Jason stood off to the side, his eyes fed with pent¨Cup anger. He couldn¡¯t prate the intimate bubble they¡¯d formed¨Ca picture of an utterly devoted reuple. I didn¡¯t leave Danielle on purpose. If I¡¯d stayed, I couldn¡¯t have gotten help. Ross would have done the same. Yes, Fran to find rescuers, not because! gave up, Jason kept repeating this to himself, needing to believe it. Feeling much better, he stepped between them. ¡°Dr. Shelly, I¡¯m so relieved you¡¯re all right.¡± Nurse walking 314 Chapter 314 At the sound of his voice, Danielle looked up at Jason, his clothes torn and face streaked with dirt. She felt no anger over him leaving her behind. Why would she? When death loomed around every corner, and he didn¡¯t love her, his choice made sense. At that moment, staying meant risking everything. She knew his feelings for her were more obsession than love. It was an old story. Men always craved what they couldn¡¯t have. ¡°Guess I got lucky,¡± Danielle said with a weak smile. ¡°Thanks.¡± If he hadn¡¯t returned with Ross, she¡¯d be buried under the rubble right now. Jason¡¯s knuckles turned white as he balled his hands into fists, then shook his head wordlessly. When Danielle tried to wiggle her injured foot, pain shot through her leg, blurring her vision with tears. Ross lifted her bridal¨Cstyle, but the second he did, the ground started heaving again. This tremor hit harder than the first. Danielle¡¯s face drained of color. She¡¯d seen what these quakes could do. Ross took off running back the way they came. ¡°Are you afraid?¡± she asked, clinging to his neck. ¡°Afraid of what?¡± Ross asked. ¡°Dying here with me.¡± Ross kept his eyes fixed ahead as he ran, even though the shaking made it hard to stand. Somehow, he still managed to carry Danielle in his arms. ¡°If I was scared, I wouldn¡¯t be here.¡± ¡°Do you like me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± 28 ¡°Do you like me a lot?¡± ¡°More than anything.¡± Ross, who¡¯d once avoided romance like the gue, now wanted nothing more than to learn how to love her. Maybe it was the adrenaline, but he answered every question without hesitation. Even with her foot throbbing and the earth still shaking, she felt a rush of happiness. That feeling vanished in an instant. The warehouse that had withstood the first quake finally gave way. Dust billowed into the air as a massive wooden beam crashed down, followed by a cascade of ss and debris. Jason watched, certain Ross would ditch Danielle to save himself. He had to. Dumping the ¡°dead weight¡± of Danielle would let Ross escape. If he didn¡¯t, they¡¯d both get crushed under the rubble. But Jason was stunned when Ross¡® first move was shoving Danielle seven feet toward Alex. Then he disappeared under the copsing debris, his survival Chapter 314 uncertain. Alex yanked her to safety. Until that moment, Danielle hadn¡¯t shed a tear. Now her face crumpled, her voice breaking into a raw scream. ¡°Ross!¡± The only response was the thunderous roar of falling walls. After the warehouse copsed, the earthquake then stopped again. This time, Ross was clearly trapped much deeper than Danielle had been earlier. Danielle ignored her throbbing leg and raced to the pile where Ross had vanished, digging wildly as tears streamed down her face. ¡°Stop standing there. Help Dr. Shelly dig!¡± someone shouted. No one knew if Mr. Jean had Danielle¡¯s luck. This time, he was buried too deep. They dug for what felt like an eternity but didn¡¯t find him. Finally, rescue teams arrived, led by Richard, a key client of theirpany, d in rescue gear. He barked orders, rallying the crew to start excavating. Ten minutester, a helicopter hovered over Lightspring Dock. A rope dropped, and Shermaine abseiled down. By the time she hit the ground, Ross had been pulled from the debris. He wasn¡¯t as fortunate as Danielle. A steel rod protruded from his chest, blood gushing nonstop. At the sight, Danielle¡¯s heart split in two. Her eyes swollen from crying, she pressed two fingers to his neck. He was still breathing. As a doctor, she knew she needed to stay calm, but her hands trembled uncontrobly. The rod was lodged deep. The surgery carried massive risks. She feared he might not survive. But the moment she saw Shermaine approaching like a beacon, Danielle screamed at the top of her lungs, ¡°Sheary, save Ross!¡± By now, every tent the rescue center had set up had copsed in the quake. Crowds huddled in the open, waiting for the shaking to cease. Once it did and they were told no more aftershocks were expected, they started rebuilding the tents. Soon a helicopter tanded nearby. Medics carried out a blood¨Cdrenched man, with Dr. Shelly right on their heels. ¡°Danielle, round up some nurses,¡± Shermaine ordered, her voice steady. ¡°On it,¡± Danielle replied. Despite her injured foot, Danielle ignored her own pain, propping herself on a walking stick as she coordinated Ross¡® surgery. What did her difort matter when his life was on the line? Shermaine entered the tent to inspect the medical equipment. She pulled on gloves and a mask, slipped into a blue sterile gown, and then announced, ¡°Prep for surgery.¡± Usable to h den is her inpary, Minie kuused outside the a mannequin, stunned. Fakirb?? lies are tooi le In the shadins Jason was on the phone. ¡°Did Pass atk about who¡¯s behind that?¡± ¡°The guy didn¡¯t even bring it up. All he cared about was finding Ms. Shelly. As soon as I told him, he headed straight for Lightspring Dock, the guy at the Out of this goddamned Lightspring City, that¡¯s where,¡± the man cursed over the line. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I haven¡¯t breathed a word about our deal. Besides, your mother approached us using your father¡¯s name. If this blows up, it¡¯s on him, right? What¡¯s that got to do with you? ¡°I¡¯ve got the cash. Me and my guys are long gone. They¡¯ll never track us down. Won¡¯t mess with your ns.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Jason said. But Jason had no clue the man on the phone was stuck in a car, his leg wound still untreated, face pale as a sheet. Beside him, a bodyguard in a ck sut pressed a knife to his throat. News of the Lightspring City earthquake spread like wildfire online, reaching Natalie. Lightspring Dock¨Cisn¡¯t that where Danielle was held?¡® she wondered. As a mother, she panicked for her only son, who¡¯d been there that night. The phone rang once before he picked up. Natalie let out a shaky breath at the sound of his voice. ¡°Jason, are you hurt?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Thank God.¡± Her son was unharmed. Clearly fate was on his side. He was destined to marry Danielle. After all, Jason had technically ¡°rescued¡± Danielle, so Tim would have to keep his word. ¡°What about Ross?¡± Natalie asked. ¡°They¡¯re performing emergency surgery.¡± ¡°Seriously? How bad is his condition?¡± ¡°Critical¡± Natalie could barely hide her satisfaction. With any luck, Jameson¡¯s eldest son would die right there in Lightspring City. One problem was permanently solved. 3/3 Nurse walking 315 Chapter 315 But Jason wasn¡¯t as naive as Natalie. Everyone knew how brilliant Danielle was as a doctor. Yet when Shermaine arrived, she¡¯d pinned all her hopes for Ross¡® survival on her. On the other end, Natalie was still giddy. ¡°Jason, if Ross dies, text me immediately, got it?¡± Even if Ross died and she couldn¡¯t seize Jean Group, she could push Jameson to install Jason in Ross¡® ce. That beat Jason starting his ownpany- having the best of both worlds. Jason hesitated. ¡°Mom, Shermaine is doing Ross¡® surgery.¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± Natalie snorted. ¡°Shermaine knows some medicine, but she must be nuts to operate on Ross¡± ¡°She¡¯s Dr. Shelly¡¯s prot¨¦g¨¦e.¡± ¡°Since when does that matter? Just a fancybel.¡± Natalie dismissed it. ¡°Remember to tell me when he¡¯s gone. Stay safe. I¡¯ll have your dad call Tim to gauge his position.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Right now, Ross was injured because of Danielle, so her sense of obligation ran deeper. Plus, Danielle already had feelings for him. If Ross survived, it spelled trouble for Jason. He did like Danielle, but not enough to sacrifice himself for her. Ross was such a reserved person. Even getting hurt for Danielle didn¡¯t mean he loved her. After all, wasn¡¯t Danielle Shermaine¡¯s close colleague? Of course, his death will be ideal,¡® Jason thought. Even if Danielle felt more indebted, a dead man posed no threat to a live one. After hanging up, Jason stood outside the surgical tent. He wanted to check on Ross, but guards blocked the entrance. Meanwhile, Joshua was having coffee with Tim, discussing matters that left Tim¡¯s expression grim and imposing. ¡°How dare they target my daughter? This is beyond outrageous!¡± Tim seethed. He never imagined Jameson would try to force a family bond this way and treat his family like a convenientdder to climb. ¡®Does he really think he can just cling on whenever he pleases? What a damn delusion,¡® Tim thought. Tim continued, ¡°Some two¨Cbit mistress and her illegitimate kid. They¡¯re going to regret this.¡± He thought, ¡®Jameson ispletely blind. Not only is he cruel to Ross, he treats Shermaine abominably too.¡® Tim was so furious he wanted to deck Jameson right then and there. Tim thought, ¡®How could anyone be so blind? He threw away his brilliant kids and amazing wife for some conniving woman.¡® Joshua, briefed on thetest from Lightspring City, knew Danielle was out of danger, but Ross was on the operating table with Shermaine at the helm. Shermaine had made the right call to go. Ross had been seconds from death. ¡°Mr. Shelly, Dr. Shelly only has a leg injury and is perfectly safe. Rest assured,¡± Joshua said, taking a sip of coffee. Tim let out a long breath. As a father, he considered Danielle the apple of his eye. Losing her would feel like having his heart torn out. Just as he was about to thank Joshua for the update, his assistant stepped forward with a phone. ¡°Mr. Shelly, Mr. Jameson Jean is calling.¡± 1/1 Nurse walking 316 Chapter 316 At the wews of Jameson¡¯s call, Tim¡¯s face fall. He had zero interest in talking to Jameson, but he needed to y along for now. en what Jeshua esid, Sharmaine Would Beal with Jameson, Natalia, and fason hertoff once she got back from Lightspring City Tim just had to be har He picked up the phone and grunted a ¡°hello¡± ¡°Tim¡± Jameson said, ¡°word from Lightspring City Danielle¡¯s safe. The kidnappers didn¡¯t seed. Jason saved her. They got caught in an earthquake on the way out, but both are okay. Surviving a disaster like that has to mean good fortune¡¯sing, right?¡± ¡°As long as my daughter¡¯s unhurt, that¡¯s all that matters, Tim said. ¡°Exactly. Jason¡¯s crazy about your girl. Sure, he¡¯s young, but he¡¯s solid and responsible. Don¡¯t take his earlierments to heart. He was just being impulsive¡± ¡°Ah, no big deal. If he really saved my daughter, I¡¯ll hold up my end.¡± ¡°Does that mean you¡¯ll agree to Danielle marrying Jason?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s wait till they¡¯re back to talk about it.¡± ¡°For sure. With everything going on, we should all meet for a meal when they return and hash this out.¡± ¡°Yep. Jameson was in the dark about the real deal in Lightspring City, especially that Ross was hurt. No one had filled him in, and he had no clue Natalie had used his name to hire goons to mess with Ross. The real Ruth was back, and Jameson didn¡¯t dare cross her. If he had, Ruth would¡¯ve made him suffer. She had always been a force to be reckoned with. Strangely, he found himself missing Madeline, the woman who¡¯d posed as Ruth. Madeline was clueless, only caring about throwing fits and blowing money¨Cway easier to handle. But at least Tim was on board. Soon Jason would be Danielle¡¯s fianc¨¦, backed by the powerful Shelly family. Jameson no longer had to worry about Ross threatening his position as chairman. Inside a tent in Lightspring City, a nurse announced, ¡°We¡¯re running out of blood bags.¡± Shermaine paused mid¨Caction. ¡°Go outside and see if anyone can donate.¡± Ross shared her blood type¨C0 positive. The nurse headed out. By then, a crowd had gathered at the entrance. Danielle¡¯s leg was in a cast, and she¡¯d been waiting outside the whole time. ¡°How¡¯s Ross doing?¡± Danielle asked as the nurse emerged. ¡°We need more blood. Looking for type O donors,¡± the nurse replied, then started calling out, ¡°Any type O blood here?¡± Danielle¡¯s eyes flicked to Jason. Since Shermaine was type O, Jason stood a good chance of being the same. Jason caught b?a fare and said tly, ¡°I¡¯m type A He was tying. He was type O. But he wanted Ross dead. Why would he save him? Danielle¡¯s face foll with disappointment. Just as the nurse turned to check other areas, Richard stepped forward. ¡°Take my blood. I¡¯m type 0.¡± He¡¯d been shot recently and was still recovering. Donating could set his healing back. Worried about the shortage, Alex hurried to check if anyone else at the rescue center had type O blood. ¡°Right this way,¡± the nurse said, relieved to have a donor. 2/2 Nurse walking 317 Chapter 317 Throw at warned about Shermines trip to #hitspring City were definitely Janice and Buth something major had gone down, The varth?osts there was es bad. Shermana wouldn¡¯t have rushed there overmie Now they couldn¡¯t get through to either Charmaine of bass, and the two of them were wide awake all night. Janice was getting on in years, south told her to go red th her room first, then called Bucherd. Ever since Bath returned to the tean family, Michard hadn¡¯t gone back to Redunst, but he also didn¡¯te around much more like a silent guardian who only showed up when she asked. Ruth didn¡¯t hold that against him but had no other thoughts before her divorce. Right now, Richard might be the only one who could fill her in on what was really happening in Lightspring City. When Richard got Ruth¡¯s call, he¡¯d just finished donating blood. His face was pale and he felt dizzy. Even though he was in good shape, his old wound was still healing. He really shouldn¡¯t have given blood. Wearing a gray shirt, he had a 30¨Csomething nurse pour him a cup of hot water. When she saw his toned upper body, she was suddenly smitten with this middle¨Caged man. So what if he was older? With that build and youthful face, she¡¯d happily date him. But then she noticed his wristwatch and the two bodyguards outside. He was clearly a man of wealth. Plus, he was polite but distant. When she¡¯d tried making small talk, he barely acknowledged her. The phone rang, and Richard answered immediately, his voice unusually soft, ¡°Juliana.¡± Ruth hesitated. ¡°I got my memory back, Richard.¡± She wasn¡¯t Juliana anymore, the woman who¡¯d been his wife in name only. ¡°Ruthie.¡± He corrected himself right away. Ruth sighed and cut to the chase. ¡°I need a favor.¡± ¡°You want to know what¡¯s going on in Lightspring City, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Ruth¡¯s voice was heavy with worry. ¡°Sheary took a helicopter to Lightspring Cityst night. I can¡¯t stop thinking something¡¯s happened to Ross.¡± ¡°Something did happen,¡± Richard said, ¡°but try not to worry. Sheary¡¯s here.¡± He paused. ¡°And so am I.¡± ¡°You went to Lightspring City too?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Ruth hesitated, words failing her. ¡®Richard shouldn¡¯t have been there, yet there he is,¡® she thought. His voice dropped to a murmur. ¡°Don¡¯t read into it. I felt like I owed Ross, and when I caught wind of someone¡¯s scheme, I had toe.¡± ¡°What kind of scheme?¡± Richard gave a concise rundown,ying out Natalie¡¯s plot and Jameson¡¯s n to hurt Ross. As Ruth listened, her eyes turned steely. She never thought Jameson would plot against his own son. Even though he¡¯d backed off, Natalie had gone through with it, leaving Ross injured in Lightspring City. Her shoulders trembled with rage. She wanted to march over and confront Jameson and Natalie right then. Chapter 317 *Trust me, I¡¯m here to look after them.¡± Though maybe Shermaine didn¡¯t need his help. She was more than capable on her own. ¡°But don¡¯t do anything hasty with Jameson and Natalie. Wall till Shermaine and Ross are back.¡± Ruth¡¯s eyes welled up, but she stayed silent. *Get some sleep. It¡¯ste. You are weak and need to take it easy. Richard¡¯s tone turned gentle. ¡°The second Ross is out of the woods, I¡¯ll call you.¡± Ruth thought, ¡®With Shermaine there, Ross will make it. She pulled Richard back from the edge before. She can do the same for Ross. Knowing Richard was in Lightspring City calmed Ruth¡¯s nerves. ¡°Promise you¡¯ll call first. I won¡¯t turn my phone off.¡± ¡°Deal.¡± He¡¯d defend Ruth¡¯s kids with his life. Donating blood was just the beginning. He hoped one day Shermaine and Ross would ept him. AD Nurse walking 318 Chapter 318 Tams out, an older single guy could be so tender. And the woman he¡¯s after? A mom with two kids. The rich really do have messy love lives, the nurse The night was pitch ck with no star in the sky. The sugely dragged on for a solid five hours. The early morning air was bone¨Cchilling. Once she¡¯d sewn up Ross¡® abdominal wound, Shermaine peeled off her blood¨Csoaked gloves. ¡°Thanks, everyone. The operation was a sess.¡± She¡¯d pulled Ross back from the brink, and he¡¯d fought tooth and nail to survive. With injuries that bad, most people wouldn¡¯t have made it. Danielle sat outside, huddled in a thick coat. She was dead tired but too keyed up to sleep. When Shermaine finally stepped out, Danielle¡¯s eyes filled with tears. ¡°Sheary, how is he?¡± She knew Shermaine never lost a case with less than a 5% chance, but worry still gnawed at her. Shermaine had never seen Danielle look so worn out. She reached over and ruffled her hair. ¡°Ross is in the clear.¡± The tension melted from Danielle¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Go get some rest. I¡¯ll stay with him tonight, and you can take over in the morning.¡± Seeing Danielle was dead on her feet but held on, Shermaine felt for her. ¡°Can I see him first?¡± Danielle asked. ¡°Sure thing.¡± Watching Danielle rush inside, Shermaine smiled. They¡¯d be family soon enough. Just then, Alex handed her some food and water. ¡°Ms. Jean, you should eat.¡± Starving, Shermaine plopped down by the door and started chowing down. In the darkness, Jason stood frozen, fists balled. He never thought Shermaine would pul! Ross through. ¡®Her medical skills are something else,¡¯ he thought. ¡°Ms. Jean, will Mr. Jean wake up tomorrow?¡± Alex asked. ¡°He will,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°What¡¯s the best time for us to get back to Basterel?¡± Alex asked again. ¡°As soon as Ross wakes up,¡± Shermaine said evenly. Helicopters made the trip straightforward, and with Ross¡® serious injuries, the limited medical gear and rough conditions there meant they should head back pronto. Besides, they had unfinished business waiting for them at home. At dawn, Danielle came to relieve Shermaine after only a few hours of sleep. Seeing that Ross¡® vital signs were all stable, she couldn¡¯t hold back. She leaned in and kissed his forehead. The moment Ross had pushed her to safety during the crisis, she¡¯d known he was the one for life. Chapter 318 Outside, Jason tried to enter but got stopped He¡¯s my elder brother. I need to check on him,¡± he said tly. Ms. Jean gave orders¨Canyone can visit Mr. Ross Jean, but you¡¯re not allowed,¡± the bodyguard replied. Jason¡¯s expression turned icy, and a flicker of unease hit him. ¡®Does Shermaine know something?¡® he wondered. Ross finally stirred awake around 1 PM. His wound throbbed, but he barely seemed to notice. When he saw Shermaine, his voice was hoarse. ¡°Where¡¯s Danielle?¡± ¡°Getting a towel to disinfect,¡± she said, checking his wound¨Cno infection, no fever. ¡°She¡¯ll be here in a sec.¡± Ross swallowed hard and let out a faint ¡°Mm.¡± Momentster, Danielle walked in. Shermaine stepped back. ¡°Danielle, he¡¯s all yours.¡± Danielle dipped a towel in hot water, wrung it out, and went over to wipe Ross¡® face gently. ¡°How bad is your leg?¡± he asked. ¡°Just a broken bone.¡± Even with a cast, she could get around fine on crutches. ¡°Not like you. You almost didn¡¯t make it.¡°. After wiping his face, she moved to his hands. Ross¡® palms were warm, perfect for holding a pen or a paintbrush. He caught her hand. ¡°I¡¯m thirsty.¡± ¡°Gotta wait. You can¡¯t have anything to eat or drink for 24 hours.¡± Her voice turned soft and sweet, just like before. Ross looked at her, his gaze intense. ¡°Then give me a kiss.¡± 2/2 Nurse walking 319 e had no idea he could feel so desperate loi Danielle. When buried under the rubble, his only regrets were not stealing one more kiss from her and not heart het say ¡°Ross¡± onest time. Danielle couldn¡¯t stop staring at his handsome face with delight, heart thumping at his words. Her ears turned pink, suddenly struck by shyness. The bold, Buty side of her vanished. $, she fought back a smile. ¡°Am I your girlfriend?¡± Ross pressed his lips together, a wordless no. He said, ¡°Didn¡¯t we¡­¡± ¡°We kissed before, didn¡¯t we?¡® he wondered. ¡°That was then,¡± she cut in. ¡°This is now.¡± Ross went quiet. His n to win her over had always been clear. He wanted to truly have her, make her his. But stuck in a hospital bed, he was helpless to act. Oh, well. If I can¡¯t kiss her now, I¡¯ll collectter,¡® he thought. Besides, if she kissed him, he might lose it, and he was too weak to do anything about it. If Ross had asked her to be his girlfriend right then, she would¡¯ve said yes in a heartbeat. But she waited, and he said nothing. Not a word. the likes me, why won¡¯t he ask? Just say it,¡® she thought. But Ross missed the cue. The pain and exhaustion hit hard, and he drifted back to sleep. Danielle frowned, poking his cheek. ¡°If he likes me this much, is a confession that hard?¡® she wondered. At 3 PM, Danielle flew back to Basterel with Shermaine in a helicopter. Her injured leg made staying impossible. Besides, Lightspring City had enough rescue teams and supplies. It was fine for her to head back to Basterel first. Plus, Yaleview Hospital called right away when they heard about her injured foot, urging her toe back soon. Danielle was Yaleview Hospital¡¯s top doctor. They panicked when learning about her injury. They tried to stop her from going to Lightspring City, but she went anyway. The helicopternded right on Yaleview Hospital¡¯s rooftop. Shortly after Ross was admitted, Ruth and Janice rushed in. Jameson didn¡¯t show. He still had no clue what had happened, off at a winery with Natalie to meet a client, having a st. Ross woke up briefly to say a few words, then fell back asleep. in the ward, Shermaine pressed a prescription into Ruth¡¯s hand. ¡°Mom, this is for Richard to get his strength back. Could you give it to him?¡± Ruth looked at the paper. ¡°Why does he need a prescription all of a sudden?¡± istreno Rossyen ¡°Remember he was shot before?¡± Shermaine exined. ¡°He never fully recovered, and he donated a lot of blood to Ross yesterday. He needs good nutrition. Lack of it could harm him.¡± So Richard had donated blood. He hadn¡¯t mentioned it on the phonest night. After a moment, Ruth nodded. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll take it to him.¡± Joshua arrived in a dark shirt. Seeing Shermaine look worn out, he tucked her hair behind her ear. ¡°Tired?¡± 2/2 23:34 Tue 24 Jun Chapter 319 She leaned into him. She had barely rested since the surgery. ¡°A little sleepy.¡± Come nap at my ce,¡± he said, wrapping his arms around her. She nodded, said goodbye to Ruth and Janice, then left with Joshua for the lounge in his office to catch some sleep. AD Nurse walking 320 Chapter 320 Once in the car, Joshua Kad Shermae down with her head on hisp. As she settled, she asked. ¡°Where is Natalie ne At La Terraza Winery with Jameson,¡± Joshua replied Natalie¡¯s out there enjoying hersell, thinking no one knows what she¡¯s done? Shermaine thought. Just thinking of Ross in the hospital made Shermaine furious. She pulled something from her bag. ¡°Bradley, take this. Find a chance to use it on Natalie. Bradley, in the passenger seat, took the item. ¡°Yes, Mrs. York. I¡¯ll do it right away.¡± He got out at the curb, and a ck sedan following behind picked him up, heading straight for the winery. At La Terraza Winery, Natalie perked up when someone called her ¡°Mrs. Jean¡°. ¡°Too bad Ross didn¡¯t die in Lightspring City, she thought. She and Jameson were dining with a client and his wife. Natalie had ordered a medium¨Cwell steak, which arrived then. She raised her wine ss to clink with the client¡¯s wife. Natalie had her skills. This deal depended on the wife¡¯s approval. One nod from her, and the deal was practically done. Right now, Natalie had charmed her so much that she was almost ready to sign the contract. Jameson was very pleased with Natalie¡¯s performance. After toasting and sipping red wine, they started eating the steak. The meat was tender and juicy, but soon Natalie felt unbearably itchy all over. The woman sitting across from her saw red spots suddenly appearing on Natalie¡¯s body, which made her scalp tingle. Soon, hives covered her entire body. ¡°Mrs. Jean, it seems you¡¯re having an allergic reaction,¡± the woman said. Jameson turned to look and instantly felt goosebumps. Natalie took out a mirror to look and suddenly screamed in fright. She was so itchy that she couldn¡¯t sit still, and the elegant and noble image she had established disappearedpletely in an instant. Just then, someone whispered something to the woman, who suddenly changed color. ¡°So you¡¯re not really Mrs. Jean,¡± she gasped. Natalie scratched her face. ¡°What do you mean I¡¯m not Mrs. Jean?¡± ¡®I¡¯ll be Mrs. Jean soon enough. What¡¯s the rush?¡® she thought. Jameson squirmed awkwardly. ¡°Nat is my wife in my eyes.¡± The woman sneered, ¡°Mr. Jean, I hate mistresses most. Bringing one to meet me shows you aren¡¯t serious about this deal.¡± She stood to leave, not even ncing at Natalie. ¡°Consider the deal off.¡± 23:34 Tue, 24 Jun Her husband followed, giving Jameson a helpless look. ¡°Bye, Mr. Jean.¡± Natalie seethed, but the itching was unbearable. ¡°Jamie, take me to the hospital now.¡± Jameson was still shocked by losing the deal, but he couldn¡¯t ignore Natalie¡¯s suffering. When she tried to lean on him, he flinched back like she had a gue. ¡°Jamie, you¡¯re disgusted by me?¡± she snapped. ¡°Just a reflex,¡± he lied. Natalie felt hurt but held her tongue. The truth was, Jameson only liked her for her looks. She was the only woman who could arouse him in years, hence no other flings. At Yaleview Hospital, Natalie¡¯s allergy worsened. Doctors couldn¡¯t identify the allergen, and tests showed nothing. They gave her anti¨Callergy meds and an IV. As she scratched a hive on her arm, it oozed pus, giving off a foul smell. While Jameson went to get her medicine, he froze. There was Ruth. ¡®What¡¯s she doing here?¡® he wondered. 2/2 Nurse walking 321-550 Chapter 321 Ruth hardly looked her age. She seemed younger and more elegant than many women in their thirties. Jameson thought that if she hadn¡¯t been so domineering, maybe he wouldn¡¯t have cheated and gotten mixed up with Natalie. Ruth¡¯s eyes were warm as she took the medicine to Richard. Jameson, curious, sneaked after her to see who she was giving it to. When he realized it was Richard, the man who¡¯d been repeatedly targeting him, he erupted in anger. ¡®So that¡¯s why Richard kept messing with me¨Cbecause of Ruth,¡® he thought. Just like Madeline, Ruth was having an affair while still married. ¡®How dare she shame me like this?¡® he thought. Ruth didn¡¯t stay long in the ward. After dropping off the medicine and giving some instructions, she stepped out, right into Jameson¡¯s furious stare. At the sight of him, Ruth¡¯s face fell. Without a word, she pped him so hard that his nose bled, cutting off whatever he was about to say. ¡°You¡¯re insane! Why hit me?¡± he yelled. Ruth sneered, unbuckling the belt around her waist. ¡°Because you ask for it.¡± Jameson flinched at the belt, remembering past beatings. ¡°You¡¯re a maniac. I cheated, but you¡¯re no better¨Crunning around with another man!¡± She whipped the belt across his back, making him yelp. Inside the ward, Richard watched with satisfaction. ¡®That old scumbag needs a beating. Go ahead, Ruthie. I¡¯ll handle any trouble,¡¯ he thought. After Jameson fled, Ruth was still fuming, but she had to buy food for Ross. Buckling her belt, she left the hospital for a restaurant across the street. Jameson was so spooked by the beating that he yelled about divorce, covered his head, and bolted. When he got back, Natalie¡¯s allergic reaction hadn¡¯t improved. She was so swollen that she looked like a balloon about to pop, which was beyond repulsive. Natalie couldn¡¯t stand her own appearance, her emotions totally unraveled. Those dense red spots terrified her. ¡°How could she suddenly be allergic?¡® Jameson wondered. She¡¯d never had issues with red wine or steak. She used to eat and drink them all the time. Thinking about Ruth speaking softly to Richard, Jameson felt a stab of bitterness. At least he didn¡¯t have to look at her for long. Learning Tim was also in the hospital, Jameson used visiting Danielle as an excuse, grabbed a fruit basket, and headed over. Tim¡¯s face flickered when he saw Jameson, but he quickly regained hisposure. ¡°Mr. Jean, what brings you here?¡± ¡°Just came to see Danielle.¡± Jameson set down the fruit. ¡°Jason¡¯s on his way back. He¡¯ll stop by soon.¡± But Danielle wasn¡¯t in the ward. ¡°Where is she?¡± Jameson asked. ¡°Next door,¡± Tim replied. Next door? Jameson didn¡¯t pry. As far as he was concerned, Jason and Danielle¡¯s rtionship was a sure thing. No need to hurry. About ten minutester, Asson withved He didn¡¯t have a helicopten had hade back by car baily, but the long, rough trip had detayeri him. Jason greeted Tim politely ¡°th. Shally.¡± Tim nodded slightly either cold nor warm. When Jason didn¡¯t see Danielle, he pressed his lips together, looking uneasy. Jameson prompted. ¡°Tim, who is Danie visiting next door? Why hasn¡¯t shee back?¡± Tim flipped through a book casually. ¡°She has to be willing toe back first.¡± He added deliberately, ¡°I called her several times, but she wouldn¡¯t listen. Her leg is in a cast, but she keeps sneaking next door. This brat is so frustrating.* Hearing that, Jameson sensed something was off. He thought, ¡°Really? He doesn¡¯t look the least bit frustrated. He¡¯s too busy ying Phantom Epoch. In the adjacent ward, Danielle sat by the bed, her fingers tracing Ross¡® brows and features. The man, who had been deeply asleep, suddenly opened his eyes. Their gazes locked. Danielle casually pulled her hand back. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Ross voice was hoarse. ¡°Had a dream.¡± ¡°What about?¡± ¡°Dreamt a kitten kept scratching my face.¡± Danielle looked away sheepishly, changing the subject. ¡°Thirsty?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± She handed him a ss of water she¡¯d prepared, fitted with a straw for easy sipping. Just then, Jameson peeked in under the pretense of making a call and saw them. When Ross finished the water, Danielle asked, ¡°More?¡± ¡°No, thanks.¡± She set the ss down. ¡°Unbutton your shirt. I need to change your dressing.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t use my hands. Help me.¡± It wasn¡¯t a request but amand. Danielle hesitated, then started unbuttoning. She suddenly remembered how she¡¯d once begged to strip him, asking when he¡¯d let her rip his clothes off for sex. Now she was undressing him, but no sex involved. Jameson was stunned. Danielle was nursing Ross, who¡¯d been seriously injured in Lightspring City saving her. He¡¯d thought Jason and Danielle¡¯s engagement was certain, but now, he had to meet Tim immediately to cash in their deal. ¡®No time to waste. I need to strike while the iron is hot, he thought. 2/3 He spun around and saw Sheimaine and Joshua. it had been weeks since Jamesonstid eyes on Shermaine, and how she felt like a total stranger, making him oddly ufortable. Sharmaine¡¯s gazended on him fat and cold. Jameson felt an irrational twinge of guilt As he started to leave, a group of doctors and nurses approached, lighting up at the sight of Shermaine. ¡°Hi, Dr. Jean,¡± they called warmly. Jameson¡¯s face shifted. He wondered, ¡®Why do these medical staff look at her like she¡¯s a celebrity? Are they asking for her autograph?¡± In the ward, Jason voiced the same n as Jameson. ¡°Mr. Shelly,¡± he said to Tim, ¡°remember that promise? Time to make good on it.¡± Tim set down his phone. ¡°So impatient?¡± Jason said, dore Dr. Shelly and can¡¯t stand seeing her give other men her attention.¡± A perfect excuse. Just then, Jameson walked in. ¡°Tim, for God¡¯s sake, my son saved Danielle. Let them be.¡± From the doorway, Shermaine¡¯s cool voice cut through. ¡°Since when was Jason the one who saved Danielle?¡± 3/3 Chapter 322 At the sight of Shermaine, Jameson instantly frowned. Whenever she squared off against him, trouble was sure to follow. He couldn¡¯t let her wreck the good thing he¡¯d nned for Jason. He¡¯d checked with Jason. The crew they¡¯d hired hadn¡¯t been caught. They¡¯d fled after the earthquake, so no one knew their n. Shermaine had no leverage there, Jameson looked pissed but forced himself to hold it in. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Just came to watch you fix up a nice marriage for your precious son.¡± Shermaine walked in and took a seat beside Tim Jameson seethed but didn¡¯t dare show it. Tim greeted Shermaine warmly. ¡°Sheary, long time no see.¡± When he came to Basterel, he¡¯d wanted to meet her for a meal, but she was swamped, and he was tied up with business. They¡¯d never found the time. ¡°Long time no see, Mr. Shelly,¡± Shermaine replied. ¡°When was ourst meetup?¡± Tim asked. Shermaine had a steel trap memory. ¡°Two years back at Sterling University,¡± Tim snapped his fingers. ¡°Right. You were teaching a master¡¯s ss. I tagged along with Danielle. Even then I thought you were a Wallington pride, bing a prodigy professor at Sterling so young.¡± Shermaine smiled. Being a Sterling professor was just one gig. She had appointments at other top schools too. ¡°You tter me, Mr. Shelly. Just standard stuff¡± Tim boomed withughter. From anyone else, that might sound cocky. But from Shermaine, it felt totally natural. Like she said, just standard stuff. Their chitchat left Jameson and Jason gaping. ¡°What the hell is Tim talking about? Shermaine, a Sterling University professor? That couldn¡¯t be. How old is she anyway?¡® Jameson and Jason wondered. Jameson had assumed Shermaine¡¯d only gotten close to Danielle and even celebrities like Trance abroad by using her looks and schemes. But the reality was the exact opposite. Shermaine wasn¡¯t just a tech world legend. She was also a professor a top foreign university. How many people her age could im that? In Jameson¡¯s 50¨Cplus years, he¡¯d never seen anyone else¡¯s daughter this brilliant. Even his pride and joy, Jason, looked ordinary next to her. Jameson had to admit that Shermaine was amazing¨Cmore than he could have imagined. But none of that mattered to him now. By now, Jameson felt a flicker of regret, though he¡¯d been lying to himself all along. ¡®It¡¯s okay,¡® he kept reassuring himself. ¡®No matter how talented she is, she isn¡¯t a man. That thoughtforted him. Tim steered the conversation back on track. ¡°Sheary, when you said earlier that Jason wasn¡¯t Danielle¡¯s savior¡­¡± ¡°Exactly. Danielle¡¯s real hero is my brother Ross.¡± Shermaine replied calmly with a smile. Jameson snapped back, ¡°Shermaine, even if you¡¯re defending Ross, you can¡¯t spout bullshit. Jason saved Danielle, clear and simple. How can you let Ross¡® steal his credit? ¡°You¡¯re beingpletely irrational, Shermaine.¡± 1/2 2/2 Chapter 322 But if anyone was spouting nonsense, Jameson took the prize. AD Chapter 323 Jason knew Jameson would have his back, so he stayed silent. But any trace of hope was gone. He¡¯d sensed danger the moment Shermaine walked in. Jameson was cunning, trying to paint Shermaine as someone abusing Joshua¡¯s protection. But no one there was dumb enough to buy that. Besides, Tim had learned from Joshuast night about Jameson¡¯s schemes. A marriage alliance was fine, but he¡¯d never let Danielle marry Jason. Shermaine crossed her legs, with azy smile on her lips but cold, piercing eyes. ¡°Mr. Jean, do you really think you can pull the wool over everyone¡¯s eyes?¡± ¡°At your age, that¡¯s not naivety. It¡¯s stupidity,¡± she added, her voice dripping with disdain. Jameson had never been talked to like that. ¡®How dare she point a finger and curse at me? This is unthinkable, he thought. ¡°What have I done to deserve these lies? You¡¯re not just ndering your father. You¡¯re insulting me. How did I end up with such an ungrateful daughter?¡± In reply, Shermaine tossed a stack of photos at his feet. As they fanned out, Jameson¡¯s face turned ashen. Then, without warning, the ward¡¯s screen¨Cpreviously off¨Cshed on, ying a video of Jameson¡¯s assistant bribing kidnappers. With the kidnappers already confessing, he had no leg to stand on. Evidence? Shermaine always had it. Even if Jason deleted everything, she could recover it. She said, ¡°First you nned Danielle¡¯s kidnapping so Jason could y hero, then you tried to have Ross killed. Now the proof is staring you in the face. What¡¯s your excuse?¡± nning a kidnapping was still a crime. As for offing Ross, Jameson had only wanted to maim him, not kill him. ¡®But these guys went after Ross? How the hell did that happen?¡® he wondered. Jameson¡¯s face turned deathly pale. With Tim watching, he blurted out the first thing that came to mind. ¡°Shermaine, this is a setup. I never did any of this. Your evidence is fake.¡± How could he admit it? Confessing would kill Jason¡¯s chances with the Shelly family and Danielle. Jameson turned to Tim. ¡°Tim, you¡¯ve got to believe me. I had nothing to do with this. Shermaine¡¯s jealous of Jason, so she¡¯s trying to frame us.¡± Tim let out a scornful snort, dropping all pretense of politeness. He¡¯d been waiting for Shermaine to expose their lies, and now he felt downright satisfied, especially when she called Jameson an idiot. Tim couldn¡¯t agree more. ¡®Jameson¡¯s a fool. Why throw away his good wife and kids? What else could he be?¡® Tim thought. Tim had zero respect for Jason. The guy was rotten to the core, and his shady schemes were bound to blow up in his face. Next to Ross, he didn¡¯t stand a chance. If Jason took over Jean Group, it might as well belong to a stranger. Since the Jean family disowned him, he might as well be one. Tim snapped, ¡°Shut your mouth. Do you think I don¡¯t know about you? The cops will figure out who¡¯s lying.¡± 1/1 Chapter 324 Chapter 324 ¡®What? Tim called the cops?¡® Jameson gasped, his face turning ashen. ¡°If you¡¯re behind this, you can¡¯t escape. I won¡¯t let you or your aplices off the hook. Tim adored his only daughter, and Jameson had vited his biggest taboo by targeting Danielle. The police had been lying in wait. Momentster, they appeared at the door and stepped inside, addressing Jameson and Jason. ¡°Pleasee with us to the station for questioning.¡± Jameson still tried to shield Jason. ¡°My son has nothing to do with this. Question me instead.¡± He wasn¡¯t about to go quietly. Once at the station, he¡¯d call hiswyer and deny everything. How could they prove anything? Danielle hadn¡¯t been seriously harmed, and he hadn¡¯t ordered the hit on Ross. Only one person could have used his ount to contact those guys- Natalie. Natalie had tried to kill Ross behind his back. Jameson seethed. ¡®How could she be so vicious, dragging me into this mess?¡® ¡°Our investigation shows Jason wasn¡¯t uninvolved in the kidnapping. Save your excuses. If you¡¯re innocent, we¡¯ll clear you,¡± the police stated. Jason clenched his jaw, ring at Shermaine with murderous rage. He wanted to strangle her. She was the reason he¡¯d never get ahead. After they left with the police, Shermaine felt a flicker of vindication for Ross, but it was far from satisfying. This was just the first strike¨Cbarely a scratch. Next, she¡¯d make them suffer. She¡¯d expected them to hold their nerves for a few days, but they¡¯d rushed to Tim the second Jason returned, trying to snatch Danielle away. ¡®Danielle belongs to Ross. Jason doesn¡¯t deserve a second nce.¡¯ That was what Shermaine had thought the first time she met Jason. While the drama raged elsewhere, Ross¡® room was downright cozy, filled with a romantic buzz. Danielle was unbuttoning his hospital gown, her hands trembling slightly. Noticing, Ross smiled warmly, ¡°Dr. Shelly, are you nervous?¡± Danielle¡¯s ears flushed. ¡°You¡¯re seeing things,¡± she huffed. Looking at the delicate beauty before him, Ross figured she was shy. He teased, ¡°Danielle, you weren¡¯t like this before.¡± She had no idea why she was jittery. Normally, she¡¯d yank his clothes off without a second thought¨Ceager to help. Now she felt ridiculously timid. ¡®It¡¯s just taking off a shirt, for god¡¯s sake, she thought. Annoyed, she shot back, ¡°Well, you weren¡¯t like this before either.¡± With a sharp tug, several buttons popped off, exposing the bandage around his abdomen. The gauze was stained red at the wound site. Even wrapped in bandages, his toned build was obvious. Ross dropped his gaze. ¡°That¡¯s why I regret it.¡± But Danielle wasn¡¯t in the mood for sweet talk. Eyeing the injury, she said, ¡°Less chit¨Cchat. Stay put.¡± He fell silent obediently. As she unwrapped the gauze and applied new ointment, she saw his furrowed brow. ¡°Does it sting?¡± Chapter 324 ¡°A little.¡± She leaned down and blew softly on the wound, like calming a kid. ¡°Almost done. Hang tight.¡± Ross could take the pain, but her breath sent a tingle through him, making him smile softly. Just then, Roy and Henry peeked in and saw the scene. Instantly green with envy, they thought, ¡®First we had to swallow Joshua¡¯s couple crap, and now we¡¯ll be stuck with Ross and Danielle¡¯s lovey¨Cdovey bullshit too.¡® Once Danielle finished changing Ross¡® bandages and wrapping new gauze around his wound, Ruth came back with food. She found the others loitering outside. ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± ¡°The air¡¯s way too sweet in there. Our teeth can¡¯t handle it,¡± Roy quipped. Ruth snorted, catching the sarcasm. ¡°You¡¯ll survive. Let¡¯s go in.¡± They walked inside. The moment Ross saw Henry smirking, his expression turned icy. He clearly saw Henry as a ?¡± ¡°Could go for something.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll whip something up when we get home.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Before long, the whole orange was gone. Tim cleared his throat pointedly, thinking, ¡®These two lovebirds are so smitten. They¡¯ll probably have kids next.¡® Meanwhile in the dermatology ward, Natalie nearly ripped out her IV when she heard Jason and Jameson hauled to the station. Panicked and seething, she stormed over. Jameson can sink or swim, but my son is off¨Climits,¡® she thought. Just as Shermaine and Joshua headed toward Ross¡® room, Natalie appeared, with a mask hiding her blotchy, allergic face. ¡°Shermaine, leave Jason alone. Touch him and I¡¯ll ruin you!¡± Shermaine gave her a disapproving look. ¡°You¡¯re all talk¡± Furious, Natalie lunged, but Joshua blocked her easily, shoving her back. He said indifferently with a cold face, ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll just stand by and CHAM 23:48 Tue, 24 Jun watch?¡± No oneid a hand on Shermaine. Well, except in the bedroom. ?????????????? At the sight of Joshua, Natalie¡¯s sanity snapped back into ce, though fear still gripped her. ¡°Shermaine, don¡¯t think having a bodyguard makes you invincible. Remember my words. Cross me and I¡¯ll drag you down with me, even if we both sink.¡± ¡°Pathetic,¡± Shermaine said coolly. Natalie¡¯s chest tightened with frustration. Shermaine locked eyes with her, enunciating each syble. ¡°You and Jason, Natalie longed to lunge and w that mocking face, but terror held her back. Plus, her skin itched unbearably, driving her to flee. neither Of fyou is escaping.¡± slimy things squirmed under the skin like bugs, She bolted to the restroom, tore off her mask, and stared into the mirror. Half her face looked rotted as revolting bugs. Gradually they multiplied, crawling over every inch. With a scream, her eyes rolled back and she crumpled. When Jason heard his mother had copsed in the hospital, he knew her allergic reaction was no ident. Someone had spiked her food. His expression my darkening, he grabbed a cop¡¯s arm. ¡°I¡¯m reporting attempted murder. Someone tried to kill mother.¡± Chapter 325 The cop was thrown for a loop by Jason¡¯s move. He was still a suspect himself, not cleared of charges, and now he wanted to press charges against someone else? The officer scowled. ¡°Who are you reporting?¡± ¡°Shermaine,¡± Jason replied. The cop thought, ¡®Talk about bold. ¡°Why use her?¡± ¡°I think Shermaine spiked my mom¡¯s beef and wine this afternoon. That¡¯s why she¡¯s in the hospital in bad shape,¡± Jason said. ¡°Think? So you have no proof, just a wild guess.¡± Jason¡¯s expression turned grim. ¡°Just do your job and check.¡± The officer didn¡¯t feel like humoring him, but professional duty won out. ¡®If the investigation turns up nothing, he will be hit with false reporting and defamation,¡® he thought. First, he verified Natalie¡¯s condition¨Csevere allergic reaction with hallucinations of bugs, now sedated and unconscious in the hospital. But the probe came up empty. La Terraza Winery insisted their food hadn¡¯t been tampered with from prep to table, and the hospital confirmed the allergy wasn¡¯t triggered by food. ?? With the hospital¡¯s findings, the cop had no reason to keep investigating. He returned to give Jason the news. ¡°That can¡¯t be right.¡± Jason exploded. ¡°Shermaine had to be behind this.¡± The cop maintained a stern expression. ¡°This is the official conclusion.¡± O ¡°Useless,¡± Jason spat, his face darkening. ¡°My mom was attacked, and you can¡¯t find squat. Maybe you¡¯re on her payroll too.¡± The officer wasn¡¯t riled¨Cjust certain Jason was headed for a cell. False reporting was one thing, but insulting a cop¡¯s honor? That was crossing the line. So that night, thewyer failed to get Jason or Jameson released. Both ended up in the police station. Jameson¡¯s testimony that nightpletely cleared Jason and Natalie, manning up to take all the me for the crimes. He was staring down prison time but wasn¡¯t too worried. After all, years in Basterel had given him connections to weasel out of trouble. ?????????????????? Besides, blood was blood. He couldn¡¯t believe Ross and Shermaine would be that heartless. He¡¯d call Janice tomorrow. His mother wouldn¡¯t let Shermaine put him behind bars. But Jason had blown it, running his mouth and ending up in the police station. ¡®The kid has no sense¨Cnothing like Shermaine,¡® Jameson thought. Looking at Jason now, Jameson felt nothing but irritation. Still, he¡¯d coddled the boy his whole life. ¡°Jason, rein it in next time.¡± Gone was the dutiful son. Jason was all snarls. ¡°What¡¯d I do wrong? Shermaine did this to Mom. The cops are useless. They found nothing. What else are they but losers?¡± Jameson might be an idiot when it came to family, but he saw straight there. ¡°Shermaine outsmarted the cops. If you had half her brains, would we be sitting here? ¡°Instead of reflecting on yourself, you let your temper take over. I¡¯m seriously disappointed.¡± The second Jameson thought Jason couldn¡¯t hold a candle to Shermaine, he¡¯d already lostpletely. 1/1 Chapter 326 Jason went cold all over at Jameson¡¯s words. His father was clearly impressed by Shermaine now, even implying she outssed him. Panic surged through him. He dropped his gaze. ¡°Sorry, Dad. I messed up. I just wanted to protect Mom.¡± Jameson patted his shoulder, but his touch held no warmth. ¡°Jason, when you targeted Ross, you should¡¯ve known Shermaine wouldn¡¯t let it slide. Your mom brought this on herself.¡± Jason had noeback. A scowl twisted Jameson¡¯s face. ¡°Natalie¡¯s gone too far¨Cpulling strings against Ross behind my back, using my name like it¡¯s hers.¡± Jason stared, stunned. He¡¯d expected Jameson to forgive his mother¡¯s actions out of love, but the opposite happened. The next morning. Jameson¡¯swyer showed up at Jean Vi, asking Janice to visit the police station. News of the mess had spread through the family. Andrew tried pleading Jameson¡¯s case, but Brandon stayed mum. Janice took a sip of coffee. ¡°He only remembers I¡¯m his mother when he¡¯s in trouble. Did he listen when I told him to ditch that mistress?¡± Thewyer kept it businesslike. ¡°Mrs. Jean, I¡¯m sure Mr. Jameson Jean realizes his mistake.¡± ¡°Too little, toote.¡± Janice mmed her cup down. ¡°I haven¡¯t disowned him out of old sentiment, but he¡¯s acting like a fool. He deserves every bit of this. ¡°Tell him I won¡¯t lift a finger. He can forget about my help.¡± Back at the station, thewyer repeated Janice¡¯s words verbatim. Jameson felt a pang of disbelief. Once a mother¡¯s trust was broken, she didn¡¯t meddle. He bitterly regretted parading his rtionship with Natalie. If only he¡¯d been more discreet, with Janice¡¯s support, he could¡¯ve avoided this mess. Ross was still in the hospital, and during his stay, Shermaine had persuaded him to hand over authority. So she was still serving as acting CEO of Jean Group. The first thing Shermaine did when she got to the office was start reviewing thepany¡¯s financial records. No one knew how much of the ten billion dors Jameson had spent came from corporate ounts. If any of it turned out to bepany money, he¡¯d definitely lose his position. In the meantime, Ruth had moved out. She¡¯d signed the new divorce agreement and sent it to Jameson. Once he was released from the police station, the divorce would definitely go through. When Jameson saw the agreement, he thought about how kind Ruth had been to Richard and felt a sharp ache. Holding the pen, he kept putting off signing. ¡°Mr. Jean, please sign as soon as possible. Don¡¯t waste my time,¡± said Ruth¡¯s divorcewyer. The new agreement stated that Ruth wasn¡¯t asking for any money. She was leaving with nothing. Jameson had no choice but to sign. 42 Comment Send gift If anyone was over the moon about Ruth¡¯s divorce, it was Richard. The day she moved out, he even showed up to lend a hand. After unloading thest box, Ruth realized the ce still needed some furniture, so she headed to the furniture store downstairs. Richard tagged along like a loyal puppy. A lovey¨Cdovey couple ahead was too wrapped up in each other to watch where they were going. As they nearly crashed into Ruth, Richard pulled her close to his side. Still not used to his touch, Ruth snapped, ¡°Richard, what¡¯s the big idea?¡± He looked hurt. ¡°Ruthie, I just didn¡¯t want them to knock you over.¡± Feeling bad for overreacting, she said, ¡°Sorry.¡± Now single for real, she had no reason to hold back, but old habits were hard to break. Besides, Richard had always been too respectful. When she said she wasn¡¯tfortable, he never crossed the line. The man was a genuine sweetheart. ¡°Okay, Ruthie, I get it,¡± he said. After picking out furniture, she stopped by the next¨Cdoor supermarket to buy groceries, nning to make lunch and prepare nutritious meals for Ross. She invited Richard to stay. He was thrilled, still trailing her like a shadow. At Jean Group, Shermaine¡¯s return had certain executives on Jameson¡¯s payroll on edge. In just two days, she¡¯d fired several top brass. To add to the tension, Joshua showed up daily for lunch and never missed her quitting time, making it clear how much he adored her. Executives unhappy with her authority kept mum. One wrong word to Joshua could mean trouble. Joshua¡¯s business style was cutthroat. Take ck River Company as an example. It was practically bankrupt, but the Wright family was still hanging on, too proud to file for bankruptcy. Shermaine wasn¡¯t just poring overpany ounts. She was investigating Jameson¡¯s personal finances, too. Her days of hard work finally paid off. She¡¯d tracked down where most of that ten billion dors had originated, along with years of expenses where he¡¯d embezzled from corporate funds. Joshua stopped by for lunch, but Shermaine, buried in work, could easily tune out even his presence¨Cjust like when she got lost in her numbers. Seeing it was well past noon and she showed no signs of stopping, Joshua walked over and lifted her right out of her office chair. Shermaine jolted. ¡°Joshua, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Time to eat,¡± Joshua said. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry.¡± ¡°Lunchtime¡¯s here.¡± He carried her to the sofa, tilted her face up, and nipped her lower lip. ¡°Sheary, don¡¯t overdo it.¡± Chapter 327 ¡°I¡¯m good,¡± she said bluntly Thank goodness she was only a major shareholder in Oliger Company which she and Lily owned. If she had to run it, she¡¯d he busier than him ¡°Let me finish these files first,¡± she said, trying to head back to her desk. But Joshua pressed her against the sofa. ¡°Still not hungry?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± He didn¡¯t reply, just deepened the kiss, his hands wandering to stoke the heat. She wore a white silk blouse today to y the CEO role, paired with a ck pencil skirt, her zer hanging on the chair. Secondster, two blouse buttons were undone as he kissed her corbone. ¡°Onest time, hungry now?¡± Her lips were flushed and glossy, like ripe cherries. She arched an eyebrow. ¡°Not in the slightest.¡± Joshuaughed, nipping at her ear. ¡°Sheary, you¡¯re not being good at all.¡± ¡°When have I ever been good?¡± ¡°You were on my birthday.¡± Joshua brought up that night¨Chow obedient Shermaine had been, letting him do whatever he wanted without protest. The thought got his blood boiling, making him want to pin her down and have an intimate moment with her right there and then. Shermaine looked him straight in the eye, yanking his tie. ¡°Joshua, behave. Let me finish this document first.¡± She added, ¡°Five minutes.¡± Joshua had no choice but to give in, pecking her lips. ¡°Ms. Jean, you need to keep your word. I¡¯ll be timing you.¡± As she pushed him away and sat up, her cor hung open, making Joshua¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bob. His gaze grew hot. Shermaine sensed his intention. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it.¡± ¡°Oh, I am thinking.¡± She stood and went back to her desk, resuming work. Joshua sat on the sofa, tugging at his tie. The more he tried to suppress his thoughts, the stronger they became. Shermaine in her business suit was just as irresistible as she¡¯d been in that bunny costume on his birthday. Exactly five minutester, Shermaine kept her promise, joining Joshua in thepany cafeteria. Jean Group¡¯s chef really knew how to cook. When the two showed up, employees having lunch were stunned. Maybe because of the imposing presence of the two big shots, everyone felt restless while eating. Jameson had just been bailed out of the police station. Without time to rest, he received a call from thepany saying Shermaine was holding another shareholder meeting. ¡®What¡¯s Shermaine up to now, holding another shareholder meeting?¡® he wondered. All in all, a very bad feeling welled up in his heart. Without much time to take care of himself, Jameson went straight to thepany. Jason, who held shares, naturally went with him. After spending a few days in the police station, Paling and sleeping benity, he no longer forked high spirited at at ben Jameson suived Sharmaine in her pan en radiated with authority that howlng He snapped. ¡°Sharmaine, what¡¯s the print of calling this chareholder meeting ¡°You see in a minute,¡± she replied. Jameson took his seat, determined to find but her game. stready sired contrat As shareholders trickled in, the meeting quickly turned to its main agenda, and Jameson realized it was called to oust him as chairman. His face paled with shock as he stared at his daughter. ¡°All in favor of removing Jameson as chairman, please raise your hand,¡± she said, presenting evidence of his embezzlement. To his horror, eight out of ten shareholders voted yes. Embezzling corporate funds was a grave offense, especially given therge amount involved. And even his majority shares couldn¡¯t save him now. He had to repay every cent or face awsuit from thepany. With overwhelming support for his removal, Shermaine didn¡¯t bother counting. ¡°Jameson, you¡¯re no longer chairman of Jean Group. Repay the misappropriated funds within three days.¡± Jameson¡¯s eyes reddened, his face twisting in fury. ¡°Shermaine, do you want to destroy me?¡± Shermaine¡¯s voice was t. ¡°Aren¡¯t these consequences of your own actions?¡± 3/3 Chapter 328 Shermaine¡¯s wordsnded like a barrage of daggers in Jameson¡¯s chest, piercing him with excruciating pain. He was consumed by misery. How is this my own doing?¡® he thought. He refused to ept it. He thought, ¡®Why should my current choices bebeled self¨Cinflicted? I didn¡¯t misjudge people. ¡®How many men could stand having a wife more sessful than themselves?¡± ¡®If Shermaine and Ross had been half as dutiful andpliant as Jason, would I have ignored them? Would I have treated them like strangers? How is this all my fault?¡® But Jameson overlooked a crucial fact¨Crtionships were two¨Cway. How could he demand from others what he himself hadn¡¯t given? Ovee with rage, he lunged to strike Shermaine, only to be blocked before reaching her. This wasn¡¯t the first time Jameson realized how daunting it was to cross his powerhouse daughter. He was no match for her. After the meeting, Shermaine swept out in triumph. By the time Ross recovered and returned, she¡¯d have purged most of the corrupt figures from the Jameson stayed in the conference room, utterly overwhelmed. He¡¯d embezzled five billion dors. Failing to repay it would mean anotherwsuit. Problems kept piling up. ¡®Why did Shermainee back after all those years? Things would¡¯ve been better if she¡¯d never returned,¡® he thought. As this thought hit him, a wave of powerlessness washed over him, followed by dizziness. A warm trickle ran from his nose. When he touched it, his hand came away bloody. He brushed it off as leftover effects from poor food and sleep in the police station. With Jameson removed as chairman, Jason would never enter Jean Group¡¯s inner circle. The shares he held were now worthless. The two left the building in utter disgrace. ¡°Dad, I¡¯m heading to the hospital to see Mom. Youing?¡± Jason asked as they left Jean Group. ¡°Go on your own. I¡¯m not in the mood,¡± Jameson snapped, striding off. At Yaleview Hospital, Natalie¡¯s condition had stabilized, but the areas where the allergic reaction had red now bore dark, stubborn scars. Holding a hand mirror, she saw the blotchy marks¨Clike permanent ck birthmarks¨Cand flew into a rage, smashing the mirror against the wall. She thought, ¡®How could I keep Jameson hooked looking like this? Even if I use that aphrodisiac perfume to stoke his desire, will he still find me attractive?¡® Spotting Jason, she demanded, ¡°What¡¯s the update? Did you fix this mess?¡± Jason hesitated before confessing, ¡°Mom, Dad got removed as chairman. Shermaine did it.¡± ¡°What?¡± Natalie gasped, stunned. ¡°That bitch had the right to do so?¡± ¡°Some of the ten billion dors Dad gave you came from embezzledpany funds. Shermaine found the evidence,¡± Jason exined. Natalie¡¯s face paled. Years of scheming had gone up in smoke. ¡°Your dad¡¯s a pathetic fool. Letting a nobody like Shermaine take him down. He couldn¡¯t even marry me, and now he has lost everything.¡± Chapter 328 Jameson, who¡¯d initially decided not to visit, had a change of heart. Fueled by guilt and lingering attraction, he turned back, only to overhear Natalie. trashing him as a failure. AD Chapter 329 Jameson stopped dead in his tracks at the door. ¡®Is this really the same woman I know¨Csoft¨Cspoken, who once treated me like her entire world? How quickly Natalie revealed her ugly side now that I¡¯m down on my luck,¡® he thought. ¡°Mom. cut Dad some ck,¡± Jason pleaded. ¡°What¡¯s the harm in telling the truth? He¡¯s a failure. If he weren¡¯t, would I still be stuck in the shadows? Would you still get called a bastard?¡± Natalie retorted. Jason wasn¡¯t as resentful as his mother. He knew firsthand how well Jameson had treated him¨Clight¨Cyears better than Shermaine or Ross. As siblings, he already felt he¡¯de out on top. Jameson stood stunned as if trapped in an unreal dream. Overwhelmed, he turned and walked away without entering. For all herining, Natalie had no ns to leave Jameson. Looking like this, she doubted she could attract another man. Best to y it safe and wait. Jason only med himself, hated that he wasn¡¯t as powerful as Shermaine, and hated his repeated losses that had led him and his parents there. He thought, ¡®Why couldn¡¯t Shermaine just die? And Ross¨Cwhy didn¡¯t he die in Lightspring City? How is he alive, and worse, how did he steal Dr. Shelly, the woman I want?¡® Like father, like son. He never once took responsibility for his own failures. In the adjacent ward, Ross, with his extraordinary healing, was already on his feet within days, despite nurses warning that his stitches were still fragile and too much movement could reopen the wound. Danielle had a huge circle of friends. After returning injured from Lightspring City, she had so many daily visitors that Ross barely got a moment alone with her. As yellow leaves blew in on the crisp wind, Ross tossed aside his nkets, stood up, and headed straight to the next room. At that moment, Danielle was hosting a friend who¡¯d traveled far to visit her. Being from old¨Cmoney families, they¡¯d known each other since childhood, so the sight of them sitting together chatting was warmly intimate. The man, Conan Yaeger, was two years Danielle¡¯s senior. As a pianist, he had an artistic air¨Crefined, upbeat, and as agreeable as a spring day. His face practically radiated kindness. Standing outside, Ross watched Danielle take a peeled apple from Conan. She took a bite and said casually, ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Since when do we need to be polite?¡± Conan grinned. ¡°Fair point.¡± They¡¯d been friends since toddlerhood. If neither had seen the other romantically, their families would¡¯ve pushed for a rtionship ages ago. Outside the door, Ross¡® expression darkened. The primal possessiveness of a man for someone he liked was rising, making him feel as sour as biting into a lemon. ¡°Mr. Jean, how many times have I told you not to keep getting up?¡± the nurse chided, spotting him by the neighboring ward. ¡°You could rip your stitches.¡± 1/2 Inside, Danielle turned at the voice and saw Ross standing outside, wearing a clear scowl. She took another bite of the apple. When she noticed Ross¡® eyesnding on Conan beside her, she smiled. If I¡¯m right, is Ross jealous of Conan?¡® she thought. AD Chapter 330 ¡°Mr. Jean, I must insist you return to your ward and rest immediately,¡± the nurse warned, ying her final card. ¡°Or I¡¯ll have to call Dr. Jean Ross dropped his eyes, saying nothing as he turned and retreated to the adjacent room, Inside, Conan noticed Danielle¡¯s simile and asked curiously, ¡°Is that the guy you like?¡± ¡°Yep,¡± she answered. ¡°You¡¯ve always had a type,¡± he chuckled. It was uncanny¨Csomehow there really was a man who seemed designed to her specifications, captivating her at every turn. Danielle¡¯s smile stayed put. ¡°No, it¡¯s just Ross now. I¡¯d like him no matter what.¡± She¡¯d spent daysing to terms with her growing feelings, but after so many rejections, she was waiting for him to make a move. At nine that night, Conan finally left. With a cast on her leg, Danielle couldn¡¯t walk him downstairs, only seeing him to the ward door The moment Conan was gone, Danielle debated checking on Ross. Before she decided, her phone pinged with a message: [Come here.] She tucked her phone away, grabbed her crutches, and headed to his room. Ross was propped up in bed, a book on the nearby nightstand. When she sat down in front of him, he couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°Who is he?¡± ¡°Childhood friend,¡± Danielle replied, her serene smile turning sly. ¡°My dad loves him. He¡¯s been trying to set us up.¡± Though Ross had saved her life, Tim still disliked him because of his past rumors. Ross frowned, pressing his lips into a tight line. Danielle rarely saw him like this. Unable to resist, she shuffled closer, fiddling with the buttons on his cor to flirt with him. Unlike the shyness of days before, she was a different person now. ¡°Ross, are you jealous?¡± she murmured, her fingers brushing his Adam¡¯s apple as she toyed with his buttons. The softness in her voice made his chest tighten. Ross didn¡¯t flinch. He caught her hand and said tly, ¡°Yes. I am.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to do? You¡¯re not my boyfriend, so you can¡¯t be jealous.¡± Ross felt a sharp pang. He wanted that title. ¡°Danielle, let me be your boyfriend. Okay?¡± His warm voice dropped to a husky murmur as if luring her into a trance. Danielle nearly nodded yes but caught herself just in time. Inside, she was ecstatic. Ross had finally made a move. ¡°Next time I want to kiss you, will you still push me away?¡± she asked. Ross shook his head. The rejections before? He¡¯d only held back because she tempted him too much. ¡°Danielle, I¡¯d love it if you kissed me.¡± She pressed on. ¡°If I want you, will you give yourself to me?¡± ¡°Once I heal, whatever you want is yours.¡± ¡®Fair enough,¡¯ Danielle thought. She blushed but recovered quickly. 1/3 Chapter 330 She¡¯d always been flirty with Ross. Earlier shyness was just because her feelings had grown too strong, leaving her tongus fier ¡°Stay put,¡± she smiled. ¡°I¡¯m kissing you.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Danielle leaned in, pressing her lips to his. The kiss was messy, but Ross wasn¡¯t a saint. And Danielle¡¯s boldness? It drove him wild. When she pulled back, satisfied, she licked her lips. Ross, ready to kiss her back, was left dazed¨Coverheated, itching to drag her into his arms and keep kissing until he¡¯d had his fill. ¡°Danielle,¡± he breathed, gripping her hand¨Cclear intent to keep going. She pecked the corner of his mouth, half¨Cteasing, ¡°Don¡¯t move. We can¡¯t risk your stitches.¡± Ross thought, ¡®She¡¯s cruel¨Cstirring me up and then leaving me hanging. Thepany gave Jameson just three days to repay the embezzled funds. He had no choice but to sell off part of his shares, several properties, cars, and valuable collectibles, barely scraping together five billion dors to cover the shortfall. Now, aside from his unsold shares, his worth tanked, with liquid assets of less than 300 thousand dors. Still, he faced pendingwsuits from Tim and Ross. In just over a week, he looked a decade older. Even though Natalie called him a failure behind his back, she was still his woman and the mother of his son. He couldn¡¯t lose Ruth and then Natalie too. That would be a total disaster. But after the allergic reaction, Natalie¡¯s dark scars wouldn¡¯t fade, and her temper grew increasingly vtile. She oftenshed out at him, and now, simply because she didn¡¯t get the food she wanted, she started hitting and cursing him. Jameson had never tolerated such abuse from anyone except Ruth. He snapped, ¡°Natalie, are you done yet?¡± His face turned icy as he pped her back. ¡°How dare you hit me?¡± Natalie roared. ¡°Stop throwing baseless tantrums.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you realize I¡¯m the one keeping this family afloat now? With those measly shares, do you really think you can bounce back?¡± Natalie yelled.. Jameson grabbed her hair and snarled, ¡°That money came from me in the first ce. How dare you talk back using my own cash? Who do you think you are? Look at yourself. If you keep this up, don¡¯t me me for getting rough.¡± When Jason came home to the chaotic scene of shouting and destruction, he couldn¡¯t stand it and stormed out again. Thanksgiving arrived quickly¨Ca time meant for family reunions. Jameson tried to return to Jean Vi, but Janice turned him away, saying she¡¯d never let him set foot inside unless he cut all ties with Natalie. After weighing his options, he still couldn¡¯t bring himself to abandon Natalie and Jason. They¡¯d spent so many years together. Even with their rtionship in shambles, his feelings for them lingered. Then he received a document out of the blue¨Crecords of Natalie¡¯s gender reassignment surgery at 18 in Moranta. The truth hit him like a punch. The woman he¡¯d left his family for was transgender. Instantly, nausea flooded his body. Jameson felt a rush of heat to his head, his vision swam, and he copsed at home. When Ruth learned Jameson had seen the files about Natalie¡¯s surgery, the bitterness in her heart finally lifted. 2/3 Chapter 330 Richard thought Jameson got exactly what he deserved -no sympathy needed. After confirming that even if Ruth regained her memory, and held ver affection for Jameson, he finally rxed. At York Residence, Joshua was helping Shermaine pack. She was departing for Ustrana at dawn to attend a math conference. He wanted to join her, but work obligations kept him rooted. Right now, Shermaine had just wrapped up a video conference in the study. After debriefing her team, she started to head to her room for a shower, only to have Joshua enter before she could stand. He scooped her into his arms and set her on the desk. Resting his forehead against hers, he whispered a question in her ear. AD ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Shermaine said sternly. Wearing a bunny costumest time was her breaking point. Now Joshua wanted to have sex in such a formal setting? He was crossing boundaries more and more, constantly reshaping her perception of him. Joshua took his time, kissing her palms and earlobes with deliberate patience. His voice was velvety soft. ¡°Baby, just this once.¡± Shermaine held her ground. Men shouldn¡¯t be coddled. Her indulgence of Joshua was exactly why he kept making such outrageous requests. His eyes were deep and alluring, crinkling with a smile that seemed to trap her in a starry night. Gazing into them, she felt utterly ensnared. The intensity of his stare made her flush. She covered his eyes, but it didn¡¯t faze him. His words still sent her pulse racing. ¡°You leave for Ustrana in the morning for a week. I¡¯ll miss you like crazy.¡± Worn down by his persistence, she caved finally. ¡°Fine, but make it snappy.¡± She always lost her resolve with Joshua. No use overthinking. She wasn¡¯t about to self¨Ccriticize. Chuckling at his sess, Joshua guided her hand from his face. ¡°Sheary, you know me,¡± he murmured, leaning in to kiss her. ¡°Speed isn¡¯t my forte.¡± Shermaine thought, ¡®He¡¯s once reserved, now bold.¡® She traced his jaw. ¡°Forty minutes max.¡± ¡°Deal,¡± he smiled, lowering his head to im her lips. His arm wrapped around her waist as he began what spring does to cherry trees. The desk¡¯s height was perfect¨CShermaine seated on its edge, Joshua bending to kiss her. The scene was a poetic tableau, too entrancing to look away. Outside, the full moon, flustered by the intimate shadows within, hid bashfully behind the clouds. It was Thanksgiving Day. Shermaine thought with a rueful smile, ¡®Once you start, it¡¯s never just a one¨Ctime thing.¡® They¡¯d had sex in the study, then again in the shower. A Joshua had boundless energy. When she finally emerged, hair dripping, she sank into a chair in a cream nightgown. Joshua, in nothing but pajama pants, took a hairdryer and started drying her hair. Joshua said, ¡°Grandpa made you cookies this afternoon. Want to try them?¡± Shermaine had been too busy since she got back to eat. ¡°Let¡¯s open a bottle of red wine, too,¡± she said. ¡°Got it.¡± After drying her hair, Joshua went to grab the wine and cookies. The second¨Cfloor balcony had a hanging chair. He poured the wine, sat beside her, and they clinked sses. From their spot, the bright full moon shone clear. A cool autumn breeze blew, and Joshua draped a nket over her. ¡°Don¡¯t get cold.¡± Shermaine shuffled closer. ¡°Don¡¯t just cover me. Let¡¯s share it.¡± Soon enough, she was sitting on hisp, wrapped together in the soft wool nket. They ate cookies, sipped wine, and watched the moon. Shermaine was nestled in his arms, her eyes growing heavy, and she fell asleep. 14:07 WE Chapter 331 Joshua¡¯s gaze was filled with adoration as he kissed her forehead gently, then carried her inside. Elsewhere, the shattered Jameson woke in the hospital. He still couldn¡¯t digest the truth. Nausea roiled in his stomach. He thought, ¡®How could Matalie be transgender? It has to be a fake document Janice created to split us up. It must be.¡® AD As Jameson dwelled on this, the doctor suddenly stepped in. ¡°You¡¯re awake, Mr. Jean.¡± Jameson barely spared the doctor a thought at first. But then came the bombshell. ¡°Mr. Jean, your health is in decline. Your heart and kidneys won¡¯tst more than a few years.¡± ¡°Wait, my heart?¡® Jameson thought. ¡®What the hell is wrong with my heart?¡® His face went ashen. ¡°How can my heart and kidneys be failing?¡± He had annual checkups. Every report said he was in good shape. How could this happen overnight? ¡°It¡¯s tied to your long¨Cterm use of a rare narcotic,¡± the doctor said. Narcotic? He¡¯d never touched drugs in his life. Jameson grew frantic. ¡°I don¡¯t do drugs. Are you sure you got the wrong guy, doctor?¡± ¡°Positive. This drug triggers an intense sexual addiction to a specific person, along with severe dependency. ¡°Is there someone in your life with a unique, intoxicating scent? Someone who gives you something to eat before being intimate?¡± Jameson¡¯s mind snapped to Natalie. He couldn¡¯t remember when it started, but she¡¯d made him chew a piece of gum before every kiss, iming she was germophobic and hated the smell of smoke or liquor. He¡¯d never questioned it. He smoked and drank, so he figured she was just picky. He always chewed the gum. No wonder he was never bored with Natalie. Every encounter left him electrified. The strange fragrance on her skin always sent his pulse racing. So that was why he couldn¡¯t get enough of her¨Cshe¡¯d been drugging him all along. In an instant, Jameson felt a murderous urge toward Natalie. The woman had resorted to every sleazy trick to stay in his life. He¡¯d actually wanted to make her his legitimate wife, and she¡¯d drugged him. If he died, she and Jason would inherit his estate. ¡®My medical reports must have been tampered with. How else could annual checkups have missed this?¡® he thought. Thinking of Jason¨Cwas he even his son? If Natalie was transgender, she might not have a functional reproductive system. That would mean Jason might not be his biological child. Rage consumed him, but then came sudden palpitations and dizziness as if death were imminent. He grabbed the doctor¡¯s hand in desperation. ¡°Doctor, is there any hope?¡± The doctor replied, ¡°Your kidney can be treated. We can remove the damaged one. But as for your heart, you¡¯ll need a transnt.¡± Losing a kidney was already devastating, but a heart transnt? ¡°How risky is the surgery?¡± Jameson asked. ¡°Given your condition, very high. The sess rate is under 15%. Years of drug use have severely weakened your heart. Without a transn most three years.¡± ¡®Three years? And such a slim chance,¡¯ Jameson thought. ¡°Only 15%¡­¡± he muttered, face pale and sweaty, struggling to catch his breath through the palpitations. ¡°But if Dr. Jean performs the operation, your odds of survival increase significantly,¡± the doctor added. have at 4757 wed, zo jun Chapter 332 Jameson fell silent. ¡°D¨CDr. Jean?¡± AD The doctor continued, ¡°Right, Dr. Jean isn¡¯t on our hospital staff, but she¡¯s a genius. We refer every unsolvable case to her, ¡°She¡¯s done surgeries with sess rates under 5%-never lost a patient. She¡¯s a legend in medicine, our hero.¡± The doctor was clearly a huge fan of Shermaine, his face flushing with excitement as he talked.¡± Hearing how talented this Dr. Jean was, Jameson didn¡¯t immediately link her to Shermaine. ¡°That¡¯s perfect. Can you contact her to perform my surgery? ¡°Her fee is 300 thousand dors.¡± Shermaine discounted fees for those in need, but the reduced rates were known only to patients and their families. ¡°I can cover that,¡± Jameson said. Though he didn¡¯t have 300 thousand dors, he could sell more shares. Plus, he¡¯d given Jason 4.5 million dors recently. He could demand it back. At the thought of Jason, he was desperate to do a paternity test to confirm if the boy was his son. The doctor said, ¡°I¡¯ll put in a hospital request, but I can¡¯t promise she¡¯ll ept.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± That night, Jameson took his prescribed meds and checked out. Instead of going home, he booked a hotel room. He needed to find out who sent the document and if someone was plotting to split him and Natalie. He had to verify the truth before confronting her. His critical health issues had to be Natalie¡¯s doing. After all, he rarely cheated, and the drug must have killed his attraction to other women. ¡®What a ruthless woman, using narcotics against me,¡® he thought. Jameson spent the whole night unable to go home, haunted by his critical health diagnosis. He¡¯d only live three years without surgery. Sleeplessness gripped him. Meanwhile, Shermaine, the very Dr. Jean he was counting on, slept soundly. After breakfast with Joshua, she headed to the airport. Joshua saw her off, helped check her luggage, and was yfully waved away. ¡°Be careful there,¡± he said. ¡°Got it,¡± Shermaine replied softly ¡°Call me every day.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Joshua kissed her forehead before leaving. The professor, already at the airport, waved to Shermaine as they approached security. After clearing it, they reached the boarding area, only to run into Roy. Roy wore a white hoodie, baggy track pants, and JK¨Cstyle sneakers, a casual look. His trendy long pink hair stood out. His features were boyishly handsome¨Cmore striking than the average ¡°pretty boy¡°-with deep¨Cset eyes and naturally pink lips, giving him the ssic 1/3 445/ Wed 20 Jun Chapter 333 maniptive heartthrob look. ¡°Mdy, you¡¯re going to Ustrana, too?¡± he asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Shermaine replied. Roy beamed. ¡°Which part?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to Loang.¡± ¡°Same.¡± Roy grinned eagerly and asked, ¡°So, what are you going to do there?¡± ¡°I¡¯m attending a math conference.¡± Shermaine introduced the professor beside her. ¡°This is Professor Brown from Basterel University¡¯s math department.¡± was Dustin Brown, vice president of the Wallington Mathematical Society, renowned figure in Wallington¡¯s academic circle, having made significant contributions. Roy courteously greeted Dustin, a heavyweight in the mathmunity. Dustin was typically tight¨Clipped, but Roy had a talent for winning over elders at least when he wasn¡¯t misjudging them. Despite being a math novice, Roy managed to chat animatedly with Dustin, even managing to upgrade their business¨Css tickets during the conversation. It was worth noting that Roy¡¯s esports team waspeting in the same district as Shermaine¡¯s group, and their hotels were just a street apart. After a dozen¨Chour flight, theynded in Loang. The hotel they¡¯d booked, one of Ustrana¡¯s premier stays, provided a private car service. Knowing the hotel car was already waiting outside, Shermaine led Dustin toward the exit. ¡°Mdy, how about we ride together? I just canceled my hotel room and booked yours. Want to grab dinner tonight?¡± Roy said. Shermaine first asked Dustin if he had evening ns. When he said no, she turned to Roy. ¡°Where do you want to eat?¡± ¡°You know Ustrana better. You pick.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± As they reached the airport exit, a stretch limousine stood out like a sore thumb. Even Roy, a trust¨Cfund kid, couldn¡¯t help double¨Ctaking. There was probably only one such car in all of Ustrana. Shermaine frowned at the sight. The door swung open, and Roy caught a glimpse of shapely legs in stilettos. ¡®Damn. The passenger¡¯s a woman,¡® he thought. Molly stepped out. Her shapely legs and hourss figure wrapped in a ck bodycon dress were straight out of a supermodel shoot. Her sizzling outfit drew everyone¡¯s attention. She rocked a sleek pixie cut yet still oozed sex appeal. There was a bossy edge to her¨Clike a billionaire female CEO straight out of a movie. But it was her grayish eyes that gave away her mixed heritage. Molly held a slimdy¡¯s cigarette, a butterfly tattoo peeking out above her ankle. 14:57 Wed 25 Jun Chapter 333 The second she climbed out of the car, she stalked straight toward Shermaine and without a word, threw a punch. Roy had never seen a woman in a skin¨Ctight dress and 3¨Cinch heels fight with such effortless swagger. Why the hell is she attacking Mdy on sight?¡® he wondered. Shermaine raised an eyebrow. After a few blocked blows, she stepped back, snatched a hair tie, and pulled her hair into a ponytail Molly, long time no see. Got an itch you need to scratch?¡± Molly smirked, flicking her cigarette to the ground. ¡°You know in Ustrana, only you have the guts to mouth off to me. Call it restlessness. Shermaine pinned her wrist and pressed an arm to her neck. When Molly went limp, she released her, only for Molly to grab her waist like a hoodlum, eyeing her chest in disbelief. ¡°Wait, your boobs are bigger than mine now? After a year?¡± No matter how she measured up to Shermaine, she always came in second, except for her boobs, which she¡¯d always bragged were bigger. Shermaine gave an exasperated sigh. ¡®It¡¯s just a second breast development,¡® Shermaine thought. She said nonchntly, ¡°You can get it too.¡± Molly asked, ¡°Seriously?¡± ¡°Yeah. Find a man.¡± ¡®Aman? What a hassle. Since when do men have that function?¡® Molly wondered. Molly studied Shermaine¡¯s expression. She didn¡¯t seem to be joking. But the word ¡°man¡± alone was enough to put her off. ¡°Trance told me you got engaged to some guy after returning home. Is this pretty boy the one?¡± Molly turned her gaze to Roy who had been chatting and you yboy.¡± And there was that time when he didn¡¯t realize Shermaine was the hacker who hadpletely outssed him¨Che had beenpletely smitten, and Henry had made fun of him for ages, calling him a fool. But once he found out that Mdy was Shermaine, he¡¯d epted it pretty calmly. He¡¯d never felt such a strong rush of heart¨Cpounding for any woman before. Molly was like a love potion to him. Shermaine shook her head and introduced, ¡°Roy Shay, my husband¡¯s best friend from childhood.¡± Seeing that Roy was staring nkly at Molly, she called him over. Since being with Joshua, she could spot romantic feelings at a nce. ¡°Molly Hill, one of my few friends.¡± Roy grinned brighter than a blooming sunflower and extended his hand. ¡°Hello, Ms. Hill.¡± The members of Roy¡¯s esports team gawked at their boss. He was smiling like a cuddly golden retriever, all soft and meek, a stark contrast to his usual foul¨Cmouthed outbursts. It was obvious he¡¯d been hypnotized by Molly. ¡®So Roy has a thing for fiery, sexy cat¨Clike women? The catch is, such women are tough to handle. Roy¡¯s a total pushover. Can he really manage?¡® they wondered. If Roy caught wind of their thoughts, he¡¯d snarl back, ¡°You¡¯re the pushover. Your whole family¡¯s pushovers. I¡¯m a puppy outside the sheets, a wolf in them!¡± Molly thought his smile looked just like her husky, so she reached out to shake his hand. ¡°Mr. Shay.¡± Roy barely dared grip her hand. He was burning up, parched, and desperate for a swig of water. ¡°Are you mixed race?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± ¡°Your eye color is stunning.¡± Chapter 334 ¡°Thanks.¡± Molly pulled her hand back. ¡°Shermaine, which hotel are you at? I¡¯ll give you a ride ¡°Hilton Hotel,¡± Shermaine replied, Molly¡¯s stretch Lincoln could seat six or seven. She¡¯d even arranged a luxury car for Roy¡¯s team¨Ca total CEO move. The limo was stocked with pricey champagne and snacks. While Molly was on a call, Roy whispered to Shermaine, ¡°Mdy, how old is Ms. Hill? is the seeing anyone?¡± ¡°Twenty¨Csix. Single.¡± Molly had always disdained men, likely due to her upbringing. In Ustrana, she¡¯s the aristocracy¡¯s most sought¨Cafter yet untamable socialite. AD Chapter 335 ¡®She¡¯s 26? That¡¯s the same age as me,¡® Roy thought. Well, not exactly. He was actually 25, younger than both Joshua and Henry He¡¯d just fudged his age by a year on his driver¡¯s license. ¡®Only a year older than me. No biggie. The main thing is she¡¯s single,¡¯ Roy thought. As soon as he hopped in the car, he chugged a bottle of mineral water. Anxious and parched, he unscrewed another and gulped it down. Loang¡¯s weather wasn¡¯t hot. If anything, it was downright chilly. Up front, Molly watched Roy guzzle water. ¡®Is this guy always this thirsty? He¡¯s a walking contradiction,¡® she thought. ¡°How long are you crashing in Loang, Shermaine?¡± Molly asked. ¡°About a week,¡± Shermaine replied. Molly lit another slim cigarette, crossing her legs. ¡°Cool. Hit me up after your conference wraps.¡± The second they pulled up to the hotel, Roy dashed for the restroom. When he came out, Molly was already gone. His mood took a nosedive. ¡®Does she have WhatsApp?¡® he wondered. He wanted her WhatsApp so they could keep the convos going. In her hotel room, Shermaine shot her family a ¡°safe arrival¡± text, then facetimed Joshua. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Good. When¡¯s that academic gig startin Joshua asked. ¡°The day after tomorrow.¡± She squinted at his background. ¡°Wait, are you on the ind?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± He¡¯d jetted over that afternoon right after she left for Ustrana. ¡°Figured I¡¯d supervise the builders for you.¡± When Joshua first gave her the ind, half of it was still rawnd. Construction only kicked off after she handed over the blueprints. It had been rolling for a while now, with some sections almost done. He¡¯d swung by to check progress during his downtime. ¡°You¡¯re turning into the perfect househusband,¡± Shermaine teased, eyes crinkling. Joshua chuckled, ¡°Heard Roy flew to Ustrana today too¨Csame flight as you, right? Did you cross paths?¡± Their knack for idental run-ins was borderline supernatural. ¡°Uh¨Chuh,¡± she said. ¡°He spent the whole ride grilling me about my friend. He wouldn¡¯t let it drop.¡± Joshua cocked an eyebrow. ¡°Lucky bastard.¡± ¡®Shermaine¡¯s crew is always A¨Clist, like Danielle. This Loang friend is bound to be just as badass,¡® he thought. Joshua twirled the tinum ring on his finger and went on, ¡°Besides Dr. Shelly, I haven¡¯t met any of your other friends.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t Trance count?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a love rival.¡± Until Trance got married, he¡¯d always been a riyal to Joshua. Shermaine chuckled, ¡°I don¡¯t have many friends. If you want to meet them, you definitely will at our wedding.¡± ¡°When exactly is ter¡°?¡± Joshua had long wanted to hold a wedding, to let the whole world know that Shermaine was his wife, the love of his life, Chapter 335 But when they got their marriage license, Shermaine had said there was no hurry for a wedding, so he¡¯d been patiently waiting locker to bring do the topic. Shermaine finally gave a specific time. ¡°Once Sheary Ind ispletely built, we¡¯ll have the wedding.¡± That wasn¡¯t too far off. If Joshua put more manpower into the project, he and Shermaine could hold their wedding next spring. At Loang Airport, Kylie came out pulling her suitcase and wearing sunsses. A blond, good¨Clooking man was waiting for her at the airport exit, driving a ck supercar. The Loang Airport was really full of luxury cars today¨Cfirst a stretch Lincoln, and now a shy Lamborghini Veneno. Kylie took off her sunsses, threw her suitcase at the man, and got into the car directly. AD Comment Chapter 336 Kylie came back to Ustrana for one thing only to kill Shermaine and get even. She¡¯d never been dissed by a man like that before and treated like som untouchable virus. After loading the luggage, the man climbed into the driver¡¯s seat and started the engine. ¡°How¡¯s the Immortality Project going at Wallington¡¯sb ¡°God, can you chill? You hit me with this the second Inded,¡± Kylie snapped. The man said, ¡°I¡¯m just worried you¡¯ll fuck up again. The organization¡¯s counting on you for this mission. If you fail, they won¡¯t let you slide likest time In their Dark Organization, failure meant punishment, and the tougher the job, the worse the penalty. Kylie¡¯s mission was S¨Clevel. Blow this, and she¡¯d beid up for a year minimum. He didn¡¯t want her taking that kind of punishment. Kylie never wanted this gig anyway. This so¨Ccalled Immortality Project was just some rich cancer dude named Joseph chasing a pipe dream to stay alive. Everybody wanted forever, but with today¡¯s tech? It was straight¨Cup fantasy. Kylie knew her brain was leagues ahead of most scientists, but she wasn¡¯t delusional enough to think she could whip up an immortality pill. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll drop it.¡± us sounded almost pleading. ¡°But what about Shermaine? How are you gonna handle her?¡± The mention of Shermaine lit a jealous fire in her eyes. ¡°She¡¯ll take a permanent dirt nap at the Academic Exchange Conference the day after tomorrow. Get me some badass hitmen, us.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll hook you up. What¡¯s in it for me?¡± ¡°I need a boytoy. You volunteering?¡± ¡°Fuck yes.¡± us had been into Kylie for ages. Why else would a top assassin like him baby her in the organization and even cover her ass? When a guy went all out for a woman, there was always an angle. Kylie didn¡¯t actually like guys like us, but he was too useful to ignore. She knew he had a thing for her, and she didn¡¯t mind using her body to get what she wanted. During her long stay in Wallington, Kylie hadn¡¯t satisfied her physical urges. The two of them couldn¡¯t resist when the urge hit. The car pulled over somewhere deserted, and they went at it right away. The Academic Exchange Conference was set for 2 PM that day. In the morning, Molly showed up to grab breakfast with Shermaine, wearing a id zer over a skin¨Ctight leopard¨Cprint mini skirt. In the dining room, Roy looked like hell. Partying too hard the night before had given him a cold. His pink hair was all t, and he could barely keep his eyes open. ¡°Morning, Mdy, Professor Brown, Ms. Hill,¡± he said with a sniffle, plopping into a chair. ¡°Mdy, can you write me a prescription awful.¡± ¡°Sure, but eat something first,¡± Shermaine replied. Molly cut in, ¡°What meds do you need? I¡¯ll send my bodyguard to get them.¡± Shermaine listed a few names. Molly motioned to the suited woman behind her, who headed out to the pharmacy. 1/3 14.58 Wed 25 Jun 18t Chapter 336 ¡°Thanks, Molly,¡± Roy said, ditching the ¡°Ms. Hill.¡± He shed her a sweet smite with two little canine teeth,ying on the charm, To Molly, he looked exactly like her sick husky¨Call needy and helpless. And it him her zer. ¡°Put this on, You¡¯re shivering.¡± was just a small favor. Seeing he was only wearing a thin hoodle she is As soon as Molly took off the jacket, every guy in the room stared at her killer figure. Roy shook his head, ¡°No, I¡¯m good.¡± Right on cue, he sneezed. ¡°Just put it on,¡± Molly snapped, throwing the jacket at him. Then she turned to the gawking men, barking in fluent foreignnguage, ¡°One more look and I¡¯ll rip your eyeballs out.¡± The guys quickly looked away. Molly gave a satisfied nod. Roy took the jacket and caught a whiff of its fragrance. It smelled incredible, almost dizzying. He mumbled a ¡°thanks¡± and pulled it on obediently. Shermaine was used to Molly¡¯s bossy streak. She calmly ate her breakfast while flipping through Loang¡¯stest morning paper. Molly looked satisfied. ¡°What time does the Academic Exchange Conference start?¡± Shermaine replied, ¡°2 PM.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be there to watch you shine,¡± Molly said. Soon it was 2 PM Loang time. Shermaine arrived at the lecture hall with Dustin. The hall was massive. Shermaine counted around 300 people, from no- name researchers to math world heavyweights. Kylie was also in the crowd, wearing a baseball cap and sucking on a lollipop. She¡¯d snagged a corner seat. Shermaine didn¡¯t spot her. Kylie wanted to see if Shermaine had really cracked the twin prime conjecture, a legendary math problem. But the unexpected happened. When Shermaine walked in, several top schrs started trembling. They shot to their feet, gasping. ¡°Pro¨CProfessor Jean?¡± ¡®Professor Jean? That Professor Jean?¡® they wondered. Dustin turned to Shermaine, confused. ¡®Are these legends talking about her?¡® he wondered. He¡¯d heard of Professor Jean, a young math prodigy, a rising star with fans at every elite university. But he¡¯d never seen her and didn¡¯t know her name or face. Shermaine nodded at them. ¡°Long time no see.¡± The crowd erupted in whispers. They thought, ¡®The mythical Professor Jean is actually a drop¨Cdead¨Cgorgeous Wallington native?¡® This time, she showed up as a Wallington native at the Academic Exchange Conference. They didn¡¯t stand a chance of winning that award. Molly slipped in through the back door, took an empty seat, and crossed her legs. Her old friend was about to take the stage, and she¡¯d drop anything to be there. But the guy next to her reeked so badly that she wrinkled her nose. When she looked up, he was leering at her, his gaze straight¨Cup sleazy. 14:58 Wed 25 Ju Chapter 336 Molly figured this sleazeball wasn¡¯t academic material. She narrowed her eyes. Something felt off. Roy trailed in. The meds had worked, and he was back to normal. Seeing the guy next to Molly reaching behind her chair like he was gonna cop a fest Roy stormed over and swatted his hand away. Pinching his nose at the stench, he said, ¡°Molly, how can you stand being near him?¡± Molly didn¡¯t expect Roy to show up, let alone confront a possible hitman for her. ¡°I can¡¯t. Heading down a few rows. Coming?¡± Roy nodded like a bobblehead. Molly smiled, thinking, ¡®So damn obedient, way better than my husky.¡± The hitman cursed under his breath, thinking, ¡®Damn Wallington brats, dissing me like that. If I hadn¡¯t been on orders to hold fire, I would¡¯ve put a bullet in their skulls.¡® Kylie missed the whole scene. She ground her teeth. Who the hell would¡¯ve thought Shermaine was Professor Jean, the one who¡¯d always outperformed her? Chapter 337 Chapter 337 Kylie¡¯s eyes went red when she realized Shermaine was Professor Jean. She¡¯d never in a million years thought Shermaine had this other identity. Professor Jeart was a total heavyweight in international academia, the exact role model Kylie had always dreamed of being, someone adored by thousands. Next to Professor Jean, being a visiting professor at Harrod University didn¡¯t mean jack. ¡®Shermaine¡¯s only 19. How the hell is she this good?¡® Kylie wondered. First, she outshone Kylie in tech, and now she was killing it in academia too? ¡®Why does Professor Jean have to be her?¡® Kylie thought. She couldn¡¯t wrap her head around it. Watching the top academics stand up to greet Shermaine politely, Kylie felt like she was about to explode. She was so jealous that she bit her lower lip till it bled. The taste of blood in her mouth mixed with a raging urge to kill. Only by putting Shermaine in the ground could she be the top dog in the world. ¡®Yeah, Shermaine shouldn¡¯t even exist. Why does she have to be better at everything? Life¡¯s so freaking unfair,¡® Kylie thought. Shermaine caught a sh of killing intent, but it was gone in a second. She scanned the crowd of more than 200 people but couldn¡¯t pick out who it came from. It was hard to spot someone disguised and hiding their vibe. Still, she noticed a few sketchy dudes who definitely didn¡¯t look like academics. Meanwhile, Molly crossed her arms and gave her a raised¨Ceyebrow look, throwing her a silent signal. If Roy had his phone on him, the hot¨Cheaded kid would¡¯ve kicked someone¡¯s ass already. But there he was, sitting next to Molly with their arms touching. She was dressed to kill in that leopard¨Cprint mini skirt, legs crossed, and her perfume was driving him nuts. Roy felt his face heat up, blood pounding in his veins. Suddenly his nose started itching. He touched it and saw blood. Holy shit, he was nosebleeding. Molly, sensitive to the smell of blood, turned to see Roy sitting there like a deer in headlights and staggering out with a hand mped over his nose. He looked just like her husky when it got caught tearing up the couch. She thought, ¡®Oops, I did it again¨Cprojecting my dog onto him. But really, a nosebleed from just sitting next to me? So freaking innocent.¡® After catching Molly¡¯s signal, Shermaine yed it cool. When the top academics asked which big math problem she was there to tackle, she said t¨Cout, ¡°The twin prime conjecture.¡± The room went silent. That was one of the toughest unsolved problems. The professor supposed to present on it had bailed, admitting he couldn¡¯t crack
  1. it.
But there was Shermaine, representing Wallington. This was about to put their academic scene on the map. ¡°You have a breakthrough? A proof?¡± someone blurted. Shermaine raised an eyebrow and gave a casual ¡°hmm.¡± ¡®Figures, she¡¯s our rockstar academic for a reason,¡® everyone thought. Chapter 337 They could hardly contain their excitement. Witnessing this was gonna be like watching magic happen. Dustin was speechless. Shermaine, already a tech icon, had just dropped another bombshell. He thought, ¡®Wait till I call home. Word of Professor Jean will be all over Wallington¡¯s academic grapevine by tomorrow. AD Comment Send gift At 2:30, the Academic Exchange Conference kicked off. Shermaine had the twin prime conjecture solution in her pocket, but she had to y by the rules. Her talk was scheduledst. Without her bombshell, the other presentations might¡¯ve seemed impressive. But next to the twin prime problem, they were small potatoes. Kylie flipped up her skirt and pulled out a silenced pistol. She sprang to her feet and fired at Shermaine mid¨Cconversation with the academics. No one blinked. The silencer was dead quiet, and the hall was full of chatter. Hitmen posted inside and out immediately sealed off the lecture hall. Though the silenced round was inaudible to the crowd, Shermaine picked up the telltale whisper. It was aimed at her shoulder. They wanted to wound her first, figuring a bleeding target would be easier to take down, and then finish her off. ssic Kylie move, but totally delusional. ¡°Duck!¡± Shermaine shouted. The academics around her dropped to the floor like dominoes. She twisted aside, snatching a pen from the table and hurling it like a throwing knife. That thing could puncture the skin. Meanwhile, the hitmen in the hall drew their weapons. The goon behind Molly had barely touched his gun when the smoking¨Chot woman he was eager to sleep with pressed a box cutter to his crotch. ¡°One twitch and your dick¡¯s history,¡± she smiled, all teeth. Guys didn¡¯t mess with threats to their manhood. He froze, eyeing his chance. But she¡¯d already palmed his pistol. ¡°Shermaine, catch!¡± Molly flung the gun over. Shermaine snatched it mid¨Cair, hurdled the desk, and charged the hitman who¡¯d fired at her. Kylie ducked the pen and let off another round, seething, but her shots went wild. Some people bolted for the exits. Others cowered under desks. Molly was a knife wizard. After disarming the hitman, she stabbed for his crotch. He jerked aside just in time. The de was buried in his thigh instead. Chapter 318 ¡°Bitch!¡± he snarled, swinging a meaty fist. Kylie had never squared off with Shermaine before. One look at those moves and she was shook. Shermaine fought like a goddamn ninja.. Then Shermaine caught her scent, and when Kylie¡¯s cap came off, those eyes gave her away. Shermaine smiled, ¡°So you¡¯re the psycho gunning for me.¡± Kylie sneered, ¡°You¡¯d still be breathing if you hadn¡¯t torpedoed my ns and stolen my thunder.¡± Her voice turned deadly. ¡°This is my turf. You¡¯re not leaving Ustrana alive.¡± ¡°Your thunder?¡± Shermaine arched a brow. ¡°Kylie, if you had game, you wouldn¡¯t get wrecked by me everywhere.¡± She added dryly, ¡°Losers like you live innd. And I could bounce from Ustrana whenever I feel like it.¡± Even the cocky¨Cas¨Chell Molly didn¡¯t im Ustrana as her crib. Kylie was straight delusional. ¡°Open your eyes,¡± Kylie snapped, face ming. ¡°My guys have this joint locked down. You¡¯re trapped. Time to meet your maker.¡± Chapter 339 Chapter 339 But the fantasy crashed hard against reality. Shermaine moved with cheetah¨Clike agility, her explosive strength insane. Maybe being a doctor gave her an edge in targeting pressure points. Every time Kylie attacked, Shermaine dodged like she was toying with her. She caught Kylie¡¯s fist mid¨Cswing and twisted until bones popped. Kylie¡¯s face contorted in pain, swinging her other hand, but Shermaine pinned that too. ¡°This weak? How the hell did you be a hitman?¡± The mockery dripped from Shermaine¡¯s voice. Kylie went beet red and tried to knee her in the gut, but Shermaine released her. She stumbled back as Shermainended a flying kick, sending her careening over desks. She rolled twice before mming onto the floor. Meanwhile, Roy stopped his nosebleed and left the bathroom to find people stampeding out along with armed foreign guys. Roy wasn¡¯t some pushover. Everyone from their academy hadbat training. These goons were clearly part of the hit squad. Roy spotted bombs stashed in the corner. Cold¨Cblooded move. They nned to blow the ce sky¨Chigh. He had to take them down and disarm the explosives. us showed up to find Kylie facedown, Shermaine¡¯s boot on her back. Furious, he thought, ¡®No one touches my girl.¡¯ He charged Shermaine. Molly clocked us instantly¨Ca top assassin for Dark Organization. ¡®So they¡¯re gunning for Shermaine?¡® she wondered. ¡®No, upper brass wouldn¡¯t green¨Clight a messy op like this.¡¯ This has to be us ying hero, using his hit squad to impress that two¨Ctiming bitch Kylie.¡¯ But a top assassin? Shermaine could handle that. When Molly noticed us¡® knuckle dusters had spikes, she tossed over herbat knife. Molly said, ¡°I¡¯ll go check what¡¯s happening outside.¡± Shermaine caught the de and gave a small nod. She rolled her neck. ¡°You¡¯ve got a lover here in Ustrana, but back home you were hitting on my man. ¡®Two¨Ctiming slut¡® is too nice for you, Kylie.¡± Kylie grabbed her throat. Shermaine¡¯s earlier choke had left her shaken. Hearing the insult, she yelled, ¡°us, don¡¯t believe her lies!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Kylie,¡± us said. ¡°One stupidment won¡¯t change how I feel about you.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± Shermaine strolled to the podium and tapped the screen. ¡°Then take a look at this. I found some very interesting photos on Kylie¡¯s phone andputer.¡± Kylie¡¯s face went white. Her phone was encrypted. No regr hacker could get in. But Shermaine wasn¡¯t just any hacker. She was a tech legend, always one step ahead in data work, and even able to imnt advanced tech. Soon, explicit photos and sleazy audio started ying. The people hiding under the desks cringed. Despite their progressive attitudes, they still held strong to their integrity and a touch of romance. The idea of being objectified was totally uneptable to them. It was disgusting, and worst of all, Kylie had been after more than one person. Of course, Kylie had disrespected Joshua. Once Shermaine found that out, she couldn¡¯t just do nothing. Honestly, just seeing it made her angry, so this was her payback. us¡® expression kept changing. Finally, furious, he pped Kylie hard. ¡°Kylie, you¡¯re such a goddamn whore!¡± AD Comment Send gift Chapter 340 Kylie¡¯s face turned ashen, then flushed as the stares of the crowd bore into her. Her most private secrets bare for all to see. Shermaine actually used such a method to publicly humiliate her. Even if Kylie didn¡¯t care about others¡® opinions of herself, she wished she could tear her apart to vent her fury. And then there was us. Kylie still needed him, and she couldn¡¯t let him turn against her. The p from us had left her dizzy, but Kylie recovered quickly. ¡°us, why so worked up? Everyone has their quirks. Compared to sleeping around, is what I did so terrible?¡± It wasn¡¯t exactly outrageous, but us hadn¡¯t known that she had entertained so many men, and she even took pleasure in such strange ways. Kylie met his gaze, deadly serious. ¡°If you can¡¯t ept me, then we¡¯re done. But I can promise you this. When we¡¯re together, my heart will belong only to you.¡± us¡® anger evaporated instantly. Guilt flooded him. He stepped forward, hands reaching for her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, baby. I shouldn¡¯t have pped you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Kill that woman, and I¡¯ll forgive you.¡± ¡°Consider it done.¡± Shermaine watched, unimpressed, as Kylie wrapped us around her finger in seconds. A scoff escaped her. us raised his pistol and fired, shattering the screen disying Kylie¡¯spromising photos. Then, he holstered the pistol and drew abat knife instead. As a top assassin, he had never considered Shermaine an opponent. Shermaine didn¡¯t even flinch as he advanced. People around her urged, ¡°Professor Jean, run!¡± She smiled, ¡°Focus on protecting yourselves.¡± us was just a top assassin. There was nothing to fear. Kylie¡¯sbat skills were mediocre at best. She had wed her way to second rank through cunning and us¡® favor. Smiling smugly, Kylie watched with anticipation. With us stepping in, she couldn¡¯t wait to see Shermaine¡¯s gruesome end. Molly had nned to deal with the assassins surrounding the building. But by the time she went outside, Roy had cleaned up most of them. The only thing left for him to do was disarm the remaining bombs. Roy looked harmless and delicate. Molly had assumed he was some weakling. To her surprise, he was quite skilled. Chapter 340 He dusted off his hands, feeling satisfied with the job done. From the corner of his eye, he spotted Molly leaning against the wall, watching him with interest. His previously fierce demeanor melted away in an instant. He shed her a bright smile, revealing a pair of canines. Molly walked over and noticed a few unruly strands sticking up from his pink hair. She smoothed them down. ¡°Your hair is a mess.¡± It was the first time she had ever been this gentle with a man. Roy was thrilled. Molly¡¯s casual gesture sent his heart soaring. If she kept this up, he was pretty sure he would faint from sheer excitement. Just then, one of the downed assassins moved, groping for a nearby pistol. ¡°Go to hell!¡± Molly had already sensed the movement the moment he reached for the pistol. She yanked Roy aside as a bullet mmed into the wall behind them. In a swift motion, she kicked the assassin square in the face, sending him flying backward in a spray of blood before he copsed, unconscious. Roy¡¯s hand was still in Molly¡¯s grip. The intoxicating scent of her perfume was so close. He could already feel the warmth of an impending nosebleed. Desperate not to embarrass himself again, he tilted his head back, willing the blood to stay put. AD Comment hapter 341 Roy managed to avoid embarrassing himself in front of Molly. He subtly tightened his grip on her hand and said, ¡°Thanks for saving me, or I¡¯d have been shot.¡± Molly gave a faint smile. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± She raised a brow and lifted her hand, signaling for him to let go. Roy had barely held it for a moment, and now he was reluctant to release it. But to maintain his gentlemanly demeanor and well¨Cbehaved image, he loosened his grip. ¡°They nted bombs. I have to go check them out.¡± Molly raised an eyebrow in surprise. ¡°You know how to defuse them?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Roy wasn¡¯t as skilled as Shermaine or Joshua, but he had experience and technical in disarming bombs. ¡°Need help?¡± Molly asked. ¡°Of course!¡± Roy nodded, beaming. Inside the venue, the academics who hadn¡¯t yet fled had gone from trembling in corners to mustering the courage to cheer Shermaine on. This was the first time in their lives they had been so fearless in the face of terrorists. All thanks to Shermaine, who had given them immense confidence and courage. They had assumed Shermaine would be no match for us, but herbat skills were extraordinary. The knife in her hand became a lethal weapon. For now, Shermaine didn¡¯t intend to kill us. Yet every strike she delivered was devastating. Agile and precise, even when taking hits, she minimized damage. Gradually, us lost ground. As a top assassin, he had encountered opponents stronger than himself before. But Shermaine, who seemed delicate and unthreatening, was far more formidable than he had anticipated. He had made a critical mistake- underestimating his opponent. It reminded him of when Bruce Xavier first joined the Dark Organization. us hadn¡¯t considered him a rival, yet every time they shed, he lost. Bruce had left him with deep psychological scars, an instinctive dread lurking in us¡® mind. us hated Wallingtonian¨Ctheir arrogance, aloofness, everything about them. They might not look physically imposing, but they were far from easy to deal with. Bruce was the leader¡¯s most trusted right¨Chand man, and his status in the Dark Organization surpassed us¡®! us couldn¡¯t let him lose to a woman. He had promised Kylie he would kill Shermaine. Gritting his teeth, he thought, ¡®This time, I can¡¯t let my guard down.¡® Kylie¡¯s smirk vanished as she watched us and Shermaine battle. us was drenched in blood, swaying 1/4 Chapter 341 unsteadily as he forced himself to stand, his eyes bloodshot. With one final kick from Shermaine, he copsed at Kylie¡¯s feet. us coughed up blood, his chest burning from the kick. No point ying tough now. ¡°Kylie, we¡¯re pulling back He would kill Shermaine another day. Kylie didn¡¯t argue. She hauled him up, and they bolted outside, only to find their men already knocked out cold. With the situation this dire, there was no time to drag these unconscious men along. They had to retreat. Once in the car, us yanked out the bomb detonator. With one press of the red button, the building would be reduced to rubble. Without hesitation, he mmed his thumb down. However, nothing happened. ¡°Damn it!¡± us snarled. Kylie mmed her fist against the steering wheel, seething. She thought, ¡®Why the hell is it so hard to kill Shermaine?¡® Their car hadn¡¯t gone far before several ck vehicles surrounded them, forcing Kylie to m on the brakes. Momentster, a Bugatti pulled up behind them. The moment Kylie saw these men stepping out, she recognized them as members of the Dark Organization, but she had no idea why they were there. An uneasy dread settled in her gut. us struggled to look out, his vision swimming until he saw Bruce getting out of the Bugatti. Bruce was slightly shorter than us, but his sharp, handsome features carried an air of lethality. A cigar rested between his fingers as he casually tucked one hand into his pocket, his narrowed eyes sending a chill down us¡® spine. He took a slow drag, saying nothing. Before us and Kylie could react, their car doors were wrenched open, and they were dragged out. us barked, ¡°Bruce, what the hell are you doing?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be asking you that?¡± Bruce¡¯s voice was calm, yet it carried an unshakable authority. He flicked ash from his cigar. ¡°Using the organization¡¯s men to stir up trouble? You¡¯re quite bold. As a top assassin, you didn¡¯t even bother to investigate your target before acting.¡± Looking down at us, Bruce shook his head in disgust. The Dark Organization¡¯s top assassin had be this reckless. ¡°Did you know Molly was there?¡± Bruce¡¯s lips curled. ¡°Oh, right. She¡¯s one of the seven heirspeting for leadership.¡± us¡® eyes widened in shock. Bruce then pinched Kylie¡¯s chin, his fingers digging in painfully. Of everyone in the Dark Organization, he was the 17:19 Thu, 26 Jun one Kylie feared most. ¡°And you,¡± he murmured, his voice icy. ¡°Who authorized your return?¡± us knew he had vited protocol today, but as a top assassin, he at least expected the leader to spare him some dignity. ¡°I¡¯ll exin to the leader. Bruce, let Kylie go.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Bruce replied, releasing Kylie¡¯s chin, his icy expression radiating disdain. ¡°Funny you should ask. The leader sent me here. You really think I¡¯d waste my time hunting down two useless pieces of trash like you otherwise?¡± He didn¡¯t bother wasting another word on them, his tone growing impatient. ¡°Take them back.¡± Soon, the group vanished as inconspicuously as they had arrived. Inside the venue, Molly gave orders to haul away the unconscious assassins. Shermaine arranged for a new auditorium to be prepared. Once the equipment was set up, she announced that the symposium would continue as scheduled. Then, they went to a nearby room. Molly prepped a first¨Caid kit. Shermaine shrugged off her jacket and sat down, starting to tend to her injuries. A fight always left its marks. Shermaine had a shallow cut on her arm from blocking us¡® de. The wound wasn¡¯t serious. It just needed antiseptic and a bandage for a few days. Molly¡¯s fingers paused at her neck. ¡°Is this a hickey?¡± Shermaine¡¯s low¨Ccut sweater revealed fair skin and a faint hickey Joshua had left before her trip to Ustrana. She could¡¯ve applied ointment to fade it faster, but she had forgotten. Not that it mattered. She simply smiled and nodded. Molly crossed her legs and lit a cigarette. ¡°Some guy got lucky.¡± Then, she murmured, ¡°No wonder yours are bigger than mine.¡± Shermaine finished bandaging her wound and chuckled, ¡°You could find a man for a ¡®second puberty.¡® It works better than any bust¨Cenhancing cream.¡± Molly gasped in surprise, ¡°Shermaine, you¡¯ve changed!¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re cracking jokes out of nowhere now,¡± Molly continued. ¡°That guy must¡¯ve corrupted you.¡± Chapter 342 Shermaine didn¡¯t admit, not even slightly, that Joshua had influenced her in any way. With a straight face, she countered, ¡°I¡¯m just stating facts.¡± Molly stood with one arm crossed, the other supporting her chin. She thought, ¡®Maybe I should try finding a man then?¡® But the mere thought made her grimace. She wondered, ¡®Ugh. Those men aren¡¯t even worthy of being my servants.¡® Dropping the jest, Molly got down to business. ¡°I¡¯ve dug up intel for you. Kylie and us are assassins from the Dark Organization under my family¡¯s force. I¡¯ve already nned how to teach them a lesson.¡± Shermaine gave a faint smile. ¡°Their fighting skills aren¡¯t all that great.¡± ¡°True.¡± Molly nodded, her tone dripping with disdain. ¡°But if I want to secure my position as the family¡¯s sole heir, having control over the Dark Organization would be extremely useful.¡± The organization was fractured internally. Gaining its full support would be challenging, but if Molly could purge the dissident factions, her odds of bing the next family head would skyrocket. She thought, ¡®Troublesome, but worth it. That position will be mine alone.¡® Shermaine knew her ambition. ¡°Wishing you luck.¡± Molly shed a smile, tossing her hair with a confident, domineering charm. ¡°I will seed. No doubt about it.¡± Her intellect and capabilities were unmatched. Unlike that stupid Kylie, Molly wasn¡¯t arrogant enough to make an enemy of Shermaine. She yed it smart, cultivating a mutually beneficial friendship instead. Shermaine chuckled, patted her shoulder, and walked out. The Academic Exchange Conference ran from 3 p.m. until dusk. Shermaine was the final presenter. When she finally took the stage, the entire atmosphere in the venue shifted. Every attendee straightened in their seats, expressions turning solemn. Shermaine stepped up empty¨Chanded. Murmurs rippled through the crowd. ¡°Genius. Those forms must all be stored in her mind.¡± Holding only a stylus, Shermaine cleared the previous scribbles from the electronic disy with a swipe, then began writing out her first line of form. For the average schr who¡¯de simply to learn, the content was far too advanced. They stared nkly,pletely lost. But among the academic masters present, reactions were very different. When Shermaine¡¯s work stretched Chapter 342 beyond ten lines, some of them tightened their grip on their pens. Earlier, they had heard about her attempting to prove this conjecture, but witnessing it firsthand felt like observing a miracle unfold. Dustin swelled with pride. Once Shermaine finished, Wallington¡¯s mathematicsmunity would gain global recognition, and she herself would go down in history. As time ticked by, the audience remained riveted, eyes glued to the dense forms on the screen, afraid of losing track of her reasoning. Finally, Shermaine wrote the concluding statement: [There exist infinitely many twin prime conjectures.] Setting down the stylus, she flexed her wrist, stiff from writing for so long. ¡°My proof of the twin prime conjecture isplete. Apologies for the lengthy presentation. Questions may now begin.¡± Those who could follow her work were overwhelmed. Shermaine stunned them. She was so young. No mathematician worldwide had achieved such feats at her age, let alone stood poised to im the year¡¯s top awards. One attendee said, ¡°Professor Jean, how long did it take you to memorize this entire proof?¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow. ¡°Geniuses never forget, you know.¡± Another asked, ¡°How long did the actual proof take?¡± Shermaine replied, ¡°I came across the conjecture with some prior references. Not long. About two weeks.¡± A weighted silence settled over these senior mathematicians. With the symposium concluded, Shermaine had fulfilled Dustin¡¯s request. Now came the inevitable¨Cinterviews with math journals, media scrums, and private academic meetups. Shermaine didn¡¯t have to attend private meetings. Dustin would handle those on his own. Exhausted, she returned to the hotel shortly after the symposium. At the Dark Organization¡¯s base, us and Kylie faced punishment upon their return. us, already hanging on by a thread, was now barely alive. Kylie¡¯s family held some sway in Ustrana, so the organization spared her life, but when they dragged her out, she was drenched in blood. Bruce had overseen the discipline. As he finished, his phone rang. The assassin who had been sent to rece Kylie reported, ¡°Bruce, there¡¯s an issue with the Immortality Project.¡± Kylie, who was carried past on a stretcher, shed a faint, eerie smile. 17:19 Thu, 20 Jun M 50% Back at the hotel, Shermaine showered and copsed into bed. She woke the next morning and realized that she had forgotten to call Joshua before sleeping. Reaching for her phone, she tugged the wound on her arm. A sharp sting made her frown. There were no missed calls from Joshua. Just then, the doorbell rang. Shermaine threw on a robe and opened the door to find Joshua standing there. She smiled, voice softening. ¡°You¡¯re here?¡± Worry etched Joshua¡¯s face. Roy had told him about the assassination attempt in Ustrana. Shermaine had handled it, but she was injured. The moment Joshua heard ¡°injured,¡± his usualposure shattered. He had boarded a flight to Ustrana the same night. ¡°Where are you hurt?¡± he asked immediately. ¡°Arm,¡± Shermaine replied obediently. Joshua stepped into the suite. ¡°Let me see it.¡± It was just a minor injury, nothing serious at all. But two days apart had sharpened Shermaine¡¯s longing. She shut the door, pinned him against it, and rose onto her toes. ¡°Kiss me.¡± AD Chapter 343 Shermaine rarely initiated. This was one of those rare moments. The second her lips met his, Joshua pulled her closer by the waist, deepening the kiss. But his concern for her injury lingered. After a while, he broke away to examine her wound. Shermaine shot him an annoyed re. She had finally made a move, but he had actually stopped. Stretching out on the bed, her figure alluring, she let out a soft huff. Beside them, the first¨Caid kity open. Joshua carefully applied fresh ointment to her arm and wrapped it in a clean bandage. ¡°Anywhere else hurt?¡± ¡°No.¡± The minor scratches had already healed enough. Shermaine rolled off the bed. ¡°I¡¯m going to wash up.¡± ¨C Before her feet could touch the floor, Joshua pulled her back, settling her onto hisp. He buried his face in the curve of her neck, pressing soft kisses along her skin. ¡°Stay. Let¡¯s.pick up where we left off.¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t resist, though a hint of irritation remained. When her mood had been right, he had mmed the brakes. She would be frustrated. But it was her problem. Joshua spoiled her, andbined with her morning grumpiness, she had gotten petty. Joshua¡¯s gaze softened as heid her back against the sheets, leaning over her with a teasing smile. ¡°You don¡¯t usually start things. Now that you did, let me give it to you. Hm, baby?¡± He kissed her as he spoke, trying to soothe her mood. Truthfully, Shermaine¡¯s annoyance had faded when he tended to her. She just wasn¡¯t used to acting so bratty. It wasn¡¯t like her. Tilting her head up, she kissed him, fingertips tracing the lines of his face. He hadn¡¯t shaved yet. The roughness prickled against her skin. ¡°Was the flight exhausting?¡± ¡°Worth it.¡± Joshua¡¯s palm warmed her back. ¡°I just really missed you.¡± Shermaine looped her arms around his neck, lips parting. ¡°Me too.¡± It was already noon after they were done. After showering, Joshua towel¨Cdried Shermaine¡¯s hair. ¡°I¡¯ll be careful next time.¡± It was baffling¨Ca five¨Cstar hotel room without even the most basic amenities. But then again¡­ Shermaine had mentioned it was her safe period. From the moment Joshua met Shermaine, he had known there was no such thing as a true saint in this world. If there was one, it was only because that person had never met the woman who could make him drop everything and fallpletely. But Joshua met. And he loved her deeply, beyond reason. Chapter 343 Over lunch, Shermaine had a hearty appetite, sipping red wine and enjoying the vorful pasta, ¡°I¡¯ve got three or four more days before I can head back.¡± Joshua smiled, ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± Shermaine nodded, feeling content. In Loang, it was midday. Due to the time difference, Basterel was already cloaked in darkness, the clock striking 8 p.m. Danielle¡¯s call came through. ¡°Sheary, I heard something happened to you in Ustrana. You alright?¡± ¡°Perfectly fine,¡± Shermaine replied. ¡°Joshua is here.¡± Danielle thought, Joshua flew in. He must¡¯ve arrived today. No surprise, given how obsessed he is with her. ¡°And Molly?¡± Danielle asked. Shermaine chuckled, ¡°Busy ying power games.¡± Typical Molly. Money and power were the only things that truly held her interest. Danielle had met Molly through Shermaine. Fiery and headstrong¨Cthe pr opposite of Danielle¡¯s calm demeanor. They still got along surprisingly well. Then again, with Shermaine around, even Molly¡¯s temper had its limits. Shermaine had nearly finished eating. She set her fork down. ¡°How¡¯s Ross? Is his wound healing well?¡± Chapter 344 Danielle replied, ¡°It¡¯s healing fast. Ross has a strong constitution. He¡¯s already up and walking. The stitches should out in another week. The doctor is doing his routine check. Want to talk to him?¡± Her foot was still in a cast, likely for another two weeks. ¡°No, I¡¯m having lunch. I¡¯ll head out soon after,¡± Shermaine said. With Danielle¡¯s care, she had no worries about Ross. Besides, they were in the middle of a budding romance, no point intruding on their time. ¡°Alright then, bye.¡± ¡°Bye.¡± The call ended. After the routine check¨Cup, Ross was still sitting there, his hospital gown hanging loosely open. When Danielle came in using her crutches, she gently reminded him, ¡°It¡¯s getting chilly. Dress properly.¡± Noticing her gaze lingering on him, Ross smiled, ¡°Care to help, Dr. Shelly?¡± Danielle would love to. Setting her crutches aside, she bit back a smile. Before fixing his buttons, she leaned down and pressed a kiss to his bandaged wound. Visibly, Ross tightened his abs, his breath hitching as his ears flushed red. He hadn¡¯t realized Danielle could affect him so much. That kiss alone nearly triggered other reactions. Danielle deliberately teased him, ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were this easy to fluster.¡± Ross didn¡¯t speak. His face burned hotter. She tugged his gown, grinning. ¡°Didn¡¯t you date someone in high school? That ex even showed up at Sheary¡¯s birthday. Didn¡¯t she reach out again after that?¡± To be honest, Ross barely remembered his high¨Cschool romance. If Amel¨ªa hadn¡¯t reappeared, he would have forgotten her. Now, with Danielle bringing it up, panic flickered instantly. Worrying she would misunderstand, he immediately exined, ¡°I never liked her. She did reach outter, but I refused to meet.¡± Danielle raised an eyebrow. ¡°Oh? Then why did you date her?¡± Ross hesitated. ¡°There was another girl who kept chasing me. I had no choice but to use Amelia as a shield.¡± Using someone like that shed with his gentle demeanor, but he had to admit he had a darker, more calcting side. He continued, ¡°I know it was wrong, but Amelia benefited too, Lowe her nothing.¡± Even yearster, he had no guilt about it. Before Ross, Danielle had never dated anyone. Learning about his high¨Cschool romance had needled her. ¡°But 17:19 Thu, 2DJUR MI Chapter 344 when we kissed, you were skilled. It didn¡¯t seem like your first time.¡± That one kiss had nearly spiraled out of control. Danielle had been too intoxicating. Ross swallowed at the memory. ¡°That was just male instinct, and I¡¯m talented.¡± Danielle smiled, eyes glittering. Her warm breath grazed his Adam¡¯s apple as she braced her hands on his shoulders, peppering kisses along his jaw. ¡°Fine. But don¡¯t you have questions for me?¡± Ross ced his hands on her waist. ¡°No.¡± His gaze burned. ¡°Danielle, I just want to kiss you.¡± h ¥Ã¥È Chapter 345 Ross leaned in to kiss Danielle. Danielle blocked him with a hand. ¡°No. Your injuries aren¡¯t healed yet.¡± Ross insisted, ¡°I can manage.¡± ¡°No, you can¡¯t,¡± she said firmly. Kissing took effort. ¡°Ross, you¡¯ve got to listen to your girlfriend.¡± Frustrated, Ross flopped back onto the bed. The heat inside him faded slowly. Injured and weakened, he was at her mercy, but once he recovered, he wouldn¡¯t let Danielle escape so easily. Just as Dustin predicted, Shermaine¡¯s performance at the conference once again stunned Wallington. The world now knew her as Professor Jean, the prodigious schr. Just that single revtion sent shockwaves through academia. In Ustrana, Shermaine had a media interview scheduled for 3 p.m., set to wrap by 5 p.m. The rest of the evening was all Joshua¡¯s. They could wander the city freely. Joshua already knew Kylie was the one targeting Shermaine¨Cthe same person who had tried to kill her at Bastere! University. Kylie dared harm the person he cherished most. The interview took ce at Math Weekly¡¯s headquarters. Joshua walked Shermaine to the entrance, draped a scarf around her shoulders, and kissed her forehead. ¡°Call me when you¡¯re done. I¡¯ll pick you up.¡± Once she disappeared inside, he pulled out his phone and dialed. ¡°I¡¯m in Ustrana. We need to talk.¡± Oblivious to her impending doom, Kyliey in a hospital bed, her injuries fueling a vtile temper. Defeat at Shermaine¡¯s hands had left her brooding and hollow, still struggling to process the blow. us had already been disposed of by Molly. The organization would no longer tolerate his failures. Kylie, however, had family connections to thank for her survival. Sarah remained unaware of Kylie¡¯s double life as an assassin, the beloved granddaughter secretly steeped in blood and crime. ¡°Kylie, no more reckless moves after this,¡± Kylie¡¯s eldest brother, yton Bynes, warned. ¡°Tomorrow, you¡¯re leaving for Granatano to recuperate.¡± Kylie rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed. ¡°Yeah, yeah. Get out.¡± 1/3 Before leaving, yton turned to the bodyguards. ¡°Watch her.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Bynes,¡± they replied. That night in Loang, Joshua stood waiting in a long ck trench coat. The interview had already ended. As Shermaine stepped out of the building, she spotted him by the roadside, his silhouette striking against the night. After saying goodbye to the professor, Shermaine walked up to him. ¡°Let¡¯s go get dinner, Joshua.¡± They got into the car, and Joshua signaled the driver to move. Their destination was an upscale restaurant on the 25th floor, offering a breathtaking view of Loang¡¯s skyline. Ustrana was a romantic country. Couples were hugging, kissing, lost in their own little world. The steak was exquisite, and the wine was top¨Ctier. The only w was that Shermaine wasn¡¯t dressed for the asion. But the restaurant either had no strict dress code or had simply made an exception for them. Shermaine enjoyed the meal thoroughly. When they stepped out, Joshua suggested a walk to help them digest. They wandered into a luxury boutique, where Shermaine picked out clothes for Joshua. After paying, she realized Joshua wasn¡¯t in the store anymore. He had taken a call earlier and stepped outside. She found him by the roadside, leaning against a silver sports car, cigarette in hand, deep in conversation. The night air had turned chilly. Shermaine, shopping bags in hand, spotted a nearby caf¨¦ and decided to grab a coffee. The moment she stepped inside, a man grabbed her wrist. His voice dripped withzy amusement. ¡°Ms. Woods, stop clinging to me. My girl might get jealous.¡± Shermaine turned to see a handsome face smirking down at her. He said in Wallingtonian, ¡°Please just y along.¡± Expressionless, Shermaine pried his fingers off her wrist and said to the sweet¨Cfaced girl beside the man, ¡°I don¡¯t know him.¡± The man was Bruce. He frowned, clearly not expecting rejection. His gaze flicked to the ring on her finger, and understanding dawned. ¡°My apologies! Shermaine smiled faintly, shaking her head, ¡°No harm done.¡± Then, she walked to the counter to order her coffee. The sweet girl, Charlotte Woods, had watched the whole exchange. Bruce had dragged a stranger into his act just to push her away, only for the woman to refuse outright. Charlotte¡¯s face twisted in anger, and she immediatelyunched into a scene. Joshua finished his conversation with the man in the car. ¡°My wife is waiting. Handle the matter. Call me if there¡¯s Chapter 345 an issue.¡± Shermaine had already gotten her coffee. Joshua, aware she had stepped into the caf¨¦ next door, headed over. As he pushed open the door, a man walked out. It was Bruce. Their eyes met. Bruce noticed the ring on Joshua¡¯s finger, an exact match to the woman inside. He thought, ¡®This is her husband? Not bad.¡¯ Joshua motioned for him to step aside. Once Bruce moved, Joshua entered the caf¨¦, his hand settling possessively on the small of Shermaine¡¯s back. Shermaine held two cups of coffee. Joshua took the shopping bags from her. ¡°Sheary, did that man just hit on you?¡± Shermaine hadn¡¯t expected him to notice while handling business. ¡°He tried using me as a shield to ditch another woman. I refused.¡± Joshua nodded, ruffling her hair. ¡°Good girl.¡± Shermaine chuckled, ¡°He apologized once he saw my ring.¡± ¡°He¡¯s got manners.¡± Joshua nodded. Shermaine handed him a cup of coffee. ¡°But someone is still tense.¡± Teasing, she added, ¡°Joshua, are you that worried I¡¯ll run off with another man?¡± Chapter 346 Joshua had no doubt Shermaine would never leave him. His only fear was other men coveting her. She was extraordinary and attractive. He had to stay vignt. He didn¡¯t respond to her teasing, simply pinched her cheek before leading her out of the caf¨¦. The streets buzzed with traffic, shop windows glowing under bright lights. Leaning against a car, Bruce smoked a cigarette, idly twisting a light blue checkered handkerchief in his fingers. It embroidered with a single word ¡°Jean.¡± A wind chime tinkled. Bruce nced back as the woman he had tried to drag into his mess earlier walked away hand¨Cin¨Chand with that man. His gaze shifted indifferently, features obscured by cigarette smoke. Roy had known that Joshua had already arrived in Ustrana earlier that day. Busy keeping tabs on his team, he hadn¡¯t had time to reach out. But with evening settling in, his thoughts inevitably drifted to Molly. After Shermaine and Joshua returned to their hotel, Roy knocked on their door. Shermaine handed him a cup of coffee. ¡°When¡¯s the match?¡± ¡°Day after tomorrow.¡± Roy slid two tickets across the table. ¡°If you two are free,e cheer for us.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Shermaine had never attended an esports event live. As their former coach, she was curious. Joshua, admittedly, had zero interest in gaming. Roy touched his nose. ¡°Hmm¡­ Any chance you could give me Molly¡¯s number?¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow. ¡°You might not be able to handle Molly.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± Roy grinned. ¡°She can handle me instead.¡± Shermaine sighed. Molly disdained men as a rule. If Roy was serious, he would have a rough road ahead. Still, their personalities might oddlyplement each other. Seeing his determination, Shermaine saw no reason to dampen his enthusiasm. ¡°Alright.¡± She relented, passing him Molly¡¯s contact. Roy saved the number, grinning brightly. ¡°What does Molly like?¡± Shermaine said, ¡°Power and money. Her two favorite things.¡± Roy mentally calcted his bank bnce, already nning to hand it all over. ¡°And what doesn¡¯t she like?¡± ¡°People who defy her,¡± Shermaine/replied simply. Roy thought, ¡®Perfect. I¡¯m obedient. As long as we get to be together, I won¡¯t disobey her at all.¡® ¡°Thanks,¡± he said. He had never been this invested in anyone before. Just thinking about Molly made his heart race. Just then, Joshua emerged from the bedroom, crossing the living room to pull Shermaine into his arms. ¡°Your bath¡¯s ready.¡± ¡°In a minute.¡± Roy still had more questions. Joshua¡¯s gaze shifted to him. ¡°Anything else?¡± Roy immediately shook his head, chugging the rest of his coffee. ¡°Nope! I¡¯m heading back to my room now. See you.¡± As he stood, he nced back onest time, struck with sudden envy at how happy Joshua and Shermaine looked together. Joshua kissed Shermaine¡¯s. When she didn¡¯t respond, he nudged her. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± ¡°Roy might actually be a good match for my friend,¡± she mused. ¡°Brave of him,¡± Joshua remarked. Initially, he hadn¡¯t realized who Shermaine meant by ¡°friend¡°, but now, he knew. The Carlton family, Molly¡¯s family, held massive influence in Epea, spanning both business and underworld circles. The heirs were locked in a cutthroat battle for session. Soon enough, the family wouldn¡¯t be at peace. Roy picking this moment to pursue Molly was risky. But then again, he wasn¡¯t as naive as he seemed. When push came to shove, he might outmaneuver them all. Joshua wasn¡¯t worried about him. Shermaine smiled, ¡°Fortune favors the bold.¡± Joshua kissed her again. ¡°Mm, you¡¯ve got a point.¡± Then, he scooped her up from the couch. ¡°Let¡¯s share the bath, baby.¡± AD Comment Nurse walking 347 Chapter 347 Shermaine and Joshua had never taken a bath together before. Post¨Cintimacy cleanups were always quick and practical. Shermaine shook her head. ¡°I¡¯d rather shower alone.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been on your feet all day,¡± Joshua coaxed, already carrying her toward the bathroom. ¡°Let me give you a massage. You¡¯ll feel so much better.¡± He kicked the bathroom door shut behind them. As it turned out, some precedents, once set, became Impossible to resist repeating. Lately, Molly had been consumed by power ys and alliances, all while watching her back. Her siblings wouldn¡¯t hesitate to eliminate her for wealth and power. After all, she was the frontrunner, their father¡¯s clear favorite. On the day of the tournament, Shermaine and Joshua attended, Roy, however, was in low spirits. Molly had turned down his invitation the night before, and even his team¡¯s victory couldn¡¯t lift his mood. ¡°Are you having a celebration tonight?¡± Shermaine asked. Roy shook his head. ¡°We¡¯ll hold it back home.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°To see your beloved.¡± Roy¡¯s gloom evaporated in an instant. The Carlton family¡¯s banquet was a spectacle of opulence. Molly met them at the entrance, draped in a cascading aqua¨Cblue gown with a tailored zer slung over her shoulders. Her gaze flicked to Joshua beside Shermaine. After a brief appraisal, she whistled. This was the man who had rendered even Shermaine¡¯s ¡°my boobs are bigger¡± advantage irrelevant. Shermaine had impable taste. Joshua was the prototype of male perfection. As a businesswoman, Molly knew Joshua¨Ca rising global force, ruthlessly efficient, sparing with words. ¡°Pleasure finally meeting you,¡± she said. Joshua gave a slight nod. ¡°Likewise, Ms. Hill.¡± They shook hands. Chapter 347 Then, Molly¡¯s attentionnded on Roy. His grin widened the moment their eyes met, uncannily reminiscent of her pet¡¯s eager expression. ¡°Come in,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s windy out here.¡± The banquet hall teemed with high¨Cprofile guests. Molly handed them champagne flutes. ¡°I¡¯ll be pulled in all directions tonight, so enjoy yourselves.¡± Shermaine nodded. She hadn¡¯t nned to attend, but Molly had wanted to meet Joshua, and with Roy¡¯s infatuation in the mix, she had brought them both along. As Joshua entered the venue, all eyes turned toward him. In Ustrana, social obligations were unavoidable for someone of his stature. Shermaine winked at Molly. ¡°Go handle your business. I¡¯ll say goodbye before I leave.¡± Molly took a sip of champagne, lingering. ¡°No rush. I¡¯ve got time for you.¡± Within minutes, her assistant approached. ¡°Ms. Hill, Kylie¡¯s older brother is here.¡± ¡°What¡¯s he doing here?¡± Molly frowned slightly. ¡°Kylie was abducted from the hospitalst night. She¡¯s still missing.¡± A dryugh escaped Molly. She thought, ¡®So he thinks I took her?¡® Truthfully, she had nned to deal with Kylie. Shermaine had asked her to ¡°resolve the issue¡± to prevent future harassment, but someone had beaten her to it. Molly wondered, ¡®Joshua¡¯s protective streak strikes again.¡± Twirling her wine ss, Molly ordered, ¡°Keep him away from my father and the rest of the family.¡± The assistant nodded. ¡°Understood, Ms. Hill.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Hill?¡± ¡°Is Bruce here yet?¡± ¡°Not as of now.¡± Molly waved him off, lost in thought, Shermaine asked, ¡°You still haven¡¯t won Bruce over?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t even get a meeting,¡± Molly sighed, slightly annoyed. ¡°I just hope my dear siblings don¡¯t get to him first tonight.¡± Her gaze then shifted to Joshua. ¡°Efficient as always. You barelynded and already took out the trash.¡± Joshua shrugged. ¡°Apologies for theplication.¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± Molly said, straightening her zer. ¡°I¡¯ll go greet that distressed guest.¡± As she walked away, Shermaine teased, ¡°Thank you, Mr. York.¡± Joshua leaned in, his voice a low rumble. ¡°Eliminating threats to my baby is a privilege. Besides¡­¡± He paused. ¡°I¡¯ve tolerated Kylie long enough.¡± AD PrevChapter 348 ¡°Enough about that unpleasant topic. Care to dance?¡± Joshua nced toward the dance floor. Kylie was indeed a mood¨Ckiller. Shermaine nodded, leaving Roy standing alone like a lost puppy. Pathetic, he thought gloomily before downing his drink in one go, ¡®I¡¯m all by myself! Holding his ss, he decided. If he wanted something, he had to take action. With that thought, he immediately scanned the room for Molly. The only time Joshua and Shermaine had ever danced was at their engagement party, and even that had been cut short because of Wendelyn¡¯s interference. On the dance floor, Joshua extended his hand. Shermaine ced hers in his palm, and they moved into the rhythm of the music, her skirt brushing against his trousers, the air between them thick with intimacy. Mid¨Cdance, Joshua suddenly pulled Shermaine¡¯s head against his chest, lips pressed into a thin line. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked, puzzled. He muttered, ¡°Sheary, too many eyes on you.¡± The banquet was full of beauties, but Shermaine outshone them all, drawing the attention of every young man here. Meanwhile, Roy finally spotted Molly in a secluded corner. Facing her was yton, Kylie¡¯s older brother, demanding answers with a gun in hand. Roy tensed, ready to intervene, but Molly acted quickly. She grabbed the barrel, kneed yton between the legs, and snarled, ¡°I told you it wasn¡¯t me. How many times do I have to say it? Annoying bastard. ¡°Your stupid sister pissed off the wrong person. If she gave the word, half the underworld would line up to finish. the job.¡± ¡°Some professor isn¡¯t worth this much fear,¡± yton scoffed. Molly leaned in, sneering, ¡°Wrong. She¡¯s not just any professor. She¡¯s Dr. Jean, the one Jacob Hughes has been begging to work with.¡± Upon hearing this, yton froze. ¡°If you¡¯re looking for revenge, take a dip in my pool and cool off first. Act recklessly, and your family will pay. By then, regret won¡¯t save you.¡± Molly patted his cheek before shoving him away. ¡°Be smart and walk away.¡± With yton gone, Molly flicked her hair back and reached for a cigarette, only to find her lighter empty. Roy stepped forward, me already cupped in his palm. 1/3 The flickering light illuminated her face, and he stared, thinking, ¡®How can someone be this perfect? Molly exhaled smoke, amused, ¡°Why¡¯d youe looking for me?¡± ¡°They went dancing,¡± Roy replied, sounding a bit pitiful. ¡°Left me all by myself.¡± Molly¡¯s gaze lingered on his pink hair. She thought, ¡®Poor guy. He can¡¯t even third¨Cwheel. She smiled, ¡°You drink?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Roy nodded. In fact, his tolerance was terrible, but he wasn¡¯t about to admit that. ¡°Then stick with me tonight. y my shield.¡± ¡°dly.¡± Roy couldn¡¯t have been more thrilled. His eagerness made Mollyugh. She thought, ¡®Such an idiot but cute one.¡® Shermaine and Joshua only danced once before stepping off the floor. He couldn¡¯t stand the way other men stared at her. As they exited, a businessman recognized Joshua and hurried over, visibly shocked and thrilled to see him at the conversation wouldn¡¯t end quickly. Shermaine rose onto her toes and event. Soon, a crowd gathered, and the whispered, ¡°I¡¯m going to grab some food.¡± ¡°Stay close,¡± Joshua murmured. ¡°Rx. No matter how much they like me, I¡¯m still yours.¡± Shermaine¡¯s lips brushed his ear as she added, ¡°Unless I want to leave, no one can take me from you.¡± Joshua knew that, but his possessiveness wasn¡¯t rational. Just seeing another man talk to Shermaine for too long made his blood boil, especially abroad, where men were bolder, swarming her the second she stepped away. But Shermaine had a foolproof deterrent. She would simply sh her wedding ring and nod toward Joshua. ¡°That¡¯s my husband.¡± Grudgingly, these men would retreat. While Shermaine was eating, her phone buzzed. Molly¡¯s voice was urgent. ¡°Shermaine, need a favor.¡± Shermaine said, ¡°Go on.¡± Molly spoke quickly, ¡°Bruce is on the balcony at your three o¡¯clock. My eldest sister¡¯s heading there. Block her until I arrive.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Shermaine set down her dessert and strode to the balcony, shutting the doors just as Molly¡¯s sister approached. The sound made Bruce turn. His eyes narrowed. He immediately recognized her, the one who had refused to y 2/3 20 Thu, 26 Jun alongst night. Shermaine, however, didn¡¯t recognize him. She smiled, ¡°The view is lovely. Mind if I join you?¡± Chapter 349 Bruce said nothing. Shermaine¡¯s question was pure courtesy. Even if he objected, she wouldn¡¯t budge. The moment the ss door shut, Karina Carlton, Molly¡¯s eldest sister, arrived. Spotting Bruce, she hurried forward, eager to win him over. His support would guarantee her session as the next head of the Carlton family. But the door was locked. Karina thought, ¡®The woman blocking my way isn¡¯t from my circle. Some random girl trying to flirt with Bruce?¡® Her patience evaporated. ¡°Open the door. Now.¡± Shermaine heard her but didn¡¯t react. Karina wasn¡¯t one to wait. She signaled her bodyguard to shoulder¨Ccharge the door. The ss shuddered under the impact. Shermaine turned, meeting Karina¡¯s re. ¡°Move!¡± Karina¡¯s voice sharpened, anger leaking through. Shermaine had no intention of letting this conversation happen. Molly¡¯s request came first. She said, ¡°There¡¯s an order to things, Ms. Carlton. Firste, first served.¡± Karina¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Who do you work for?¡± She rattled off names, but none earned a response. ¡°I don¡¯t care whose pawn you are. Block me again, and you won¡¯t leave this ce alive,¡± Karina warned, her voice rising. ¡°Open the door now, and I might forget this.¡± Shermaine wasn¡¯t impressed, smiling, ¡°Sorry to disappoint.¡± Karina¡¯s silence was deadly. A flick of her wrist, and the guards lunged. Bruce watched as if this were entertainment. A guard grabbed Shermaine, only for her to twist his wrist with a sickening crack before kicking him back. ¡°All of you!¡± Karina barked. Shermaine dispatched them one by one, barely shifting her stance. She would hold this line until Molly arrived. A breeze stirred as Bruce stubbed out his cigarette. He hadn¡¯t expected her to be so skilled. Her movements were precise and effortless. Then, as he stepped closer, a familiar scent hit him. His gaze snapped to Shermaine¡¯s back, a shadow flickering in his eyes. Themotion here had drawn a crowd. Soon, Molly emerged from the guests, her voice icy. ¡°Karina, is this how you treat our honored guest?¡± Karina¡¯s face twisted with disdain. ¡°Honored guest?¡± she scoffed. ¡°She¡¯s just yourckey. And yourckey has pissed me off.¡± Her tone dripped with lethal intent as if she would shoot Shermaine on the spot. She might have tried, too, but the moment she drew her pistol, a cold voice cut through. ¡°Karina, stand down!¡°. Karina froze. The speaker was her father, Fred Carlton, the current head of the Carlton family. Then, Joshua¡¯s voice rang out, calm butmanding. ¡°Sheary,e here.¡± Shermaine smiled and glided to his side, her hand resting lightly on his arm¨Ca silent reminder to Karina that she wasn¡¯t some disposable pawn but a guest even the Carlton family couldn¡¯t afford to offend. All thanks to Joshua. Not that she needed his name tomand respect, her own would¡¯ve sufficed. But she did enjoy being shielded by him. Fred¡¯s re hardened. ¡°Holster your gun. Now, apologize to Mrs. York.¡± Karina¡¯s jaw clenched. ¡°Dad, I¡ª¡± Fred ordered, ¡°Now!¡± Grudgingly, Karina muttered an apology, her humiliation palpable. She hadn¡¯t expected Fred to fear the man beside Shermaine. Shermaine epted the apology gracefully. There was no need to escte things for Molly¡¯s sake. Yet through it all, Bruce¡¯s gaze never left her. AD Chapter 350 Joshua shifted, blocking Bruce¡¯s line of sight to Shermaine. Bruce knew it was rude to stare, especially at a married woman. But that faint, familiar scent he had caught from her lingered in his mind, unsettling him. Shermaine had just nced back at Bruce. She hadn¡¯t paid him much attention before, but now that she thought about it, there was something familiar with his eyes. Odd, considering her usually impable memory couldn¡¯t ce where she had seen them before. Joshua gave her hand a light squeeze, his brow furrowing. Shermaine looked up. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing. Are you hurt?¡± Joshua bent slightly to speak closer to her ear. He was a grown man. There was no reason to act like a jealous teenager. Others might admire Shermaine, but she would always be his. Shermaine shook her head. Those bodyguards had been all bulk, no skill. Once Karina delivered her stiff apology, Fred dismissed her. She shot Bruce onest desperate nce, but under Fred¡¯s stern gaze, she had no choice but to storm off in frustration. Any chance of winning Bruce over was long gone. Molly shot Shermaine a meaningful nce, which Shermaine acknowledged with a faint smile. The familiarity between them was unmistakable. Fred wasn¡¯t blind to it¨Cbut he said nothing. Molly had connections to someone of such formidable influence, even willing to intercept Karina for her, that spoke volumes. Besides, Fred had long wanted to forge ties with Joshua. The York family was rarely associated with families like the Carlton family, who operated in both legal and shadowy realms. Joshua¡¯s presence tonight was entirely Molly¡¯s doing. Fred offered Shermaine a few conciliatory words, oozing concern, even summoning a servant to bring out a prized bottle of wine as an apology. Molly¡¯s eyes lit up at the bottle. ¡°Don¡¯t waste this. This wine costs¡­¡± She shed her fingers to indicate the price. Its valuey in its age¨Colder vintagesmanded higher prices. Fred seldom served it to guests. Tonight was an exception. Shermaine epted the ss, inhaled its aroma, and took a small sip. The rich vor bloomed on her pte, drawing a subtle but genuine smile. ¡°Mrs. York, you appreciate fine wine?¡± Fred asked. Joshua chuckled, ¡°The finer it is, the more she loves it.¡± 1/2 Chapter 350 ¡°I have several exceptional bottles in my collection. Let me have them brought for her,¡± Fred sald eagerly. Shermaine was about to decline when Joshua spoke, ¡°We¡¯d be grateful for your generosity, Mr. Carlton.¡± Though Fred¡¯s focus remained on Joshua and Shermaine, he didn¡¯t neglect Bruce, handing him an equally exquisite ss. Bruce rarely drank. Constant vignce was his rule. Yet this time, he epted. The wine¡¯s scent, paired with the memory of Shermaine¡¯s expression,pelled him to taste it. It was pretty good. Nurse walking 351-400 Chapter 351 Molly was surprised. Bruce, who prided himself on discipline and never touched alcohol, had epted the ss, This confirmed his status was even higher than she had guessed. Fred didn¡¯t just respect him. He practically indulged him. Now, with Fred deliberately giving her an opening to win Bruce over, Molly wasn¡¯t about to waste it. Before leaving, Shermaine gave Molly¡¯s shoulder a light squeeze, a silent nudge to seize the moment. Then, she and Joshua followed Fred out. Roy lingered nearby, patient as always. He would wait until Molly finished business before iming her attention. Molly stepped forward with a polished smile. ¡°Mr. Xavier, care for a chat?¡± Bruce swirled his wine. ¡°Five minutes.¡± That was all she needed. Molly cut straight to the point. She wanted to seed as the next head of the Carlton family, and his support would guarantee it. Bruce already knew why both Molly and Karina sought him out. He had never nned to involve himself. His gaze flicked toward where Shermaine had left. ¡°What¡¯s her full name?¡± Molly hesitated. ¡°Shermaine Jean.¡± Bruce thought, ¡®So she¡¯s the woman who thwarted Kylie and us.¡® Bruce had tried investigating Shermaine before, but her records were frustratingly sparse. He had lost interest. After all, unless she was that person, she wasn¡¯t worth his attention. Thinking of the word ¡°Jean¡± on the handkerchief, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll back you. On one condition.¡± Molly nodded. ¡°Name it.¡± ¡°I want to talk to her. Arrange a meeting for me.¡± If Bruce approached Shermaine, it would be too suspicious, not to mention Joshua would never allow it. Molly¡¯s first instinct was refusal. She had no idea what Bruce was plotting. ¡°Mr. Xavier, she¡¯s married, and they¡¯re deeply in love. If you¡¯re thinking of making a move, forget it.¡± Bruce took another sip of wine. ¡°You misunderstood. There¡¯s just something I need to confirm with her.¡± Molly eyed him skeptically. ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± Bruce nodded. ¡°That¡¯s all.¡± If true, this was an easy win. Molly weighed her options. ¡°Well. I¡¯ll ask Shermaine first. If she agrees, I¡¯ll set it up. But no tricks, no forcing her into anything.¡± Even without Bruce¡¯s support, bing the head of the family would 17:20 Thu, 26 Jun METW Chapter 351 just be slightly harder. Across the hall, Shermaine hupped softly, her head lolling against Joshua¡¯s shoulder as she suddenly murmured, ¡°I remember where I¡¯ve seen those eyes before.¡± Joshua stopped mid¨Cstep. His grip tightened around her waist. ¡°Sheary, you¡¯ve been thinking about him this whole time?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Not the whole time.¡± ¡°Where did you meet?¡± ¡°Four years ago. In Eskaria.¡± Shermaine paused. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure I saved his life.¡± Joshua smiled. He thought, ¡®It seems that man is very grateful for that.¡® AD Chapter 352 Shermaine wasn¡¯t sure if Brice was the man she had saved in Eskaria five years ago, but it didn¡¯t matter. Saving lives was second nature to her. Molly decided not to bring it up tonight. There was no rush. For now, she was relieved Bruce wouldn¡¯t side with her siblings. With that weight off her shoulders, she could finally rx and enjoy the banquet. ¡°Molly.¡± Roy¡¯s voice cut through her thoughts. Molly turned, momentarily startled. She had almost forgotten about him. Finding him still waiting obediently, she asked, ¡°Hungry? Let¡¯s get you something to eat.¡± Roy nodded. ¡°A little.¡± ¡°Follow me.¡± Given Molly¡¯s status, countless men vied for her attention. Yet none appealed to her as much as Roy. His boyish charm stood out, and frankly, she usually found men irritating, avoiding them whenever possible. If they got too annoying, she simply ignored them. As she sipped her wine, she ruffled Roy¡¯s pink hair, soft and fluffy under her fingers. ¡°Slow down. You¡¯ll need room for all the drinks you¡¯re about to handle for me.¡± Roy grinned, his little fangs peeking out. Molly¡¯s perfume enveloped him, turning his ears crimson. He kept his head down, fearing that he might lose control and hug, or worse, kiss her. He didn¡¯t eat much, saving space for alcohol. Molly didn¡¯t actually overwork him, but by night¡¯s end, Roy was still thoroughly drunk. Unlike Joshua, who could drink anyone under the table, Roy¡¯s tolerance was pitiful. Now his face burned scarlet, his movements sluggish. Still sober, Molly crouched beside him as he slumped on the floor. ¡°You did well. Let¡¯s get you back.¡± Roy blinked blearily at her outstretched hand and then pressed his cheek into her palm. Molly froze, thenughed, ¡°Roy, you¡¯re just like my husky. I¡¯ll introduce you sometime.¡± Roy licked his lips, emboldened by liquor. ¡°I could be your pet, too. Just say the word.¡± Drunk as he was, he had no filter left, saying everything he normally wouldn¡¯t dare. Molly¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What do you even see in me?¡± She had noticed his infatuation from day one. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Roy mumbled, his drunken gaze hazy. ¡°I liked you the moment I saw you. I¡¯ve never been like this before.¡± Molly thought, ¡®So I¡¯m his first love?¡® The thought inexplicably pleased her. ¡°Up you go, sweetheart,¡± she said, dropping the subject as she helped him stand. Roy didn¡¯t want to move. Molly sighed patiently, ¡°Be good. Let¡¯s get you to the hotel. I¡¯ve still got things to handle.¡± Roy staggered to his feet. Truthfully, he wasn¡¯t that drunk, just drunk enough to lean shamelessly against her when he realized she didn¡¯t push him away. Her perfume wrapped around him, heady and intoxicating, making his skin burn. One of Molly¡¯s bodyguards stepped forward. ¡°Ms. Hill, need help?¡± ¡°Bring the car around,¡± Molly ordered. Then, she murmured in Roy¡¯s ear, ¡°Only letting you cling because you took all those shots for me tonight.¡± 1/2 Chapter 352. Meanwhile, Shermaine had returned to the hotel with Fred¡¯s gifted wines in hand. After dropping off food for Dustin, she and Joshua retreated to th sulte. Not long after, Owen¡¯s video call lit up Joshua¡¯s phone. Joshua was showering, so Shermaine answered, ¡°Hi, Owen.¡± ¡°Hey, Sheary!¡± Owen beamed. ¡°Where¡¯s Joshua?¡± ¡°He¡¯s showering.¡± Shermaine¡¯s gaze shifted to the unfamiliar middle¨Caged man beside Owen- to Joshua¡¯s. She hadn¡¯t expected to meet Stephen York, Joshua¡¯s father, like this. Joshua once Owen made introductions. ¡°Sheary, this is Joshua¡¯s father.¡± -wire¨Cframed sses, features bearing a faint resemnce mentioned Stephen hadn¡¯t been home in years. Shermaine recognized him instantly. She nodded politely. After all, as Joshua¡¯s wife, Stephen was now her family, too. Stephen returned the nod, his expression warm but silent. ¡°Stephen just got back from the research institute,¡± Owen continued. ¡°When are you two returning?¡± ¡°The day after tomorrow,¡± Shermaine said. Joshua emerged from the shower, towel slung low on his hips. Shermaine handed him the phone. His brows lifted slightly at the sight of Stephen, clearly surprised by Stephen¡¯s sudden return. Joshua asked how long Stephen would be staying, and Stephen replied that he would go back to theb after seeing them both. After a short conversation with Owen, Joshua ended the call. The day after their return would mark the anniversary of Joshua¡¯s mother¡¯s death. Chapter 353 Chapter 353 Shermaine noticed Joshua¡¯s hair was still damp and grabbed a towel to dry it for him. Before long, he pulled her onto hisp to take over the task himself. She cupped his face, studying him. ¡°Why not talk to him a bit longer?¡± ¡°Who?¡± Joshua asked. ¡°Stephen,¡± she said. Joshua harbored no resentment toward Stephen, who had been absent most of his but years of distance couldn¡¯t be erased in one call. After a few rough wipes, Joshua tossed the towel onto a chair. ¡°We¡¯ll talk when we¡¯re back.¡± Truthfully, he was curious about what had finally dragged the stubborn workaholic out of hisb. After his mother¡¯s death, Joshua had assumed he and Stephen would never see each other again. Shermaine reached to towel his hair once more, but Joshua caught her wrist, pulling her into a kiss that drowned any protest in heat and possessive hunger. Roy had reached the hotel lobby. The car ride had sobered him up, but he kept up the drunk act, leaning heavily on Molly as she helped him inside. He yed the sweet, guileless boy around her, but he wasn¡¯t naive. Since she allowed his closeness, he took clinging like an oversized teddy bear. Nuzzling her neck, he inhaled her scent. inch she gave. Right now, that meant Molly stiffened. Despite Ustrana¡¯s romantic reputation, she avoided physical contact with men. Roy might be her ¡°pet,¡± but he was still a man, one who wanted her. ¡°Stop squirming,¡± she warned. Roy whined. ¡°Momo, I¡¯m hot.¡± Molly thought, ¡®Hot? It¡¯s cool out here. True, the car¡¯s heater has been sting, and alcohol could make him flush. But what did he call me? Momo?¡® Her voice dropped. ¡°What did you just call me?¡± No man had ever dared use a nickname this intimate. Anyone else would¡¯ve gotten a fist in the face by now. Roy lifted his gaze, soft features blurred by drink, eyes hazy and faintly red¨Crimmed. ¡°Hmm? Can¡¯t I call you that?¡± Molly hesitated. ¡°Fine.¡± He called her again. ¡°Momo.¡± She drew a hard line. ¡°Only in private. Understood?¡± ¡°Got it.¡± His smile was bright. Against all odds, Molly¡¯s mood lifted. This obedient, uplicated man was nothing like the others. At least he didn¡¯t make her skin crawl. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s get you upstairs.¡± Her bodyguards exchanged nces. None had ever seen a man get this close to Molly. If Beckett James found out she was indulging someone like this, especially when their arranged marriage was all but set in stone, hell would break loose. The union had been arranged by Molly¡¯s mother, the Carlton family¡¯s third madame, to secure her a powerful ally. But Molly, ever defiant, had rejected Beckett outright. That didn¡¯t stop him from parading around as her fianc¨¦. And this sweet¨Cfaced pink¨Chaired boy wouldn¡¯t survive Beckett¡¯s wrath. 1/1 C PrevNeChapter 354 Ray remained blissfully unaware that Molly¡¯s bodyguards saw him as a golddigger. His mind was too busy scheming ways to fore her into his room for ¡°Just a minute.¡± They reached his floor in no time. When the elevator doors opened, Roy¡¯s teammates were greeted by the sight of him draped over a Stunning, sharp suited woman who radiated authority. Yet somehow, they looked right together. They had met Molly at the airport before, a billionaire heiress and Shermaine¡¯s close friend. Back then, Roy had already been half in love. The team exchanged nces before hastily stepping aside. Molly had intended to hand Roy off to them, but they waved her off. ¡°Ms. Hill, mind looking after him? We¡¯re heading out forte¨Cnight snacks.¡± ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ve got ns.¡± ¡°And then hitting the clubs.¡± With that, they squeezed into the elevator, gave Molly cheerful farewell waves, and immediately mashed the door¨Cclose button. With no choice, Molly hauled Roy to his door. ¡°Roy, where¡¯s your keycard?¡± Roy nuzzled her shoulder. ¡°Momo, get it for me.¡± His puppy¨Cdog act worked. Molly chuckled, ¡°Which pocket?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he mumbled. Molly patted him down. Roy instantly regretted his gambit. His ears burned crimson, and when her hand brushed his thigh pocket, his whole body jerked. Then, warm blood trickled from his nose. He tilted his head back, clutching his face. Molly burst outughing as she swiped the card and opened the door. ¡°Virgin?¡± Roy blinked up at her, mortified. ¡°Will you make fun of me?¡± ¡°No.¡± Molly had never dated men. But a male virgin in Ustrana was as rare as a unicorn. Amused, she added, ¡°Why would I care? You¡¯re not my man.¡± Roy fell silent, blood still trickling from his nose. He grabbed tissues, pressing them on his face as he mumbled in a wounded, boyish voice, ¡°Momo, I¡¯m only like this with you.¡± The mix of embarrassment and dejection was almostical. ¡°¨C¡± He wanted to ask again¨Cwhether he could pursue her. But Molly pressed a finger to his lips before the words could escape. ¡°Pets are enough trouble. I¡¯m not adopting another one right now.¡± That was a rejection. Roy¡¯s eyes dimmed, heart cracking audibly. He thought, ¡®She turned down someone as cute as me? But she totally likes me! I also have abs.¡® He hung his head. ¡°I¡¯d be good.¡± Molly only smiled. Romance was thest thing on her agenda, especially with Roy, whose path would never align with hers. Her career would never move back to Wallington, and Roy was leaving soon anyway. She was building an empire. Love had no ce in her ns. Tonight¡¯s alcohol had lent her patience, but now sobriety sharpened her tone. ¡°I¡¯m heading back. Rest up.¡± Chapter 354 Roy¡¯s chest ached, but he refused to gravel. Persistence, not desperation, was his style. ¡°Goodnight, Momo, he said softly, Chapter 355 The next morning, Molly went to the hotel for breakfast with Shermaine. Over coffee, she mentioned Bruce¡¯s request. ¡°Will this help you?¡± Shermaine asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Molly said bluntly. ¡°He¡¯ll back my bid for power.¡± The demand seemed suspiciously simple, but ate¨Cnight investigation had eased her doubts Shermaine checked her watch. ¡°This afternoon, then. We have to fly home tomorrow.¡± ¡°Deal.¡± Molly clinked her coffee cup against Shermaine¡¯s. ¡°Thanks.¡± Shermaine returned the toast with a smile. Molly promptly called Bruce, who named a caf¨¦ address for 2 p.m. She immediately ryed the information to Shermaine. Shermaine nodded in agreement. Breakfast continued until Roy and Joshua arrived. Roy, seemingly unfazed byst night¡¯s rejection, slid cheerfully beside Molly. ¡°Morning,dies.¡± ¡°Morning,¡± Molly murmured into her cup. Shermaine had only eaten about a third of her pasta. She pushed her te aside, no longer hungry. Without a word, Joshua pulled the te to his own ce and finished it. Soon, the waiter brought over the rest of Shermaine¡¯s pre¨Cordered breakfast. After they finished eating, Shermaine and Joshua went out shopping, nning to bring some things back home. Time passed quickly. After having lunch, the afternoon meeting loomed. Loang¡¯s weather was unseasonably bright, with golden light gilding the old architecture. Pigeons wheeled over bustling zas, and the streets bustled with people and traffic. Joshua parked nearby. ¡°Thirty minutes,¡± he said, hand lingering at Shermaine¡¯s waist. Shermaine traced his jaw. ¡°I¡¯ll be quick. Stretch your legs. The square is lovely.¡± With that, she got out of the car. Joshua swallowed hard, rolling down the window to track her progress to the caf¨¦ where Bruce waited. Bruce had arrived early. He stood as Shermaine entered, pulling out her chair. Once she was seated, a waiter ced a ck coffee in front of her. Bruce studied her for a moment. After a pause, he pulled out the embroidered handkerchief from his pocket. ¡°This belongs to you.¡± Shermaine recognized it instantly. The handkerchief she had carried for years, stitched with her surname, was lost during that trip to Eskaria. Never did she expect that the man she had saved years ago would find it, and now, he returned it to her. Bruce exhaled. Her reaction confirmed that she was the one who had saved him. Five years had passed, but finally, he had found her again. Shermaine took the handkerchief. ¡°Thank you. ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± Bruce replied softly. ¡°You saved my life. Without you, I wouldn¡¯t be here today.¡± Shermaine smiled, ¡°Just a small kindness.¡± Chapter 355 To her, it meant little. But to Bruce, it had been the only light in the darkest chapter of his life. Before that day, no one had aver fat it, Shermaine was the first person to say those words to him. Thirty minutes came and went with no sign of Shermaine. Joshua remained outwardly calm, though he lit a cigarette to steady himself. Finally, she emerged, Bruce trailing behind her. ¡°No need to walk me out,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°My husband is waiting.¡± Bruce nodded. ¡°My offer stands.¡± He had sworn to repay her years ago, and he intended to keep that promise. Shermaine turned without another word, heading toward Joshua. He took her hand, helping her into the car. ¡°What did you discuss?¡± She summarized the conversation sinctly. Joshua¡¯s expression gave nothing away. Bruce¡¯s gratitude was one thing, but he¡¯d better not harbor any other intentions. So far, Bruce seemed respectful. ¡°You turned down his repayment?¡± Joshua asked. ¡°Essentially,¡± Shermaine replied. Outside the caf¨¦, Bruce exhaled smoke, his expression unreadable. Then, his phone rang. The caller¡¯s voice was frantic. ¡°Bruce, theb situation is deteriorating. Containment¡¯s failing. Many people are infected, and one escaped. ¡°He¡¯s a carrier. If the strain mutates during transmission, we¡¯re finished!¡± ¡°Any leads on his location?¡± Bruce asked. ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°Find him. At all costs.¡± Meanwhile, in the car, Joshua¡¯s phone buzzed. The caller¡¯s voice carried clearly in the quiet interior, reporting that unidentified assants had ambushed their team and rescued Kylie. ¡°Joshua, you and your wife should be cautious. These rescuers are dangerous.¡± Their motives were unclear, and their identities were still untraceable. Joshua hadn¡¯t anticipated Kylie¡¯s rescue. Even her family had failed to locate her. Yet these strangers had rescued her effortlessly. ¡°Any distinguishing features?¡± Shermaine asked. The caller answered, ¡°ck robes. Masks. Highly trained.¡± ¡°Thanks. We¡¯ll stay alert.¡± ¡°Kylie has no threat anymore. We made sure of that. She won¡¯t be useful for much of anything for the rest of her life.¡± Elsewhere, the room around Kylie was white¨Cwalled and sterile¨Clooking. Shey motionless on a bed, tubes snaking from her body, a venttor hissing. Before being taken, she had endured hell. Faintly, she heard voices nearby. ¡°She has multiplepound fractures. Her usefulness is minimal. Are you Chapter 355 sure we should save her?¡± A woman replied, her voice crisp and clinical, ¡°Full recovery is mandatory. Even damaged goods can be repurposed. With modifies adequate pawn.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Has the Crystal Sarcophagus been opened yet?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± The woman¡¯s tone sharpened. ¡°Make them move faster.¡± Chapter 356 That night, Joshua packed their luggage white Shermaine sat at the desk, her gray sweatpants d legs curled beneath fret, a messy bun stop hat in Her fingers flew across the ck keyboard as she searched for any trace of the masked, ck robed assants, but she found nothing Closing theptop, she took a sip of water and turned to Joshua. He was folding her crossbody bag on the bed, dressed in a knit sweater and ck trousers. In his hands was the handkerchief Bruce had returned. Joshua asked, ¡°Sheary, you used to carry handkerchiefs?¡± Shermaine nodded. ¡°I did.¡± But she had stopped after losing this one. Joshua said, ¡°But not anymore?¡± ¡°Pretty much.¡± She exined it had been a gift from a respected mentor. It had sentimental value. Joshua smiled, ¡°To prevent another loss, I¡¯ll keep this one for you. Or better yet, give it to me. I could use a handkerchief.¡± It was impably preserved, almost new, proof of Bruce¡¯s meticulous care. Shermaine made a yful grab for it. Joshua dodged, tucking it into his pocket. ¡°I¡¯ll buy you a new one,¡± she offered. ¡°I want this one,¡± Joshua insisted. Shermaineughed in exasperation. ¡°What if I refuse?¡± Joshua wrapped his arms around her waist, looking up with a low, coaxing murmur. ¡°Sheary, you¡¯re too kind to say no.¡± ¡°I¡¯m feeling mean today. Try again.¡± Her hand dipped into his pocket. She didn¡¯t mind gifting it, but Joshua¡¯s jealousy over Bruce¡¯s return was ridiculous. And unless she was imagining it, his wariness of Bruce seemed excessive. Joshua fell back onto the bed. Shermaine followed with one knee nted beside him, and her waist was still locked in his grip. Her hand had slipped into his pocket, only to be trapped there. ¡°Sheary,¡± Joshua¡¯s voice was rough with amusement. ¡°Where exactly are you groping?¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t bat an eye. ¡°Not like I haven¡¯t touched you there before.¡± Besides, throughyers of fabric, she wasn¡¯t getting any sensation from it anyway. Joshua swallowed. ¡°Keep this up, and we¡¯ll miss our flight tomorrow.¡± ¡°Give the handkerchief back, and I¡¯ll stop.¡± ¡°What if I don¡¯t?¡± ¡°Then you¡¯re done for.¡± Joshua¡¯s grin was pure challenge. ¡°Guess I¡¯m done for, then.¡± Shermaine decided she had been far too lenjent with himtely. It was time for a lesson. Her eyes narrowed as she rolled off him, yanked open the bedside drawer¡¯s lowestpartment, and pulled out a pair of handcuffs. In one fluid motion, she snapped one cuff around Joshua¡¯s wrist and secured it to the headboard, then used his tie to bind the other. 17:14 Fri 7 Jun Chapter 356 Joshua blinked at his immobilized arms. He blinked, momentarily stunned. He hadn¡¯t expected the hotel room to contain something the h?nder had he expected Shermaine to use them on him. Still, he kept his tone low, coaxing, ¡°Baby, don¡¯t be like this,¡± Their earlier scuffle had already left his ck shirt disheveled. Now, with his tie roughly undone, his shirt gaped open at the cor. Propped again headboard, his hair was slightly messed up. His sses glinted under the light. The usuallyposed man looked surprisingly sexy Shermaine smirked. ¡°Mr. York, you¡¯ve been very naughty.¡± A B AD Comment Chapter 357 Shermaine leaned in, pinching his waist. ¡°You started this.¡± ¡°I surrender,¡± Joshua murmured, voice slightly hoarse. ¡°Unlock me, Sheary.¡± ¡°No.¡± Her tone was stern. ¡°You had your chance. Now, it¡¯s punishment time.¡± The handcuffs and tie couldn¡¯t truly restrain Joshua. He¡¯d allowed this because resisting would upset her. But regret came swiftly. Shermaine removed his sses, staring into those deep¨Cset eyes that always seemed to pull her in. She kissed the corner of his eye, then flicked open his belt buckle with a sharp click that echoed in the quiet room. Outside, Loang¡¯s skyline glittered, the window faintly reflecting their entangled silhouettes. Joshua¡¯s breathing was ragged. His ck shirt hung open, revealing a heaving chest damp with sweat as he leaned against the headboard, eyes slightly narrowed and flushed. Shermaine licked her lips, savoring his unraveling. A nip at his Adam¡¯s apple drew another broken gasp from him. Then, she abruptly stood. ¡°Reflect on your behavior.¡± Joshua couldn¡¯t move. With the intoxicating sensation suddenly gone, all that remained was pure torment. She teased him but didn¡¯t give him what he truly wanted. ¡°Sheary,¡± he said, trying to steady his breath. ¡°I¡¯ve reflected. Deeply. Untie me, please.¡± ¡°No.¡± Shermain¨¦ stuck out her tongue. ¡°Last chance,¡± Joshua warned, though his chuckle betrayed him. ¡°Nope.¡± Shermaine¡¯s gaze flicked briefly at the bulge, then away. ¡°You¡¯re not penitent enough. Keep reflecting.¡± With that, she reimed the handkerchief, tucked it into her bag, and headed to the bathroom. Joshua exhaled through clenched teeth, eyes fond yet exasperated. He thought, ¡®My girl is too clever for her own good. Where did she learn such methods? Does she realize what happens when a caged beast breaks free?¡® The memory of her teasing had his muscles coiling again. He craved more. When Shermaine returned from her shower, she found only the discarded handcuffs and crumpled tie on the bed. She thought, ¡®So he could¡¯ve escaped anytime? Tsk, he was humoring my punishment just now! A rustling came from the living room. Shermaine stepped out to find Joshua by the fridge, tilting his head back as he gulped water. Droplets trailed down his jaw, over his throat, and vanished into the open cor of his shirt. Even drinking water looked sexy on him. Joshua set the bottle down, eyes locking onto her robe¨Cd figure. Shermaine leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching him with amusement. Joshua closed the distance without a word, his lips hot and insistent against hers. Teeth grazed her neck. He murmured, ¡°Sheary, it¡¯s my turn now,¡± Shermaine chuckled, ¡°An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.¡± ¡°I¡¯d happily go blind,¡± he countered, fingers tugging at her robe tie. ¡°Daily.¡± His breath hitched. He thought, ¡®Teasing me like that but bringing me to the edge only to walk away, it¡¯s cruel. Do it often enough, and she¡¯ll break me.¡± He whispered in her ear, ¡°I¡¯m suffering, Sheary. Take responsibility.¡± 1714 Fri, 27 Jun By dawn, Shermaine hurled the handkerchief at him and yanked the covers up. ¡°Take it. Now go. I need sleep Joshua caught it, grinting as he pressed a kiss on her cheek. ¡°Next time you want to punish me, just use a whip.¡± His voice softened. It¡¯s not the handkerchief I mind, just the man who held onto it.¡± Bruce had done nothing wrong, but Joshua still found the keepsake irritating. The jealousy¨Cfueled antics hadsted half the night. Shermaine eyed him, then burrowed into his arms. ¡°Sleep.¡± The next morning, they boarded their flight home. Shermaine didn¡¯t open her eyes once from takeoff tonding Her ster performance at the math conference, coupled with her fame as Professor Jean, drew a crowd of schrs and reporters to the airport. Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Jameson¡¯s failing heart and kidneys hadnded him in the hospital. These days, he had already be skinny. Chapter 358 In just a few days, Jameson had plummeted into the darkest chapter of his life. Natalie, the woman he had deeply loved, was a transgender individual. Jason was his biological son, but only because Natalie had stolen has spec hired a surrogate. Though Natalie had raised Jason as her own, Jameson couldn¡¯t shake his disgust. Now, even the sight of Jason filled him with revulsion, Jason¡¯s existence was a constant reminder of his own stupidity¨Cabandoning the exceptional Ruth for Natalie and persecuting Ross. Natalie had meticulously manipted Jameson for years. Her schemes had left his body failing. Without immediate surgery, his time was running outs Though ousted as Jean Group¡¯s president, Jameson still held shares. No longer the fool, he had quietly reimed assets gifted to Natalie. As for Jason, he let him keep the money, but every share had been wed back. Recently, Natalie had stormed into his hospital room to protest. Beyond her, no one came. Not Ross, who had ignored Jameson¡¯s hospitalization. Not even Janice, who seemed to have erased Jameson from her life. Jameson had hinted at remorse, yet no forgiveness came. The doctor was reviewing Jameson. Each day felt like a year. Despite medication, Jameson¡¯s decline was palpable. He asked, ¡°Doctor, when will Dr. Jean arrive?¡± The doctor said, ¡°She¡¯s extraordinarily busy. The news says she¡¯s returned today. Be patient.¡± The numbers were dire. Dying surgery would only heighten the risks. All the doctor could do was fight for an opportunity for Jameson. If Dr. Jean refused, only fate remained. Jameson¡¯s hands trembled. He thought, ¡®She¡¯s back. There¡¯s still hope! Just as he was lost in thought, Natalie¡¯s shrill voice pierced through the hallway again. Barred from entering, she was hurling obscenities outside. Natalie couldn¡¯t fathom how her meticulously concealed gender reassignment surgery had been exposed. But so what? She was a woman now, and Jameson had stripped her of everything. Even Jason had vanished days ago. The sound of her screeching made Jameson¡¯s head throb. She dared show up here. He had already shown mercy by not having her arrested. Fed up with her daily disruptions, Jameson yanked out his IV and stormed into the hallway, his face twisted with rage. He snarled, ¡°You disgusting bitch! One more scene, and I swear I¡¯ll ruin you.¡± Natalie¡¯s allergy¨Cinduced scars darkened grotesquely, forcing her to hide behind a mask. ¡°Jamie, I didn¡¯t know the medication would harm you! I¡¯m sorry. Please don¡¯t cast me out!¡± The fiery arrogance was gone. Natalie lunged forward to embrace him, but Jameson shoved her away. ¡°Don¡¯t fucking touch me!¡± He jerked his chin at the guards. ¡°Throw her out. I never want to see her again.¡± As the guards dragged Natalie off, Jameson¡¯s fury triggered a coughing fit, blood spattering his palm. Panic whitened his face as he copsed. Nurses rushed him back to bed, and the doctor scolded him sternly. Reconnected to IV drips and meds, Jameson stared nkly at the evening news shing on the screen. Suddenly, he saw Shermaine. Chapter 359 Shermaine¡¯s return to the country had sparked widespread attention, even making the evening news. As the reporter recounted her achievements, Jameson finally understood why. Shermaine had represented Basterel University at the Academic Exchange Conference, and she had solved a world¨Css mathematical puzzle, a lean that cemented her status as a luminary in the field. She was extraordinary. She was Professor Jean, the renowned figure abroad. When the news segment delved into her rise to fame, even the doctors and nurses watching alongside Jameson were awestruck. The young woman on screen wasn¡¯t only Dr. Jean, but she was also the literary world¡¯s celebrated Professor Jean. The medical staff murmured in admiration. Jameson¡¯s heart raced as he watched Shermaine being swarmed by admirers. This was his daughter, yet he had never truly seen her, only belittled fer at every turn. He had no right to scorn her. Shermaine was a titan in her fields, her brilliance undeniable. Jason couldn¡¯t hold a candle to her. Once, Jameson had consoled himself with the thought that she was ¡°just a woman.¡± Now, regret curdled in his gut. In the news, the reporter asked, ¡°Ms. Jean, you¡¯re already an esteemed professor abroad. Why return topleting an undergraduate degree here?¡± Shermaine smiled, ¡°Back then, I hated hearing criticisms but couldn¡¯t exactly unt my credentials, not that anyone would¡¯ve believed me. Mostly, I skipped high school for early studies abroad. No SATs, no prom¡­ It felt like a missing chapter.¡± At the segment¡¯s end, the reporter blurted, ¡°Ms. Jean, may I have your autograph?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Shermaine nodded. The screen cut to a mob of reporters moring for signatures before shifting to the next piece of news. A nurse gasped, cheeks flushed, ¡°Dr. Zimmer, Shermaine is Dr. Jean, right?¡± Luke Zimmer nodded. ¡°Must be.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s ask Dr. Shelly!¡± ¡°Good idea.¡± They filed out, buzzing with excitement, leaving Jameson shell¨Cshocked in his bed. Dread pooled in Jameson¡¯s chest. He thought, ¡®Did they just say¡­ Shermaine is Dr. Jean? If so, would she ever operate on me?¡® The answer was obvious. In Danielle¡¯s ward, a crowd of medical staff pressed for confirmation. Even in a hospital gown, one leg encased in ster, her beauty and elegance remained undimmed. She closed her book, smiling, ¡°Dr. Jean and Professor Jean are one and the same.¡± Danielle thought proudly, ¡®Shermaine is just that brilliant!¡® Chapter 360 Danielle spent over an hour patiently fielding the doctors¡® and nurses¡® excited questions about Shermaine, her throat growing dry from all the talking. By the time she checked her watch, it was already past nine, and she had to visit Ross. Earlier that day, Ross¡® stitches had been removed, and his wound was already healed. Though cleared for discharge, he had stayed pirt, with executives shuffling in and out for reporting. Danielle¡¯s cast, meanwhile, wouldn¡¯te off for another week. Ross was likely at a video conference. Shermaine¡¯s trip had left him swamped with work. ¡°Any more questions?¡± Danielle asked. ¡°If not, I¡¯d like to see my boyfriend.¡± The group shook their heads. They knew bits of Danielle and Ross¡® story¨CRoss had nearly died for her. They had mistaken him for a yboy before. Grabbing her crutches, Danielle headed to Ross¡® ward next door. These days, not teasing him made her feel like skipping a ritual. Just as she reached the door, a woman in oversized sunsses and a face mask collided with her, a cloud of cloying perfume following. ¡°Watch where you¡¯re going, cripple,¡± the woman snorted, then paused, eyeing Danielle¡¯s striking beauty despite the cast. ¡°You here for Mr. Jean?¡± That sharine voice was unmistakable. Danielle immediately recognized who it was. It was Jessica, the actress who used to have rumors swirling around her and Ross. She thought, ¡®Jessica¡¯s here to see Ross?¡® At the thought of that scandal, Danielle remembered the photo of Jessica practically clinging to Ross. Her temper red instantly. ¡°So what if I am?¡± ¡°Sorry, sweetheart, firste, first served,¡± Jessica sneered, tossing her hair. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your time fantasizing about Mr. Jean. Men like him don¡¯t stoop to your level.¡± With that, she flounced into the ward, her voice dripping honey. ¡°Mr. Jean, I came as soon as I heard you were hospitalized.¡± Ross had expected Danielle. His frown deepened at the unfamiliar woman. ¡°Who are you?¡± Jessica removed her sunsses and mask, setting a bouquet aside. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± She purred, eyes full of exaggerated concern. ¡°I rushed here straight from the set. How are you feeling?¡± It took Ross a few seconds to recognize the actress from that engineered ¡°scandal.¡± He hadn¡¯t gone looking for her, yet here she was, showing up uninvited. Before he could throw her out, Danielle strode in, looking furious. As his girlfriend, she wasn¡¯t about to retreat. Jessica shot Danielle a re. Ross immediately sensed trouble. Danielle sank into the bedside chair, all sweet venom. ¡°Ross, isn¡¯t this your famous fling? No wonder she snarled at me in the hallway.¡± Jessica stiffened. She thought, ¡®What¡¯s this bitch¡¯s rtionship with Ross?¡® Her expression shifted slightly. Ross red at Jessica. ¡°You dared snarl at her?¡± Chapter 361 Chapter 361 Chapter 361 Ross had always maintained a polished, courteous public image. Even after the scandal broke, he had done nothing to retaliate against Jessica, and since she had business ties to Jean Group, she had dared visit him at the hospital. Jessica reassured herself silently, ¡®Ross is the type to spare a woman¡¯s feelings. He won¡¯t humiliate me? But his icy tone shattered that illusion. Her smile froze. ¡°Mr. Jean, I wasn¡¯t rude to her. Just a misunderstanding¡± Seeing Danielle¡¯s stony expression, Ross tried to exin. ¡°Danielle, she and 1¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± Danielle cut him off. ¡°I want an orange. Peel it for me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The fruit bowl held a few oranges. Ross, who had never waited on anyone, fumbled clumsily with the peel but patiently separated a segment and fed it to her. Jessica gaped at the scene. Yet each bite only soured Danielle¡¯s mood further. Jessica¡¯s presence resurrected the sting of Ross¡® past rejections. ¡°Enough. Entertain your famous fling without me.¡± She grabbed her crutches and walked outside. Ross chased after her. tried Danielle¡¯s hobbled pace was no match for him. As she tried shutting her ward door, he blocked it and slipped inside. ¡°Why follow me?¡± Danielle snapped. ¡°Your guest is waiting.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing between us,¡± Ross exined. Danielle pouted, ¡°She¡¯s your scandal partner. That photo had her glued to you, and you didn¡¯t push her away.¡± She thought, ¡®Now the woman is showing up uninvited. She¡¯s clearly still obsessed.¡¯ Ross blinked and couldn¡¯t help thinking, ¡®Glued to me? Jessica tried seducing me and even lunged, but I dodged. The tabloid shot was just a bad angle.¡® This was the first time Danielle had ever acted jealous. Her lingering,hurt over the scandal twisted his gut. He pulled her into a hug, murmuring, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Why are you apologizing?¡± Danielle murmured, her voice softening as she lowered her gaze. ¡°I hurt you,¡± Ross said, pulling her closer. ¡°That photo was just a bad angle. Jessica never touched me. There¡¯s only ever been you, Danielle.¡± Only she had ever been allowed to throw herself at him, tease him, and kiss him. Ross wasn¡¯t experienced at coaxing girls, and a part of him worried Danielle might not forgive him this time. Back then, the scandal had erupted right after their breakup. To outsiders, it looked intentional, like he was the heartless yboy Janice had used him of being. No wonder Danielle had iced him out, blocking him on WhatsApp, deleting his number, and refusing to see him. Though, technically, he was still cklisted. Danielle tilted her head up, eyes narrowing. ¡°Really? Only ¡°Yes,¡± Ross answered solemnly. Her legs tired, Danielle leaned into him. ¡°So your ex never held you? And that actress definitely didn¡¯t?¡± Ross nodded. ¡°I promise it won¡¯t happen again.¡± His voice was impossibly gentle. ¡°No more jealousy, okay?¡± Chapter 361 Danielle smiled, ¡°Then swear it. No women near you except Shermaine.¡± ¡°I promise,¡± Ross said without hesitation. ¡°Only I get to hug you, kiss you, and sleep with you.¡± Danielle¡¯s voice was soft but dripping with possession. Ross chuckled, running a hand through her hair, ¡°Deal. Want a kiss? Or¡­ the sleeping part works too.¡± AD Chapter 362 Danielle¡¯s mind short circuited. She thought, ¡®Now? Here? A kiss was one thing, but sleeping¡­ Her cheeks flushed as some steamy images flooded her mind. That such words hade from Ross, the epitome of restraint, stunned her. This was the same man who had once been immune to her every advance, cold as a machine. Suddenly parched, Danielle wet her lips, rising on tiptoe to fiddle with his hospital gown buttons. Their breaths mingled, ¡°Now? Are you sure?¡± Ross leaned in to kiss her. Weeks of her teasing, her sweet voice, and fleeting touches had worn his patience thin. He intended to show just how wee her advances were. Danielle turned her face away. ¡°Ross, you¡¯ve changed.¡± Ross had realized this. The irony wasn¡¯t lost on him. Like Shermaine and Joshua¡¯s ¡°famous turnaround,¡± though Joshua had always been quicker to embrace desire. ¡°For you, I¡¯ll change dly,¡± Ross murmured. His usual schrly reserve was still there, edged with aristocratic poise¨Cqualities Danielle adored. Now, his words sent her pulse racing. This change was hers alone. The thought melted her. ¡°Danielle,¡± Ross murmured, his voice tender as winter sunlight. ¡°I love you.¡± Danielle couldn¡¯t resist. Overjoyed, she pressed a yful kiss to his lips. The sound echoed in the quiet ward, sparking an instant, electric tension between them. She whispered, ¡°Ross, you can¡¯t just say things like that.¡± Leaning closer, Ross whispered, ¡°So, do you want to sleep with me now?¡± His lips brushed her ear. Danielle wanted him, but not here, not until they were both discharged. Before she could respond, Ross captured her lips in a searing kiss, his warm, woodsy scent enveloping her. Gone was the cool detachment of the past. This kiss was a crashing wave, leaving her dizzy and clinging to him for bnce. With one leg still in a cast, Danielle shut her eyes, arms locked around Ross. When she finally broke for air, he simply cradled her head and drew her back in, deepening the kiss with molten intensity. Meanwhile, Jessica, unable to sit still after Ross chased after Danielle, had followed them to the hallway. She thought, ¡®No way I¡¯m leaving empty- handed. Marrying a wealthy man is my golden ticket.¡¯ She knocked, then tried pushing the door open. But it didn¡¯t budge as if someone inside was holding it shut. In the ward, Danielle, who had been leaning against the door, was startled. She wanted to push Ross away, but he didn¡¯t budge. Instead, he braced his hands on either side of her, easing the kiss from feverish tonguid, savoring her with deliberate, lingering sweetness. 1/1 Chapter 363 Ross¡® kiss was gentle, but his palms burned against Danielle¡¯s waist, restless in a way they had never been before. Even their first kisa in the car had lon him unraveled. He nipped at her ear, hot breath brushing against her shin. ¡°Danielle, I meant what I said. Now is an option.¡± Danielle¡¯s blush deepened. ¡°Your rumored partner is looking for you.¡± Ross trailed kisses down her neck. ¡°Ignore her.¡± ¡°My leg is still broken.¡± Danielle could barely stand. Without his grip, she would have copsed. Ross whispered, ¡°Thene for me when it¡¯s healed.¡± Danielle melted further, though her lips curled in helpless amusement. If not for the damned cast, she would have forn his clothes off already. Ross took in her radiant smile and stole another kiss. Outside, Jessica said, ¡°Mr. Jean? Are you there?¡± No answer, but muffled sounds came from within. She thought, ¡®What are they doing? Is that woman his girlfriend? No. Impossible. Rumor said he was single now! She kept speaking, ¡°Mr. Jean, can you hear me? Are you-¡± Before she could finish, Ross, usually so calm and gentle, snapped in frustration, ¡°Get lost.¡± His tone carried the unmistakable irritation of someone whose moment had just been ruined. The snap was uncharacteristically harsh. Jessica froze. Then, she heard the click of the lock turning. Inside, Ross put Danielle onto the bed, pulling her close again. Danielle¡¯s lips were numb from kissing, the kiss lingering until Shermaine¡¯s call snapped them back to reality. Ross finally released Danielle, who was now boneless and breathless against the sheets. Joshua and Shermaine were on their way to the hospital. Danielle grabbed a mirror, took one look at herself, and immediately yanked the covers over her head. ¡°Go back to your room,¡± she urged Ross, flustered. Ross calmly buttoned his shirt, the one she had tugged open during their make¨Cout session, and chuckled, ¡°Hiding under nkets won¡¯t undo what just happened.¡± Danielle pouted, ¡°Look what you did! My lips are swollen. It¡¯s so embarrassing to see Sheary like this.¡± The room had been dim, lit only by moonlight. When Ross flicked the switch, the full extent of Danielle¡¯s disheveled state became clear¨Cher hospital gown slipping off one shoulder, her hair tousled. He gently adjusted her gown. ¡°Yeah.¡± Downstairs, Shermaine was swarmed by doctors and nurses moring for autographs. If it weren¡¯t for Joshua¡¯s strong presence, he might¡¯ve even been pushed aside. Luckily, an elevator arrived just then. Though the crowd was excited, they politely made space for Shermaine to get through. When they reached the room, Shermaine noted Ross¡® good spirits. Though cleared for discharge, he had chosen to stay. Joshua took one look at Ross, and the two exchanged a knowing nce. Sometimes, no words were needed between men. After checking Ross, Shermaine said, ¡°d to see you recovering so well.¡± Ross replied, smug, ¡°My girlfriend takes excellent care of me.¡± Chapter 363 Shermaine raised an eyebrow. ¡°Danielle¡¯s leg is broken, yet she¡¯s still looking after you. Don¡¯t take advantage. Her tone was light, but the implication was clear. C Chapter 364 ¡°Where¡¯s Danielle?¡± Shermaine asked. Ross lied effortlessly, his expression unreadable. ¡°She¡¯s asleep.¡± Shermaine smirked, catching the whiff of a cover¨Cup. Ross changed the subject. ¡°Have you eaten?¡± ¡°I had something on the ne. We¡¯ll grab a proper mealter.¡± After nearly twelve hours of sleep, Shermaine was wide awake. She didn¡¯t n to linger at the hospital, just a quick visit before heading back to Jean Vi. A knock interrupted them. A doctor entered, clutching a file. After listening to his statement, Shermaine asked, ¡°Did you bring the patient¡¯s records?¡± Though she hadn¡¯t operated in a while, she still took on three or four surgeries monthly to keep her skills sharp. The doctor nodded eagerly. ¡°Here, Dr. Jean.¡± Shermaine flipped open the file and soon froze. The patient was Jameson, She didn¡¯t m the file shut. Instead, she read every detail before closing it with finality. ¡°Will you take the case, Dr. Jean?¡± the doctor asked. ¡°No.¡± Shermaine¡¯s tone left no room for debate. ¡°Let him find another surgeon.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ll inform him.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± The doctor didn¡¯t push. After getting an autograph from Shermaine, he left. Ross studied Shermaine¡¯s expression. The patient¡¯s identity was obvious. He had known about his hospitalization but hadn¡¯t bothered visiting. To Ross, the man had been dead the moment he abandoned his family. His suffering now was nothing but retribution. Thinking of Janice, Ross asked, ¡°Sheary, really no exception?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t lift a finger for him,¡± Shermaine said coolly. ¡°But for Grandma¡¯s sake, I¡¯ll save him after letting him stew in despair a little longer.¡± With that, she and Joshua left for Jean Vi. The doctor delivered Shermaine¡¯s refusal to Jameson and asked him to find another surgeon. Jameson¡¯s face drained of color, his body going numb as if plunged into ice. He thought, ¡®Just as I thought, Shermaine would rather watch me die.¡°¡® After the divorce, Ruth had moved out of Jean Vi. But upon hearing of Shermaine¡¯s return, she hade back for the evening, preparing dinner for Shermaine and Joshua. Janice knew Jameson was critically ill. As his mother, she grieved, but she hadn¡¯t visited him yet. When he got desperate enough, he woulde to her. When Shermaine and Joshua arrived at Jean Vi, Ruth and Janice showered them with warmth and pride. Shermaine¡¯s triumphant return from Ustrana was a cause for celebration. ¡°Sheary, have some soup first,¡± Ruth said gently,dling a bowl for her. ¡°Joshua, you too.¡± 352% 20 They settled around the table, the dinner full ofughter and ease. Janice turned to Joshua. ¡°I heard your father returned from the research institute?¡± Joshua nodded. ¡°We¡¯reing back tomorrow morning.¡± It had been years since Janicest saw Stephen. She could barely recall his face. ¡°Your grandfather always adored him. He would be overjoyed to know your father is finally home.¡± Joshua had noticed Owen¡¯s happiness that night. Shermaine asked, ¡°What field does Stephen specialize in?¡± ¡°Astronomy. He¡¯s an astronomer,¡± Joshua replied. Shermaine smiled. At least she wouldn¡¯t run out of topics tomorrow. Astronomy had always fascinated her. 8.17MON, SU Chapter 365 52%1 20 At York residence, King Tiki had been a permanent fixture ever since Owen visited Riverswood Vi and instantly took a liking to the upgraded robot. Seeing his fondness, Shermaine had gifted it to him. King Tiki had settled in nicely, humming to itself as it swept the floors with rhythmic precision. After cleaning, it meticulously sorted the trash and trotted outside to toss it into the bins. ¡°I¡¯m a hardworking little robot.¡± Stephen watched the oddly humanoid machine with a mix of fascination and bewilderment. In one swift motion, he grabbed King Tiki mid¨Ctask, inspecting its mechanisms with intense curiosity. He hadn¡¯t expected anyone to engineer a robot this advanced. King Tiki whirred in protest, its routine rudely interrupted. Owen said, ¡°That¡¯s Shermaine¡¯s creation.¡± Stephen¡¯s expression remained nk. ¡°Mm.¡± He had seen Shermaine in videos before. Owen studied his son, uneasy. He thought, ¡®Was it the decades in the research institute that stripped Stephen of human warmth? His face was unreadable, his tone perpetually icy. Well, at least he¡¯s home. I shouldn¡¯t expect more.¡¯ The next morning, Shermaine and Joshua left for York residence early. On the way, Shermaine bought a bouquet of violets. Joshua had mentioned histe mother, Dionne Relish, adored them. Owen had woken up in a foul mood. Overnight, King Tiki, perfectly functional yesterday, had mysteriously malfunctioned. He was counting on Shermaine to check the issue, though he secretly suspected Stephen had tampered with it after he had gone to bed. Stephen sat unfazed on the sofa, flipping through a newspaper. Just then, the butler said, ¡°Mr. York, Joshua and Shermaine have arrived.¡± Owen hurried to greet them, his face etched with worry. ¡°Sheary, check what¡¯s wrong with King Tiki!¡± Shermaine frowned, ¡°It¡¯s malfunctioning?¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Owen sighed. ¡°It was working perfectlyst night.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take a lookter.¡± ¡°Good. Have you two eaten breakfast?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± As they walked into the house, Joshua and Shermaine both noticed Stephen sitting on the sofa. Lowering his newspaper, Stephen said tly, ¡°You¡¯re back.¡± Joshua¡¯s gaze flickered, but he only said, ¡°Dad.¡± Shermaine followed suit with a polite greeting. Stephen gave a curt nod before returning to his newspaper. The interaction between father and son was so stiff it might as well have been between strangers. Owen seethed silently but held his tongue, instructing Joshua to prepare for their visit to Dionne¡¯s grave while Shermaine checked King Tiki. 1/2 She dismantled the robot, examining eachponent. The parts were intact, but the chip had a ckened patch. She held it up, thoughtful. ¡°The chip¡¯s fried?¡± Owen asked. ¡°Mm. It¡¯ll take some time to fix,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°I¡¯ll handle itter.¡± Owen nodded. Half an hourter, they set off for the cemetery, Stephen joining them in the car. Not a word passed his lips during the ride. Yet his gaze lingered on Joshua, studying him with an intensity that unsettled Shermaine. It wasn¡¯t the gaze of a father observing his son. It was something else entirely. AD Comment Chapter 366 Shermaine had little experience with parental rtionships, so she couldn¡¯t quite judge what was normal, only observe silently. She wondered, ¡®Did Joshua sense something off about Stephen too?¡® 20 Soon, they arrived at Serenity Cemetery. The morning was quiet, the grounds nearly empty. Late autumn¡¯s chill greeted them as they stepped out of the car, a gust of wind tugging at Shermaine¡¯s floral dress. Clutching the bouquet of violets, she took Joshua¡¯s outstretched hand. Stephen, however, had already strode ahead, disappearing into the rows of graves with familiar ease. By the time they caught up, he was clearing weeds around the headstone. The grave faced south, overlooking the distant sea, a sweeping, tranquil view. Watching him, Shermaine felt a pang of contradiction. There was something raw, almost tender, in the way he stood before histe wife¡¯s resting ce. Once the weeds were gone, Stephen froze before the tombstone, staring at the photograph. Shermaine studied it, too. Joshua¡¯s mother had been striking, gentle, and elegant. She thought, ¡®So that¡¯s where Joshua got those eyes. Dionne¡¯s eyes were like a winter gxy deep and luminous.¡® Sheid the violets down. Joshua stood beside her, voice steady. ¡°Mom, this is my wife. Shermaine Jean.¡± With that, he said nothing more. Their visit was brief. After paying respects, Joshua had to return to work. As they turned to leave, Stephen spoke for the first time, ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯ll stay a while longer.¡± Joshua handed him the car keys. ¡°Take the car keys. We¡¯ll grab a taxi.¡± Stephen epted without another word. Hand in hand, Joshua and Shermaine walked away. At the cemetery gates, they parted ways. He had to go to the office, and she went to university. Upon returning to the Department of Chemistry, Shermaine was immediately approached by the dean, Hector Katz. Hector asked, ¡°Shermaine, how about we fast¨Ctrack your graduation? Take a few exams, and you could skip straight to a master¡¯s or even a PhD program.¡± Shermaine blinked, ¡°Is that necessary?¡± ¡°Absolutely,¡± Hector insisted. ¡°Undergrad is a waste of your time. Frankly, I could petition the university to award you a master¡¯s degree outright, then slot you into a doctoral program. What do you think?¡± If approved, Shermaine would be the first student in history to earn a master¡¯s within weeks of enrollment. Given her groundbreaking work on the twin prime conjecture and her reputation as a mathematician, not to mention her chemistry expertise rivaling tenured professors, it was entirely reasonable. After a moment¡¯s thought, Shermaine agreed. Skipping straight to a PhD did sound appealing. But the proper procedures were necessary. 18:17 Mon, 30 Jun Chapter 366 In Ustrana, Kylie stirred awake in a sterile white room, her body heavy with exhaustion. Before she could fully register her surroundings, darkness swallowed her again. As she drifted back into unconsciousness, a woman in a white protection suit entered, followed by a masked, diminutive man. He reported, ¡°Her shattered bones have been reinforced with mechanical linkages, and herbat capabilities are significantly enhanced. We¡¯ve also imnted a neural chip. She¡¯s practically a cyborg now.¡± The man added, ¡°Your Highness, once she recovers fully, she¡¯ll be ready to serve your purposes.¡± Chapter 367 Judy gave a slight nod. Tall and statuesque, her golden hair cascaded down her back as she took off the protection suit, revealing a form¨Cfitting white officer¡¯s uniform. 20 The moment she emerged, a drone zipped toward her, projecting a blue holographic screen that disyed live footage from theb. A person reported, ¡°Her Highness, we¡¯ve sessfully opened the crystal sarcophagus.¡± Judy¡¯s eyes gleamed. ¡°Can it be activated?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, no.¡± Opening it was difficult enough. Activating it would be challenging. Judy frowned, ¡°Why?¡± The person exined, ¡°The crystal sarcophagus left by the royal family. It only responds to bloodline verification. Without a direct descendant, it¡¯s inert.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we brute¨Cforce the system?¡± ¡°Your Highness, if it were that easy, we wouldn¡¯t have spent centuries searching for Apocalypse.¡± Judy fell silent. ¡°The only option is to locate a living heir to the royal family,¡± the person continued. ¡°But after millennia, the odds are slim. Mainframe data narrows it down to Wallington, but it¡¯ll take roughly three years to pinpoint the target.¡± Wallington was densely popted, after all. Judy pressed her lips. ¡°We don¡¯t have that kind of time.¡± The person sighed, ¡°I¡¯ll improvise.¡± ¡°Make it quick.¡± Judy nodded. In Loang, Bruce held his phone to his ear, the voice on the other end weary. ¡°The subject is quarantined in a safe house. But we¡¯re still tracing his movements. No guarantee he didn¡¯t infect others during his escape.¡± Bruce asked, ¡°What¡¯s his current condition?¡± The man replied, ¡°Physical mutations. Severe gic regression. The virus is ravaging his organs. If he loses control, he¡¯ll attack indiscriminately, like a rabid beast, but worse. ¡°His blood carries an unknown pathogen. Bruce, this is a time bomb. And our employer won¡¯t halt the research. Worse, we¡¯re operating on Wallington¡¯s turf. This recklessness will backfire. Bruce had no idea what Kylie had tampered with in thatb to create such a disaster. Had he known, he would never have let her near the project. Exhaling a slow drag of his cigarette, he muttered, ¡°I¡¯ll head over tomorrow.¡± The man on the phone sighed in relief, ¡°Good. Maybe you can talk some sense into that lunatic employer. This experiment needs to end.¡± As a Wallingtonian, Bruce couldn¡¯t stand by while reckless experiments threatened his homnd or the people who had shown him kindness. The was just across the border in the neighboring city of Basterel. If things went south, the fallout would engulf neighboring cities first. Bruce turned to his subordinate. ¡°Find out when Roy is leaving Ustrana.¡± Mon Ju The man pulled out his phone, making a few calls. Within minutes, he reported, ¡°Mr. Xavier, Roy flies back tomorrow at 8 a.m.¡± ¡°Book me a seat on that flight,¡± Bruce ordered. The subordinate nodded, then hesitated. ¡°Should I try getting thatdy¡¯s contact details for you?¡± Bruce shook his head. ¡°You won¡¯t seed.¡± ¡°Roy might be easier to approach in Ustrana,¡± the subordinate suggested tactfully. Molly was a fortress, but Roy was less guarded. Bruce paused, then dismissed the idea with another shake of his head. Meanwhile, oblivious to Bruce¡¯s scheming, Roy sneezed on a bustling street, his whole body shuddering. Pulling out his phone, he dialed Molly, who answered it after an agonizing wait. Roy sniffled pitifully into the phone. ¡°Momo, I¡¯m lost.¡± Chapter 368 It wasn¡¯t that Roy was overly cunning. He just had no other way to see Molly. She had been swampedtely, but with his return flight looming, he had to meet her before leaving. When Molly heard Roy was lost, she asked, ¡°No one is with you?¡± Roy replied, ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you hail a cab?¡± ¡°I lost my wallet.¡± Roy pulled it out and tossed it into a nearby trash bin, keeping only the cash inside. Molly sighed, ¡°What¡¯s around you?¡± Roy described the area. ¡°Stay where you are,¡± Molly told him. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Learning that Molly wasing to find him, Roy couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter, drawing confused looks from passersby. They stared at him like he was an idiot. In her office, Molly grabbed her bag and keys, striding past her secretary. ¡°Cancel my evening appointments.¡± The secretary asked, ¡°Even Beckett¡¯s?¡± ¡°Especially his.¡± Molly had only agreed to dinner to shut her mother up. ¡°But-¡± ¡°Not your concern.¡± Beckett, however, seemed to anticipate Molly¡¯s stand¨Cup. He went to herpany to pick her up. When the elevator doors opened, Molly hadn¡¯t expected to see him standing there. Holding a bouquet of roses, Beckett smiled, ¡°Momo, what luck. The first person I see is you.¡± He offered the bouquet. Molly ignored it. ¡°I¡¯m heading out. Dinner¡¯s off.¡± Beckett blocked the elevator door, ever the gentleman. ¡°What¡¯s so urgent?¡± ¡°Since when do I report to you?¡± Molly gave him a t look. ¡°I just care.¡± Beckett softened his tone. ¡°We might marry someday. Can¡¯t you spare a little time to build something between us?¡± ¡°Marry you?¡± Molly snorted coldly. ¡°Move.¡± She yanked his tie, hauling him out, then stepped inside. Beckett followed. ¡°I¡¯lle with you.¡± Molly rolled her eyes but didn¡¯t say anything. When they reached the parking lot, Molly peeled off in a red Ferrari, leaving Beckett fuming in her wake. Left standing alone, Beckett¡¯s face darkened. He muttered a curse, then pulled out his car keys and got into his ck sports car, speeding off behind her. He wanted to see exactly where she was going. 18:17 Mon, 30 Jun It was already dark outside, and thick fog began rolling in. 52% +201 Roy had been waiting for a long time, but Molly still hadn¡¯t arrived. Dressed lightly, he shivered in the downpour and soaked to the bone, but he refused to budge. When Molly finally arrived, his pink hair was stered to his face, and his clothes were drenched. She marched over with an umbre. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you shelter?¡± She thought with a straight face, ¡®Even my husky is smarter than him,¡® Roy looked up, then lunged, clinging to her like a soaked puppy. ¡°You told me not to move. I didn¡¯t want you to miss me.¡± His pitiful act masked his inner glee, ¡®I got to hug Momo again. She smells so good. Best day ever!¡® AD Comment Chapter 369 52% 201 Molly had a soft spot for Roy¡¯s antics. She had encountered his type before, but she had never indulged them. Yet Roy¡¯s charm struck the perfect bnce -just earnest enough to be endearing, never crossing into desperation. When he clung to her, she nudged him off. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get you back to your hotel.¡± Roy didn¡¯t press further. Instead, he caught one of her fingers, beaming, ¡°Momo, you¡¯re the best.¡± Molly said coolly, ¡°You¡¯re Sheary¡¯s friend. Of course, I¡¯d look out for you.¡± The light in Roy¡¯s eyes dimmed in an instant. He looked down, silent. Selfishly, he hoped that her kindness was for him alone. He knew Molly was aware of his feelings, and this was her way of drawing a line without outright rejection. Molly thought, ¡®Little cutie is sulking?¡® She didn¡¯t coddle him, simply took his hand and led him to the car, umbre in her hand. Momentster, the red Ferrari vanished into the night. Beckett, who had tailed them the entire way, watched with jealousy burning in his eyes. He thought, fuming, ¡®Who is that guy? Molly never goes out of her way for anyone, let alone let them touch her.¡® The image of Roy embracing Molly, and her allowing it, sent rage coursing through Beckett. Years of knowing her, and they had never so much as hugged. He had assumed she despised all men, and he was the exception. Beckett thought, flooring the elerator to follow, ¡®That scheming bastard! I¡¯ll end him.¡® The red sports car pulled up to the hotel entrance. Molly stepped out first, tossing the keys to a valet. Roy followed, his clothes still damp from the rain. The moment the wind hit him, he sneezed, his body trembling with chills yet radiating heat. After nearly an hour in the downpour, a fever was inevitable. Molly reached up, pressing her hand to his forehead. ¡°You¡¯re burning up.¡± Roy leaned into her touch, savoring the chill against his overheated skin. His voice was hoarse from the onset of illness. ¡°Momo, your hand feels so nice.¡± Seeing him nuzzle against her like a contented puppy, Molly couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. She pinched his cheek. ¡°I should call you Roy the Puppy.¡± Roy¡¯s eyes fluttered shut. ¡°Call me anything you want.¡± Besides, Roy the Puppy sounded like an endearment. He would dly ept. Molly shook her head in amusement. ¡°I¡¯ll call a doctor.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Roy had hoped to use his fever as an excuse to cling to her further, but hotel staff swooped in, fussing over him with water and concern. Roy rolled his eyes. As Molly dialed her family doctor, the elevator doors slid open. She grabbed Roy¡¯s hand and stepped inside. Beckett, who had been following them all the way/stormed forward angrily. He spat, ¡°Momo, so this is your urgent matter? A hotel rendezvous with this bastard?¡± Chapter 370 oy instantly pegged the shily dressed, broad¨Cshouldered man as a rival. He thought, ¡®Who does this guy think he is? Talking like Molly¡¯s cheating on him? Shermaine confirmed she¡¯s single.¡¯ Molly, having just hung up, regarded Beckett with icy calm. ¡°This doesn¡¯t concern you.¡± ¡°The hell it doesn¡¯t!¡± Beckett roared. ¡°Our families have all but finalized our marriage. Or did you forget?¡± Roy¡¯s face turned even paler at the word marriage. Molly crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. ¡°Are you dreaming? When did I ever agree to marry you?¡± Beckett shot back, ¡°You never refused, either.¡± He had a point. Molly had let her family believe she would marry Beckett, especially since her father approved. Beckett¡¯s assets merging with her career was too tempting a deal. But Molly had no intention of going through it. Men were tools to her, and Beckett¡¯s usefulness would expire soon enough. Softening his voice, Beckett stepped closer and took Molly¡¯s wrist. ¡°I know what you want, Momo. I can give it to you. You¡¯ve already used me. Why stop now? But I¡¯m not doing it for free. Cut ties with this bastard and leave with me.¡± The threat hung thick in the air. Roy¡¯s heart sank. If not for the fever dulling his reflexes, he would have lunged at Beckett right then. The man¡¯s words struck a nerve. Roy knew Molly wouldn¡¯t abandon him now, but the fear lingered¨CWould she cut him out of her life one day? Molly¡¯s eyes narrowed at Beckett. ¡°Take your hand off me.¡± Beckett tightened his grip. ¡°Mamo!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t repeat myself.¡± Molly¡¯s voice was icy. Beckett¡¯s face darkened, but he knew better than to push her. Reluctantly, he released her. The walk back to the hotel room was silent, Roy¡¯s mind churning. Molly, ever unshaken, broke the quiet in the suite. ¡°Change your clothes.¡± Roy hesitated. ¡°Will you leave?¡± ¡°Not until the doctor checks you.¡± A subdued ¡°Oh¡± was all Roy managed before retreating to his room. There, he fired up hisptop, digging into Molly¡¯s so¨Ccalled engagement. Among Ustrana¡¯s upper ss, the arrangement wasmon knowledge. Everyone talked about Beckett¡¯s true love for Molly. After all, he was willing to sacrifice his fortune for her. What devotion. Roy¡¯s scowl deepened with every click. Anything Beckett could do, he could do better, A quickparison proved it. Roy outstripped Beckett in wealth and looks. Only one w¨CRoy¡¯s roots were in Wallington. In Ustrana, Beckett¡¯s local influence was bigger than his. Beyond money, Roy had little to offer Molly. £¤Ãü52% (+20) Frustration boiled over. But then again, Roy did have his special skills, and he had friends like Joshua and Shermaine, who carried serious weight. Roy licked his parched lips, shut theptop, and headed to the living room. Molly lounged on the sofa, one long leg crossed over the other, a cigarette dangling between her fingers. Clearly, she was unaffected by Beckett¡¯s outburst. That alone showed how cold¨Chearted she could be in rtionships. And yet, somehow, Roy was hopelessly addicted. Drunk on fever and longing, Roy stumbled forward, wrapping his arms around her waist. ¡°Momo,¡± he mumbled into her shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m so jealous.¡± Molly could feel Roy¡¯s straightforward affection for her. That was exactly why she felt she couldn¡¯t get too close to Roy. No matter how cold her heart was, it would soften in front of him, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel her pulse quicken. If Molly really fell for him, she didn¡¯t know how long she could maintain that feeling. She wa afraid it might just be a momentary attraction. Right now, Molly was in that stage where she was being forced to feel something against her better judgment. But she had her own standards and her own principles to stick to. After all, she was someone who lived by rules. Breaking those rules usually led to nothing but trouble. This time, Molly couldn¡¯t push Roy away. He was using too much force as he pressed her down onto the sofa. Roy looked at her with pitiful eyes. ¡°I like you, Momo. Whatever that other guy can do for you, I can do too. Don¡¯t use him anymore. Use me instead, okay? I¡¯ll be good, and I won¡¯t hold you back.¡± Mollyy pinned beneath him on the sofa, and hearing those words made her head start to ache. ¡°Get up first.¡± Roy was too heated to think straight. There was no way he¡¯d leave this sweet embrace now. He nuzzled against Molly¡¯s neck, pressing his warm lips there while his hands traced her curves through her clothes, not exactly behaving himself as he murmured ¡°Momo¡± over and over. Desire stirred awake in her body. Molly frowned and kicked Roy hard in the stomach. He let out a muffled grunt and rolled right off the sofa onto the carpet with a thud. Molly¡¯s skirt had ridden up to her thighs. She sat up straight and smoothed down her clothes, her expression turning cold. Roy hung his head. ¡°Sorry, Momo.¡± Molly just stared at him. He apologized so fast she didn¡¯t even have time to scold him properly. ¡°I don¡¯t like people touching me. From now on, you can¡¯t touch me without my permission.¡± Roy looked even more dejected and could only nod in agreement. Molly got up and went to the bathroom. In the mirror, the usuallymanding CEO had something unusually alluring in her eyes. Molly raised her hand and touched the skin where Roy¡¯s lips had been. It still felt warm from his touch. She touched her waist too, where his hands had wandered. ¡®That little troublemaker almost reached my chest just now,¡® Molly thought. She had to admit it¨Cshe¡¯d felt something. What shocked her was that she¡¯d actually felt something at all. Molly had always thought she was frigid. Over the years, countless men had tried to seduce her, but she¡¯d never felt even a spark of interest. In fact, she¡¯d found them repulsive. Just looking at them made her feel sick. But her body didn¡¯t reject Roy. ¡®Damn it,¡® Molly thought. The doctor arrived quickly. He took Roy¡¯s temperature and prescribed some medication. Then, he turned to Molly and said, ¡°Ms. Hill, this gentleman¡¯s fever isn¡¯t serious. He should be fine by tomorrow after taking the medicine.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Molly said. ¡°Please make sure he takes his medication. I¡¯m leaving now.¡± ¡°Momo, will you think about what I said earlier?¡± Roy asked. Molly nced at him. ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± 18.18 Mon, 30 Jun 52% (+27) Roy could only watch helplessly as Molly left. Of course he wanted her to stay, but unfortunately, they didn¡¯t have any official rtionship yet, so he had to hold back his feelings. After the doctor watched him take his medicine, he gave a professional smile. ¡°Mr. Shay, get some rest. Call me if you need anything.¡± He left his contact information and departed. Roy couldn¡¯t possibly fall asleep. He picked up his phone and called Shermaine. ¡°Shermaine, are you free?¡± ¡°Yeah, what¡¯s up?¡± Shermaine replied. ¡°Shermaine, I made Molly angry. Could you find some time to contact her and put in a good word for me?¡± Roy said. Shermaine chuckled and teased him, ¡°What exactly do you want me to say about you?¡± ¡°Praise me. Make her think I¡¯m a good guy, the kind who¡¯s perfect for dating.¡± Roy was beingpletely strategic about this. ¡°Deal.¡± ¡°Shermaine, you¡¯re the best!¡± Roy remembered what aplete jerk he¡¯d been at the beginning and wanted to p himself. ¡°Shermaine, can you ask Joshua something for me? If someone bullies me here in Ustrana, would hee back me up?¡± Shermaine had the phone on speaker, so Joshua could hear everything. He replied coolly, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Joshua, I¡¯m being serious!¡± ¡°So am I.¡± Roy felt like he¡¯d been getting knocked down all day long. ¡°That¡¯s okay, I still have Shermaine.¡± Joshua let out a quietugh. ¡°If you¡¯re in such bad shape, just go to sleep. Don¡¯t let people actually bully you when you can¡¯t even fight back.¡± ¡®Well, Joshua¡¯s still Joshua,¡® Roy thought. He felt satisfied enough and hung up the phone before closing his eyes to sleep. It was ten at night in Loang time, which meant it was around noon during the day in Basterel. Shermaine and Stephen were at the York residence. Shermaine was working on fixing King Tiki. She¡¯d actually gotten most of the repairs done already. Since it had broken down anyway, Shermaine decided to upgrade its system once again while she was at it. This was King Tiki version 3.0. After spending about an hour on it, Shermaine finished the reinstation and booted up King Tiki. When King Tiki restarted, he immediately chirped. ¡°Oh, my beautiful Princess Sheary, I missed you so much!¡± He started snapping photos of Shermaine with rapid clicks. Shermaine had added quite a few new features to him, ¡°Go check if Grandpa needs any help.¡± ¡°Sure thing!¡± King Tiki headed outside and opened the door, running into Stephen. Stephen stared at King Tiki and noticed that Shermaine had upgraded him again. King Tiki bounced around Stephen and hopped down the stairs. When he reached the staircase, he switched modes and slid down smoothly. This new version made going downstairs much easier than before. Shermaine nced over at Stephen. ¡°Dad, what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Time toe down for dinner,¡± Stephen said. 10 ¡°Okay.¡± During dinner, Owen asked, ¡°When are you nning to go back to the research institute?¡± Stephen thought for a moment before saying, ¡°I¡¯m not nning to go back for a while.¡± Owen looked surprised. ¡®She isn¡¯t nning to go back at all?¡® he thought. Stephen said, ¡°I¡¯ve already requested leave from the research institute. I¡¯ll be staying home for this period.¡± ¡°I guess pigs really can fly now, Owen thought, feeling quite pleased about it. That was perfect. Stephen would have plenty of time to strengthen the bond between him and Joshua. Otherwise, the two of them were likeplete strangers, which was totally uneptable. After lunch, Owen also reminded Joshua to stay at the York residence more often during this period. Joshua agreed. He was curious to see what Stephen was really up to. Meanwhile, at Yaleview Hospital, Janice walked in carrying soup. She¡¯de to visit Jameson. He was her son, after all, and she figured he¡¯d suffered enough and done enough soul¨Csearching. She thought it was time to see him. But she hadn¡¯t expected Jameson to have transferred hospitals. Janice asked the doctor who¡¯d been treating him, ¡°Which hospital did he transfer to?¡± ¡°Mr. Jean heard that Dr. Jean refused to perform his surgery, so he transferred to General Hospital in Horington this morning,¡± the doctor replied. ¡®Horington?¡® Janice thought. ¡®There are quite a few renowned doctors in Horington.¡® But justst night, when Jameson called her, she¡¯d told him she would help him talk to Shermaine and get her to do the surgery. ¡®Did this mean he didn¡¯t even trust me anymore?¡® Janice wondered. Janice was absolutely furious. She called Jameson andunched into a tirade the moment he picked up. Jameson replied, ¡°Mom, stop lying to me. I know exactly what kind of person Shermaine is. She definitely won¡¯t help treat my illness. She¡¯d be thrilled if I died. I don¡¯t believe that Horington¡¯s doctors can¡¯t match up to Shermaine.¡± AD Comment Send gift No Ads 18:18 Mon, 30 Jun. Chapter 372 Janice was ready to strangle Jameson for being so dense. ¡°You just refuse to learn from your mistakes. Without Sheary, I don¡¯t know how many years you¡¯ve got left to live.¡± (20) Jameson frowned, ¡°She doesn¡¯t want to save me, so I chose to find specialists in Horington instead. If I wait for her to .¡± Janice snapped, ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve saying that! After everything you¡¯ve done to hurt Ruthie, Sheary, and Ross, have you even apologized to them once? ¡°Not only haven¡¯t you said sorry, but you¡¯re still hereining about what Sheary did wrong. How did I end up raising someone who can¡¯t tell right from wrong?¡± When Jameson was younger, he hadn¡¯t been like this. But as he got older, he seemed to be more and more confused about everything. Even at this point, he still wouldn¡¯t admit he was wrong. ¡°What¡¯s the point of talking about this now? They¡¯ll never forgive me anyway, and they¡¯ll never ept me as their father. I don¡¯t believe I can¡¯t survive the rest of my life without them,¡± Jameson snorted. At worst, he still had Jason. Even though he found Jason disgusting now because of the whole Natalie situation, Jason was still his blood. When he got old, he could have Jason take care of him. He couldn¡¯t count on Shermaine and Ross anyway. Jameson let his imagination run wild with paranoid thoughts. ¡°Mom, even if you begged Shermaine to save me, do you really think she¡¯d do it willingly? ¡°I¡¯m afraid she resents me so much that she might deliberately make some little ¡®mistake¡® during surgery. If I died, she wouldn¡¯t even be legally responsible for it.¡± Everything he said showed how much he distrusted Shermaine. ¡°You bastard!¡± Janice snapped. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare insult Sheary¡¯s character! You think everyone in this world is like you and that vixen, spending all day plotting to hurt people. ¡°You can just stay in Horington and rot for all I care. When you die, I won¡¯t even bother collecting your body.¡± With that, she hung up on Jameson. If Janice hadn¡¯t been taking better care of her healthtely, Jameson would¡¯ve definitely made her sick with anger. Since Janice was already at the hospital and Jameson wasn¡¯t there, she pulled herself together and went to find Ross instead. When people got older, they learned tofort themselves. Jameson was a lost cause, but her grandchildren were doing well. Janice didn¡¯t expect Jameson to turn his life around anymore. She just hoped she¡¯d live long enough to hold a great¨Cgrandchild. Janice made her way to Ross¡® room with practiced ease, but early as it was, he wasn¡¯t there. The room waspletely empty. She asked the nurse, who looked just as confused when she saw the empty room. The thing was, Ross had recovered well after getting his stitches removed. All he needed now was to rest and avoid getting hurt again, so the staff had been pretty rxed about monitoring him. They¡¯d barely checked on him for the past couple of days. ¡°Mrs. Jean, I don¡¯t know where Mr. Jean went either. Should I help you look for him?¡± the nurse asked. This was Basterel¡¯s territory, so nobody would dare mess with Ross. Besides, he was a grown man. He couldn¡¯t just disappear. ¡°No need, you can go about your business. He¡¯s probably out for a run or something,¡± Janice said. Since Ross wasn¡¯t around, she decided to go check on Danielle first. She¡¯d actually brought some soup for Danielle to drink today anyway. But when she pushed open the door, she saw two people lying on the hospital bed. Right there next to Danielle was her own grandson Ross. Ross was +20) tying on his side with his eyes closed, and Danielle was sleeping in his arms. Well, well, well, Janice thought. ¡®So that¡¯s where Ross disappeared to. He snuck over here to share Danielle¡¯s bed. What a guy. That¡¯s my grandson for your When the door opened, the nurse nearby saw them too and let out a gasp, covering her mouth with her hand. Danielle drowsily opened her eyes and looked toward the sound. She saw Janice standing there with a kind smile on her face, along with the nurse. Danielle was speechless. Even though Danielle was usuallyposed, waking up to find two extra people in her hospital room¨Cone of them being Janice¨Cmade her ears turn red with embarrassment. She quickly tidied up her appearance. ¡°Grandma.¡± Janice responded with a warm ¡°Mm¨Chmm.¡± Danielle then pushed at Ross, who was still fast asleep. He was sleeping so deeply that she wondered what time he¡¯d finally gone to bedst night. As for why they¡¯d ended up sleeping together, Ross simply couldn¡¯t control how much he missed Danielle. Since he was right next door, he¡¯d decided to climb into her bed. Last night had been dark and quiet. Danielle had been sleeping groggily when she felt like she couldn¡¯t breathe properly. When she opened her eyes, she found that gentle, refined man sneaking kisses from her. She was too tired to think straight. ¡°Didn¡¯t you get enough kisses during the day?¡± Ross brushed her hair back. ¡°I missed you so much I couldn¡¯t sleep.¡± ¡°Are you just restless, or do you actually miss me?¡± Danielle fought off her drowsiness and scratched his chin yfully. ¡°Both.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ross realized he shouldn¡¯t havee. Even the faint smell of disinfectant in the air couldn¡¯t mask the feminine scent that Danielle gave off. He¡¯d originally nned to just check on her, steal one kiss, and leave. Now he couldn¡¯t bring himself to go. In fact, his body was definitely reacting. The more he tried to control himself, the stronger the rebound effect became. He held Danielle close, his body getting hotter and hotter, radiating heat that seemed like it could dry a person out. ¡°Danielle, as a doctor, shouldn¡¯t you help your boyfriend out?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let you use the bathroom in my room and take care of it yourself,¡± Danielle murmured. Ross just stared at her. That wasn¡¯t the kind of help he¡¯d been hoping for. ¡°Do you remember that time I kissed you in the car?¡± Danielle asked. ¡°Yeah.¡± I should have just let myself give in back then,¡¯ Ross thought. ¡°I regret it,¡± he added. Danielle let out a soft snort. ¡°Well, regretting it won¡¯t help you now. I¡¯m not sleeping with you, so you¡¯d better behave yourself.¡± Ross stayed quiet for a moment, then sighed helplessly and gently ruffled her hair. Danielle was clearly holding a grudge. ¡°Fine,¡± he said softly. Danielle burst outughing, shifted her position, and yawned. ¡°I¡¯m going back to sleep. You can go back to your room, or you can stay here if you want.¡± In the end, Ross chose to stay. But tonight, he couldn¡¯t sleep at all. Since he was going to be awake anyway, he figured he might as well stay and watch Danielle sleep. At some point, he pulled out his phone and somewhat awkwardly texted Joshua on WhatsApp with a question: [If Sheary was mad at you and wouldn¡¯t let you hold her, how would you win her back?) The message was deleted within a second of being sent. But Joshua had clearly seen it and replied: [I won¡¯t make Sheary mad.] 18:18 Mon, 30 Jun ¡°Hmph, if he dares to upset Shermaine or make her unhappy, I¡¯ll be the first one to teach him a lesson as her brother, Ross thought. Though to be fair, since Shermaine and Joshua got married, the two of them really did seem to have a great rtionship. Ross typed: [Just asking casually.] Joshua replied: [Sure you were.] Ross: [What else would it be? As her brother, I obviously need to check on how things are going between you and Sheary, especially with you.] On the other end of the phone, Joshua chuckled softly. (+201 ¡®The great Mr. Jean can lie without even preparing his story,¡® Joshua thought. ¡®He was still turned on and it wasn¡¯t going away. He wants advice from me but he¡¯s too proud to ask directly, so he¡¯s backing down. Joshua clicked his tongue and replied: [Speaking from experience, the most effective approach is to be shameless. When the moment¡¯s right, push your luck a little.] ¡®So that¡¯s how Joshua managed to win over Shermaine and get married so quickly?¡® Ross thought. ¡®That actually makes sense!¡¯ He rememberedst Christmas season when the two of them were heading to Xenhall. Joshua had driven all the way from Basterel to the countryside just to pick up Shermaine and go together. It turned out he¡¯d been scheming even back then, shamelessly pursuing Shermaine with calcted persistence. His maniption ran deep. Chapter 374 After his chat with Joshua, Ross found himselfpletely thrown off his usual routine with a beautiful woman in his arms. It seemed like dawn was breaking before he finally drifted off to sleep. Through his drowsy haze, he heard Danielle¡¯s voice. Ross didn¡¯t open his eyes and just pulled her closer against him. ¡°Danielle, let me sleep a little longer.¡± Danielle bit her lip and whispered in his ear, ¡°Your grandmother¡¯s here.¡± It took Ross a moment to process this. He cracked his eyes open and sat up in bed. ¡°Grandmother.¡± Janice cleared her throat disapprovingly. ¡°Just look at yourself. Danielle¡¯s foot isn¡¯t even healed yet, and here you are crowding into her bed. Do you think your six¨Cfoot¨Cone frame doesn¡¯t take up space?¡± 20) Ross¡® hair was tousled, his hospital gown slightly disheveled. The usually gentle man now had an unexpectedly roguish charm about him. ¡°Grandmother, this bed¡¯s big enough.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean you shoulde here bothering Danielle. You¡¯re both unmarried, and this is a hospital no less. Aren¡¯t you worried about what people will say?¡± Her words carried more than a hint of pressure for them to get married. Ross smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Grandma. My wife will only be Danielle.¡± He rested his hand on Danielle¡¯s waist. ¡°Everyone in this hospital knows Dr. Shelly belongs to me.¡± His gaze shifted to meet Danielle¡¯s eyes. Danielle didn¡¯t argue because it was true. After the earthquake incident and her devoted care when he returned, the entire hospital had already gossiped plenty about their rtionship. ¡°Well then, you¡¯d better treat Danielle right. Don¡¯t make the same mistake you madest time,¡± Janice warned. ¡°I understand, Grandma.¡± Ross wasn¡¯t some heartless yer. Last time, he simply hadn¡¯t recognized his own feelings. He changed the subject. ¡°What brings you to the hospital so early today, Grandma?¡± Janice sat down and exined her reasons. The mention of Jameson immediately sparked her anger. Shermaine had also learned about Jameson¡¯s transfer to Horington, but she just smiled withoutment. His decision was clearly based on his certainty that she wouldn¡¯t save him and hispleteck of trust in her abilities. It didn¡¯t matter to her anymore. Danielle genuinely didn¡¯t care whether Jameson lived or died. He could do whatever he wanted. Meanwhile, in Horington, Jameson had been admitted to Horington General Hospital. The specialists he¡¯d been so confident about now nned to perform surgery on his kidney first to address that problem. The much more challenging heart surgery would have to wait for further evaluation. Jameson was in terrible shape,pletely weak and exhausted. What he never expected was that Natalie would also end up in Horington for treatment. Luckily, she had no idea he was there. Natalie was dealing withplications from her allergic reaction. Dark pigmentation spots covered her entire body. The doctors back in Basterel couldn¡¯t do anything for her condition, so she¡¯de to Horington hoping the dermatologists here could help. ¡°Doctor, you have to find a way to get rid of these dark spots on my skin,¡± Natalie pleaded. The doctor reviewed her medical records and previous test results, then had her run through another round of examinations at the hospital. But the pigmentation was so deeply embedded that nothing worked¨Cnot medications, not treatments, nothing. He waspletely stumped. ¡°Ms. Keller, there¡¯s nothing I can do for your condition. Surgery won¡¯t work, skin grafts aren¡¯t an option,ser treatments are useless, and medications 18:18 Mon, 30 Jun won¡¯t help either. I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll need to seek another opinion elsewhere,¡± the doctor said. That was when Nataliepletely lost it. She started screaming at him about how he was supposed to be Horington¡¯s best dermatologist, but he couldn¡¯t even cure a simple skin condition. She called him a quack and every other name in the book. The doctor¡¯s face went dark with anger, but he kept hisposure and had the nurses escort her out. Once they¡¯d gotten her out of his office, Natalie just stood in the hallway yelling and cursing at everyone who walked by. She spent a full hour ranting before finally putting on her mask and heading to the bathroom. (F20) Natalie couldn¡¯t bear to look at herself in the mirror anymore. She hated how hideous she looked now. She stared at the dark bumps covering her hands and scrubbed them desperately under the running water, rubbing so hard her eyes turned red from the effort. Then, a woman spoke up behind her, ¡°I know a ce that might be able to cure your skin condition. Want to give it a try?¡± Natalie spun around to see a nurse standing there. Without thinking twice, she asked, ¡°What ce?¡± The woman handed her a business card. Natalie nced at it and saw ¡°Southern Horington Con Laboratory¡± printed on it. After handing over the card, the nurse didn¡¯t say another word and just walked out. She knew someone like Natalie would definitely go. There was no need to push her into it. Once Natalie showed up at theb, she¡¯d get a hefty payout. Of course, everyone she¡¯d referred before had been terminally ill patients. They were desperate to live, so they¡¯d naturally agree to experimental treatments. But Natalie was different¨Cshe waspletely healthy. Theb had said they needed several healthy test subjects, and they¡¯d tripled the payment for this type of referral. The money was too tempting to pass up. Natalie would be her first healthy experimental subject. When Natalie took the business card, she felt a wave of hesitation. She worried it might be some kind of pyramid scheme, but when she looked it up online, theboratory actually existed. The website didn¡¯t go into detail about what they did, but she noticed that several renowned experts and schrs had joined this research institute. Natalie¡¯s curiosity was piqued. If the experts at this research center could really cure her condition, then once her skin problem was fixed, she¡¯d be able to make it big even without Jameson. She figured it was worth checking out at least. If it turned out to be sketchy, she could just leave. Since it was broad daylight, Natalie immediately called for a private car to take her to Con Laboratory. The trip took two hours. She found herself standing before towering gates that were at least six feet high. There wasn¡¯t a security guard in sight, but she spotted a ck security camera mounted above. On the other side of that camera, a woman in a whiteb coat watched Natalie arrive. She buzzed open the gate and picked up her phone. ¡°Ourb rat is here. Go out and bring her in.¡± When the door opened, Natalie felt uncertain but stepped inside anyway. She had no idea she was walking straight into hell. Peter, a member of the Dark Organization who¡¯de from Ustrana, couldn¡¯t do anything to stop what was happening. He¡¯d been under surveince for days because he¡¯d opposed continuing the experiments. They monitored his every move, and if Peter tried anything reckless, he¡¯d probably end up as anotherb rat himself¨Ctrapped here with a fate worse than death. So until Bruce arrived, Peter kept his head down and stayed out of it. But he had to admit, the old bastard hadpletely lost his mind. Before, they¡¯d used sick test subjects for experiments. Now they were using perfectly healthy people. Even though Peter was a killer, this situation made his skin crawl. In the isted testing area, Subject 009 was showing signs of evolutionary regression. Dense, monkey¨Clike hair had sprouted from his hands, his fingernails had grown long, and he¡¯d bepletely unhinged. He kept mming himself against the door until he was a bloody mess, then copsed on the floor. Soon after, experts in hazmat suits, masks, and protective goggles entered to examine and document his condition. The subject wasn¡¯t dead. While this experiment turned people into monsters who even carried dangerous viruses, it at least kept someone alive who would have died within three months. They had given him a chance to keep living. If they could just reverse his atavistic changes and eliminate the virus in his system, their Immortality Project would beplete. When that happened, human lifespans would extend to 300-500 years, and no terminal illness would threaten their lives anymore. This would absolutely mark a giant leap forward in human evolution. If Joseph, the financier backing this Immortality Project, was a selfish freak, then these experts helping with the experiments had sacrificed their moral conscience for the sake of science. Nurse walking 376 hapter 376 Chapter 376 The evening sun was setting as Shermaine left Basterel University. She was heading back to York residence. Shermaine arrived before Joshua did. Stephen was doing what he usually did¨Csitting quietly on the sofa with a book in his hands. When he saw Shermainee in, he simply nodded and went back to his reading. He always kept that formal distance from everyone. Meanwhile, Owen was watching a drama called ¡°Flower of Evil¡°. He had tissues in hand and was crying his eyes out. That was just Owen¨Che wore his heart on his sleeve. When Shermaine walked in, he wasn¡¯t embarrassed at all. ¡°Sheary, this soap opera is absolutely amazing. You shoulde watch it with me.¡± Shermaine rarely watched shows anymore, but she sat down next to Owen anyway and joined him. She pulled out her phone to scroll through it while watching. Shermaine hadn¡¯t forgotten Roy¡¯s request, so she opened Twitter and messaged Molly: [Busy?] Molly replied two minutester: [Not really.] Shermaine: [Roy didn¡¯t cause you any trouble, did he?] Molly said no. She called it a small matter¨Chardly worth calling trouble. Her response was so quick and casual that it seemed like Roy really hadn¡¯t been a problem at all. ¡®Roy seems pretty special to her,¡® Shermaine thought. ¡®Anyone else wouldn¡¯t get this kind of treatment.¡® Shermaine: [He¡¯s really sweet, obedient and thoughtful. He¡¯d make the perfect cuddle buddy for you.] Molly: [?] Shermaine: [You wanted bigger boobs, right? That method I told you aboutst time definitely works.] Molly waspletely speechless. Shermaine: [You could ask Roy to help you. I¡¯m sure he¡¯d be more than happy to lend a hand.] Molly was so fed up with Shermaine¡¯s bluntness that she seriously considered buying a ne ticket to Wallington just to have it out with her. Molly: [Are you seriously trying to be a matchmaker now?] Shermaine: [Someone asked me to put in a good word for him with you. What else could I do? Besides, you don¡¯t actually dislike him, do you? You know how you are. You don¡¯t need to overthink everything. If you like him, just go for it.] Molly had to admit she was getting more tempted by Shermaine¡¯s arguments, but something was still holding her back. Even if sh someone, now wasn¡¯t the time. She was swamped with work and had no time for a long¨Cdistance rtionship. Molly: [I¡¯ll think about it.] After a good night¡¯s rest, Roy woke up feeling much better. His fever had broken and he was full of energy. wanted to date Today was supposed to be another day of hanging out with his teammates, but Roy couldn¡¯t muster any enthusiasm. All he wanted was to stick close to Molly¡¯s side, especially since he¡¯d be flying back tonight and wouldn¡¯t see her for a while. But Molly didn¡¯t answer his call. Roy felt like crying. ¡®This is all my fault for being so impulsivest night,¡® he thought. Roy sat outside a coffee shop, wearing a ck baseball cap with his legs crossed, ying on his phone. The inte connection was terrible, but th didn¡¯t stop him from dominating in Phantom Epoch with his go¨Cto assassin character, racking up kills left 1/2 17:23 Tue, 1 Jul and right. +10 People kept approaching him throughout the day. Some were Wallingtonian, others were women from different countries. The bold ones came right up and asked, ¡°How much for a night?¡± Roy didn¡¯t even look up. ¡°Get lost.¡± ¡®They want to pay for mypany? In their dreams. Ridiculous,¡¯ Roy thought with a snort. Somehow, even with his hostile attitude, other women still found him harmless and adorable rather than intimidating. But one¨Cnight stands required mutual interest, and since Roy wasn¡¯t willing, they wouldn¡¯t force the issue. mless and Soon enough, several big guys surrounded him. ¡°Hey dude, let¡¯s go somewhere private and have a chat.¡± Roy looked up at them and immediately knew they meant trouble. He frowned, ¡°Get out of my face.¡± ¡°Trust me. You don¡¯t want to y the hardball. Be smart about this and don¡¯t make us get physical.¡± Roy let out a cold snort, mmed his phone down on the table, and stood up to throw a punch at whoever had been talking. ¡®t make a punching tonight quin Being big and bulky didn¡¯t mean much. Roy was proving to them that he wasn¡¯t drinking anything tonight, and he was in a seriously bad mood. By the time the fight wound down, the guys were ready to leave. But Roy stopped and said, ¡°Next time you invite me somewhere, remember to be polite about it, got it?¡± They could only nod. ¡°Give me two minutes, then I¡¯lle with you,¡± Roy added. They looked at each other, confused. Chapter 377 After Roy finished giving instructions to the coffee shop staff, he got in the car with the big guys. The employee now held Roy¡¯s phone in their hands. Following his instructions, they dialed the first number in his contacts. +10 Molly really didn¡¯t want to take Roy¡¯s call today. He¡¯d made such an intimate move without her permission, and she felt like she needed to punish him a little. Otherwise, he¡¯d just keep pushing boundaries. ?????? But the phone kept ringing, again and again. Molly frowned and signaled for the meeting to pause. She finally answered. ¡°I¡¯m busy. You¡¯ve got three minutes.¡± Since she¡¯d spoken in Wallingtonian, the person on the other end didn¡¯t quite understand, but they spoke up anyway. ¡°Hello, are you Ms. Hill?¡± ¡°Who is this?¡± Molly asked. The person exined that they worked at the coffee shop. They said the phone¡¯s owner had been taken away by several men, and his phone was left behind at the scene. As soon as Molly heard this, she knew the people who took Roy were most likely working for Beckett. Beckett really thought he was her man, actually going after Roy like this. The person who had Roy taken was indeed Beckett. When Beckett saw Roy brought back looking perfectly fine and energetic, his expression turned strange. Still, it was good that they¡¯d brought him back. He was going to make sure Roy would never dare set foot in Ustrana again. Beckett noticed Roy looking him up and down with a disgusted expression. ¡°Damn Wallingtonian, what are you staring at?¡± he snapped. ¡°Stay away from me. Why does a grown man douse himself in so much cologne? It reeks.¡± Roy pinched his nose, lookingpletely repulsed. ¡°I¡¯m wearing the most expensive men¡¯s cologne avable. There¡¯s no way it smells bad,¡± Beckett said viciously. ¡°Who the hell do you think you are to criticize me?¡± He grabbed Roy by the cor. ¡°You sure are full of yourself.¡± Roy let him grab his cor without resistance. ¡°If you¡¯re trying to get me to stay away from Momo, I¡¯ve got two words for you¨Cnot happening. ¡°Momo will never marry you. You¡¯re not her type. No matter how much you try to win her over, she¡¯ll never like you.¡± Beckett¡¯s temper red at just a few words from Roy. ¡°She doesn¡¯t like me? You think she¡¯d prefer some pretty boy like you?¡± ¡°Of course she would.¡± Roy smirked. Beckett threw a punch straight at his face. Roy didn¡¯t dodge. ¡°I¡¯m warning you. Momo is my woman. We¡¯re getting married. If I catch you bothering her again, I¡¯ll kill you.¡± Beckett¡¯s voice was full of threats. ¡°I¡¯m not scared.¡± Roy simply shrugged. ¡°Shit!¡± Beckett started hitting him harder, putting real force behind his punches. Roy didn¡¯t fight back at all. He just protected his head, only dodging when Beckett aimed for the more vulnerable parts of his body. 2/2 on +10 Chapter 377 The sight of Roy taking a beating without fighting backpletely threw off the security guards who had been crying and begging for mercy just moments before. They even started wondering if this was some kind of trap. Just as they were about to warn Beckett, Molly arrived. She saw Roy getting beaten and her anger exploded. She rushed over and kicked Beckett hard. Beckett stumbled backward, his face going pale. He clearly hadn¡¯t expected Molly to show up so quickly. When Roy saw her arrive, a smirk subtly crossed his face. Then, he immediately switched to looking pitiful. ¡°Momo, you came.¡± Molly crouched down to check Roy¡¯s injuries. His usually clean face was swollen from the beating, and his lip was split. She red at Beckett furiously. ¡°Who gave you the right to hurt him?¡± ¡°I..¡± Beckett hesitated. ¡°Momo, I wasn¡¯t trying to kill him.¡± ¡°You wanted to kill him?¡± Molly¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°Let me exin!¡± Molly kicked him again, this time with real force. Beckett went down hard and stayed on the ground. He couldn¡¯t believe what was happening. He¡¯d beaten up Roy and Molly was this angry about it. After dealing with Beckett, Molly turned to Roy with a stern expression. ¡°I thought you could fight. Why didn¡¯t you fight back?¡°.. ¡°There were too many of them. I was scared.¡± Roy lied effortlessly. ¡°They had guns, and I¡¯m still getting over this cold. I hadn¡¯t eaten anything, so I didn¡¯t have the strength to fight.¡± Roy kept ying the victim. ¡°Momo, they really hurt me. Now you¡¯re being mean to me too. Don¡¯t you feel bad for me at all?¡± Molly pressed her lips together. Her stern expression was starting to soften. Beckett¡¯s face turned red with rage. ¡°You maniptive bastard! Momo, don¡¯t let him fool you.¡± Roy thought with satisfaction, ¡®So what if I am? What are you going to do about it?¡® ? AD Comment Chapter 378 Beckett had dealt with scheming guys like Roy before, but this was the first time he¡¯d seen a maniptive pretty boy get this kind of protection from Molly. Molly kept warning him. ¡°Don¡¯t mess with him. If I catch you again, I won¡¯t go easy on you.¡± Beckett felt frustrated because right now, Molly wasn¡¯t going easy on him either. She¡¯d thrown that punch and kicked him as hard as she could. Molly took Roy with her to her shy red sports car parked next to the pharmacy. Roy couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her, and knowing he¡¯d be going back home soon made him feel even more reluctant to leave. About ten minutester, Molly came out carrying a bag. She got in the car and told him, ¡°Bring your face over here.¡± Roy leaned closer. Their eyes were just inches apart, and Roy almost couldn¡¯t stop himself from kissing her. Molly pushed him back a bit. ¡°How can I put medicine on you if you¡¯re that close?¡± Roy couldn¡¯t help himself anymore. He quickly kissed her cheek and lowered his eyes, speaking softly, ¡°Momo, I miss you so much.¡± Molly¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡®Am I really into this type of guy?¡® she thought. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to touch me without permission?¡± Molly kept her face stern. ¡°I can¡¯t help myself.¡± Roy had already been holding back his desires as much as possible. This was his limit. ¡°Momo, if you¡¯re mad at me, you can punish me, but please don¡¯t ignore me, okay?¡± Thatst part was pure wheedling. If Henry and Joshua saw this, their jaws would hit the floor. They all thought Roy was their innocent, sweet friend, but apparently that sweetness changed depending on who he was with. Now, he was full of scheming tricks. But it made sense. Even the most innocent guy picked up maniption tactics when he hung around with Henry and Joshua long enough. Roy never thought he¡¯d be the type to y mind games, but ever since this trip to Ustrana, he¡¯d been scheming every single day like it was second nature. Molly watched what looked like a pure¨Cbred husky wagging its tail in front of her, cute beyond belief. Before she knew it, she nodded. Roy¡¯s smile got even sweeter. He lookedpletely harmless, but his ambition was actually pretty big. Molly wasn¡¯t sure how to punish him. When her actual husky at home caused trouble, she¡¯d make him face the wall or take away his bones. But Roy¡­ ¡®Never mind,¡® Molly thought. She pulled out cotton swabs and antiseptic. ¡°Let me clean your wound first.¡± Roy tilted his face up. ¡°Thanks, Momo.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± The atmosphere in the car was getting pretty intimate. Roy stared at Molly without blinking as she treated his wound. His breathing grew heavier as he rememberedst night¡¯s warmth and softness. He really wanted to hold her and kiss her again. Molly was just too tempting. Molly worked quickly, finishing applying the medicine to his face. ¡°Are you hurt anywhere else?¡± Roy¡¯s eyes flickered. He said yes. They were just surface wounds that would heal in a couple days, but he could use them. 61% Molly didn¡¯t think much of it. ¡°Lift up your shirt.¡± ¡°Momo, it¡¯s cold.¡± Loang was overcast today and the temperature was definitely low, though the wind wasn¡¯t too strong. They¡¯d been driving with the top down the whole way here. Molly put the car top up and turned on the heat. ¡°There, now it¡¯s not cold. Go ahead and lift it.¡± Roy hesitated. His eyshes trembled as he obediently pulled up his hoodie, revealing his toned abs and waistline. Even though he spent most of his time sitting and gaming, he made sure to exercise every day, and his skin was perfect. There was a bruise on his side and another on his chest. When Molly saw Roy¡¯s physique, she smiled with satisfaction. ¡°Nice waist you¡¯ve got there.¡± Chapter 379 Roy had beenplimented. He got so excited his ears turned red. Roy had worried that Molly might not like his lean build, so he¡¯d been anxious about it. He¡¯d already nned to start bulking up if she didn¡¯t find him attractive. But it turned out Molly was actually satisfied with his body. She really didn¡¯t like muscr guys. Beckett¡¯s build wasn¡¯t her type at all. That kind of overly powerful look was sometimes all show and no substance. Molly rarely paid attention to men¡¯s bodies anyway. Eye candy meant nothing to herpared to cold hard cash. Molly took out the medicated patch and pressed it against his lower back. Her nail identally grazed Roy¡¯s skin, making him ticklish. He flinched so hard that the patch went crooked. Molly watched his ears turn red and saw a blush spread across his pale face. She grinned. ¡°That sensitive?¡± Molly clearly didn¡¯t know that a man¡¯s waist was off¨Climits territory. She poked his waist again. Roy¡¯s eyes widened and his hand trembled. ¡°Momo¡­¡± His voice took on a pleading tone. He was struggling to keep control, and she was still teasing him. Molly wasn¡¯t trying to torment him on purpose. She was just feeling a little tempted, so she let her fingertips trail across the muscles of his abdomen. The car smelled like medicinal patches, but the tension between them was heating up fast. Roy¡¯s breath caught and his abs tensed. His reaction was adorable, which made Molly want to tease him even more. She kept this up for a while until Roy¡¯s face turnedpletely red. He nced down at himself and took a deep breath. ¡®Lil bro, please. Stay calm,¡¯ Roy told himself. ¡®Stay down and don¡¯t look up. Please!¡® When Molly had enough fun, she elegantly pulled her hand back and cleared her throat. ¡°You can put the patches on your chest yourself.¡± Roy was all worked up but didn¡¯t dare act on it. Molly had pulled away too quickly from their heated moment, leaving him flustered and sweating. He definitely couldn¡¯t let her touch him anymore. Roy pped the remaining patches on carelessly. Seeing Roy look so flustered and vulnerable, Molly couldn¡¯t help wondering what he¡¯d be like in bed. The thought made her inexplicably irritated. She wanted a cigarette. Shermaine¡¯s messages must have gotten to her more than she thought. After finishing with his back, Roy didn¡¯t dare get too close. He just rested half his head on Molly¡¯s shoulder like a puppy. ¡°Momo, I¡¯m flying back to Wallington tonight. Will you miss me when I¡¯m gone?¡± ¡°No.¡± She didn¡¯t have time to think about men. Roy looked disappointed but still said, ¡°I¡¯ll miss you.¡± His eyes darkened as he struggled to control himself. ¡°Next time Ie to Ustrana, will you pick me up from the airport?¡± Molly didn¡¯t give him a direct yes or no. She just said, ¡°Come over and we¡¯ll talk.¡± She brought Roy to thepany and led him to her office, then headed back to her meeting. Molly¡¯s office was spacious with a separate lounge/area. The floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows overlooked half of Loang. When her meeting ended an hourter, she found Roy chatting happily with her assistants and secretaries. Roy was fixing theirputers and telling them, ¡°Yourpany¡¯s security system has some serious holes. Let me upgrade it for you.¡± The women watched as Roy moved effortlessly through their securitywork, his fingers dancing across the ck and white keyboard. Hisputer skills weren¡¯t quite at Shermaine¡¯s level, but he was still world¨Css. He¡¯d climbed to third ce in the global hacker rankings this year, moving up another spot. ? ??? The sea had sundaloy was just some pretty boy Mally had brought th, but it turned out he was incredibly talented in the tech field. ko Kushed working on their security system by fue in the shernoon. It was plea for Bow to head bark He went straight to find Molly ¡°Mamo, I¡¯ve strengthened your officepiter¡¯s security system. You can now monitor the entirepany¡¯s security seed and your phone will pot alerts if anyone breake in ¡°I never asked you to do this for me.¡± Molly said. Monow. I wanted to do it for you.¡± Roy¡¯s phone rang just as he finished speaking. His team manager was calling. He answered and said, ¡°Don¡¯te pick me up. I¡¯ll go straight to the airport. Just bring my luggage there. See youter.¡± After hanging up, Roy looked at her. ¡°Momo, I have to leave now. Can I get a reward?¡± Molly nodded. She was sitting in the CEO¡¯s chair when Roy leaned down and kissed her lips softly. ¡°Next time Ie to Ustrana, I want to hear your Chapter 380 (¡ú 61%D 10) The night stretched on endlessly as thick fog rolled through Loang. People walking the streets couldn¡¯t see each other even from a hundred yards away. Hidden beneath a fog¨Ccovered abandoned building was an advancedboratory. The man made another video call to Judy, his voice filled with excitement. ¡°Your Highness, I¡¯ve found a way to quickly identify royal blood.¡± At Loang Airport, Roy was practically floating as he boarded the ne,pletely oblivious to Bruce sitting nearby. Bruce made an effort to strike up a conversation, and since Roy was in such a good mood, they ended up chatting the whole flight to Basterel. Roy even offered to give him a ride when theynded. Bruce declined but they exchanged phone numbers. ¡°We should y some games together sometime,¡± Roy said. ¡°Sounds good,¡± Bruce smiled. After Roy left, a car pulled up for Bruce. Instead of heading to a hotel, they drove straight to Horington. Weekend at York Residence, Shermaine grabbed an astronomy textbook and went to Stephen¡¯s study to ask for help. It took him a few minutes to answer the door. When he opened it, she caught a faint smell drifting from inside. It reminded her of beef jerky. Stephen¡¯s expression was nk. ¡°What do you need?¡± Shermaine held up her book. ¡°I¡¯ve got some questions I was hoping you could help me with, Dad.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go downstairs.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Once they started talking about astronomy, Stephen came alive. His understanding of the subject was impressive and far¨Creaching. Astronomy was one of the oldest sciences. It focused on studying celestial bodies in space, along with the structure, properties, and movement patterns of the universe. Shermaine didn¡¯t have much experience in this area, but she could keep up with Stephen¡¯s conversation easily enough. Stephen looked at her with growing admiration. ¡°You¡¯re the smartest person I¡¯ve ever met, a genius.¡± Shermaine¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. ¡°Thank you for thepliment, Dad.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. I¡¯m just being honest.¡± Shermaine¡¯s IQ was the highest in the world. She was the most perfect human being on Earth. Any child she and Joshua had together would have exceptional genes. ¡°Since you¡¯re so interested in astronomy, do you think there¡¯s another parallel dimension besides Earth?¡± Stephen asked. This parallel space would have more advanced technology than Earth, though it would be filled with violence and war. Shermaine paused for a moment, then said yes without hesitation. 1/2 Chapter 380 Stephen pressed further. ¡°Why are you so certain?¡± If she hadn¡¯t encountered that crystal sarcophagus, Shermaine might not have been so definitive. Before she had real answers, she would have said ¡°maybe¡± or ¡°possibly.¡± But Shermaine knew the crystal sarcophagus was special. It didn¡¯t belong to Earth. Shermaine said, ¡°The universe is huge, and just because we can¡¯t prove something exists doesn¡¯t mean it doesn¡¯t. That¡¯s why the world has so many unsolved mysteries.¡± It was a pretty ordinary answer, but it made sense. Shermaine went on, ¡°It¡¯s like how you look all proper and serious, but you sneak around eating beef jerky.¡± Stephen was speechless for a moment before he protested, ¡°I don¡¯t sneak beef jerky.¡± Just then, King Tiki came downstairs from the study. He¡¯d found some evidence and brought it down as proof. Shermaine gave him a meaningful look. ¡°Do Grandpa and Joshua know you like beef jerky?¡± Stephen fell silent. Of course they didn¡¯t know, because the real Stephen never ate beef jerky. This excellent human was terrifying, but he couldn¡¯t blow his cover. ¡°I haven¡¯t been home in years. You think they¡¯d know?¡± ¡®Fair enough, Shermaine thought. ¡®I¡¯ll let it slide for now.¡® Evening came and night fell. Joshua returned home earlier than usual today. His voice came from behind them. ¡°What are you two talking about?¡± from 2/2 0 Chapter 381 Stephen¡¯s face showed a sh of nervousness, which was rare for him. Shermaine noticed it too. This was probably the only real emotion he¡¯d shown in days. 61% Shermaine acted like it was nothing and brushed it off casually. She walked over to him, and Joshua leaned down to kiss her forehead. He didn¡¯t ask any questions, just said, ¡°I¡¯m going upstairs to change.¡± ???? Roy had called them as soon as he got back to the country. Joshua was dressed way too formally for tonight since Roy wanted to meet up for barbecue. ¡°I¡¯lle with you.¡± Shermaine turned and gave Stephen a little smile. Stephen thought to himself that this woman was way too smart and observant for his own good. Shermaine and Joshua held hands going upstairs. Once they got to the bedroom, Joshua automatically pulled Shermaine in for a kiss. He kept kissing her all the way to the walk¨Cin closet, but since they had to leave soon, he forced himself to let go before things went too far. Shermaine¡¯s lips were flushed from his kisses, like red plum blossoms blooming in December. With Joshua¡¯s constant attention, she¡¯d be this stunning rose that radiated pure temptation. Every look and smile could steal a man¡¯s soul. ¡°Sheary, help me pick out something to wear.¡± Joshua¡¯s voice was soft and affectionate. Shermaine opened the closet. Most of his clothes were pretty serious and mature since he was thirty now, but the fall and winter stuff from this year had more variety to it. Joshua kept plenty of clothes at York residence too. She picked out a charcoal gray t¨Cshirt and a ck bomber jacket. Joshua slipped off his suit jacket and wrapped his arm around Shermaine¡¯s waist. His eyes sparkled with amusement. ¡°Help me out, Sheary.¡± Shermaine reached up to loosen his tie and put it back in the drawer where he kept them. Then, she started unbuttoning his shirt. As she worked her way down, his chest came into view. The vivid tattoo across his skin looked striking under the lights, giving the refined man a wild, dangerous edge. During their intimate moments, Shermaine loved tracing the tattoo with her fingers. When things got more heated, she¡¯d even kiss it softly. Shermaine touched it briefly. ¡°You can handle the rest yourself.¡± Joshua felt his desire stirri as she looked at him. His eyes darkened with want. If she kept touching him like that, they¡¯d never make it out the door. He stopped teasing her and focused on getting dressed. ne een. es the The quiet room was interrupted by his phone ringing from his suit pocket. Shermaine pulled it out and saw Roy¡¯s name on the screen. ¡°Joshua, have you and Shermaine left yet?¡± Roy asked. ¡°Almost,¡± Shermaine said.¡± ¡°Hey, Shermaine, we¡¯re just waiting for you two.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After Shermaine hung up, she nced casually at Joshua. He had his back to her as he pulled on his shirt. Just as the fabric settled over his skin, she thought she saw something on his lower back. It looked like some kind of mark that seemed to shift between dark and light. 17:24 Tue, 1 Jul Shermaine froze for a moment, then reached over to lift up Joshua¡¯s shirt. But when she looked underneath, there was nothing there. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Joshua turned around and asked. Shermaine shook her head and said it was nothing. ¡°My eyes were ying tricks on me. I thought there was a bug on you.¡± Joshua didn¡¯t suspect anything and put his jacket back on. Joshua was the kind of guy who could wear a garbage bag and still look like he stepped off a runway. No matter what he wore, it couldn¡¯t hide that aristocratic air he had about him. Joshua put on his shoes, grabbed his car keys, and said goodbye to Owen before heading out with Shermaine. The whole way there, Shermaine¡¯s mind kept wandering back to Joshua. Halfway through the drive, she asked again, ¡°Have you been feeling sick anywheretely?¡± Chapter 382 While driving, Joshua turned to nce at Shermaine, his expression calm. ¡°Sheary, we just did itst night.¡± He was implying that he wasn¡¯t much more energetic than she was if she was feeling tired. Shermaine pressed her lips together. When it came to that sort of thing, Joshua was always insatiable. She liked to think she had decent stamina, but with him, she was usually drained by the middle of the night¨Calways the first to wave the white g. Joshua added, ¡°Not justst night. The night before that, and the night before that too.¡± He¡¯d certainly been paying his dues, night after night. Shermaine rolled her eyes and turned away. She muttered, ¡°Just keep your eyes on the road.¡± Then, she thought with a frown, ¡®Maybe I was being a little paranoid. Maybe I¡¯d imagined it. But if I hadn¡¯t¡­! They soon arrived at Roy¡¯s ce. The smell of barbecue greeted them the moment they stepped out. Everyone there was from their usual circle. Ross had just been discharged from the hospital today, and Roy had invited him over. He even brought Danielle along. Danielle sat in a wheelchair. When she spotted Shermaine, she waved her over. ¡°Sheary.¡± Shermaine asked, ¡°So, when are you getting your cast off?¡± Danielle replied cheerfully, ¡°Next week.¡± Just a couple more days¨Cshe was almost there. Over by the grill stood Ross, the ever¨Celegant heir, carefully tending to a pair of chicken wings. Since Ross clearly wasn¡¯t very experienced at grilling, the chicken wings he was carefully tending to end up slightly charred. By now, it was no secret among their circle that Ross and Danielle were officially back together. Their love story in Lightspring City had be a heartwarming legend among their circle¨Ca much¨Ctold tale of deep devotion. Shermaine walked over and began chatting with Danielle. Danielle handed her a cup of something warm and, with a twinkle in her eye, asked, ¡°So I heard Roy fell head over heels for that queen of chaos, Molly, at first sight?¡± Shermaine nodded. ¡°Molly¡¯s totally into guys like Roy.¡± Danielle looked genuinely surprised. ¡°Really? I thought she had zero interest in men. Turns out, she¡¯s into delicate, pretty boys with pink lips and pearly teeth.¡± Roy did give off serious, soft, bunny¨Cboy energy. Shermaine took a sip of her drink and nodded again. ¡°If nothing goes wrong, those two might actually work out.¡± Just then, Joshua noticed the spread of raw skewers on the table. Without asking, he picked a few and headed over to Ross, who was manning the grill. Tonight, everyone was paired up¨Cexcept for Roy. Roy never expected Henry and the others to show up with dates. Left as the only single one, he felt a pang of loneliness. He sighed inwardly, ¡®Damn, I really miss Momo.¡¯ Feeling a bit left out, he recorded a video and sent it to Molly, who was in Ustrana, with a text. [Momo, everyone is here with their girlfriends except for me.] Three minutes passed, and he received no Roy: [Momo, are you busy?] Roy: [Momo, I miss you so badly.] reply. Logically speaking, it was around 9 AM over there, so Molly shouldn¡¯t have been too busy to reply to his messages. 1/2 1724 Tue. ¡ü UP T Over in Ustrana, Molly wasn¡¯t working. She was swimmingps in her indoor pool. After finishing a round, she got out, wrapped a towel around herself, and grabbed her phone from the table. When she saw Roy¡¯s video, she paused, slightly envious. Because her friends, Shermaine and Danielle, were in it. It had been so long since the three of them had hung out. Reading Roy¡¯s message, her lips curved into a faint smile. She replied: [I was swimming.] Then, she instantly initiated a video call. Roy hesitated for a second before answering, and the moment the screen lit up, he was greeted with the sight of Molly in a sleek ck swimsuit, her smooth skin on full disy. Water still clung to her body, glistening as it slid down, and just below her corbone, a small cross tattoo peeked out¨Csubtle, but enough to make his throat tighten. He quickly averted his eyes. The view was incredible, but if he stared any longer, he was afraid he might actually get another nosebleed. And that wasn¡¯t an exaggeration. Roy had always been hopeless when it came to resisting Molly¡¯s teasing. Molly teased, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you missed me? Then why aren¡¯t you looking at me?¡± 2/2 490 Roy¡¯s face flushed, but fortunately, the lighting on his end was dim enough that Molly couldn¡¯t see it clearly through the screen. With the screen between them, Roy didn¡¯t have to worry about Molly noticing anything. He nced up, hinting softly. ¡°Momo, Loang¡¯s pretty chilly. Make sure you don¡¯t catch a cold, okay?¡± Although he said all the right things, his eyes lingered on her exposed skin. The longer he stared, the thirstier he felt, and the hotter his face burned. ¡°I¡¯m indoors,¡± Molly replied casually. Whatever cold there was outside, she couldn¡¯t feel it in there. ¡°So, Momo, are you trying to tease me?¡± Roy asked, putting on an innocent front, though deep down he was sure Molly was doing it on purpose just to mess with him. Privately, his thoughts weren¡¯t nearly as pure. ¡®Her skin looks so smooth. I just want to kiss her.¡® Hearing this, Molly chuckled casually and pulled the towel more securely around her shoulders. ¡°Roy, it¡¯s not like I¡¯m not wearing anything. Besides, I grew up in Ustrana. People aren¡¯t as conservative here as they are back home.¡± Roy dropped his head,pletely unable to argue. ¡°Guess I read too much into it.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Molly teased. Roy felt defeated. Molly, of course, would never admit it¨Cbut she¡¯d definitely teased her little puppy on purpose, just to see how he¡¯d react. It was safe to say she was quite pleased with the oue. Molly took a sip of warm water and said casually, ¡°Pass the phone to Sheary. I want to chat with the girls for a bit.¡± Roy pouted. ¡°Momo, you don¡¯t miss me at all, do you?¡± The video call had barelysted three minutes, and she was already asking to talk to Shermaine and the others. While drying her hair, Molly gave a low, indulgent hum. ¡°I know you¡¯re a good boy.¡± Roy¡¯s heart melted, but he still tried to bargain for some alone time. ¡°Momo, promise you¡¯ll give me an hourter?¡± Molly wasn¡¯t going into the office that morning¨Cshe¡¯d given herself the day off. After all, knowing how to make money also meant learning how to enjoy life. She replied simply, ¡°Deal.¡± After passing the phone to Shermaine, Roy kept popping up in the video from time to time, desperate for attention. But more often than not, he reverted to his usual routine. He¡¯d go around showing off Molly¡¯s picture to anyone who would look. Sidling up to Henry, he held out his phone proudly. ¡°Look at my Momo. Isn¡¯t she gorgeous?¡± Henry chuckled lightly, ¡°Your Momo?¡± Roy shot back, full of conviction, ¡°Momo is mine and mine only.¡± Henry grinned. ¡°Talk big all you want. Make it official if you can.¡± With that, Roy huffed and went off in search of someone more agreeable. Ross¡® first attempt at grilling chicken wings didn¡¯t go well¨Cboth ended up charred. Unfazed, he just tossed them out and grabbed two more to try again. Joshua, on the other hand, was rarely seen grilling, but with his natural skill in the kitchen, this was child¡¯s y for him. Before long, the serving tray was stacked with perfectly cooked barbecue. Read esme tips, my deared brother inw?¡± Joshus drawled, the deep voiceced with awwnement. ¡°We thanks.¡± He wasn¡¯t about to fail s spend time he¡¯d already got the hang of it. After all, practice makes perfect Before long, it became clear to everyone that the tien men weren¡¯t just griffing. There was definitely a silentpetition going on. That was family for you¨Cgual parts love and rivalry, and surely entertaining as hell So Shermiaine and Danielle had more than enough to eat, with tes piled high with barbecue in front of them. The video call with Molly was still going, and even through the screen, she could almost smell the smoky aroma and feel theid¨Cback, happy vibe. ¡°You two are really about to be family family,¡± she said, clearly amused. She was referring to the moment she realized Danielle¡¯s boyfriend was none other than Shermaine¡¯s older brother. ¡°You could be too,¡± Danielle teased back without missing a beat. Molly raised an eyebrow. Danielleughed. ¡°Just take Roy home with you.¡± Their families were already incredibly close; they were practically extended kin. If Molly got together with Roy, she and Shermaine would officially be a family. ¡°Give me a break.¡± Molly chuckled. Roy¡¯s support squad was way too powerful. First, he had Shermaine, then Danielle joined in. At that moment, Roy, already a few drinks in, popped into the frame again, all puppy¨Cdog eyes and whined yfully, ¡°Momooo, please take me home with you.¡± Chapter 384 Danielle burst intoughter, thinking, ¡®This guy really has it down. He¡¯s a certified golden retriever boyfriend. On the other end, Molly was starting to waver. ¡°You¡¯ve been drinking?¡± ¡°Yeah. Henry¡¯s evil. I lost to him in a dice game,¡± Roy whined, lookingpletely wronged. Behind him, Henry clicked his tongue, thinking, ¡®Great. He thinks he¡¯s the king of the world just because he¡¯s got himself a girl now?¡± He strolled over with a drink in hand, grabbed Roy by the cor and tugged him back. ¡°Game¡¯s not over, lover boy. Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Roy pushed his hand away. ¡°Back off, I¡¯m on a call with Momo.¡± Henry looked like he was this close to kicking Roy. He thought, ¡®Unbelievable. Now, I know he¡¯s the chicks¨Cover¨Cdicks kind of friend.¡± Danielleughed and offered, ¡°Let him flirt in peace. I¡¯ll take his spot.¡± ¡°You sure?¡± Henry asked. ¡°Aren¡¯t you still healing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m mostly healed. I can handle a few rounds,¡± she said. ¡°Say less.¡± Henry led her away. Meanwhile, Shermaine had been quiet all night. She was not unhappy, but just¡­ somewhere else in her head. Still, she went through the motions- smiled, chatted, picked at her food¨Cbut something was definitely weighing on her. Back at the grill, Ross was failing miserably at multitasking. His wings were half¨Ccharred, and his attention was zeroed in on the fact that Henry and Danielle were getting very cozy. He hadn¡¯t forgotten that his grandma once tried to y matchmaker with those two. Nothing came of it, sure, but they clearly still clicked. Now, with Danielle offughing and ying games with Henry, Ross couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He dumped the raw food on Joshua. ¡°You handle the rest.¡± Joshua just gave a knowing nod, letting him be. Ross marched over, dropped into the seat beside Danielle, slid an arm around her waist, and snatched the drink from her hand. ¡°I¡¯ll take this for her.¡± Danielle raised an eyebrow. ¡°I can handle my own drink.¡± Ross didn¡¯t even blink. ¡°Not tonight.¡± Someone whistled. ¡°Damn, didn¡¯t know Ross was the possessive type.¡± Ross downed the shot without breaking eye contact. Then, he turned to Danielle and said, ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s keep going.¡± ssic. He showed up to make sure his girlfriend wouldn¡¯t get tipsy without him. Henry was still grinning, making small talk with Danielle like he didn¡¯t have a care in the world. Ross, on the other hand, was not having it¨Chis expression getting more solemn by the minute. By now, the sky had turned navy, and autumn in Basterel meant the chill was really starting to bite. Around 10 PM, the party was winding down. A few guests who¡¯d had too much to drink decided to just crash at Roy¡¯s ce for the night and head out in the morning. Joshua, sober as ever, had Shermaine tucked under his arm. She was warm and a little giggly from the drinks. He leaned close and murmured, ¡°Let¡¯s get you home, Sheary.¡± ¡°Mmhmm.¡± She nodded, leaning into him. 17:24 Tue 1 Jul * 361%D0 She hugged Danielle goodbye. Danielle didn¡¯t seem ready to leave she had a second wind and was deep in a game of poker with Roy and Henry. After being confined to a hospital for over two weeks, she was clearly enjoying her newfound freedom. The drive back was quiet and slow. Joshua headed to his ce instead of the family estate, as it was closer. Once they pulled up, he carried Shermaine inside. The moment they stepped into the living room, Shermaine reached for his wrist. Her fingers pressed gently to feet his pulse. Then, she lifted the hem of his shirt, shipping her hand underneath while her eyes were focused, like she was looking for a sign only she could see. Joshua kissed her forehead. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯m just checking,¡± she said. Joshua said directly, ¡°Sheary, I don¡¯t like it when you hide things from me. Whether it¡¯s about my dad, or whatever¡¯s been off with you tonight¨CI¡¯d rather you just tell me.¡± Joshua had sensed something off about his father from the very beginning, but he¡¯d chosen not to call it out. And as for Shermaine, there was no denying she¡¯d been acting strange all evening. Shermaine hesitated. Then she exhaled slowly, ¡°When you were changing earlier, I thought I saw something on your lower back. Like¡­ something strange. But when I went to check again, it was gone.¡± It sounded crazy, even to her. However, Joshua didn¡¯t look surprised. Instead, he said quietly, ¡°Sheary, there¡¯s something I¡¯ve never told anyone. Not even once.¡± Chapter 385 Shermaine looked up. ¡°What secret?¡± He gently took Shermaine¡¯s hand and ced it to the old scar on his chest. The scar waspletely concealed by his tattoo, leaving no visible trace. Joshua slowly said, ¡°Back when I was injured, I honestly thought I wouldn¡¯t make it back alive. But against all odds, a miracle happened.¡± Afterpleting his mission, he was pursued by mercenaries and driven into West Forest of the uninhabited wilderness. Severely wounded, he found himself with no signal, no food, no medical supplies, and no way to contact anyone. He waspletely cut off from the world. With the rain pouring down, he had no choice but to take shelter in a cave. He could feel his pulse slowing, like his body was shutting down. At some point, he realized if he closed his eyes, that might be it. He might never open them again. He managed to hold on for six hours, but with no rescue in sight, he finally slipped into a deepa. When he finally regained consciousness, three days had already passed. During those three days he was unconscious, his wounds had almostpletely healed. And not just slightly¨Che¡¯d recovered at a speed hundreds of times faster than what should¡¯ve been humanly possible. He had been injured before, but never experienced anything like this. Given how utterly unbelievable it was, he remained in West Forest for a full month before reaching out to the outside world. After all, everyone knew how badly he¡¯d been injured. If he showed uppletely fine, it might arouse suspicion from others. Shermaine asked, ¡°Besides the healing part, is there anything else different about your body? Like¡­ data¨Cwise?¡± Joshua shook his head. ¡°If there were, I wouldn¡¯t have bothered going to Yaleview Hospitalst year.¡± ¡°So, you lied about not feeling well back then?¡± Shermaine asked again. Joshua waspletely unapologetic. He leaned down and softly kissed Shermaine on the lips. ¡°Yeah, I lied. I just needed an excuse to spend more time with you.¡± Shermaine gave him a yful bite and grinned, ¡°You¡¯re so sneaky, Mr. York.¡± Shermaine normally hated being lied to, but something about him opening up and telling her this wild, impossible truth tilted the scales. She just couldn¡¯t stay mad at him. At this moment, Shermaine found Joshua¡¯s condition truly fascinating, and the scientist in her was intrigued. ¡°I want to run some gic tests on you,¡± she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Joshua smirked. ¡°Whatever you want, Sheary. I¡¯m all yours.¡± At Roy¡¯s ce, Danielle took her seat at the poker table. The icy, untouchable beauty suddenly transformed into a fierce little gambler¨Cthough somehow, she still managed to look effortlessly graceful. Danielle pulled off another dazzling win with a full house. As the next round began, Henry teased, ¡°Danielle, time to call it a night. Your boyfriend¡¯s waiting for you.¡± Henry was this close to saying ¡°to pamper you senseless¡°. Danielle turned toward Ross with a yful pout, her voice soft and sweet. ¡°Ross, I still wanna y.¡± Ross, slightly tipsy and fully rxed in his chair, repliedzily, ¡°Half an hour.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Danielle chirped happily. That half hour New by. Before they knew it, it was almost 1 AM. Roy, now a little sleepy from the alcohol, rubbed his eyes and offered, ¡°Hey, why don¡¯t you guys just stay the night? There are plenty of rooms here, and I¡¯ll have fresh clothes sent over.¡± Rey threw Ross a wink. ¡°Don¡¯t say I never did anything for you. If you miss this chance, it¡¯s gone for good.¡± Ross caught on immediately and gave him a subtle nod. ¡°My foot¡¯s still healing,¡± Danielle said. In other words, she was saying that spending the night would just be a whole ordeal. Roy grinned. ¡°Come on, what¡¯s the problem? You¡¯ve got your dear Ross right here to take care of you.¡± That was when Danielle realized Roy wasn¡¯t as innocent and harmless as he looked¨Cdude was sharp. She yed along, smirking. ¡°You¡¯re right. Lucky for me, I¡¯ve got Ross.¡± Roy raised an eyebrow, surprised by how bold Danielle was. Then, he nced at Ross, wondering to himself, ¡®That guy just recovered from a serious illness. Can he really handle her?¡® Henry stood up, cleared his throat, and said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s call it a night. Everyone, go do your own thing.¡± With that, everyone dispersed¨Csome left, while others went upstairs to rest. Soon enough, the only two left in the living room were Danielle and Ross. Ross looked at her with a gentle smile. ¡°Did you enjoy yourself tonight?¡± Danielle nodded and pulled out her phone to show him her poker winnings, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons. With a yful smile, she said, ¡°Next time you have a get¨Ctogether like this, be sure to invite me.¡± Whenever Danielle sat down at a poker table, it was game over for everyone else, Ross had no idea Danielle was so into poker. He nodded, then, after a brief pause, he added, ¡°Danielle, why don¡¯t we head upstairs and get some rest?¡± Danielle arched an eyebrow, stood up, took Ross¡® hand, and with a sultry smile, she With all the second floor guest rooms upied, Ross scooped Danielle up and carried her to the third floor. Roy first brought over clean towels and a bathrobe, then added with a smirk, ¡°Just so you know, my ce has amazing soundproofing.¡± Ross fell silent. The usually refined gentleman¡¯s lips twitched slightly as he retorted, ¡°Does Ms. Hill know what kind of person you really are?¡± After returning to the country, Roy dyed his pink hair back to ash brown, which gave him a softer, more approachable look, much like the boy next door. Roy put on an innocent look and said, ¡°Ross, you¡¯re the one making this weird. I¡¯m heading upstairs. Both of you should take a good rest.¡± Upstairs, Danielle still hadn¡¯te out of the bathroom. She was stalling¨Cnot because she needed more time, but because she was a little nervous. A little shy, too. Then, she nced at the heavy cast on her foot and sighed. With that thing on, even if she wanted to be bold, she couldn¡¯t do much anyway. There was a knock at the door. Ross called softly from outside the door, ¡°Danielle.¡± Danielle replied softly, ¡°What is it?¡± Ross asked, ¡°Would you like to take a shower?¡± She definitely did. After all that barbecue, the smoky smell stuck to her skin. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Roy brought up towels and a robe. Come grab them.¡± She made her way over, cracked the door just enough to reach out, took the towels and robe from his hands. ¡°Thanks,¡± she said quickly, then shut the door before he could say another word. Left outside the door again, Ross couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Through the door, he said, ¡°You¡¯re wee. If your foot gives you any trouble, just call me for help.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Danielle replied softly. Aside from changing clothes, the cast didn¡¯t bother her much. And since she was already in a bathrobe tonight, it made everything easier. Still, the way Ross looked out for her so naturally made her heart flutter. She lowered her gaze and smiled to herself, feeling like she was wrapped in a happy bubble. Ross cracked open a window to let in some fresh air, then dropped onto the couch with a sigh. He pulled out his phone, scrolling through it absentmindedly. But the sound of running water from the bathroom kept stealing his focus. He¡¯d had more than a few drinks that night. Eventually, he gave up on the phone, tossed it aside, and draped an arm over his forehead, letting his eyes fall shut for a quick rest. In the bathroom, steam clouded the air as Danielle patted herself dry. Her petite frame, with alluring curves, was faintly visible through the frosted ss door. Bncing on one foot, she reached for the bathrobe on the shelf. Just as she was about to put it on, a tiny bug suddenly flew right at her face. Danielle jerked back to dodge, identally knocking the shower gel bottle off the shelf It hit the floor with a resounding thud, echoing through the bathroom. Startled by the noise, she was just about to bend down to pick it up when she heard hurried footsteps approaching from outside, and the next instant, the door burst open. 17:24 Tue, 1 Jul 1 Ross was napping when a sudden noise jolted him awake. Fearing Danielle had fallen, he rushed to push open the door. Seeing her unharmed, he exhaled in relief until his eyes narrowed instantly at the sight of the freshly showered beauty before him. 61%8 Danielle stood barefoot, her slender, smooth calves visible. The white bathrobe hung loosely on her frame, its sash casually crossed at the waist but left untied, revealing a fleeting glimpse of her skin. Under the soft glow of the light, she looked almost angelic. A faint hint of lemon lingered in the air, fresh and intimate. Their eyes met¨Chis gaze deep and unwavering, like a tide pulling her in without resistance, dragging her into something darker, something that belonged to him. The air between them tightened, heavy with silence and something unspoken. Danielle froze momentarily, a blush rising to her cheeks. Abandoning the shower gel, she turned her back and took a deep breath. ¡°You should go.¡± ¡°I thought you¡¯d fallen,¡± Ross exined. She fumbled to tie her robe tighter without facing him. ¡°Got it.¡± Without another word, Ross turned and stepped out, pulling the door shut behind him. 2/2 Chapter 387 (303 After wrapping herself securely in her bathrobe, Danielle bent down to pick up the shower gel and return it to its ce. She then gathered up her used clothes before finally leaving the bathroom. She never re wore used underwear, so beneath the bathrobe, she was bare. And now, she wasn¡¯t entirely sure if she could trust herself not to interrupt Ross you like what you saw?¡± That single whisper sent a flicker through Ross¡® eyes¨Cdeep, intense, barely restrained. With a hoarse voice, he said, ¡°I do.¡± Overjoyed, Danielle¡¯s heart raced. She was about to say something when Ross interrupted her, ¡°I¡¯m going to shower.¡± Then, he added softly, ¡°Don¡¯t wait up. Go to sleep first.¡± She hadn¡¯t really nned on saying anything important. She just wanted to suggest sleeping in separate rooms before things got too heated. But Ross had already made his exit. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll just tell him when hees out,¡® Danielle thought. Ross finished his shower quickly, stepping out of the bathroom in about ten minutes. Danielle peeked out from beneath the nket, heart thumping faster at the sight of him. She couldn¡¯t help tightening her grip on the covers. ¡°You¡¯re still up?¡± he asked. Danielle arched a brow and shot him a yful look. ¡°If you were in my ce, could you sleep?¡± Ross stared at her intently for three seconds before finally relenting. ¡°I thought if you were asleep, I¡¯d leave you be. But you¡¯re awake¡­¡± Danielle began, ¡°I just wanted to wait for you to Tue, 1 Jul ¡°Night.¡± Danielle replied softly. She tried to roll over, but with her leg in a cast, the movement was slow and awkward. Their bodies were already pressed close, and her bent knee identally bumped into a hard part of him. Danielle looked up and burst intoughter. ¡°Ross, you sure you¡¯re gonna sleep like this?¡± Rass went silent, sweat already breaking across his skin just from lying next to her. He didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he leaned in again and captured her lips. The growing heat instantly swallowed Danielle¡¯s teasing words. Ross knew this was just a stopgap measure, as he nned to pull away and sleep in the next room. But as he began to pull back, Danielle instinctively leaned in and caught his lower lip with her teeth, then gave it a slow lick. That single motion was all it took. The restraint he¡¯d tried so hard to keep snapped. Their matching lemon scents mingled into something even sweeter and more intoxicating. Her eyes shimmered, her voice barely above a whisper as she said in a soft and yful voice, ¡°My leg¡¯s still in a cast, so be gentle. Okay, Ross?¡± 2/2 C Chapter 388 61% 10 The night stretched long. Eventually, Ross stopped and reached for the tissue box on the nightstand, gently wiping Danielle¡¯s hand. He said, ¡°Not the right timing. Maybe next time.¡± Danielle gave a soft snort and said, ¡°You came in my hands, so of course you¡¯d say that.¡± Then, she teasedzily, ¡°Got what you wanted and dipped, huh?¡± Ross tossed the tissue aside, picked Danielle up, and carried her to the bathroom to wash her hands. Torn between amusement and exasperation at her words, he protested, ¡°That¡¯s not true.¡± Danielle raised an eyebrow, burying her face in the covers as she giggled. ¡°Alright. I forgive you.¡± That night, Roy tossed and turned, haunted by the dreams of Molly. By dawn, the sky was beginning to lighten. Early in the morning, Shermaine received a call from Ruben, the deputy director of Yaleview Hospital. He exined that a patient with a persistent high fever anda had been transferred from Horington. After being admitted, the patient vomited blood and went into shock. After resuscitation, the patient suddenly woke up in a frenzy, like a rabid dog, trying to bite anyone in sight. The symptoms were highly unusual, and he requested her immediate consultation. Shermaine asked, ¡°How is the patient doing now?¡± ¡°He was given a sedative and is now asleep. We¡¯ve transferred him to a general ward,¡± Ruben reported. Shermaine rose from the bed. ¡°I¡¯m on my way,¡± she said. About forty minutester, she arrived at Yaleview Hospital. Joshua had driven her, but since neither of them had eaten, he left to grab breakfast. The deputy director had been waiting anxiously and promptly led her to the patient¡¯s ward. When they entered, she saw that the patient was restrained at both wrists and ankles. Shermaine walked over and examined the patient¡¯s pupils, ears, and oral cavity. Then, she asked, ¡°Could you show me the patient¡¯s test results?¡± Ruben handed the report to her. The patient¡¯s organs appeared normal, and no clear source of the fever could be identified. Shermaine first skimmed through the blood test results, where most of the indicators were normal. Shermaine asked, ¡°Was gic testing done?¡± ¡°It was,¡± Ruben replied. ¡°Scroll down to the bottom. The gic test was ordered on the first day of admission, per the family¡¯s request.¡± Shermaine scrolled straight to the bottom of the report and scanned the results. ¡°We need to redo both the bloodwork and the gic panel,¡± she said firmly. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll get it arranged right away,¡± Ruben said. Just as the words left his mouth, the patient lying on the bed snapped awake, seized by a violent frenzy. The veins on his forehead bulged so much that they looked like they might burst at any moment. Shermaine observed his unfocused eyes¨Che was clearly not fully conscious. The patient, whose fever had just subsided, was suddenly spiking a high temperature again. Admittedly, this case is particrly unusual among all the atypical cases Shermaine has seen. If she had to guess, it was likely a viral infection. Shermaine warned sternly, ¡°Take extra pr¨¦cautions and avoid being scratched by him.¡± 17:24 Tue, 1 Jul 61% Hearing this, the doctors and nurses in the ward exchanged uneasy nces. That sounded serious, and they wondered if it was something bloodborne, like HIV. Everyone knew the patient had a wound on the back of his hand. ording to his family, he developed fever and cold symptoms that very night after the injury. ¡°We¡¯ll be careful,¡± the medical staff responded. Shermaine promptly followed Ruben to the hospital¡¯s privateboratory, located two buildings away from the main medicalplex. Although dedicatedb technicians were avable to assist with the testing, Shermaine insisted on conducting the procedures herself, which Ruben agreed to without hesitation. Truth be told, most hospitalsck the capability for gic testing due to ack of expertise, insufficient staff, and prohibitively expensive equipment. But Yaleview Hospital had that kind of money. At this moment, Shermaine was the only one in theb. Momentster, Joshua arrived, and Shermaine drew a drop of his blood. Meanwhile, over in Ustrana, Kylie stirred awake. Chapter 389 ¡°You go on ahead. I¡¯ll eatter,¡± Shermaine said. No food was allowed inside theb, so after collecting the blood samples, she stepped back out. Joshua insisted, ¡°Eat first, then continue with work.¡± With no other choice, Shermaine removed her PPE suit and medical gloves, then followed Joshua to the adjacent break room, After Shermaine finished her breakfast, Joshua left for work. Shermaine wasn¡¯t in a hurry to test Joshua¡¯s blood sample. She was sure there was nothing seriously wrong with him, and whatever she had observed that night likely posed no threat to his health. After all, they had lived together for so long. Shermaine knew Joshua¡¯s health inside out. His bloodwork could wait. But with the new sample from that patient already delivered, Shermaine finished her breakfast and immediately got down to work. That afternoon, when Danielle returned to the hospital, she went straight to the orthopedics department. As soon as the doctor told her she could finally get her cast removed, she had it taken off immediately. ¡®This damn cast had ruined so many opportunities for me, especiallyst night,¡® she thought. Upon learning that Shermaine was still inside theb, Danielle went over to check on her. Danielle turned to Ross and said, ¡°You can go now. I¡¯m going to meet Sheary.¡± Ross said, ¡°Grandma just called. She wants us both home for dinner tonight. Let Sheary know, and ask her toe over with Joshuater this evening.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Danielle said. After parting ways with Ross, Danielle had just reached the doorway when Shermaine emerged from theb, clutching a report with an unusually grave expression. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Danielle asked. Shermaine said, ¡°We need to call an emergency meeting. This virus is highlyplex, and we can¡¯t deal with it anytime soon.¡± The main issue was that it was blood¨Cborne and neuroinvasive. Once it reached the central nervous system, the infected patient would be violently unpredictable, posing a major threat to others. Until a serum or vine could be developed, strict precautions had to be taken. Even more urgently, they needed to trace the virus back to its source and eliminate it before it could spread. After being hospitalized and away from work for so long, Danielle immediately perked up, eager to get back to work. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± ¡°Transfer the patient to the istion ward immediately,¡± Shermaine ordered. ¡°On it.¡± Danielle nodded. In just thirty minutes, nearly all of Yaleview Hospital¡¯s top executives assembled in the conference room. Even the hospital¡¯s director, Ashley Reynolds, was present. Shermaine¡¯s formidable reputation in the medical field meant that even the hospital director treated her with deference. Her skills alonemanded respect, but her age made her aplishments truly remarkable. It made people wonder just how far her extraordinary talent could go. And it wasn¡¯t just medicine. Shermaine had proven herself time and again across disciplines. She was an undeniable standout in any field. 17:24 Tue, 1 Jul Chapter 389 For someone as exceptional as Shermaine to convene a high level meeting over a single patient¡¯s condition made it clear this case was anything but ordinary. As the meeting progressed, and with Shermaine exining the patient¡¯s gic test results, everyone¡¯s expression grew increasingly grim. Firstly, they were dealing with apletely new virus of unknown origin. It was bloodborne, and once the symptoms kicked in, the patients would lose all sense of reason. They be violent and even aggressive. This patient was simply in the wrong ce at the wrong time. ording to the patient¡¯s family, while he was on his way home, a disheveled homeless man suddenly jumped out and attacked him. They got into a fight, and though he managed to get away, he didn¡¯te out unscathed. That was how he got the wound. But they had a problem. If they couldn¡¯t find that homeless man, they¡¯d lose their only lead on the virus¡® source. Ashley asked, ¡°Is anyone willing to go to Horington to investigate this case?¡± The room was filled with experienced department heads, all of whom were willing to take on the mission. The chief virologist was the first to raise their hand. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± Ashley said, ¡°It¡¯s settled then. You¡¯ll leave for Horington first thing tomorrow morning.¡± Ashley had barely finished speaking when Shermaine cut in, ¡°I¡¯ll go with Dr. Morton.¡°, Chapter 390 461% Yaleview Hospital filed a report with the Disease Control and Prevention Center (CDC). Once they were briefed, they arranged for one of their staff members to apany the team to Horington the next morning. The blood samples and test reports were also sent to the CDC, hoping their experts could develop a serum vine to cure the patients. After the meeting, Shermaine said to the attending physician of the infected patient, ¡°Please notify me immediately if there are any changes in the patient¡¯s condition.¡± ¡°Will do, Dr. Jean,¡± the attending physician said. Shermaine nodded in response. That night, around 8 PM, Ross drove over to pick up Shermaine and Danielle. By the time they got to Jean Vi, it was nearly 9 PM. Outside, the chill wind howled, but inside, the warm glow of the lights enveloped the family in cozy harmony. Upon seeing them, Janice greeted them with open arms. ¡°Oh, Danielle. You shouldn¡¯t have brought anything! Come on in and take a seat,¡± Janice said. Then, she turned to Shermaine with concern. ¡°Sheary, why aren¡¯t you dressed more warmly? What if you catch a cold?¡± Then, Janice asked the housekeeper to bring two cups of hot chocte for the girls so they could warm up. It was clear Ruth was thoroughly pleased with Danielle as her future daughter¨Cinw. She personally set a te of freshly cut fruit in front of her, then told Ross to set Danielle¡¯s bag aside. Ruth smiled as she handed a piece of honeydew to Shermaine. ¡°Here, Sheary. Try this honeydew. Is it sweet?¡± ¡°Let me try,¡± Shermaine said.
  1. 2.
Shermaine epted the piece of fruit from her mother with a soft smile. ¡°It¡¯s sweet,¡± she said, then got another piece with her fork. ¡°Here, Mom. Try some.¡± Ruth opened her mouth, smiling warmly as she ate. The honeydew was indeed sweet, and it was even sweeter because Shermaine had fed it to her. Just then, Ruth¡¯s phone buzzed. She pulled it out and nced at the screen, her expression shifting subtly, clearly not nning to answer the call. ¡°Is that Richard?¡± Shermaine asked casually. Ruth nodded in confirmation. Shermaine asked, ¡°Mom, if it¡¯s Richard calling, then why aren¡¯t you picking up?¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m answering it,¡± Ruth said. She wasn¡¯t going to answer at first, but since Shermaine had said so, her reservations melted away. She got up and stepped aside to take the call. Ever since Ruth regained her memories, things between her and Richard had been lukewarm at best. She knew he still hadn¡¯t given up on being with her, and after her divorce from Jameson was finalized, Richard only became more persistent in his pursuit. Ruth answered the phone coolly, ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Ruthie, I¡¯m outside your ce,¡± Richard replied. Ruth¡¯s gaze remained cool. ¡°You¡¯re doing this on purpose, aren¡¯t you?¡± Richard replied warmly, ¡°Actually, I just came by to drop off some treats for Sheary and Ross.¡± %19 Ruth sighed, ¡°Wait there. I¡¯lle out and get it.¡± Upon learning that Richard was just outside, Shermaine seized the chance to y matchmaker. With a knowing smile, she suggested, ¡°Mom, since Richard is already here, why not invite him in for dinner?¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Ruth agreed. Richard hadn¡¯t seen Ross or Shermaine in a long time. For one thing, he still felt guilty about what had happened with Ross, so while Ross was hospitalized, he could only visit him secretly. As for Shermaine, she was always swamped with work. Coming to Jean Vi tonight proved to be the right move. To his pleasant surprise, he ran into Joshua, who was approaching him gracefully at the entrance and then ushered him inside. Then, as Ruth came out, Richard felt a wave of nervousness. Ruth asked, ¡°Where are the treats?¡± ¡°Here,¡± Richard said. ¡°Sheary was wondering if you¡¯d like to join us for dinner. But if you have other ns¡­¡± Ruth trailed off. ¡°I¡¯m free,¡± Richard replied with a smile. Ruth nodded. ¡°Come on in then.¡± With that, a relieved grin spread across Richard¡¯s face. With everyone gathered, they took their seats around the table. The beef stew was already bubbling, releasing fragrant steam into the cozy dining room. Janice was genuinely delighted. Her beloved grandson and granddaughter had found their significant others, while her other two grandsons were still young, so there was no need to rush. But then, unexpectedly, Andrew showed up with Clyde in tow. Following Shermaine¡¯s advice, Clyde repeated his senior year of high school. Lately, he¡¯d grown exceptionally driven, and if nothing unexpected happened, he was set to qualify for a top¨Ctier university in the next SAT. Andrew, on the other hand, could barely make eye contact with Shermaine now. Back when she offered to write a rmendation letter for Clyde to help him get into a prestigious school, he hadn¡¯t taken her seriously. He never imagined his niece would turn out to be a national¨Clevel prodigy. Andrew thought, ¡®The Professor Jean who¡¯d been making waves all over the intetely is my niece. And not just any academic¨Cshe is a top¨Ctier powerhouse in the tech world. Experts in her field practically tripped over themselves trying to treat her like royalty. ????????????????????????? ¡®That brother of mine really mistook a pearl for a pebble. Just look at him now¨Cmiserable, exiled from his own home, and stuck in a rtionship so shameful no one dares speak of it. Honestly, cheating with Natalie is the biggest downfall of his entire life.¡¯ As the eldest brother among his siblings, Andrew had passed through Horington on a business trip just the day before and made a point to visit Jameson. Jameson¡¯s kidney removal and transnt surgery went fairly well. But when Andrew consulted the doctors about the uing heart operation, they made it clear that the risks were too high, and the procedure would be extremely difficult. Andrew thought, ¡®If you ask me, since Shermaine has such exceptional medical skills, Jameson should swallow his pride and ask for forgiveness. After all, what could possibly be more important than his own life? Running off to Horington like that is truly an unwise move.¡® He had also advised Jameson to ask for their forgiveness. If possible, it¡¯d be best if he could remarry Ruth. Then, everything could return to how it used to be. They¡¯d still be family. But now, seeing Richard seated beside Ruth at the dinner table, Andrew couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®Looks like there¡¯s no hope of them getting back together now.¡¯ 2/3 61% Having shed his former arrogance, Clyde greeted the elders politely. Then, he turned to Shermaine with a respectful smile and said, ¡°Hey, Sheary Shermaine nodded slightly, murmuring a quiet ¡°Mm.¡± Janice had someone set two more ces at the table. She smiled warmly and said, ¡°Come, sit down. Let¡¯s have dinner together.¡± ¡°Sure thing.¡± Clyde replied cheerfully. At the dinner table, everyone noticed Andrew¡¯s warm enthusiasm toward Shermaine. Though she remained rather reserved, she was polite enough to humor him. As dinner was winding down, Shermaine mentioned she¡¯d be going to Horington for a few days starting tomorrow. When Janice and the others asked why, she gave them a brief exnation. ¡°That sounds pretty dangerous,¡± Ruth cautioned. ¡°There¡¯s no cure for the new disease yet. You need to be extra careful out there, Sheary.¡± ¡°Exactly. And who knows how many other people are infected but haven¡¯t been detected yet?¡± Janice frowned, her thoughts suddenly turning to Jameson, who was hospitalized in a hospital in Horington right now. Shermaine reassured them, ¡°I¡¯ll be careful, so don¡¯t worry. Once we identify the source of the infection, we can contain the outbreak in time.¡± Ruth understood the science behind it. After all, she had once been a top biology student. Most viruses originated from animals, the environment, or human maniption. Joshua hadn¡¯t said much throughout dinner. Instead, he just kept cing more food in Shermaine¡¯s te. But once dinner wrapped, he got to work. He began contacting virologists across the country, pulling strings and rallying experts to kick¨Cstart the vine development process. At Con Laboratory, in Horington, Bruce sat across from an old man in a wheelchair¨Cwhite¨Chaired, sharp¨Ceyed, and clearly no stranger to power games. Each side had their people standing behind them. The old man took a slow drag from his cigarette. Bruce said, ¡°Since the research¡¯s gone sideways, we need to stop it right away.¡± On top of that, this was not just some minor hups. This was big.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see any problem,¡± the old man replied, his tone cool. Bruce narrowed his eyes. ¡°This is Wallington. You really think they¡¯ll let you walk if they find out what you¡¯ve been up to?¡± The old man gave a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯m a dying man. I have nothing left to fear. All I ask, Mr. Xavier, is that since you¡¯ve chosen to break our agreement and leave myb, you no longer have any right to meddle in our affairs.¡± Bruce looked up defiantly. ¡°What if I insist on interfering?¡± he challenged. In his mind, he was already resolved¨Cnot only would he interfere, but he would raze this ce to the ground. ¡°Then don¡¯t me me for taking up arms against you,¡± the old man warned. 3/3 AD Early the next morning, Shermaine set off for Horington with the others. Before leaving, she reminded Joshua, ¡°Grandma Bianca sent me some books, and the courier will be arriving soon. Could you take them for me before you head to work?¡± Those books were all originally excavated from the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen. From time to time, Bianca would sort through them and send a batch over. Apparently, the batch sent a few days ago contained some overlooked materials found in the underground chamber, so they were all packed up and shipped together. Joshua fixed her cor. ¡°Got it. Take care,¡± he said softly. Then, he leaned down, kissed Shermaine on the forehead, and saw her out. All major hospitals in Horington have received directives from higher authorities that any patient with a persistent high fever and was coughing up blood must be immediately admitted to an istion ward. So far, no such cases have been reported. Meanwhile, the local CDC had alreadyunched a covert investigation into the source of the outbreak. But there were frustratingly few leads to go on with. The police were helping search for the homeless man, but strangely, it was as if he had vanished into thin air. There wasn¡¯t a single clue about him anywh¨¨re. Two days flew by in a blink. Shermaine spent most of her time buried in the CDCb, working around the clock to develop a serum that could counter the virus. But despite her relentless efforts, progress was frustratingly slow. Meanwhile, Jason¨Cwho had been off the grid for what felt like forever¨Csuddenly showed up in Horington. He went straight to visit Jameson. At first, Jameson was genuinely pleased to see him, until he realized Jason hade with two cops. Jameson froze. ¡°Jason, why did you bring the cops here?¡± One of the officers stepped forward. ¡°Your son suspects you may be involved in the death of his mother, Ms. Natalie Keller. Given your medical condition, we¡¯ll be conducting the questioning here at the hospital. We ask for your cooperation.¡± Questions were running through Jameson¡¯s mind. ¡®I killed Natalie? What happened to Natalie?¡® No matter what happened to Natalie, Jason¡¯s actions left Jameson bitterly disappointed. If anyone had been the victim, it was Jameson. Natalie had been slowly poisoning him, and he never even pressed charges. And now, his own son turned and used him of murder. As the police questioned him, Jameson finally pieced together what had happened. To his shock, he learned that Natalie had alsoe to Horington, and had gone missing after she arrived. With no one able to reach her, Jason apparently jumped to conclusions and pinned it on Jameson. Fortunately, Jameson was hospitalized, with doctors and nurses providing solid alibis, which quickly ruled him out as a murder suspect. Jameson was so enraged that his already frail body was wracked by violent coughing. ring at Jason, he choked out, ¡°Get out! I don¡¯t want to see your face ever again!¡± Jason gritted his teeth. Momentster, the doctors rushed Jameson into the emergency room. Shermaine hadn¡¯t known any of this was happening¨Cuntil Janice called to fill her in and asked if she could check on him. Only then did she leave the CDC and make her way to General Hospital. In his dazed state, Jameson seemed to catch glimpses of Shermaine talking with the doctor. His fingers twitched slightly, as if he was reaching out¨Cbut he didn¡¯t have the strength to say a word. 1/2 17:25 Tue, 1 Ju 61% At this moment, the doctor held the prescription Shermaine had provided, ready to have it filled. After giving her instructions, Shermaine stepped out of the hospital room. She barely made it a few steps before Jason lunged out from the shadows his sudden appearance took her by surprise. ¡°Shermaine!¡± he shouted without any restrain. ¡°What did you do to my mother?¡± He couldn¡¯t wrap his head around how a perfectly fine person just vanished without a trace. Shermaine sidestepped and said coldly, ¡°Not everyone is as underhanded as you and your mother.¡± Jason¡¯s eyes were bloodshot. He red at her and said, ¡°You think you¡¯re so noble and selfless, don¡¯t you? You must be feeling pretty pleased with yourself seeing my mom and I in such a miserable state, huh?¡± The malice rolling off him was suffocating. Shermaine met his re with a steady gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t even care about Jameson. What makes you think I¡¯d care about either of you? Don¡¯t overestimate your importance to me. You¡¯re nothing to me.¡± Another day passed. The night stretched long and quiet. Natalie was still missing, and the police had turned up with not a single lead. But just beyond the city, out in the suburbs, all hell broke loose. The Con Laboratory erupted into chaos. Sirens wailed, rms screamed, and within minutes, a wall of fire engulfed the facility, with mes shooting high into the night like a beacon of disaster. 2/2 Chapter 392 Theboratory fire erupted without warning, catching everyone off guard. Thick ck smoke billowed as hundreds of people in theboratory scrambled in panic, fleeing in all directions. Bruce¡¯s expression turned grave the moment he witnessed the scene. Meanwhile, his subordinates were already overwhelmed, scrambling to contain the chaos. Originally, their n was to sneak into theboratory today, eliminate all the test subjects, and then demolish the entire facility. Unexpectedly, a disaster struck. ¡°What happened?¡± Bruce demanded. One of the staff reported urgently, ¡°The virus mutated. One test subject developed superhuman strength, injured our people, and escaped¡± ¡°Where did it go?¡± Bruce demanded. The staff stammered, ¡°N¨Cno idea¡­ We haven¡¯t found the subject yet.¡± Bruce ordered, ¡°Expand the lockdown perimeter immediately. Don¡¯t let it enter the city limits.¡± ¡°Many others have escaped as well. We can¡¯t be sure if any of them are infected,¡± the staff said. Bruce¡¯s voice dropped to a cold, clipped edge. ¡°Find the mutant. That¡¯s the priority.¡± Above them, a crescent moon hung low over the trees, casting silver light across the woods. Natalie wore a white jumpsuit marked with a serial number¨CSubject 110 in Immortality Project. Unlike the previous 109 test subjects, she had been perfectly healthy. Now, her clothes were sttered with blood. Under the moonlight, her mutation was unmistakable. Her nails had grown long and razor¨Csharp, her eyes burned red, and thick patches of coarse hair covered her skin. As the hem of her jumpsuit fluttered, ck scales glistened beneath, making her every inch the monster. ¡®I never thought I¡¯d be tricked into a hellhole like that,¡® Natalie thought bitterly. ¡®Tortured until I turned into¡­ whatever this is. Am I a human or a monster now? Or just something in between?¡® At least she hadn¡¯t lost her mind like the others. Most of the test subjects went feral once the virus took hold¨Cbut not her. She felt stronger now. Her limbs were lighter, her movements sharper, her body humming with power. Sure, she was covered in too much hair, but her skin had lost every trace of mnin. It was ghostly pale and cold to the touch. Natalie was ravenous now, her stomach gnawing at her. It didn¡¯t matter what it was¨Cshe just needed to eat. Then, she spotted the glowing neon sign of a 24¨Chour convenience store. So, she had made her way into town. Driven by ravenous hunger, she barged into the store without a second thought and began tearing through everything, desperately searching for food. The cashier jumped in fright, mistaking her for a homeless man or a lunatic. Grabbing the bat from under the counter, he marched over and growled, ¡°Get out now, or I¡¯ll make you!¡± Natalie tore through bags of chips and gulped down sodas, yet her hunger never faded. Oblivious to the voices around her, she just kept stuffing food into her mouth with ravenous abandon. Just as the cashier raised the bat to strike, Natalie reacted with inhuman speed. She spun around, grabbed the bat, and with a powerful shove, sent the cashier flying nearly ten feet across the store. Staggering to his feet, the cashier stared in horror as Natalie lunged at the fish tank, snatched up a live fish, and gulped it down whole. 1725 Tue 1 Jul 0 Chapter 392 The sight made the cashier¡¯s stomach Thurn. His blood ran cold, and his knees nearly gave out. With trembling hands, h¨¢ fumbled for his phone and daled the police. The cops arrived swiftly. They were just two officers on night duty from the local station. When they walked in, the convenience store was inplete disarray. The shelves were overturned, wrappers strewn everywhere, and nearly all the food had been devoured. Finally, Natalie let out a guttural belch ¡°That¡¯s her. Hurry, arrest her! She was eating the goldfish like some kind of monster!¡± the cashier cried out, pointing frantically. ¡°She ate every single one I had!¡± he added, his voice shaking with outrage. The cashier shouted, ¡°You freak! You¡¯re a monster!¡± Only then did Natalie realize with horror what she had just eaten. Her face drained of color as she protested vehemently, ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± A sudden, inexplicable rage surged within her. The officers were skeptical at first, but the sight of goldfish remains scattered on the floor convinced them. As they closed in on her, the enraged Natalie bared her razor¨Csharp ws and lunged at them. Her eyes were bloodshot as she snarled. ¡°Apologize to me right now!¡± 2/2 Chapter 393 When Bruce arrived, he saw only a dozen or so injured people lying on the ground, However, Natalie was nowhere to be found. Among the dozen or so people, most were police officers; the rest werete¨Cnight food stall owners who had rushed over to help when they sensed something was wrong. Bruce¡¯s expression turned grim. ¡°Take them away. Quarantine them.¡± Then, without hesitation, he jumped back into the car and sped toward the town exit. But Bruce wasn¡¯t the only one after Natalie. The investor behind the Immortality Project¨Cwho had finally achieved a hard¨Cwon breakthrough¨Cwasn¡¯t about to let his prized test subject escape now that sess was within reach. Meanwhile, the investor¡¯s men were chasing a police car. Inside that car, Natalie mmed her foot down on the gas. It had been 40 straight minutes of weaving through dark country roads, but she finally broke back into the city. At 11 PM, the streets of Horington weren¡¯t exactly packed, but there was still a steady stream of carsing and going. Natalie nced in the rearview mirror. There had only been one car chasing her. Now, two more had joined the pursuit. ¡®There¡¯s no way I¡¯m going back,¡® Natalie swore in her heart. ¡®If I end up back on that cold operating table, I might not make it out alive. Guess I¡¯m the lucky one. Bruce mmed the gas in his ck sports car. He swerved left, overtaking the vehicle ahead in a blur. The white car beside him, seeing this, recklessly swerved to block him, turning the chase into a deadly showdown. There were no cops on the street at this hour. After a tense standoff at an intersection, the ck sports car collided with the white police car. Then, a small truck came barreling in, triggering a multi¨Cvehicle pileup. The police car vanished without a trace. Bruce shoved open his door and climbed out, with blood dripping down his arm from a gash where ss had cut through. A fresh bump was swelling on his forehead from the impact of colliding with the steering wheel. But he didn¡¯t flinch. He pulled out a cigarette, lit it with steady hands, and leaned against the wreck. Smoke curled in the cold air as he stared into the distance sharply. About 15 minutester, the ambnce arrived, and the paramedics led Bruce into the ambnce. The next morning rolled in, and a brand new day began. The temperature had dropped overnight, and a cold front had settled across the city. Shermaine sat outside a small street vendor, working through a bowl of steaming ravioli soup. A sleek ck Bluetooth earbud hung on her ear, and Joshua¡¯s voice crackled through the line. ¡°It¡¯s getting cold. Layer up, will you?¡± ¡°Mm, don¡¯t just worry about me. Make sure you keep warm too,¡± she said. ¡°Any progress on the virus?¡± Joshua asked. Shermaine said calmly, ¡°Most likely, the virus is man¨Cmade. I¡¯vepiled a list of suspiciousbs and will check them out after breakfast.¡± Shermaine suspected it was a man¨Cmade virus because firstly, the homeless man mentioned by the patient had visited the infection site, but when they checked, all the surveince cameras were faulty and the footage from that day went missing too. There were too many coincidences. And that homeless man vanished without a trace. Unless someone was deliberately hiding him, Shermaine could not think of another reason why they were unable to track him down. 1/3 17:25 Tue, 1 Jul 61% While Shermaine ate, the t¨Cscreen TV mounted on the wall in front of her yed the morning news. The top story was a multi¨Ccar pileup from the night before ¡°Be careful,¡± Joshua said with concern. ¡°I¡¯ve arranged an assistant for you. He¡¯s a top med school graduate, physically capable and professionally trained. He should arrive in Horington in about two hours.¡± Even with these precautions, Joshua still couldn¡¯t fully rx, knowing how risky Shermaine¡¯s job was. ¡°Got it.¡± Shermaine said casually. ¡°Tell him to contact me directly when he arrives.¡± The t¨Cscreen TV was mounted on the wall across from Shermaine. As she reached for a tissue and looked up, she caught sight of a familiar figure at the scene ofst night¡¯s car ident. Narrowing her gaze, she realized it was Bruce. ¡®What¡¯s Bruce doing in Horington?¡® Shermaine wondered. At first, the news wasn¡¯t getting much traction, but once the footage of Bruce, injured and smoking beside his wrecked ck sports car hit the inte, he instantly went viral and topped Twitter¡¯s trending list. His striking looks alone made him the center of attention. But not even half an hourter, the post had been mysteriously wiped from the charts. Shermaine knew it wouldn¡¯t be hard to dig up why Bruce was in town, but poking into someone¡¯s whereabouts without a solid reason didn¡¯t sit right with her, especially when they weren¡¯t even close. So, she decided to let it go. ¡°I¡¯m done eating,¡± she said, wiping her mouth and speaking into the earpiece. ¡°I¡¯m hanging up.¡± ¡°Mm, I¡¯ll miss you,¡± Joshua said. Shermaine¡¯s lips curved into a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s go on a date when I¡¯m done here.¡± They didn¡¯t get to do that much¨Cbarely ever, actually. Buttely, Shermaine had been thinking maybe it was time they tried being like a normal couple for once. Dates were supposed to be exciting, heart¨Cskipping, even. Joshua gulped. ¡°I¡¯ll n something.¡± Shermaine moved quickly. Of the fivebs she¡¯d gged for possible illegal activity, she only had to visit one before she got a lead. It pointed her straight to Con Laboratory¨Cthe one most likely running illegal experiments. In this line of work, word had gotten around, especially when it came to Con Laboratory. Their operations had always been brazen, but with deep- pocketed investors backing them, most people in the field just turned a blind eye and kept their mouths shut. When she arrived at Con Laboratory, she saw the aftermath of a fire. The mes were out, but thick plumes of acrid smoke still hung heavily in the air, their pungent odor wing at her throat the longer she breathed them in. Shermaine took a surgical mask and a sample case from the car, put on the mask, and headed straight inside. Most of the ce had been destroyed by the fire, but Shermaine still managed to collect some remaining samples to bring back for analysis to determine if the virus originated from here. After about half an hour, Shermaine had gathered enough samples and was about to leave with the small case when a shadow suddenly loomed behind her. Instinctively, she spun around and delivered a sharp roundhouse kick. A shrill, miserable scream rang out. The other party copsed to the ground, groaning in pain. Shermaine walked over. The man was dressed in white, with a shaved head and numerous needle marks on his arms. His face was deathly pale, and he was barely conscious as he mumbled weakly, ¡°H¨Chelp me.¡± Shermaine pressed her hand to his forehead. He was burning hot. He was running a fever. ¡°Are you a test subject from Con Laboratory?¡± Shermaine asked. 17:25 Tue, 1 Jul ?? 61% 5 He nodded weakly. He hadn¡¯t escaped farst night and just found a ce to hide nearby. When dawn came, he woke up feeling wretched and had been enduring it ever since. Shermaine asked, ¡°How many test subjects like you were there in theb?¡± ¡°A¨CA lot¡­¡± he whispered in a trembling voice. Shermaine pressed. ¡°Where are they now?¡± The man shook his head weakly. ¡°N¨Cno¡­ I don¡¯t know,¡± he mumbled. ¡°Butst night, a lot of the other test subjects escaped.¡± Upon hearing this, Shermaine¡¯s gaze dimmed. Their escape meant the risk of ordinary people getting infected had skyrocketed. Because once the test subjects fell ill, they would lose all rationality and be violent. Seeing he was about to pass out, Shermaine said, ¡°I¡¯ll bring the car over. Wait here.¡± Carrying the case, she headed outside. As she reached her car, a van suddenly pulled up. Several thugs jumped out, and one of them shouted, ¡°Drop what you¡¯re holding and get out of here, or you¡¯ll regret it.¡± Chapter 394 2011 These guys weren¡¯t here to chat. If she had to guess, they were probably the clean up crew sent to keep whatever happened inside thisb buried for good. A fire this big happened, and not a single headline was about it. Someone definitely pulled strings to keep it quiet. Shermaine ced the sample case in the car, locked the door, then turned and said directly, ¡°Bring it on.¡± They exchanged nces, clearly thrown off, thinking, ¡®She¡¯s got the face, but not that much brains! The leader sneered, ¡°You asked for it. Get her!¡± It was cold, which was the only reason Shermaine hadn¡¯t tied up her waist¨Clength hair. She had no hair tie with her either, but she did have a ballpoint pen in her pocket. She lifted both hands to gather her loose strands, then deftly pulled out the pen, twisted her hair into a bun, and secured it in ce. Their target was the car keys in Shermaine¡¯s pocket. Several men rushed at her at once, but in the next instant, the man in front was sent flying by a powerful kick from Shermaine. That¡¯s when it clicked for them that she wasn¡¯t bluffing, and her confidence had nothing to do with her looks. She knew how to fight, and she was damn good at it. It didn¡¯t take long before they were outmatched. The leader whipped out his phone to call for backup, but before he could even dial, Shermaine darted over and, with a swift kick, sent his phone flying and the man sprawling to the ground. As shended, the ballpoint pen securing her hair flew out, just as a car approached from ahead. The pen ttered to the ground, while the vehicle behind it screeched to a sudden stop. Shermaine¡¯s gaze flicked toward the sound. She could¡¯ve stayed and finished the fight, no problem. But there was no time to waste¨Csomeone inside was infected and needed her help now. As she was about to get into the car and drive off to pick the injured man up, a man suddenly stepped out of the other car. It was Bruce, the man she had seen on the news that morning. Shermaine¡¯s hand froze on the car door. Bruce bent down, picked up the ballpoint pen that had rolled away and walked up to her. ¡°Here,¡± he said, handing it over. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Shermaine asked. Bruce didn¡¯t bother to hide anything and exined, ¡°The backer of thisb once hired an operative from the Dark Organization. You know her¨CKylie. ¡°Kylie was leading theb¡¯s ongoing Immortality Project. Ever since she joined, the experiments started going wrong.¡± He paused briefly before adding, ¡°I¡¯m here to clean up the mess.¡± In other words, he was here to clean up Kylie¡¯s mess. Shermaine raised an eyebrow, thinking, ¡®Now, that¡¯s a surprise.¡® Bruce had every reason to stay out of this. If this whole thing blew up, no one could pin it on the Dark Organization. He could¡¯ve walked away with clean hands. But instead, he showed up. And Kylie, that foreigner, had really stirred up a ho¡¯s nest on their turf. Shermaine gave a brief nod, then asked, ¡°So what¡¯s the situation now?¡± Bruce pursed his lips. ¡°There was a big fire herest night. Many test subjects escaped. I¡¯ve quarantined some, but about ten are still on the loose.¡± Among those in quarantine were also the officers who¡¯d gotten hurt inst night¡¯s chaos. Bruce had already locked down the only road into the city, so anyone trying to sneak in would be caught immediately. 1/2 Shenmaine¡¯s expression turned slightly solemn. There were so many people infected, yet they still didn¡¯t have a serum that could cure them. Shemaine thought. Looks like I¡¯ll have to speed up and develop the serum,¡® Bruce hesitated before delivering the crucial update. ¡°There¡¯s one more thing. A mutated subject made it into the city. I couldn¡¯t bring her back.¡± This particr failure had weighed heavily on Bruce all day. The woman carrying the mutated virus¨CNatalie had gone into hiding. In a sprawling city like Horington, home to over ten million people, tracking her down would be nearly impossible. That was when Shermaine¡¯s expression finally turned serious. 2/2 AD This wasn¡¯t the right ce to talk. After loading the infected patient into her car, Shermaine drove to the quarantine zone with Bruce. It turned out to be an old clinic on the edge of town. Bruce had it stocked with top¨Ctier medical equipment and supplies, and had even brought in some of the best doctors and nurses to staff it. Leaving the patient in Bruce¡¯s care was Shermaine¡¯s way of showing that she trusted him. Shermaine asked, ¡°What did the patient infected with the mutated virus look like?¡± Bruce replied, ¡°There¡¯s a video, but her face isn¡¯t visible.¡± Shermaine said, ¡°Let me take a look.¡± Bruce pulled out his phone and handed it to Shermaine. The video was actually surveince footage fromst night. It showed a woman in a white outfit¨Cher hair a tangled mess, her face grimy¨Cravenously devouring food in the convenience store, as if she hadn¡¯t eaten in days. Shermaine didn¡¯t recognize Natalie in the footage. She requested, ¡°Send me a copy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll send it to you on WhatsApp. Give me your phone number,¡± Bruce said. ¡°Alright,¡± Shermaine replied. After exchanging phone numbers, Bruce sent the video and said, ¡°If you get any leads on that woman, contact me. I¡¯ll handle the arrest.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Shermaine replied. This way, she could focus most of her time on breaking down the virus strain and pushing forward with the development of a working serum to help stabilize the infected group. Bruce nced at his watch. ¡°It¡¯s almost noon. Want to grab lunch together?¡± She replied, ¡°Another time.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Bruce said without pressing further. It was an overcast day, and a biting wind sent shivers down everyone¡¯s spine. The gloomy weather did nothing to lift anyone¡¯s spirits. Before long, a fine drizzle began to fall. Shermaine drove off, taking the samples back to her researchb. Instead of rushing to study the virus, she took out herptop, powered it on, andunched GPS¨Can advanced tracking program she seldom used. It was already geo¨Clocked onto Horington. She uploaded the footage from the convenience store, hit run, then shut theptop. If the system found a match, it would ping her phone with a notification. Time flew by, and a week had passed in the blink of an eye. The tracking program, GPS, had scanned every surveince¨Ccovered area in the city, yet there was still no sign of Natalie. Shermaine had been holed up in theb most of the time. Three days ago, she¡¯d already formted a prototype serum¨Cone that could suppress the virus, at least temporarily, It wasn¡¯t a full cure, but it kept the infection under control and dyed symptoms without any side effects. But what weighed on her mind wasn¡¯t the patients under quarantine¨Cit was the one still missing, the woman with the mutated strain. Miles away, buried beneath scrap cars in andfill, there was an old basement no one had set foot in for years. From within, muffled growls echoed now and then. 61%80 Natalie¡¯s lower body was nowpletely covered in ck scales, emitting a putrid, fish¨Clike stench. She jolted awake from a fitful sleep, and upon seeing her grotesque appearance, burst into hysterical screams. ¡°How did I be like this? This is disgusting?¡± She looked neither like a human, nor a monster. The thought alone made her sick. She couldn¡¯t ept what she¡¯d be. Up above, one of thendfill workers suddenly paused, having heard a strange noise. He turned to his colleague and asked, ¡°Hey, did you just hear something?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± the other worker said. ¡°Sounds like it¡¯sing from the basement.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go check it out.¡± Outside, the rain had started again, soaking everything in a steady drizzle. Shermaine took off herb coat and stepped out of theb. ¡°We¡¯re getting close,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°d to hear it,¡± he said, visibly relieved. Everyone had ced their hopes on Shermaine. The rest of them could only assist where they could, but the real work was hers alone. The original virus wasn¡¯t all thatplex to manage, but the mutated strain inside that one patient changed everything. Thankfully, the officers who had been injured by her didn¡¯t show signs of mutation. At least, not yet. After all, the virus still had its incubation period. No one could say for sure what might happen down the line. ¡°Dr. Jean,¡± a calm voice called out. It was Steve Xavier, the assistant Joshua had sent. Right on cue, he showed up to remind her it was almost lunchtime. The two picked a random restaurant and were about to order when Bruce called. ¡°Shermaine, you need toe here now. The virus in those police officers seems to have mutated.¡± 2/2 hapter 396 Chapter 396 ¡°I¡¯m on my way.¡± Shermaine¡¯s gaze dimmed. Her expression made it clear the situation had turned serious. Forget about eating they needed to get over there immediately to see what was wrong. As Bruce had described, the police officers and ordinary people injured by that woman that night started showing even stranger symptoms¨Csnake¨Clike scales emerged on their skin, their fingernails grew rmingly long overnight, and their hunger intensified. While the virus hadn¡¯t damaged their nervous systems or triggered violent outbursts, it had spread to their internal organs, forcing their bodies into unnatural overdrive. But the human body had its limits. Push it too far, and it would shatter like an overinted balloon. To make things worse, the virus wasn¡¯t just mutating¨Cit was merging with marine DNA, elerating a primal regression. Bit by bit, they were bing something else entirely. Shermaine did the math. Without a serum to cure them, none of them would survive past the three¨Cmonth mark. ¡°Doctor, is there still hope for us?¡± Their voices trembled, and their eyes were wide with panic. No one could ept what was happening to them. They never could have imagined it, not even in their wildest dreams, that the woman from that night was a monster. Shermaine reassured them, ¡°There is hope. We¡¯re working urgently to develop a serum. For now, your only task is to stay right here and don¡¯t go anywhere.¡± Her words were deeply convincing, and the unease that had been gnawing at them suddenly subsided. Over the past few days, they¡¯d learned more about Shermaine, and they knew she was an exceptional doctor. ¡°Got it. We promise we won¡¯t go anywhere,¡± they said in unison. Once they were calm and she¡¯d collected the necessary samples, Shermaine stepped out of the old clinic. Beside her, Steve frowned and hesitantly asked, ¡°Dr. Jean, will they eventually turn into zombies, like in those movies?¡± The image sent a shiver down his spine. Just thinking about it made his scalp tingle. He thought, ¡®What if this was the beginning of the end? The whole world is going to be doomed.¡® Shermaine sighed helplessly, ¡°Seriously? What nonsense are you thinking? You¡¯re a medical student.¡± Steve said, ¡°I can¡¯t help thinking about Resident Evil, Dr. Jean. Have you seen it? Honestly, whoever did this to them is just as despicable as the viins in that movie.¡± Steve thought indignantly, ¡®We¡¯re all humans. Why do we have to hurt each other? Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural order of life, so why are some people so obsessed with the idea of being immortal?¡® Shermaine didn¡¯t respond. But now that the higher¨Cups were involved, those behind this mess were bound to pay the price. Just then, Bruce cut in, ¡°Have you two eaten yet?¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± Shermaine replied. Since Steve and Bruce shared the samest name, Steve naturally felt a special closeness to him. Bruce said, ¡°There¡¯s a great restaurant in town, Let me take you guys there.¡± The shop was simple but clean, filled with theforting smell of broth and spices. As the scent drifted through the air, Shermaine pulled out her phone and clicked on WhatsApp. Then, she sent a quick message to Joshua. [I miss your cooking.] Meanwhile, at York Group¡¯s headquarters, an executive meeting was in session. At this time, Joshua¡¯s phone buzzed with a special ringtone he had set 1/2 17:25 Tue, 1 Jul ? exclusively for Shermaine. (Message from Baby Sheary! He picked it up without hesitation. The sharp,manding look on his face melted in an instant upon reading the text. Even the tension in the room seemed to lift with it. Joshua: [What would you like to eat, love?] Shermaine replied with a list of dishes she was craving. Joshua: [Got it.] She stared at his reply, puzzled as she thought, ¡®Got it? What did he mean by that? It¡¯s not like I can have it now! Joshua: [What are you up to right now?] Shermaine might have been craving his cooking, but Joshua was craving her¨Cto hold her close as they slept, to kiss her, to share all the intimate moments only lovers do. But they were both swamped with work. Shermaine was neck¨Cdeep inb work, and he had a business trip to Neclen first thing tomorrow. After all, with the year¨Cend approaching, operations were bound to be hectic for such arge conglomerate. Shermaine: [The virus in those officers injured by that woman has mutated. Came to collect samples. Now, I¡¯m at a restaurant, and I¡¯ll head back after eating.] The news of the virus mutating was thest thing anyone wanted to hear. With that, their date was postponed once more. AD Comment Send gift Chapter 397 Toozy to type and with her food still not served, Shermaine shot off a video call to Joshua. But the moment his surroundings came into view, she ended the call immediately. The very next second, Joshua called back. He stood up and told everyone. ¡°Let¡¯s take a ten¨Cminute break.¡± Since Shermaine didn¡¯t put her earphones back on, Joshua¡¯s deep, maic voice faintly escaped from her phone¡¯s speaker, Bruce nced up, his expression unreadable, then casually went back to drinking his juice like nothing had happened. ¡°You can finish your meeting first,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°No meeting¡¯s more important than you, Sheary,¡± Joshua said. Shermaine smiled slightly. Outside, a light rain pattered against the windows. The restaurant was a little cold, but with that quiet warmth in her eyes, Shermaine didn¡¯t feel it at all. Ten minutester, the food was finally served, and it was worth the wait. Shermaine hung up the video call and finished her food. Once she was done, she headed back to the city and plunged straight back into herb work. As evening fell, a helicopter soared over the city skyline of Horington. Steve received a call and immediately drove over, where the helicopter¡¯s pilot handed him an exquisitely crafted four¨Ctiered lunch box. He had to admit he was practically green with envy. Steve couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®Seriously, when a filthy¨Crich guy spoils his wife rotten, it¡¯s just unfair to the rest of us¨Che unts his wealth in the most outrageous way imaginable.¡¯ She returned to theb, held the lunchbox out with a dramatic ir, and announced, ¡°Dr. Jean, your gourmet delivery from Basterel has arrived!¡± Shermaine was taken aback. Steve said, ¡°Mr. York had this specially flown in by helicopter from Basterel just for you.¡± A quietugh escaped Shermaine as a smile slowly spread across her face. She thought, ¡®Did Joshua really have this specially delivered just because I casually mentioned that I crave his cooking?¡® She opened the lunchbox, and a wave of savory steam drifted up from the still¨Cpiping¨Chot food and soup. One sip of the broth, and her smile deepened- it was unmistakably Joshua¡¯s cooking. That vor had his signature all over it. Steve, lucky enough to share the meal, was practically moved to tears. ¡°This is insane. Who is this chef? Everything tastes amazing.¡± Shermaine replied casually, ¡°My man made it.¡± Steve fell silent. The way long¨Cdistance couples flex their love was unbelievable to him. Three dayster, Shermaine¡¯s serum was finally ready. The ordinary infected patients¨Cmost of whom had been terminally ill and tricked into bing test subjects¡ªbegan to recover once they were treated. But even with their conditions stabilized, they didn¡¯t have long to live. Meanwhile, those running the operation behind the scenes had already been arrested. Unless something dramatic changed, they were looking at life in prison or the death penalty. But for patients with mutated strains, the serum was useless. Worse, it triggered severe side effects. They would get waves of unbearable pain that until the serum¡¯s effects wore off. Even the test mice in theb couldn¡¯t make it. Just then, Shermaine got a call from General Hospital. To be exact, it was a call from Jameson¡¯s attending doctor. Thanks to the medicine Shermaine had prescribed earlier, Jameson¡¯s condition had improved enough for him to undergo heart surgery finally. 17:25 Tue, 1 Jul ? U ¡°Dr. dean, will you be performing the surgery yourself?¡± the doctor asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Shermaine replied. ¡°Have you set the time?¡± ¡°When are you avable?¡± asked the doctor. Shermaine replied, ¡°Tomorrow works for me.¡± Jameson was over the moon when he heard Shermaine would be the one in charge of his surgery. With her in charge, the fear of dying no longer weighed so heavily on his mind. Later that night, a new headline quietly crept into the trending topics. [Horington Dumping Ground Dismemberment Case) Netizens flooded thement section quickly. [A dismemberment case? How many died? One or three?] [I saw the photos and videos from the crime scene. Seriously, I nearly puked my guts out. It¡¯s absolutely horrifying and gory.) If you¡¯re thinking of watching the footage or looking at the photos, don¡¯t. It¡¯ll haunt your dreams. I¡¯m seriously regretting it.] [The killer is brutal. I hope the police catch them soon.] [What¡¯s going on in Horingtontely? The whole city¡¯s on edge.] In the reeking sewer beneath General Hospital, Natalie crept through the filth, staying hidden aftermitting another murder. She was after the nurse- the one who had lured her into that cursedb. Natalie thought bitterly, ¡®It¡¯s all her fault. She¡¯s the reason I became¡­ this. And Jameson, that heartless bastard, treated me so cruelly. I¡¯ll make sure he dies too. Early the next morning, Shermaine arrived at the hospital an hour early for her pre¨Cop preparations. The corridors were unusually quiet, with only the janitorial staff going about their cleaning routines. Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed from one of the upper floors. At that exact moment, Shermaine¡¯s phone red with an urgent alert. [Target spotted. Target spotted.] 2/2 AD Comment When Shermaine arrived at the floor where the screams hade from, she was hit by the overwhelming stench of blood. The only thing she saw was a nurse¨Cher face wed beyond recognition, with a gaping bite wound at her neck. Blood sprayed in rhythmic bursts from the gaping injury. Shermaine immediately knelt down to check for signs of life, but it was toote. The nurse was already dead. Her phone was still ring with the alert from GPS. She nced at the screen, and the system had just updated the target¡¯s location. The infected woman was now in the adjacent inpatient building, moving steadily upstairs. Shermaine didn¡¯t know who the next victim might be. As other medical staff rushed to the scene, Shermaine sprinted toward the inpatient ward. Meanwhile, in the inpatient ward, Jameson was finally starting to feel better, and his appetite had returned. But with surgerying up, he wasn¡¯t allowed to eat anything and could only sip some water. Bored, he sat in front of the TV, watching the morning news. He was already thinking about what came next. ¡®After this surgery is done, I should head back to Basterel. I¡¯ve got to patch things up with Shermaine and the rest. ¡®As for Jason, I¡¯m done with that ungrateful brat. How dare he call the cops on me? What does Natalie¡¯s disappearance have anything to do with me? What could I possibly do to her when I¡¯m this sick?¡® The more Jameson dwelled on it, the more furious he became. Just as he lifted his ss of water, a stomach¨Cturning stench hit him. He nced toward the door¨Cand nearly went into cardiac arrest. There, half¨Chidden in the corner, stood a shadowy figure. Her long, w¨Clike nails glistened with fresh blood which was pattering softly onto the floor. Jameson choked with fear, his voice quivering. ¡°Wh¨Cwho¡­ who are you?¡± ? ? ? ? ¡°Jameson, if I can¡¯t live in peace, neither will you!¡± she snarled. Her voice was rasping and rough, yet it stabbed his eardrums like ss splinters. With that, Natalie cracked her neck and lunged at him at a terrifying speed. When Shermaine arrived, Jameson was cowering under the bed in terror, while Natalie, with her messy hair, relentlessly pursued him. Natalie wrenched the hospital bed clean off the ground and hurled it aside with terrifying strength, leaving him with nowhere left to hide. Jameson was shaking uncontrobly..¡°I¨CI¡¯ve never wronged you. Please leave me alone!¡± Spotting Shermaine, he screamed desperately, ¡°Sheary, quickly save me!¡± At the sight of Shermaine, Natalie¡¯s hatred red into something far stronger than what she felt for Jameson. She thought bitterly, ¡®If it weren¡¯t for Shermaine, I wouldn¡¯t be in this mess.¡® With a guttural roar, Natalie shifted her target and lunged straight at Shermaine. Shermaine mmed the door in Natalie¡¯s face hard, trapping her hand between the hinges and causing her to let out a raw, animalistic scream. The mutated virus may have made her stronger, but it also heightened her sensitivity to pain. And right now, the pain was excruciating. ¡®My hand hurts like hell!¡® Natalie thought and flew into a rage. With one furious punch, she smashed the door to splinters. With bloodshot eyes, she shrieked madly, ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± But killing Shermaine required more than just shouting. Even though she seemed a lot more formidable now, she was all brute force and no skill. Hence, she couldn¡¯t even graze the hem of Shermaine¡¯s clothes, let alone get anywhere near her. 17:26 Tue (60%¾€ Shermaine, by contrast, stood perfectly still. Her gaze was intense and piercing¨Clike a predator watching its prey make a fatal mistake. With every passing second, the feeling that she was the prey only grew stronger for Natalie. At that moment, a middle¨Caged woman stepped out of a nearby ward¨Cand froze in horror at the sight unfolding before her. Natalie, already agitated, was enraged by the unexpected presence. Sheshed out, throwing her ws toward the woman. ¡°Get down! Don¡¯t let her touch you!¡± Shermaine shouted. The woman dropped to the floor, mmed the door shut with a bang, and hastily locked it. After that, she gasped internally, her legs turning to jelly, Holy shit. That scared the hell out of me. Please stay away from me. Meanwhile, Shermaine swiftly grabbed a fire hose from the cab beside the hallway, looped it into a noose, flung it over Natalie, tightened it, and with a sharp tug, yanked her to the other side. Just then, Steve burst out of the elevator with some items in his hands and tossed it toward Shermaine. ¡°Dr. Jean, here¡¯s tranquilizer. This stuff can put down an elephant. And here, your gloves.¡± Shermaine caught it with perfect precision, slipped on the white gloves without missing a beat, and walked toward Natalie,pletely unfazed. Natalie panicked. She bolted for the window, leapt through it, and in the blink of an eye vanished down a sewer entrance. Once again, she was gone without a trace. Chapter 399 Shermaine had never looked into the infected woman¡¯s identity before, but today, she seemed oddly familiar. She ran the woman¡¯s identity through GPS. Just as she had suspected, this woman was none other than the missing Natalie. 60% Looking at where she ran off to today, it made perfect sense why GPS hadn¡¯t been able to track her for so long. She¡¯d been hiding out in the sewers all this time. The murdered nurse¡¯s body was now in the hospital morgue. Shermaine urged the staff to handle it quickly to prevent any possible viralplications. ¡°Steve, go buy me a few drones,¡± Shermaine instructed. ¡°Roger that,¡± Steve replied cheerfully. Jameson was still visibly shaken and hadn¡¯t quite recovered from the morning¡¯s events. But an hourter, he was wheeled into the operating room. Meanwhile, Shermaine remainedposed and calm, like nothing had even happened. Watching her, he couldn¡¯t deny it anymore. He thought, ¡®My daughter is stronger than I ever gave her credit for.¡¯ Jason, on the other hand, knew his father was undergoing surgery that day, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to care. In his mind, the only person who had ever truly loved him was Natalie. He thought, ¡°She¡¯s my mother. I¡¯m all she has. For Jameson, even without me, he still has Shermaine and Ross.¡® But the longer he went without hearing from Natalie, the more that unease gnawed at him. Something just didn¡¯t sit right with him, and he had a feeling something was about to happen. Meanwhile, Joshua got a call from Steve. ¡°Mr. York, are you still sending dinner to Dr. Jean tonight?¡± ¡°I am,¡± Joshua said. ¡°Then, could you bring a drone along as well? Dr. Jean needs it.¡± Steve started chattering away about everything that happened at the hospital that day. Listening to Steve¡¯s ount, Joshua¨Cwho hadn¡¯t smoked in ages¨Cpulled open a drawer and took out a pack of cigarettes. Soon, a glowing ember burned between his fingers while his gaze turned stone¨Ccold, betraying none of his emotion. Steve eximed, ¡°That woman jumped from the eighth floor and walked away without a scratch. Honestly, only Dr. Jean could handle that without even batting an eyelid.¡± Joshua was silent the entire time, but he was actually worried sick about Shermaine. He exhaled a slow stream of smoke and asked, ¡°What¡¯s she doing now?¡± ¡°Dr. Jean is in the operating room performing a heart transnt for Jameson,¡± Steve replied. Joshua instructed, ¡°Notify me as soon as she¡¯s done.¡± ¡°Will do,¡± Steve said. As soon as the call ended, Joshua summoned Bradley. ¡°Purchase some drones,¡± he instructed, then added, ¡°Reschedule my afternoon and evening appointments. I¡¯m going to Horington.¡± Bradley had expected this. He knew his boss couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it right away.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Joshua said. 17.26 Tue, Joshua took a couple puffs before stubbing out his cigarette, then typed into the family group chat. [I¡¯m heading to Horington this afternoon Grandma, Mom, anything you want me to bring for Sheary?) Danielle was the first to see Joshua¡¯s message. After she and Ross reconciled, Janice had added her to the family group chat. Danielle replied: [Perfect timing. I was just thinking of visiting Sheary too, Count me in. Other than my morning appointments, I don¡¯t have any work arranged forter.] Ross chimed in: [Count me in] Janice: [Count me in Ruth: [Count me in.] Joshua chuckled at their unanimous response. He thought, ¡®Alright then. Let¡¯s all go together. Private jet it is.] Ross asked Danielle: [You¡¯re done with work?] Danielle: [Yup.] Ross: [Come by my office. Let¡¯s grab lunch together.] Danielle: [Sure thing.] Danielle returned to her office, took off her white coat, slipped into a id zer, and drove over to Jean Group. She¡¯d been here before, so when the receptionist spotted her, the receptionist greeted warmly, ¡°Dr. Shelly, are you here for Mr. Jean?¡± Danielle nodded. ¡°You look stunning today, Dr. Shelly,¡± the receptionist said. Danielle smiled. ¡°You all look wonderful as well.¡± Today, Danielle wore a soft apricot knit dress. After she touched up her lipstick, her usual cold demeanor instantly softened. She took the executive elevator straight to the 30th floor. Ross¡® assistant greeted her. ¡°Mr. Jean is still in a meeting, Dr. Shelly/ Please have a seat and wait for a moment.¡± Danielle went straight to Ross¡® office to wait for him. Shortly after, someone brought in refreshments and coffee. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said. ¡°Enjoy, Dr. Shelly,¡± the staff member replied politely. The clouds parted, letting soft sunlight stream through the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows. Danielley asleep on the sofa with a throw nket draped over her. When Ross returned, his gaze immediatelynded on her graceful, alluring figure stretched out on the sofa. He tiptoed over to her, but he was unable to resist the pull she had on him. Before he knew it, he was leaning down, drawn irresistibly toward her soft, inviting lips. 2/2 AD Comment Send gift Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Pinterest Telegram Breathless, Danielle opened her eyes and smiled as she circled her arms around Ross¡® neck, kissing him back. Her hand slid down to Ross¡® waist, giving him a yful squeeze through his crisp dress shirt. Ross deepened the kiss, pinning down her wandering hand. ¡°Behave,¡± he murmured. ¡°You¡¯re my boyfriend. I get to touch you whenever I want to. Got a problem with that?¡± she teased, tilting Ross¡® chin yfully. Danielle adored seeing Ross disoriented with desire because of her. She leaned in, nipped yfully at his lips, her fingers hooking onto his belt. She cooed, ¡°Ross, are you going to stop me?¡± His breath grew heavier. ¡°If this gets out of hand¡­ are you gonna take responsibility for it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take all the responsibility you want me to,¡± she murmured, stealing another kiss while her hands continued their bold exploration. Danielle thought, ¡°We¡¯re in his office. With his character, he¡¯d never take things too far here. Besides, it¡¯s broad daylight. Even if I get him all worked up, he¡¯ll just have to restrain himself, right?¡® Emboldened by this thought, Danielle got hooked on teasing him. She kept calling his name in that sweet, honeyed voice of hers, which would melt even the sternest heart. But the next thing she knew, Ross swept her up off the couch and strode toward his private lounge. Heid her on the bed, pinned her beneath him and locked their lips together. Unlike the tender, lingering kiss from earlier, this one burned with raw passion. It was fiery, intense, and utterly unrestrained. This wasn¡¯t what she had in mind. She didn¡¯t think Ross would actually go for it. Her knit dress had already ridden up her thighs. His gaze burned into her, so intense it made her limbs. Danielle gave him a yful nudge with her foot and teased, ¡°Ross, aren¡¯t we supposed to go out for lunch soon? Are you sure this is the right time for this?¡± Ross¡® voice came out hoarse. ¡°No. Definitely not.¡± But- The curtains remained drawn, casting the lounge in dim light. Danielle clutched Ross¡® shirt, her face burning with shyness as she let out a soft, pleading whimper in her sweet voice. Danielley limp against him, her cheeks flushed a soft rose as her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Biting her lip, she whispered, ¡°Ross, how¡¯d you get so bad?¡± Ross chuckled, reaching for a tissue to casually wipe his hands. ¡°Dr. Shelly, you¡¯re seriously good at flipping the script.¡± Danielle pouted yfully and gave a little huff. ¡°You¡¯ve be such a naughty boy.¡± He grinned, slipping an arm around her waist and pulling her into hisp. ¡°Actually, I was thinking about being worse.¡± Danielle was speechless, her cheeks burning. Back in the executive office, the assistants had all returned from their lunch break, chattering away. They were all sure that Ross had slipped out for a lunch date with Danielle. ¡°Oh my goodness. Don¡¯t you think Mr. Jean and Dr. Shelly are such a perfect match?¡± 1/3 60% ¡°Totally: Just like Mr. York and Ms. Jean, they¡¯re the ultimate couple goals.¡± streamy love story between the socialites straight out of a drama indeed.¡± They were totally obsessed with Ross and Danielle being together. At around 3PM, Ross calmly escorted Danielle out of the building like nothing had happened. The assistants all stared, exchanging nces thick with gossip. Danielle, however, made a mental vow to never step into Jean Group again. Ross may look like a gentleman, but deep down, he was pure trouble through and through. Meanwhile, Joshua returned to Riverswood Vi. The moment he stepped inside, he saw Stephen sitting on the couch, munching on¨Cof all things¨Cfried chicken. Honestly, Stephen never expected Joshua to return at this hour. He froze mid¨Cbite, blinking in surprise at the incriminating evidence¨Cthe fried chicken spread across the table like a damning exhibit in his own personal courtroom. Joshua remained expressionless. Lately, he¡¯d been staying at Riverswood Vi, but for some inexplicable reason, Stephen had stubbornly insisted on staying with him. So, for the past while, Stephen had been living there with him. Stephen had no choice but to put on a brave front. ¡°Since you¡¯re back, do you want to join me for some?¡± He thought to himself, a little yfully, ¡®This fried chicken is seriously good.¡® Now, Joshua finally understood why Stephen had packed on so much weight in such a short time. It turned out that behind everyone¡¯s back, he¡¯d been stuffing himself with all this junk food. In Joshua¡¯s mind, Stephen would never be caught dead eating this kind of junk food. ¡°No,¡± he replied curtly. ¡°I¡¯m sick of being vegetarian. Just wanted a change.¡± Stephen was really making up excuses for himself now. Joshua gave a faint, humorless smile. ¡°Suit yourself. Just make sure you clean up properly when you¡¯re done.¡± Stephen promised, ¡°I will.¡± With that, Joshua headed to the kitchen. Meanwhile, Stephen was breaking out in a cold sweat. He panicked internally. ¡°Goodness. I almost choked to death. But the food¡¯s just too good. I couldn¡¯t help myself. Ugh. ¡®Thank goodness Joshua didn¡¯t say anything. He probably didn¡¯t notice anything, right? Please, I hope he doesn¡¯t get suspicious. Otherwise, I won¡¯t be able to stay here. After all, my job is to stop those people from taking him away.¡® Joshua went upstairs to change, then came back down to make dinner. Since Janice and the others were all going to Horington to meet Shermaine, they agreed to gather at the airport at 5 PM. Once Joshua finished preparing dinner, he got ready to head out. Stephen looked up and asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡± Joshua replied, ¡°Horington¡± Without missing a beat, Stephen said, ¡°I¡¯ming with you.¡± Joshua paused for a moment before saying, ¡°Suit yourself.¡± 2/3 Nurse walking 401-450 Chapter 401 At 6 PM, their ne touched down in Horington. After finishing the surgery on Jameson around 3 PM, Shermaine went straight back to the hotel to rest. Her schedule in Horington was always packed. She spent nearly every waking hour immersed in theb. That was why, after performing just one surgery, she was already exhausted. Shermaine was half¨Casleep when the doorbell rang, jolting her awake. Thinking it was Steve, she moment she opened the door, a bouquet of baby¡¯s breath was presented before her. on a jacket and went to answer the door. But the She blinked, momentarily stunned, then a smile began to curve at her lips. Standing at the door was Joshua along with her family, and they were here to visit her. Shermaine took the flowers, her eyes sparkling. ¡°What are you all doing here?¡± Speaking for everyone, Joshua said, ¡°We¡¯ve all missed you so much.¡± It had been two weeks since theyst saw each other. With them being in different cities, video calls were no substitute for each other¡¯s presence. The calls only made the longing worse, like trying to scratch an itch through a boot. Once inside, everyone settled into the room. Janice immediately pulled Shermaine in for a good look, her concern written all over her face. ¡°Sheary, have you been working too hard? You look like you¡¯ve lost weight.¡± ¡°Yes, she¡¯s lost weight,¡± Ruth agreed. Ross gently reminded, ¡°Make sure you¡¯re getting enough rest, and don¡¯t stay in theb till toote.¡± Surrounded by their care, Shermaine felt nothing but warmth. She didn¡¯t mind the fussing¨Cif anything, it feltforting. Truth be told, she really hadn¡¯t had much time to rest these past few days. ¡°I¡¯ve already submitted my transfer request to the hospital. Once it¡¯s approved, I¡¯lle over to help Sheary,¡± Danielle said after taking a sip of coffee. Shermaine arched a brow. ¡°That¡¯s great. With your help, we¡¯ll be much more efficient.¡± She paused, then teased, ¡°But can you really bear to leave my brother?¡± They just reconciled, so of course they were attached at the hip. During their hospital stay, the air had been thick with pink bubbles. The nurses had a st watching their romance unfold in real life. Danielle¡¯s cheeks flushed. Just thinking about what Ross had done to her in the lounge earlier made her heart race with embarrassment. She cleared her throat and tried to y it cool. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I be able to? It¡¯s not like he¡¯s going anywhere.¡± Ross, on the other hand, definitely didn¡¯t want her leaving. After all, they¡¯d only just started exploring the deeper sides of intimacy¨Cstopping just shy of the final step. Still, with his sister needing help, he was more than willing to support Danielle¡¯s decision to transfer here. ¡°With Danielle by Sheary¡¯s side, they¡¯ll definitely wrap things up quickly and be back home in no time,¡± Ross said with a smile. ¡°Besides, the New Year¡¯s only two months away.¡± Stephen, meanwhile, remained silent. He wasn¡¯t there to make small talk with Shermaine¡¯s family¡ªhe was simply sticking close to Joshua. They didn¡¯t share anymon topics, and frankly, the less he said, the less chance he had of blowing his cover. Still, it was obvious to everyone that something about him was off. While the others were chatting merrily, Joshua quietly boiled water and brewed coffee. After serving everyone a cup, he finally took his seat right beside Shermaine. Joshua slipped his arm around Shermaine¡¯s waist, drawing her closer. Shermaine leaned in, her voice soft and teasing as she whispered in his ear, ¡°s what delicious treats did you bring me?¡± 12:00 Wed, 2 Jul i G Lowering his head, Joshua murmured softly, ¡°I made the desserts you love.¡± At the mention of desserts, a smile appeared on Shermaine¡¯s lips. ¡°So, when are you all heading back?¡± ¡°Tomorrow morning,¡± Joshua replied softly. There were plenty of rooms at the hotel, so staying the night was no big deal for them. 66%1 That was exactly what Joshua had in mind. He affectionately tousled Shermaine¡¯s hair and said with a gentle smile, ¡°Get changed. I¡¯m taking you out for dinner.¡± Shermaine smiled and nodded, ¡°Sounds good.¡± Just a short walk from the hotel was a restaurant that specialized in beef stew. The moment Stephen stepped inside, the rich aroma hit him, making his mouth water. He thought to himself, ¡®This stew is going to be amazing.¡® They picked to dine in a private room. Throughout the meal, Joshua doted on Shermaine, making sure she was well taken care of. Noticing how attentive he was, Danielle yfully nudged Ross with her foot and cooed, ¡°I want some meatballs.¡± É« AD Comment Send gift No Ads Chapter 402 Ross called the waiter over and ordered a te of meatballs. ¡°Here are the meatballs,¡± the waiter said. ¡°Thanks,¡± Ross replied. Ross picked a meatball up, dipped it in sauce, blew on it a couple of times to cool it down before he finally held it up to Danielle¡¯s mouth. ¡°Here, have a bite.¡± Danielle had gotten used to being pampered like this. She opened her mouth out of habit¨Cand only after biting down did she realize they weren¡¯t alone. During the night, the dinner was filled withughter and warmth. Meanwhile, deep in the city¡¯s sewer system, Natalie had no idea where she was anymore. Her wounds had mostly healed, but a ravenous hunger wed at her sanity, urging her to feed now. A rat scurried past her. She lunged, caught it, and without a second thought, shoved it into her mouth. She swallowed it whole¨Cbut the moment it slid down her throat, nausea roiled in her gut. Gagging, she shoved her fingers down her throat, desperate to w it back out. She wondered in despair, ¡®What¡¯s the difference between me and a beast now? Even beasts aren¡¯t this horrifying¡® Hatred twisted through her like a knife. She screamed, raw and shrill, the sound echoing through the damp, ck tunnels. ¡®Why am I the only one who has to suffer? Why am I the only one who became a monster?¡® she cried in her heart. She seethed with malice toward the entire world, a dark aura of hostility radiating from her every pore. Tonight, everyone had a hearty beef stew, and it was 10 PM when they finally returned to the hotel. Just then, a car pulled up outside the hotel. With the window open, Bruce rested his hand on the frame, a cigarette between his fingers. He held his phone to his ear, but the call just wouldn¡¯t connect. The driver nced back. It was rare for him to see his boss this concerned for a woman. However, he thought, ¡®What a pity, though. Dr. Jean already has a partner, so Mr. Xavier can¡¯t even have any ideas about her.¡® The call still wouldn¡¯t connect, but Bruce showed no intention of leaving. He had Steve¡¯s number and was just about to dial it when a car pulled up in front of the hotel. Shermaine stepped out of the car, followed closely by Joshua. Then, her family followed. The night breeze picked up. Joshua buttoned up her coat for her, a subtle, restrained smile ying on his lips. Then, he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to the center of her brow. But someone just had to ruin the moment. Stephen rubbed his belly and let out a satisfied burp. Stuffed, he thought, ¡®The beef stew was amazing. I could go for more.¡® Then, he even smacked his lips. He thought to himself, ¡®Once we¡¯re back in Bastere, I¡¯ll sneak out for beef stew alone. I absolutely can¡¯t let anyone catch me.¡¯ Hearing the burp, Shermaine looked at him with amusement. ¡°Dad really enjoyed the meal, huh?¡± Joshua said nothing, his face impassive. Stephen coughed awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯ve always had a good appetite,¡± he said defensively, his eyes darting away sheepishly. ¡°I¡¯m tired, and I think I¡¯ll turn in for the night. Good night, everyone.¡± 1/2 With that, he slipped away. ¡°Ever since Stephen came back, he¡¯s felt a little¡­ off,¡± Janicemented, watching him go. ¡°Though I must say, he¡¯s gotten more cheerful and animated.¡± Shermaine smiled without saying a word. Joshua lowered his gaze slightly and thought wryly, ¡®Of course he¡¯s different. They¡¯re not even the same person. I¡¯m just waiting for the right time to rip off that mask of his.¡® Not far away, Bruce witnessed the scene but knew better than approaching them. Without hesitation, he ordered, ¡°Let¡¯s go. Head back.¡± ¡°Got it, Mr. Xavier,¡± his driver said. Back in the hotel room, Shermaine was already tinkering with the drone. She needed to modify it before sending it down into the sewers. Otherwise, it¡¯d short out for sure. While tinkering with the drone, she nibbled on the desserts Joshua had brought her. Joshua moved straight into Shermaine¡¯s room. Fresh out of the shower, droplets of water still clung to his damp hair. His robe hung loosely, revealing a glimpse of his chest. He walked up behind Shermaine, wrapped his arms around her, and murmured, ¡°How much longer until you¡¯re done?¡± ¡°About half an hour,¡± Shermaine replied. Joshua then got up to dry his hair. After half an hour, Shermaine was still tinkering away with the drone. Joshua chuckled, scooped her up in his arms, and said, ¡°Go shower. I¡¯ll take over.¡± Caught off guard, Shermaine instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist. She¡¯d already finished upgrading the system and setting up the program; all that was left was for her to reassemble the parts. Leaning down, she pressed a kiss to Joshua¡¯s lips. ¡°I¡¯ll leave the rest to you, Mr. York.¡± ¡°Anything for you,¡± Joshua replied. Joshua carried her into the bathroom, murmuring, ¡°Want a bath?¡± ¡°It¡¯s toote for that,¡± she said, shaking her head. Joshua nuzzled against her, stealing a few more kisses. He murmured, your pajamas.¡± ? No Ads Chapter 403 Joshua was unusually sweet tonight. Shermaine touched her lips and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly to herself. Twenty minutester, she stepped out of the shower, and Joshua had already assembled that drone. So, all they had to do now was call it a night. Only a single night light remained on in the room. Shermaine hopped onto the bed and rolled right into Joshua¡¯s arms, curling up like a contented little kitten. Joshua murmured, ¡°Sweet dreams, Sheary.¡± ¡°Good night, Mr. York,¡± Shermaine whispered. Snuggled in his embrace, Shermaine closed her eyes and soon drifted off to sleep. Soon, the quiet room was filled only with their soft, even breathing. The next morning, Shermaine woke up feeling exceptionally refreshed. Rolling over, she straddled his waist and yfully tugged at the sash of his robe. With a single pull, it came undone. Joshua didn¡¯t stop her. Instead, he steadied her waist with a chuckle and teased, ¡°Feeling passionate today, Sheary?¡± ¡°Passionate? I could never outdo you, Mr. York,¡± Shermaine teased yfully. That made Joshua gulp. Smiling, he pressed a gentle kiss to the back of her hand. They woke at 6 AM, but stayed in bed until well past 8 AM. After another quick shower and a change of clothes, Shermaine grabbed the drone, went downstairs, pried open a manhole cover, and carefully lowered the drone into the sewer. She deployed five drones into the sewer. The easy part was done, but the real challenge remained. They couldn¡¯t rx until Natalie was found. With someone like Natalie, there was no telling what she might do¨Csomething extreme wasn¡¯t just possible, it was inevitable. In fact, Bruce had already sent search teams into the sewersst night. Yet, after searching all night, they still hadn¡¯t found any trace of Natalie. Just as expected, several patients¨Call employees at a 24¨Chour KFC+were admitted into General Hospitalter that morning. All of them imed they¡¯d been attacked the night before by a filthy, reeking vagrant. By morning, something felt seriously off. After the doctors finished examining them, the patients were immediately rushed to the istion ward. And all throughout the day, more and more patients poured in. At 9 AM, Joshua and the rest returned to Basterel. After seeing them off, Shermaine headed straight back to theb to continue her research on the virus strains extracted from the police officers. Joshua went straight to work, while Stephen returned to Riverswood Vi. The moment he stepped inside, he felt that something was off¨Chis home had been burrized. Sensing movement upstairs, Stephen rushed up and quickly found the intruder in the study. It was a woman d in a ck catsuit and mask. The room was a wreck¨Cdrawers were overturned, and papers scattered everywhere. Clearly, she was looking for something. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve breaking into my house,¡± Stephen shouted, striking a defensive pose. ¡°Let¡¯s see how you like getting caught-¡± But before he could do anything, a wave of dizziness hit him, making his legs wobble unsteadily. Stephen thought, ¡®Huh? What¡¯s happening? Why am I suddenly so dizzy?¡® The next second, his body gave out, and he copsed to the floor with a thud 1/3 1201 Wed, 2 Jul o ENG The woman let out a scoff. After tearing the ce apart and finding nothing, she pulled out her phone and snapped, ¡°There¡¯s nothing here. I looked everywhere.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Search again, and properly this time,¡± the person on the line demanded. ¡°The cops are here,¡± she hissed. ¡°Fine. Get out of there now,¡± the other party ordered. Meanwhile, Joshua, having turned back halfway, arrived just in time to see both police cars and an ambnce parked out front. Stephen had passed out. Joshua asked, ¡°How is he doing?¡± The nurse replied, ¡°Has your father been eating too many sweets and fried foodstely? With blood pressure this high, no wonder he fainted.¡± Joshua was rendered speechless. Soon after, Bradley arrived to report what he¡¯d learned from the police. ¡°Nothing seems to be missing, but Mrs. York¡¯s belongings were clearly targeted. Some of her personal items were even deliberately destroyed.¡± Clearly, the intruder was after Shermaine¨Cand whatever it was she had, they wanted it badly. Joshua¡¯s eyes dimmed, glinting with suppressed fury. ¡°Check the nearby surveince footage and find the intruder now.¡± ¡°Should we inform Mrs. York about this?¡± Bradley asked. ¡°I¡¯ll tell her myselfter,¡± Joshua said. ¡°Understood,¡± Bradley said. After Stephen was carried away by the ambnce, a wisp of blue mist drifted out of the house. Seeing Joshua about to follow the ambnce, it slipped into the next¨Cdoor neighbor¡¯s cat. The little cat let out a strange mewl and darted out. An hourter, Stephen regained consciousness, but he looked bewildered. He pushed himself up in the hospital bed, frowning as he muttered, ¡°How did i end up in the hospital?¡± Joshua was outside the room on the phone with Owen when he heard movement inside. ¡°He¡¯s awake. I¡¯ll go check on him.¡± Stephen got out of bed. The moment he saw Joshua, he froze momentarily, looking stunned and uncertain. He hesitated before asking, ¡°You¡­ are Joshua?¡± Joshua looked at him calmly and said, ¡®Yes.¡® Stephen muttered in confusion, ¡°Wait¡­ I was just at the research institute. How did end up in the hospital?¡± Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his head. Joshua¡¯s eyes dimmed slightly. Without offering an exnation, he simply said, ¡°You¡¯re still weak. Focus on resting for now.¡± In a shadowed corner of the room, the white cat sat quietly, licking its paw with apparent nonchnce. It let out a nervous meow, thinking, ¡®Oh no. I¡¯ve blown my cover. Joshua must have noticed something is off!¡® As the sky darkened, Bruce stood watch at the entrance to the sewer. Momentster, several men were carried out from the sewer. They were the search team he had sent. They encountered Natalie and was viciously mauled by her. One of them suffered particrly horrific injuries, where a huge chunk of his flesh was torn clean from his arm by her teeth. He was barely clinging to life when they carried him out. Upon hearing the news, Shermaine rushed out of the , insisting on performing the surgery 2/3 1401 wed, z Jul herself. Two of the drones she ced into the sewers were also destroyed. Late at night, by the reservoir, Natalie emerged from the shadows, a twisted, feral grin spreading across her face. With one sharp flick of her w¨Clike nails, she shed open her finger. With that, thick, dark blood oozed out, drop by drop, sinking into the still reservoir water. If she had to be a monster, then the whole city could join her. She wanted everyone to turn into monsters and fall into the abyss together with her C Chapter 404 Shermaine stepped out of theb close to 10 PM. By the time she returned to her hotel room, a video call from Joshua was already ringing. She grabbed the bottled water from the table, poured it into the kettle to boil it, then turned on herptop. ¡°I heard Dad was hospitalized for hypertension?¡± Joshua hummed in response, but he seemed to have mixed feelings about it. Shermaine noticed and asked, ¡°What¡¯s with that look?¡± ¡°He woke up only topletely forget about going home,¡± Joshua said. Hearing this, Shermaine raised an eyebrow, lost in thought. Ever since Stephen¡¯s return, Joshua had sensed something was off about him. Shermaine herself shared the same concern, worried that something bad might happen to him. But their investigation didn¡¯t turn up anything suspicious, so they decided not to tip off the suspect. But after spending some time with him, Stephen didn¡¯t seem to harbor any ill intentions toward them. At times, his forced acting was so bad it was downrightical. ¡°Could he be faking it?¡± Shermaine asked. Joshua shook his head. ¡°No, that¡¯s not it,¡± he replied, then briefly exined the situation. No matter how many years had passed, Joshua would still recognize his own father. There was no way he could ever mistake someone else for him. Shermaine listened, finding it rather unbelievable. ¡°Maybe Dad has schizophrenia,¡± she suggested. With two personalities, he¡¯d naturally be like twopletely different people, which would exin why he had been giving off such an eerie vibe before. Yet, Shermaine wasn¡¯t buying her own exnation. Of course, just because she was a doctor didn¡¯t mean she was an expert in every field, and psychiatry wasn¡¯t exactly her specialty. Besides, even a psychiatrist wouldn¡¯t be able to diagnose schizophrenia at first nce without directly observing both the primary and ser personalities. ¡°I¡¯ve called in a psychiatric specialist,¡± Joshua said. The kettle whistled as the water reached a boil, and Shermaine poured herself a cup. Joshua called, ¡°Sheary.¡± Shermaine replied, ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Since you know about Dad fainting,¡± Joshua said slowly, ¡°you must know someone broke into our house too.¡± Jary ¡°I do.¡± With the security system at Riverswood Vi, someone managing to bypass it meant they were not a random burr. ¡°What¡¯s the story?¡± ¡°The intruder was Kylie,¡± Joshua said gravely. That afternoon, Bradley reviewed the nearby surveince footage and identified Kylie from footage from a convenience store. She hadn¡¯t tried to hide her face. It was almost as if she wanted to be seen and to dere that she was back. Of course, Joshua found such behavior utterly unnecessary. He thought, ¡®If she really wanted revenge, she should¡¯ve kept a low profile. I crushed her once, and doing it again would be effortless.¡® Her rapid recovery didn¡¯t surprise him either. After all, Madeline had undergone a brain transnt and assumed a new identity through a cloned body. So if that same organization was behind Kylie¡¯s 1/2 12:01 Wed, 2 Jul Gi survival, it made perfect sense that she came back from the dead. Clearly, Kylie¡¯s first move upon returning was targeting Shermaine. She was most likely acting on orders from the mysterious organization that had rescued her. Surprised, Shermaine thought, ¡®Kylie? I get why my man¡¯s looking so grim now.¡® ¡°Sheary, think carefully. When you were overseas, did you evere into contact with any shady organizations? And do you possess something they might want?¡± Joshua asked. ¡°Let me think,¡± Shermaine said as she rifled through her memories. After a brief pause, she replied, ¡°No.¡± During her time abroad, she operated under the name Dr. Jean. Whether it was the underworld or official circles, everyone treated her with utmost respect. If anything, they all just wanted to curry favor with her in hopes she¡¯d save their lives someday. ¡®Besides GPS, what else could they possibly want from me?¡® Shermaine thought. Then, it hit her. She narrowed her eyes and said, ¡°The crystal sarcophagus. ¡°Last year, when it was stolen, there was a group I couldn¡¯t identify. Maybe it¡¯s rted to them,¡± Shermaine said, finding this possibility quite likely. After all, while the crystal sarcophagus was taken away, all those precious books from the tomb had been removed by Bianca and delivered straight to her. ¡®Maybe that¡¯s what they were really after¨Csomething hidden in those books. Trust me to figure it out,¡® Shermaine thought. Then, she smirked. ¡°The books are with me now, so they¡¯re mine. If they want them, sneaky tactics just won¡¯t do.¡± Without needing to say a word, both already knew what their next move would be. Honestly, Shermaine was curious why they had stolen the crystal sarcophagus in the first ce. Until now, they had no leads. But Kylie¡¯s reappearance changed the game. If they followed this thread, they might finally trace it back to whoever¡¯s pulling the strings. Just then, one of the three remaining drones captured Natalie¡¯s movements; she appeared to be near the reservoir. Almost instantly, Shermaine realized exactly why Natalie headed there. Her blood had contaminated the water source. A Chapter 405 Shermaine immediately called Nelson Connor, the person in charge at Horington¡¯s CDC, then dialed Bruce without skipping a beat. At this moment, the drone hovered overhead and soon spotted Natalie fleeing the scene at top speed. Shermaine smirked, thinking, ¡®She thinks she can just run after pulling a stunt like that? Not a chance.¡® The water tainted with Natalie¡¯s blood must be contained immediately. Shermaine¡¯s fingers flew across her keyboard. In just five minutes, she hacked into Horington¡¯s water supply system and shut down the reservoir, cutting off the flow of contaminated water. Still, even a few minutes at night¨Cright during peak usage¨Cmeant thousands had already used the water. About 40 minutester, a helicopter swept across the sky. With her heightened senses, Natalie could hear multiple teams closing in from every direction. Sure enough, beams of shlights cut through the night, closing in fast on her. The blinding white light forced her to squeeze her eyes shut. Ever since she turned into this monstrosity, she hated the daylight. So, she was now extremely irritable and short¨Ctempered. She would pounce on anyone who got close. However, this time, the task force came fully equipped. Bruce took the tranquilizer gun from an officer, peered through his night¨Cvision goggles, and fired -quick and precise. Secondster, a was thrown over Natalie, pinning her down for good. That night, most of Horington was left without running water. Just as the citizens began to wonder what was going on, a citywide red alert sted across Horington¡¯s entirework, with urgent notices warning everyone not to drink tap water. The alerts hit phones instantly, lighting up every screen with the same grim message. Those who had already drunk the water were thrown into a panic due to their concerns about water contamination. They were terrified of getting sick. Soon after, hospitals across Horington were packed to the brim with panicked patients. By midnight, the first wave of symptoms emerged¨Cdizziness and lightheadedness, which soon escted into raging fevers. The quarantine center at General Hospital was already filling up fast, and they were running out of beds to amodate the increasing number of patients. Shermaine had seen iting. She knew that even if the hospital cleared out every ward, it still wouldn¡¯t be enough to handle what was co ..g Realizing the urgency of Shermaine¡¯s situation, Joshua called Bradley. ¡°Book every hotel within walking distance of the hospital. Also, get in touch with thergest security firm in Basterel and deploy all avable guards to maintain order on site.¡± But even that was nowhere near enough. That night, Shermaine didn¡¯t get a wink of sleep. It wasn¡¯t until morning that she finally returned to the hotel to rest. After barely getting two hours of sleep, she headed to theb. By then, Natalie had regained consciousness in theb¡¯s quarantine cell. The moment she saw Shermaine, she began frantically mming herself against the door like a madwoman. Natalie was patient zero. The virus strain in her body was bound to be different. But frankly, Shermaine couldn¡¯t stand the sight of her. ¡®She dug her own grave and dragged tens of thousands down with her,¡® Shermaine thought. Shermaine cracked her neck to loosen up, then stripped off her PPE. With only her mask on, she walked straight into the cell. She wouldn¡¯t feel right until she gave Natalie a good beating. The moment Natalie saw Shermaine enter the cell, sheshed out with her sharp nails, but before she could even get close to Shermaine, Shermaine kicked her hard, sending her sprawling back. Shermaine red at her. ¡°You sure know how to screw things up for me. But if you think this is how you take others down with you, think again. I won 66% let it happen. I¡¯ll save everyst one of them.¡± ¡°You will?¡± Natalie sneered viciously as she let out a grotesque grin. Then, she burst into maniacalughter. ¡°Shermaine, do you really think you¡¯re some kind of savior? That you can just snap your fingers and save everyone?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Shermaine said tersely. ¡°But if I decide to save them, I will. As for you, you¡¯ll pay for what you¡¯ve done.¡± Natalie had meant to mock her, but for some reason, Shermaine¡¯s calm, steadyposure unnerved her. There wasn¡¯t even a hint of panic in Shermaine¡¯s expression. And that made Natalie think, just for a moment, maybe Shermaine really could fix this. But she was sure of one thing¨Cwhatever Shermaine was going to do, it wouldn¡¯t include saving her. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t be like this!¡± Natalie shrieked. She¡¯dpletely lost it. Wild with rage, she lunged at Shermaine again. However, Shermaine mmed her back down without hesitation. Outside the cell, Steve watched through the window and cheered with glee every time Shermainended a hit. ¡°That¡¯s it. Beat her ass!¡± Half an hourter, Shermaine finally felt much better and emerged from the cell. With media exposure of the water contamination in Horington, the crisis could no longer be hidden from the public. As more locals started showing symptoms, the inte went into meltdown. [Man, this is getting scary. What the hell contaminated the water supply?] [The medical staff must be having the toughest time. I heard the hospitals are so full they can¡¯t take any more patients.] [Actually, I work in a hotel. I can tell y I you that our entire hotel has been booked to serve as a quarantine center. Many patients are being isted in cur rooms, and they all look really miserable. There are about five guards stationed on every floor too.] Soon after, the infamous Immortality Project was exposed by the media, sending the citizens of Horington into a frenzy. The news horrified them, and everyone was worried they¡¯d turn into zombies. A few malicious trolls deliberately fanned the mes, pushing Horington into a state of full¨Cblown hysteria, and many fled the city for safety reasons. It wasn¡¯t until the city government stepped up to shut down the rumors that things finally began to settle down a little. Meanwhile, back in Basterel, Danielle¡¯s request to be dispatched to Horington had just been approved by the director. She was set to board une medical supply flight early the next morning. The evening breeze was calm and quiet. It was Ross¡® first time visiting Danielle¡¯s apartment, and he found the ce to have an elegant, vintage charm. She wore a fitted dress, her hair loosely pinned up with a clip, framing her soft features. ¡°Have a seat. I haven¡¯t finished packing yet,¡± Danielle said, handing Ross a ss of water. ¡°We¡¯ll go out for dinner once I¡¯m done.¡± With that, she gently tilted his chin up and pressed a soft kiss on his lips. The situation in Horington had grown increasingly serious. Although containment measures were in ce, official reports indicated that nearly 10,000 people had already contracted the infection in a short/period. ¡°Once you get there, make sure you and Sheary stay safe, okay? If anything happens, promise me you¡¯ll let me know right away,¡± Ross reminded her with concern. ¡°As you wish, Ross.¡± Danielle¡¯s eyes curved into crescents as her fingertips traced his features. ¡°Who knows how long I¡¯ll be gone this time. While I¡¯m away, don¡¯t you dare let any other girls get close to you.¡± Ross smiled and kissed her back. ¡°So you admit you¡¯re my little minx now?¡± Danielle blushed, her cheeks turning a rosy pink. ? She thought, ¡®It¡¯s all Ross¡® fault. That time in his office, he kept whispering in my ear, calling me his little minx and teasing me, saying that I would¡¯ve stolen his soul awaypletely if I was a demon.¡® Outwardly, Ross was always the refined gentleman. But behind closed doors, he was anything but¨Csmooth¨Ctalking and utterly shameless. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t try to change the subject,¡± Danielle pouted. ¡°Anything else?¡± Ross replied yfully. D¨¢nielle said yfully, ¡°Miss me.¡± ¡°Mm¨Chmm,¡± Ross murmured. They hadn¡¯t even said goodbye yet, but Ross was already missing her. Danielle perched sideways on hisp, crumpling his shirt with her fingers. In a soft murmur, she said, ¡°Stay here tonight.¡± Ross¡® gaze turned intense, but he remained silent. That made Danielle pout. ¡°Did you hear me, Ross?¡± Ross heard her loud and clear. But if he stayed, he knew full well she wouldn¡¯t be getting on that flight tomorrow morning¨Cnot with the way he¡¯d keep her up all night. Comment Chapter 406 After some thought, Ross answered reluctantly. ¡°Next time.¡± Danielle blinked in disbelief, thinking, ¡®Did I not make myself obvious enough? He¡¯s actually turning me down? What about my pride?¡® She bit her lip and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you sure about that, Ross?¡± Ross nodded, dead serious. Annoyed, Danielle slid off hisp with a shrug. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll go finish packing.¡± Her sweet scent lingered as she walked away, and even as it faded, Ross still felt it tugging at something inside him. 66% Half an hourter, they headed out for dinner. The restaurant was a beautifully restored historic fine dining spot, open only to guests with reservations. Ross had booked a ce here that morning. Their private room was softly lit by vintage amber lighting, with a faint hint of rose in the air. It was quiet, romantic, and warm. ¡°Try the soup here. It¡¯s really good,¡± Ross said,dling a bowl and cing it gently in front of Danielle. She picked up the spoon without a word, then sipped the soup slowly with her head hung low. Ross ced a piece of the ribeye steak he had cut into her te and asked, ¡°Are you mad?¡± Danielle looked up. Her lips, plump and glossy from the hot soup, curved into a smile. ¡°Why would I be mad at you, Ross? You¡¯re so thoughtful, so I should be thanking you.¡± Ross blinked. That¡­ sounded like forgiveness, but something still felt off. Just then, the waiter arrived with the next round of dishes. Under the table, Danielle¡¯s foot brushed up against Ross¡® calf. When he realized what she was doing, he stiffened. In response, she slipped off her heels, her toes painted a seductive red, gliding boldly up his thigh, clearly heading somewhere dangerous. Ross instinctively reached under the table, catching her ankle with a firm grip. ¡°Don¡¯t mess around here.¡± The waiter paused, ncing over. Ross didn¡¯t so much as flinch. After all, withpany present, he couldn¡¯t say anything more. Danielle rested her chin on her hand, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she asked innocently, ¡°What did I do?¡± Ross didn¡¯t respond. Sensing the mood, the waiter tactfully turned and left their private room. With that, Danielle followed up with a prim, perfectly timed line. ¡°My shoe fell by your foot, Ross.¡± Ross nced down. Sure enough, her custom¨Cmade Chanel heel was beside his foot. So, he picked it up and slid it back onto her foot. But the moment he did, his gaze fell on her legs, which were exposed beneath the table. Her dress had a high slit that climbed up her thigh, revealing glimpses of her smooth skin. Danielle continued to tease, ¡°My legs are sore, Ross. Give them a massage, will you?¡± ¡°Danielle,¡± Ross warned, his voice turning hoarse. ¡°Hurry up,¡± she said innocently. Ross gulped. As a pampered heir, he¡¯d never waited on anyone like this before¨Cbut for Danielle, he didn¡¯t mind one bit. Of course, he knew the whole ¡°sore legs¡± excuse was pure nonsense. And yet, be found himself indulging her anyway. Soon, hisrge, warm palm kneaded her calf gently. ¡°Harder.¡± Danielle pouted. Ross obliged, pressing a little firmer, and in response, Danielle let out a soft, drawn¨Cout hum. ¡°A little higher.¡± Once he moved his hands higher, she purred, ¡°Mmm, right there. Ross, you¡¯re so good with your hands.¡± If someone heard her without seeing what was happening, they¡¯d definitely be picturing something else entirely. After a few minutes, Ross asked, ¡°Is that enough?¡± Danielle finally pulled her leg back and gave him a sweet, ¡°Thank you.¡± Ross grabbed a warm towel to wipe his hands. The temperature in the private dining room was just right, yet he still found himself undoing the top button of his cor. But even as he did, the soft, warm feel of her legs lingered stubbornly in his palm. Danielle noticed that, and her smile grew wider. AD Chapter 407 After dinner, Danielle was finally content. After leaving the restaurant, the two headed straight to the cinema. Danielle had bought the movie tickets in advance. Ross wasn¡¯t a regr at movie theaters, and the moment he saw the fully reclining seats, he seriously considered turning right back around. Danielle was already lying on her side in her seat, propping her head up with one hand in the dim theater lighting. ¡°Why are you still standing there? The movie¡¯s about to start.¡± Finally, Ross walked over and sat beside her. Without missing a beat, Danielle took his hand, pulled him close, and their breaths mingled in the dark. She leaned over and kissed him lightly. ¡°If you sit up straight, you block the screen for the people behind us.¡± An attendant arrived just in time with a nket for them. The ads rolled by on the big screen, and the movie soon began. Ross had no choice but to lie back, and as soon as he did, Danielle clung to him. She snuggled up against him, draping one arm around his waist and tossing a leg over his. Undoubtedly, this was pure torture for him. His mind was anything but calm at this moment. Soon enough, he felt hisposure slipping away, his mind sinking deeper into turmoil. He had absolutely no idea what the movie was about¨Chis mind waspletely elsewhere. Then, Danielle¡¯s leg shifted again, this time brushing deliberately where it shouldn¡¯t. She quickly pulled away and whispered with a guilty little smile, ¡°Oops, sorry. The movie¡¯s just really funny. I got a little carried away.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Ross responded tersely, but in his head, he thought, ¡®As if I¡¯d believe that.¡¯ Danielle lowered her gaze, a teasing smile forming on her lips as she thought, ¡®As expected, Ross can stay calm in any situation. ¡®But hmph. He was the one begging to stay over in my hospital ward. I can¡¯t believe he actually turned me down tonight.¡® Danielle nibbled at her lower lip yfully before pressing herself even closer against him. Throughout the entire movie, Ross maintained a poker face. When they left, his face still remained an impassive mask. Even the people passing by seemed a little intimidated by his cold de Danielle, on the other hand, was unfazed. She reached for his hand with a grin. ¡°Come on. Take me home,¡± She had deliberately chosen the cinema nearest to her apartment, which was only a 15¨Cminute drive away. Ross, in his ck Maserati, pulled into the parking lot of the luxury apartmentplex. Then, he escorted Danielle upstairs. After they stepped out of the elevator, Danielle stood by her door and entered the passcode. The door clicked open, and Ross said gently, ¡°I won¡¯te in. Get some rest early, okay?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She didn¡¯t try to stop him. Instead, she tilted her face up and tapped a finger on her lips. ¡°Goodnight kiss?¡± Ross paused briefly, then leaned in for what was meant to be just a fleeting kiss. But just as he was about to pull away, Danielle wrapped her arms around his neck, nipped at his lips yfully, and parted her lips invitingly, drawing him deeper into the kiss. He kissed her back instinctively. That one teasing spark ignited a wildfire. His arms wrapped around her, his breath quickened, and the kiss grew urgent. The door mmed shut behind them. In the dark, he held her close, breathing hard as they stumbled toward the bedroom. Moonlight spilled through the window. Danielle, now on the bed, pushed him back with a wicked glint in her eyes. ¡°Ross, didn¡¯t you say you weren¡¯t staying tonight?¡± 1201 vyeu, z Jul Ross slid his hand around her waist and teased, ¡°Why do you think I¡¯m staying, Dr. Shelly? Don¡¯t y dumb. Come on, Put your legs up here Danielle obeyed with a yful smile. The night stretched on, cloaked in a haze of slow¨Cburning heat and indulgence. Just as she¡¯d intended, Danielle hai. sessfully seduced the ever¨Cgentle and poised Ross. The next morning, as soon as the rm went off, Danielle struggled to drag herself out of bed. The dress she worest night was beyond salvage¨Cher haute couture dress, worth over 30 thousand dors, was now ruined, all thanks to Ross. Wincing slightly, Danielle supported her sore waist as she finished washing up, then prepared to head to the airport. She was sore all over, but Ross lookedpletely unfazed, fresh as a daisy and full of energy. He looked at her with a knowing smile. ¡°Still feel like ying this kind of game next time?¡± Danielle¡¯s cheeks flushed as she gave Ross a yful, teasing look. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I? But who knows when the next time will be. Don¡¯t miss me too much, Ross.¡± AD Comment Chapter 408 Ross chuckled under his breath. Somehow, no matter how quick he was withebacks, he always lost to Danielle. And of course, he would miss her. The morning sky had cleared up after a night of drizzle. Blue stretched endlessly overhead as fiery red maple leaves crunched beneath the car tires. He¡¯d personally driven Danielle to the airport and watched her board the ne. Once the ne slowly flew into the sky and disappeared from view, Ross finally left the airport. On the way, he decided to ask Joshua out for lunch. ¡°The Blues Jetroinian Restaurant at 12 PM.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Joshua replied. At the time, he was just outside a hospital room. As the call ended, the psychiatrist, Kairo Fox, emerged from inside. Kairo said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk in my office.¡± Inside the office, Kairo handed Joshua a report. ¡°Mr. York, your father¡¯s mental state is stable, and his psychological evaluation came back healthy. There¡¯s no indication of schizophrenia in these results as well.¡± Joshua gave the report a quick nce and nodded. ¡°If you¡¯re still concerned, we can keep him under observation a few more days,¡± Kairo offered. ¡°No need for that,¡± Joshua replied calmly. ¡°I¡¯ve confirmed it myself that there¡¯s nothing wrong with him.¡± Just to be safe, Joshua had already consulted with a few other scientists from the research institute. ording to them, Stephen had never shown any signs of mental illness during his time there. He¡¯d always been sharp, except for that one odd day when he left the institute acting strangely. ¡°All right then,¡± Kairo said. Soon after, Joshua proceeded with the discharge paperwork for Stephen. Stephen had been eager to leave the hospital for some time. The only reason he¡¯d been kept in was because his blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar levels were all elevated. But today, everything was finally back to normal. What puzzled him most was how he even developed those issues in the first ce, as he¡¯d always been healthy. Stranger still, he had no memory of heading home that day. Joshua didn¡¯t tell him the full story, and Stephen didn¡¯t press. Whatever it was, something about it didn¡¯t add up. As they stepped out of the hospital, a cat suddenly appeared at Stephen¡¯s feet. It rubbed against his pants and meowed softly. The white cat was a little dirty, but still looked adorably soft. It wasn¡¯t the first time this cat had shown up. Stephen had seen it wandering near his room for days, and he had even fed it a couple of times. Stephen wasn¡¯t fond of furry pets, but this one seemed special. He said, ¡°Find someone kind to take this cat in.¡± ¡®Huh? But I want to go home with you,¡® the cat thought, and so, it protested by meowing louder, which meant to say, ¡®No! Take me with you.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want to leave?¡± Stephen asked. The cat meowed in agreement. Joshua looked down at the cat, which tried to rub against his leg but had missed entirely. It flopped to the ground with a dramatic squeak. ¡°Meow!¡± It even looked slightly upset now. Stephen nced at the little thing and then asked after some thought, ¡°Does your wife like animals?¡± ¡°She¡¯s okay with them,¡± Joshua replied. TZUI Veu, z ¡°Then take it home,¡± Stephen suggested. ¡°It¡¯s a cute cat. Have someone from the pet store clean it up. Once your wife gets back, you can give it to her The cat agreed with Stephen. ¡°Meow, meow.¡± Joshua stayed quiet for a moment but eventually agreed. He told the driver to bring the cat along, and they stopped by a pet shop on the way home. There, the cat got a full grooming session¨Cbath, nail trim, the works. Joshua also picked up cat food, a bed, and other essentials before returning to Riverswood Vi. Stephen took a separate car back to York residence. When he was reminded that he¡¯d previously stayed at Joshua¡¯s ce, his expression subtly changed before he quickly brushed it off and firmly refused to return home with Joshua. Truth be told, Joshua was starting to think this cat didn¡¯t look like a stray at all. After the bath, the little thing was chubby, clean underneath the dirt, and clearly well cared for. It was probably just lost. Back at Riverswood Vi, the cat jumped out of the car and trotted confidently into the house like it already owned the ce. Martha asked, ¡°Mr. York, the cat?¡± ¡°Picked it up somewhere,¡± he replied. ¡°It¡¯s adorable.¡± Martha tilted her head and frowned slightly. ¡°Strangely, it looks kind of familiar.¡± The cat hopped onto the sofa, stretched out with a yawn, then started licking its paws. It was sleepy and wanted to take a nap. Within just over an hour, Danielle had already arrived at theb and reunited with Shermaine. Even though she hadn¡¯t been physically presenttely, Shermaine always forwarded her thetest data reports, so Danielle was well up to speed on their progress.. This afternoon, they would produce a new batch of serum and test it on Natalie. Chapter 409 After arriving, Danielle sent Ross a quick message to let him know she¡¯dnded safely. Ross: [You and Sheary need to take good care of yourselves. Joshua and I are having lunch now.] Danielle nced at Shermaine, who was beside her and smiled yfully. ¡°Your brother and your man are out having lunch together.¡± Shermainezily yawned before chuckling, ¡°That¡¯s good. At least they have each other forpany.¡± Danielle sat down next to Shermaine. ¡°You¡¯ve gotpany too.¡± Shermaine handed her the room key card and said, ¡°Alright, go get some rest first so you¡¯ll have the energy to help me this evening.¡± Her suite had two bedrooms¨Cher own and a guest room¨Cso Danielle didn¡¯t need to book another room. Of course, even without a guest room, Danielle would have just crashed at Shermaine¡¯s ce anyway. After all, nothing was better than winding down after a long day with a hot bath and some gossip with her best friend. ¡°I¡¯m totally fine,¡± Danielle insisted. Shermaine shot her a sideways nce. ¡°You really think that¡¯s convincing? But anyway, I¡¯m d that you and my brother are doing well.¡± Danielle¡¯s cheeks flushed red, and when she realized Shermaine had caught up to her walk of shame, she dropped the act. Rubbing her waist, she muttered, ¡°Your brother¡¯spletely obsessed with me right now.¡± ¡°I can tell,¡± Shermaine teased. ¡°Looks like you two had quite a workoutst night.¡± That only made Danielle blush even more. After teasing her soon¨Cto¨Cbe sister¨Cinw, Shermaine turned her gaze back to theputer. With GPS¡® tracking system in ce, Kylie had nowhere left to run. However, since checking into a hotel, Kylie rarely ventured out during the day. Most of the time, she only appeared at night to hunt for prey. To avoid tipping Kylie off, Shermaine refrained from hacking into her devices. She was waiting for those people to contact Kylie again. At this hour, The Blues Jetroinian Restaurant was quiet. Besides their table, only two or three others were upied¨Call by businesspeople conversing in hushed tones, creating a tranquil atmosphere. Still, it was hard not to attract attention. Thanks to their looks, Ross and Joshua drew frequent nces from the surrounding tables. Soon enough, a pretty woman approached their table, clearly aiming for Joshua. She bit her lip, hesitant but hopeful, her eyes locked on him as she edged closer, probably wanting to ask for his number./ Before the woman could even speak, Joshua casually picked up the water on the table, making sure the tinum wedding band on his ring finger was visible. The moment she saw it, she froze and soon awkwardly veered away, pretending she¡¯d only been heading to the restroom. Ross let out a softugh. He was used to this by now. Whenever they went out together, Joshua was always the center of attention¨Cthe most sought- after guy in the group. Perhaps Joshua had the kind of vibe that ignited a woman¡¯s desire to conquer him. Even with his sses on, it could not dull his allure as a mature man who radiated both elegance and edge. They seemed destined for solitude, yet here they were, consumed by love, lost in the throes of passion beyond all self¨Ccontrol. 12:02 Wed, 2 Jul Go The waiter brought over the menu. Joshua said. ¡°Your call.¡± Without hesitation, Ross summoned the waiter and began cing their order. Just then, the windchime above the entrance rang out again, indicating that new guests had arrived. The new guest was a strikingly tall woman, standing nearly 5¡¯7¡°, with light gray eyes and sharp, sculpted features. Her fiery red hair was impossible to miss. It was vivid, mboyant, andmanding. A lean man in a tailored suit followed her side, his features foreign, though it was hard to pin down to any specific country. What caught the other diners off guard wasn¡¯t just their striking looks, but how naturally they spoke the localnguage. They picked a table close to Ross and Joshua. After sitting down, the woman ran her fingers through her hair and smoothed her dress, every gesture exuding effortless grace and refined elegance. ¡°Your Highness¨CJudy, that¡¯s the royal blood we¡¯ve been searching for,¡± the man, Harry, whispered, his voice tinged with awe. ¡°I¡¯m well aware,¡± Judy said. Her gaze slowly settled on Joshua with quiet intensity as she sized him up. ¡°His genes are even superior to Xabier¡¯s. He¡¯s got purer royal blood too,¡± Harry added with implication in his words. Of course, Judy knew that all too well. But Joshua was no puppet. He wasn¡¯t someone who would just bend to their will. As she studied him, she couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®He really is perfect. Harry added, ¡°If the royal family hadn¡¯t fallen, their heir would¡¯ve been your betrothed, Your Highness.¡± AD Chapter 410 Harry thought, ¡®If the royal family had never declined, they would still maintain a marriage alliance with Judy. ¡®Moreover, Joshua possesses such superior genes. If Her Highness wishes to produce the most perfect heir, he would be the ideal choice. However, this man already has a wife in this world, so his body and soul are no longer pure. He is utterly unworthy of Her Highness and could never be Her Highness¡® consort.¡¯ Harry suggested, ¡°Your Highness, I suggest we utilize Joshua. Even if we activate the mecha, Apocalypse, we may not be able to control it. But with him, the sess rate jumps to 80%.¡± The first step for them was to find Apocalypse¡¯s operation manual. After all, there were specific control the kingdom would no longer be a dream. Judy kept her gaze fixed unabashedly on Joshua the whole time, yet from start to finish, he never once cast a nce her way. Judy wasn¡¯t bothered at all. She kept watching him, plotting her schemes. What Joshua thought was irrelevant to her. After scanning the menu, Ross looked up to find the stunning foreign woman who¡¯d just walked in staring at his brother¨Cinw. He thought, ¡®What a nuisance. Should¡¯ve booked a private room. This guy¡¯s always attracting attention.¡® But there was something different about this woman¨Cher stare carried a predatory sharpness, almost like a hawk zeroing in on prey. ¡°You know her?¡± Ross asked under his breath. Joshua tilted his head slightly, gave her a brief nce, then turned away. ¡°No.¡± At this moment, Judy averted her gaze. ¡°No rush. Let¡¯s observe him a bit longer.¡± The two men made quick work of their meal and left the restaurant within half an hour. They were about to head back to their respectivepanies when Ross received a call from Henry. He turned to Joshua and asked, ¡°Henry invited us to go boxing. Wanna go?¡± Joshua had been swamped with worktely and barely had time to rx. Without hesitation, he nodded. At 2 PM, Danielle returned to theb after a short nap, only to find Shermaine curled up fast asleep on the break room couch. Danielle couldn¡¯t help but let out a soft, amused sigh. ¡°She¡¯s always telling me to rest, but never does it herself.¡± Still, she grabbed a jacket and gently draped it over Shermaine. When Shermaine woke up, it was already 4 PM. She rubbed her temples, a little dazed. The rm hadn¡¯t gone off, and oddly enough, Steve hadn¡¯t to wake her either. Without giving it much thought, Shermaine shrugged off the jacket and got up. Stepping outside, she saw Danielle in discussion with the others. Clearly, the upgraded serum was ready, and testing was about to begin. 12:02 Wed, 2 Jul G ? I Shermaine walked over, her voice sleepy and soft. ¡°Why didn¡¯t anyone wake me up?¡± ¡°Dr. Shelly said she¡¯d handle things here and wanted you to get some more rest, Dr. Jean,¡± Steve replied. Danielle arched an eyebrow yfully. ¡°See? I¡¯m good to you, aren¡¯t I?¡± Shermaine smiled and was about to say something when azy yawn escaped her instead. ¡°Let me take over from here.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re still tired, just sleep a bit longer. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll handle the clinical trial data,¡± Danielle said gently. ¡°You haven¡¯t been sleeping welltely, have you?¡± It was true that she hadn¡¯t had a good sleep in a long time, but getting four or five hours a night wasn¡¯t exactly little either. Lately, she¡¯d been feeling unusually drowsy, though she managed to push through most days. Today, however, she just couldn¡¯t fight it anymore. Sheid down on the couch, nning to nap for half an hour¨Conly to fall into such a deep sleep that she didn¡¯t even realize when she¡¯d drifted off. Shermaine had always been especially fond of sleeping in during autumn. It seemed the only reason she¡¯d held back before was because no one else could handle her workload. Now that Danielle was here and she could finally ease up a little, her body wasted no time giving in. AD Chapter 411 ¡°I¡¯m not sleeping anymore. I¡¯ll have time for thatter,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°I¡¯m starving, and I¡¯ll make some pastas, You gays want tomar ¡°Yeah,¡± Danielle and Steve chorused. She headed back into the break room to cook, leaving everything else to Danielle without a second thought By the time Shermaine brought out the bowl of pasta, she saw Danielle already holding a syringe and injecting the serum straight into Natalie¡¯s arm. Natalie was strapped to the examination table, her limbs thrashing violently. Within minutes of the serum injection, she let out an agonized scream, writhing in pain. Her wide eyes bulged grotesquely as scales sloughed off her body, only to be reced by new ones. A foul, putrid fishy stench filled the air. After a prolonged bout of agony, she finally fell silent, and the abnormal physiological readings on the monitors remained unchanged. In short, the upgraded serum was a bust. After a full¨Cbody disinfection, Danielle changed and came out to find the pasta still steaming hot and perfectly cooked. She picked up her fork, took a bite, and thought they tasted great. Shermaine had cooked arge pot, thinking no one could possibly finish it all. But in the end, she single¨Chandedly emptied the entire pot on her own. ¡°You¡¯ve got quite the appetitetely,¡± Daniellemented. Shermaine nodded. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve been eating a lot.¡± There were plenty of problems to deal with, but she wouldn¡¯t let them ruin her appetite. Danielle poked her waist teasingly. ¡°Then howe you¡¯re not gaining any weight?¡± Shermaine smiled faintly. With Joshua regrly shipping her gourmet meals, not putting on any weight almost felt like letting him down. But the truth was, she did not. ¡°Enough about that. Let¡¯s have a meeting and figure out where things went wrong,¡± Shermaine said. Danielle replied, ¡°Sure.¡± Meanwhile, in Basterel, Joshua and Ross arrived at a private members¨Conly boxing gym. Judy was right on their heels. Seeing the others go in while she and her group were blocked, Judy snapped, ¡°Harry, get us a me Ten minutester, Judy and her group headed inside as well. ip now. Ross hadn¡¯t boxed in ages. After changing into his gear, he vaulted straight into the ring, while Joshua sat ringside, watching him. A decent crowd had gathered, and the air buzzed with anticipation. Henry grinned like a Cheshire cat. ¡°Joshua, wanna bet?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Joshua nodded, thinking, ¡®Gotta show my support for my brother¨Cinw.¡¯ ¡°How much?¡± Henry asked. Joshua took out a card. ¡°Everything that¡¯s in here.¡± Henry grinned. ¡°Deal.¡± After asking Joshua, Henry turned to Roy, who was sitting beside them, engrossed in his phone. ¡°What about you?¡± Roy barely looked up, clearly distracted. He whined, ¡°Hey, Henry. Momo is ignoring me.¡± Henry blinked, thinking to himself, ¡®You love struck idiot.¡® Roy whined dramatically, ¡°I really wanna fly to Ustrana to see her. But she says she¡¯s swamped with work and has no time for me Roy had been itching to hop on a ne for days now. As far as he was concerned, every day without her was torture¨Cit had been more than two weeks, and it felt like ages. Henry nearly pped him. ¡°I invited you out to unwind, and all you can think about is your girlfriend? Seriously?¡± Roy pouted. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t get it. You¡¯ve never had real love.¡± ¡°Scram,¡± Henry snapped, finally losing his cool. ¡°Just ce your damn bet.¡± Roy tossed his card over. ¡°One day you¡¯ll fall hard, and then you¡¯ll know how much it sucks.¡± The guy was basically heartsick at this point. Back at theb, the conference room was filled with experts, each engaged in intense discussion as they tried to troubleshoot the serum failure. Shermaine hadn¡¯t spoken yet, but she was listening closely, carefully absorbing the suggestions being thrown around. Suddenly, her phone buzzed in her pocket, and soon, a robotic voice announced, ¡°System notification. Target activity updated. Immediate review required.¡± Shermaine took out her phone and nced at the alert. Kylie had just left her hotel and was en route to Horington by helicopter. Ever since Kylie had broken into Riverswood Vi, searching for something, and intentionally leaving clues to hint at her return, Shermaine had worked with Joshua to fabricate a trail, making it seem like a few key volumes of the books had been relocated to Horington. Just as predicted, the mysterious organization backing Kylie had taken the bait and put her in motion again. So, they really were after the ancient tomb¡¯s priceless texts, just as Shermaine suspected. And those books had to be tied to the crystal sarcophagus. There were too many books for Shermaine to read them all. She¡¯d asked Joshua to help search, but they still hadn¡¯t found what they needed. After the meeting concluded, Danielle took charge of summarizing the key points. Shermaine thought, ¡®I really have the best senior to help me out whenever I need it.¡® Shermaine said, ¡°I¡¯ve got an unexpected visitor iing. I need to get ready. Thanks for handling this, my dear senior.¡± ¡°Go on. I¡¯ve got this,¡± Danielle replied. On the other hand, Kylie arrived at Horington. She was cracking ho stiff neck as a vicious smirk curled on her lips. Kylie vowed in her mind, ¡®Shermaine, just you wait. I¡¯ll make sure you pay double for everything I¡¯ve suffered before.¡± AD Comment Send gift No Ads 12.UZ Wed, 2 our Joshua received the news that Kylie had gone to Horington. Shermaine, not wanting him to stress, had quietly synced his phone with GPS system so he¡¯d always stay informed. S Right now, Kylie was still about 12 to 18 miles from Shermaine and, strangely enough, she hadn¡¯t caused any chaos yet. At the boxing gym, Joshu s eyes were mostly on his phone. Anyone with half a brain could tell who he was texting. Roy nudged Henry with a knowing grin. ¡°See that? That¡¯s the pain of long¨Cdistance love. Look at Joshua. He¡¯s clinging to his phone like a lifeline.¡± Henry gave him a side¨Ceye. ¡°It¡¯s not the same thing. Shermaine¡¯s his wife. Molly¡¯s just¡­ whatever she is to you. It¡¯s not exactlyparable.¡± Roy looked like he might explode. ¡°Henry, you cold¨Cblooded bastard. Do you enjoy stabbing me in the heart?¡± Henry retorted, ¡°Is it my first time doing it?¡± Roy fumed, ¡°Let¡¯s settle this with a fight!¡± Henry cracked his neck with a smirk. ¡°Bring it on. It¡¯s been a while since I knocked some sense into you anyway.¡± Roy shot back, ¡®We¡¯ll see who gets thestugh.¡± The two kept bickering back and forth, while everyone else was having a st watching the drama. As predicted, Ross came out on top. He might look like a refined heir, but in the ring, his punches were brutal and merciless. This sight stunned those who were unfamiliar with Ross. Just as Roy and Henry were bickering about changing clothes to get in the ring themselves, a shy trust¨Cfund kid strolled in with Harry in tow. Someone asked, ¡°Who¡¯s that guy?¡± The trust¨Cfund kid shrugged. ¡°No idea. Seems like a new member. He says he wants to challenge Mr. York.¡± Well, things just got interesting. In their circle,. Joshua was the one guy nobody dared to mess with, but a neer wanted to challenge him. These guys were tough, but not dumb enough to walk into inevitable defeat, knowing they would get beaten to a pulp. They gotta praise the newbie for having balls of steel to challenge Joshua. In an instant, the rich boys lit up, the energy in the room shifting as they egged each other on with growing excitement. Hearing this, Joshua looked up from his phone. He was still on a video call with Shermaine and said curtly, ¡°Turn him down.¡± Shermaine perked up when she heard someone anted to challenge Joshua. Curious, she asked, ¡°Someone wants to challenge you?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Joshua paused briefly. ¡°He¡¯s not worth my time.¡± He wasn¡¯t the type to ept just any challenge, especially not from someone random. Harry, on the other hand, didn¡¯t take rejection well. He frowned and, with his fluent localnguage, asked arrogantly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Joshua? Scared you¡¯ll lose?¡± Even with superior genes, one would not be deemed truly powerful in their world if their physical prowess were not up to standard. Harry prided himself on his exceptional abilities. Back in his kingdom, hemanded an army of over 10 thousand soldiers and had earned Judy¡¯s favor, bing her trusted right¨Chand man. Legend had it that the royal family members were peerless warriors, known not just for their unmatched physical strength but also for their astonishing 12:02 Wea regenerative abilities. These traits had once struck fear into the hearts of other races, securing their ce as the kingdom¡¯s most dominant family But those were just centuries¨Cold legends. Harry was itching to find out if someone with that so called royal blood was all that. However, he couldn¡¯t believe that Joshua rejected his challenge. Moreover, Joshua didn¡¯t spare him a nce. Harry was just about ready to throw a punch and show everyone what he could do. Shermaine, hearing the taunt, pressed her lips together. She didn¡¯t like anyone questioning Joshua, especially not like this. She was fiercely protective of him, and honestly, she wouldn¡¯t mind seeing him throw a few punches. ¡°Go ahead,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°I just want to keep talking to you,¡± Joshua replied without missing a beat. The crowd was stunned. No one would¡¯ve thought that the famously cold and aloof Joshua would be so clingy with his wife. ¡°I want to watch,¡± Shermaine said. Joshua gulped. ¡°For real?¡± Shermaine nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± Joshua finally turned to Harry. ¡°I¡¯ll ept your challenge only because my baby wants to see me in the ring.¡± AD Harry was about to fly into a rage. He thought, ¡®I swear, I¡¯m going to wipe that smug, handsome look off his faceter. Just looking at him pisses me off Still, in their kingdom, men who followed their wives¡® words obediently were the most attractive kind. Harry thought bitterly, ¡®I bet Her Highness would probably like Joshua even more. Hmph. Harry sneered, ¡°You better not let your wife watch. Trust me. You don¡¯t want her to see how pathetic you lookter when you lose.¡± Unfazed by the provocation, Joshua casually tossed his phone to Roy. ¡°Here, hold this.¡± Roy took the phone and beamed at Shermaine. ¡°Hey, Shermaine.¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Shermaine replied. Roy didn¡¯t bother asking Shermaine about Molly. He knew she was already busy dealing with the virus outbreak in Horington. Instead, he checked in with her to see how she was holding up. The crowd erupted in excitement as a new round of bets started pouring in. Joshua headed off to the locker room to change. Right then, Ross, having just finished his match, changed out of his gear a to Roy and chatted casually with Shermaine. Ross asked, ¡°Sheary, are you back at the hotel?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Shermaine replied. ¡°What are you working on right now?¡± ¡°Energy gloves.¡± pped into the seat next Back in his boxing days, Ross had seen people rig gloves to boost their power. But judging by the way Shermaine was modifying hers, it looked like she was taking things to a whole new level. He knew Kylie was back for revenge, and word was there was some shady force behind her. All in all, it left him uneasy. Still, Ross knew what Shermaine was capable of. In the end, he chose to trust that she¡¯d handle it. Shermaine added casually, ¡°Danielle¡¯s still busy working in theb.¡± Ross nodded. ¡°She didn¡¯t sleep wellst night. Tell her to head back to the hotel early tonight and get some rest.¡± Then, he thought, ¡®That little minx knew she was leaving for Horington, yet she kepting onto me. I¡¯m no saint, so of course, I gave in.¡¯ ¡°Got it.¡± Shermaine chuckled, thinking, ¡®My brother¡¯s really getting the hang of this now.¡± Before long, Joshua emerged in his boxing gear. Through the ultra¨CHD camera feed, they watched as he effortlessly vaulted over the ropes into the ring Harry stormed in after him, radiating aggression. With the referee¡¯s signal, the match officially began. Shermaine was multitasking¨Ctinkering with her gear while keeping most of her attention on Jochu in the ring. Harry was aggressive. Shermaine could tell Joshua wasn¡¯t going all out he was just sizing the guy up. ¡°Not bad,¡± Shermaine thought. Still, she couldn¡¯t help but note that some of his moves those sweeps and punches cleaner. Instead, he made them a little too showy for her taste Even I could beat him if I got in the ring. Shermaine thought. Let Alone Joshua¨Che¡¯s always been on a what the 1/2 12:02 Wed, 2 Jul Goti 66% When it came to rawbat ability, she had no doubt Joshua outssed her by miles. Especially when he let his killing intent slip¨Cthat kind of presence only came from someone who had truly seen blood. Harry grew increasingly impatient as Joshua made no move to attack. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Hit me back already!¡± The words had barely left Harry¡¯s mouth when Joshua¡¯s fist connected with his face. It was a solid punch that left him dazed and reeling. The group of scions watching below erupted into apuse. They shouted, ¡°Clean hit!¡± That was Joshua for them, the undisputed king of Basterel¡¯s elites, the one they all respected and looked up to. That punch packed such force that even the onlookers could practically feel its impact. Just watching the fight made them wince in pain, as if the blow hadnded on themselves. Harry shook off the dizziness and clutched his face, rage ring in his eyes. But he couldn¡¯t ignore the pressure rolling off Joshua. It was suffocating, as if he were standing in the path of a storm. That overwhelming presence made his skin crawl, and there was something primal whispering to him, asking him to get on his knees. Joshua didn¡¯t hold back when he fought. In the shadows, Judy watched it all unfold with a glint of excitement in her eyes. She couldn¡¯t help but admit that the more she knew Joshua, the more impressed she was. É« Harry got absolutely wrecked; this was the worst beating he¡¯d ever taken. His face was so swollen that he barely looked human. Right now, he looked more like a punching bag that had lost a fight with a truck. He thought, ¡®As one of the kingdom¡¯s most renowned generals, I would never surrender. Besides, I challenged Joshua first. It¡¯s already embarrassing enough that I lost. How could I let Her Highness look down on me even more?¡® Seeing Harry still refused to concede, Joshua saw no reason to hold back. He¡¯d just beat Harry until he couldn¡¯t get up again. That was his n until Judy stepped up to the edge of the ring and said firmly, ¡°Harry, that¡¯s enough. Admit defeat.¡± Harry stood there, swaying unsteadily, clearly unwilling to give in. Judy barked, ¡°Admit defeat. That¡¯s an order!¡± Harry finally gave in. ¡°I will.¡± With that, he finally stepped down from the ring. Everyone looked around at each other, stunned into silence. They had all noticed this woman the moment she walked in. Sure, a few scions had tried hitting on her, but her cold, regal demeanor sent them all away. Harry stepped down with his head hung low. ¡°Your Highness, I¡¯ve embarrassed you.¡± ¡°Losing to him is no disgrace,¡± Judy replied. The crowd heard every word and exchanged meaningful nces. They wondered, ¡®Did she just openly praise Joshua? What is she getting at? Is she into Mr. York or something? But even if she is, she can¡¯t have him. He¡¯s married, and Shermaine is his precious baby.¡® Ross recognized the woman. Frowning, he murmured, ¡°It¡¯s her again.¡± Shermaine, tinkering with her energy glove, paused and arched a brow. ¡°You know her?¡± Ross started snitching. ¡°When I had lunch with Joshua today, this woman couldn¡¯t stop staring at your husband. And now she¡¯s followed him here to the boxing gym.¡± Shermaine¡¯s gaze shifted back to the video feed and she noticed a womane into view. Seeing the woman¡¯s gaze fixed on her man, Shermaine narrowed her eyes. Harry, still looking deted, murmured, ¡°Understood, Your Highness.¡± Judy tilted her chin up, meeting Joshua¡¯s gaze. ¡°I heard you¡¯re quite the marksman. Care for a duel sometime?¡± Joshua¡¯s expression stayed cold as he hopped down from the boxing ring. ¡°My wife¡¯s shooting skills are just as impressive.¡± ¡°That works too,¡± Judy replied. Joshua just looked at her without saying more. Judy pressed on, ¡°If I beat her, does that mean I get to challenge you?¡± The boxing gym fell silent for three full seconds. Roy stepped forward and said, ¡°Let¡¯s have Joshua¡¯s wife answer that herself.¡± A secondter, Shermaine¡¯s voice rang out through the call. It was casual, cocky, and sharp as a whip. ¡°Sure. Come and try beat me.¡± She wasn¡¯t even around, yet her presence dominated the room. Judy smirked and said, ¡°I will.¡± She was no pushover like Kylie. 12:02 Wed, 2 Jul Gi 66% Joshua was about to say something when Shermaine abruptly ended the video call. He blinked in surprise, then chuckled softly, looking amused. Someone piped up, ¡°Joshua, your wife just hung up on you.¡± Joshua shot back, ¡°I¡¯m not blind.¡± Another chimed in, ¡°You¡¯re so dead!¡± Everyone burst intoughter, clearly enjoying his misfortune. Joshua was unbothered. After his match, he was drenched in sweat, so he headed to the locker room, took a quick shower, changed into fresh clothes, and only then called Shermaine back to do some damage control. Shermaine picked up the call but remained silent. Joshua teased, ¡°Are you jealous?¡± Shermaine nced up. ¡°Why would I be? Did she touch you or something?¡± She huffed, a petnt mooding out of nowhere. ¡°Honestly, just seeing your face is annoying me right now.¡± Joshua was bewildered, but he asked in a more serious tone this time, ¡°Sheary, what did I do to upset you?¡± ¡°Everything about you. Head to toe.¡± It was the first time he¡¯d ever seen Shermaine this irrational¨Cand for once, he had no idea how to fix it. After the words left her mouth, Shermaine realized she¡¯d let her emotions get the better of her. She paused, then murmured softly, ¡°Sorry about that.¡± Joshua¡¯s voice turned gentle. ¡°You don¡¯t need to apologize. I¡¯m not mad, I¡¯m just trying to figure out how to cheer you up so you won¡¯t think I¡¯m annoying.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not annoying,¡± she admitted. The things she said earlier weren¡¯t from the heart. ¡°It was my bad. I snapped for no reason.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, Sheary. You can be as moody as you want,¡± Joshua said tenderly. ¡°I¡¯ll love you no matter what.¡± Soothed by Joshua¡¯s coaxing, her bad mood dissipated quickly. In front of him, she could never be the morous and formidable Shermaine that others saw. Honestly, her earlier irritation was mostly because she knew someone was coveting Joshua while she couldn¡¯t be there. If she had been present, she would have liked to see if the woman had the guts to be so brazen about it. AD Comment Send gift No Ads After calming her down, Joshua finally slipped his phone back into his pocket. When he turned around, he was surprised to find Judy standing nearby with her arms crossed. ¡°Your wife seems to have quite the temper.¡± In the Kingdom of Xyperia, though women hold the highest status in society, they would never lose their temper at their husbands without a good reason. They have always treated their spouses with the utmost respect. So when Judy witnessed Shermaine snapping at Joshua so casually, she couldn¡¯t hide her disapproval. To her, someone of Joshua¡¯s standing shouldn¡¯t have to lower himself like that to pacify a tantrum. It was unbing of a man so revered in Wallington. Joshua, however, found her remarks both presumptuous and irrelevant. The warmth in his voice was gone, reced with a biting chill. ¡°I spoil her because I want to.¡± No matter how bad Shermaine¡¯s mood got, he wouldn¡¯t allow anyone to criticize her¨Cnot even a word. In fact, he found something oddly satisfying about calming her down. It made him feel wanted in a way no one else ever could. ¡°No offense. I was just stating facts,¡± Judy said with a faint smirk. ¡°If my honesty upset you, I might¨Cjust this once¨Coffer you an apology.¡± Judy¡¯s holier¨Cthan¨Cthou attitude when criticizing others was truly an eye¨Copener for Joshua. ¡°Don¡¯t bother.¡± Joshua didn¡¯t even bother to look at her, his eyes glinting with barely restrained fury. ¡°Who the hell do you think you are?¡± Judy was about to say something more, but Joshua¡¯s patience had run out. If she weren¡¯t a woman, he would have had stretcher today. Joshua cut her off and summoned a staff member. ¡°You have five minutes to get them out of here.¡± arried out of here on a The staff was put in a difficult position. After all, everyone here was a member, and there really was no good reason to make an exception for anyone. He had no choice but to call the manager. The manager snapped, ¡°Are you out of your mind? That¡¯s Joshua! Just do whatever he says.¡± ¡°But-¡± the staff member began. ¡°This is Basterel. Who cares if that foreigner is a member? So what if they are? Can they possiblypare to Joshua¡¯s power and influence here? Joshua could easily take the top spot in next year¡¯s top businessman list.¡± After being reprimanded, the staff had no choice but to swallow their frustration and politely but firmly asked Judy to leave. The moment Harry heard that, he exploded because Judy had never been treated like this back in their kingdom. He thought that Joshua clearly didn¡¯t know who he was dealing with. Harry pointed at Joshua and snarled, ¡°Mark my words. You¡¯ll regret crossing Her Highness.¡± Joshua sneered, ¡°Keep pointing and you¡¯ll lose that finger.¡± ¡°You!¡± Harry sputtered, his face flushing with anger. Joshua¡¯s eyes turned cold, and he snapped, ¡°Get lost.¡± The scions watching from the sidelines had never seen Joshua this pissed before. ¡®These two really thought they were something else, one of them thought. ¡®Well, maybe they are, back in their tuff, but this is Basterel. This is Joshua¡¯s domain, They can¡¯t just run their mouths off here.¡± Honestly, Judy didn¡¯t think she¡¯d said anything out of line¡ªshe¡¯d only made one tittle remark about Shermaine. However, that made Joshua act like an overprotective guard dog. As the Crown Princess of the Kingdom of Xyperia, Judy had always been admired and revered¨Cnever once humiliated like this, Furious, she leveled a 12:03 Wed, 2 Jui cold re at Joshua. ¡°You¡¯re being reckless, Joshua.¡± Judy produced her membership card with a sneer. ¡°A boxing club that treats its distinguished guests like this? I won¡¯t being back.¡± 700%B She snapped it in half and flung it to the ground. Fixing Joshua with a cold stare, she added, ¡°Joshua, we¡¯ll meet again. Let¡¯s see if you¡¯ll still have the guts to stand your ground next time.¡± The crowd gasped at her audacity. They all wondered, ¡®Who does she think she is?¡® Even after they left, Joshua¡¯s temper hadn¡¯t cooled in the slightest. ¡°Roy.¡± Roy stepped forward. ¡°Joshua, I¡¯m already looking into the background of that woman and that simp.¡± Around 8 PM, Danielle returned from theb to find Shermaine in the shower. Her eyes immediately fell on a pair of boxing gloves left on the table. They felt unusually light in her hands, and she wondered, ¡®Huh¡­ I wonder what these are made of.¡® Curious, Danielle slipped one on. There was a small button on the glove¨Cshe pressed it, but nothing happened. She gave the glove a couple of experimental swings, identally bumping the corner of the table, and to her shock, the entire table instantly shattered into pieces. Speechless, Danielle thought, ¡®Of course, my junior is into this crazy tech. That table was solid as a rock. One would need something at least 110 pounds to break it.¡® Hearing the noise, Shermaine stepped out of the bathroom. Fresh from her shower, she was dressed in milky¨Cwhite pajamas with her hair still damp and cascading down her back. ¡°Turn it off when you¡¯re done ying.¡± Afraid she might break something else, Danielle quickly turned it off and took it off. ¡°Can this thing even shatter bulletproof ss?¡± ¡°Depends on the thickness of it,¡± Shermaine replied. That meant it could shatter normal ss easily. Danielle thought, ¡®If Kylie really shows up, she¡¯ll get beaten to a pulp and ends up screaming for help.¡® Danielle remembered something. ¡®After Kylie was taken by that mysterious organization, herminuted fractures healedpletely in just days. There¡¯s no way our current medical technology can do that. Either she had a body recement, or she¡¯s undergone some kind of cybeic enhancement. ¡®If their enhancement tech is truly this advanced, just who on earth were these people?¡® Danielle gave her a big thumbs¨Cup. ¡°I bet Molly would love to buy you one of these.¡± ¡°The material¡¯s special and one of a kind,¡± Shermaine stretchedzily and said. ¡°Go take your shower. Steve will bring us dinner any minute now.¡± Danielle nodded. Meanwhile, Roybed through international databases but found no trace of Judy¡¯s and Harry¡¯s identities. Frowning, he reported, ¡°Joshua, it looks like their identity and personal information has been deliberately concealed. Even their immigration records have beenpletely wiped clean.¡± Then, he added, ¡°Those two are definitely suspicious.¡± Joshuamanded, ¡°Put someone on their tail.¡± Steve brought over dinner, and the two of them ate while watching TV. After eating their fill, Shermaine rubbed her full belly and let out a drowsy yawn Danielle cleared the table. ¡°If you¡¯re sleepy, go get some rest.¡± Shermaine said, ¡°Let me just sit for a few minutes.¡± 2/3 12:03 Wed, 2 Jul Gi Danielle quickly cleared the table. ¡°I¡¯m going to video call your brother then.¡± Shermaine had said she¡¯d sit for just a few minutes, but the longer she sat on the sofa, the heavier her eyelids became. Eventually, she gave in and headed to her room, turned off the lights, and copsed into bed. By the time she woke the next morning, sunlight was pouring through the windows. It was a clear, beautiful day. 65% The hotel had a gym, and after a solid workout, thest traces of sleep finally wore off. Shermaine sipped her water as alerts from GPS kept pinging in her ear. ¡°Target is five miles away¡­ Target is three miles away.¡± Kylie was getting closer until she finally arrived near the hotel. Acting as if she had no idea Kylie had arrived, Shermaine finished her session and headed to theb with Danielle. After Shermaine left, Kylie slipped into the hotel and headed straight for Shermaine¡¯s room. With practiced ease, she pulled out a card, tapped it twice, and the door unlocked with a soft click. She wasn¡¯t really looking for the books, but rather, she just wanted to get back at Shermaine. But with her mysterious rescuers watching, she didn¡¯t dare act out and had no choice but to restrain herself. This time, she discovered a suitcase tucked in the corner, packed entirely with books. The moment she found it, she made an immediate call. ¡°The books are here.¡± The person on the other end of the linemanded, ¡°Bring them back.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Kylie replied. But Kylie didn¡¯t leave right away. Instead, she tore through the room, tossing things around and making a mess, then quietly opened the door and hid, lying in wait. Soon after, the housekeeper discovered the mess and immediately reported it to hotel management, who then called Shermaine. ¡°Got it. I¡¯m heading back now to check if anything¡¯s missing,¡± Shermaine replied as she made a U¨Cturn for the hotel. 3/3 Chapter 416 65% Kylie hid in the wardrobe, patient as a hunter lying in wait for her prey. What she didn¡¯t realize was that she was the one being hunted. The hotel manager and staff patiently waited for Shermaine to return, nning to call the police only after she confirmed whether any valuables were missing. Strangely enough, when they checked the surveince footage, hoping to spot the thief, there wasn¡¯t a single trace of anyone suspicious. Clearly, this was the work of a seasoned professional¨Csomeone who knew exactly how to hide from the cameras. Shermaine was back within 15 minutes. +9 She was dressed in an effortless casual style, wearing an oversized, solid pink sweatshirt paired with ck hot pants, ck mid¨Ccalfbat boots, and a beret perched just right. The whole look was sharp and confident, with a hint of cool allure. However, what truly turned heads was her radiantplexion and breathtaking beauty, particrly her long, slender legs. She looked like a masterpiece hand¨Csculpted by the heavens themselves. Shermaine gave the room a quick, casual once¨Cover, then turned to the hotel manager and staff. ¡°Nothing¡¯s missing,¡± The manager thought, ¡®Huh? Nothing at all?¡® Then, just to be sure, he asked again, ¡°Are you sure, Ms. Jean?¡± Shermaine nodded. The manager added, ¡°Even though nothing seems to be missing, I still think we should call the police, just to be safe.¡± ¡°No need for that,¡± Shermaine replied coolly. ¡°This doesn¡¯t concern you, and I have it under control. Just have housekeepinge back to clean in an hour.¡± The manager thought, ¡®This is definitely not a regr theft. Rich people always have some messy business going on. Best we don¡¯t get too involved.¡± Since Shermaine clearly wasn¡¯t budging, the manager could only agree to beef up security on her floor to prevent any further incidents. After seeing the manager and the others out, Shermaine closed the door behind them and deliberately locked it from the inside. After that, Shermaine stretched casually, acting as if she had no idea Kylie was hiding in the wardrobe. She walked into the room, picked up the jacket she¡¯d left out that morning, and made a show of hanging it up in the closet. The wardrobe door swung open, and Kylie immediately made a grab for Shermaine¡¯s throat. But Shermaine simply leaned back, calmly took a step back, then feigned a look of mild surprise. ¡°Kylie? It¡¯s you.¡± For the first time, Shermaine was genuinely impressed with her own acting because Kylie didn¡¯t suspect a thing. In fact, Kylie looked downright smug at Shermaine¡¯s feigned surprise. ¡°Shermaine, you never thought I¡¯de back for revenge, did you?¡± ¡°I totally didn¡¯t expect that.¡± Shermaine paused before adding sarcastically, ¡°Someone who was supposed to be paralyzed is now alive and kicking right in front of me.¡± Of course, Kylie wasn¡¯t about to spill the truth. She let out a sneer, ¡°You don¡¯t need to know. I¡¯ve suffered because of you, and now, it¡¯s your turn.¡± Kylie thought, ¡®I won¡¯t kill Shermaine, but I¡¯ll make her feel what it¡¯s like to be crippled too. If Joshua ever finds out, it¡¯ll break his heart. At that thought, fury zed in her eyes, and her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles cracked. Shermaine just smiled faintly. Kylie frowned. Something about Shermaine¡¯s smile felt off, but she brushed it aside. She thought, I¡¯m a cyborg now. One punch from me, and she¡¯s done for.¡® Shermaine didn¡¯t try to take Kylie head¨Con; instead, she sidestepped. Kylie¡¯s fist smashed into the wall, punching a crater about an inch deep. 12:03 wea, 2 Jui 65% Shermaine arched a brow. ¡°Someone¡¯s gotten stronger.¡± Kylie switched hands and came at her again. Punch after punch, craters bloomed across the wall like a shotgun st¨Cbut not a single hitnded on Shermaine. ¡°If you¡¯ve got the guts, stop dodging!¡± Kylie snapped. ¡°Should I just stand here and let you hit me?¡± Shermaine chuckled knowingly. ¡°Do I look like an idiot to you?¡± 2/2 Chapter 417 Kylie couldn¡¯t believe Shermaine still had the nerve to talk to her in such a casual tone. That attitude just rubbed her the wrong way. ¡°I¡¯m up so badly you¡¯ll forget your own name.¡± gonna beat you ¡®Dream on.¡® Shermaine kept that thought to herself. She still had to maintain her act, and saying that would blow her cover. But in her heart, that was exactly what she believed. As they shed again, Kylie quickly realized Shermaine was beginning to fall behind. That only drove her wilder¨Cshe attacked like a woman possessed, riding the momentum with ruthless ferocity. Shermainended a punch, but it felt like mming into steel, probably due to the titanium alloy bones. She nced at her reddened knuckles. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect that, did you?¡± Kylie sneered with biting sarcasm. ¡°This is all thanks to Joshua¡¯s ¡®generosity.¡± Her body might look human, but inside, she was pure machine. This was a secret no one else knew about her. ¡°Aren¡¯t you quite pleased with it?¡± Shermaine taunted with a smirk. Kylie froze for half a beat, then snapped in rage because it was true. She was stronger than ever, and deep down, she did take pride in her cybeic body. But having someone call it out so bluntly felt like she was being stripped bare. Shermaine smirked. ¡°Perfect timing. I can try out the power of my new boxing gauntlets on you.¡± ¡®Gauntlets?¡® Kylie thought as she frowned. Then, she watched as Shermaine pulled them out and slipped then. wit The gauntlets looked just like winter gloves¨Clightweight and fitting snugly against the skin. Even if she wore them out in public, those gloves wouldn¡¯t draw a second nce¨Cthey looked sleek, minimal, and totally unassuming. Once Shermaine slipped them on, she didn¡¯t appear the least bit threatening. Kylie scoffed. ¡°Petty tricks.¡± But in the very next second, she realized just how wrong she was. Shermaine was already more skilled than Kylie, but with the gauntlets amplifying her strength, every punch carried a terrifying threat. For the first time, Kylie genuinely feared she couldn¡¯t withstand the next blow. With a thunderous crash, the gauntlet¨Cenhanced punch actually sted a hole straight through the entire wall. Kylie¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, thinking, ¡®These hits are stronger than my cybeic limbs. If that punch hadnded on me instead of the wall¨Cwould it have shattered my titanium alloy frame?¡® She didn¡¯t even dare to picture it. Her hatred toward Shermaine surged because thetter came up with such a terrifying item. She wanted to retreat so badly, but pride rooted her in ce. ¡®Damn it, I can¡¯t even achieve my goal.¡® As she was thinking and hesitating on her next move, she got a brutal beating. One of her arms, after catching a direct hit, had gonepletely numb, as if the neural circuits were shorting out. Meanwhile, Shermaine had started enjoying herself, tossing Kylie around like a basketball with zero mercy. Kylie was so furious that she actually coughed up blood. ¡°Shermaine!¡± Kylie ground out between clenched teeth. Shermaine shrugged, mocking, ¡°Let¡¯s see if your rescue team can patch you up after I cripple you a second time.¡± That hit a nerve, and Kylie stiffened. She couldn¡¯t afford to be reckless now. Fortunately, she hade prepared. One tap on her smartwatch, and the hotel¡¯s surveince system went offline. What Shermaine didn¡¯t know was that before she even returned to the room earlier, Kylie had already swapped out the suitcase full of books and stashes 12:03 Wea, z Jul the real one in her car in the underground parking lot. Now with her cover blown, she made a clean exit. Shermaine gave a symbolic chase, then turned back. She was letting Kylie go, hoping that Kylie could lead her to the mastermind controlling her behind the scenes. The suite, meanwhile, was in a state of total ruin. When the hotel manager returned and saw the state of the presidential suite, he nearly cried. Shermaine produced a ck credit card. ¡°Please arrange another room for me. Here¡¯s 300,000 dors to cover the damages.¡± Meanwhile, Kylie finally breathed a sigh of relief as she sped away. She steered with one hand¡ªthe other hung limp,pletely numb from Shermaine¡¯s punch. Just then, her phone rang again. Her contact was calling, pressing impatiently for an update. Kylie mmed her fist against the steering wheel, barely containing her fury. Gritting her teeth, she forced out, ¡°I¡¯m on my way back.¡± When Kylie finally returned to Basterel and handed over the suitcase, Harry opened it, only to find it fully stuffed with BLic books. Harry flipped open one of them, only to be greeted by a full¨Cpage spread of two men kissing. His face contorted with fury as he mmed the suitcase shut and roared, ¡°You wasted all that time over there, and you didn¡¯t even bother to check what the hell was inside?¡± After seeing those books, it suddenly dawned on Kylie that Shermaine had yed her for a fool. ¡®So she knew I wasing to Horington all along. Shermaine was the hunter lying in wait, while I was her prey. Damn it! How dare she y me like a fool?¡® Kylie thought as a wave of fury washed over her. The next instant, red rm lights shed on throughout the entire floor. Shermaine had already hacked into Kylie¡¯s phone. Since it had previously connected to the building¡¯s Wi¨CFi, she piggybacked off it and hijacked the entire system. From her end, Shermaine now controlled the entire surveince grid. But all she caught on camera was a partial view of a woman¡¯s face. One secondter, that section of the building went pitch¨Cck. With that, the surveince feed instantly plunged intoplete darkness. The woman¨Cwhose full face hadn¡¯t been captured¨Chad cut the power. Shermaine had to give it to her that she had fast reflexes. By now, Joshua was already on his way there. After cutting the power, Judymanded, ¡°It¡¯s not safe to stay here. Pack up¨Cwe¡¯re leaving now.¡± As she passed Kylie, she added with a cold sneer, ¡°Can¡¯t you even tell you¡¯re no match for Shermaine? Don¡¯t you have that basic self¨Cawareness?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t the whole point of saving me to take down Shermaine?¡± Kylie countered. Judy sneered mercilessly, ¡°But I never thought you¡¯d be such a conceited fool.¡± Kylie paled, not knowing what else to say. Seeing Judy turn to leave, Kylie panicked and blurted out, ¡°Your Highness, please just give me one more chance!¡± Judy paused and said, ¡°No. Next time, I¡¯ll deal with her personally.¡± Time was running out, and they had to get Apocalypse back to the Kingdom of Xyperia as soon as possible. She warned, ¡°For now, you¡¯d better stay put.¡°/ Kylie lowered her head submissively and said softly, ¡°As you wish, Your Highness. Actually, my left arm isn¡¯t working properly. Could you ask Mr. Harry to take a look at it for me?¡± ¡°Harry, examine her arm,¡± Judy ordered. Harry nodded, but still voiced his concern, ¡°Your Highness, are you certain about choosing that location as our evacuation point?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Judy said. ¡°But it¡¯s really close to Joshua¡¯s ce,¡± Harry added. Judy said decisively, ¡°The safest ce is right under the enemy¡¯s nose.¡± ¡°That makes sense,¡± Harry conceded immediately. Harry, the bootlicker, was instantly convinced, eager to please Judy as always. By the time Joshua arrived, the ce was already empty. The entire building stood eerily quiet, as if no one had ever been here. Standing by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window, Joshua said into his phone, ¡°Sheary, I¡¯m here. Missed them by minutes. They¡¯ve already evacuated.¡± Shermaine wasn¡¯t surprised, ¡°Fine then. Since they want to y this game of cat and mouse, we¡¯ll indulge them a little longer. ¡°Alright,¡± Joshua replied thoughtfully. Shermaine pressed her lips together and added, ¡°I¡¯ll be heading back to Basterel tomorrow.¡± She needed to return and figure out for herself what exactly they were after. ¡°How long will you be home for?¡± Joshua asked. 12:03 Wed, 2 Jul Go ¡°Two, maybe three days. With Danielle holding down the fort here, I can go without worrying much,¡± Shermaine said. Just then, the sound of a cat meowing reached Shermaine¡¯s ears. Puzzled, she asked, ¡°Is that a cat?¡± Joshua turned his head and spotted the driver approaching, holding a fat, white cat in his arms. It was the one his father had asked him to bring back to Riverswood Vi. It snuck into the car after he got in. They didn¡¯t even realize it until the car had already been on the road for a while. He replied gently, ¡°Yeah. I found it at the hospital when my father was hospitalized.¡± Then, with a soft smile, he asked, ¡°Sheary, do you like cats?¡± ¡°They¡¯re alright,¡± Shermaine said casually. He thought, ¡®If she¡¯s okay with it, then we¡¯re keeping it.¡¯ The driver said, ¡°Mr. York, this little thing just wouldn¡¯t take no for an answer. It had toe see you.¡± Apparently, the driver had been sitting in the car enjoying a smoke when the cat wouldn¡¯t stop bothering him. Stubborn and temperamental, it had wed and scratched him every time he tried to make it stay put. So now, the poor driver¡¯s arms were covered in scratches. ¡°Put it down,¡± Joshua said. The driver set the white cat down on the floor. It sauntered over slowly, almost shyly, rubbing up against Joshua¡¯s leg with a meekness it certainly hadn¡¯t shown earlier. The driver couldn¡¯t help but marvel, ¡®This cat is something else. It only bullies the weak like me. But when it sees someone like Mr. York, suddenly it¡¯s all sweet and obedient. The double standard is unreal.¡® Meanwhile, Martha suddenly realized why the cat looked so familiar. That was because it was their next¨Cdoor neighbor¡¯s cat. Apparently, the neighbor had passed out from grief after losing their beloved pet. 2/2 AD Chapter 419 65% Martha wasn¡¯t sure if this was really the neighbor¡¯s cat. After all, cats pretty much look alike, and it could be hard to tell them apart unless they had some distinctive markings. She thought, ¡®Besides, if it really is the neighbor¡¯s cat, should I tell Mr. York about it? But judging from his attitude, it seems like he wanted Mrs. York to keep the cat. What a dilemma.¡® The night passed without any mishap. At sunrise, a helicopternded on the hotel rooftop. It was sent to escort Shermaine back to Basterel. Shermaine didn¡¯t bother packing anything. She just grabbed a small bag and set off for home. Once aboard the helicopter, she closed her eyes, made herselffortable, and drifted off to sleep. An hourter, the helicopternded on the rooftop of York Group. Seeing Shermaine was sound asleep, the pilot couldn¡¯t bring himself to wake her up. Instead, he called Joshua and asked him to get her. Joshua was in a meeting when he received the call. ¡°Meeting paused for twenty minutes,¡± he announced, then immediately headed up to fetch her. Shermaine was covered with a nket, her head slightly tilted as she breathed softly. When Joshua boarded the helicopter and saw her, he nted a tender kiss on her forehead. Then, after carefully unbuckling her seatbelt, he carried her out of the helicopter. Shermaine didn¡¯t stir. Maybe she subconsciously sensed it was him, so instead of waking up, she leaned into his chest, inhaled his familiar scent, and rubbed her cheek softly against him. Joshua carried her into the lounge of his office. As Shermaine sank into the soft bed, her drowsy eyes fluttered open. ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± he asked. Shermaine murmured drowsily, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me up?¡± ¡°I just wanted you to get a little more sleep,¡± Joshua couldn¡¯t resist kissing her again. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard, Sheary.¡± Shermaine¡¯s lips curved into a smile as she tilted her head up to return his kiss. Joshua braced a hand on the edge of the bed, leaning in. Soon, their breaths tangled and melted together, the quiet space filled with only the warmth between them. Back in the meeting room, the executives waited an extra ten minutes before Joshua returned. There was a subtle flush on his lips, and his expression- for once¨Cwas warm and rxed. The meeting stretched on for over an hour before it finally concluded. Afterward, Joshua took Shermaine out for lunch, then they headed back to Riverswood Vi. There, Shermaine finally met the cat. The white cat sat in front of its food bowl, staring at the kibble with visible sorrow, as if too heartbroken to eat. The cat thought to itself. ¡®Ugh, I really can¡¯t stand this stuff. I want fried chicken, fries, burgers, and beef stew. Seriously, humans and cats live such different lives and get different treatments.¡® Seeing Shermaine return, Martha beamed with delight. ¡°Mrs. York, wee back.¡± Shermaine nodded and asked, ¡°Is the cat refusing to eat?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Martha said, looking troubled. ¡°The cat only had a little milk this morning, and it never eats cat food or anything like that.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we cook the cat some fish?¡± Shermaine suggested. ¡°I was just thinking the same thing,¡± Martha replied. 1/2 12.03 wea, 2 Jui 70970 The white cat saw Shermaine and meowed, as if to say hello. Shermaine raised an eyebrow, thinking, ¡®This cat sure makes itself at home, doesn¡¯t it?¡® Joshua took Shermaine¡¯s hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Let¡¯s go to the study.¡± The white cat eagerly trotted after them. Before long, Shermaine and the white cat were having a great time in the study. The white cat licked its paw, thinking, ¡®Back when I was Stephen, I could eat all kinds of delicacies, but that identity always made me feel uneasy. ¡®Being a cat is a whole new world. I can finally let my guard down, act cute, and get spoiled. Even Shermaine is especially patient with me these days. The white cat meowed eagerly, rubbing against Shermaine¡¯s legs with bright, expectant eyes. Shermaine gave the cat¡¯s head a gentle rub, picked up a small cookie from the table, broke it in half, and shared it with the cat. Joshua¡¯s eyes dimmed at the sight. As Shermaine picked up another cookie to feed the cat, he leaned in and, without hesitation, ate it right from her hand. The cat thought, ¡®What the heck? That¡¯s my cookie! Can¡¯t you get your own? Stop stealing from me!¡® 2/2 Chapter 420 The white cat would¡¯ve loved nothing more than to tear into Joshua with a long string of very human insults. And truth be told, it could speak, just not in this part of the world. Here, cats didn¡¯t use humannguage. So instead, itunched into a flurry of meows, yowls, and grumbles. Of course, none of it made sense to the humans. The study quickly filled with the cat¡¯s indignant meowing. Shermaine raised an amused brow. ¡°Pretty sure it¡¯s cursing you out, Joshua.¡± ¡°Meow.¡± The kitten let out a sharp reply and continued its rant. Joshua, expressionless, popped a biscuit into his mouth and tossed a few pieces on the floor. ¡°Let it eat on its own. Spoiled enough already.¡± Shermaine shot him a look. ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who said I should be the one taking care of it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it,¡± Joshua replied nonchntly. ¡°You don¡¯t really have the time to look after a cat. Just let it stay here and fend for itself. It¡¯s smart. It won¡¯t starve.¡± Sure enough, the white cat dove at the crumbs, holding them delicately between its paws, munching away clear satisfaction. It was, admittedly, a clever little thing. Shermaine was beginning to grow quite fond of it. Afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows, pooling on the floor scattered with books, books Kylie hadn¡¯t noticed when she barged in. No one knew what they were made of, but despite the passing of a millennium, the pages showed no signs of aging. Joshua slipped his arms around Shermaine from behind, his hands resting low on her waist, pulling her back into his chest with quiet possessiveness. ¡°Sheary,¡± he murmured, ¡°feed me.¡± ¡°I thought you hated snacks,¡± she said, not looking up. ¡°I do,¡± he said, voice dipping lower, ¡°unless you¡¯re the one feeding me.¡± Shermaine half¨Csmiled, lips quirking. ¡°I¡¯m trying to read.¡± Joshua¡¯sshes lowered, his voice almost a whisper. ¡°Just one more.¡± Her resolve crumbled. She picked up a small biscuit and brought it to his lips. He didn¡¯t devour it like before. This time, he nibbled a corner first, slow and deliberate, before finishing the rest. Crumbs clung to her fingertips. Joshua took her slender wrist, brought her hand to his mouth, and gently licked the tip of her finger, teasing, unhurried, and unmistakably intimate. Shermaine shot him a stern look. ¡°Behave.¡°/ He grinned. ¡°Tastes good.¡± Then he sucked lightly on her fingertip again. Under the nket, his warm palm slipped beneath her loose sweater, finding the soft curve of her waist. Momentster, Shermaine found herself pressed gently against the floor, his kisses slow,nguid, and relentless. Breathless, lips flushed a vivid red, she murmured, ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± 12:03 Wed, 2 Jul Gen But Joshua didn¡¯t push it. He hadn¡¯te with an agenda. He just wanted to hold her for a while, to soothe the ache of too many lonely nights. ¡°If no more kisses,¡± he whispered, ¡°then feed me another cookie.¡± ¡°Alright, alright. Get off,¡± she said, gently pushing at him. He leaned in for onest kiss. ¡°Not unless you give me a kiss first.¡± Shermaineughed, exasperated. ¡°You know, if your employees saw you like this, I think their entire worldview would copse.¡± Joshua arched a brow. ¡°Let them. I¡¯ve been waiting for an excuse to show off.¡± ¡°You get one. Cookies or kisses. Pick.¡± Naturally, Joshua wanted both. He pretended to consider. ¡°Well, if you¡¯re not offering, guess I¡¯ll help myself.¡± The white cat had just finished its biscuit. It let out a contented burp, its blue eyes gleaming. It had clearly noticed the couple was ignoring it, and Shermaine was pregnant, no less. With a sh of motion, the cat lunged at Joshua, sank its teeth into his shirt, and began tugging furiously. Its yowls rang out again, indignant and unrelenting. The moment shattered in an instant. A few minutester, Joshua looked down at his shirt, now thoroughly destroyed. Just as he moved to scold the cat, it darted behind Shermaine like a child hiding behind its mother. Joshua chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re lucky Sheary¡¯s here. I¡¯ll let it slide, for now.¡± He stood, brushing himself off. ¡°I¡¯m going to change.¡± Shermaine couldn¡¯t help butugh. She reached down and scooped up the cat, holding it up to eye level. ¡°You know that shirt costs thousands, right? Selling you wouldn¡¯t even cover the buttons.¡± Çú AD Comment Send gift No Ads Chapter 421 ¡°Meow.¡± The white cat let out a pitiful little cry, looking thoroughly wronged. Shermaine patted its head. ¡°Behave, and I won¡¯t have to sell you.¡± tronically, even as a doctor, she hadn¡¯t yet realized she was pregnant. Wanting to redeem itself and maybe help her out a bit, the cat seemed to know exactly what she was searching for. It dove into a pile of books, sniffing around like a truffle pig, pausing here and there to investigate one, then another. Eventually, ittched onto a book and started batting at it like a toy. Shermaine didn¡¯t stop it. Whatever those books were made of, they weren¡¯t going to be damaged by a set of kitten teeth. She continued flipping through pages while the cat proudly dragged the book over and dropped it in front of her. Shermaine nced down but didn¡¯t react. ¡°Meow.¡± The cat meowed again, this time a little more insistent. Curious now, Shermaine picked it up. It looked like an ordinary book. The first page was nk. Then the cat smacked its paw down hard. Something clicked beneath the paper. A mechanism triggered, and a hiddenpartment popped open. So the book was just a shell. What mattered had been concealed inside all along. Shermaine retrieved a much smaller booklet from within. In the center of the cover was a symbol, an ornate, familiar pattern, identical to the one she had seen carved into the crystal sarcophagus. She opened it. The pages inside were filled with script she¡¯d never seen before, written in characterspletely foreign to her. ¡°Meow.¡± came another sound. It was because Joshua had reentered the room, now dressed in a shirt that perfectly matched hers. It looked suspiciously like a couple¡¯s outfit. Joshua nced down at the booklet as he crouched beside her. ¡°What¡¯d you find?¡± ¡°A journal or something.¡± He leaned closer, brows slightly furrowed as he scanned the page. The writing looked like ancient code, utterly indecipherable. The cat could¡¯ve uploaded thenguage of Xyperia straight into their brains. It would¡¯ve taken seconds. But it didn¡¯t. The existence of a parallel world wasn¡¯t something this world was allowed to know. That was the first and most sacred rule of the royal blood. Their origins were never to be revealed. For a thousand years, the white cat had kept that secret safe. But Judy¡¯s arrival had begun to tip the scales. She wasn¡¯t just here for the booklet. She was here for Apocalypse and Joshua. The royal blood had fled to Earth to escape the endless wars of Xyperia. They had no intention of going back. And Joshua, thest living heir, had to survive and carry the line forward. So, above all else, they needed to stop Judy before she got her hands on the manual, destroy the n, and send them back. 1/2 jhe winner! Free je by bll, she p Jesus don¡¯t deafen als went clien the tomed the bones in has hans ¡°If we have what they need, it won¡¯t be hard to draw them out. ¡°wow¡± the cat practically yelped as this was not a good letos Shermsins looked at it, misreading the rm in its tone. ¡°You agree, don¡¯t you?¡± The cat internally screamed, Absolutely not!¡® ¡°Smart little thing,¡± she said with a smile. The cat froze in defeat. She had to be doing it on purpose, twisting his meaning just to mess with him. It was enough to make him want to break the sacred rule and speak human just to set the record straight. Shermaine leaned in and whispered her n into Joshua¡¯s ear. The cat perked up, eavesdropping with everything it had. Not a word came through. Joshua listened, then nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll call Bradley. Let¡¯s set up an auction the day after tomorrow. If word gets out, they¡¯lle.¡± ¡°Good.¡± She nodded. They needed to move fast. Now that they had the object, they were saving valuable time. Shermaine continued working while cing a video call to Danielle. Onscreen, Danielle was still tinkering with thetest serum upgrade. Shermaine stayed on the line to offer guidance. Meanwhile, the white cat slipped quietly out the door. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Chapter 422 The cat had been gone for over an hour when Martha started to wonder if it had wandered back to the neighbor¡¯s ce. But just as the thought crossed her mind, the white Persian limped back into the vi, one paw dragging slightly. Seeing it in that state, Martha couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of sympathy. She¡¯d never been one for furry animals, but this clever little thing had a way of charming people, herself included. Injured or not, the moment it caught the scent of fish, it forgot, its limp entirely and made a beeline for the tter of meat on the table. Shaking her head, Martha changed her shoes and headed out to buy some ointment from the nearest pet store. But the moment she stepped outside, she ran into the neighbor, again out searching for a missing cat. This time, they were offering a reward, thirty thousand dors to anyone who found it. Martha stiffened, guilt creeping up her spine. She didn¡¯t say a word and hurried away. By the time she returned, Joshua was in the kitchen, slicing fruit with practiced ease. The white cat, now full and content, was curled up on the sofa, fast asleep. She hesitated for a moment, then approached him. ¡°Mr. York,¡± she began, ¡°did you hear that the neighbors lost a Persian cat?¡± ¡°No,¡± Joshua replied without looking up. ¡°Well¡­ the one you brought home looks a lot like theirs.¡± Joshua paused, then gave a small nod. ¡°I see.¡± Just then, Bradley arrived at Riverswood Vi. After going over the auction arrangements, Joshua casually asked him to look into the neighbor¡¯s missing cat. It didn¡¯t take long for Bradley to return with an update. ¡°Mr. York, it might actually be their cat. The birthmark matches perfectly.¡± What was odd, though, was what the neighbor had said. Their cat was usually clingy, rarely ever wandered far. If this really was the same cat, why hadn¡¯t it gone home on its own? The sun dipped lower, shadows stretching long across thewn. Evening fell. Shermaine had just returned to Basterel. The moment word got out, both families wanted to see her, Roy¡¯s side included. As thest light disappeared behind the hills, visitors began arriving in twos and threes. Before long, the vi was full of conversation,ughter, and warmth. Jameson, meanwhile, had flown back on a private jet after his surgery. There was no way he was staying in Horington, not after what he¡¯d seen. He¡¯d been attacked by real monsters. That city no longer felt safe. He knew about tonight¡¯s dinner. His mother had mentioned it. But he was also painfully aware that he had no right to be there. Lately, regret had be a constantpanion. The more he saw Shermaine¡¯s brilliance, her calm authority, her effortless grace, and the way others admired her, the heavier it weighed on him. He regretted everything, the divorce with Ruth, and being too blind to see what a rare soul Shermaine was. At dinner, Owen turned to Shermaine with a grin. ¡°Sheary, try themb steak. I made it myself, just for you.¡± 1/4 Shermaine blinked, surprised. For someone his age to still step into the kitchen, it was oddly touching. ¡°Thank you, Owen.¡± Joshua leaned in and munnured, ¡°Grandpa¡¯s got a thing formbtely.¡± He rarely ate it himself but loved cooking it for others. Stephen, poor soul, had been forced to eat it nearly every day. He was nearly sick of the stuff. Shermaine smiled politely and took a bite. It was a little gamey. She wasn¡¯t a fan, but she chewed dutifully, not wanting to offend. But after a few bites, her stomach turned. And then it hit her. She might be pregnant. As a doctor, she rarely gave her own body the same attention she gave her patients, but now that she thought about it, the fatigue, hypersensitivity to smell, and nausea after heavy food, it all pointed in one direction. She¡¯d been too busytely to connect the dots. Still, it wasn¡¯t certain. She¡¯d need to run tests. Thankfully, she could probably handle that herself. Joshua noticed the slight furrow in her brow. ¡°Grandpa, maybe don¡¯t pile her te with so much meat. It¡¯s heavy for dinner.¡± ¡°Then you eat it,¡± Owen said, undeterred. Joshua gave a small smile. ¡°Alright.¡± Owen looked at him in surprise. Joshua wasn¡¯t known for having much of an appetite when it came to red meat, but tonight, he made an exception. Typical York men, devoted to a fault, fiercely protective once they fell in love. With Janice chiming in to urge him to eat more, Joshua¡¯s te was soon stacked high. ¡°Ruthie, if Jamie starts bothering you again, just don¡¯t give him the time of day,¡± Janice said casually. ¡°I know,¡± Ruth replied with a nod. Shermaine looked up from her te. ¡°Wait, what does he want now?¡± Janice said, ¡°Apparently he realized just how badly he screwed up. Now he¡¯s thinking about getting back with your mom.¡± Shermaine raised a brow, inwardly scoffing, ¡®As if that¡¯s ever going to happen!¡® Before she could say anything, Ruth cut in calmly, ¡°That¡¯s not happening. I¡¯m not taking him back.¡± Shermaine gave her a small nod of approval. ¡°So, Mom¡­ how are things going with Richard?¡± Ruth hesitated. A slight flush crept into her cheeks. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ fine, I guess.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a good man. Maybe you should give him a real chance,¡± Shermaine said gently. Ruth had made mistakes, sure. But they¡¯de from a ce of love, not malice. That mattered. Her eyes drifted over to Ross. In truth, the one most hurt by her absence had been him. And Richard had always known that. He¡¯d carried the guilt for years, and Ross knew it. Ross finally spoke. ¡°I think Richard¡¯s pretty decent too, Mom. You should consider it.¡± Richard had let him down once, but if he was willing to spend the rest of his life making up for it, maybe that was enough. Besides, having another dad didn¡¯t sound like such a bad deal. 2/4 150 Th? 1 l Ruth¡¯sshes fluttered ever so slightly. Her voice barely audible, she murmured, ¡°Okay.¡± Her feelings for Richard had never really disappeared. The quiet years in Jetroina, every mundane moment and fleeting warmth, still lived somewhere in her heart. Seeing the moment soften, Roy decided to lighten the mood. ¡°Hey Shermaine, want toe with us to the mountain lodge tomorrow?¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to do?¡± ¡°Plenty. Hot springs, scenery, archery, horseback riding¡­¡± Roy gave her a cheeky grin. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we won¡¯t third wheel. You and Joshua can have yourselves a proper date.¡± Shermaine nced over at Joshua, He met her gaze. ¡°If you¡¯re up for it, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°You saidst time you¡¯d n the next date.¡± ¡°And this is it, funny enough.¡± ¡°Well then¡­ I¡¯m in.¡± After dinner, Shermaine joined the Jean family for a walk. The air was crisp, theughter easy. For a brief moment, everything felt peacefully normal. But not for Stephen. Amid the light conversation, his mind drifted back to the woman he loved, now sitting alone in a quiet courtyard, lost in thought. ¡°Go check on your dad,¡± Owen said softly. ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem quite himself.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Joshua nodded, In the garden, the koi swamzily through still water. Joshua approached. ¡°It¡¯s chilly out here. You shoulde back inside.¡± Stephen didn¡¯t turn. ¡°Joshua¡­ take care of Shermaine, will you? Don¡¯t be like me. I lost your mother far too young.¡± The grief never left him, not really. Stephen, now past fifty, still hadn¡¯t healed. That kind of loss lingers so deeply that even time forgets how to dull it. ¡°I will,¡± Joshua said quietly. On the walk back, Shermaine did a quick mental check of her own condition. It was too early to tell. No matter how skilled she was as a doctor, she couldn¡¯t confirm anything. So, just to be safe, she picked up a pregnancy test on the way home. She didn¡¯t tell Janice or anyone else. If it turned out to be nothing, she didn¡¯t want to raise hopes just to crush them. At the pharmacy, she paid, slipped the box into her bag, and left without a word. Behind the counter, the old pharmacist smacked his forehead just momentster. ¡°Ah damn! It was the expired batch. The new stock¡¯s not in yet!¡± He rushed outside but the street was already empty. Back at home, in the privacy of the bathroom, Shermaine took the test. Three times, and all negative. She stared at the results, wondering, ¡®Maybe it¡¯s just stress. Lack of sleep and everything¡¯s been out of bncetely.¡® Shermaine was almost never wrong when it came to diagnoses. If anything, she trusted her instincts far more than a stic stick. The test could easily be faulty. After all, it was too early. Pregnancies under six weeks often slipped past homie kits. A proper medical check¨Cup with specialized equipment would be the only reliable way to confirm. Still, she felt a flicker of disappointment. She had imagined surprising Joshua tonight if the test hade back positive. At thirty¨Ctwo, he was more than ready for fatherhood. In fact, he¡¯d be turning thirty¨Cthree soon. In the bathroom, she tossed the test sticks into the trash, bag and all. Just as the lid clicked shut, the door opened behind her, and Joshua walked in. Shermaine nced over, lips curving faintly. ¡°Let me guess. You want to save,water and shower together again?¡± He grinned. ¡°You know me too well.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine with sharing the shower,¡± she said, straight¨Cfaced. ¡°But nothing more than that.¡± His throat bobbed at her words, but he didn¡¯t argue. That hadn¡¯t been his intention anyway. ¡°I¡¯ll get the bath started.¡± The tub wasrge, big enough for two, and soon the water was steaming, fragrant with a hint of essential oils. When she stepped in, he reached for her clothes, intending to help her undress. She caught his hand. ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself.¡± The water enveloped her like a warm cocoon. Shermaine leaned back and closed her eyes slightly, soaking in the heat. ¡°Aren¡¯t you getting in?¡± she murmured. Joshua crouched beside the tub, his expression calm but amused. ¡°If I get in now, do you really think we¡¯ll keep our hands to ourselves?¡± He reached up to gently pinch her cheek. ¡°Sit still. I¡¯ll wash your hair.¡± He had never done this for anyone before. Shermaine was the first. Surprisingly, he was good at it. His hands worked through her scalp with just the right amount of pressure, easing tension she didn¡¯t even know she carried. She found herself drifting, eyes heavy with sleep. Once her hair was done, he moved on to her shoulders and legs, fingers expertly kneading. ¡°Period runningte?¡± he asked. She gave a faint hum in response, too rxed to reply. He didn¡¯t think much of it. Probably stress, he figured, or too manyte nights. ¡°Want me to make you some ginger teater?¡± Shermaine opened one eye. ¡°I don¡¯t drink that stuff.¡± She didn¡¯t add that ginger tea wasn¡¯t ideal for someone who might be pregnant. ¡°Milk, then?¡± She nodded slowly. ¡°And press a little harder on my shoulders.¡± Her voice was soft,nguid, like velvet brushing against skin. It could melt a man¡¯s resolve. ¡°The water¡¯s cooling,¡± he said gently. ¡°Let me finish once we¡¯re out.¡± 1/2 1570 Thus He wrapped her in a bath towel and carried her out effortlessly. Living with Joshua made it far too easy to let her guard down. He dried her hair for her, taking his time. When he leaned in to kiss her, his hands slid across the smooth skin of her back. He lingered, savoring the closeness, but didn¡¯t go any further. After a moment, he pulled away and headed downstairs to pour her a ss of warm milk. Shermaine curled into the bed, robe slipping off her shoulder. Faint marks from his touch lingered on her skin, and she gave azy yawn, looking every bit like a siren basking in her own quiet spell. That Joshua could hold himself back, even when she looked like this, only proved how much she meant to him. If she wasn¡¯t ready, he would never push. About fifteen minutester, he returned with the milk. She drank most of it, then nudged him toward the bathroom. ¡°Go shower.¡± He nodded and headed inside, only to find Shermaine trailing behind him. ¡°Sheary,¡± he turned back, frowning slightly, ¡°you need rest.¡± Her fingers reached for the door. She closed it behind them with a soft click. Her gaze was warm, deep, shimmering like moonlight on rippling water. ¡°I do,¡± she said quietly. ¡°But first¡­ I¡¯d like to take care of something for my husband.¡± Chapter 424 Shermaine hadn¡¯t nned on going to the hospital for an ultrasound that morning. There was no rush. She could easily wait until they were back in Horington. So she let herself sleep in. When she finally stirred awake, the first thing she saw was Joshua lying beside her, gently ying with her hand. Her arm was sore, badly so. She moved slightly but quickly gave up. Last night had taken a toll. Pleasing Joshua had cost her no small effort. Not long after, Bradley showed up. He brought news about the auction. It was supposed to take ce in two days, but there¡¯d been a setback. The president of the auction house had been in a minor car ident the day before. It would have to be pushed to next Friday. Shermaine didn¡¯t mind. ¡°That works. I¡¯ll juste back for it.¡± ¡°Really appreciate it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s no trouble.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ll get going then. Hope you two enjoy the day.¡± He gave a tired smile, the kind that belonged to a man with no weekends, only work and a decent paycheck, if that was any constion. After breakfast, Shermaine and Joshua headed to Peach Mountain Vi, a ce frequented only by the rich and well¨Cconnected. It was Shermaine¡¯s first time. Winter in the mountains brought with it a biting crispness. The air was clean, sharp with the scent of pine and frost. She wore a fisherman hat pulled low over her eyes, shielding her face from the wind. Her outfit was simple and casual as she was nning to go horseback riding. The sleek white cat followed close behind as she stepped out of the car. Roy spotted them and raised an eyebrow. ¡°You brought the cat?¡± ¡°It insisted on tagging along,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°Clingy, huh?¡± ¡°Very.¡± Roy blinked. ¡°Does Momo¡¯s husky act like that too?¡± ¡°Not even a little.¡± ¡°Good,¡± he said with a little exhale. Shermaine gave a shortugh. ¡°I mean, thest thing I need is topete with a dog for attention.¡± ¡°Well, I wasn¡¯t finished,¡± Shermaine added. ¡°Actually, speaking of dogs, Molly¡¯s husky isn¡¯t clingy, but it is overprotective. Every guy who tries to get close to her gets chased down. Her ex¨Cfianc¨¦? 1/2 Heard the dog went after him for like three blocks.¡± Mally didn¡¯t like men getting too close. She¡¯d trained the dog to bite anyone who did. After enough repetition, it took themand to heart. Roy scoffed. ¡°And for the recort!, that idiot wasn¡¯t Momo¡¯s boyfriend. She never even acknowledged him.¡± Then with a slightly smug edge, he added, ¡°Shermaine, I¡¯m serious about Momo, I¡¯m not giving up. You and Joshua go on ahead. Henry and the others aren¡¯t here yet.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The vi grounds were stunning. An artificialke had been built right in the middle. Word was, it had cost millions to construct. The main guest vi alone was worth over a hundred million. It was the weekend, and the ce was buzzing with young elites, heirs, heiresses, influencers, and old money dressed like new. The white cat looked around with keen interest, clearly itching to explore.. But beneath the surface, it was conflicted. It wasn¡¯t here to y. It hade to protect Joshua and his family. Yesterday, it had slipped out alone. With its unique sensitivity, it could sense the presence of those from the Kingdom of Xyperia. It had discovered that Judy and her people were holed up in a vi not far from Riverswood. It had gone there, hoping to reason with them. But Judy called her people in and told them to catch the cat like some stray. If the cat had been at full strength, it would¡¯ve ttened them with ease. But with energy reserves running low, it had barely escaped, wounded and limping. Shermaine, watching the cat now, seemed to read its mood. ¡°If you want to wander, go ahead. Just don¡¯t stray too far.¡± With a soft meow, the cat took off down the path. 2 1:|:|:|:? ? ? ? ? 1:1:|::|: ? ? ? ? 1:1:|:|:|:? ?? ???? ?? 1:|:??? ???? ??? 1:|:??? ?¡£ Shermaine and Joshua strolled by theke, where the water shimmered in pale blue under the morning sun. The white cat was having a st, darting around with uncontained joy. But as a creature unusually attuned to people from the Kingdom of Xyperia, it instantly picked up on Judy¡¯s presence nearby. Chapter 425 G Shermaine and Joshua hadn¡¯t done anything particrly exciting. They spent a quiet afternoon fishing by theke and then wandered into an orange grove, picking quite a few baskets along the way. While they were still among the trees, Henry showed up with his younger sister. She had brought along a few of her college friends for a winter outing. The moment those girls spotted Shermaine, their eyes lit up like Christmas lights. ¡°Holy crap, that¡¯s Shermaine!¡°. ¡°She¡¯s gorgeous!¡± They were clearly fangirling, hard. Shermaine was practically a campus legend. Her reputation in the universities around Basterel was untouchable. To many students, she wasn¡¯t just an idol. She was almost mythical. By the time they were done, they had filled two entire baskets of oranges. Joshua nced over and saw Shermaine surrounded by those enthusiastic girls. His gaze casually slid toward Henry, a faint edge to it. Henry raised his eyebrows. ¡°Joshua, why don¡¯t youe race with us?¡± Joshua offered a quiet smile but didn¡¯t answer. Henry kept going, a mischievous glint in his eye. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that when guys cling too tightly to their wives, the wives start losing interest.¡± Joshua didn¡¯t even blink. He was more than confident Shermaine wasn¡¯t the type to get bored of him. Still, Henry¡¯sment was just cheeky enough to warrant a response. Joshua said coolly, ¡°Well, since you¡¯re asking for it, I¡¯d hate to disappoint.¡± As they walked out of the grove, Henry¡¯s sister, Tiffany, turned to Shermaine. ¡°Hey Shermaine, I brought my friends because we wanted to try horseback riding. Want toe with us?¡± There was hardly anything Shermaine hadn¡¯t tried at least once. She didn¡¯t ride often, but she was definitely capable. ¡°You go ahead. I¡¯ll catch up after I hit the restroom.¡± ¡°Okay! We¡¯ll wait for you.¡± The ranch was massive. When Shermaine finally arrived, she found Tiffany caught in what looked like an argument with a woman wearing overly heavy makeup. From the bits of conversation she caught, it sounded like both of them had their eye on the same horse, and neither was willing to give in. Tiffany, who had always been well¨Cprotected by her family, clearly wasn¡¯t used to confrontations. Her eyes were rimmed with red. ¡°Sophia, I saw that horse first. Why should I give it up to you?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m your senior,¡± Sophia said with a smug smile. ¡°And I¡¯m older.¡± Clearly, they¡¯d known each other from before. ¡°If you¡¯ve got a problem with that, let¡¯s settle it with a match,¡± Sophia added, nodding toward the nearby archery range. ¡°If you win, I¡¯ll back off. If I win, the horse is mine.¡± Tiffany was a total indoor girl. She was great at games, but sports were not so much. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know how to shoot.¡± Sophia scoffed. ¡°Is there anything you do know?¡± Tiffany flushed, clearly overwhelmed and out of her depth. She wasn¡¯t the type to argue back, especially against someone like Sophia, But to Shermaine, the whole scene felt like a joke. ¡°Oh really? And what, you¡¯re supposed to be some kind of expert?¡± Shermaine stepped forward, her tone dry. Sophia froze. Her bravado evaporated the second she saw Shermaine. ¡°She¡¯s bluffing, Tiffany,¡± Shermaine said, exposing the obvious. ¡°Even if you go against her, it doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ll lose.¡± Tiffany¡¯s expression changed instantly. ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s what she¡¯s doing.¡± With Shermaine backing her, she suddenly found her footing. ¡°Wow, Sophia. I thought you were the real deal. Turns out you¡¯re just another moob.¡± Sophia¡¯s face turned bright red. She didn¡¯t even try to argue because the truth was, she really didn¡¯t know how to shoot. ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± she snapped. ¡°But my friend does. Dare to go up against her?¡± Shermaine arched a brow, then gave a slow, amused smile. ¡°Are you talking to me?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s me, sure. But let¡¯s make it interesting.¡± Her smile deepened as she slipped into an old, familiar rhythm, the same one she used back when she used to make quick money. ¡°One match. Three million dors per arrow if t win. Let¡¯s do three rounds.¡± Each round had six arrows, eighteen in total. At three million a shot, the stakes were astronomical. Sophia gawked. ¡°Three million per arrow? Are you out of your mind?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Shermaine said lightly. ¡°Can¡¯t afford it?¡± Sophia went stiff. Her family wasfortable, sure, but nowhere near that kind of rich, not even close to a million. Just then, someone stepped up behind Sophia and said calmly, ¡°I¡¯ll take her on.¡± It was Judy. Sophia turned, eyes lighting up. ¡°Judy, you¡¯re finally here! They¡¯ve been absolutely ridiculous.¡± Judy gave a faint smile, neither agreeing nor denying. Shermaine¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly when she saw her. She recognized the woman instantly, the one she had seen in a boxing gym video with Joshua. She still remembered the line Judy had thrown out back then. ¡°If I beat her, does that mean I get to spar with you?¡± Her showing up here today wasn¡¯t some random coincidence. This had been orchestrated. So all that scheming¡­ just to challenge me? ¡®Shermaine mused. ¡®How amusing.¡¯ ¡°But in archery is a little dull,¡± Judy said, her voice light but pointed. ¡°How about we raise the stakes? Mounted archery.¡± That wasn¡¯t a casual suggestion. Shooting while riding was one of the most difficult sports there was. Hitting a target from a moving horse required precision honed over years. The other girls looked at Shermaine nervously, unsure if she could handle it. Shermaine, unfazed, smiled. ¡°Sure. Sounds a lot more interesting than shooting at still targets.¡± Without missing a beat, Judy called over staff from the stables and instructed them to set up targets throughout the course. The field was enormous, with targets ced nearly six hundred feet apart. It had been a while since Shermaine had done anything this physically demanding. Skiing had been herst adrenaline rush, and while mounted archery wasn¡¯t quite as extreme, it was close enough to get her blood pumping. She changed into riding gear, selected her horse, and strapped on the archery kit. Drawing her bow, she tested its tension. With a crisp snap, the arrow sliced through the air andnded dead center on a bullseye 240 feet away. Tiffany and the other girls were awestruck. ¡°Shermaine, that was incredible!¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow and gave a casual shrug. ¡°Nothing special.¡± Judy chuckled softly, the kind ofugh that could be read either as condescending or amused. She¡¯d been trained in fencing and archery since childhood. In the Kingdom of Xyperia, there were few women who could even approach her level. As for Shermaine, she didn¡¯t even register. Judy had never nned to care, but Joshua had used Shermaine to avoid her. That, she wouldn¡¯t let go. He needed to learn that using another woman as a shield had only one oue, defeat. Shermaine had chosen a white mare with a calm temperament. She mounted with practiced ease, removed her helmet, and tied up her hair in one swift motion. As the wind caught the strands, she looked every bit the warrior, fierce, poised, and ready to charge. Judy smirked and mounted her own horse, riding up to the starting line beside her. Elsewhere on the field, Henry had just heard from Tiffany what was going on. Shermaine had stepped in for his sister and was now locked in a challenge. And once he heard who the opponent was, he knew it wasn¡¯t some petty drama. ¡°That woman from the boxing gym? Judy,¡± Henry said gravely. ¡°She¡¯s challenging Shermaine now. And get this. Three million per arrow.¡± The moment Joshua heard the wager, he knew exactly whose idea that was. His wife always had a talent for wringing money out of people. Then he stood up, his tone light. ¡°Let¡¯s go. This should be fun to watch.¡± Chapter The vardock wears for 6 gott konte de bought an as Tiffany gredvat thairy and lights, she isundit ja p ading Parting off andrything that had h She made it clear test they hadn¡¯t pins trusting buble #wet bells who¡¯d chrrad the pu Hey just grave her a small emite and ruled by his ¡°t it. Good thing you¡¯ve got Sharmain in your torner. They all knew, of course, that things weren¡¯t nearly as simple as Tiffany made them out to be. In their eyes, this wasn¡¯t Sophia¡¯s doing at all it was judy. using Sophia as a convenient excuse to provoke Shermsins. To Henry, it was just pathetic. Judy clearly had no grasp of love. Even if Shermaine lost to her, did she really think that would change how Joshua fatt? As #a victory on horseback could rewrite desire. And besides, Shermaine didn¡¯t lose. Every time she stepped into the spotlight, she left them awed. Today would be no different. * had been too long since they¡¯d had a good show. And now, with Shermaine about to strike back, the thrill of it was intoxicating. Roy in particr was visibly eager. He¡¯d missed thest spectacle at the ski resort and had been regretting it ever since. Finally, today, he had a front¨Crow seat to her revenge. ¡°She¡¯s amazing.¡± Tiffany said with a spark in her eye. Joshua¡¯s gaze had already wandered toward the arena. His eyes were steady, clear, and quietly tender, as if in that moment, the world held nothing but Shermaine. From the side, the cat padded in silently, just in time to see Shermaine and Judy, both astride their horses, raise their bows in unison. Reaching behind them, they each retrieved an arrow and drew the string back. The crowd fell silent. This was the first shot, and no one could afford to look away. The target was marked in rings of ascending value. The outermost white earned a single point. ck was worth four. Then came blue, five and six. Red marked seven and eight. The yellow center was nine and ten. A clean ten meant hitting the very heart of the yellow ring. But with both riders in motion, and the wind sharp and unruly, even seasoned archers would struggle. It was a test of skill, focus, and poise. The two archers released their arrows almost simultaneously. A sharp twang, and both shafts cut through the wind, Judy¡¯s just a fraction ahead. All eyes followed the first arrow. It struck with a soft thud, embedding itself within the yellow. Judy nced at the target and allowed herself a faint, knowing smirk. It was just a sliver off the bullseye, almost perfect. But almost wasn¡¯t good enough. it was 9.8 points, impressive by any standard, but Judy wasn¡¯t pleased. She¡¯d been aiming for ten. # Shermaine wanted to beat her, she would have to be wless. And Shermaine was. Her arrow came a heartbeatter, slicing the air andnding dead center, clean, sharp, and upromising. It was a perfect ten. 1540 ?? 20 Judy¡¯s expression froze. For a moment, she couldn¡¯t believe it. She had miscalcted. Shermaine had really done it. The two arrows sat side by side, but it was Shermaine¡¯s, marked with crimson dye at the tip, thatmanded all attention. It gleamed beneath the sun, bold and unapologetic.. Shermaine¡¯s lips curled, not in arrogance, but in satisfaction. The cat let out a delighted meow, its tail flicking as if in celebration. In the Kingdom of Xyperia, archery had long been revered, not merely a sport, but a symbol of discipline, strength, and sovereignty. Even in a world overtaken by modern science and technology, the art of the bow remained sacred. And as the kingdom¡¯s reigning ruler, Judy had trained in it from childhood, Excellence wasn¡¯t expected of her. It was required. But she had been crushed effortlessly from the very first arrow. In the viewing gallery, Roy let out a breath of sheer awe. ¡°God, that was beautiful!¡± he murmured. ¡°Watching herpete in person is something else entirely.¡± ¡°Justice, swift and clean!¡± ¡°That¡¯s how you win three million.¡°. ¡°As if anyone but Shermaine could pull that off.¡± Had it been any of them up there, they¡¯d already be bleeding chips at the table. Sophia stood silently to the side, looking lost and out of ce. She bit her lip and sai Chapter 427 But Tiffany and the others immediately fired back in unison, ¡°Shermaine¡¯s not going to lose!¡± After the first arrow, something fierce had been awakened in Judy. Or rather, it was the sense of danger beneath Shermaine¡¯s calm, unruffled exterior that set her off. Athill crept into Judy¡¯s gaze. She refused to let someone like Shermaine exist in her world, someone who threatened her without even trying. She needed to crush her,pletely, without mercy. They stood only a few steps apart. Shermaine could feel the heat rolling off Judy like a storm front. She gave a softugh, unbothered. If you want to be truly powerful, you first have to acknowledge that there are people out there stronger than you. That¡¯s the only way you¡¯ll keep growing. If you can¡¯t, you¡¯ll stay stuck where you are, and the gap will only grow wider. Of course, Shermaine had never once believed herself to be ordinary. From the day she was born, she saw herself as one of the elite. Others might be strong, but she was stronger. Put her in a match, and she¡¯d rise above the best. If human potential could be ranked by gic code, she¡¯d sit at the pinnacle. This match didn¡¯t pressure her. In fact, she was enjoying herself. She let her body guide the shots, every arrownding dead center with effortless precision. Judy, sensing the momentum, pressed on. The next four arrows were all perfect scores. But there were eighteen in total. Human focus wanes. No one can maintain peak form forever. Even royalty, once bathed in glory and might, eventually fades into ruin. By the tenth shot, Judy¡¯s form began to dip. Her arrow wobbled slightly in the air, not enough to miss, but not enough to impress. Itnded in the yellow ring, 9.5. She frowned. One imperfect shot, and the margin for catching up shrank drastically. Annoyance flickered across her face. But then, Shermaine shot. Her arrow scored a 9.0, just inside the yellow ring, lower than Judy¡¯s. Judy¡¯s lips curved faintly. So Shermaine was slipping even faster than she was. That changed the odds. It was a promising turn. Archery wasn¡¯t just about precision. It was about physical condition, stamina, timing. Everything mattered. Shermaine nced at her score without much reaction. It hadn¡¯t been ack of focus. Her stomach had cramped slightly just before the shot, and her hand had trembled. The pace of the horse, the jarring rhythm of the saddle¡­ none of it was gentle. And for someone pregnant, no matter how strong her mind, the body had its limits. Shermaine was no exception. But the difort passed quickly. Eight arrows remained, and that was more than enough. The first one had slipped through her fingers, but the next eight could still turn a profit.¡± The sun was rising higher now, scorching in its intensity. And the wind was growing fiercer by the minute. The light was almost blinding. Judy narrowed her eyes, misjudged the release, and loosed the arrow too soon. It sliced through the air andnded, clean, but underwhelming, in the 8¨Cpoint ring. ¡®Damn this sun,¡® Shermaine cursed inwardly. Back in the Kingdom of Xyperia, they had no real sun, only artificial light. She wasn¡¯t made for this kind of blinding brilliance. Judy¡¯s skin was already flushed deep red under the harsh light. In winter, no less. Her cheeks stung like they were being peeled raw in the dry air. Between Basterel and Ustrana, she much preferred thetter. Still, Shermaine had faltered earlier. Surely this time, she¡¯d do even worse. Just as that thought settled, Shermaine, quiet andposed, drew her bow and released. The red¨Cfeathered arrow soared, cutting the air with startling grace, and struck the yellow ring. Another perfect score. Chapter 428 Did Shermaine miss thatst shot on purpose? The thought coiled in Judy¡¯s mind like smoke, dark and suffocating. Her grip on the bow tightened, and the air around her grew heavy with suppressed fury. In the spectator stands. Tiffany and the others, who had been holding their breath, finally allowed themselves a sigh of relief. Only Joshua had remained entirelyposed from beginning to end. He had never once entertained the possibility of Shermainesing. He beckoned a staff member over. ¡°Get some water ready. And have strawberries and dessert brought over.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. York. Right away.¡± At the sound of food, the white cat leapt to his feet and darted to Joshua¡¯s side, wide eyes gleaming as he meowed softly, clearly asking for his share. Joshua nced down at him. ¡°Give him some cat food.¡± ¡°Meow! Meow! Meow!¡± the cat cried indignantly. He did not eat cat food. Joshua smiled faintly. ¡°A cat who turns his nose up at cat food? You¡¯re quite the character.¡± The cat lowered his head in quiet protest. Truth be told, the stuff didn¡¯t smell all that bad. It was even kind of appetizing. But the truth was, he wasn¡¯t really a cat. Just someone temporarily inhabiting this feline body. ¡®Could Joshua have figured it out?¡® he wondered, rm creeping into his thoughts. ¡®No¡­ impossible. I haven¡¯t slipped. I¡¯ve been careful. Haven¡¯t I?¡® Stan Beyond one edge of the riding field stretched a manicured garden, lush and vibrant in the distance. On the opposite side, open grasnd marked the start of the riding trails, designed for students to enjoy long rides through the countryside. The moment was tense. They had arrived at the final three arrows. Judy had already lost six million dors. At this point, the only path to victory was precision and upromising uracy. She needed bullseyes, all three. But if Shermaine matched her shot for shot, it would be meaningless. Victory would still slip through her fingers. There would be no tiebreaker. That had been agreed from the outset. The rules were fixed and non¨Cnegotiable. But rules had never meant much to Judy. She¡¯d wed her way through power struggles and pce intrigue with lies, maniption, and ruthless cunning. Mercy was for fools. She raised her bow and released the arrow. In the next breath, it went straight at Shermaine. Had itnded, Shermaine might easily have been knocked off her horse. The attack came out of nowhere. ¡°What the hell? She¡¯s cheating! 148 4510 THE IN ¡°Unbelievable. That¡¯s low.¡± Shermaine caught the movement in her peripheral vision. She leaned back, her spine arching with fluid grace until her back nearly brushed the horse¡¯s back, In the same motion, she loosed her arrow, then straightened, reining in slightly to slow the horse¡¯s pace, ¡°What exactly are you trying to pull?¡± Judy lifted her chin, utterly unapologetic. ¡°There¡¯s nothing in the rules that says I can¡¯t.¡± Shermaine let out a quiet, almost amused breath. ¡°I gave you too much credit.¡± Judy¡¯s lips pulled into a smile, but there was no warmth in it. I owe my opponents nothing, not fairness, not restraint. If it helps me win, I¡¯ll do it.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Shermaine¡¯s voice turned quiet. ¡°Then tell me, did it help you win?¡± Judy faltered. She hadn¡¯t seen where Shermaine¡¯s arrow hadnded. Now, her gaze shifted to the target. The red¨Cfeathered arrow was lodged firmly in the yellow ring. It was another perfect ten. Her ploy had not only failed. It had backfired. To the spectators, she was now the viin, the cheat, the one who couldn¡¯t win clean. Shermaine¡¯s voice cut through the silence like a de. ¡°Nine million.¡± Judy¡¯s expression twisted. It was as if the match had already been decided. Only two arrows remained. Even if she hit both perfectly, she¡¯d still fall short. Just then, a peculiar gust swept across the field. With a sharp metallic clink, the red¨Cfeathered arrow that had been buried squarely in the bullseye slipped free and dropped to the ground. In most matches, a dislodged arrow, especially one caused by environmental factors, was ruled invalid. Judy smirked, a touch of triumph flickering at the corner. ¡°Your arrow fell.¡± Shermaine frowned. An arrow that strikes the center with proper force does not simply fall. It embeds with precision, held firm. Something was wrong. From the audience, the white cat let out a string of agitated meows, as though hurling curses in a forgotten tongue. ¡®Pathetic! If Xyperia ever falls into the hands of someone like Judy, he thought bitterly, ¡®there will be nothing left of its future.¡® Judy tilted her head, eyes glittering. ¡°So much for your reputation. Bit of bad luck, isn¡¯t it?¡± Shermaine¡¯s gaze sharpened, her voiceced with calm contempt. ¡°Is that what you¡¯re counting on? Luck? Do you really think two arrows will be enough to close the gap? ¡°You and I both know the truth. If I called it out in front of everyone, it¡¯d just be embarrassing for you.¡± Judy remained unbothered. ¡°Victory¡¯s all that matters.¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t reply. Her silence was colder than disdain. From the stands, the white cat vanished like smoke, slipping away. Joshua watched the empty space where the cat had stood. There was something in his expression, something knowing. Chapter 428 ¡°Shall we continue, Ms. Shue? There¡¯s no point debating,¡± said Judy. Shermaine said nothing. There was no need to argue with someone who had abandoned dignity long ago. Words were wasted on the shameless. As she raised her bow for the second tost shot, the air around the target grew unsettled once again. The wind shifted, subtle in appearance, yet unnaturally calcted. Her arrow caught the wind and began to veer off course. But then, as though tugged back by an invisible force, it corrected its path. The deviation was minute, the movement swift and imperceptible to most. But Joshua saw it. 150%1 He also knew not all parties involved were equally equipped. Hidden in the tall grass just beyond the arena¡¯s edge, the white caty motionless, panting heavily. Without ess to Energon to sustain its strength, it had be utterly vulnerable in the face of superior technology. Born of nature and spirit, the creature was now running on fumes. The effect was immediate. Shermaine¡¯s arrow drifted wide so far, in fact, that it missed the scoring rings entirely. Judy¡¯s arrow, on the other hand, struck within the white zone, earning her a single point, just enough to win the round. Shermaine said nothing, but a glint of thought lingered in her eyes. The audience, however, could only stare in confusion. A miss, even from a seasoned archer, could be forgiven, but this miss was not just unexpected. It was unthinkable. Shermaine was no stranger to pressure. For her to loseposure sopletely meant only one thing¨Cinterference. She knew someone had manipted the conditions in Judy¡¯s favor. The method was too subtle to call out without sounding paranoid. The shifting wind had altered her arrow¡¯s trajectory. But even if she pointed a finger, who would believe her? ¡®So that¡¯s what she¡¯s hiding,¡® Shermaine thought, her gaze darkening. Elsewhere, the white caty limp, its head drooping low as thest reserves of strength drained from its small body. A secondter, it closed its eyes. When it opened them again, it felt disoriented and let out a desperate series of meows, each one more helpless than thest. And then came the final arrow, and Shermaine missed again. In the end, there was no victor. Shermaine, who had never once been outmatched in openpetition, had now been forced into a tie by someone who had won not through strength or skill but by cheating in in sight. And the worst part was, she could do nothing about it. ¡°Well, that¡¯s unfortunate,¡± Judy said, her smile serene. ¡°Not a single coin to show for it.¡± Shermaine met her gaze with icy calm. ¡°I didn¡¯t win. But you didn¡¯t gain anything either. That¡¯s its own kind of loss, isn¡¯t it?¡± To her, the match had been nothing but an orchestrated waste of time. 3/4 She dismounted, her movements measured, her face unreadable. Tiffany joined her quickly. She, too, had noticed something odd in those final three arrows, but it was too nebulous to speak aloud. Judy walked off without a word, her steps brisk, her mood far from triumphant. Though she hadn¡¯t lost, the match had left a sour taste. For someone of royal blood, it was disgraceful to resort to deception just to avoid defeat. If word ever got out, it would be a stain no reputation could survive. ¡°Shermaine,¡± Tiffany whispered, ncing over. ¡°What happened? You were on point the whole match. How did thatst one miss so badly?¡± Shermaine epted the cup of water Joshua handed her. The wind had dried her throat. She drank slowly, saying nothing. Chapter 429 There was no denying thest three anows had gonepletely off track. The cheating was subtle, clever, even. No one had noticed anything unusual. If Joshua hadn¡¯t spoken up, they¡¯d have chalked Shermaine¡¯s repeated misses up to apse in concentration or poor form. Tiffany and the others were outraged when they heard it. ¡°She seriously cheated? That¡¯s so low. If you can¡¯t handle losing, don¡¯t y in the first ce.¡± ¡°Right? She was the one who insisted on a challenge!¡± Shermaine finished her water and looked up. ¡°You actually saw it happen?¡± ¡°I did.¡± Joshua¡¯s condition made him unusually perceptive. Judy¡¯s little tricks hadn¡¯t slipped past him. Shermaine gave him a calm, almost amused nod. ¡°You¡¯ve got a good eye.¡± ¡°Do your hands hurt?¡± He took her hand, turning it gently in his. She¡¯d pushed herself hardst night, and again today with archery on horseback. He examined her palm carefully, warm to the touch and faintly red. Shermaine shook her head. It wasn¡¯t her hands that bothered¨Cher, but the lingering soreness along her inner thighs from the relentless jolt of the saddle. Earlier, a faint cramp stirred in her lower abdomen, brief and passing, yet enough to leave her uneasy. ¡°Have some strawberries and cake.¡± She didn¡¯t protest as she was a little hungry. She sat down and started eating. Just then, a staff member returned, carrying the white cat. But something was clearly wrong. The cat squirmed in his arms, visibly distressed by the unfamiliar surroundings, its eyes wide with fear. It was the same cat Joshua had brought home, but its temperament hadpletely changed. The girls¡® hearts melted at the sight. They all loved cats, and this one looked so scared it was impossible not to feel sorry for it. ¡°That¡¯s weird. It was so calm before. What happened?¡± ¡°Yeah, when I held it, it was rubbing its head on my hand. So sweet!¡± The staff member exined, ¡°Mr. York, your cat.¡± Joshua reached for it, but the cat flinched and swiped at his face with its ws. He dodged just in time. The others were stunned. Just a little while ago, the cat had seemed perfectly content around him. Now it acted like he was a threat. They couldn¡¯t make sense of it, but Joshua already had a pretty good idea. So did Shermaine. The situation was all too familiar.. It was just like what had happened with Stephen. Joshua nced down at the cat, then gave a quiet order. ¡°Find a driver. Send it back to Riverswood Vi.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. York.¡± The cat was promptly taken away. Roy looked over. ¡°What¡¯s with that cat, Joshua? Is it sick or something?¡± Joshua didn¡¯t answer directly. ¡°Go ahead and take everyone horseback riding.¡± That was, after all, the whole point of the outing. Tiffany and the others hade for the experience. ¡°Sure.¡± Roy hadn¡¯t been riding in a while, and after seeing Shermaine pull off that stunning backward shot on horseback, the whole group was itching to give it a try. Once they left, Joshua stayed behind with Shermaine, continuing to feed her bites of strawberry and cake. Shermaine spoke up. ¡°That cat is in the same state your father was in.¡± Joshua gave a quiet nod. They were both convinced now. The cat that had been living with them wasn¡¯t just a cat. Someone or something had been inside it all along. They still had no idea what exactly it was, only that it could possess both people and animals. The question was, after being exposed like this, would it dare show itself again? When she¡¯d eaten her fill, Shermaine pushed the te away. ¡°That¡¯s enough. I want to save room for lunch.¡± Joshua leaned in slightly. ¡°Any ns for this afternoon?¡± She raised an eyebrow. ¡°Nope. I¡¯m going to the hospital.¡± His gaze sharpened. ¡°Are you feeling alright?¡± ¡°My stomach felt a bit off while I was riding,¡± she said slowly. ¡°I thought I¡¯d go to the hospital. See if there might be a baby.¡± The wordsnded like a thunderp on a clear day. Joshua had never cared much about the idea of having a child, but hearing her say it struck a chord he hadn¡¯t expected. A strange stillness came over him, a weightless, solemn pull that felt almost sacred. It was new. And it scared him. His mother had never recovered after giving birth to him. Theplications lingered, and soon after, she was gone. Joshua¡¯s whole body tensed. His eyes darkened. ¡°Sheary¡­ you thought you might be pregnant, and you still went horseback riding and shooting arrows?¡± Chapter 430 Shermaine smiled. She tipped her head back and kissed him lightly on the lips. ¡°Rx. I know what I¡¯m doing. I would never let anything happen to our baby If she had sensed anything truly wrong, no victory would have mattered. Winning or losing meant nothing in the face of life itself, especially when that. life was something she and Joshua had created together. ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to eat undercooked steak while you¡¯re pregnant,¡± Joshua said, suddenly rememberingst time he made it medium rare for the vor. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I only had a bite. It won¡¯t do any harm.¡± That eased him a little. ¡°I¡¯ll call the hospital, and get an appointment set up for this afternoon.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Meanwhile, Sophia had followed Judy off the riding field, intending to say something. But Judy¡¯s face was tight with fury. She didn¡¯t even acknowledge her, let alone stop to talk. Within seconds, she had walked away without a word. Sophia stood there seething. ¡®Seriously? What the hell is her problem? She was the one who asked me to , whatever it is we¡¯re after, it¡¯s not with Joshua or his people. There¡¯s no point wasting more time on them. ¡°What we need now is funding. Once we secure the booklet, we can figure out a way to obtain Joshua¡¯s blood sample. Then we¡¯re done here.¡± If they couldn¡¯t win it at auction, they¡¯d take it by force. Judy¡¯s voice was cool. ¡°Did you find out how this booklet surfaced? And who¡¯s behind the auction?¡± ¡°I did some digging. Apparently, a team of grave robbers discovered it decades ago. They cleared out everything in the tomb. The seller is strapped for cash. That¡¯s why it¡¯s finally up for sale.¡± ¡°When is the auction?¡± ¡°Next Friday.¡± ¡°Has the guest list been released?¡± Chapter 130 Harry hesitated, clearly reluctant to answer. ¡°Your Highness¡­ ¡°Show me.¡± He had no choice and pulled it up. Judy scanned the list and paused when she saw two familiar names, Joshua and Shermaine. She raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise passing through her. It wasn¡¯t unusual for the wealthy to attend private auctions, especially those involving rare artifacts. The York family was the most prominent household in all of Basterel, with wealth and legacy to match. And the Jeans weren¡¯t far behind. Still, knowing she had nearly lost to Shermaine this morning, and that it was only thanks to cheating that she¡¯d managed to save face, made her stomach churn with suppressed rage. Then her lips pulled into a cold, calcted smile. She had juste up with a new n. U Later that afternoon, while Henry and the others were still busy enjoying themselves at Peach Mountain Vi, Joshua and Shermaine quietly slipped away and headed to the hospital. They had already made an appointment with a private obstetrician. Upon arrival, Shermaine was taken in for a full round of tests. It didn¡¯t take long for the results toe in. S Inside the consultation room, the doctor smiled warmly. ¡°Mr. York, congrattions. You¡¯re going to be a father.¡± Shermaine nced down at the report. She was just under four weeks along. All the numbers looked good, no abnormalities or red gs. ¡°Thank you, doctor,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°My pleasure.¡± They had deliberately avoided Yaleview Hospital. Setting foot in that building¡¯s maternity wing would¡¯ve guaranteed gossip. Instead, they¡¯d chosen a discreet, high¨Cend private clinic. The doctor turned to Joshua. ¡°Alright, Dad¨Cto¨Cbe. Let me walk you through what to expect. There are a few things you¡¯ll need to keep in mind. You¡¯ll need to know how to take care of your wife and baby once you¡¯re home.¡± Shermaine stood up, amused. ¡°You take notes. I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡± ¡°Careful. It might be slippery.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Joshua remained frozen, still processing the news that Shermaine might be pregnant. He sat down, letting the doctor¡¯s words about diet, lifestyle, and daily care wash over him, though bing a father. mind was far away, caught in the quiet shock of The more he heard, the more the reality set in. Pregnancy was no easy journey. And with every new detail, his brows furrowed a little deeper. When Shermaine came back from the restroom, she found Joshua on the stairwell just below the rooftop, a cigarette between his fingers. It was the top floor of the hospital, with nothing above but the rooftop terrace. No one usually wandered up there, but smoking was still strictly prohibited. He¡¯d lit a cigarette anyway, though he hadn¡¯t taken more than a couple of drags. The moment he heard her call his name, he put it out without hesitation. She walked up the steps and slipped her arms around his waist from behind. ¡°I¡¯m pregnant. Aren¡¯t you even a little happy?¡± ¡°Lam¡± He was thirty¨Cthree. Most of his friends and former ssmates already had kids in grade school. His, by contrast, was still only a faint presence growing inside her. ¡°Then show me. Smile.¡± 7 But he couldn¡¯t. Every time he imagined her inbor, her body racked with pain just to bring his child into the world, his heart clenched. ¡°Sheary, I want to smile, but I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°What are you so afraid of?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯ll hurt,¡± he said, pulling her into his arms. ¡°The thought of you suffering¡­ I don¡¯t know how to be happy with that hanging over me.¡± There was a time when Shermaine would¡¯veughed at the idea of having a child for any man, let alone doing it willingly. But now, with him¡­ ¡°If it¡¯s for you,¡± she said quietly, ¡°then a little pain is nothing.¡± After leaving the hospital, they returned to Riverswood Vi. The white cat had been left at the house, and it hadn¡¯t stopped meowing since they got back. It clearly wasn¡¯tfortable in its new environment. Shermaine couldn¡¯t be around cats while pregnant, not that it mattered anymore. This wasn¡¯t the same gentle cat it used to be. Joshua turned to Martha. ¡°Send it back to the next door.¡± Martha nodded and took the cat outside. Joshua and Shermaine went upstairs. She was feeling sleepy. After taking off her coat, she headed into the bathroom to wash her face and feet before lying down for a nap. Joshua followed her in. He took the towel from her hands and carefully dried her face, then knelt to rinse and dry her feet himself. Her feet were small and delicate, just the right size to rest in his palm. As he cradled them, he asked, ¡°Do you want to tell Grandpa and Grandma?¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± she replied. ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry them.¡± ¡°Sheary, if it¡¯s too much, we can move the experiment here to Basterel.¡± ¡°There¡¯s really no need,¡± she said lightly, feeling no need to make a fuss over her pregnancy, especially since the baby was still small. ¡°It¡¯ll be settled soon, and I¡¯lle right back. You don¡¯t have to worry so much.¡± Okay She was flying back to Horington the next day to continue her research. The auction was Friday, so she¡¯d be back soon. There would be time to tell the family once things were in order. If they told them now, while she was out of town, it would only make them anxious. That night, when she slipped into bed, Joshuay beside her, his hand resting gently on her stomach. Their child was growing inside her now. In ten months, that tiny life would enter the world. Shermaine gave him a sleepy smile and reached up to pinch his cheek. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± ¡°It does.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not dreaming.¡± He let out a quietugh, leaned down, and kissed her. When he pulled back, his voice was soft and sincere. ¡°Thank you, Sheary.¡± Martha had just dropped off the white cat at the neighbor¡¯s ce. The moment they saw it, they reacted like long¨Clost family had finally been reunited, emotional, overjoyed, and borderline tearful. They even tried to hand her money as thanks. Martha politely declined and made her way home without dy. The cat, meanwhile, hadn¡¯t even had a chance to curl up in its old spot or beg for a head scratch before it felt it, control slipping, awareness fading. Once again, its body stopped responding. ¡®Well, that¡¯s it,¡® it thought bitterly, ¡®I¡¯m definitely busted this time.¡® Joshua and Shermaine were too smart not to notice. If they hadn¡¯t already figured things out, it wouldn¡¯t have ended up back in this house. Frustrated, the creature decided it was pointless to stay in the cat¡¯s body any longer. With a shimmer of pale blue light, it slipped out and drifted up into the night sky, soft and glowing like a firefly. It floated across the rooftops and gently descended back into Riverswood Vi¡¯s backyard. Inside, Joshua and Shermaine were both working in the study. She was on a video call with Danielle, while he was going over reports. The whole scene was warm and ordinary, touched by quiet domesticity. From its perch in a nearby tree, the creature watched for a while. But after a few minutes, hunger got the better of it. It hesitated, then slipped quietly into the house in search of food. The kitchen was dark. A faint blue glow hovered near the refrigerator, rummaging inside like a particrly curious ghost. Martha, having just finished tidying up the living room, heard the noise and went to check it out. Chapter 431 Assuming it was a rat, she pushed open the kitchen door, only to freeze at the sight. Her scream barely had time to escape before her eyes rolled back and she copsed to the Noor. Upstairs, Joshua and Shermaine heard the crash and immediately hurried down. By the time they reached the kitchen, a sh of blue darted across the room and dove straight into Martha¡¯s unconscious body. Moments , her eyes snapped open. She blinked, dazed, just as Joshua and Shermaine appeared in the doorway. What happened?¡± Joshua asked calmly. ¡°N¨Cnothing,¡± she stammered. ¡°Just a big ck rat ran through¨Chere. Gave me a scare. That¡¯s all.¡± She stood quickly, brushing herself off, but the way she avoided their eyes said it all. Shermaine narrowed her gaze. ¡°So the rat also decided to rummage through the fridge?¡± ¡°Y¨Cyes. Exactly.¡± Shermaine let out a softugh. ¡°You¡¯re really bad at lying.¡± Then, without preamble, she said, ¡°Come out. I know you¡¯re not Martha.¡± The thing inside Martha hesitated. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Joshua joined in, his voice cool but direct. ¡°You cane out on your own, or we¡¯ll drag you out. Your choice.¡± Still, it yed dumb. Shermaine tilted her head, casually dropping the bait. ¡°Weren¡¯t you looking for food? Come out and I¡¯ll treat you to fried chicken.¡± That short¨Ccircuited any remaining resistance. Driven purely by hunger, the glowing blue blob slipped out of Martha¡¯s body without thinking. The moment it realized what it had done, it froze in midair, visibly panicked. From Joshua and Shermaine¡¯s perspective, it looked almost cute, like a floating ball of cotton candy, faintly glowing under the kitchen light. Then, realizing it had no way to hide now, it tried anyway, frantically bobbing in circles, looking for an exit. ¡®Stupid fried chicken!¡® it muttered internally. ¡®Lured in with food. How low can they go?¡® But since it had already exposed itself, there was no point pretending anymore. ¡°Fried chicken!¡± it chirped, voice light and sugar¨Csweet. Shermaine blinked, amused. ¡°I¡¯ll order some.¡± Right in front of it, she pulled out her phone and ced an order for fried chicken and a Coke. Ten minutester, the delivery arrived. The moment the aroma hit the air, the blue puff darted forward, diving headfirst into the food like it hadn¡¯t eaten in days. Shermaine watched, intrigued. ¡°So¡­ what are you exactly? Do you have a name?¡± The creature paused, licking its nonexistent lips. Its real name had been long forgotten, far tooplicated to remember after years of drifting between hosts. Chapter 431 But recently, while messing around in Stephen¡¯s body and ying video games, it had given itself a new one. You can call me Dave.¡± Nice to meet you, Dave,¡± Shermaine said smoothly. ¡°Where are you from?¡± ¡°I The temptation of ten rounds of fried chicken was real. Dave swallowed hard, clearly torn, but mustered thest of his resolve. ¡°Nice try,¡± he said, chin Whing stubbornly. ¡°You¡¯re not buying me off with chicken again.¡± Shermaine raised a brow. ¡°Alright then. What if I throw in steak? Ice cream? A whole dessert cart?¡± Dave¡¯s eyes widened. A thin string of drool slipped down the corner of his mouth. Shermaine chuckled under her. breath. Dave clenched what little pride he had left. ¡°No way! I¡¯m not telling you anything. You can forget it.¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t push. Honestly, she hadn¡¯t expected the floating puffball to have such a backbone.. ¡°Well then,¡± she said mildly, ¡°new question.¡± Dave gave a wary little grunt, but didn¡¯t protest. ¡°Why have you been following us?¡°. Though the little creature had no hands to speak of, it somehow managed to produce one. Mouth full of chicken, Dave muttered, ¡°I haven¡¯t been. Total coincidence.¡± He spoke with such wide¨Ceyed sincerity, eyes shimmering like polished ss, it was almost believable. Shermaine smiled. She and Joshua could¡¯ve used force if they wanted to. This creature was hardly a match for them. But it was so ridiculous, so strangely endearing, that she just couldn¡¯t bring herself to be harsh with it. Besides, it hadn¡¯t actually done anything to hurt them. She had a feeling the answers they needed woulde soon anyway from elsewhere. Dave, perhaps sensing the shift in mood, suddenly lost his appetite. The fried chicken didn¡¯t taste nearly as good anymore. Five minutester, the box was empty; the Coke gone, and he gave a sheepish burp. ¡°Thanks for the food.¡± Joshua didn¡¯t even look up. ¡°Then you can leave.¡± Dave¡¯s lips drooped into a pout. He looked hurt, even a little anxious, but he still puffed up his chest and said, ¡°I could be useful, you know. I can protect you.¡± Joshua actually smiled at that. ¡°I mean it!¡± Dave said quickly. ¡°I can keep Shermaine safe. And the baby too. I¡¯m stronger than you. We could spar if you don¡¯t believe me.¡± To prove his point, he was even willing to burn a sliver of his precious Energon. Before he could do anything, Joshua flicked a finger. Dave went flying, bounced off the wall like a rubber toy, and slid down with a soft thud. Right then, Martha stirred. She looked dazed and pale, blinking fast as her gaze swept around the room. ¡°Sir? Ma¡¯am? I¡­ I think I just saw a ghost¡­¡± Chapter 432 Shermaine sighed, walked over, and gently tapped her forehead. Martha¡¯s expression went ck, and she obediently returned to her room to lie down. Joshua took Shermaine¡¯s hand. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s get some rest.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± From where he¡¯d fallen, Dave watched them walk away, wounded both in body and pride. ¡®Monster, he thought miserably. ¡®He¡¯s so mean! Joshua might¡¯ve told him to leave, but honestly, Dave had never intended to. He was too exhausted anyway. After the energy he¡¯d burned earlier, he¡¯d been running on fumes. He dragged himself onto the sofa, curled up, and was snoring within minutes. The next morning, Shermaine boarded a flight back to Horington. With her gone, Dave grew even more nervous around Joshua, though the man barely acknowledged him. Most of the time, Dave stayed hidden, napping through the day. Back in Horington, Shermaine returned straight to theb. She dove back into her serum research as if nothing had happened, not even mentioning the pregnancy to Danielle. Time passed quickly. By midday, morning had slipped away without notice. ¡°Are you still flying back Friday?¡± Danielle asked. Shermaine nodded. ¡°It¡¯s better to deal with problems head¨Con. Clean te, clean progress.¡± They stepped out of work mode for a moment as Shermaine handed Danielle a small wrapped box. Christmas was fast approaching. Ross would be heading overseas in a couple of days, and since Danielle wouldn¡¯t be in Basterel either, he¡¯d arranged for his gift to be delivered early. ¡°Ross asked me to bring this to you.¡± Danielle smiled, delighted. ¡°Your brother¡¯s getting pretty romantic these days.¡± Just as they reached theb doors, a familiar voice rang out. Wearing a sleek wool coat and knee¨Chigh boots, Molly strode up to them like she owned the street, bold, beautiful, and full of fire. ¡°Well, well. Look who finally took a break from saving the world.¡± 2/2 Molly¡¯s arrival had caught them off guard. But the moment the surprise wore off, joy took over. It had been far too long since they¡¯d seen her. ¡°Molly?¡± Danielle gasped. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Just¡­ personal business,¡± Molly replied, keeping it vague. Shermaine had her suspicions. If she had to guess, this visit had something to do with Bruce. Danielle pulled her into a hug, but not without mischief. Her hand slipped around Molly¡¯s waist and gave it a yful squeeze. ¡°Still as ticklish as ever, huh?¡± For once, Molly¡¯s ears turned pink. She red at her through gritted teeth. ¡°Danielle!¡± But Danielle wasn¡¯t done. She gave her another sly pinch and added with a grin, ¡°Rx. I didn¡¯t tell Roy. No one else knows you¡¯re ticklish. Your secret¡¯s safe with us.¡± Molly rolled her eyes. She and Roy hadn¡¯t been talking muchtely. ¡°So what if he finds out?¡± she said coolly. Danielle smirked. ¡°Try keeping that energy in bed.¡± Molly was instantly speechless. ¡°I¡¯m just saying,¡± Danielle went on, amused. ¡°All he has to do is touch your waist, and you¡¯d turn to mush.¡± Just picturing it made herugh. Molly, meanwhile, looked visibly ufortable. ¡°Would you shut up?¡± ¡°Not a chance,¡± Danielle said sweetly. ¡°Not ever.¡± Molly pressed a hand to her forehead, already regretting showing up. She was used to being the dominant one, especially in bed. The thought of being the one who gave in was not her style. ¡°Sheary, am I right?¡± said Danielle. ¡°You are.¡± Horington had been without water for weeks now. Clean supplies were running low, and with Molly joining them, they had to be even more careful with meals. Back at the hotel, lunch had already been arranged, every ingredient flown in from Basterel by Joshua¡¯s team. Molly hadn¡¯t been lying about her reason foring. She was here for Bruce. He¡¯d stayed in Wallington too long, and her father was getting impatient. But Bruce was one of the few people in Ustrana who didn¡¯t care what her father thought. Molly, on the other hand, was more than happy for an excuse toe back. When her father suggested she personally bring Bruce home, she volunteered before he even finished the sentence. The deadline was generous. She was in no rush. After lunch, they all headed upstairs and spent the next hour catching up. sunil tore o¡¯click thist Shamsine and bandelte returned to theb. At three, the tenth round of kern injection was cluded. Molly went to find Brux inside the tab, Natalie locked gaunt, nothing like her former sell Part of it was the virus. The mutations were ravaging her from the inside. The rest was the experiments. Being used again and again as a test subject had left her body wrecked, her nerves that By now, the pain had carved itself into her brain. Just the sight of a needle sent her spiraling. As soon as Shermaine and the others walked in, Natalie reacted, panic rising before anyone even touched her. But she had no one to me but herself. If she hadn¡¯t made herself a threat, she wouldn¡¯t be strapped to a freezing metal table right now. The injection went in, and then came the pain. Her entire body convulsed. Screams tore from her throat, raw, broken, and endless. It sounded like her very bones were being pulled apart. Then, after a long while, the screaming stopped. Everyone nced at one another, thinking it another failure. But Shermaine didn¡¯t think so. Natalie¡¯s symptoms were changing. The ck scales were falling away and not growing back. Her once¨Celongated nails and fangs had started to dull. Slowly, her body was rebncing, bing human again. Danielle arched a brow. ¡°That¡¯s progress.¡± Shermaine gave a quiet nod. ¡°Yeah.¡± The others in theb exhaled, cautiously optimistic. ¡°Finally!¡± That night, Molly returned to the hotel just as the sun dipped below the skyline. She swiped her keycard, let herself into Shermaine and Danielle¡¯s suite, and found the ce empty. Without hesitation, she headed straight for the shower. By the time she finished, she was drying off when she heard the door open. Shermaine and Danielle had juste back. Shermaine had her phone in hand, mid¨Cvideo call. Onscreen, Roy was clearly drunk. His cheeks were red, his speech slurred, and he clutched a bottle of wine like it was hisst friend on earth. ¡°Shermaine,¡± he whined, ¡°Momo¡¯s ignoring me.¡± His eyes welled up. ¡°She doesn¡¯t like me. Does she? ¡°I can¡¯t take this. I¡¯m booking a flight to Ustrana. Right now. I¡¯m going to find her.¡± Shermaine stared at him, unimpressed. He was clearly three drinks in, and every other word out of his mouth was Molly. When she saw Molly emerge from the bathroom in a robe, she tossed her phone at Molly. ¡°Your problem. Go deal with it.¡± 2/3 Molly had, in fact, ignored Roy for nearly two full days. Work had consumed her attention, and she¡¯d been unintentionally distant. When she finally took his call, the first thing she saw was Roy¡¯s handsome face, darkened by drunken mncholy and unspoken grievances. But the moment he realized the video had switched to her, his entire expression lit up. For a moment, he looked almost dazed, rubbing his eyes like a man waking from a dream, struggling to believe she was really there. He leaned in so close it seemed he might try to crawl through the screen just to be sure. ¡°Momo?¡± Molly gave anguid nod. Roy pinched his cheek. The sharp sting grounded him in reality. ¡°You¡¯re in Wallington? At Shermaine¡¯s?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± She set her wine on the table and moved to the sofa. When Roytched onto a video call, it was never a short one. The thought that she was now in the neighboring city stirred something restless in Roy. But the excitement was quickly drowned out by a a wave of frustration and doubt he hadn¡¯t yet learned to hide. ¡°Momo¡­ are you getting tired of me?¡± he asked, his head hung low, his voice hollow with discouragement. The sight tugged at Molly¡¯s conscience. After a pause, she softened and said, ¡°No.¡± ¡°But you¡¯ve been ignoring me.¡± ¡°I was on a flight.¡± ¡°And after younded?¡± ¡°I was busy.¡± Roy flinched. Her words fell like a slow, cold rain, quiet, indifferent, and unrelenting. All he heard was that she hadn¡¯t cared enough to reply. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t called Shermaine, would you even have texted me back tonight?¡± Molly frowned. The truth was, she hadn¡¯t checked her phone at all that day. She¡¯d been caught up in long¨Coverdue conversations, sipping wine, easing into thefort of familiarpany. But she didn¡¯t exin that. Her silence hit Roy like a blow to the chest. He finally understood why long¨Cdistance rtionships so often withered. It wasn¡¯t the miles, but the silence in between. And the crueler truth was, he and Molly weren¡¯t even in a rtionship. Whatever me had sparked between them was flickering out before it had ever found shape. His eyes reddened. He missed her terribly. She was in his thoughts every night, threaded through his dreams like a ghost he couldn¡¯t shake. But she didn¡¯t seem to feel the same. And with him no longer in Ustrana, he had no way of holding on to her heart. His face had gone pale, his chest tightening with the weight of unspoken doubt. Maybe she¡¯d never liked him at all. 1/2 ¡°Sony,¡± Molly said atst, voice low. It was tire, she had neglected him, that much she couldn¡¯t deny. And perhaps, in trying not to think about Roy, she had also been trying not to confront the growing uncertainty in her heart. ¡°Momo, you don¡¯t need to apologize,¡± Roy said softly after a beat. ¡°It¡¯s always been me chasing after you. If anyone should apologize, it¡¯s me. My head¡¯s spinning¡­ I should go. Goodnight, Momo,¡± It was the first time he¡¯d ever ended a call with her so abruptly. But he couldn¡¯t take it, not the silence, not the apology, not the way it felt like goodbye. To him, it was heartbreak, quiet and premature. Molly didn¡¯t love him. And if he confessed, he was certain she¡¯d turn him down. His head throbbed, and he felt the sting in his eyes. Even if she didn¡¯t love him, he couldn¡¯t help how deeply he loved her. Molly stared at the nk screen, brow furrowed. All she¡¯d said was ¡°sorry,¡± and yet Roy¡¯s reaction had been so intense, so final. As the call ended, Danielle leaned over with a smirk. ¡°You really do y the cold¨Chearted beauty a little too well.¡± ¡°I¡¯m cold¨Chearted now?¡± Danielle recited her words mockingly, ¡°I was on a flight. I was busy. Sorry.¡® ssic. Another poor guy crushed under your heel. Doesn¡¯t look like he¡¯ll be winning the girl after all.¡± ¡°I was just being honest.¡± ¡°Sure. And not replying? Also honest.¡± Molly had no answer to that. Molly paused, then admitted, ¡°Alright, fine. I was going to make it up to him. He just¡­ missed his window.¡± Danielle gave a wicked little grin. ¡°Well, that¡¯s on him then. Roy didn¡¯t have the fortune to get fussed over by you tonight.¡± Honestly, Molly thought, Roy was getting bolder. He actually hung up on her. But truth be told, he probably regretted it the moment he did. He¡¯d clearly had too much to drink, and when he was drunk, his thoughts always ran in circles. It wasn¡¯t as if she¡¯d ever rejected him outright. She just didn¡¯t treat him like a priority. And that, in itself, was probably enough to break his heart. ¡°Why don¡¯t you call him back?¡± Danielle asked. Molly had been thinking the same. The idea of Roy lying there feeling hurt made her feel slightly guilty. ¡°No,¡± she said after a beat. ¡°I¡¯ll see if I can fly to Basterel tomorrow.¡± Danielle arched an eyebrow. ¡°Wow. He must be something if he¡¯s getting you to fly over just to smooth things out.¡± Molly had long grown used to Danielle¡¯s teasing. ¡°I¡¯m still human,¡± she replied dryly. Then she nudged her. ¡°Now go shower. We¡¯ve got wine to finish.¡± ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Shermaine had gone to shower early. Molly stayed in the living room with her ss of wine and put on a film. A little whileter, Shermaine came sat beside her. Molly reached for the bottle to pour her a drink, but Shermaine stopped her with a shake of the head. ¡°I can¡¯t drink right now.¡± ¡°On your period?¡± ¡°No.¡± Molly¡¯s eyes narrowed as her brain caught up. ¡°You¡¯re not¡­ pregnant, are you?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Molly froze for a second, her hand still holding the wine bottle. ¡°Shermaine, you don¡¯t mess around, do you?¡± Shermaine gave a small smile. ¡°Let¡¯s just call it good news.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get you some juice.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Molly brought the juice back and said with a smirk, ¡°With your genes and Joshua¡¯s, that baby¡¯s practically going to be a superhero.¡± Shermaine¡¯s eyes narrowed faintly. ¡°Maybe.¡± She hadn¡¯t thought about it in that way. All she wanted was for the child to be healthy, to grow up safe and well. She didn¡¯t n to impose expectations too early. When Danielle found out Shermaine was pregnant, her attitude changed in an instant. Teasing was gone, reced by firm concern. ¡°You went into the quarantine zone today. Got that close to Natalie I don¡¯t care how confident you are, Shermaine, you¡¯ve got to be careful.¡± Caution was never wasted, especially now. Shermaine, unsurprised by her reaction, simply nodded. ¡°I know. Now hush and drink.¡± 1/2 15.12. Thu 3JENUK Chapter 435 The next morning, Molly boarded a flight to Basterel. Roy was still dead asleep at Riverswood Vi, lying in one of the guest rooms with a hangover that had knocked him t. Joshua had already left for the office, and Dave was somewhere in the house, passed out cold.. When Molly arrived, Martha greeted her at the door. ¡°Ms. Hill, Mr. Shay is still upstairs, asleep. Would you like me to wake him?¡± ¡°No need. Which room is he in?¡± ¡°The second guest room from the end on the left.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Molly made her way upstairs. As Martha had said, the second¨Ctost room on the left was unlocked. She pushed the door open. The bed was a mess, with a lump under the covers and a mop of brown hair sticking out from one end. Molly stepped in and sat at the edge of the bed. It had been a while since she¡¯d seen Roy in person. His hair, once dyed that yful shade of pink, was now back to brown. It made him look much more well¨Cbehaved. But the reek of alcohol on him was strong. He¡¯d clearly overdone it. He was curled around a pillow in his sleep, which exined why, back in Ustrana, he¡¯d always wanted to cuddle her at night. She leaned over and pinched his nose. Roy wrinkled his brow and gave a soft groan but didn¡¯t open his eyes. Molly¡¯s hand slipped to the back of his neck. Sensing some kind of threat even in his sleep; Roy reacted instinctively. His arm shot out and wrapped around her in one quick motion. Chapter 436 Molly found herself pinned beneath Roy, his arm draped carelessly across her neck. As his vision cleared and he recognized her face, his breath caught. ¡°Momo?!¡± I have to be dreaming,¡® he thought. ¡®There¡¯s no way she came to see me. This has to be a dream. Please, don¡¯t let it end!¡® Molly, less than thrilled to be trapped under him, said tly, ¡°Now that you know it¡¯s me, how about getting off?¡± But instead of moving, Roy slid his arm from her neck to her waist and pulled her closer, tightening his grip. In a soft, slurred voice, he mumbled, ¡°I missed you so much.¡± ¡°I heard you. Now get off.¡± Instead, he nuzzled into her neck like a sulky child. ¡°You ignored me. It really hurt, you know.¡± Then, without warning, he bit her gently. ¡°You¡¯re so mean.¡± Molly only stared at him in disbelief. Still under the impression he was asleep, Roy continued to act on impulse. He kissed her neck, once, then again, slow, lingering, and in between, whispered, ¡°But I like you so much.¡± With her body pressed flush against his, the effect was instant¡¢ Roy¡¯s breath hitched, and his hands tensed at her waist. The contact sent a shiver through Molly¡¯s spine as her waist had always been her most sensitive spot. And with Roy touching her like this, that weakness only deepened. To him, this dream version of Molly seemed impossibly obedient, lying still beneath him, letting him kiss her without protest. He leaned in, finally aiming for her lips, something he¡¯d wanted to do for a long time.. Normally restrained, Roy hadpletely surrendered to desire. ¡°You taste so sweet,¡± he whispered, eyes burning. His hand slid up her side, trailing over warm skin that felt rmingly real. And then, with a thud, he hit the floor hard. Stunned, he blinked up at her. Molly was sitting upright, calmly straightening her clothes. Her lips were flushed, her blouse rumpled. The lipstick smeared across Roy¡¯s mouth made the whole scene look even more absurd. ¡°Momo?¡± he croaked. She reached down and pinched his chin between her fingers, lifting his face toward hers. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve, you little brat.¡± And that was when it clicked. This wasn¡¯t a dream. A slow, ecstatic grin spread across Roy¡¯s face. ¡°This is real, right? I¡¯m not dreaming!¡± The gloom from the night before evaporated like it had never existed. 1/4 Chapter 436. Molly gave his cheek a sharp squeeze, but instead of wincing, Roy looked even more delighted. Still think it¡¯s a dream?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± he beamed. He gazed at her, and his eyes darkened with something deeper than just longing. There was hunger, but also devotion. ¡°You came to see me. That has to mean you don¡¯t hate me. It means I still have a chance¡­ doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°I think yes.¡± Molly gave him a small, amused smile. ¡°Whatever you say.¡± Roy pulled her into a hug again, his voice muffled against her shoulder. ¡°God, Momo¡­ I¡¯m so happy right now.¡± Molly felt like being held by a sun¨Cwarmed nket, and the sensation he¡¯d left on her skin still hadn¡¯t faded. She pushed him away with a wrinkle of her nose. ¡°Go take a shower. You stink.¡± Roy froze, gave himself a quick sniff, and immediately recoiled. ¡°Okay, yeah. That¡¯s bad.¡± He backed off quickly. ¡°Wait for me. I¡¯ll be quick.¡± The guest room had everything he needed, his toiletries and a clean change of clothes. Last night, he¡¯d felt like he was drowning in despair. This morning, he¡¯d woken up in paradise. As the water ran down his back, he tried to focus, but it was hopeless. The memory of Molly in his arms, the feel of her lips, her skin, the scent of her perfume¡­ it all clung to him, refusing to let go. The longer he stood there, the hotter his face burned. It was a long while before Roy finally emerged from the bathroom, only to discover that Molly was no longer in the guest room. His expression copsed in an instant. Without a moment¡¯s pause, he swept through the entire second floor, then rushed downstairs. It wasn¡¯t until he saw Molly sitting calmly in the living room with a cup of coffee in hand that he finally breathed again. He strode over and wrapped his arms around her. ¡°Momo, I thought you were leaving me again.¡± ¡°You were taking forever.¡± Roy froze for a beat, then turned his face aside, his voice subdued. ¡°Sorry for keeping you waiting.¡± Molly caught the blush creeping up his neck and gave a small smile. Just then, Martha came in carrying a te of freshly sliced fruit. ¡°Mr. Shay, Ms. Hill, would you like to stay for lunch?¡± Roy shook his head. ¡°Thanks, Martha. I¡¯m taking Momo out.¡± ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll leave you two to it,¡± sheughed. Molly had grown up in Ustrana, though she had spent a few childhood years in Wallington. The country had always held a certain charm for her. She knew its history, its stories, and its quiet corners better than most who called it home. Today, Roy was riding high. With an air of pride, he brought Molly straight to the newest restaurant opened by Henry. ¡°Once we¡¯re done eating, I want to take you somewhere fun,¡± he said, almost bouncing on his heels at the thought of their date. 2/4 ¡°Don¡¯t you have work?¡± I¡¯ve always got time when ites to you.¡± She narrowed her eyes with satisfaction, a quiet approval flickering behind her gaze. Meanwhile, Roy was busy showing off in the group chat. [My girl came all the way to Basterel to see me!] Henry: Yeah, and you brought her straight to my ce.] Roy: [Right? I¡¯m killing it.] Big Bird: [Damn, Roy. You really got that tough girl wrapped around your finger?] Roy: [She doesn¡¯t need to be wrapped. I¡¯m the one wrapped around her little finger] The group chat went dead silent. Still basking in his own triumph, Roy was caught off guard when Joshua dropped a video into the thread, a clip from the night before, showing Roy,pletely stered, drunkenly hugging the leg of a table and muttering nonsense. The group erupted withughter. If anyone knew how to kill a man¡¯s moment, it was Joshua. Roy rubbed the back of his neck and shoved his phone into his pocket. ¡°So¡­ how long are you staying in Wallington?¡± ¡°Four, maybe five days.¡± That was already generous,ing from someone whose calendar was usually booked down to the hour. Bruce didn¡¯t make things difficult for her. Once the situation in Horington was under control, he¡¯d return. Progress on the serum had also been promising. Breakthroughs were happening fast, and they were close to having a working form ready for production. ¡°Sheary¡¯s flying back Friday for the auction,¡± Molly added. ¡°I¡¯ll head back to Ustrana after that.¡± It meant, for now, she was staying in Basterel. Thursday arrived, and theb erupted in cheers. The serum was finallyplete. After months of research and trial runs, they had seeded. The regression symptoms in Natalie had fully reversed. Her vitals had stabilized, and after a few more days of observation, the serum would be ready for mass production. Soon, it could be administered to anyone who had been exposed to the infected water supply. The government and hospitals of Horington were deeply grateful to Shermaine and Danielle. Danielle, however, didn¡¯t take much credit. She hadn¡¯t been a key contributor in the final phase. That night was Christmas Eve. One by one, the specialists packed up and went home. The auction was set for the next morning. 1512 110 3 Chapter 436 Shermaine would be flying back to Basterel at dawn. Danielle, however, would remain behind. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t trust the others. It was just that she and Shermaine had overseen the project from the beginning. Bringing in someone new at such a critical stage, even for a short time, could invite unnecessary risk. On Friday, Joshua sent a helicopter to pick Shermaine up. After breakfast, she boarded the aircraft. The flight was smooth until they crossed a mountain range. Suddenly, the sky darkened. A swirling vortex appeared out of nowhere, tearing open midair like a hole in the sky. Neither Shermaine nor the pilot had time to register what was happening before the aircraft was swallowed whole. Back at Riverswood Vi, Dave was fast asleep when something stirred him awake. He shot upright, a jolt of unease crawling up his spine. Chapter 437 The auction was about to begin, and guests were arriving in elegant waves. Joshua checked the time. Shermaine should bending in about ten minutes. He hadn¡¯t seen her in days, and the distance was starting to wear on him. Knowing she was pregnant and traveling alone only made it worse. He¡¯d barely slept these past few nights, gued by worry. Since they got married, he¡¯d grown used to shielding her from everything. He¡¯d pampered her and wrapped her infort, so much so that she had be more delicate than before. Pregnancy often came with fatigue, nausea, and asional vomiting. But aside from needing more sleep, Shermaine seemed perfectly fine. If anything, h Just then, Bradley came hurrying over, his expression tight and voice low. ¡°Mr. York.¡± Joshua looked up. ¡°What is it?¡± appetite had improved. Bradley hesitated, as though still struggling to believe what he was about to say. ¡°The helicopter lost contact while flying over Mount Hordeum. We haven¡¯t been able to reach them. Nothing on satellite either. It¡¯s like they just¡­ vanished.¡± There had been no warning. It was the kind of disappearance that hit like a punch to the chest. Bradley had been by Joshua¡¯s side for years. He had seen him face crisis after crisis without blinking, had watched him stare down boardrooms, scandals, and even death with that same unshakable calm. But this was different. This time, it was Shermaine. And she was carrying their child. If something had happened to her, it would be a double tragedy. Even if she hadn¡¯t been pregnant, Shermaine was the one person Joshua would never risk losing. She was his , maybe fifteen seconds passed before a blinding white light exploded in front of them. Then the aircraft broke through, into somewherepletely unknown. They hovered over a barren, alien terrain. One side stretched out in volcanic peaks glowing faintly red, the other was a frozen wastnd cloaked in ice and snow. Not a single sign of life anywhere. Shermaine unbuckled her seatbelt and slid into the co¨Cpilot¡¯s seat. Her voice was calm and steady. ¡°Stay with me. Don¡¯t panic. ¡°Mrs. York¡­¡± Neil¡¯s voice cracked. ¡°Where the hell are we?¡± 1/2 Chapter 437 She looked out the windshield, gaze sharp. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Without warning, the scorching sun above them vanished. The sky twisted, and a tornado began forming in the clouds, bearing down fast. Shermaine saw it first and issued hermand without hesitation. ¡°Hard turn. Get us out of its path.¡± Neil¡¯s hands were slick with sweat as he gripped the controls. He banked the aircraft sharply, narrowly veering away from the funnel cloud. Back at the auction, the bidding had already begun. Molly, still scanning the crowd, noticed Shermaine¡¯s absence and felt a prickling unease at the back of her neck. ¡°Where¡¯s Joshua?¡± she asked quietly. ¡°Let me give him a call,¡± Roy replied. Only momentster did they learn Shermaine¡¯s helicopter had vanished over Mount Hordeum. And Joshua had already left for the mountain to lead the search himself. Mount Hordeum was vast, its terrain treacherous. Without a precise signal or location, finding a single person out there would¨Cbe like looking for a needle in a haystack. Still, there was no other option. A search team had to be deployed. Molly watched Roy as he ended a call, his expression grim. ¡°Sheary¡¯s in trouble, isn¡¯t she?¡± Roy nodded. ¡°Her helicopter disappeared somewhere over Mount Hordeum. Joshua¡¯s gone to look for her.¡± Molly¡¯s face hardened. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. How does a helicopter just vanish?¡± Complete radio silence required a catastrophic event, like a crash into the ocean. But Mount Hordeum sat onnd, right between Horington and Basterel. There was no sea, no storm, no usible reason. And in an era of satellite coverage, nobody just disappears. It didn¡¯t add up. Something was very wrong. Chapter 438 The auction would go on. There was no way Shermaine¡¯s carefullyid trap could be unraveled just like that. In fact, her sudden disappearance might be exactly what those people were behind. ¡°We¡¯re going too,¡± Molly said firmly. Roy shook his head. ¡°Joshua gave me strict orders. I need to keep eyes on them. Can¡¯t afford to let them slip away.¡± Molly nodded, her voice cool and steady. ¡°Then I¡¯ll stay with you.¡± Shermaine had invested too much in this operation. Her absence could not be allowed to derail it. Meanwhile, in the shadows, Harry couldn¡¯t help but feel that Judy had gone too far. That weapon she¡¯d used on Shermaine wasn¡¯t just some trinket. It was a prison built in four¨Cdimensional space. Judy had been saving it for a moment when her own life was on the line. Once someone entered that dimension, escape was almost impossible. Worse yet, it only worked three times. This was the final use. After this, there would be no second chance. If Shermaine couldn¡¯t make it out, she¡¯d be trapped inside, left to rot. And yet, even knowing that, Harry still thought it was a waste to use something so rare on someone like Shermaine. Butter, he changed his mind. Looking back, Judy had made the right call. And still, that so¨Ccalled prison hadn¡¯t been enough to kill her. Shermaine wasn¡¯t someone who could be taken out so easily. Some people were simply born to survive. ¡°Where¡¯s Joshua now?¡± Judy asked. ¡°He¡¯s already gone to Mount Hordeum.¡± Judy had it all calcted. Once she got her hands on the book, she¡¯d head to Mount Hordeum to find him. He had royal blood, and if she could convince him to wield Apocalypse for her, he¡¯d be the perfect weapon. Shermaine was the key to controlling him. That much was clear. Inside that mysterious four¨Cdimensional space, Shermaine and Neil had barely dodged a tornado. Somehow, they were still alive. The helicopter circled, scanning for signs of life. After one slow pass, Neil turned to her. ¡°Mrs. York, I think I see a wreckage in the forest. Looks like a crashed ne.¡± Shermaine narrowed her eyes. ¡°Take us down.¡± The helicopter touched down in a clearing, and Shermaine stepped out, walking straight toward the wreck. It was a fighter jet. But the design didn¡¯t match anything from their time. Chapter 438 Inside the cockpit sat a skeleton, still dressed in a flight suit. Whoever it was had been dead for years, nothing left but bones. Neil stared, frozen. A cold chill crept up his spine. Are we going to die here too?¡® he thought. ¡®Did we just¡­ travel through time?¡® Other people who got thrown through time ended up ruling kingdoms. But here they were, dumped in the middle of a wastnd. The weather shifted abruptly. The sky darkened like spilled ink, thunder rumbling low and deep. And then came the rain, fast, hard, and merciless. It pounded the earth like war drums. Shermaine didn¡¯t flinch. Calm as ever, she kept studying the fighter jet. Her fingers brushed something, and suddenly a blue holographic screen sprang to life in midair. ¡°Hello, fellow exile,¡± said a man¡¯s voice. ¡°My name is Maverick Kirk. If you¡¯re seeing this, I¡¯m probably already gone¡­¡± But thenguage was foreign,pletely iprehensible. Shermaine and the pilot stared at the screen, unable to make sense of a single word. Still, that message confirmed her suspicions. Whoever was looking for the booklet, they weren¡¯t from this world. They were from a parallel universe, or maybe another altogether. And their technology was far more advanced than anything on Earth. In fact, Dave¡¯s appearance had already hinted at it. The secret of the crystal sarcophagus wasn¡¯t just big. It was cosmic. It turned out that visitors from another world had been living among them for a thousand years, maybe more. Suddenly, something moved outside. Neil blinked, thinking he imagined it. But there it was, a pair of glowing red eyes. A towering silver humanoid robot, nearly six feet tall, stood at the entrance of the helicopter. Its hands began to twist and shift with a mechanical snap. In seconds, they transformed into curved, gleaming des. ¡°Life form detected,¡± it said in a t, robotic voice. ¡°Engaging termination protocol.¡± AD Comment Chapter 439 The moment Neil saw the robot, he instinctively wiped the sweat off his brow. Not only had theynded in the middle of nowhere, but now it seemed they¡¯dnded on another altogether. The thing looked like it had stepped right out of a sci¨Cfi nightmare, cold, silent, and built to kill. Neil had served in the air force, seen his share of action, but even he had no idea how to handle this. His instincts screamed danger. Still, he had one job, to protect Shermaine. ¡°Mrs. York,¡± he called out, voice tight, ¡°stay behind me.¡± But Shermaine didn¡¯t even blink. Her gaze stayed fixed on the machine. ¡°Worry about yourself. I can handle this,¡± she said calmly. And the truth was, she could. Neil, for all his training, wouldn¡¯t be much help here. At best, he could try not to get himself killed. The robot lunged, one of its ded arms slicing through the air with a hiss. Neil barely dodged in time, stumbling backward with a choked yell. Even when they threw heavy equipment at it, the thing didn¡¯t react. Its metal body absorbed the hits like it was nothing. But Shermaine wasn¡¯t rattled. If it was man¨Cmade, then it had limits. And limits could be exploited. Dodging the robot¡¯s attacks with sharp, calcted movements, she called to Neil over her shoulder. ¡°Look around the cabin. See if you can find a rope or anything useful.¡± ¡°Got it. Just¡­ be careful.¡± ¡°I will.¡± Over Mount Hordeum, several helicopters were circling, searching for any trace of the aircraft that had vanished. But there was nothing, not even a scrap of metal. A helicopter that size, disappearing without a single piece of wreckage was unsettling, to say the least. For Joshua, every passing second was unbearable. In the co¨Cpilot¡¯s seat, Bradley was reviewing the details. The whole thing reeked of foul y. Everything about it had happened far too neatly. ¡°We¡¯ve recovered the flight footage,¡± he said, handing Joshua a tablet. ¡°y it.¡± Bradley tapped the screen. The footage, captured from a satellite feed, showed the helicopter flying normally along its nned route. Then, as it neared Mount Hordeum, the signal cut outpletely. By the time it resumed, the aircraft was gone, simply vanished. ¡°I¡¯ve already contacted the Bureau of Aerospace Surveince. They¡¯re taking over the investigation.¡± Back at the auction, the booklet had finally reached the bidding tform. Inside their private box, Judy watched the rising numbers on the screen. ¡°Keep pushing the price,¡± she said coolly. Harry understood her reasoning. They hadn¡¯te by this money honestly, and if throwing enough cash around could get them the booklet without a 50% scene, all the better. No point risking exposure if it could be avoided. But just when it looked like the n might actually work, Molly stormed in, gun already drawn, eyes zing. Roy was right behind her, expression deadly serious. He recognized them both Judy and Harry. Harry¡¯s jaw tightened as he realized this was a setup. Judy didn¡¯t flinch. Arms crossed, voice steady, she met Roy¡¯s re. ¡°And if it is?¡± She barely finished the sentence before Molly stepped forward, weapon raised. ¡°Try me,¡± Molly said tly, her voice sharp with fury. ¡°Where¡¯s Shermaine? Is she missing because of you?¡± ¡°If you want answers, maybe don¡¯t start by pointing a gun at me.¡± Molly snorted, ¡°Oh, cut the act. Everyone knows you¡¯ve been circling Joshua like a vulture, ying innocent. Challenging Shermaine to a match, and cheating when you couldn¡¯t win. Shameless doesn¡¯t even begin to cover it.¡± She cocked the gun with a sharp click. ¡°You don¡¯t want to talk? Fine. I¡¯ll put a bullet in you and see if that helps you remember anything.¡± When it came to threats, Judy could be ruthless. Butpared to Molly, she was out of her league. AD Harry narrowed his eyes, thinking, ¡°Why didn¡¯t she just stay in Ustrana? What the hell is she doing here?! He¡¯d always known Molly The from a family that practically ran Ustrana like their private empire. And she wasn¡¯t one to be content ying second fiddle. She had her eyes on the top seat. A woman like that in the Kingdom of Xyperia was best to steer clear. Judy, undeterred and full of bravado, sneered, ¡°Touch me, and Shermaine won¡¯t live to see tomorrow.¡± Molly raised an eyebrow. ¡°You? Seriously?¡± She had had enough of Judy¡¯s arrogance. In fact, she was just about ready to shoot her on the spot. And she did. She didn¡¯t flinch and just pulled the trigger. Harry moved in a sh, throwing himself between them. The bullet tore into his foot, and the pain hit him so hard his face went pale in an instant. Judy shot to her feet. ¡°You dare hurt my people?!¡± ¡°Say another word and I¡¯ll put a bullet through your head,¡± Molly said tly, her gun now aimed at Judy¡¯s temple. ¡°I¡¯ll ask onest time. Was Shermaine¡¯s disappearance your doing?¡± Judy stared her down. ¡°And if it was? ¡°I¡¯m not here to trade words with you. You¡¯re not even in the same league. I want Joshua.¡± Knowing she couldn¡¯t walk away easily, Judy said, ¡°You threaten me again, and I won¡¯t even need to lift a finger. Shermaine¡¯s life is hanging by a thread. I can cut it anytime I please.¡± The certainty in her voice only made Molly scoff. ¡°A woman who needed to cheat just to barely hold her own against Shermaine? And you expect us to take your word for anything?¡± Harry wasn¡¯t about to let Judy¡¯s credibility crumble in front of everyone. He stepped forward. ¡°Don¡¯t believe her? Fine. Watch this.¡± The room had arge screen on one wall. Harry brought up a live feed, footage of Shermaine trapped inside a four¨Cdimensional space. They could monitor the scene because the robot inside had been sent by them. Everything they were seeing came from the machine¡¯s point of view. The robot was in relentless pursuit. Twin des shed through the air, deadly and mechanical. If Shermaine hadn¡¯t been in the frame, they might¡¯ve thought it was a scene from some sci¨Cfi thriller. Thendscape itself was strange, clearly not anywhere on Mount Hordeum. Or maybe¡­ that ce didn¡¯t even exist on Mount Hordeum. People in the room began to realize Judy and Harry might not be what they seemed. Not entirely human, perhaps. One of the des nearly struck Shermaine, but she flipped backward,nding a few steps away. Still, the hem of her coat was sliced clean 15:12 Thu 3 She nced down at the ruined edge and her expression darkened. The coat had been expensive, and Joshua bought it for her. Just like that, her patience ran out. 3.50% Harry cut the feed, the screen going ck. ¡°Our robot hasn¡¯t even started using its real arsenal. You¡¯d be smart to show Her Highness a little respect.¡± Now that they had proof Shermaine was still alive, Harry figured that would keep them in check. Molly, however, didn¡¯t look the least bit convinced. ¡°Sheary¡¯s gonna rip that hunk of metal apart in five minutes. Watch.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous,¡± Judy said coolly. ¡°You think she can dismantle it just like that? Shermaine might be gifted. I won¡¯t deny that, but your little genius is nowhere near advanced enough to override our technology.¡± Molly was already raising her gun again when Roy stepped in, pulling her into his arms before she could lose control. ¡°Momo, let¡¯s wait for Joshua. He¡¯ll decide how to handle this.¡± After all, Joshua was Shermaine¡¯s husband, and no one else had the right to make that call. Molly frowned, but didn¡¯t resist. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be mad,¡± Roy whispered. Elsewhere, Joshua ended the call with Roy, eyes deep as storm clouds. ¡°I¡¯m on my way back.¡± Chapter 441 50X In the warped stillness of four¨Cdimensional space, Neil finally returned with a rope in hand, just in time to see Shermaine locked in fiercebat with the robot. If they¡¯d had anything with real firepower, the robot would¡¯ve been scrap metal by now. But Shermaine¡¯s reflexes more than made up for theirck of weaponry. Neil could only hope the rope he¡¯d found, after what felt like an eternity of searching, was strong enough to be of use. ¡°Mrs. York! Got the rope!¡± he called out. ¡°Throw it!¡±
He waited for an opening, then hurled it across the space. The robot wasn¡¯t exactly brilliant. Its programming only allowed it to assess how dangerous something was. A quick scan of the rope showed a negligible threat level, so it just stood there, inert. Then its arm morphed into a machine gun. ¡°Target locked. Commencing fire.¡± A hail of bullets tore through the air, but none found their mark. 4 Shermaine had already slipped into its blind spot. The robot kept firing into empty space, wasting ammunition. Shended behind it, spun once, and threw the rope with practiced ease. It looped cleanly over the machine¡¯s head. The instant the tension hit, the robot reacted, attempting to slice the rope off. But Shermaine yanked hard, and the lumbering body lost bnce and crashed to the floor. In a few swift moves, she had it bound hand and foot. The machine strained, but couldn¡¯t break free. Just as it tried to lift its arm to cut itself loose, Shermaine mmed her boot down on the back of its head. Neil rushed in and grabbed its mechanical arm, pinning it. Shermaine didn¡¯t stop at one stomp. She crushed it underfoot several times before pausing. The robot¡¯s red eyes blinked erratically, pulsing like a dying signal. Only then did.she crouch down and search along its back. Her fingers found a hidden switch. One press, and apartment slid open. Inside was a block of glowing blue Energon Core, its purpose unclear, but clearly vital. She pulled it free, and immediately, the robot went dark with no power. Crisis averted, Neil finally exhaled. ¡°Mrs. York, I found some food in the ship¡¯s cold storage.¡± The fighter jet wasn¡¯tpletely wrecked. Its emergency systems were still active. The supplies were surprisingly fresh. Shermaine nodded. ¡°Neil, check if there¡¯s a toolbox onboard.¡± He left at once. Shermaine returned to the cockpit and pressed a red button. The jet¡¯s main systems flickered back to life. She began scanning the controls, taking her time. 1/2 Soon, Neil returned with a heavy case of tools, wrenches, pliers, spare parts. ¡°You¡¯re nning to take it apart?¡± ¡°We, I want the chip in its head.¡± Neil¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Let me. I love this kind of work¡± He nced at the lifeless machine and grinned to himself, thinking, ¡®Let¡¯s see what you¡¯re made of, big guy.¡® Meanwhile, back at the auction hall, Joshua had returned. The room had grown tense and hushed. His presence carried weight, imposing andmanding. A faint smile yed on Judy¡¯s lips. Shermaine was turning out to be a wless tool, just dangerous enough to keep Joshua dancing in her shadow. And yet, the thought unsettled her. Shermaine meant far too much to him. A man like Joshua, gically superior, almost wless, shouldn¡¯t be allowed to have weaknesses. He absently ran a thumb over the wedding band on his finger. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°First,¡± Judy said, ¡°give me the booklet.¡± Joshua said nothing, waiting. ¡°And second¡­¡± She looked him dead in the eye. ¡°You¡¯re going to divorce Shermaine, and leave with me.¡± apter 442 Chapter 442 $49%1 Molly could hardly believe what she was witnessing. Judy was brazenly using Shermaine as leverage to manipte Joshua. ¡®What the hell is this woman even saying?¡® she thought, seething. ¡®Unbelievable! Has she no shame at all?¡® Her hand tightened instinctively around her gun. She was already imagining the bullet tearing through Judy¡¯s skull. ¡°You were never meant to be part of this world,¡± Judy said coolly. Roy and the others exchanged uneasy nces, their expressions shifting from confusion to rm. Now they were forced to consider a wild possibility that Judy might actually be an alien. How else could she make an entire ne vanish without a trace over Mount Hordeum? Joshua¡¯s voice broke the silence. ¡°I want to see Sheary first.¡± His gaze was unreadable, dark as a storm. ¡°No deal until then.¡± The dimensional rift that housed Shermaine could only be opened three times. After that, it would seal itself shut forever. No one would be able to ess it from the outside. In time, that space would begin to copse quietly and irreversibly, until nothing remained. Worse, Judy wasn¡¯t even sure whether the robot had finished the job. Those machines had never failed before. Everyone sent into that space had died, Not one had returned. Judy¡¯s tone hardened. ¡°And why should I trust you? You think if I bring Shermaine back here, I¡¯ll be allowed to walk away? I wasn¡¯t born yesterday. I¡¯m not giving her up, but I might let you speak to her.¡± For now, negotiation was her only move. Judy shot a nce at Harry. He nodded and got to work. The device in his hands, about the size of a tablet, was already running, his fingers tapping across its surface. But no matter what he did, he couldn¡¯t connect to the robot¡¯s signal. Fortunately, there was more than one unit in that dimension. He rerputed control to two other machines and dispatched them to scout Shermaine¡¯s location. Still, the silence from the first robot gnawed at him. He wondered, ¡®No connection? Don¡¯t tell me¡­ it failed? Could Shermaine have actually taken it down?¡® In the four¨Cdimensional space, one of the standby units was activated atst. Neil had already dismantled the first robot¡¯s limbs and armor, but the internal structure was far tooplex for him to handle. That was when Shermaine stepped in. She removed the chip embedded deep within its processor core. Herputer, brought along from their helicopter, waspatible with the alien tech. She slotted the chip into a port, and to her relief, the system recognized it, without rejection. It responded immediately. That confirmed the technology was essentially the same, just running on a more advanced system and a differentnguage. Shermaine began decoding the chip¡¯s contents. Within moments, she found the identity of the robot¡¯s creator. It was Harry Kramer. Major in the Knights 15 13 Thu : Jung xa. Chapter 442 of Xyperia. Age 29. His photo was attached to the file. One nce, and she knew. So he was the one they¡¯d been chasing all this time, the invisible force that kept circling their lives like a shadow. And Judy wasn¡¯t just after Shermaine. She had her sights set on Joshua as well. Shermaine let out a quiet snort and began rewriting the robot¡¯s system. It didn¡¯t go smoothly at first. The core required a password for administrative ess. But for her, that was child¡¯s y. Her fingers danced across the keyboard. In less than a minute, she bypassed the lock, erased all of Harry¡¯s security data from the chip, and reced it with her own credentials. Now, when the robot rebooted, it would recognize her as its one and only master. Not far away, Neil was rummaging through his pack, stomach growling, just about to eat something when a metallic groan cut through the silence. Two more robots appeared in the ruined doorway. High above the dimensional space, the sky began to crack. A sliver of space split open, barely wide enough for something round and glowing blue to squeeze through. ¡°Ow, seriously? This is way too tight!¡± Dave grumbled, wedged halfway in. With his Energon reserves running low, he had barely managed to tear open a narrow passage. To make things worse, he¡¯d put on weight recently, plumper and rounder than ever. Panting and straining, Dave forced his body through inch by inch. The moment he caught Shermaine¡¯s signal, he summoned every ounce of strength and shoved himself free, then plummeted from the sky like a giant, glowing gumball. He didn¡¯t even bother to slow his descent. He couldn¡¯t die from a fall anyway. But he was starving. All he could think about was finding Shermaine, and hopefully, something delicious to eat when he did. Chapter 443 Chapter 443 Neil didn¡¯t even blink when the two new robots showed up. At this point, nothing could rattle him. Shermaine was almost done reprogramming them. All that was left was to reinstall the chip and bring the units online. But then, the robots¡® eyes lit up. Both turned toward her in perfect sync. ¡°Target acquired. Target acquired.¡± The message pinged on Harry¡¯s screen. He immediately issued a newmand¨Copenmunication, Within seconds, the connection was established. The robots were now linked to his console, ¡°Mrs. York,¡± Neil called, eyeing the two machines warily. ¡°These two are acting weird. Just standing there, like statues.¡± His voice came through loud and clear that Joshua and the others heard every word. Shermaine looked up, calm as ever. She unplugged the chip, shut herptop, and said simply, ¡°Let¡¯s go check it out.¡± Her voice cut through the static, reaching Joshua on the other end. His breath caught. ¡°Sheary¡­¡± She paused, then answered, steady and clear, ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± She hadn¡¯t expected the robot¡¯sms to be open to the outside. But somehow, it was. ¡°Sheary!¡± ¡°Shermaine!¡± That was Molly and Roy. Their voices followed, full of relief. Shermaine responded to each of them without hesitation. Judy watched, expression unreadable, clearly baffled by the depth of their concern. Joshua¡¯s voice came through again. ¡°Are you hurt? Are you alright?¡± Shermaine was just about to respond, but Judy gave Harry a look, and he cut the connection without a word. It was cruel, calcted, and deliberate. She didn¡¯t want Joshua to know anything more than necessary. And while no one could say for sure what condition Shermaine was in, the sound of her voice had been enough to reassure them she was still holding on. But Judy wasn¡¯t worried. As long as she got the booklet, and Joshua put on the wristband she¡¯d prepared, it wouldn¡¯t matter what Shermaine did. Once those two conditions were met, she¡¯d give Harry the order to unleash the robots. They¡¯d sweep the fourth¨Cdimensional zone and hunt Shermaine down like prey. ¡°I¡¯ll release her,¡± Judy said smoothly, ¡°once you agree to my terms.¡± She knew perfectly well that Shermaine was Joshua¡¯s only vulnerability. He wasn¡¯t the kind of man who yed games with the lives of the people he loved. That gave her all the leverage she needed. 1513 They might all believe in Shermaine¡¯s strength, but when someone used her as a bargaining chip, none of them, especially Joshua, dared to take risks.. Even Molly didn¡¯t dare speak. Without a second¡¯s pause, Joshua said, ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll agree to your terms. But I want to speak to my wife. Every single day. And if you break your word¡­¡± His voice dropped, lethal and cold. ¡°I swear, you¡¯ll regret ever setting foot in this world.¡± There was no mistaking the threat. The raw force of it hit like a shockwave, fury, grief, and power tightly coiled in his words. Harry felt the blood drain from his face. He¡¯d known this was a bad idea. He never thought bringing Joshua to the Kingdom of Xyperia was safe. And now, that fear was turning into certainty. If Judy couldn¡¯t keep control, this one mistake might drag the whole kingdom into crisis. A man with nothing left to lose might just burn the world down. Even if they didn¡¯t need Joshua himself, Apocalypse only required his DNA. Once they had that, they could fabricate something close enough to rece him. ¡°Your Highness,¡± Harry said quietly, leaning in, ¡°I really think we should reconsider¡­¡± But Judy wasn¡¯t the type to be persuaded. Arrogant and iron¨Cwilled, she refused to believe there was anyone she couldn¡¯t control, least of all Joshua. ¡°I don¡¯t go back on my word,¡± she said tly. Yet even as she spoke the words, she was already fantasizing about crushing Shermaine the moment this deal was done. The sudden cut off from the outside made Shermaine¡¯s expression harden. A frown pulled at her brow, and for a moment, she sat very still, processing the silence. She¡¯d hoped to find a way out hidden in the robot¡¯s chip, any clue thread she could pull. But there was nothing. She didn¡¯t want to stay here a second longer.. And more than that, she didn¡¯t want to be the reason Joshua was being manipted and pushed into choices he never should have to make. She knew him. If Judy demanded his life in exchange for hers, he would offer it without hesitation. And that was exactly what terrified her. They were both strong, willful people. Neither of them was built to bend or bow. But this ce was starting to feel like a trap with no doors. Her thoughts were cut short when the robot twitched. Its arm shifted with a mechanical hiss, transforming into a mounted gun and locking its sights on her. ¡°Mrs. York, heads up!¡± Neil shouted. But Shermaine didn¡¯t flinch. Instead, a cold, sharp smile yed at her lips. So that was Judy¡¯s game, using her to get what she wanted from Joshua, and then eliminate the evidence. She didn¡¯t even have the patience to wait a full five minutes. Gunfire burst through the cabin again. Dave, meanwhile, was still in free fall his rotund little body dropping faster than expected thanks to his generous mass. Shermaine had already disabled one robot, and two more didn¡¯t worry her. But if they kepting, things could spiral fast. Her thoughts flicked briefly to Joshua, and something in her sharpened. Sheunched herself onto the shoulder of the nearest machine, bracing herself. Her hands locked around its neck. While dismantling the earlier unit, she¡¯d noted the design w. The neck was poorly reinforced, easy to exploit. With a hard, practiced twist, the robot¡¯s head snapped clean off. Neil watched from the side, stunned. She hadn¡¯t even been trying before, he realized. What he¡¯d seen earlier was just the surface. She hadn¡¯t even broken a sweat. The second robot came charging forward. Then with a thud, something crashed from above. A blue, spherical blur mmed into the machine¡¯s head like a meteor. It bounced once, then hit the ground with a muffled plop. The moment his round body touched the floor, Dave seemed to catch a scent of Energon. His eyes lit up like twin scanners. He spun around, alert and , scanning the cabin like a predator. 1/2 Net stared at the strange, jiggling ort. Before he could register, Dave leapt onto the robot¡¯s leg and scrambled up its frame. He dug into its chest te and yanked out the glowing blue Energon Core, then shoved it into his mouth without ceremony. A surge of light flickered across his body, growing brighter by the second. He immediately gagged Apparently, Energon didn¡¯t taste as good as he remembered, Once, it had been delicious. Now, it was barely tolerable. But he swallowed it anyway. Wasting it wasn¡¯t an option. Munching noisily, he bounced over to the headless robot Shermaine had just taken down, ripped out that core too, and devoured it. Then, with all the elegance of a tiny king, he perched himself proudly on Shermaine¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Sheary, I made it!¡± he beamed. Shermaine let out a smallugh, the tension in her shoulders easing for the first time in hours. ¡°So when you said you could protect me and the baby¡­ you weren¡¯t exaggerating after all.¡± ¡°Told you! I¡¯m awesome,¡± Dave dered, licking blue residue from his lips. ¡°Feed me enough and I¡¯ll get you outta here.¡± Shermaine reached into her bag and pulled out a spare Energon Core. ¡°Is this what you need?¡± Dave nodded eagerly. ¡°Yup yup yup! One bite of this, and I¡¯ll transform into Ultraman and punch monsters in the facel¡± Shermaine blinked. ¡®Great,¡® she thought. ¡®All that time at Riverswood, and he clearly spent it glued to the kid¡¯s channel.¡® ** Dave threw himself onto the core and started chewing noisily. ¡°Hey Sheary, when we get out of here, you owe me fried chicken. Ten meals!¡± ¡°You think this core¡¯s enough to get us out?¡± He shook his head. ¡°Nah. With two passengers, I¡¯ll need more juice. We¡¯ll have to find extra.¡± Just as he was about to bounce off and search, he froze. He could feel them, multiple Energon signals, rapidly approaching. It was a whole army. Dave¡¯s eyes lit up like headlights. Those robots were practically walking batteries, more than enough to fuel an escape and keep him powered for days. He floated up into the air, eyes gleaming, ¡°Sheary, get somewhere safe. I¡¯m gonna go eat them all!¡± Neil was too stunned to speak. He watched as the pudgy orb Shermaine had been talking to suddenly ballooned in midair. Cloaked in a haze of blue mist, its form became unrecognizable, only far more menacing than before. Then, with the force of a miniature cyclone, the blue mist swept toward the robots. Within minutes, one after another copsed to the ground, their Energon Cores ripped out. When it was over, Dave floated down and flopped onto the floor like a deted beach ball, belly bulging, letting out a loud burp. Shermaine walked over and hoisted him up. ¡°Done eating?¡± Another hup of me. ¡°So spicy! Sheary, wasn¡¯t I fast?¡± ¡°You were.¡± On a normal day, Shermaine might¡¯ve chuckled and yed along. But not now. Her mind was elsewhere, on Joshua. She had to get back to him.. ¡°If you¡¯re full, then get to work.¡± Dave could sense the tension in her voice. Realizing something serious was going on, he nodded solemnly. ¡°Okay. Sheary, hold on tight, don¡¯t let go.¡± She motioned for Neil, who stepped forward and grabbed Dave¡¯s other hand. A sudden surge of energy pulsed through them, vibrating in the air like static before a storm. Dave exhaled a shimmering bubble that enveloped thempletely. A heartbeatter, they vanished. Neil had flown countless nes and never once gotten airsick, but he hated roller coasters. Now, he felt like he was stuck on one, plunging through pitch ckness, head spinning, stomach churning. He shut his eyes, trying not to throw up. After what felt like an eternity, but was probably only a minute, light began to break through the darkness ahead. They were almost there. He prayed it would end soon. He was on the verge of losing his breakfast. Meanwhile, Judy had already taken the booklet. She flipped through it, double¨Cchecked the contents, then handed it off to Harry. Next, she gestured for another document, this one a divorce agreement, not of this world, but it looked official enough. In her eyes, once Joshua signed the contract from the Kingdom of Xyperia, whatever bond he had with Shermaine would be null and void. And once she seized the throne, Judy had every intention of returning to Earth with wealth and power behind her. She¡¯d buy her way back into everything. ¡°Go on. Sign it,¡± she said, handing Joshua a pen. A shadow fell across his face. He took the pen, slowly. It was the first time he realized there was something in this world he couldn¡¯t bear to lose. Even if Judy¡¯s threats were empty, he couldn¡¯t risk it. He pressed the pen to the page, but just as the ink began to flow, a voice echoed beside his ear. ¡°Don¡¯t sign it!¡± He froze. He looked up, scanning the room, but no one showed up. The others heard it too. Confused, they turned just as a blinding white light burst through the ceiling. And then, Shermaine fell from above. The moment Joshua saw her, the pen hit the ground. In a sh, he rushed forward and caught her in his arms. Dave and Neilnded with far less grace. Dave hit with a dull thud. Neil, groaning, barely managed to sit up before vomiting on the floor. Dimensional rift travel had already burned through half of Dave¡¯s freshly absorbed Energon, but it didn¡¯t matter. He was charged enough for now and ready for another fight, if need be. Shermaine copsed into Joshua¡¯s arms. He held her close, tighter than he ever had. ¡°Sheary¡­¡± She lifted a hand to his cheek, brushing it softly. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Then, her gaze sharpened as it shifted toward Judy. ¡°First you came for the booklet¡­ and now you¡¯re trying to steal my man?¡± hapter 446 The moment Judyid eyes on Shermaine, her face went cold. She hadn¡¯t seen iting. Shermaine had made it out of the four¨Cdimensional space. And with that, her leverage evaporated. The power dynamic in the room shifted instantly. Gun barrels, sleek and ck, turned toward her. Then her gazended on the glowing blue creature perched on Joshua¡¯s shoulder. She could sense the pulse of an Energon Core radiating from it. She had never imagined Earth still harbored beings capable of interdimensional travel, The others stared, visibly intrigued. Dave stood tall, hands on hips, practically puffing with pride. He¡¯d brought Shermaine back, safe and sound, and more importantly, he¡¯d protected her and the baby. But Judy wasn¡¯t ready to back down. ¡°So what if I tried to take him? I go after what I want. Always have.¡± Shermaine¡¯s expression didn¡¯t budge. ¡°Then go ahead. Try again.¡± Judy clenched her fists. ¡°This is your turf. You¡¯ve got backup. If it weren¡¯t for that thing dragging you back, you¡¯d all be scattered by now.¡± ¡°No one¡¯s scattering,¡± Joshua said, voice calm but firm. ¡°Not now. Not ever.¡± Even if he¡¯d been forced to sign whatever nonsense she called a divorce agreement, it meant nothing. In his eyes, Shermaine was, and always would be, his wife. Even if she took him away, he would cross any world, walk through fire, fight through gxies, to get back to her. Molly stepped forward, eyes sharp. ¡°Sheary, just say the word. We¡¯ll turn them into Swiss cheese.¡± But Shermaine held up a hand. ¡°Molly, give me the gun.¡± Molly arched a brow, then tossed it over without hesitation. Joshua said, ¡°I¡¯ll take one too.¡± Roy handed his over. ¡°Here.¡± Judy stared at them, bewildered, thinking, ¡®Are they really going to kill me?¡® Shermaine leveled the gun. ¡°I¡¯m a much better shot with a firearm than I ever was with a bow. Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to y? If you can dodge bullet, I¡¯ll y with you all night.¡± Joshua cocked his own gun. ¡°And if you can¡¯t, I¡¯ll finish what my wife started.¡± There was no mistaking it. The way they held their weapons, this wasn¡¯t posturing. They knew exactly what they were doing. Harry stood frozen, visibly shaking. Judy looked like she¡¯d finally run out of options. Then came the soft hiss of a suppressed gunshot. Shermaine had fired, with no hesitation. Judy flinched, but she wasn¡¯t quick enough. The bullet tore through her arm, and the pain drained all the color from her face. She stumbled back, clutching the wound, eyes zing with fury. She¡¯d never been so humiliated in her life. And Joshua wasn¡¯t done. His gun was up, aimed squarely between her eyes. 1/2 a Harry panicked. One more second and Joshua would pull the trigger. He couldn¡¯t let that happen. in a btor of movement, he grabbed something from his bag. With a sharp bang, smoke burst out. When the fog cleared, they were gone, Judy and Harry had vanished. They were already on the move, heading for the rooftop. Harry spoke quickly into hismunicator, ¡°Everyone to the roof, now! We¡¯re heading back to the Kingdom of Xyperia.¡± Dave closed his eyes, searching the energy trail. ¡°Sheary, they¡¯re heading up.¡± ¡°They¡¯ve still got Apocalypse and the booklet,¡± he growled, already sprinting for the stairs. ¡°I¡¯m going after them.¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t like the idea of Dave going alone. ¡°Joshua, we¡¯re going with him.¡± Joshua kissed her forehead, calm and steady. ¡°We¡¯ll take the elevator.¡± Outside, the sky had dimmed to a deep te gray. The first snowfall of the year drifted down, slow and silent. By the time Dave reached the rooftop, Judy and Harry were already in position. Above them, a beam of violet light descended from the sky, enveloping them like a spotlight from another world. ¡°Hand it over!¡± Dave shouted, charging straight at them. Shermaine and Joshua arrived just in time to see him tangled up in a scuffle. Harry pulled out Apocalypse. He had already read enough of the booklet to know how to activate it. He keyed in the code, and the metal cube, no AD Comment Send gift No Ads Chapter 447 Kingdom of Xyperia, Year 2100. It had been three months since Shermaine arrived. When she was pulled into that beam of violet light, she never imagined she¡¯d wake up in Yorknd, the most rundown, isted corner of the Kingdom of Xyperia. She was over four months pregnant now, though barely showing. As long as she wore something loose¨Cfitting, no one could tell. Within days of arriving, she¡¯d learned how to use the local operating systems, called Qrthish, and picked up enough of thenguage to get by. She and Joshua had entered the wormhole together, but somewhere along the way, a violent spatial storm had split them apart. Where he¡¯dnded within the Kingdom, she didn¡¯t know. But at least he hadn¡¯t fallen into Judy¡¯s hands, and that, in itself, was a relief. Judy ruled this world. If Shermaine and Joshua had shown up together and walked straight into a fight, there would have been no question who had the upper hand. Dave¡¯s name hadn¡¯t appeared on any of the bounty lists, which most likely meant he had been captured. Shermaine didn¡¯t doubt for a second that Joshua was already.looking for her. It was only a matter of time. But Judy hadn¡¯t wasted a second. She¡¯d issued a nationwide bounty on both their heads, high enough to catch the attention of mercenaries and professional killers from across the realm. Shermaine, however, was well¨Cprepared. She had changed her appearance, stayed under the radar, and kept her movements tight. Even if someone did recognize her, she wasn¡¯t worried. They wouldn¡¯t live long enough to do anything about it. Right now, she had no intention of running. Her priority was the child. She wanted to stay put and carry the baby to term. And before that happened, she needed to make enough money to support them both. In Basterel, it had been the same. No matter where she went, her fate always came back to one thing, making money. The Kingdom of Xyperia consisted of thirty main cities, each governed by a City Lord. Beneath them were hundreds of secondary cities, ssified as B or C tier. The level of technology here was unlike anything Earth had ever seen. It was decades, maybe centuries, ahead. Cars didn¡¯t run on gasoline. They ran on Energon Cores, the same fuel Dave had consumed. Even in Yorknd, considered backward by local standards, there was an extensive light rail system. And if you needed to reach the far corners of the kingdom, you could hop on a temporal train or a phasecraft. Either way, you¡¯d arrive within two hours. That was, if you had enough Xyperia Tokens, the universal currency used for everything from transportation to food to entertainment. The only real threat, beyond poverty, was the war. When Xyperia went to battle, its weapons were devastating. Entire cities could be erased in seconds. Of the thirty main cities, ten were ruled by Judy. Another eleven belonged to her older sister, Shirley. The two women were locked in a bitter power struggle, constantly shing over territory, each fight more violent than thest. As if that weren¡¯t enough, alien lifeforms routinely invaded the borders of the kingdom. They were relentless, cunning, and terrifying. People here lived with the fear that any night could be theirst that they might be eaten alive in their sleep, or torn apart by an unexpected missile strike. CD Yorknd was one of the cities most often under siege. It sat dangerously close to an allen stronghold, separated by nothing more than a failing protective barrier. It was, in every sense, a ce that was both impoverished and constantly at risk. Shermaine woke from a nap in her hotel room. It was already dark outside. She stretched, yawned, and wandered into the bathroom to ssh some cold water on her face. It was time to eat, then time to get to work. Her reflection in the mirror looked different now. Her long hair had been chopped to a neat shoulder¨Clength bob. After washing up, she applied a little makeup, popped in colored lenses, wrapped up her hair, and put on a sleek golden wig. She barely recognized herself. The woman in the mirror looked exotic, foreign, and still, unmistakably beautiful. She slipped into a pair of ts, headed downstairs, and had a quick nutrient meal at the hotel¡¯s restaurant. Then she got into the hotel¡¯s designated ride and set off for the ce that paid her bills. The car stopped outside thergest casino in Yorknd. It was the weekend, and the ce was packed. Patrons came and went in a constant stream of noise and lights. This was how Shermaine earned her living now. In a world where she knew no one, the casino was the fastest, surest way to make money. All she needed was one good night at the tables, and she¡¯d have enough to breathe a little easier. She sipped her milk and walked in, unhurried. Tomorrow was her prenatal checkup, but she still didn¡¯t have enough money in her ount to pay for it. Healthcare in Xyperia was no joke. Most people couldn¡¯t afford to get sick. She¡¯d even thought about opening a small clinic of her own, but without capital, it was nothing more than a pipe dream. And honestly, for someone like her, someone who used to call the shots andmand empires, it was almost embarrassing to be this broke. Elsewhere in the building, a casino employee caught sight of her on the surveince feed. He cursed under his breath and picked up the phone. ¡°Sir, she¡¯s back again.¡± Chapter 448 ¡°What? Again? She¡¯s a damn nightmare.¡± To casinos, few things were worse than a gambler who actually knew what they were doing. And Boa, the alias Shermaine was using in the Kingdom of Xyperia, was one of the best they¡¯d ever seen. The first night she showed up, she¡¯d walked off with a hundred thousand Xyperia Tokens. In a ce like Yorknd, where people were used to scraping by, that kind of money was unheard of, equal to half a year¡¯s sry for the average resident. That very night, she checked herself into the most luxurious hotel in the city. Since then, every time her funds ran low, she¡¯d return to the casino and leave with another tidy haul, always around a hundred grand, almost as if she¡¯d calcted the maximum she could take. If she ever got greedy, the owner was sure she could wipe them outpletely. Yorknd wasn¡¯t exactly flooded with rich gamblers to begin with. The house barely stayed afloat. And then there was the matter of her looks. She was, without a doubt, the most beautiful woman anyone in Yorknd had ever seen. It drove the regrs crazy and drove the staff even crazier. ¡°She¡¯s not walking out with another hundred thousand tonight,¡± the boss growled. ¡°If she tries, I swear she¡¯s not walking out at all.¡± ¡°Sir,¡± the staffer replied dryly, ¡°you say that every time.¡± The owner grunted, but didn¡¯t argue. Truth was, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do anything. She was too damn stunning. He didn¡¯t have the nerve toy a finger on her. Worse still, she didn¡¯t even see him. She took his money without ever acknowledging his existence. ¡°Fine. Just¡­ if you see her, give her a little warning. Tell her to go easy tonight.¡± ¡°Right.¡± The staffer rolled his eyes but didn¡¯t argue. He liked watching her work the tables anyway. The way she sat there, eyes sharp and calm, brushing her chips forward like she owned the ce, was maic. He was just about to hang up when the door swung open, and trouble walked in. Yorknd¡¯s crown prince of sleaze had arrived. It was the city lord¡¯s son. Leto Sanchez had a reputation that preceded him, and not in a good way. He was notorious for his arrogance, his appetites, and his utterck of respect for women. Forced encounters, public harassment¡­ everyone knew his name for all the wrong reasons. In the Kingdom of Xyperia, men were generally raised to respect women. But there were always exceptions. Leto was the worst kind. Still, plenty of women threw themselves at him, hoping his wealth might be worth the cost. ¡°Sir,¡± the staffer said quickly, ¡°Mr. Sanchez just walked in.¡± The owner only groaned. Meanwhile, the usual crowd had noticed Shermaine¡¯s arrival. The room buzzed with quiet excitement. If she bet big, they followed. Because more often than not, she won. And when she won, they did too. At that moment, she was sitting at one of the dice tables, casually stacking chips. She bet on high. The regrs followed her lead without hesitation. As the rollnded high, the table erupted in cheers. 1/2 As expected, Shermaine yed two more rounds, then stood, collected her winnings, and drifted off toward another game. Her stack of chips was growing, and she stifled a yawn. Just then, the crowd around her parted. Someone was approaching. He was tall, thin, and walked like he owned the room. His eyes locked on Shermaine, hungry and vulgar. Every woman he¡¯d ever chased before faded into nothingpared to her. He¡¯d heard about her too, about the way she won, like magic. If he could get his hands on her, she¡¯d be an asset, a living vault. Shermaine didn¡¯t even nce at him. She scooped up her winnings and turned toward the cashier. Time to wrap up the night. But just as she stood, the man stepped closer, arm reaching out as if to stop her. ¡°Hey, gorgeous. Where you off to in such a hurry?¡± Shermaine¡¯s body stiffened. She didn¡¯t tolerate any men getting close, not unless they were Joshua. The moment he leaned in, a clean p cracked across his wrist. She stepped back, her gaze icy and direct. ¡°Do I know you?¡± Chapter 449 Shermaine had run into a few thugs since arriving, but they¡¯d all learned the hard way not to mess with her. ¡°You need something?¡± ¡°Damn right I do,¡± Leto snapped. ¡°You think you can hit me and walk away like nothing happened?¡± The Kingdom of Xyperia was nothing like Earth. Law didn¡¯t exist to uphold justice here. Power was the only order that mattered. There were no real rules, and things like murder, theft, or arson were just part of daily life. This was the Kingdom of Xyperia. Unlike Earth, wherews at least pretended to stand for justice, here the only rule that mattered was power. Order was maintained through force, not fairness. In wealthier districts, there were patrols, trained forces, and robotic enforcement units. There were no police forces, only military units, many of which deployed robots first to suppress trouble. If the robots failed, then humans stepped in. Shermaine lifted an eyebrow, , was better off dead than allowed to prey on more women. He could feel the killing intenting off her in waves. His face turned ghost¨Cwhite. By the time the casino owner arrived, Leto and his bodyguards were sprawled on the floor, barely conscious. Leto, in particr, had been castrated. Beautiful as she was, this woman was terrifying. The owner broke out in a cold sweat. Thank God he¡¯d always kept a clean reputation, otherwise, this could¡¯ve been his fate. where¡¯s Boar¡± he asked. she she went to the restroom.¡± He was stunned. She didn¡¯t try to hide and just went to freshen up. If the city guard showed up now, she wouldn¡¯t even have time to escape. In the restroom, Shermaine removed her golden wig, letting her natural red hair fall loose. She washed her hands thoroughly, rinsing away every trace of blood. Only once she was clean did she leave, unhurried, calm, as if nothing had happened. Meanwhile, in Loca City, the central capital under Judy¡¯smand, at the top floor of Eagle Assassins HQ. Joshua stood alone, mask on, a silver pistol in his hand. The man in the executive chair was already dead. By the time the other assassins rushed in, the scene before them left them stunned. Every one of their leader¡¯s elite fightersy dead at his feet. The heavy stench of blood filled the entire floor, thick as smoke. They never imagined this monster would wipe out the entire core of their organization, and do it so effortlessly. Joshua, unfazed, casually reloaded his gun. ¡°Submit,¡± he said coolly, ¡°or die. Your choice.¡± AD Chapter 450 Their leader and top men were gone. To draw weapons now would be pure suicide. None of them were that foolish. A silent nce passed between them, and in the next second, they dropped their weapons and knelt without protest. Joshua lifted his eyes withzy indifference, tossed his gun aside, and pulled a cigarette from his pocket. A blue me flickered to life, and then the tip glowed red, pulsing faintly in the dimness. He exuded a cold, unrelenting menace. But there was something else beneath it, an aura that didn¡¯t quite fit the profile of a killer. The silver¨Chaired assassin, Zane Shaw, swallowed hard and ventured to speak. ¡°Sir¡­ may I ask your name?¡± Joshua exhaled a thin stream of smoke. His lips were pale, his gaze distant, the very image of restrained power, sharp¨Cedged, dangerous, and yet impossiblyposed. ¡°Cain Reaper.¡± ¡°Mr. Reaper.¡± Zane inclined his head respectfully. ¡°What would you have us do?¡± ¡°Take stock of everything, assets, operations, intel. I want it all handed over to me.¡± He wasn¡¯t here to y foot soldier. He was taking the ce over. This wasn¡¯t Earth. There were nows, no limits. Power was its ownw here, and Joshua had never been one to y by someone else¡¯s rules. Carving out his own empire was not only possible, it was inevitable. But none of it mattered, not really, until he found Shermaine. He had no idea where she was or what kind of situation she was in. And with their child growing inside her, his worry gnawed at him constantly. The thought that she might be alone, afraid, possibly in danger, left a storm brewing behind his calm facade. ¡°And one more thing,¡± he said. ¡°Find someone for me.¡± Zane looked up. ¡°Who?¡± Joshua pulled out a small, folded sketch and handed it to him. Zane studied it for a moment, then frowned. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the woman on the military¡¯s most¨Cwanted list?¡± The bounty hade directly from Judy¡¯smand center, high¨Cpriority and high¨Creward. The assassin world had been buzzing about it for weeks. Zane nced up again at the man before him. Even through the mask, there was something eerily familiar, features that bore an uncanny resemnce to another name on the list. His stare must¡¯ve lingered too long. Joshua¡¯s gaze met his, and in that instant, Zane froze. Those eyes, deep and cial, were the kind that looked straight through you. ¡°What woman on a wanted list?¡± Joshua¡¯s voice was calm but razor¨Csharp. ¡°That¡¯s my wife. I lost her. And I intend to find her.¡± Zane didn¡¯t dare press further. Whatever suspicions he had, none of it was worth dying over. He quickly lowered his head. ¡°Apologies. I must¡¯ve been mistaken.¡± But inwardly, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder what kind of couple would make Judy go to such extremes to capture them. 15.14 Thu, 3 J¨²LA D He nced again at the sketch. It was far more vivid than the official one circting in the mercenary world. This version was softer, more alive, and frankly, more beautiful than any celebrity he¡¯d ever seen. No doubt many would be chasing that face. But he didn¡¯t need to catch her. He only needed to follow the scent. In truth, Shermaine had never left Yorknd that night. Instead, she¡¯d quietly checked into a different inn, far from prying eyes. Early the next morning. she¡¯d gone for a medical exam and only after that did she buy a ticket to another city. The results were reassuring. The little girl in her womb was strong. Despite being thrust into an alien world, the child was thriving inside her. The city she chose next was one she¡¯d always liked, mild climate, endless flowers, a softer rhythm to life. It was a Tier¨CB city, far more developed than Yorknd, but not too overwhelming. One thing was immediately noticeable, though. The number of patrol bots was significantly higher. After disembarking, Shermaine made her way calmly through the terminal. A wide¨Cbrimmed hat shielded her face. She slipped into the restroom, careful not to draw attention. Secondster, someone else entered behind her. Shermaine kicked the stall door shut with one sharp motion. ¡°You¡¯ve been tailing me since this morning. Want to exin why?¡± The woman, hair tied into two yful buns, gave a mischievous grin. ¡°Rx, Ms. Hanks. I just came to ask if you¡¯d be interested in joining me for the International Gambling Tournament.¡± AB Nurse walking 451 Chapter 451 ¡°I¡¯m not interested,¡± Shermaine said without hesitation, her tone t. She pulled the door open and walked out without looking back. The woman hurried after her. ¡°Ms. Hanks, please! This tournament is made for someone like you, I¡¯ve never seen anyone gamble the way you do if you make it into the top hundred, you¡¯ll be on the global broadcast. ¡°Win that, and you¡¯re set for life. No more worries about money. Plus, there are all sorts of benefits. Just¡­ think about it?¡± Shermaine paused at the mention of the global broadcast. The idea was tempting. If her face showed up on screen, Joshua might see it. But the risk was obvious. And at this point, that wasn¡¯t something she could afford. Without a word, she kept walking. To her surprise, right there in the crowded terminal, the woman dropped to her knees and wrapped herself around Shermaine¡¯s leg, ¡°Please, just consider it,¡± she begged. ¡°I¡¯m really desperate.¡± Shermaine¡¯s jaw clenched slightly as curious stares began to turn their way. Her voice turned cold. ¡°Let go.¡± The woman hesitated. She could feel the pressure in Shermaine¡¯s voice, the calm but unmistakable threat. She reluctantly released her grip, but her face was filled with disappointment, on the verge of tears. She knew it wasn¡¯t right to drag a stranger into her mess. But Shermaine had an energy about her, something powerful, unshakable. Jasmine couldn¡¯t help but reach for it. Shermaine¡¯s expression eased just slightly. She was about to walk off when the woman suddenly cried out, ¡°Look out!¡± The warning came just in time. A maintenance robot, clearly malfunctioning, came barreling toward them across the terminal. The woman threw herself in front of Shermaine, taking the brunt of the impact with a sharp cry. Shermaine spun around, arm shooting out to redirect the robot with surprising force, mming it into a nearby pir. The woman winced, holding her side, voice quiet and full of regret. I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have tried to drag you into this.¡± She turned and started to limp away, clearly giving up. This wasn¡¯t how things were supposed to go. She¡¯d just wanted one shot at honoring the legacy her family had passed down. That was all. Shermaine watched her for a moment, then sighed. Something in her softened. ¡°Wait.¡± The woman froze, then turned back, eyes wide with hope. ¡°You threw yourself in front of a damn robot for me,¡± Shermaine said dryly. ¡°The least you can do is tell me the real reason you¡¯re so desperate for me to enter this tournament.¡± The woman nodded quickly. ¡°Of course. But can we go somewhere quieter first?¡± They left the terminal and found a small caf¨¦ nearby. After ordering two coffees, the woman leaned forward slightly, her voice low. ¡°My name¡¯s Jasmine Farrington, Ms. Hanks.¡± Shermaine gave a small nod in acknowledgment. ¡°Do you know about the royal family?¡± Jasmine asked. 23.13 Sat, o du Shermaine¡¯s expression changed almost imperceptibly. After learning the writtennguage of this world, she¡¯d read a book in the ancient tomb of the cursed queen. At the time, much of it hadn¡¯t made sense, but now, it did. The cursed queen was part of the royal family. After arriving in this world, Shermaine had researched their history. She remembered the totem shed seen on Joshua¡¯s body. And Judy¡¯s obsession with him wasn¡¯t just about power or charm. Joshua was thest pureblood descendant of the royal family and the only one capable of wielding Apocalypse. ¡°Go on,¡± Shermaine said quietly. ¡°Our ancestors were part of a side branch of the royal family,¡± Jasmine exined. ¡°Centuries ago, we ruled the wealthiest, most morous city in Xyperia, Baykeep. The city was known for gambling, and the royal blood excelled at it. It was in our bones. She paused, her hands clenched. ¡°But when the royal family disappeared, the Moreno¡¯family moved in. They wiped us out. Drove us from our home. We¡¯ve been living in Yorknd ever since, struggling to survive. ¡°Now¡­ the International Gambling Tournament is back. Winning it means ruling Baykeep again. I thought it was hopeless, until I saw you. That¡¯s why came to you.¡± She looked straight at Shermaine, eyes earnest. ¡°I don¡¯t want money or power. If we win, whatever rewards there are, they¡¯re yours. I just want to fulfill my family¡¯s legacy. I don¡¯t want to see the Morenos in charge for another generation.¡± For a long moment, Shermaine didn¡¯t say anything. Fate really did have a strange sense of timing. She never offshoot of Joshua¡¯s bloodline. expected to stumble across a surviving And Joshua was thest of the royal blood. If she, as his wife, didn¡¯t step up for the branch family now, who would? She finally spoke. ¡°When does the tournament start?¡± ¡°Registration ends on the 28th of next month,¡± Jasmine said, her voice picking up slightly. ¡°And the regional rounds begin on the first of the month after that.¡± Shermaine quickly calcted. By then, she¡¯d be over six months pregnant. The top 100 rounds would take ce after she gave birth. That gave her peace of mind. ¡°You¡¯re in luck. Sign me up.¡± ? Nurse walking 452 Jasmine could hardly believe her ears. For a second, she thought she¡¯d imagined it. ¡°I mean it,¡± she blurted out, nearly bouncing where she stood. ¡°Whatever reward you want, just name it. I¡¯ll make it happen!¡°. Shermaine didn¡¯t even pause to think. Her hand rested gently on her belly. ¡°I¡¯m not in it for payment. Just one thing. If I¡¯m not around after I give birth take care of my child.¡± Jasmine stared at her in shock. Pregnant? That thought had never even urred to her. Shermaine¡¯s figure was slim as ever, and from the way she fought that night, there had been no sign at all. Rolling up her sleeves, Jasmine swore solemnly, ¡°I¨CI promise I¡¯ll be a damn good babysitter.¡± And just like that, Shermaine had gained herself a loyal tagalong. That evening, they checked into a hotel. To be honest, Jasmine had never stayed anywhere this luxurious before. The suite felt like something out of a movie. Even lying in bed that night, she still felt like she was floating in a dream. She¡¯d already submitted the application for the Gambling Tournament. In the room next door, Shermaine stepped out of the shower dressed in a cropped tee and a pair of shorts. Her legs looked impossibly long, and though her clothes were loose¨Cfitting, they still outlined the subtle swell of her belly. Nights alone had a way of stirring up thoughts you tried to ignore. She wondered how everyone back home was doing. Far away, in the Sky Prison of the Kingdom of Xyperia, Dave sat hunched inside a transparent containment pod. The creature looked sluggish, its usual spark gone. The energy field in this ce was slowly draining him. Worse yet, Judy made a habit of tormenting him every other day. That night, she entered the chamber, eyes fixed on the tiny creature., ¡°Still refusing to cooperate?¡± She had her eye on Dave for his abilities. But, as always, reality had a way of defying her will. ¡°No change,¡± the guard replied. Her expression darkened. ¡°Increase the gravity. Let¡¯s see how long it holds out.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡± Judy had been drowning in work since her return, with piles of documents and endless obligations. But it was Shermaine who lingered in her thoughts, the woman who dared defy and wound her. Her eyes turned cold and sharp, a simmering storm beneath the surface. ¡°Still no trace of them?¡± Harry shook his head. ¡°Not yet.¡± Joshua and Shermaine were the most dangerous individuals they¡¯d ever faced. The longer they remained in hiding, the more threatening they became. And they were doing it right under her nose. Still, Judy was patient. She was certain their time woulde. 28.13 Sat, 5 Ju And with Dave still in her grasp, she knew they couldn¡¯t stay hidden forever. Time slipped by. The International Gambling Tournament arrived before anyone realized, and Shermaine showed up right on schedule. From the ver first round, she stood out. Everyone in the circuit knew the names of the top yers. But no one had expected Boa to be not only brilliant, but a woman. She hadn¡¯t broken into the top hundred just yet, but her name was already on everyone¡¯s lips. In a world dominated by men, she was a storm, poised, calcting, unstoppable. Bets were flying. Everyone seemed to believe she¡¯d make the top hundred, maybe even qualify to be a candidate for the next city lord of Baykeep. But her growing belly was starting to be harder to hide. The final rounds of the Top Hundred were scheduled for tomorrow in Radford. The timing couldn¡¯t be worse. Her due date was sometime this week. Pregnancy had taken a toll on her, but perhaps because she was in another world or perhaps because the child was simply that gentle, things had gone more smoothly than anyone expected. Jasmine, for her part, had done everything she could to make sure Shermaine was well cared for. At the hotel, Shermaine sat quietly on a lounge chair, her features slightly softer than before, but no less striking. She had a piece of calming music ying in the background, a song meant to soothe unborn children. In her hand was a small sketch of Joshua. She reached out, brushing her fingers gently over the face in the drawing. ¡°Our baby¡¯s almost here,¡± she murmured. ¡°But I guess you won¡¯t be around to meet her.¡± Nurse walking 453 No Ads Chapter 453 It was a shame Joshua couldn¡¯t be there to witness the birth of their chili. But given the way things were, Shermaine didn¡¯t dwell on it. She wasn¡¯t someone who let emotion cloud her judgment when the stakes were nich If anything, she was more worried about him. He knew her due date was near, and knowing Joshua, he was probably pacing, restless, unable to slegs And she was right. Joshua hadn¡¯t had a decent night¡¯s rest in days. Insomnia wore him thin, his mood turning increasingly vtile. Joshua hadn¡¯t had a decent night¡¯s rest in days. Insomnia wore him thin, his mood turning increasingly vtile. But under hismand, the organization had risen swiftly. Their reputation surged through the underground, swallowing up independent cells and consolidating power. Once considered a mid¨Ctier group, barely scraping the top thirty, Eagle Assassins now stoodfortably among the top fifteen, striking enough fear into rival factions to keep them quiet. The night passed. By ten the next morning, the Top Hundred Tournament began. The venue could hold several thousand people and was streamed live across theworks, with betting pools open to the public. Shermaine¡¯s poprity had soared, not just among women, but men too. Her presence stirred admiration and awe in equal measure. As they left the hotel, Jasmine nced nervously at Shermaine¡¯s stomach. She couldn¡¯t help but worry the baby, stirred by the roar of the crowd, decided it was time. Inside the arena, Shermaine moved with calm efficiency. She wore loose,fortable clothing and settled at the gaming table like she owned the room. Today¡¯s game was a simplified variation of poker. Simr mechanics, fewerplexities. From the very first round, her luck was uncanny. Every hand she drew was golden, and people began whispering it was rigged. But with surveince drones watching from every angle, cheating was impossible. Midway through the match, she felt a kick. The baby had woken up and wasn¡¯t being subtle about it. Shermaine picked up her pace, ying faster and offering a polite smile. ¡°Let¡¯s be honest. You¡¯re not gonna win. So do us all a favor and stop dragging it out, yeah?¡± Her three opponents exchanged awkward nces, visibly deted. Before the hour was up, the announcement lit up the digital board. Shermaine had be the first contestant to enter the Top Hundred. Reporters scrambled to find her for an interview, but she was already gone. By the time she exited the stadium, the contractions were hitting hard and fast. Thankfully, outside, she helped Shermaine in and raced for the hospital. smine had a car I waiting. The moment they stepped Shermaine¡¯s face had lost some color. The pain was intensifying, wave after wave. The baby wasn¡¯t waiting anymore. ¡°Almost there, Ms. Hanks. Just hang on!¡± Jasmine said, trying to keep her voice steady, though her hands were shaking. Her legs trembled on the pedals. Sweat poured down her face. Shermaine let out a breathyugh. ¡°Why do you look more panicked than I am?¡± It was like Jasmine was the one giving birth. Jasmine muttered, wiping her forehead, ¡°They say it¡¯s the worst pain in the world. Are you seriously going through with natural birth?¡± ¡°Mm¨Chmm.¡± ¡°I mean, c¨Csection¡¯s really not that bad,¡± she said quickly. ¡°With the right injection, you heal super fast, like, out of the hospital the next day fast. No Chapter 453 tearing, no screaming, no trauma.¡± In this world, you couldn¡¯t always tell who was a mother. Most women still looked young, wless. The tech here made motherhood back effect And with women being so rare, they were treated like gold. Shermaine just smiled faintly, saying nothing. She had her own reasons. No matter how advanced this world was, she had no interest in bing dependent on its conveniences. After all, she wasn¡¯t staying here forever. But she made a mental note to study that injection. One day, when she returned to Earth, she could use it to ease the burden for other women. Five minutester, Shermaine was wheeled into the delivery room. She had insisted on a natural birth. Under the sterile lights of the operating room, the hours crept by. Then, after nearly three hours ofbor, a sharp, high¨Cpitched cry echoed through the maternity ward. Shermaine and Joshua¡¯s child had arrived. It was a healthy baby girl. AD Nurse walking 454 Chapter 454 Waiting outside felt like an eternity for Jasmine. With all the risks that came with a natural birth, she couldn¡¯t help but imagine the west. But when th news came, relief hit her like a wave. She still didn¡¯t know who Shermaine¡¯s husband was, but wherever he was, he had to be worried sick. Shermaine had once mentioned they¡¯d been separated, somethingplicated, and clearly not by choice. The delivery room doors finally swung open. A nurse stepped out, holding a tiny, swaddled infant. She was unbelievably small. After a short burst of crying inside, she nowy silent in the nurse¡¯s arms, calm and peaceful. Shermaine followed soon after, being wheeled out by another nurse. Though she¡¯d opted for natural delivery, she had agreed to the postnatal recovery injection afterward. Under normal circumstances, she might¡¯ve passed, but there simply wasn¡¯t time for a long recovery now. In the private room, healthy pink. the baby slept in a crib under a soft blue dome. She had been bathed and wrapped up, her skin wless and glowing with a warm, Her features were shockingly refined, impossibly perfect for a newborn. Jasmine couldn¡¯t take her eyes off her. She looked like something out of a fairytale. Shermaine was already stunning. Judging by this baby, her father must¡¯ve been no less extraordinary. Jasmine wouldn¡¯t be surprised if a gic scan showed this child ranked SSS¨Ctier. But one detail stood out. The baby¡¯s hair was red. That alone was strange. In the Kingdom of Xyperia, newborns were almost always blonde, with blue¨Ctinged irises. But this little girl had a full head of auburn¨Cred hair. It was the first time Jasmine had ever seen it. And then, a memory stirred. The red hair was a rare trait, one that appeared only in the pureblood royal blood. The thought crossed her mind but she dismissed it. It felt far¨Cfetched, almost absurd. ¡°Ms. Hanks, have you chosen a name yet?¡± she asked. Shermaine was still visibly drained. The physical pain was easing, but mentally, she waspletely spent. She let out a yawn and answered drowsily, ¡°Not yet. Her father should be the one to name her.¡°. ¡°Well, what should we call her in the meantime?¡± Shermaine was craving something sweet, though she knew this world didn¡¯t offer much beyond nd nutrient packs. Cuisine here was nothingpared to what she used to have in Wallington ¡°Tiramisu.¡± Jasmine lit up. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s such a cute name! Shermaine gave her a look. ¡°Her real nickname¡¯s Gracie,¡± she rified, before Jasmine could get carried away. Jasmine walked over to the crib and softly called out, ¡°Gracie¡­¡± The baby¡¯s lips twitched, almost like she¡¯d heard. Shermaine was cleared for discharge the very next day, but given Gracie¡¯s age, they stayed three more days in the hospital for observation and registration. By birth, each child was entered into the central system and issued identification. Still, that red hair was hard to ignore. It was striking, impossible to hide. And it no doubt bring Shermaineplications she didn¡¯t need. Gracie slept most of the time, only waking to feed. Shermaine, as a first¨Ctime mother, was still learning the but Jasmine, to her credit, had surprisingly solid instincts with infants. A towel wrapped around her, her hair, once shoulder¨Clength, now flowed down to her Back at the hotel, Shermaine had just stepped out of the shower. chest. Without her usual colored contacts, her eyes looked even more vivid, clear with an almost crystalline sharpness. Her figure showed no trace of pregnancy. That postnatal injection had done exactly what it promised, full restoration overnight. The food in this world. might have been nd, but the wine was excellent. Shermaine would¡¯ve loved a ss, but she was breastfeeding. She sighed, reached into the fridge, and grabbed a bottle of water instead. She sat on the sofa, unscrewed the cap, and sipped slowly as she stared out at the city lights through the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows. Just then, Jasmine burst in, cradling a crying Gracie. ¡°Ms. Hanks! She won¡¯t stop crying! I¡¯ve tried everything. Nothing¡¯s working.¡± Jasmine prided herself on being good with babies. But somehow, Gracie never responded well to her. It was both baffling and frustrating. She pushed the door open and paused, eyes widening. Shermaine¡¯s hair was also red. Only now did Jasmine realize the golden hair and blue eyes had been a disguise all along. Gracie had just inherited her mother¡¯s looks. And like this, Shermaine looked even more striking. There was something untouchable about her, an air of nobility wrapped in mystery. Shermaine set the water down and stood. ¡°Give her to me.¡± Jasmine quickly passed Gracie into her arms. In just a few days, the baby¡¯splexion had grown even softer, more radiant. She was heartbreakingly adorable. Shermaine cradled her gently. ¡°She¡¯s hungry. Turn around.¡± Jasmine grinned. ¡°Come on, Ms. Hanks. We¡¯re both women. What¡¯s the big deal?¡± To her, breastfeeding was a beautiful, intimate moment, sweet and not awkward. But Shermaine simply raised an eyebrow, clearly unmoved. With a dramatic sigh, Jasmine gave in and turned her back. Shermaine loosened the towel just enough, and Gracie immediately quieted, nursing contentedly. Chapter 454 Within minutes, her belly full, she drifted off again. Just as Shermaine wasying her down, the doorbell rang. Outside stood a group of unfamiliar men. Nurse walking 455 Chapter 455 Chapter 455 The men outside wore dark sunsses and carried guns openly at their sides. They didn¡¯t look like the kind of people who carta knocking maka intentions. Jasmine didn¡¯t open the door right away. She checked the camera feed instead, and what she saw only convinced her further that the door should ser shut. But whoever was outside wasn¡¯t giving up. The doorbell kept ringing, again and again, growing more urgent by the second If they kept this up, she had no doubt they¡¯d try to force their way in. Panic started to creep in. She rushed back to the bedroom. ¡°Ms. Hanks, there¡¯s a group of men outside. They look¡­ off. Like trouble.¡± Gracie was sleeping soundly in her Shermaine was already dressed. She¡¯d changed into ck leggings and a loose T¨Cshirt, her real hair hidden under a wig, her eye color masked by contacts. Every trace of her former appearance had been scrubbed clean. Without a flicker of worry, she said, ¡°Stay with Gracie. I¡¯ll deal with them.¡± ¡°They¡¯ve got guns,¡± Jasmine warned, her voice tight. ¡°Be careful.¡± ¡°I will.¡± And with that, Shermaine slipped out of the room and shut the door behind her. Jasmine moved closer to the monitors. Her heart pounded in her chest. She didn¡¯t like the idea of Shermaine facing them alone. The security feed showed everything. The moment the men kicked the door open and stormed inside. Their eyes locked onto Shermaine at once, scanning her from head to toe. But she wore a face mask. They couldn¡¯t see a thing. They were mercenaries from the infamous Violet Unit out of Radford., hired guns who¡¯d been chasing the sky¨Chigh bounty on a certain fugitive for months. They didn¡¯t know exactly what she looked like, just that she traveled with a man, and that she had red hair. They¡¯d found nothing until word leaked that a woman had given birth to a red¨Chaired baby. That clue had brought them here ¡°Jace,¡± the leader said, ¡°check if she¡¯s in disguise.¡± One of the men stepped forward. Just as he reached for her mask, Shermaine moved. Her hand shot out, twisted his arm behind his back, and popped his shoulder out of ce in a blink. He reached for his gun, but it was gone. She was already holding it, pressing the muzzle to his temple. He froze. Then came the shot. He crumpled instantly, lifeless on the floor. Chapter 455 They¡¯de for the bounty, so Shermaine had no intention of holding back.. The others tensed. One of them spat, ¡°So you are Shermaine. The one on the most¨Cwanted list. She didn¡¯t confirm it. ¡°Wanna be sure?¡± she said coolly. ¡°Come find out.¡± That was all the invitation they needed, and they lunged. Shermaine hadn¡¯t fought anyone in months, not since she¡¯d gotten pregnant. But now, the baby was born, and her reflexes were sharp as ever. In the room, Jasmine watched in stunned silence. ¡®So cool!¡® she screamed in her mind. These weren¡¯t amateurs. They were trained killers. But against Shermaine, they may as well have been paper targets. She moved through them like a storm, each strike precise, fast, brutal. It didn¡¯t take long. One by one, they hit the ground, either unconscious or broken. They¡¯d thought they could take her down before anyone else did. Cash in fast. But they¡¯d severely underestimated their mark. And this was only the beginning. Others woulde, like bounty hunters, assassins, people far more dangerous than this bunch. Soon, even running might not be an option. Shermaine stood among the bodies and didn¡¯t waste a second. She returned to the bedroom. ¡°Pack up. We¡¯re leaving.¡± Jasmine had already started while the fight was still going. By the time Shermaine walked in, most of their things were ready. Their next stop was Sweetport, where the opening rounds of the International Gambling Tournament Top Hundred were about to begin. Sure enough, barely moments after they left, a wave of mercenaries and hired guns descended on the ce. Truth be told, Shermaine could have wiped her identity clean the moment the baby was born. But she didn¡¯t. In fact, it almost seemed intentional, like she¡¯d left breadcrumbs for people to find her. Now that the child was born, she wasn¡¯t afraid of being hunted anymore. For months, Shermaine had been a ghost, impossible to trace. Now, for the first time, her name resurfaced. The searchbed through every corner of Radford, but turned up nothing. What they did confirm was she had left the hotel and vanished from Radford altogether. The news traveled fast, reaching Eagle Assassins¡® headquarters within hours. Zane was the first to get the report and brought it straight to Joshua. ¡°Mr. Reaper, we may have a sighting. Your wife may have shown up in Radford.¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°How sure are you?¡± ¡°The mercs who went after her were all killed. No one got a look at her face,¡± Zane exined. ¡°But apparently¡­ someone saw a baby. Red¨Chaired. That¡¯s what raised the rm.¡± Shermaine¡¯s due date had been right around this time. Unless something had gone terribly wrong, the chances were overwhelming. A flicker of fire sparked in Joshua¡¯s eyes. ¡°Where is she now?¡± ¡°She¡¯s gone. Left Radford. No one knows where.¡± Even Zane was impressed. In this era of digital surveince, she had somehow erased every trace of herself, with no cameras or slip¨Cups. Not even a squad of trained killers could pin her down. 2314 Sat 5 Jun Chapter 455 ¡°Keep searching.¡± Joshua said, his voice low but firm. ¡°The moment there¡¯s an update, I want to hear it first Atst, there was news. Shermaine was alive, and their child had been born safely. Comment Nurse walking 456 Chapter 456 From a single nce, Sweetport seemed like something out of a dream. Its clear, meandering canals shimmered in the sunlight, boats driftedzily across the water, and the surrounding architecture was both distinctive and picturesque, casting a surreal charm over the entire city. On one of the livelier streets, Jasmine was pushing a stroller. Gracie was awake but quiet, soothed by the luby ying from inside and insted from the noise outside. To avoid drawing attention to the oddities about her, Gracie wore an impossibly cute bunny¨Ceared hat. Her unusual hair color couldn¡¯t be changed, so they simply kept people at a distance. Inside a boutique for mothers and infants, Shermaine was calmly stocking up on essentials, everything Gracie would need in the days ahead. She appeared entirely at ease, as if she hadn¡¯t a care in the world and no fear whatsoever of being found. By dusk, a golden glow bathed Sweetport. The glistening waters and exotic facades seemed to bask under a divine light, making the entire city feel otherworldly in its beauty. Soon, they boarded a magnificent cruise ship, the venue for tonight¡¯s International Gambling Tournament. This was the Top Hundred round. Twenty would be eliminated, leaving eighty to battle for a ce in the Top Fifty. From there, the field would narrow to twenty, then ten, and finally crown a single winner, the title of gambling king, the throne no one shared. The ship¡¯s interior was bustling, guests flowing in from all sides. Most were dressed in tuxedos and evening gowns. Thanks to Shermaine, Jasmine came aboard as herpanion, which meant full ess to everything, gourmet dining, premium wines, a private suite, and even front¨Crow WIP seats to the tournament. Of course, with Gracie along, it wasn¡¯t exactly convenient to stay in the crowd. But there would be a live broadcast, so watching from the room would do just fine. At that moment, the cruise ship¡¯s giant screen began disying profiles of the Top Hundred contestants. As soon as Shermaine boarded, her image lit up the screen. She was breathtaking, impossible not to notice. A smooth, resonant voice came over the sound system. ¡°Please wee Boa Hanks, one of our Top Hundred yers, a stunning and enigmaticpetitor!¡± The camera panned straight to her, and a reporter stepped forward for an interview. He smiled politely. ¡°Ms. Hanks, do you feel confident about making it into the Top Ten?¡± Shermaine wasn¡¯t the only woman in thepetition, but she stood out in every way, beauty, presence, and an air of danger. No one knew much about her, but even if she didn¡¯t win, her future in the gambling world was already secure. Just having her at a table was enough to attract wealthy high¨Crollers in droves. Her hair was now a striking shade of sea¨Cblue, cascading in waves to her waist. It was a bold color few could pull off. On Shermaine, it looked tailor¨Cmade. With her defined features, blood¨Cred lips, and a sleek strapless ck gown, she carried herself with a rare mix of grace and indifference. Viewers online were captivated. Many on board couldn¡¯t take their eyes off the screen. To them, Shermaine seemed to embody the very image of Athens from their ancient myths, a goddess of icy beauty and regal bearing. The moment she emerged, the atmosphere, both on board and online, erupted in collective awe. ¡°God, this Boa Hanks is even more gorgeous than Mandy.¡± Mandy Morey, another Top Hundred contestant, was the Northern District¡¯s favorite female gambler, known for both her skill and her looks. Shermaine represented the Southern District but kept a low profile. She rarely gave interviews, vanishing immediately after her matches. Her poprity had never soared until now. Elsewhere on the ship, in one of the spacious lounges outfitted with a pool and a full bar, contestants were mingling, drinks in hand. Mandy sat beside a blond man with a delicate, almost ethereal air. She sneered as Shermaine¡¯s face appeared onscreen, unimpressed, until she caught the man ncing at the screen with quiet interest. Her expression changed instantly. That man was Simon Moreno, the son of Baykeep¡¯s city lord. A legendary gambler in his own right, his talent was said to rival his father¡¯s. Since he first picked up cards, he had only ever lost to one man. Mandy, on the other hand, was the sole female disciple of the reigning Gambling King. Everyone in Baykeep assumed she would be the nextdy of the city, Simon¡¯s future wife. She wasn¡¯t about to let another woman steal his attention. Simon said inly, ¡°Ms. Hanks is definitely better looking than you.¡± There was something about Shermaine, her curves and look, that stirred a deep urge in him, a craving to dominate. Shermaine, meanwhile, paid no mind to the buzz she was causing. The only thing she cared about was whether Joshua would see the broadcast and recognize her. She looked nothing like she used to, but if it was Joshua watching she was sure he¡¯d know her at first nce. And when asked about her goal for the tournament, she answered with cool defiance, ¡°I¡¯m not here for the Top Ten. I¡¯m here to win.¡± There was a beat of stunned silence, then a wave of chatter broke out. It sounded so arrogant and overconfident. But her record was spotless. From the preliminaries to now, she hadn¡¯t lost a single match. And not only had she won, but she had done it with almost casual ease. Still, the skeptics remained. With Simon in the mix, her chances of iming the title were slim. AD Comment Nurse walking 457 Chapter 457 The reporter chuckled, clearly intrigued. ¡°Then how confident are you in taking the crown?¡± Shermaine replied casually, ¡°Isn¡¯t it basically a hands¨Con win?¡± The reporter nearly choked, thinking, ¡°if winning were just about having hands, I¡¯d be a millionaire by now!¡® But that was the thing about people with real talent. Even their arrogance somehow came off as honesty. Especially when it was Shermaine speaking it just sounded right, like it belonged to her. He cleared his throat and pressed on. ¡°Have you done any research on the yers you¡¯ll be up against in the next round?¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t even blink. ¡°They¡¯re all going to lose. Why would I waste time on them?¡± Meanwhile, over in the yers¡® lounge, Simon burst outughing. His eyes gleamed with amusement and something a little darker, maybe even conquest. ¡°This woman is fascinating. I can¡¯t wait to meet her. I¡¯d love to sit down and really talk.¡± He wasn¡¯t the only one thinking that. Other male contestants had simr ideas. But with Simon this interested in Boa, it was clear they wouldn¡¯t even get close. Any woman Simon had his eye on was practically guaranteed to end up on his team. Mandy, however, looked visibly upset. ¡°Simon, don¡¯t let her attitude fool you. She¡¯s all talk. Just trying to get attention.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got it wrong, Mandy,¡± Simon said. ¡°She¡¯s not like the others.¡± Mandy folded her arms, frowning. ¡°You don¡¯t trust my judgment anymore? I¡¯ve always had a good eye for people.¡± Simon didn¡¯t answer. Her jaw tightened. ¡°What if I told you she¡¯s not even as good as me?¡± Simon gave a low, almost weary sigh. ¡°Your problem is you keep underestimating people. How many times have I warned you not to judge by appearances?¡± Mandy rose abruptly, her voice sharp. ¡°I¡¯ll prove it to you. She¡¯s not better than me!¡± After her interview, Shermaine made her way back inside. In the hallway, Jasmine tugged her arm and whispered, ¡°Ms. Hanks, do you realize how many people are going to want a solo match with you after what you just said?¡± Shermaine looked unfazed. ¡°Let theme.¡± Before the official tournament began, there was a warm¨Cup phase, the solo challenge matches. Contestants were allowed to challenge others to one¨Con¨Cone duels. Whoever lost would be disqualified from the tournament entirely. Refusals were allowed, but only three times. After that, any challenge had to be epted. Jasmine bit her lip. ¡°I have a feeling Mandy¡¯s going toe after you.¡± Mandy, after all, was the only female prot¨¦g¨¦ of Baykeep¡¯s reigning gambling king. No way she could stomach the inte saying Shermaine was not only better than her but prettier, too. 23:14 Sat, 5 Jul B And sure enough, Mandy showed up. Jasmine¡¯s face stiffened. Shermaine, as calm as ever, simply said, ¡°Take Gracie to the rest area and wait for me. It¡¯s crowded here. Don¡¯t wander off¡± Jasmine nodded and hurried away with the child. Mandy approached, standing tall as she looked Shermaine over with a cool, appraising gaze. Then, without ceremony, she pulled out a letter and handed it over. ¡°I¡¯m curious. A woman who talks as big as you do. Let¡¯s see if your skills live up to your mouth.¡± Shermaine took the letter without hesitation. News of their pre¨Cmatch solo duel spread like wildfire. Almost instantly, the entire luxury cruise ship was abuzz with spection. At the headquarters of the Eagle Assassins. Joshua stood silently in front of a floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window, a cigarette poised between his fingers. Dressed in all ck, he looked like a shadow carved out of the dim, fractured light. Smoke curled around him in slow spirals, softening the edges of his sharp, ruthless profile. His face, partly veiled by the haze, looked distant and unreal, like a ghost painted in grayscale. Zane stepped inside. ¡°Mr. Reaper,¡± he said cautiously, ¡°a new job came in. The client specifically requested you.¡± Joshua tapped the ash from his cigarette without turning around. ¡°Not interested.¡± His voice held not a flicker of warmth. ¡°Tell them to find someone else.¡± Zane hesitated. Joshua ran the organization with brutal efficiency, buttely, his temper had been like walking a minefield. And Zane knew it was because of Shermaine. There was still no trace of her, and the silence had hollowed him out. ¡°The client¡¯s offering a massive payout,¡± Zane tried again. ¡°Fifty billion Xyperia Tokens. It¡¯s a clean job, easy for you.¡± He tapped his Orthish device. A holographic stream bloomed into view. ¡°It¡¯s tied to the International Gambling Tournament. Familiar with it?¡± Joshua didn¡¯t even nce at the projection. But the way he inhaled on his cigarette, sharper and deeper, betrayed the sudden shift beneath his still exterior. ¡°The client wants you on that cruise ship,¡± Zane exined. ¡°Eliminate the targets on the list, and in return, we¡¯ll be allowed to expand our reach into Baykeep.¡± It was, without question, a rare opening. For the Eagle Assassins, it could mean a foothold in one of the most lucrative territories left unconquered. Zane wanted Joshua to see it for what it was, a perfect opportunity to elevate their empire. But instead of enthusiasm, the air grew heavier. The temperature seemed to drop. Joshua¡¯s silence turned oppressive. Zane felt it in his chest, a weight that pressed down until every breath felt strained. It was the kind of atmosphere that said one wrong word might get him killed. ¡®Maybe I pushed too hard,¡® he thought grimly. ¡®Maybe this isn¡¯t the time to bring up expansion. Not when he¡¯s like this.¡® Then, a voice cut through the heavy silence, a woman¡¯s voice, ringing bold and bright through the office speakers. ¡°I¡¯m not here for top ten. I¡¯m here to win.¡± The tension around Joshua evaporated. His killing aura dissolved like mist under sunlight. For the first time, he turned to look at the screen. His gaze 23.14 ???? 4 sat, sour locked onto the woman speaking. Nurse walking 458 Chapter 458 Chapter 458 Joshua¡¯s eyes red with heat the moment he saw her. Zane immediately sensed the shift. The weight that had pressed down on him moments ago had vanished, and he finally allowed himself to breathe At least for now, his life was safe. If his boss hadn¡¯t wanted to take the job, Zane would¡¯ve left it alone. Even without a foothold in Baykeep, the Eagle Assassins would continue to thrive under Joshua¡¯s rule. Still, he noticed Joshua¡¯s gaze remained locked on the woman in the live feed. Picking up on the unspoken, Zane took the cue and spoke again. ¡°She¡¯speting under the name Boa Hanks. Ranked in the top 100 of the International Gambling Tournament.¡± To others, the name ¡°Boa¡± meant nothing. But to Joshua, it struck a chord, intimate and familiar. There was no mistaking her. That woman on screen was the one he¡¯d been dreaming about, day and night. She might have changed her look, altered her voice, even suppressed her tone, but it didn¡¯t matter. Joshua knew her. One sentence was all it took. After nearly six months, he¡¯d finally found Shermaine. ¡°Where is this?¡± ¡°Noah Cruise Ship,¡± Zane answered without pause. ¡°Docked at Sweetport now, headed for Baykeep. If you want to intercept, we can head straight to Faike and board there three days from now. But we¡¯ll need ess clearance.¡± Boarding at this stage wasn¡¯t simple. Tickets had long since sold out. Only nobles or high¨Cranking military were still allowed on board. And forcing the way in would mean going toe¨Cto¨Ctoe with a fleet of heavily armedbat robots. Joshua didn¡¯t let him finish. ¡°I¡¯ll take the job.¡± Just like that, the decision was made. epting the mission meant getting an entry pass. That was all that mattered. Zane blinked, surprised at the sudden shift, but quicklyposed himself. Hepiled the hit list and uploaded it to Joshua¡¯s Orthish interface, along with the client agreement. ¡°Target list and contract. If everything checks out, I¡¯ll notify the client immediately and confirm the deal.¡± Joshua didn¡¯t even look at it. Instead, he opened a search for every stream rted to the tournament. But after that one brief interview, Shermaine had vanished again. There was no sign of her anywhere else. Only then did he open the hit list. The targets had been meticulously profiled. Most were elite yers dispatched by Shirley, dangerous individuals who could jeopardize Bronx Moreno¡¯s n to push his son Simon to the championship. Two names weren¡¯t directly tied to Shirley, but their skill levels posed enough of a threat that Bronx wanted them taken out too. It was transparent. A seasoned schemer wasying the groundwork for his heir, clearing every obstacle from the path. Joshua nced at the contract next. He couldn¡¯t have cared less about the terms. He had no intention of honoring it. The only thing he needed was the ess it granted. The Moreno family had aligned themselves with Judy. And Joshua had never made a secret of what he intended to do with her. He just hadn¡¯t gotten around to it yet. Baykeep was clearly important to her. Losing it would cost her dearly. So Bronx, in choosing her side, was already stepping into a trap. Joshua signed the contract without a flicker of hesitation. Zane received the confirmation and immediately contacted Bronx. ¡°Our boss has agreed to take the assignment. You can rest assured. We¡¯ll deliver Bronx reviewed the signed document and gave his secretary a brief nod. ¡°Send the down payment to Mr. Reaper¡¯s ount.¡± Within seconds, the transfer waspleted. Zane smiled. ¡°Pleasure doing business.¡± ¡°Likewise.¡± As the video call ended, the secretary, still skeptical, turned to his employer. ¡°Sir, why bring in someone like Mr. Reaper? We don¡¯t know anything about him.¡± ¡°Because the other assassin syndicates are unstable,¡± Bronx replied calmly. ¡°Too many internal issues. Too many leaks. Eagle Assassins just went through aplete restructuring. Their new leader doesn¡¯t belong to any faction. And the way their influence has exploded under hismand? That speaks volumes.¡± He wasn¡¯t just hiring muscle. He was nting seeds for a future alliance. If the job went well, he intended to give Eagle Assassins a stake in Baykeep. The secretary nodded, seeing the logic in it, though something about Joshua still unsettled him. There was a quiet danger in the man that was hard to exin. Back on the other end, Joshua hadn¡¯t moved. His eyes were still glued to the stream. He watched for what felt like forever until finally, Shermaine appeared again. She was sitting across from another woman, tension simmering in the air between them. The reporter¡¯s voice carried through the room with theatrical ir. ¡°Well, folks, it looks like everyone¡¯s been dying to see a solo match between Mandy and Boa! And hey, who am I to deny the crowd? ¡°Solo matches before the tournament have always been a fan favorite. They¡¯re the perfect warm¨Cup act. But this time? Two women, both stars of the Southeast District, going head¨Cto¨Chead? That¡¯s a first! Come on, people. ce your bets. Let¡¯s see who walks away smiling.¡± AD Comment Send gift No Ads Nurse walking 459 The hall was resplendent with gilded ceilings and crystal chandeliers, A nist yed a soft, elegant tune, while women in dazzling dresses moved gracefully through the crowd, bncing cocktails with practiced They weren¡¯t here for the drinks or the music. They were here for the drama. The ship had been sailing for a while, but entertainment had been in short supply. A high¨Cstakes solo duel like this was exactly the kind of excitement everyone had been craving. Not only could they bet on the oue, but they also got to witness a thrilling showdown firsthand, which, truthfully, was the whole point of this cruise. In this world, casinos weren¡¯t so different from those on Earth. The games might vary in style and rules, but they were much the same. These pre¨Ctournament showdowns were especially unpredictable. The game would be determined at random by a referee, and anything could happen Now, a professional in a dealer¡¯s uniform stepped forward, carrying a roulette¨Cstyle wheel etched with the names of various gambling games. Wherever the red pointernded, that would be the match format, best two out of three. The rules were brutal¨Cwinner takes all. The loser would not only forfeit their chips, but also their spot in the coveted top¨Chundred tournament. The chips hit the table. The dealer pressed a glowing blue button. The pointer spun rapidly, ticking over each segment until it finally slowed and stopped on Roulette. At the edge of the room, Simon sat alone at the bar, a ss of top¨Cshelf liquor in hand. He eyed the wheel and gave a faint smile. Roulette was Mandy¡¯s signature game. She was a legend in Baykeep for a reason. Many had tried to beat her at roulette. Almost none had seeded. It was a game that demanded more than luck. It required precision, cold logic, and a mind that could calcte odds in a split second. Still, even if she won, Simon wouldn¡¯t be impressed. What drew him in wasn¡¯t her skill. It was Shermaine, her wildness, the quiet, unshakable arrogance in her eyes. Looking at her wless skin, he could only imagine how soft she felt under the fingertips. No woman in the Kingdom of Xyperia could hold a candle to her, not even the most sought¨Cafter starlets. Even if she lost, he still wanted her. Mandy¡¯s eyes lingered on the wheel as her lips pulled into a faint, knowing smirk. Shermaine hadnded squarely on the one game Mandy was born to y. Shermaine remained unreadable, but her brows pinched slightly. Something felt off in her chest, tight and ufortable. Her body was producing too much milk, and Gracie wasn¡¯t drinking enough. Her dress was snug, and the pressure in her chest was building. It ached, distracting, but manageable. It wouldn¡¯t throw her off. ¡°If there are no objections, we¡¯ll begin,¡± the dealer announced. ¡°None here,¡± Mandy said coolly. Chapter 459 Shermaine exhaledzily. ¡°Let¡¯s get started.¡± Meanwhile, Jasmine had just gone all in, staking her entire fortune on Shermaine. She nced at the online betting pool and let out a short. Most people had wagereti on Mandy. She grinned to herself, thinking, ¡®Idiots. This is going to be the payday of a lifetime. Just wait. You¡¯re all going to lose your shirts! The dealer moved with swift precision. He picked up a polished metal cup and, with a single deft motion, scooped an uncounted handful of white ch from the pile. He then covered them without pause, sealing the contents from view. It was time for the yers to ce eir bets. In this version of roulette, there were no te Each round was decisive. Win, or move on to ¡°ce your bets,¡± the dealer said evenly. Both Shermaine and Mandy slid their chips forward, each choosing the number four. The dealer lifted the cup and revealed the chips. It was four, no change in momentum. Without hesitation, the dealer repeated the process. This time, both women ced their bets on the number two. Again, the result was two. Another draw. They yed a third round, each wagering on the number three. The result was three again. Whispers began to ripple through the crowd. Those who had dismissed Shermaine as a fluke now found themselves questioning their assumptions. Mandy narrowed her eyes slightly but made noment. In her mind, anypetitor unable to challenge her over multiple rounds had no business being in the top hundred. Still, the game went on. What had begun as a straightforward gamble was now unfolding into a test of focus and endurance, each round chipping away at their mental reserves. Spectators found themselves growing weary just watching. Their eyes strained to follow each movement, but still, neither yer had imed the lead. Then finally, a shift. Shermaine ced her chips on the number one, and Mandy chose two. It was the first time they had diverged. The energy in the room changed instantly. Anticipation crackled through the air. For the first time all night, the oue would not be a draw. A winner would be dered. Meanwhile, the betting pool online began to fluctuate wildly. Many spectators hesitated. Shermaine¡¯s track record wasn¡¯t impressive, but the odds attached to her name promised enormous returns. The risk was obvious, but so was the reward. 23:15 Sat, 5 Jul Mandy, on the other hand, remained the safer choice. Her win rate was consistent, her payout modest. Predictably, the majority continued to back her, unwilling to risk too much for the sake of a bigger prize. ¡°All right, let¡¯s see it!¡± someone shouted from the crowd. The dealer lifted the golden cup and began to uncover the chips. Mandy satposed and confident. She reached for her drink and took a slow sip, never breaking her gaze from the table. She was tired, perhaps, but she wouldn¡¯t let it show. In her mind, the oue was certain. But when the dealer read the result, her expression faltered. ¡°One point,¡± he announced. ¡°Winner¨CShermaine.¡± A wave of disbelief swept through the spectators. Online forums lit up withints and curses. Meanwhile, those who had bet on Shermaine were celebrating with unrestrained joy. She remained perfectly calm. She had gone all in on herself, and she had never once considered losing. Failure would have meant no Xyperia tokens and no way to give Gracie the life she deserved. On her Orthish ount, she watched her tokens double in value. A flicker of satisfaction crossed her face. She arched a brow, leaned forward, and with an effortless sweep, pulled all the chips to her side of the table. ¡°Appreciate the donation.¡± Nurse walking 460 Chapter 460 The chips in front of Mandy were swept clean in an instant. Just like that; she lost three million in the opening round. Her face turned ashen. She couldn¡¯t process the fact that she¡¯d lost the very first round to Shermaine, especially on Roulette, the game she was best a And yet, she¡¯d lost to Shermaine. ¡®What is Simon going to think?¡® she wondered. Her fingers clenched into fists as she looked toward the sidelines where Simon sat. But his gaze wasn¡¯t on her. The moment the results were announced, he had turned his full attention to Shermaine. His eyes held something Mandy had never seen before, which contained a sharp, unmistakable interest. The kind of look a man gave a woman who had just captured his attention. Mandy¡¯s knuckles went white. Jealousy surged through her like a tidal wave crashing down. ¡°I¡¯ll win those chips back,¡± she said slowly, each word cold and deliberate. Roulette had always been her strongest game. She¡¯d underestimated her opponent, and that was on herm but she wouldn¡¯t lose again. She couldn¡¯t afford to. If she lost again, Shermaine would make a name for herself by stepping right over her. ¡®Win them back?¡® Shermaine, sitting calmly across from her, smiled lightly. ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± she said, casually twirling a chip between her fingers. Her voice wasced with amusement. ¡°You¡¯re just going to lose even more.¡± By now, Shermaine had four million in chips stacked neatly in front of her. And she intended to go all in again. Mandy felt murderous. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that it would be wildly inappropriate in front of so many people, she would¡¯ve spilled blood right then and there, just to wipe that smug look off Shermaine¡¯s face. Her expression stayed stiff. ¡°Continue.¡± The croupier spun the wheel again. The red pointer spun several times beforending on the dice section. This round wasn¡¯t about luck alone. It was about judgment and listening skills. The croupier held up the dice and the cup, spinning them with a flourish that felt closer to a magic act than gambling. The sharp rattle echoed for nearly two minutes before the motion stopped. He raised a hand in a ssic gesture¨Cce your bets. The second round was critical. If Mandy lost this, the best¨Cof¨Cthree format meant the third round would be irrelevant. She had to win. This time, she was all focused. But dice was significantly harder than Roulette. Surviving here wasn¡¯t about instinct alone. It required real nerve. Mandy brought out another four million in chips. ording to the rules, both yers had to bet simultaneously to avoid usations of cheating. ¡°All in,¡± Shermaine said calmly, cing her entire four million on sixteen. Mandy could either match it or double it. Her lips pressed into a thin line. Then she reached for her newly acquired six million and pushed it forward. She bet it all on fifteen. One point short of Shermaine again. Chapter 460 The moment the table saw their choices, the audience, both livestream viewers and in person guests, held their breath in anticipation. Th Bets were open again for side wagers. But now, everyone hesitated. Mandy had gone in fast, aggressive. That kind of confidence usually came with solid judgment. Losing this meant not just losing the round and the money, but also her spot in the International Gambling Tournament. That was what made pre¨Cmatch solo battles so brutal. D¨¦spite the upset in the first round, Mandy¡¯s betting odds remained favorable. In fact, they¡¯d just dropped even lower. Her chances still looked good. Meanwhile, Shermaine¡¯s odds kept creeping higher. ¡°Spin it!¡± The crowd grew louder, their shouts echoing across the venue. Bets locked. No take¨Cbacks. The croupier lifted the cup and called the result, ¡°Sixteen. Boa Hanks wins.¡± The livestream exploded. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me.¡± ¡°Damn. There goes my rent.¡± ¡°Boa¡¯s not just lucky. She¡¯s scary good.¡± ¡°Did not see thating.¡± Nobody had expected Mandy to lose two straight. But now, it was in as day who had the upper hand. Mandy¡¯s fans were crushed. The high¨Crolling guests on site murmured among themselves, stunned. Shermaine wasn¡¯t just a pretty face. She was the real deal. The ck horse of the tournament. And clearly, she was here to win it all. Mandy nearly lost control when the result was announced. She¡¯d lost again. Shermaine calmly dragged all the chips toward herself. There was no need for a third round. She waved for staff toe over and convert her winnings into Xyperia tokens. Then she stood up, said nothing, and turned to leave. To the livestream audience, that figure walking away wasmanding. And watching it all unfold on screen, Joshua couldn¡¯t stop the smile that slowly curved across his face, thinking, ¡®That¡¯s my Sheary. Brilliant, no matter where she goes.¡® 1 Nurse walking 461 Chapter 461 The silver¨Chaired assassin stepped back inside and immediately noticed where Joshua¡¯s eyes had been the whole time, locked on the live stream, on that woman named Boa Hanks. A thought clicked instantly. ¡®Is this Boa the one Mr. Reaper held so dearly?¡® He watched Joshua¡¯s subtle expression again, and the slight curve at the corner of the man¡¯s lips only confirmed the suspicion. That faint smile wasn¡¯t something Joshua wore often. Not unless it meant something. Shermaine really was something else. Not long ago, she¡¯d made a mercenary crew vanish into thin air, and now she was cruising through the International Gambling Tournament like it was her own backyard. He had heard of Mandy before. She was Bronx¡¯s prot¨¦g¨¦, known throughout Baykeep for her gambling skills and polished charm. Plenty of men had chased after her, drawn in by reputation as much as beauty. But even she hadn¡¯tsted long against Shermaine. ¡°Sir, the car is ready. We can leave whenever you are,¡± the assassin said quietly. Joshua gave a soft grunt in response. From the lobby to the car, his eyes barely strayed from the screen. Even when all he could see was Shermaine¡¯s back, he didn¡¯t want to look away. It had been far too long. This kind of longing, carved so deeply into his bones, couldn¡¯t be eased just by seeing her on a screen. Not even a glimpse could soothe it. Shermaine¡¯s figure grew smaller as she walked away from the camera, but one lens kept tracking her, keeping her elegant silhouette in sight the entire time. She¡¯d just raked in a ridiculous amount of Xyperia tokens. Her mood was fairly pleasant. As she mentally added ¡°upgrade Gracie¡¯s stroller¡± to her to¨Cdo list, a man suddenly stepped in front of her, blocking her path. He was tall, sharply dressed, with chiseled features typical of Xyperia¡¯s elite. His ash¨Cbrown hair was neatly slicked back, his nose high¨Cbridged, and his watch was a custom piece from the Moreno family, something only the highest ss could wear. His presence was sharp and deliberate, and the look he gave her left no doubt about what he wanted. Shermaine disliked that kind of gaze. Unless it came from Joshua, she had no patience for this kind of greedy attention. ¡°Ms. Hanks,¡± the man greeted, holding out a single flower. As it met the air, the deep blue bud bloomed open. Crystalline, fragrant, beautiful. ¡°How about a drink?¡± he asked. No one watching was surprised. A woman like Boa, deadly talented and stunning, of course someone like Simon would shoot his shot. Hell, half the men watching wanted to. The only reason Simon beat them to it was that no one else dared to move first, But what caught everyone off guard was the fact that Simon failed. Shermaine didn¡¯t even nce his way. She walked right past him. Simon wasn¡¯t offended. He actually smiled, amused. That spark of challenge only lit up more in his eyes. ¡®Smart women,¡¯ he thought, ¡®are a different kind of beautiful. She smells incredible, too. Subtle, intoxicating. But from Mandy¡¯s angle, the whole thing looked like a ssic case of ying hard to get. A game women yed when they wanted to reel a man in without looking too eager. ¡®She¡¯ll be saying yes in no time,¡® Mandy thought bitterly. ¡®That¡¯s how these girls do it.¡® She had just lost everything, money, pride, and her spot in the tournament. She was seething. She wanted Simon to her. But Simon had no interest in her. Shermaine¡¯s wless performance had caught other eyes, too. People from Shirley¡¯s camp had started paying attention. After all, true talents never stayed unnoticed. And in a tournament like this, everyone was scouting. 1/2 00.27 ?? $20 Back in her room, Shermaine finally rxed. Jasmine was beaming. She had bet on Shermaine the whole time and made a small fortune. Enough to splurge for weeks. In the stroller, Gracie stirred. She didn¡¯t cry. She just blinked up at the ceiling with big, shining eyes framed by longshes. It technically wasn¡¯t time for another feeding yet. She¡¯d been fed before boarding the ship, but close enough. ¡°Oh my God, Boa Goddess, you¡¯re incredible. My savings just tripled overnight. I love you so much,¡± Jasmine said, her eyes practically sparkling. The tournament still had a long way to go, and as long as Shermaine keptpeting, Jasmine could keep betting. At this rate, she¡¯d never have to worry about food or rent for the rest of her life. Shermaine didn¡¯t even look up. ¡°Save it. I won¡¯t love you back.¡± Jasmine gasped, clutching her chest dramatically. ¡°Ow. Right in the feelings.¡± Shermaine finally smiled. Her gaze drifted to Gracie, and her sharp edges softened in an instant. Gracie wasn¡¯t smiling until she saw her mom. Then her little mouth curled open, and there it was. Shermaine picked her up and kissed her round, soft cheek. ¡°Look at that, she¡¯s smiling,¡± Jasmine squealed. ¡°Gracie¡¯s gonna be a genius when she grows up.¡± ¡®Obviously. She¡¯s Joshua¡¯s daughter. My precious,¡® Shermaine said to herself. She picked up the little yellow rubber duck on the stroller tray. ¡°Come on, Gracie. Time for a bath.¡± Meanwhile, in the car, Joshua¡¯s mind hadn¡¯t left the image of that stranger. The man had dared to look at his Sheary with that kind of interest. The window was halfway down, and his sharp features were drawn tight. That man¡¯s eyes¡­ Joshua wouldn¡¯t mind carving them out. 2/12 Nurse walking 462 Chapter 462 After bathing Gracie, Shermaine fed her, tucked her into the crib, and then headed to the bathroom with the breast pump. Her chest was ufortably full, and if she didn¡¯t take care of it, she wasn¡¯t getting any sleep tonight. Once she finished, she poured the milk into bottles and stored them in the temperature¨Ccontrolled cab to keep it fresh until morning She was just grabbing her robe, ready to shower, when the luxury cruise ship let out a deep st from its horn. It was finally setting sail. The main tournament wouldn¡¯t begin for another three days. For now, the schedule was packed with entertainment, games, and even performances from popr celebrities. The day passed quickly. Shermaine showered, rubbed her sore chest again, and finally turned off the lights to sleep. The next morning, Jasmine woke up and ordered breakfast. A hotel staffer soon arrived with a thick stack of invitation cards, along withvish bouquets and luxurious gifts. ¡°These are all for Ms. Hanks,¡± the server said with a polite smile. ¡°Would you mind signing for them?¡± Jasmine was tempted, for some of the gifts looked expensive enough to fund a small kingdom, but she knew Shermaine wouldn¡¯t even nce at them. No matter how handsome the man was, Shermaine already had a family. A brilliant woman and a gorgeous baby girl? Those other guys didn¡¯t stand a chance. ¡°I¡¯m not signing for anything. You can send it all back,¡± Jasmine said firmly. The staffer hesitated. ¡°What about the invitations?¡± If all of them were returned, it might be a bit difficult, since several VIPs had specifically requested that the invitations be delivered to Shermaine personally. ¡°I¡¯ll hold onto them and make sure she sees them.¡± ¡°Thank you, ma¡¯am. I appreciate it.¡± Jasmine waved her off with a grin. No matter how extravagant those gifts were, Shermaine had earned over ten million Xyperi Trinkets like these? Probably less than pocket change to her. s justst night. After her morning workout and another shower, Shermaine finally came out to eat. She nced at the pile of invitations on the table. ¡°What¡¯s all this?¡± she asked. ¡°Looks like half the ship wants to date you,¡± Jasmine said. ¡°I took the liberty of keeping the cards.¡± Shermaine flipped through a few. The first one was from Siman, inviting her to dinner at the most exclusive restaurant on the ship. She barely nced at the name before tossing it straight into the trash: The rest she skimmed and left on the table. She had no intention of going. ¡°I¡¯ll watch Gracie today. Go enjoy yourself,¡± she said. Since Gracie¡¯s birth, Jasmine had rarely taken time for herself. With Shermaine offering to take over, she wasn¡¯t about to refuse. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am! Spa, swim, and I¡¯ll be back before dinner.¡± That entire day, every man on the ship hoping to identally¡± run into Shermaine was left disappointed. That evening, Simon showed up at the restaurant in a perfectly tailored suit. There was only one chef on duty, and he cooked exclusively for reserved guests. Tonight, that first party was him. Except Shermaine never showed. His expression finally shifted. After two failed attempts to get her attention, his pride was clearly bruised. Worse still, hall the ship was watching him. Hen 1/3 could only imagine the whispers that would follow. If Shermaine turned him down again, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to take more aggressive steps. He drank half the wine alone before finally leaving, only to run into Mandy. Her eyes were red. ¡°Simon¡­ you really like that woman?¡± Simon frowned. ¡°You need to change that temper. My father may have picked you for me, but I never epted that arrangement.¡± Mandy froze. ¡°But you never denied it either.¡± ¡°I thought you understood what we were,¡± he said coolly, as if it should have been obvious all along. Truthfully, Simon had strung her along. She was the girl his father had arranged for him, and early on, he¡¯d found her interesting. But over time, that interest faded. He was never the type to settle. A yboy through and through. Mandy, however, refused to see it that way. To her, the me rested entirely on Shermaine. ¡°You¡¯ve been blinded by that vixen,¡± Mandy snapped. ¡°She is quite something,¡± Simon replied, without a hint of apology. Mandy¡¯s face darkened. He reached out and tapped her head like she was a child. ¡°You¡¯ve had the best years of my attention, Mandy. Don¡¯t ruin it. If my father demands I marry you, I¡¯ll do it.¡± It was the least he could offer, for the sake of their childhood history, and for how hopelessly devoted she¡¯d always been. Jasmine happened to be passing by and heard the whole exchange. ¡°Wow,¡± she muttered to herself. ¡°What a grade¨CA piece of trash.¡± She¡¯d spent the day shopping for dresses, swimming, and eating like a queen. That night, she went back to their suite and recapped the whole thing for Shermaine. Shermaine was lounging in a chair, rocking Gracie¡¯s crib with one hand, a paperback in the other,pletely unfazed. She barely reacted. ¡°Oh.¡± Two more days flew by. Every man trying to ¡°identally¡± run into Shermaine came up empty. On the third day, the swelling in her chest had be unbearable. She figured it was time to visit the ship¡¯s pharmacy for some painkillers. The ship had docked, and a fresh batch of passengers had just boarded. The moment Shermaine stepped out of her room, she sensed eyes on her. Multiple sets, from multiple directions. She made her way to the pharmacy, picked up what she needed, and stepped back into the open air, only to be blocked by a few men in suits. ¡°Ms. Hanks, Mr. Lambert has been expecting you.¡± ¡®Again with this guy. Give it a rest,¡® she thought. Shermaine¡¯s tone was cold. ¡°Move.¡± They hesitated, clearly thrown off by hef energy, but still didn¡¯t back down. ¡°Ms. Hanks, please don¡¯t make this difficult.¡± Just then, another group approached. ¡°She already told you to back off. Blocking her path like this is out of line.¡± ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± ¡°We¡¯d like to invite Ms. Hanks for a drink too. So yeah, it is our business.¡± 2/3 08:27 Mon, 7 Jul G One of Simon¡¯s men stepped up. ¡°Then beat Mr. Lambert in a solo round. If you win, you earn the right to speak to her.¡± ¡°Oh, so Mr. Lambert thinks he owns her now?¡± the other man sneered. He looked to Shermaine. ¡°What do you think, Ms. Hanks?¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t answer. Her face gave nothing away as she turned and walked off. Right then, her opticalputer buzzed. A video popped up showing Jasmine holding Gracie, but they were clearly not in their suite. They were inside one of the cruise ship¡¯s restaurants. The sea view sparkled behind them, and a ss pool glistened in the sunlight. ¡°Goddess!¡± Jasmine was practically shouting. ¡°Gracie and I are stuck! You need toe quick!¡± Nurse walking 463 Chapter 463 ¡°Protect Gracie,¡± Shermaine said coldly. ¡°I¡¯m on my way.¡± Jasmine wanted to respond, but before she could get a word out, Mandy abruptly cut the optical feed. Fuming, Jasmine red at her, thinking, ¡®Just wait until Shermaine gets here. You¡¯re gonna regret everything! This woman was deranged. Malicious to the core. She was the one who issued a challenge to Shermaine, and now that she¡¯d lost, she couldn¡¯t ept it. So she resorted to taking them hostage just to get another shot at Shermaine. ¡®Please let Shermaine bring enough firepower to wipe this ce clean,¡® Jasmine thought. She nced around. There were at least a few dozen people here. Mandy, after shutting down the optical feed, turned her gaze to Jasmine. She scanned her slowly, her eyesnding on the baby in her arms. Gracie, bundled up in her adorable bunny¨Ceared hat, was being held tightly to Jasmine¡¯s chest. ¡°What the hell are you looking at? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re deranged enough toy a hand on a baby,¡± Jasmine snapped, not backing down for a second. Mandy didn¡¯t respond with violence, but her tone was sharp. ¡°Is she yours?¡± ¡°Of course she¡¯s mine.¡± Jasmine wasn¡¯t about to say otherwise. She wasn¡¯t stupid. But Mandy wasn¡¯t buying it. What kind of woman gets a full¨Cbody spa, goes swimming, and spends days flirting around right after giving birth? Meanwhile, Shermaine had barely left the room these past few days. Mandy let out a coldugh. ¡°You think lying to me is going to work? All I have to do is run your ID, and I¡¯ll know whether or not you¡¯re really her mother.¡± Jasmine¡¯s expression faltered. ¡°She¡¯s Boa¡¯s kid, isn¡¯t she?¡± Mandy pressed on. Jasmine said nothing. Meanwhile, Shermaine had already pulled up Jasmine¡¯s location through her opticalputer. With a quickmand, a map appeared on her screen. Without hesitation, she turned and headed out. Simon¡¯s men didn¡¯t understand what was going on, but when they saw Shermaine moving to leave, they rushed forward to stop her, which was a big mistake. One swift kick from Shermaine sent a man crashing into the wall. There was a sickening crack as his ribs snapped. He crumpled to the ground, face pale, unable to move. The others fell silent. Shermaine dusted off her coat, her voice icy. ¡°Anyone else tries to stop me, that¡¯s what you¡¯re getting.¡± No one dared move. Some, noticing her sudden urgency, guessed something was wrong. A few slipped away to find out what had happened. The information came back fast. Mandy had taken a woman and a baby hostage, someone staying in the same suite as Shermaine, someone clearly close to her. 08:27 Mon, 7 Jul Jul G ¡°Do we intervene?¡± someone from Shirley¡¯s camp asked. ¡°Mandy brought in mercs and hitmen. We¡¯re short¨Cstaffed. If we get involved, we may not back alive.¡± ¡°We wait,¡± another said. ¡°If we see an opening to earn a favor from Boa, we take it,¡± While they were deliberating, Shermaine had already arrived at the restaurant. The guards posted outside didn¡¯t stop her when they saw she was alone, Inside, Jasmine was nked by two men. Every time she so much as moved, they pinned her down. The second she saw Shermaine, she shouted, ¡°Goddess! She took Gracie!¡± Shermaine froze. The words hit her like a de. Mandy had taken Gracie from Jasmine¡¯s arms. A storm of rage surged inside her. Her aura turned ice cold. On the far end of the room, Mandy sat sipping wine, holding Gracie in one arm. When she saw Shermaine approaching, she smiled. ¡°So the baby really is yours.¡± Simon¡¯s woman of interest, it turned out, was no innocent. She had a child and clearly no man in sight. Which meant this baby probably belonged to some random guy. ¡®Just another wild woman with a bastard kid,¡® Mandy said inwardly. Disgusted, she mmed her winess against the floor, ss shattering everywhere. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I lost to a woman like you.¡± Gracie squirmed in her arms, clearly ufortable with how clumsily Mandy was holding her. Her big, pretty eyes welled with tears and began to spill over. Shermaine¡¯s heart clenched tight. She had never felt this furious. Her gaze burned red, deadly. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t haveid a hand on my daughter.¡± Nurse walking 464 Chapter 464 The moonlight bathed the ocean, making the surface shimmer like a stretch of luxurious silk. Many people had gathered along the deck and the corridor, hoping to catch a glimpse of the powerful figures boarding the Noah Cruise Ship that night. But their attention was instantly hijacked by a single man. Under the warm lights, his silver¨Cstreaked hair glowed faintly. He was tall, broad shouldered, and lean, with the cor of his white shirt left casually unbuttoned. Over it, he wore a ck trench coat that billowed lightly in the breeze. Even before they saw his face, his wless proportions alone had already drawn every gaze. A silver mask covered part of his face, leaving only the curve of his sculpted lips visible. Of all the noble sons and elites they¡¯d seen, none exuded this kind of impossible elegance, like a deity descending into the mortal world. But the chill in his presence was sharp and unweing, his entire aura radiating cold detachment. A few men followed closely behind him, each emanating a murderous tension. Their deference made it abundantly clear that they answered only to him. No one dared approach to ask if he wanted a drink. No one dared speak at all. Joshua absently rubbed the tinum ring on his finger and said to the silver¨Chaired assassin beside him, ¡°Go find out exactly where my girl is.¡± The assassin nodded and quickly passed the order along to the team of elite killers they¡¯d brought aboard. Within seconds, they fanned out, each looking for Shermaine¡¯s location. Meanwhile, inside the ship¡¯s dining hall, a different kind of chaos reigned. Agonized screams rang out without pause, each more bloodcurdling than thest. In the middle of it stood Shermaine, stunning in her crimson dress. At her feet, a womany curled on the ground, twisted in pain. Blood dripped from her nose and ears. The woman had been poisoned. Worse, she¡¯d been dragged into a cursed hallucination, a power Shermaine had never used on anyone before. But Mandy had crossed a line. She was the first person Shermaine truly wanted dead. Someone crept up from behind, attempting a surprise attack. Shermaine spun, flicked her wrist, and sent a silver needle flying. The man barely registered the sting in his chest before copsing, dead. He never even saw the needleing. On this ship, killing wasn¡¯t illegal. If someone had the guts to do it, no one would stop them. The bystanders were horrified. They hadn¡¯t even seen the needle leave her hand. The man was simply alive one moment and gone the next. Mandy¡¯s palms turned icy. In her arms, Gracie cried louder, ufortable from how roughly she was being held. Mandy clutched her gun tighter. For the first time, real fear crept into her chest. Shermaine stepped forward, heels clicking against the floor with unshakable calm. The mercenaries Mandy had hired were frozen in ce. None of them dared to stop her now. 07.02 Tue, & Jul ¡°Stay back!¡± Mandy shouted. Shermaine¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°Hand Gracie over, and I¡¯ll let you live.¡± But Mandy didn¡¯t believe her. Gracie was the only leverage she had. If she gave her up, what reason would Shermaine have not to kill her? When Shermaine moved again, Mandy panicked. She screamed, ¡°Take another step and I¡¯ll throw her into the seal¡± She extended her arms over the edge. Gracie dangled in the open air. They were at least a hundred feet above the ocean. If the child fell, she wouldn¡¯t survive. Shermaine¡¯s eyes darkened further. That red glow in her gaze red like something inhuman. Mandy was still shaken by the bloodbath she had witnessed earlier. She hadn¡¯t expected Shermaine to be this swift, deadly, almost supernatural Jasmine, quietly maneuvering in Mandy¡¯s blind spot, was inching closer, hoping to help. Just then, the wind blew off Gracie¡¯s hat, revealing soft, violet¨Ccolored hair. Her eyes were wide and clear, though puffy and wet from crying. The moment Mandy saw that violet hair, something clicked. She suddenly remembered the wanted posters, the man and the woman, both with violet hair. ¡®No way. This child¡­ she can¡¯t be-¡® Her gaze snapped to Shermaine. ¡°Boa Hanks, what the hell are you?¡± 2/2 Nurse walking 465 Chapter 465 The moment Mandy spat out her question, her body was hit with a wave of excruciating pain. It felt like something was gnawing at her from the inside out, biting, tearing nonstop. Jasmine took her chance. She lunged forward from behind, trying to grab Gracie from her arms. Mandy lifted her head, barely holding back a scream as she fought the searing pain, refusing to let go of her only leverage. She was growing more certain now that Shermaine had to be connected to the man on the wanted list. There was no other exnation. In the entire Kingdom of Xyperia, how many people had violet hair? Only one man. Shermaine stepped forward. Mandy snapped, ¡°What the hell are you all waiting for? I didn¡¯t pay you to stand there and watch!¡± At her shout, the hired mercenaries raised their guns and opened fire on Shermaine. Mandy had trained since childhood. She knew how to fight. But Jasmine hadn¡¯t. Mandy¡¯s fistnded hard, sending Jasmine reeling. Stars burst behind her eyes as she stumbled, barely staying upright before copsing forward. The weight of Jasmine¡¯s fall knocked Mandy¡¯s arm back. Pain shot through her wrist. She couldn¡¯t hold on. Her grip slipped, and Gracie fell. In the distance, Shermaine saw it. Her heart dropped when her daughter fell from that terrifying height. ¡°Gracie!¡± Shermaine finished off thest of the attackers and sprinted toward them, heels hammering the ground. She kicked Mandy straight into the pool, hard enough to send her flying. Then she turned toward the edge, eyes scanning desperately for the tiny falling figure. The woman who never cried, never wavered, had tears shimmering in her crimson eyes. She was already climbing the railing, ready to jump. Simon arrived just in time to see the chaos. Mandy was iling in the, pool, screaming for help. The ground was littered with bodies, mercenaries and hitmen alike, sprawled out, twitching or still, blood pooling around them. Their faces had turned dark red and then purple. All of them were bleeding from the mouth. It was a massacre. Simon didn¡¯t have time to care. He dove straight into the pool and dragged Mandy out. When he looked up, Shermaine was already climbing over the railing, ready to leap. The bystanders who¡¯d rushed over gasped in horror. Jumping from that height? Into the sea? No one could survive that.¡¯ And the ship was about to set sail. Simon, soaked and gasping, pushed past Mandy, trying to stop her. He didn¡¯t want her to jump. He didn¡¯t care that she¡¯d had a child, didn¡¯t care who the father was. He wanted her In fact, maybe it was better if the kid was gone. ¡°Don¡¯t go, Simon! It¡¯s too dangerous!¡± Mandy reached for his arm. But Simon shook her off hard. ¡°Mandy, you crossed the line this time.¡± Her face was ghostly pale. ¡°You think I did this for myself? That woman is not someone you can handle. Simon, stop chasing her But Simon didn¡¯t listen. And that crushed her. ¡®What kind of idiot am I? Willing to risk everything for a man who won¡¯t even trust me?¡® she asked herself inwardly. Before Simon could reach Shermaine, someone else appeared outside the railing. The man wore a mask, his features hidden, but his posture calm. In his arms, he cradled a small baby, soft, pale, and no longer crying Gracie¡¯sshes were long and damp, her violet hair identical to the man holding her, In the moonlight, the man lowered his head and kissed the corner of Shermaine¡¯s eye. She blinked. The rigid tension in her spine finally eased. He gently stroked Gracie¡¯s cheek with his free hand, grounding her, pulling her back to reality Joshua pressed another kiss to her eyelid, his voice low and rough. ¡°Sorry I waste, Sheary.¡± AD Nurse walking 466 Chapter 466 A few levels below the deck of the cruise ship, the silver¨Chaired assassin and the other assassins craned their necks to look up. What they had just witnessed was nothing short of terrifying. They could barely make out the shape of a small baby falling from above, and then, unbelievably, Joshua hadunched himself out over the railing to catch her. Even the most skilled fighters wouldn¡¯t risk something like that. The space beyond the railing hovered six or seven stories above the sea. One wrong move, and it was over. No one could survive that kind of fall. But Joshua wasn¡¯t like other people. After catching the baby, he climbed back up with practiced ease, not stopping for a second as he moved toward the stunning woman no one could take their eyes off. Now, gripping the railing with one hand, Joshua lifted himself up and leaned in to kiss her eyes softly and tenderly. The moment looked like it had been pulled straight out of a dream. It made hearts flutter just to witness it. No one could¡¯ve imagined Joshua could be this gentle. It was a stark contrast to his usual cold and ruthless demeanor. That was Shermaine. The silver¨Chaired assassin pulled his gaze away and turned to the others. ¡°Let¡¯s head up and rendezvous with Mr. Reaper,¡± he said. Judging by the situation, Shermaine might need their help. Shermaine¡¯sshes trembled. The corner of her eyes still carried the faint warmth of his lips, and the tender weight of the words he¡¯d just spoken. She reached up and removed the mask from his face, revealing a familiar, strikingly handsome profile. Gracie¡¯s violet eyes looked just like his. A breeze stirred Joshua¡¯s hair. Shermaine traced her fingers along his jaw, reluctant to let go. She never showed it, butte at night, or in that first moment of waking, she missed Joshua more than she cared to admit. ¡°You weren¡¯tte,¡± she murmured. ¡°You got here just in time.¡± She leaned in and brushed a kiss against the corner of his eye. Then she slowly brought her lips down to meet his. Their breaths mingled as she whispered against his mouth, ¡°You saved Gracie, our daughter.¡± Maybe Gracie had sensed she was safe now. Shey quietly in Joshua¡¯s arms, no longer crying. After all that, she seemed sleepy, her little eyelids drooping as though she could doze off any second. Joshua looked down at the tiny girl nestled in his hold, thinking, ¡®She¡¯s so small. His throat tightened. He held her even closer. ¡°She looks a lot like you,¡± he said softly, his expression growing even gentler. Shermaine smiled. ¡°She looks more like you.¡± She leaned in to kiss him again and then gently repositioned the mask on his face. There were too many around them. Better to keep him covered, especially since Joshua was still on the wanted list. Though honestly, his hair alone drew enough attention. And Joshua clearly didn¡¯t care about being recognized. Shermaine didn¡¯t exactly care either, but with Gracie to think about, she had to be a little more cautious. Constant interference from outsiders could be 07.03 Tue, Jul exhausting. Once his mask was back in ce, Shermaine took Gracie from him and gently wiped the tear stains from her soft cheeks. She checked her carefully from head to toe. When she was sure the baby was unharmed, she kissed her forehead with visible relief. That moment had truly shaken her. If anything had happened to Gracie, she would¡¯ve med herself for the rest of her life. Thankfully, her father had arrived just in time to protect her. But the more she thought about Gracie falling, the darker Shermaine¡¯s eyes became. As for Mandy, she wouldn¡¯t hesitate to kill her. Joshua vaulted fully over the railing andnded lightly beside her, his handing to rest on Shermaine¡¯s waist, pulling her close. To him, the people around them were invisible. But his gaze did flick toward Simon, who stood not far away. He recognized him, the same man who had tried to flirt with Shermaine on that live stream. Joshua hadn¡¯t liked the look in his eyes back then, and he didn¡¯t like it now. Shermaine was his. He wouldn¡¯t tolerate anyone eyeing her like that. Joshua gave Simon a brief, unreadable nce, and then looked away without another word. The crowd in the dining hall had grown thicker. People were whispering, stunned. Shermaine had just kissed a man openly. She had alwayse off as distant and unapproachable, never bothering to engage in small talk, let alone ept any of their invitations. Simon¡¯s expression darkened. Shermaine had turned him down more than once. At first, he¡¯d assumed she was just ying hard to get. Later, he realized that she genuinely wasn¡¯t interested. He had told himself that was fine. He was interested, and that was enough. When he wanted a woman, he got her by any means necessary. But now, seeing her kiss another man with such intimacy, standing that close, acting like the rest of the world didn¡¯t ¡®Who the hell is that man to her? Is he the baby¡¯s father? And the hair¨Csame color as the child¡¯s¡­¡® Simon wondered, His eyes turned cold. Something inside him started to shift, tipping out of bnce. He had never been given that kind of affection. Joshua¡¯s presence wasn¡¯t just a nuisance. It was infuriating. 07.05 Nurse walking 467 By the time Simon stepped forward, it was already meaningless. Lying on the ground, Mandy coughed up another mouthful of blood. She reached out and clutched the hem of Simon¡¯s pants, her voice barely audible as she pleaded, ¡°Simon, please¡­ help me.¡± She didn¡¯t want to die. But the pain in her body kept intensifying. Simon looked down at her. No matter what she¡¯d done, Mandy had been his father Bronx¡¯s apprentice. They¡¯d grown up together like childhood sweethearts. There was no way he could just stand there and watch her die. ¡°The doctor¡¯s on the way. Hang in there,¡± Simon said, trying to steady her, He had a powerful drug on him, something that could bring a person back from the brink of death. He ordered someone nearby to bring it over and quickly injected it into Mandy¡¯s body. The effect was instant. The agony inside her eased just enough for her to catch her breath. But then Shermaine¡¯s gaze swept over, and Mandy¡¯s entire body froze. Panic wed its way up her throat. The next second, the pain surged back with brutal force. Worse than before, actually. It was as if something inside her had exploded. Her muscles spasmed. Blood gushed from her mouth. Her veins bulged all over her body, like they were seconds from bursting open. ¡°Simon, help me!¡± she screamed, desperate. Simon turned toward her, startled. He frowned, confused. The drug he¡¯d given her was no ordinary medicine. It was a life¨Csaving serum, a priceless treasure in the Kingdom of Xyperia. And yet¡­ it wasn¡¯t working. He didn¡¯t know what Boa had done to her, but Mandy¡¯s vitals were clearly fading fast. ¡°Ms. Hanks,¡± Simon said, ¡°for my sake, could you let Mandy go? Please?¡± Shermaine looked over, her face unreadable. ¡®His sake? What kind of clout does he think he has?¡® If it weren¡¯t for Mandy, she wouldn¡¯t even remember who Simon was. ¡°I¡¯ll make it up to you. Whatever you want, I¡¯ll give it to you,¡± Simon added. ¡°And I¡¯ll make sure she never shows her face in front of you again. Is that enough?¡± Gracie had already fallen asleep. Shermaine held her gently, adjusting her position slightly, and then gave a short, amusedugh. ¡°And why would I let someone who nearly killed my daughter off the hook¡­ just because you asked me to? ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you,¡± she said sharply, ¡°that woman wouldn¡¯t have gone this far. You dragged her into this mess, and now you¡¯re asking me to go easy on her?¡± The air around her turned frigid. ¡°The fact that I¡¯m not holding you ountable is already me being gracious. And you think you have the right to negotiate with me?¡± Simon¡¯s expression suffence. He¡¯d never had a woman talk to him like that. He was trying to be civil, more polite than he¡¯d ever been with anyone, but Shermaine clearly had no intention of meeting him halfway. And on top of that, Joshua still had his arm wrapped around her waist, and she hadn¡¯t pulled away once. Simon had never felt jealousy like this in his life. 07:03 Tue, 8 Jul Maybe he really had fallen for her. That would exin why his emotions kept spiraling. Every time sheshed out, he only felt more drawn to her, more eager to give in, to indulge her, to win her over. As for Mandy¡­ she no longer seemed that important. In fact, if Mandy¡¯s death could make Shermaine happy, then so be it. In fact, if Mandy¡¯s death could make Shermaine happy, then so be it. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Simon said quietly. ¡°I didn¡¯t think this through.¡± Shermaine blinked, momentarily caught off guard. She hadn¡¯t expected Simon to actually apologize. Her gaze shifted to Mandy, who was still writhing in pain on the floor. A flicker of curiosity crossed her face, followed by something that looked almost like pity. ¡°What Mandy did,¡± Simon continued, his tone low and almost coaxing, ¡°there¡¯s no excuse. I won¡¯t plead for her again. Please¡­. don¡¯t be upset.¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t respond. Her gaze grew more amused, watching him like he was a particrly pathetic joke, and thinking, He is truly something else, ruthless and gutless all in one.¡® Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened slightly. He let out a quiet, derisive breath. ¡®So this was the man trying to pursue his Sheary? Trash like that didn¡¯t even deserve to say her name, let alone love her.¡® Maybe no one else could read Shermaine¡¯s expression. But Mandy could. She could feel that dismissiveness. Her body kept getting colder, her vision fading. Tears slid from the corners of her eyes as she finally let go of Simon¡¯s pant leg. ¡°Simon,¡± she choked out, ¡°you¡¯re going to regret this.¡± Nurse walking 468 Chapter 468 Right after Mandy spoke her final words, she lost consciousness. By the time the doctor arrived and started emergency treatment, her heartbeat was already growing faint. Gradually, it faded away up was pitch ck, thick, tar¨Clike, and terrifying to even look at. Simon¡¯s face remained nk, as if Mandy¡¯s death didn¡¯t affect him in the slightest. As if she had been nothing more than a stranger. To everyone watching, it was chilling. Shermaine hadn¡¯t hit Mandy. She hadn¡¯t used any obvious weapon. She had only gotten near her, and the woman writhed in agony until her body gave out. Those who had already copsed from the pain were now even more terrified. They feared they¡¯d end up like Mandy too, just hurting and hurting until there was nothing left. But that didn¡¯t happen. Simon gave a small wave of his hand. ¡°Take her out. Make arrangements to send her body back to Baykeep.¡± Now that she was gone, the only thing he could do was make sure she had a proper burial. The doctors nodded, took out a body bag, and zipped Mandy inside. Meanwhile, the silver¨Chaired assassin arrived at the dining hall. They made their way to Joshua and stood before him. ¡°Mr. Reaper, do you need us to assist with anything?¡± ¡°Ask my girl,¡± Joshua said casually. The assassin turned to Shermaine. It was their first time meeting her, but the moment theyid eyes on her, they were struck by her presence. Her aura alone was enough to , unmoving, it was clear that Shermaine was powerful, even deadly. She had taken down Mandy without lifting a finger. ¡°Mrs. Reaper, awaiting your orders,¡± they said in unison Shermaine nced at Joshua. Apparently, in the Kingdom of Xyperia, he had built his influence faster than she expected. In such a short time, he already had his own loyal force. She shook her head. ¡°No need. Everything¡¯s been handled.¡± The mercenaries might still be alive, but the pain they were in would keep them down for a while. After tonight, she doubted anyone would dare after her again. As for Simon, with Joshua around, she didn¡¯t even need to get her hands dirty. If Simon so much as came near her, Joshua would be the first to take him out. 07:03 Tue, 8 Jul ¡°Let¡¯s go back. It¡¯s too noisy here. It¡¯ll disturb Gracie¡¯s sleep,¡± Shermaine said. Joshua nodded. With just one nce from him, the silver¨Chaired assassin moved ahead, clearing the way. Simon stood frozen where he was. The silver¨Chaired assassin looked at him and said coolly, ¡°Sir, step aside. Don¡¯t block the way.¡± Simon¡¯s eyes darkened with frustration, but he moved slightly, voice low and bitter. ¡°I¡¯m only moving out of respect for Ms. Hanks. Remember that.¡± The assassin scoffed. He couldn¡¯t care less about Simon¡¯s so¨Ccalled warning. Neither did Joshua. If Simon ever actually got in their way, a bullet to the head wouldn¡¯t be off the table. They weren¡¯t about to cut him any ck just because of who his father was. Joshua may have epted the mission, but from the look of it, he had no intention of following through. The silver¨Chaired assassin was now certain that Joshua would break the deal and take Simon out when the time was right. Before leaving, Shermaine called for Jasmine. Jasmine stood frozen, still trying to process everything. She couldn¡¯t believe Shermaine¡¯s man had shown up, let alone in such a jaw¨Cdropping way. It was unreal. When she saw that man cradling Gracie, one hand gripping the railing as he pulled himself up, her heart nearly burst from relief. If anything had happened to Gracie, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to live with herself. Her mission wouldn¡¯t have mattered. And then there was Gracie¡¯s father, the man with violet hair. Violet hair was a symbol of royal blood. Jasmine had gotten hurt. Shermaine treated the wounds herself, carefully applying medicine/and wrapping the injuries. Only after making sure she was okay did she head back to Joshua¡¯s room. Inside, Joshua stood beside the crib, looking down at the sleeping Gracie. He reached in and gently touched her soft, chubby cheek, thinking, ¡®She feels like a cloud.¡¯ A strange warmth rose in his chest. Shermaine came up behind him and leaned against his back, smiling. ¡°She¡¯s adorable, isn¡¯t she?¡± Joshua let out a quiet hum. She was so adorable he wanted to pick her up and twirl her in the air. But Gracie had cried herself tired and was now fast asleep. He didn¡¯t want to wake her, so be forced himself to hold back. This was their daughter.s and Shermaine¡¯s. And the more he thought about it, the softer his heart became. But what weighed on him most was the fact that Shermaine had carried Gracie alone. He hadn¡¯t been there for her. Hadn¡¯t fulfilled his duty as her man. Joshua turned and pulled her into his arms, settling her onto hisp. ¡°But the Sheary who gave birth to Gracie¡­ she¡¯s the cutest thing in the world. And 2/3 07:03 Tue, 8 Jul the strongest.¡± Shermaine¡¯s lips curved into a smile. The look in Joshua¡¯s eyes told her everything. The exhaustion and the pain suddenly felt worth it. 86% ¡°Giving birth does a number on a woman¡¯s body. You should¡¯ve been resting. Did you take care of yourself afterward?¡± Joshua asked, his voice suddenly serious. Gracie was still so small, not even a month old. In their world, postpartum recovery was taken very seriously. Women were expected to rest and be cared for properly. But Shermaine had barely recovered before she was already up and about. And today, she¡¯d fought off multiple attackers. The thought made his brows draw tight with concern. ¡°This world has advanced tech,¡± Shermaine exined. ¡°Postpartum recovery shots. I¡¯m fine, really.¡± Joshua hadn¡¯t known such things existed here. Ever since arriving, he had been busy building his power and leading the Eagle Assassins. He hadn¡¯t had time to study every convenience this world had to offer. He paused and then looked at her. ¡°Then what were those pills you bought for?¡± Nurse walking 469 Chapter 469 The pills were for Shermaine¡¯s chest pain, an ache caused by her body producing too much milk. But when Joshua asked, she blinked and fell went for a moment. It wasn¡¯t exactly an embarrassing topic. Still, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to tell him. Her chest hurt because of excess milk? It just didn¡¯t seem like something worth exining to a man. Even if she said it, what could he do? It wasn¡¯t like he could help. Shermaine straightened her posture and replied with a perfectly serious face, ¡°Nothing major. Just a bit of a headachetely.¡± They had only been apart for a short time, but that didn¡¯t mean Joshua had forgotten how well he knew her. In fact, the more convincingly she answered, the more suspicious it sounded. Joshua studied her expression closely. His hand, still resting lightly on her waist, traced a slow arc along her skin. His gaze dropped, voice low and deliberate. ¡°Sheary, when did you learn to lie to me?¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯m not lying.¡± Everyone had a bit of acting skill when they needed it. She wasn¡¯t about to fold. Joshua chuckled softly, every noteced with indulgence. ¡°If you won¡¯t tell me, I¡¯ll call in one of my men. He used to be a doctor. One look at that medicine and he¡¯ll know exactly what it¡¯s for.¡± Shermaine rarely took medicine. Even when she had a cold, she preferred to sleep it off. So the fact that she¡¯d actually bought painkillers? It worried him. Shermaine didn¡¯t say anything. Joshua leaned in and kissed her lips. ¡°Sheary, just tell me the truth,¡± he murmured, eyes filled with concern. ¡°Don¡¯t make me worry, okay?¡± She nearly caved right then and there. His voice and his expression chipped away at her resolve. But at thest second, she stopped herself. Cradling his face in her hands, she smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s really not a big deal, so don¡¯t overthink it. And don¡¯t ask again.¡± That was when Joshua noticed something rare. It was an unusual tightness in her expression, a subtle awkwardness she never showed. If it had been serious, she would never have hidden it. She definitely wouldn¡¯t look like this. ¡®So I was the one overreacting,¡® he wondered. Before he could ask again, Shermaine started to rise, clearly intending to leave. Joshua wasn¡¯t ready to let her go. He tugged her back into his arms, resting his head in the crook of her neck. Her scent filled his lungs. ¡°Fine,¡± he said quietly, ¡°I won¡¯t ask anymore.¡± Shermaine arched an eyebrow, chuckling inwardly, ¡®Good.¡® But now that things had calmed down, she could feel the ache in her chest starting to build again. She definitely needeath painkiller soon. Still perched on Joshua¡¯sp, she .¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Joshua agreed without hesitation. But as he leaned in, he caught her scent again, different from usual. Somehow, it was a faint, sweet milkiness clung to her skin, 07:03 Tue, 8 Jul His lips trailed from her neck to her ear, where he gently bit down on her earlobe before pressing a kiss to her lips. ¡°One kiss first, and then I¡¯ll go.¡± Shermaine let out a quiet hum, granting him permission. Joshua¡¯s eyes darkened as he leaned in and kissed her deeply. 86% It had been too long. The moment their bodies touched, it was like fire meeting ice, so sharp, familiar, and overwhelming. That ache of missing someone, the tension and longing, surged all at once and swallowed them whole. The plush bed beneath them shifted slightly. Joshua tightened his grip around her waist. One hand braced against the mattress, the otherced tightly with hers. Shermaine reached up and pulled off her pale blue wig, revealing her long, silky hair cascading down her back. Her lipstick had long since been kissed away. What remained was her bare lip, lush, glistening, impossibly soft and red. Their kiss deepened, breath tangled with breath. It wasn¡¯t just passion. What lingered between them was a quiet kind of longing, unresolved but undeniable. He had missed her. And she had missed him just as much. Joshua was always intense, domineering and precise. His throat moved with a visible swallow as he pressed her down and murmured, breath warm against her skin, ¡°Sheary, did you miss me?¡± ÊÐ Nurse walking 470 Chapter 470 There were many ways to interpret the word miss, especially between two adults who were not only lovers but husband and wife. When Joshua asked if she missed him, he hadn¡¯t just meant her heart. He meant her body too. 86% Once a man who lived with monk¨Clike discipline, Joshua had long since crossed that line with Shermaine. From the moment she got pregnant, to the birth of Gracie, they had spent almost a year apart. A kiss wasn¡¯t nearly enough. Joshua wanted more. He always had and always would. And he¡¯d noticed that since Shermaine gave birth, her waist had be much more sensitive to his touch. The lightest brush and she¡¯d go soft in his arms, pliant, like he could do whatever he wanted if he just applied a little more pressure. Of course Shermaine knew exactly what he meant. She smiled, saying nothing either way. If she dared say she did miss him, he wouldn¡¯t let her walk away so easily. But with Gracie sleeping right next to them, and a high¨Cstakes match waiting for herter tonight, there was no time or energy to deal with Joshua right now Instead, she stretched outzily and said, ¡°You¡¯ve already had your kiss. Time to go get me that warm water.¡± She¡¯d been through enough today. What she really wanted was a quiet moment to rest before her tournament. Her voice was low and sultry, faced with effortless allure. ¡°What temperature?¡± he asked. ¡°Somewhere around 100 degrees. Not hot enough to burn my lips.¡± Joshua refocused, rose from the bed, and headed off to prepare the water. Once he left the room, Shermaine finally sat up. She reached for her chest, rubbing lightly. Sometimes, it really was unbearable, a kind of pain that lingered no matter how hard she tried to ignore it. Thankfully, she¡¯d worn moisture¨Cabsorbing underwear. If it had been anything else, she would¡¯ve had to change several times already. Gracie was fast asleep, not even stirring. Shermaine checked the time. Gracie would likely stay down for a while longer. By the time she woke up for her next feeding, Shermaine would already be , the sea breeze was calm and refreshing. Laughter drifted across the deck of the cruise ship, as if Mandy¡¯s brutal death earlier had already faded into a distant illusion, like fireworks, bright for a moment, and then gone without a trace. But Joshua¡¯s appearance had sparked spection among the guests. Violet hair? That was a knows trait of someone on the country¡¯s most¨Cwanted list. Still, the people surro 6 him were intimidating enough to shut down any reckless curiosity. Combine that with the kind of destruction Shermaine had caused on her own, and no one was brave enough to make a move. No one except Simon. Simon had already ordered an investigation into Joshua¡¯s identity. 07:03 Tue, 8 Jul At that moment, one of his men stood by with a report. ¡°Mr. Lambert, based on our intel, there¡¯s an eighty percent chance that the man who appeared tonight is the same one on the wanted list. His background isplicated ¡°He¡¯s the leader of the Eagle Assassins and goes by the name Mr. Cain Reaper. If we try to confront him directly, the risk may outweigh the reward. My rmendation is to report this to the military and let them handle the arrest.¡± It was the safest and most cautious approach. But Simon shook his head. ¡°Are you underestimating me?¡± He scoffed inwardly, ¡®He¡¯s just the boss of some assassin group. What¡¯s there to be afraid of?¡® ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant,¡± his man replied quickly. ¡°I¡¯m only thinking of the task your father assigned. I wouldn¡¯t want this to distract from your greater mission.¡± Simon¡¯s gambling skills were unmatched, but his talents extended beyond the table. He had once been awarded the kingdom¡¯s highest honor by Judy and held the top rank on Xyperia¡¯s warrior registry. ¡°I want the champion¡¯s trophy,¡± Simon said coolly, ¡°and I want the woman too.¡± His ambition knew no bounds. ¡®That man who showed up tonight? He has to die,¡® Simon said to himself. The thought of another man holding Shermaine, touching her, tasting her lips sent Simon into a jealous rage. He was used to getting everything he wanted. This would be no exception. Tonight¡¯s tournament was set to begin at 9 PM. Now, there was only one hour left. Back inside the room, after Joshua had left, Shermaine took out a sterilized baby bottle and breast pump. She expressed a small amount of milk, stored it, and theny down to rest for a few minutes. Outside, the silver¨Chaired assassin knocked and entered. He found Joshua in the kitchen, heating water. Men in the Kingdom of Xyperia were raised to treat women with respect and gentleness. But this level of devotion was rare. Joshua wasn¡¯t just making warm water. He was baking a cake. ¡°Sir,¡± the assassin began, ¡°that man, Simon, is Bronx Lambert¡¯s son. I looked into it. He¡¯s been trying to get close to Mrs. Y for days, even invited her to dinner. She turned him down every time. ¡°Earlier today, when she went to buy medicine, his men tried to block her path, but the woman who died to Not that it would¡¯ve worked. Even without interference Shermaine was never going to go with Simon. ¡°I¡¯ve got a detailed file on him, Would you like to review it?¡± the assassin asked. Joshua slid the cake into the oven and shook his head calmly. ¡°No need.¡± ¡°Sir, Simon wants you do,¡± the assassin added. Joshua had never made a secret of his identity. Plenty of people wanted him gone. None had seeded. Should Simon be foolish enough to show himself, Joshua would make sure he didn¡¯t leave alive. He had never shown mercy to any man who dared covet Shermaine. disrupted their n.¡± 07:03 Tue, 8 Ju And Simon¡­ Simon would be the first man he¡¯d personally deal with. Because anyone like him, anyone who imed to like Shermaine, was nothing short of an insult to her. ¡°You all know who I am,¡± Joshua said quietly. ¡°If any of my information leaks, intercept it immediately.¡± Shermaine¡¯s reasons for joining the International Gambling Tournament had to be deeper than just making herself easy to find. She was up to something else. He didn¡¯t want to disrupt her ns. Especially since he had no intention of carrying out Bronx¡¯s assignment. His real target¡­ was Judy. This was the perfect opportunity. Barkeep was only the beginning. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Joshua¡¯s voice dropped even lower. ¡°Baykeep will be ours.¡± At those words, the assassin felt his blood rush with excitement. Joshua finished preparing the warm water and ted the cake. When he returned to the room and sat at the edge of the bed, the scent of milk from Shermaine¡¯s body hit him again, thicker this time,ced with her natural perfume. It was dizzying. One whiff, and his desire only grew. The moment Shermaine caught the scent of something sweet, her eyes fluttered open. The first thing she saw was Joshua¡¯s face hovering close. And then, without a word, he leaned in and kissed her again. Another long, drawn¨Cout kiss¨Cdeep and unrelenting. His hand slid to her waist and then slowly wandered upward. Her breath caught as a sharp sting spread through her chest. A sound slipped from her throat, quiet and tense. Hershes trembled, and her eyes grew damp. Joshua froze instantly, his expression tense. He looked down at her, voice quiet and apologetic. ¡°Sheary¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to hurt you, I wasn¡¯t pressing that hard.¡± Nurse walking 471 Chapter 471 85% +281 Giving birth to Gracie hadn¡¯t been nearly as unbearable as this. The ache in Shermaine¡¯s chest, the constant, throbbing tightness made her feel genuinely miserable. She¡¯d rather take a kick to the ribs or a knife to the gut than deal with this. When Joshua touched her earlier, he hadn¡¯t even used much pressure, but the pain hit so fast and sharp that her entire body tensed. She was just too sensitive now. Her ears turned slightly pink as she mumbled, ¡°Don¡¯t touch my chest.¡± That was when Joshua finally understood why she¡¯d needed painkillers. ¡°It really hurts?¡± he asked gently. Shermaine gave a quiet ¡°mm.¡± ¡®So that is it¨Cpostpartum chest pain.¡® Joshua leaned in and kissed her forehead softly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sheary.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your fault,¡± she said, sitting up. She raised a hand instinctively to massage her chest but paused when she noticed Joshua still beside her. Awkward, she slowly lowered her hand back down. Of course, Joshua noticed. But he didn¡¯t say a word. ¡°I¡¯ll take the pills now,¡± she said. ¡°Eat something first.¡± He¡¯d already finished baking a chestnut cake which was light on sugar, since it was nighttime. Shermaine had actually eaten with Jasmine earlier around six, but the moment she saw the cake, her eyes lit up. ¡°You made this?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± She took the te and scooped a small bite with the spoon. The texture was soft, the vor rich with roasted chestnut. Sweets really did lift the mood. The pain in her chest didn¡¯t vanish, but it felt a little more bearable after that. Joshua watched her eat, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Once she finished the cake, he handed her the pills from the nightstand. Shermaine took them and then drank some water. The bitterness of the medication quickly overpowered the lingering sweetness of the dessert. ¡°Will the pain keeping back?¡± Joshua asked. ¡°Probably,¡± she replied. He frowned slightly. ¡°So you¡¯ll need painkillers every day?¡± Shermaine set her ss down, Since he already knew and had likely guessed the cause, there was no need to pretend anymore. ¡°Looks like I will.¡± Which meant she¡¯d be dealing with this pain daily. After all, painkillers didn¡¯t cure the problem. They only masked it, And if she took medicatio. daily, Gracie wouldn¡¯t be able to nurse directly from her. She¡¯d have to rely on the breast milk Shermaine had already pumped and stored. If that ran out, they¡¯d have to supplement with form. Thankfully, this cruise ship had everything. Supplies wouldn¡¯t be an issue. Joshua, ever the curious learner, asked, ¡°Would massage help?¡± 07:03 Tue, 8 Jul Shermaine nodded. It was actually rmended before bed, massaging to relieve the pressure and prevent swelling. But she was usually too tired andzy. She¡¯d try for a few minutes, feel her arms get sore, and give up. Then she¡¯d wake up the next day in even more pain. ¡°How exactly should I do it?¡± Shermaine hesitated for a second, licking her lips, and then nced at Joshua with a look that held more meaning than words. +297 He caught the silence. Without waiting for her to respond, he pulled up his opticalputer and searched it himself. He clicked through a few blog posts and carefully read the step¨Cby¨Cstep breakdown on how to ease postpartum chest pain with proper massage techniques. Once he was done reading, he reached over, pulled her into hisp, and said, ¡°Sheary, there¡¯s nothing to be shy about.¡± His tone was light but firm, his expression serious. ¡°I¡¯m your husband. Helping you through this is part of the deal.¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow, giving him a smirk full of heat and humor. ¡°You sure you¡¯ll help without expecting me to return the favor?¡± She said it lightly, the kind of tease that came with equal parts innocence and invitation. If things escted, she had no ns to take responsibility for putting the brakes on. Joshua didn¡¯t miss a beat, hands already moving with practiced gentleness. ¡°I just know my girl¡¯s hurting. I want to help.¡± Everything else could wait. And really, this¡­ didn¡¯t feel like a chore at all. ˾ AD Nurse walking 472 Chapter 472 Jasmine paced outside the door, but Joshua¡¯s men blocked her from entering. +28 Shermaine needed to leave for the International Gambling Tournament soon. She couldn¡¯t bete¨Carriving even ten minutes past the start time would mean automatic disqualification, no matter the reason. If Shermaine went topete, Jasmine would have to take care of Gracie. The thought of Gracie still made Jasmine¡¯s heart race with fear. ¡®That adorable little angel almost fell into the ocean,¡¯ she thought. ¡®Thank God her father arrived just in time.¡® ¡°Excuse me, could you ask them again?¡± Jasmine tried once more. She wondered what Shermaine and that man were doing inside. There hadn¡¯t been any response at all. He replied coldly, ¡°Damien.¡± ¡°Alright, Damien.¡± Jasmine studied him carefully. Damien was someone not to mess with. The deadly aura radiating from him made her shrink back instinctively. ¡°Could you please check one more time?¡± ¡°When Boss doesn¡¯t reply, it usually means he doesn¡¯t want to be disturbed.¡± Even Damien, single and without a woman in his life, knew better than to interrupt at a time like this. Joshua and Shermaine had finally reunited after so long. Naturally, they needed some private time together. ¡®Couldn¡¯t this woman take a hint?¡® Jasmine sighed in resignation, ¡°Well, at least remind your boss that Ms. Hanks needs to leave for thepetition soon. She can¡¯t bete.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Damien ignored her and opened his Orthish. He sent a voice message to Joshua¡¯s device. Joshua¡¯s Orthish sat on the bedside table, its blue light blinking persistently. But he paid no attention whatsoever. Outside the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, the ocean stretched into pitch ckness, endless and unfathomable. The room glowed with soft amber light. Shermaine¡¯s face had taken on an alluring flush she¡¯d never shown before. Her eyshes fluttered as she clenched her jaw tightly. Joshua¡¯s massage technique was skilled, keeping herfortable throughout. A delicate fragrance filled the air, mixed with a lingering scent of milk that seemed to permeate every As the clock approached nine, Shermaine pushed Joshua away. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± She turned around quickly, fastening her buttons with practiced ease before pulling up her straps and zipping her dress back into ce. The exposed skin of her neck bore several obvious hickeys. Joshua had left them there in the heat of passion, unable to control himself, When Shermaine pushed him away, Joshua leaned backzily, his breathing still unsteady. His shirt hung half¨Copen, revealing glimpses of his abs. His lips were an unusual shade of red, as if he¡¯d eater/some kind of jelly that had stained them with its heat. ¡°Do you feel better now, Sheary?¡± Joshua¡¯s voice was deep and hoarse. Shermaine hummed in acknowledgment and looked up. The seductive gleam badn¡¯t faded from her eyes, and her voice came out soft and . ¡°After Mr. York¡¯s full¨Cservice treatment, how could I not feel better?¡± Joshua smiled and caught her fingers, ying with them absently. ¡°Since it worked so well,e backter tonight and I¡¯ll continue taking care of you.¡± 1/2 U U4 His expression suggested he was far from satisfied. His gaze was too intense, filled with desire and amusement. The slight sheen on his lips made him look dangerously sexy and irresistible. Shermaine blushed and pulled her hand from his grasp. Her fingers traced along his throat before settling on his lips, slowly wiping away the moisture. ¡°Stay here with Gracie while I¡¯m gone.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± Joshua replied, his eyes burning even hotter. ¡°After I leave, if Gracie wakes up, take the milk from the cooler and warm it up for her. If you don¡¯t know how, ask Jasmine to show you first,¡± Shermaine instructed. Joshua nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Jasmine is from a branch of the royal family.¡± Shermaine felt it necessary to exin Jasmine¡¯s identity to Joshua. ¡°Which means, Mr. York, she¡¯s actually rted to you.¡± In fact, Jasmine could be considered Joshua¡¯s distant cousin. ¡°She told me Baykeep originally belonged to the royal family¡¯s territory. But when their ancestors fell from power, the Moreno family seized it and drove them to the poorest city. ¡°That¡¯s partly why I entered the International Gambling Tournament. I promised to win the championship and reim Baykeep¡¯s inheritance rights for her.¡± If Baykeep originally belonged to the royal family, that meant it belonged to Joshua¡¯s maternal family line. By extension, it belonged to Joshua himself. Since someone had stolen it, the solution was simple¨Ctake it back. It could also serve as the royal family¡¯spensation to their branch members. After all, Joshua was the only pure¨Cblood descendant left of the royal family. Now that he had returned, he had certain duties and responsibilities to fulfill. ¡°Baykeep will be ours. Sheary should just enjoy yourself and not carry this burden alone,¡± Joshua said. Their goals aligned perfectly. Taking over Baykeep would deal a devastating blow to that woman named Judy. Shermaine smiled captively, ¡°Mr. York, you too. Since you¡¯re already on board, just enjoy yourself. Win thepetition, and you¡¯ll get an entire city. It¡¯s such a good deal, why not take it?¡± Joshua thought for a moment and decided to embrace being kept. ¡°Sheary makes a good point. I¡¯ll lie back and watch you work your magic.¡± The general seating areas were overflowing, Meanwhile, the Gambling Tournament¡¯s top¨Chundredpetition venue was packed with spect though some WIP seats remained empty. All the top hundred ranked yers had taken their positions, except for Shermaine. Simon¡¯s face had been dark with anger from the start. Boa tonij Comment ay of all Nurse walking 473 20070 28 Everyone had been waiting for ages when Boa Hanks finally entered the venue at thest possible minute. They all breathed a sigh of relief. Boa Hanks had be the dark horse of this International Gambling Tournament. After her match with Mandy, she¡¯d be a sensation. Everyone was eager to see her next move and whether she¡¯d blow everyone away with her skills. Shermaine appeared in high heels and a long dress with a slit that revealed glimpses of her beautiful legs as she walked. Everyone noticed she seemed even more alluring than usual. Her every movement radiated a sensual, captivating aura. Perhaps it was her good mood that softened her usually cold expression with a hint of a smile, enough to make every man in the room fall under her spell. Unfortunately, Boa Hanks already had a lover. Some people noticed the ring hanging from a chain around her neck, and that same man wore a matching one on his left ring finger. In the Kingdom of Xyperia, wearing rings meant only one thing¨Cmarriage. Only married couples wore wedding bands. What was more, that man seemed to be the only one who could transform her from cold and distant to warm and passionate. When she locked at him, her eyes held a gentleness reserved for him alone. Simon had fallen for her at first sight. He¡¯d even abandoned Mandy without a second thought. A man like that wouldn¡¯t give up easily. Nobody knew what lengths he might go to im Shermaine. A storm was brewing. It was only a matter of time before blood was spilled. The question was whether Simon would win Shermaine¡¯s heart or if Joshua would prove stronger and keep his woman safe. The emcee¡¯s voice rang out across the venue. ¡°yer Boa Hanks has entered the arena. Please follow the staff to your designated seat. Thepetition will begin shortly.¡± The rules came straight from the World Tournament Organization. One hundred yers would be narrowed down to eighty. Twenty would be eliminated. The moment Shermaine took her seat, everyone at her table felt the weight of her presence. The pressure was immediate and undeniable. Meanwhile, in the room, Joshua started a livestream. Shermaine appeared on camera for a few seconds before the feed quickly cut away. He got up and changed his shirt. The one he¡¯d been wearing had gotten wet while giving he made Joshua¡¯s breathing grow heavier. He touched his lips. ¡®Sheary tastes amazing,¡® he thought. ¡®Sweet and intoxicating.¡® After changing, Joshua returned to his usual cold and distant demeanor. massage. Her scent lingered on the fabric. The thought When Damien entered, he could still sense the testosterone radiating from Joshua. He was clearly aroused and frustrated. As men, Damien understood the situation perfectly. Given how little time had passed, Joshua probably hadn¡¯t gotten very far. Damien felt oddly amused by Joshua¡¯s predicament. ¡°What are your orders, boss?¡± ¡°Bring Jasmine in,¡± Joshua said. Damien signaled to the others to fetch Jasmine. 07:04 Tue, 8 Jul
When Jasmine entered the room, she felt uneasy because Shermaine wasn¡¯t there. Facing so many people alone made her nervous However, the sight of Joshua¡¯s violet hair calmed her fears. ¡®That¡¯s violet hair, she thought to herself. ¡®Royal family has this unique hair color. It¡¯s one of a kind.¡® Still, Joshua¡¯s background was too mysterious for her to dare specte about his true identity. ¡°Sheary told me you¡¯re from a branch of the royal family,¡± Joshua said. ¡°By our family hierarchy, that makes you my cousin.¡± Jasmine was stunned. His words could only mean one thing¨CJoshua was a descendant of the royal family. She never imagined this could be possible. After their royal family¡¯s ancestors vanished a thousand years ago, she¡¯d assumed the pure bloodline had died outpletely. Yet here was Joshua, iming to be of pure royal blood. She was struck with a sudden realization. ¡®Oh my God, so Ms. Hanks is my cousin¡¯s wife? What incredible luck!¡® The thought made her so happy she nearly jumped up and spun in circles. Out of all the people in the world, the person she¡¯d been drawn to at first sight turned out to be her own rtive. Life couldn¡¯t get any better. Still, Jasmine didn¡¯t quite dare to look Joshua in the eye. When Shermaine was around, Joshua seemed warm and approachable. But the moment she left, his presence became overwhelming, making it difficult to breathe. Fortunately, Gracie woke up and instantly lightened the atmosphere. She couldn¡¯t see Shermaine but spotted Joshua right away. Joshua lifted Gracie from her crib. Her eyes were still a bit puffy from crying earlier, but it didn¡¯t diminish how adorable she looked. Jasmine felt a pang of envy watching them together. Usually, Gracie would start crying whenever she woke up and couldn¡¯t find Shermaine, But now, she was being remarkably well¨Cbehaved. Joshua¡¯s movements were awkward as he held the baby. ¡°How do I warm up Gracie¡¯s milk?¡± he asked Jasmine. The question about baby care made Jasmine rx considerably. ¡°Just put the bottle in hot water for about ten minutes,¡± she exined. Seeing Gracie made Jasmine want to hold her. ¡°You should also check if she needs a diaper change. If she¡¯s wet, she¡¯ll need a fresh one.¡± Joshua nodded and checked Gracie¡¯s diaper. It was indeed wet. He ced her back in the crib and went to find a clean diaper, When he returned, his movements were clumsy as he changed her, but Gracie remained perfectly calm throughout. Meanwhile, Jasmine had already ced the milk bottle in hot water to warm it up. Once the milk reached the right temperature, Joshua fed Gracie. She drank quite a bit this time. Even Damien, watching from the side, couldn¡¯t help but soften at the sight. ¡°Boss¡® daughter is absolutely adorable,¡± he thought to himself When Gracie finished most of her milk, Joshua wiped her mouth gently. ¡°Do you miss Mommy?¡± Gracie couldn¡¯t speak you, out she looked up at Joshua and suddenly broke into a smile. Both Jasmine and Damien melted at the sight ¡®Oh my god, she¡¯s so cute,¡® they thought simultaneously. Seeing Gracie¡¯s smile, Joshua raised an eyebrow. It seemed she had the same idea as him. He ced an adorable bunny hat on her head: ¡°Daddy taking you to find Mommy.¡± 07:04 Tue, 8 Jul Shortly after thepetition began, Joshua appeared at the VIP section of the auditorium, instantly drawing everyone¡¯s attention, His striking good looks made him impossible to ignore. He stood there like a breathtaking view, made even more captivating by the baby in his arms. Shermaine felt the audience¡¯s attention shift toward the auditorium. She instinctively looked over and saw Joshua holding Gracie. Their eyes met, and for a moment, it felt like sparks flew between them. ¡®Joshua¡¯s being way too bold, not even wearing a mask,¡® Shermaine thought. She made a quick gesture. ¡°Wait for me.¡± Simon noticed, and his eyes turned cold. He gave a meaningful look to one of his men in the auditorium. The subordinate caught Simon¡¯s signal. Clearly, Simon found Joshua¡¯s presence too annoying and wanted him removed from the scene. But Joshua was surrounded by several dangerous¨Clooking men. They wouldn¡¯t be easy to deal with, leaving Simon¡¯s man with no viable options. Joshua seemed to read Simon¡¯s mind. He casually shifted his gaze toward him, and their eyes met briefly. Joshua raised his wine ss, took a sip, then looked away as if nothing had happened. It was definitely Shermaine¡¯s fastest victory ever. Just thirty minutester, as she left the stage, the host handed her an invitation. ¡°Congrattions, Ms. Hanks, on advancing to the top eighty. Here¡¯s your invitation to tonight¡¯s masquerade ball. You¡¯re wee to bring a date.¡± AB Nurse walking 474 ¡°A masquerade ball?¡± Shermaine took the invitation and nced at it. She wasn¡¯t particrly interested in balls, but if Joshua wanted to go, she¡¯d take him along. She started heading toward the exit when Simon finished his match and spotted her. He quickly approached, his eyes locked on her. ¡°Boa, are you going to the masquerade ball?¡± ¡°If my husband wants to go, I¡¯ll go,¡± Shermaine replied without hesitation, then walked past him and continued toward the exit. Simon stood there frozen, unable to find words to describe the intensity of his jealousy. Joshua had already left his seat and was waiting for Shermaine at the entrance to the inner court. Gracie had fallen asleep again during halftime, so Joshua had asked Damien and Jasmine to take her home. Wherever Joshua went, he drew female attention like a ma. There was something about his natural restraint that made him irresistibly attractive. Women couldn¡¯t help but be drawn to him the moment theyid eyes on him. With the masquerade ball approaching, many women were already scrambling to find dates. Joshua stood out in the crowd, and even though some knew he belonged to Shermaine, it didn¡¯t stop them. These bold women had confidence to spare and weren¡¯t shy about making their interest known. They figured there was no harm in trying, even if they knew it wouldn¡¯t lead anywhere. What if they seeded? When Joshua ignored their advances, they¡¯d stamp their feet in frustration but kept things civil before walking away, seething quietly. The moment Shermaine approached, those women scattered even further. Mandy¡¯s death had left them all on edge. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you wearing a mask?¡± Shermaine reached up and touched Joshua¡¯s face. ¡°I want everyone on this ship to know I¡¯m your man,¡± Joshua replied, pulling her close by the waist. Her red dress pressed against his ck coat as she smiled up at him. Rising on her toes, she nted a kiss on his cheek. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, this is being livestreamed.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. They won¡¯t catch it.¡± The cameras wouldn¡¯t f In¡¯t focus on Joshua anyway. The broadcast feed was already under their control. A bright red lipstick mark stood out against his pale cheek. Shermaine saw the mark she¡¯d left and smiled, making no move to wipe it away. ¡®He came prepared.¡® Shermaine handed over the masquerade ball invitation. ¡°This is Mr. York¡¯s chance to make an entrance. Want to go?¡± Joshua nced at it and immediately said yes. ¡°Then let¡¯s go. The ballroom is one floor up,¡± Shermaine smiled. They had transformed the entire floor into a ballroom. Inside, dim lighting cast shadows across the space whilezy, sensual music filled the air. Men and women in maskstrad already gathered. The women dressed in revealing outfits that showed off their curves as they danced passionately with their partners in the center of the floor. The space also featured a casino area, massage/stations for those who needed a break, and virtual reality gaming pods. Waitresses in fis stockings weaved through the crowd carrying trays of drinks. The moment Shermaine entered, a spotlight found her. All eyes turned their way. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, let¡¯s wee Boa Hanks and herpanion, Mr. Cain Reaper,¡± a deep voice announced over the speakers. 07:04 Tue, 8 Jul The room erupted in enthusiastic apuse. ¡°Many of our guests are curious about the rtionship between Ms. Hanks and Mr. Reaper. Would Ms. Hanks care to share?¡± someone called out. Shermaine raised an eyebrow and lifted Joshua¡¯s hand, revealing the tinum diamond ring on his ring finger. ¡°I gave him this wedding ring.¡± The crowd erupted in deafening cheers. Joshua clearly loved this introduction. Shermaine selected a mask for him to wear while she put on a silver fox mask for herself. A woman approached them carrying drinks. ¡°Ms. Hanks, Mr. Reaper, you must try our ball¡¯s special cocktail. It¡¯s made by the Kingdom of Xypena¡¯s top mixologist, exclusively for yers who¡¯ve made it to the top eighty.¡± At the mention of a top mixologist¡¯s creation, Shermaine licked her lips. She wanted to taste it badly, but the medication she was taking didn¡¯t mix with alcohol. She handed the ss to Joshua. you taste this for me and tell me if it¡¯s good?¡± Joshua took a sip and nodded. ¡°It¡¯s good.¡± He had to admit that even the cheapest fruit wines here tasted wonderfully sweet and refreshing. This cocktail from a master mixologist was exceptional. If Joshua said it was good, it must be amazing. ¡°Does Sheary want a taste?¡± he asked. Of course Shermaine wanted to try it, but her situation wouldn¡¯t allow it. Before she could respond, Joshua tilted her chin up and pressed his lips to hers. The crisp, intoxicating vor of the cocktail flowed from his mouth to hers. Kissing Joshua was already intoxicating enough. Now, with the taste of alcohol between them, her head spun even more. AD Nurse walking 475 Chapter 475 84% In the Kingdom of Xyperia, where public disys of affection were asmon as breathing, kissing on the streets was nothing unusual. During Valentine¡¯s Day, being single meant people would rather stay home than venture out. Maybe it was because Joshua and Shermaine were so breathtakingly beautiful together, but the few onlookers couldn¡¯t help wanting to squeal at the sight of them. Joshua kissed her hard and deep. When he finally pulled back, he pecked her lips gently. ¡°Did you taste it?¡± Shermaine¡¯s whole body felt weak from his kiss. Her lipstick was gone, her lips slightly swollen and red. She looked at him with sultry eyes. ¡°Delicious.¡± Joshuaughed, holding his drink in one hand while pulling her inside with the other. The interior had perfect spots for admiring the moonlit view outside. Though there were no stars, the moon hung full and bright in the sky. Couples sat at tables on the balcony, drinking and whispering sweet nothings to each other. The sea breeze swept through, candles flickered, and the atmosphere was pure romance. In their corner, Joshua sipped his drink contentedly. The taste of that wine lingered in Shermaine¡¯s memory, making her crave more. She licked her lips and lifted his chin with her finger. ¡°I want another taste. Let me kiss you.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Joshua smiled. ¡°You can kiss me however you want.¡± His invitation was all she needed. Sitting on hisp, she leaned down and captured those tempting lips with hers. Instantly, she tasted the sweet intensity of the wine. It was intoxicating. Shermaine boldly invaded Joshua¡¯s space, all for the taste of that wine. Joshua had been patiently waiting for her to sumb to his seduction. Earlier in their room, he hadn¡¯t had nearly enough time with her. Now, with the beautiful moon above them, fine wine in hand, and his woman in his arms, the emptiness from their year apart was slowly being filled. His life without Shermaine had been iplete. She was the missing piece he¡¯d been searching for all along. Inside, romantic music filled the air as more couples flooded onto the dance floor. Simon had followed Shermaine like a shadow. He¡¯d been stalking her all night, tracking her every move like some kind of creep. Their intimate moments hadn¡¯t escaped his watchful eyes. Both Shermaine and Joshua knew Simon was tailing them. They just chose to ignore him. Out of sight, out of mind. Still, Joshua was protective. When they kissed, he made sure to shield Shermainepletely from view. No one would see her face or catch that intoxicating look in her eyes when she kissed him. After finishing their drinks, they left their corner table. The venue had more than just the casino. There were plenty of other entertainments to explore, but the dance floor called to them most. The dance floor was stunning. As soon as they stepped onto it, the scenery transformed through all four seasons. Spring blossoms gave way to summer sunshine, then autumn leaves, and finally winter snow. It was breathtakingly beautiful. The two were ying an immersive mech warfare game. Shermaine settled into the gaming chair. When she opened her eyes again, a cold, robotic voice greeted her. ¡°Initiate mode?¡± 07:22 Wed, 9 Jul She selected yes. ¡°Please choose your warne.¡± The options ranged from the S¨Clevel Cobalt One, notoriously difficult to master, to C¨Clevel fighter jets that were easier to handle. Shermaine had no interest in the ordinary fighters. She went straight for the Cobalt One. This game was hugely popr in the Kingdom of Xyperia, with the highest download rate in the country. That was why the cruise ship had dedicated gaming pods for it. The whole point was to let regr people experience the thrill and danger ofbat or facing mutants. The game had five difficulty levels¨CSimple, Medium, Advanced, Difficult, and Epic. Word was that Epic level required an entire army to enter, and no team had ever beaten it yet. It was just too hard. Instead of choosing a mission, Shermaine sent Joshua a challenge. Fighter jets could battle each other in PvP mode. When Joshua got her challenge request, he raised an eyebrow. ¡°You sure you want to fight me, Sheary?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Joshua nodded. Joshua epted the challenge. ¡°You should check out the controls first, Sheary.¡± This game was all about piloting fighter jets inbat. It demanded sharp flying skills and quick reflexes. Before retiring, Joshua had flown warnes in his original world. Sinceing to this world, he¡¯d also gotten his hands on real fighter jets. For him, these warnes weren¡¯t particrly challenging. The best part about Kingdom of Xyperia¡¯s S¨Clevel fighter jets was their ability to transform into mechas. Once transformed, the mecha became an extension of your body, responding to your every movement. In mecha form, the fighter jet¡¯s capabilities increased dramatically. If Shermaine had to name one thing that fascinated her most about Kingdom of Xyperia, it was the mecha¨Ctype fighter jets. She had been eager to actually pilot one. Since she couldn¡¯t get her hands on an actual jet, the virtual experience would have to do. That was why she¡¯d chosen the S¨Clevel Cobalt One. After carefully studying the manual, she initiated the startup sequence. The game demanded lightning¨Cfast reflexes and hand speed. Her cockpit filled with buttons and blue screens. Good thing she¡¯d memorized the manual and knew what each button did. Otherwise, she would be prone to making numerous mistakes. In the virtual world, the Cobalt One shot up from the runway and transformed mid¨Cair into a towering ice¨Cblue mecha, over two meters tall. Across from the blue mecha stood Joshua¡¯s ck Cobalt One. It was the same model, but it had a different color. Outside the gaming pods, Simon checked his watch. ¡®Boa and that man had been ying for over half an hour. They¡¯d have to , and they¡¯d need aura water to recover. A waiter stood before him, trembling slightly with his head down, holding a tray. Don. ¡°Make sure that man drinks this aura water,¡± Simon instructed. He was determined not to let that man dance with Boa Hanks tonight, and definitely not let them spend the night together. This was Shermaine¡¯s first time ying with a virtual fighter jet, and she¡¯d chosen the S¨Clevel Cobalt One. Lasting forty minutes on her first attempt was 07:22 Wed, 9 Jul something few people in the Kingdom of Xyperia could manage, regardless of gender. 84% +201 When the defeat screen shed, the virtualbat environment dissolved around Shermaine. She felt mentally drained and was covered in sweat. The intensity had taken its toll. Joshua disconnected from the game and climbed out of his pod. He walked over to Shermaine and asked, ¡°You okay, Sheary?¡± Shermaine pressed her lips together and leaned against him. ¡°I¡¯ll beat you next time.¡± Joshuaughed and ruffled her hair. ¡°If my baby wants to win, I¡¯ll let you win.¡± ¡°No, you can¡¯t go easy on me.¡± ¡°Then you might not reach that goal, Sheary.¡± Joshua had always excelled inbat situations. Back in the military, they¡¯d called him the War God. Even though Shermaine was all¨Ctalented, this was one area where she couldn¡¯t quite match him. AD Nurse walking 476 Chapter 476 Someone knocked at the door. It was a waiter. He carried a tray with two sses of aura water designed to replenish energy. ¡°Sir, Miss, the fighter jet experience can be quite draining. To prevent any difort when you leave, I highly rmend drinking the aura water,¡± the waiter said, offering one ss to Shermaine. Shermaine¡¯s limbs felt weak as she leaned against Joshua. ¡°Mr. York, feed it to me.¡± Whenever she had Joshua around, herzy streak became particrly pronounced. ¡°Do you have a straw?¡± Joshua asked. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The waiter left and returned with a straw in the ss. Joshua held the aura water while Shermaine sipped slowly through the straw. She took a few sips before releasing it. ¡°You drink some too,¡± she said. Joshua shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m fine, no rush. Sheary, finish your aura water first. Then we¡¯ll go dance for a bit before heading back, okay?¡± Shermaine nodded. Joshua truly didn¡¯t seem to need the aura water. He looked perfectlyposed and energetic. Perhaps because Joshua was beside her, Shermaine didn¡¯t notice the sh of nervousness and unease in the waiter¡¯s eyes. Joshua didn¡¯t look at the waiter. Instead, he said, ¡°Put it down and leave.¡± The waiter hesitated. Joshua picked up the ss of water and took a sip. Only then did the waiter respond, ¡°Yes, sir. Have a pleasant evening.¡± He turned and left immediately. The aura water worked fast. Within minutes, Shermaine felt her body¡¯s vitality returning. Her mental energy recovered too, and the drowsiness that had been creeping in vanishedpletely. After taking just one sip, Joshua set down the aura water and focused on helping Shermaine drink hers. She finished the entire ss. ¡°Is that enough?¡± Joshua asked. Shermaine nodded. ¡°What about yours? Why aren¡¯t you drinking?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really need it.¡± Without changing his expression, Joshua poured the remaining aura water from his ss into the trash. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Seeing this, Shermaine narrowed her eyes as realization dawned. ¡°There was something in the ss?¡± ¡°Probably.¡± Of course, only Joshua¡¯s ss had been tampered with. Shermaine¡¯s was clean. Her face instantly paled. ¡°You already took a sip!¡± ¡°Just one sip. It won¡¯t affect me at all.¡± Joshua¡¯s constitution was somewhat different from normal people. His recovery ability was exceptional, and something like this couldn¡¯t harm him. Shermaine quickly checked Joshua¡¯s condition, taking his pulse to confirm there were no signs of poisoning. Only then did she rx. 1/2 07:22 Wed, 9 Jul Then Shermaine and Joshua walked out hand in hand. The waiter came in and saw Joshua¡¯s ss empty of aura water. Assuming he¡¯d drunk it all, the waiter took the ss away without checking The ballroom had filled up considerably since Shermaine and Joshua had arrived. People were everywhere, creating a sea of formal wear and glittering jewelry. Shermaine and Joshua made their way toward the dance floor, fingers intertwined. Just then, a woman approached from the opposite direction and stepped on Joshua¡¯s shoe. As she stumbled, the red wine in her hand sshed toward him. Joshua dodged back, but the wine still sttered across his suit. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, sir! Are you alright?¡± The woman apologized. Joshua epted her apology but didn¡¯t take the tissues she offered. The woman awkwardly pulled her hand back but didn¡¯t leave. She stood there, trying to figure out how toplete her employer¡¯s task of separating the couple. Shermaine raised an eyebrow but said nothing. ¡°Sheary, I need to go to the restroom,¡± Joshua said. The woman¡¯s eyes lit up. If he left, her task would beplete. ¡°Go ahead, I¡¯ll wait here for you. Don¡¯t be long,¡± Shermaine replied. Joshua leaned down and kissed her. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± He was curious to see what Simon had nned by spiking his aura water. 2/2 Nurse walking 477 Chapter 477 After Joshua left, Shermaine waited where she was. People moved past her in waves, and though her red dress drew attention, no one approached her, She preferred the peace and found a dimly lit corner to stand in. Her eyes followed the stunning seasonal transformations projected onto the dance floor and she felt a flutter of anticipation. After a year apart, she wondered what their first dance together would be like. She wasn¡¯t worried about Joshua wandering off. She knew he¡¯de back, Meanwhile, in the restroom, Joshua removed his wine¨Cstained trench coat. The ck shirt underneath was still clean. He took his time washing out the stain, his devastatingly handsome face calm and unbothered as he held the wet fabric under the hot air dryer. Soon enough, the coat was mostly dry and smelled fresh from the cleaning solution. That spiked aura water hadn¡¯t been poison after all. It was something designed to make people feel ufortably hot and restless. Joshua hadn¡¯t drunk much, and he¡¯d already suppressed the strange sensations coursing through him. ¡®What a cheap, pathetic trick,¡® he thought. The door swung open, and a woman in ck fis stockings and a tight ck dress stepped inside. She closed the door behind her with a deliberate click. When she removed her mask, her features were striking, though her overall appearance screamed cheap mour. Joshua sensed someone had entered but didn¡¯t bother looking up. He knew she was here for him. Her cheap perfume filled the clean restroom, overwhelming the space with its artificial scent. She was one of Simon¡¯s people, a bodyguard specifically sent by the Baykeep city lord to protect him. Herbat skills were exceptional, though she rarely needed to use them. She was Queen Cobra, ranked third on the assassin leaderboard, known for killing without spilling a drop of blood. She had a particr habit that made her infamous. Before each kill, she preferred to seduce her targets with her beauty, then eliminate them silently when they least expected it. Cain had be quite the name in assassin circlestely. After killing the Eagle Assassins¡® leader and taking his throne, he¡¯d restructured the entire organization. Under his leadership, the Eagle Assassins¡® performance had skyrocketed. In just a short time, he¡¯d transformed them from an unknown group into a force thatmanded respect throughout the industry. So, when Simon asked her to deal with Cain, she¡¯d agreed without hesitation. As one of the best female assassins in the business, she naturally wanted to meet Cain. If she could bring down such a capable man, her reputation would soar even higher in their world. Simon hadn¡¯t ordered an immediate kill. He wanted the man captured alive and kept under strict control. ¡®What a specimen this man is. His physique and looks are exceptional beyond words. No wonder Boa Hanks has no interest in Simon, Compared to this man, Simon, the young city lord of Baykeep, fell short in every way,¡® Queen Cobra thought. Queen Cobra didn¡¯t fear Boa Hanks. Boa Hanks might be strong enough to take on ten opponents at once, but so could she. The real issue was Mandy had been too foolish and impulsive, attacking without properly assessing her target¡¯s strength. She¡¯d led a whole team to their deaths. VICU ording to Queen Cobra¡¯s observations over the past two days, Boa Hanks was at least on her level. The hot air from the heater hummed while her cheap perfume carried something extra. Queen Cobra didn¡¯t fully trust Simon to handle things properly. For added insurance, she¡¯d applied a special scent that was irresistible to men Prolonged exposure would cause hallucinations, trapping them in a dreamlike state they wouldn¡¯t want to escape. Her high heels clicked against the floor as she approached. ¡°Need any help, sir?¡± Joshua slowly raised his eyes at the sound of her voice. His gaze remainedpletely unfazed. Nurse walking 478 Chapter 478 Queen Cobra¡¯s exotic perfume had little effect on Joshua¡¯s iron will. The scent was designed to numb a person¡¯s nerves, and if it worked, she could subdue him easily even if he tried to resist. But reality rarely matched expectations. As Queen Cobra approached, reaching for Joshua¡¯s coat, he had already pulled it away from the heater and slipped it on. Joshua adjusted his cor with practiced ease. Queen Cobra saw something in him she¡¯d never encountered before¨Ca nobility that went beyond breeding. It was a qualitypletely absent in the spoiled sons of even the wealthiest families. Joshua possessed an innate regality. His violet hair was neat and sharp, and his calm demeanor made him seem almost godlike, looking down on everyone else with quiet superiority. Queen Cobra narrowed her eyes. She studied Joshua¡¯s expression carefully. He was far tooposed, showing no signs of being affected by her drug. The exotic fragrance emanating from her body seemed to have zero impact on him. Queen Cobra didn¡¯t panic or rush into action. She was a master at ying the long game. Perhaps his willpower was strong enough to dy the drug¡¯s effects. She would wait a bit longer. ¡°Am I that scary? Do I really make you want to run away?¡± she smiled, keeping her tone light and easy. ¡°You stink.¡± Joshua had always been a clean freak. Except for Shermaine, he couldn¡¯t stand any woman getting too close, let alone touching his clothes. Not a chance. Besides, Shermaine was the jealous type. If he came home smelling like another woman, she¡¯d be upset. Joshua decided he¡¯d throw this jacket away Queen Cobra¡¯s smile froze. ¡®Do I stink? What the hell is this man talking about? How could I possibly smell bad?¡® No one had ever resisted her charm before. She had countless admirers in the industry, all of them dying to worship at her feet and give her everything she wanted. Queen Cobra decided to give him one more chance. ¡°Watch yournguage.¡± Joshua cut to the chase. ¡°Is this all Simon sent? Just you?¡± ¡°Are you underestimating me?¡± Queen Cobra asked casually, but her tone carried weight. ¡°Simon sent me to deal with you, but honestly, you¡¯re too handsome for your own good. You¡¯re exactly my type¨Chow could I possibly hurt you?¡± Joshua¡¯s voice remained t. ¡°You¡¯re just a woman who wed her way to third ce on the assassin leaderboard through dirty tricks. He must really think highly of you.¡± Queen Cobra¡¯s expression changedpletely at his words. Her friendly facade vanished, reced by an icy coldness. The exotic fragrance surrounding her intensified as she said, ¡°Then let me show you exactly how strong the third¨Cranked assassin really is.¡± The mechanical watch on her wrist transformed instantly into a sharp de. She gripped the knife and lunged forward, her high heels doing nothing to slow her movements. Queen Cobra couldn¡¯t tolerate anyone questioning her abilities. It didn¡¯t matter how attractive this man was¨Cshe¡¯d seen plenty of handsome men before and wasn¡¯t about to hang herself on one tree. Besides, he¡¯d never been hers to begin with. 07:23 wed, y Jul More importantly, his venomous tongue andpleteck of gentlemanly manners disgusted her. She hated men who weren¡¯t gentlemen. His tongue deserved to be cut to shreds. Queen Cobra was vicious, determined to destroy Joshua¡¯s face. When she lunged at him with the knife, Joshua didn¡¯t flinch. With lightning speed, he dodged, moving as swiftly as the wind. He saw no reason to y nice with her. Though he came unarmed, he could improvise. H¨¦ mmed his fist into the ss mirror, shattering it into pieces. He picked up a shard of ss¨Csharp enough to cut most people, but in his hands, it became a weapon that would only hurt others, never himself. They shed violently. Joshua showed no mercy. Queen Cobra began to feel the deadly pressure beneath his calm exterior. She sensed the lethal danger he posed. With a loud ng, her knife hit the floor. She clutched her face as blood seeped through her fingers. Joshua¡¯s ss shard hade within inches of slicing her throat. It was too close. Queen Cobra¡¯s face darkened. ¡°After all this time, why isn¡¯t my Enthrall Scent affecting you at all?¡± AD Nurse walking 479 Chapter 479 ¡®Enthrall Scent? That stinks like hell. How can you even call it that?¡® Joshua sneered inwardly. Of course, even if this perfume could actually bewitch someone, it would only work if it was on Shermaine. Only then could it affect Joshua. Besides, his body had a unique constitution. Joshua said slowly and deliberately, ¡°I told you¨Cyou stink.¡± Queen Cobra was stunned, herposure cracking. She would never forgive Joshua. ¡®He¡¯d called me smelly again. If he ever fell into my hands, I would torture him mercilessly.¡® Since the Enthrall Scent had failed, Queen Cobra decided to unleash her secret weapons. She removed her earrings, which transformed into mechanical arms. Her high heels underwent the same transformation. The de in Queen Cobra¡¯s hand extended, growing longer and deadlier. Shermaine waited patiently, calcting that Joshua would need another seven or eight minutes to return. The club lights dimmed further, creating an even more intimate atmosphere. The music shifted fromzy and seductive to passionate and wild. Bodies collided on the dance floor, sparking with electric energy. The rhythmic beat intensified, driving the dancers into a frenzy. Some couples were making out right there in the crowd as cheers erupted around them. It was a night made for letting go. But without Joshua beside her, Shermaine remained unmoved. Then she caught a familiar, crisp scent. A figure appeared at her side. She looked up as the man extended his hand. ¡°Baby, I¡¯m back. I¡¯m sorry to keep you waiting. Let¡¯s dance.¡± His voice was exceptionally gentle. Shermaine¡¯s brow lifted almost imperceptibly. As he reached for her hand, she pulled back at thest second. ¡°No matter how well you imitate him, you¡¯re not him.¡± Her voice turned cold. Behind his mask, the man¡¯s expression hardened. Simon had changed everything to get close to her¨Chis hair color, his voice, his clothes, even his cologne¨Call to match that man perfectly. Yet even in thi dim, chaotic club, Shermaine had seen through his disguise instantly. ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯m not him.¡± Simon decided toe clean. ¡°I thought pretending would be enough to get what I wanted¨Cjust one dance with you. But! guess I¡¯ve failed.¡± Shermaine let out a softugh, thinking to herself, ¡®Dance with me? In his dreams. No, actually, a scumbag like him doesn¡¯t even deserve to dream about it.¡® ¡°Then get lost,¡± she said bluntly. The harsher Shermaine was, the more intrigued Simon became. At least she wasn¡¯t indifferent to him. Instead of getting angry, Simon found himself almost enjoying her hostility. His woman could be as rude as she wanted. ¡°Sorry, but I can¡¯t do that.¡± He kept his eyes on her. ¡°I know you¡¯re waiting for him, but are you sure he¡¯ll show up tonight? 07:23 Wea, Shermaine didn¡¯t bother responding to such a ridiculous question. She knew Joshua¡¯s capabilities better than anyone. No one on this ship could touch him. ¡°Boa, let me be clear¨Cyou won¡¯t see him tonight. I always y dirty when I want something, and right now, I want you.¡± Simon pressed on when she stayed silent. Shermaine smiled slowly. ¡°You¡¯re that sure I won¡¯t see him tonight?¡± She could smell the money on this fool. ¡°Sounds like you¡¯re itching to make a bet with me. Just so you know, if you¡¯re betting against me, you¡¯d better have deep pockets.¡± AD Nurse walking 480 Chapter 480 Shermaine¡¯s greedy side was in full swing. Simon hadplete faith in Queen Cobra¡¯s abilities. After all, she was ranked third on the Kingdom of Xyperia¡¯s assassin leaderboard. Even the strongest men fell at her hands. Pl¨²s, his father, Bronx Moreno, had paid top dor to send her as his protection. What Simon didn¡¯t know was that Baykeep had given Joshua the most important mission¨Cbut Joshua had no intention of carrying it out. Simon saw his chance. ¡°Deal.¡± He pulled out a card loaded with three million Xyperia tokens. ¡°Is this enough?¡± ¡°Three million?¡± Shermaine¡¯s lips curved into a wicked smile. ¡°Too little.¡± ¡°Name your price.¡± ¡°Three hundred million.¡± She went straight for the kill. The difference between three million and 300 million Xyperia tokens was astronomical. Simon frowned slightly at the amount, but 300 million Xyperia tokens weren¡¯t much to him. His family owned all of Baykeep, and his personal assets were worth at least ten billion Xyperia tokens. So he didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Three hundred million tokens it is.¡± But he wasn¡¯t stupid enough to make a losing deal. Since Shermaine had raised the stakes so high, he¡¯d be greedy too. ¡°But if you lose, you¡¯re mine for the whole night.¡± ¡°Set the time,¡± Shermaine said without hesitation. ¡°Five minutes.¡± Simon chose a cunningly short timeframe. ¡°Deal.¡± She didn¡¯t even hesitate. Simon felt a surge of irritation. Boa¡¯s absolute faith Joshua would return within five minutes was getting under his skin. He wanted to crush that trust. Shermaine pulled up her Orthish and set the timer. Five minutes, counting down. Meanwhile, in the locked restroom, a couple stumbled against the door, lips locked and desperate to get inside. The man pushed at the handle a few times and cursed under his breath when it wouldn¡¯t budge. Just as they assumed someone had beaten them to it, a loud crash echoed from inside the restroom. Inside the restroom, Queen Cobra mmed into the wall, leaving a hole behind her. She copsed on the floor, coughing up blood, her mechanical limbs in tatters. If she died here, the assassin leaderboard would update instantly. Every assassin had a small device imnted that recorded their fights. Queen Cobra finally panicked. ¡°Don¡¯t kill me.¡± Joshua ignored her and picked up another shard of ss. ¡°You¡¯re too weak for that position.¡± ¡°I surrender!¡± Rankings didn¡¯t matter as much as staying alive. If she surrendered, she¡¯d drop from third ce anyway. Joshua remained unmoved. Her fate was sealed the moment she walked through that door. The two people outside froze when they heard themotion. Then the restroom door opened. 07:23 Wed, 9 Jul Joshua stepped out, having tossed his coat in the trash inside. He nced at them and said calmly, ¡°You should find somewhere else to go They hesitated for a moment, not daring to look inside, then quickly turned and left. Joshua headed in the opposite direction, walking quickly. He¡¯d already wasted too much time¨CShermaine must be getting impatient. Only one minute had passed since the five¨Cminute window. Shermaine nced at her watch and yawnedzily. Simon didn¡¯t just stand there waiting. He ordered a ss of juice for Shermaine, but she wouldn¡¯t to touch it. He even tried goading her, casually moving closer as he said, ¡°I just thought you looked thirsty, Boa. What, are you scared?¡± Shermaine noticed his approach and was about to step back when she sensed someone behind her. Joshua was there. In the next instant, his arm wrapped around her waist, and with a gentle but firm pull, he swept her away. Shermaine¡¯s eyes crinkled with pleasure when she saw Joshua. She tilted her head up and nted a kiss on the corner of his lips. ¡°What took you so long?¡± she asked in a yfully pouty tone. ¡°Washing my hands took a bit,¡± he replied. After dealing with Queen Cobra, he¡¯d needed to be thorough. Shermaine noticed his coat was gone. His hands carried the fresh scent of soap, with no trace of blood. Joshua shot Simon a dangerous look, his eyes glinting with barely controlled fury. ¡®This bastard never stops trying to make moves on Sheary,¡® he thought, the killing intent radiating from him so strongly that the air seemed to crackle with tension. The other bodyguards around Simon immediately sensed the threat and Chapter 480 Shermaine¡¯s greedy side was in full swing. Simon hadplete faith in Queen Cobra¡¯s abilities. After all, she was ranked third on the Kingdom of Xyperia¡¯s assassin leaderboard. Even the strongest men fell at her hands. Pl¨²s, his father, Bronx Moreno, had paid top dor to send her as his protection. What Simon didn¡¯t know was that Baykeep had given Joshua the most important mission¨Cbut Joshua had no intention of carrying it out. Simon saw his chance. ¡°Deal.¡± He pulled out a card loaded with three million Xyperia tokens. ¡°Is this enough?¡± ¡°Three million?¡± Shermaine¡¯s lips curved into a wicked smile. ¡°Too little.¡± ¡°Name your price.¡± ¡°Three hundred million.¡± She went straight for the kill. The difference between three million and 300 million Xyperia tokens was astronomical. Simon frowned slightly at the amount, but 300 million Xyperia tokens weren¡¯t much to him. His family owned all of Baykeep, and his personal assets were worth at least ten billion Xyperia tokens. So he didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Three hundred million tokens it is.¡± But he wasn¡¯t stupid enough to make a losing deal. Since Shermaine had raised the stakes so high, he¡¯d be greedy too. ¡°But if you lose, you¡¯re mine for the whole night.¡± ¡°Set the time,¡± Shermaine said without hesitation. ¡°Five minutes.¡± Simon chose a cunningly short timeframe. ¡°Deal.¡± She didn¡¯t even hesitate. Simon felt a surge of irritation. Boa¡¯s absolute faith Joshua would return within five minutes was getting under his skin. He wanted to crush that trust. Shermaine pulled up her Orthish and set the timer. Five minutes, counting down. Meanwhile, in the locked restroom, a couple stumbled against the door, lips locked and desperate to get inside. The man pushed at the handle a few times and cursed under his breath when it wouldn¡¯t budge. Just as they assumed someone had beaten them to it, a loud crash echoed from inside the restroom. Inside the restroom, Queen Cobra mmed into the wall, leaving a hole behind her. She copsed on the floor, coughing up blood, her mechanical limbs in tatters. If she died here, the assassin leaderboard would update instantly. Every assassin had a small device imnted that recorded their fights. Queen Cobra finally panicked. ¡°Don¡¯t kill me.¡± Joshua ignored her and picked up another shard of ss. ¡°You¡¯re too weak for that position.¡± ¡°I surrender!¡± Rankings didn¡¯t matter as much as staying alive. If she surrendered, she¡¯d drop from third ce anyway. Joshua remained unmoved. Her fate was sealed the moment she walked through that door. The two people outside froze when they heard themotion. Then the restroom door opened. 07:23 Wed, 9 Jul Joshua stepped out, having tossed his coat in the trash inside. He nced at them and said calmly, ¡°You should find somewhere else to go They hesitated for a moment, not daring to look inside, then quickly turned and left. Joshua headed in the opposite direction, walking quickly. He¡¯d already wasted too much time¨CShermaine must be getting impatient. Only one minute had passed since the five¨Cminute window. Shermaine nced at her watch and yawnedzily. Simon didn¡¯t just stand there waiting. He ordered a ss of juice for Shermaine, but she wouldn¡¯t to touch it. He even tried goading her, casually moving closer as he said, ¡°I just thought you looked thirsty, Boa. What, are you scared?¡± Shermaine noticed his approach and was about to step back when she sensed someone behind her. Joshua was there. In the next instant, his arm wrapped around her waist, and with a gentle but firm pull, he swept her away. Shermaine¡¯s eyes crinkled with pleasure when she saw Joshua. She tilted her head up and nted a kiss on the corner of his lips. ¡°What took you so long?¡± she asked in a yfully pouty tone. ¡°Washing my hands took a bit,¡± he replied. After dealing with Queen Cobra, he¡¯d needed to be thorough. Shermaine noticed his coat was gone. His hands carried the fresh scent of soap, with no trace of blood. Joshua shot Simon a dangerous look, his eyes glinting with barely controlled fury. ¡®This bastard never stops trying to make moves on Sheary,¡® he thought, the killing intent radiating from him so strongly that the air seemed to crackle with tension. The other bodyguards around Simon immediately sensed the threat and stepped forward, forming a protective barrier. One of them leaned close to Simon and delivered the news in a low voice. ¡°Sir, Queen Cobra is dead.¡± Simon¡¯s face instantly drained of color, his expression turning ugly as the implications of this news hit him. Shermaine turned to Simon with a confident smile. ¡°Mr. York is back,¡± she said smoothly. ¡°That¡¯s 300 million you owe me. Transfer it to my ount right away.¡± She had a reunion dance to share with Joshua, and she wasn¡¯t about to let anything dy it. AD stepped forward, forming a protective barrier. One of them leaned close to Simon and delivered the news in a low voice. ¡°Sir, Queen Cobra is dead.¡± Simon¡¯s face instantly drained of color, his expression turning ugly as the implications of this news hit him. Shermaine turned to Simon with a confident smile. ¡°Mr. York is back,¡± she said smoothly. ¡°That¡¯s 300 million you owe me. Transfer it to my ount right away.¡± She had a reunion dance to share with Joshua, and she wasn¡¯t about to let anything dy it. AD Nurse walking 481 The moment Queen Cobra died, the assassin leaderboard updated automatically. Damien caught it right away¨CJoshua had shot up from nowhere to third ce on the rankings. Cain was prominently positioned at number three. What surprised everyone was that Queen Cobra had been on this cruise ship all along. Not that it mattered now¨Cshe was dead, defeated by Joshua. Damien believed that the ranking undervalued Joshua. He was clearly more dangerous than third ce suggested. But for now, it would have to do. With Queen Cobra dead, Simon grew wary of Joshua. The way Joshua looked at him made no attempt to hide his killing intent. That overwhelming pressure bore down on Simon like a crushing weight. Simon¡¯s face hardened as he braced himself against the oppressive aura. He was the young master of an entire city¨Che couldn¡¯t afford to be intimidated. Simon¡¯s mind raced. ¡®If even Queen Cobra couldn¡¯t handle this guy, what would it take? Someone ranked first or second on the assassin leaderboard? Or maybe an entire army?¡® But Simon didn¡¯t care about the cost. Any price was worth paying if it meant Joshua would stop strutting around in front of him like he owned the ce. ¡°I ept my loss,¡± Simon said through gritted teeth. Joshua¡¯s voice was casual. ¡°What was the bet?¡± Shermaine answered for him, her tone light and teasing. ¡°We bet on whether you¡¯de back within five minutes.¡± She couldn¡¯t resist adding, ¡°Mr. York really came through for me. I just made an easy 300 million Xyperia tokens.¡± Joshua chuckled softly, his hand finding its way to Shermaine¡¯s waist. ¡°Is my baby¡¯s opponent that stupid?¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t argue. If Joshua said someone was stupid, then stupid they were. Simon¡¯s face flushed with anger. ¡°Are you insulting me?¡± ¡°Insulting you would be letting you off easy.¡± Joshua¡¯s tone remained light, but the killing intent radiating from him intensified. His eyes darkened as he delivered the final blow. ¡°You¡¯re way out of your league.¡± Simon¡¯s face darkened with rage. He couldn¡¯t stand being humiliated like this, and his hand instinctively moved toward the gun hidden on his body. But his bodyguard quickly intervened, cing a restraining hand on his arm. ¡°Mr. Moreno, this isn¡¯t the time to start trouble. You¡¯ve already done enough tonight.¡± Left with no choice, Simon backed down, though his eyes burned with fury. ¡°This isn¡¯t over, Cain. We¡¯ll see who wins in the end.¡± He always managed to secure the women he desired, regardless of the method used. Joshua just smiled, turning his attention to Simon¡¯s bodyguards. ¡°Better keep a close eye on your boss. You wouldn¡¯t want me catching you off guard.¡± The bodyguards exchanged uneasy nces, an inexplicable chill running down their spines. Joshua gently squeezed Shermaine¡¯s waist once they had left, his voice lowered to a yful whisper. ¡°Sheary, don¡¯t le Shermaine looked up at him with a teasing smile. ¡°What kind of reward are you looking for?¡± Joshua whispered, ¡°I want you, Sheary.¡± Sheughed softly, her eyes dancing with mischief. ¡°You already have me. No one can take me away from you.¡± But that wasn¡¯t quite what he meant, and they both knew it. a reward for that?¡± 07:23 Wed, 9 J¨±l ¡õ ¡õ ¡ú Before he could rify, Shermaine took his hand and pulled him toward the dance floor. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s dance.¡± Simon¡¯s eyes zed with fury as he watched Joshua and Shermaine step onto the dance floor. He headed straight for the restroom. His men had secured the restroom¡ªno one else could get in. The moment Simon entered, a lingering, strange fragrance hit his nostrils. The scent was dangerously potent, so he quickly pressed a handkerchief over his face. Queen Cobray motionless on the floor, her throat shed open. What made it truly horrifying was how little blood had spilled from the severed artery ¨Cjust a few drops. A blood¨Cstained shard of ss glinted on the floor nearby. Simon picked it up, his face twisting into a savage expression. The fact that Queen Cobra had been killed by a mere piece of ss felt like the ultimate humiliation to him. Meanwhile, the dance floor had transformed into a winter wondend¨Csnowkes drifted down while stars sparkled across the sky above. Shermaine rested her hand on Joshua¡¯s shoulder,pletely lost in the romantic, enchanting atmosphere. But they hadn¡¯t been dancing long when Joshua¡¯s body temperature began to spike. He pulled Shermaine closer, his voice turning rough and husky. ¡°Sheary, they drugged me.¡± AD Nurse walking 482 Chapter 482 Shermaine looked at Joshua with an amused smile. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that aura water had no effect on you?¡± Joshua¡¯s expression remained perfectlyposed. ¡°It doesn¡¯t affect me at all.¡± Queen Cobra¡¯s Enthrall Scent had absolutely no impact on him he felt nothing. He continued, ¡°But when Sheary is beside me, it¡¯s different. After we finish this dance, we¡¯ll head back, alright?¡± Shermaine couldn¡¯t help but smile. When it came to Joshua, she could only indulge him. When the dance ended, the two left the scene together. Damien knew that Joshua and Shermaine would want their private time tonight, so Gracie was settled in the room where Shermaine used to stay, with Jasmine taking care of her. The room was spacious and bright, crowned by a stunning crystal chandelier adorned with delicate tassels. But what truly drew the eye was the king¨Csize bed¨Cso massive that five or six people could roll around on it without any trouble. Their suite upied the cruise ship¡¯s highest level, who 4 the ceiling was made entirely of transparent ss. The moment theyy down, they could gaze up at the countless stars scattered across the night sky, as beautiful and brilliant as the celestial disy they¡¯d witnessed from the dance floor. The pristine white bed now bore a ssh of crimson¨CShermaine¡¯s red dress spread across the sheets. Joshua slipped off her high heels, revealing well¨Cmaintained feet adorned with red nail polish. He grasped her slender ankle. ¡°Sheary, want to take a bath?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Joshua nodded. When they¡¯d entered the room, Shermaine¡¯s lips had already been thoroughly imed by Joshua, and now they were stained with bewitching crimson. Joshua untangled her blue wig and swept her up into his arms, carrying her toward the bathroom. ??? ???? After what felt like an eternity, they finally emerged, their bodies still glistening with moisture as they copsed onto the bed. Joshua kissed her deeply. This kiss carried a dangerous edge that was different from beforemanding and irresistible. Yet as it continued, it gradually melted into something tender and lingering. Joshua maintained what little restraint he had left. ¡°Sheary, are you sure this is okay?¡± Shermaine understood why Joshua was asking. ¡°That recovery shot doesn¡¯t have any side effects,¡± she said. She felt it was practically a godsend for women who¡¯d given birth. The truth was that whether a woman delivered naturally or ¨C cesarean, she would inevitably faceplications of varying degrees. Even those with the strongest recovery abilities would experience lingering issues in the years that followed. This was especially true for women with weaker constitutions, who would push themselves through endless exercise routines after childbirth, desperately trying to restore their former figures. ¡°Did it hurt a lot when you gave birth to Gracie?¡± Joshua asked, his hands gently massaging her waist while his palm rested against her belly. ¡°It did hurt quite a bit, but Gracie was such a good baby¡ªshe didn¡¯t give me too much trouble,¡± Shermaine replied. The time from when her water broke to when Gracie arrived had actually been quite short, and honestly, that pain hadn¡¯t been the worst part. What had really made Shermaine miserable was the engorgement after Gracie¡¯s birth. Her chest had been so painfully swollen with milk that it became her biggest source of difort. The mention of this reminded Shermaine of Joshua¡¯s recent services, which had brought her considerable relief. 07:23 Wed, 9 Jul ¡°If Mr. York truly feels sorry for me, you could continue providing those services now,¡± Shermaine said withplete seriousness. Joshua chuckled and readily agreed. Truth be told, he couldn¡¯t ask for anything! better. Tonight proved to be incredibly fulfilling for both of them, satisfying thempletely in both body and soul. The night stretched on endlessly as the ship rocked gently on the water. It was a long, long time before the passionate mes in their room finally died down, leaving only peaceful quiet. They had been in this world for nearly a year now, but what they missed most was still going back home. After all, that ce was where their rootsy, where their family and friends were waiting for them. Shermaine had no idea how they were all doing back home, especially Janice and Owen. They were getting on in years, and Shermaine worried that not seeing her and Joshua might make them overthink things. When elderly people worry too much, they tend to get sick easily. Still, Shermaine figured they¡¯d probably be fine. After all, Danielle was there to look after them. Shermaine trusted her medical skillspletely¨Cshe wouldn¡¯t let anything happen to Owen and Janice. Getting back to their world was actually pretty straightforward, in Shermaine¡¯s opinion. Finding Dave was their most reliable and direct route home. Shermaine¡¯s obsession with Xyperia tokens had two driving forces. First, she needed money to support Gracie. Second, those aura stones that Dave devoured were worth a fortune in this world. Dave had an enormous appetite, and the journey home would burn through plenty of aura. She¡¯d better stock up on aura stones, or there wouldn¡¯t be nearly enough to feed him. Of course, before heading back, she had to deal with Judy first. That particr score was something Shermaine couldn¡¯t let go of. ¤¯ Nurse walking 483 Chapter 483 Shermaine had never slept so deeply and peacefully since arriving in the Kingdom of Xyperia. When she finally opened her eyes, it was nearly noon. She shifted slightly and immediately felt the familiar ache in her lower back, along with that parched, dry sensation in her mouth¨Ca feeling she hadn¡¯t experienced in quite some time. How she had missed it. As memories of their passionate encounter from the night before flooded back, Shermaine licked her lips unconsciously, feeling her back grow even weaker at the thought. Joshua noticed she was awake and thoughtfully brought her a ss of warm water. Then he slipped his hand under the covers and began gently massaging her lower back. Last night¡¯s positions had definitely taken their toll on her spine. After draining the ss of water, Shermaine stretchedzily. ¡°I¡¯m starving.¡± ¡°I made you some oatmeal,¡± Joshua said, his voice incredibly tender as he helped her sit up in bed. ¡°Have some oatmeal first, and I¡¯ll cook something delicious for youter.¡± He paused, and his hands still working on her sore muscles. ¡°You don¡¯t need to take those medicines anymore. If you¡¯re not feeling well, just tell me, okay?¡± Shermaine thought about Joshua¡¯s skillful massage techniques and how much better her chest felt now that her milk supply had decreased. She nodded in agreement¨Cthis way, she could simply give Gracie form instead. ¡°I miss Gracie,¡± she said softly. ¡°Can you find Jasmine and ask her to bring Gracie over?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Joshua replied without hesitation. When Shermaine finished washing up and emerged from the bathroom, she found Jasmine already settled in the living room. Gracie was awake, listened peacefully to the luby that Jasmine was ying, and the moment she spotted Shermaine, her face lit up with another smile. Shermaine scooped her up and nted several kisses on her cheeks, ¡°Ms. Hanks, would it be okay if I called you Shermaine?¡± Jasmine asked. Though she was still amazed that Joshua turned out to be a pure¨Cblooded descendant of the royal family¨Cand an incredibly powerful one at that¨CShermaine remained her goddess and idol in her eyes. Shermaine readily agreed. Given Joshua¡¯s lineage, she was technically Jasmine¡¯s rtive after all. Jasmine felt overwhelmed with happiness. Not only had she gained a whole new family, but this morning¡¯s oatmeal was absolutely delicious. ¡®Joshua truly is a man of many talents.¡® While sipping her oatmeal, Shermaine casually browsed through the military news. Despite their carefree and luxurious time aboard the ship, the mes of war in the Kingdom of Xyperia continued to spread relentlessly. Shirley¡¯s forces had initially held the advantage, but ever since Judy¡¯s return, the tide of battle kept turning against them. After learning about this world and the royal family¡¯s history, Shermaine understood that the crystal sarcophagus Judy had brought back from their world was actually an ultimate mecha¨Cin short, an incredibly powerful war machine. Only members of the royal family could pilot this mecha, but Judy had found another way to activate it. With her enhancedbat power, Shirley didn¡¯t stand a chance against her. Meanwhile, Joshua stood in the kitchen, gripping a sharp cleaver as he sliced through fresh chunks of meat. Each cut produced slices that were almost perfectly uniform in thickness. Damien was delivering histest intelligence report. ¡°Boss, word about you taking out Queen Cobra has spread through the underground, but the news hasn¡¯t reached Baykeep yet.¡± ¡°Simon¡¯s keeping it under wraps?¡± Joshua asked. ¡°That¡¯s right. He hasn¡¯t told Bronx that Queen Cobra is dead.¡± After all, with Mandy already gone, if Bronx found out that Queen Cobra had been killed, he¡¯d realize that Simon wasn¡¯t focusing on business. Instead, Simon had been too busy scheming about how to steal women from Joshua. So Joshua¡¯s identity remained hidden, which meant he could keep having his fun for a while longer. ¡°But Simon¡¯s been secretly reaching out to Queen Cobra¡¯s organization, the Lunar Sect, and her lovers,¡± Damien continued. ¡°If I¡¯m right, the next time this cruise ship docks, we¡¯ll have a whole army of vengeful enemies boarding toe after you, Boss.¡± ¡°Let theme,¡± Joshua replied with calm indifference. ¡°Just make sure you¡¯re all ready. Don¡¯t embarrass me.¡± That was a given. They¡¯d already stockpiled ammunition and supplies, ensuring that anyone who came for revenge would never make it back alive. ¡°Understood. And Baykeep reminded you this morning that we can start by taking out one or two people from the hit list.¡± Otherwise, if they all died at once, the assassination pattern would be far too obvious. The next port stop wouldn¡¯t be for another week, and that week would bring the top¨Cfifty tournament matches. The top¨Cfifty tournament wasn¡¯t much of a challenge¨CShermaine was aiming for the championship title. Joshua set down his cleaver. ¡°Go arrange a meeting with Shirley¡¯s people. Tell them we¡¯re open to cooperation.¡± Just then, Shermaine walked in from outside. Damien immediately called out, ¡°Mrs. York.¡± Shermaine gave a slight nod. ¡°Do you have connections to purchase S¨Clevel fighter jets?¡± Damien seemed surprised that Shermaine could actually pilot fighter jets, especially the most challenging mecha fighter jets. ¡°Mrs. York, mecha fighter jet is incredibly scarce on the market right now. Generally speaking, both Her Highness Judy¡¯s and Her Highness Shirley¡¯s armies have monopolized those resources. ¡°I see the boss is interested in cooperating with Her Highness Shirley,¡± Damien continued. ¡°If you want to pilot mecha fighter jets, you could have Boss request some from their side.¡± Joshua hadn¡¯t expected Shermaine to want hands¨Con experience with real machines after just one virtual fighter jet session. Honestly, it was an extremely dangerous pursuit, but Shermaine had exceptional talent¨Cshe¡¯d mastered the virtual simtor on her first try. With a few practice runs on the real thing, she¡¯d probably be ready to face Judy in actualbat. Shermaine turned to Joshua. ¡°Get us two of them.¡± you get Josh Two Nurse walking 484 Chapter 484 The five¨Cperson team that Shirley dispatched to participate in the International Gambling Tournament sessfully made it into the top eighty. 70% +28) Among the five¨Cmember group, Barrett Rubio served as their representative¡ªa rugged¨Clooking man whose face was covered in thick facial hair, leaving only his eyes visible. At three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, they arrived at the designated meeting location. The location was the same restaurant where Mandy had foolishly provoked Shermaine and ended up getting herself killed. The establishment remained sealed off due to the death that had urred there. Joshua was a terrifying figure¨Cthis much became clear the moment he appeared before them. First, they recognized the men nking Joshua as assassins from Eagle Assassins, which meant Joshua had to be the organization¡¯s new boss. Second, they¡¯d already heard whispers about Queen Cobra¡¯s defeat the night before. Third, his unmistakable red hair, which he made conceal, marked him as the man Judy¡¯s people had been desperately searching for. empt to That red hair instantly reminded them of the ancient royal family from a thousand years ago¨Ca bloodline that hadmanded both reverence and fear. Beyond that, they¡¯d already been scheming to win over Boa Hanks, hoping her formidable skills could help them seize control of Baykeep. Damien was brewing coffee for Joshua when the visitors arrived. He smoothly produced cups and yed the perfect host, every inch thepetent butler attending to guests. ¡°Good afternoon, Cain,¡± Barrett said. ¡°Please, have a seat,¡± Joshua replied, his voice cool and measured. Barrett settled into his chair and cut straight to the chase. ¡°We¡¯re curious what you wanted to discuss with us today, Cain.¡± Joshua gave Damien a subtle nod. Without hesitation, Damien tossed a hit list onto the table. Barrett and hispanions nced down at the document, and their faces visibly darkened. Damien said, ¡°From the moment you boarded our ship, Baykeep already knew that you were Her Highness Shirley¡¯s people. That¡¯s why they paid Boss to eliminate you.¡± He continued, ¡°Of course, since we invited you here, we won¡¯t a hand on you. Boss¡® real target is taking down Baykeep.¡± It might not stop at just Baykeep, though. Joshua never said it outright, but whenever the organization had assignments that would harm Judy¡¯s interests, he¡¯d always have his assassins take those jobs¡ªsometimes even directing operations himself, strategizing and nning every detail. After all, both Joshua and Shermaine were on the wanted list, which meant they definitely had bad blood with Judy. When Barrett and hispanions heard that Joshua¡¯s target was Baykeep, they visibly rxed. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, Cain, you¡¯re the man who issued Her Highness Judy¡¯s bounty list, aren¡¯t you?¡± Barrett,asked, his tone slightly probing. Joshua¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change as he confirmed. ¡°That¡¯s correct. Barret and the others¡® faces lit up with even greater joy. They were all enemies of Judy now, after all. This revtion made them tetouch mon and trusting In that case, perhaps we could be alles. What do you think, Cain?¡± Barrett continued ? Damien pulled out an alliance agreementing darwady prepared. Bess fort facuty that in mind Youch 07:36 Thu, 10 Jul Barrett took the agreement and scanned through it. Nothing struck him as unreasonable. If they were the ones who captured Baykeep, then Joshua¡¯s group would merely be their allies¨Cthey certainly wouldn¡¯t have the right to boss them around regarding Baykeep¡¯s affairs. Of course, it wasn¡¯t like they wouldn¡¯t get anything out of the deal. Baykeep would fall under Shirley¡¯s faction, and Baykeep would pay her taxes annually. When Judy inevitably mobilized her forces to reim Baykeep, they¡¯d naturally have to send reinforcements to support their ally. The only sticky point was Joshua¡¯s demand for two S¨Clevel mecha fighter jets. That request was going to be tricky. 628 ¡°We don¡¯t have any issues with the earlier terms,¡± Barrett said, ¡°but we need to discuss those two S¨Clevel mecha fighter jets with Her Highness Shirley¡¯s faction.¡± They could contact military headquarters directly. When they got through to headquarters, a woman answered the call. Damien and his team couldn¡¯t hear the conversation since they were standing too far away. Meanwhile, in another room, Shermainey sprawled across her bed. She let out azy yawn, then winced as a dull ache pulsed through her chest again. After checking the time, she opened her Orthish and ced a video call to Joshua. Joshua picked up instantly. ¡°Things wrapping up on your end?¡± Shermaine asked. ¡°We¡¯re negotiating for those mecha fighter jets that Sheary wants,¡± Joshua replied. ¡°Should be finished soon.¡± ¡°Good. Almost done then.¡± Shermaine had been lying t, but now she shifted to her side. Seeing her movement, Joshua asked, ¡°Feeling ufortable again?¡± Nurse walking 485 Chapter 485 10% When Joshua caught her in the act, Shermaine didn¡¯t show any embarrassment at being discovered. Instead, she nodded frankly and admitted, ¡°I want to take a nap, but I can¡¯t fall asleep.¡± ¡°Wait for me, Sheary,¡± Joshua said. ¡°There¡¯s no rush.¡± Shermaine remained calm and unhurried. ¡­.. Meanwhile, Barrett was deep in conversation with a female general from the military highmand. The general frowned when she heard them requesting two S¨Clevel mecha fighter jets. ¡°Barrett, if we had two new mecha fighter jets in our arsenal, or if the warfare situation wasn¡¯t so dire, we would naturally agree to their request.¡± She continued, ¡°But the reality is, we don¡¯t have them. Not only do weck spare units, but Judy¡¯s side has rolled out a terrifyingly powerful new mecha fighter jet. Our fighter jets have suffered devastating losses¨Csome are so badly damaged that they¡¯re beyond repair.¡± Barrett¡¯s expression grew heavy when he heard this news. He hadn¡¯t realized their situation had be so critical. ¡°I¡¯ll discuss this further with Cain,¡± he said. ¡°Fine.¡± The female general didn¡¯t end the video call. After Barrett returned, he cleared his throat to get attention. Joshua looked up. Barrett noticed that Shermaine in the video had flowing red hair that cascaded down her shoulders. It was incredible how one person could transform into someonepletely different through makeup alone. If it weren¡¯t for her familiar facial features, they would have mistaken her for someone else entirely. It was clear now that the woman Judy had put out a warrant for was none other than Boa Hanks. ¡°Hello, Ms. Hanks.¡± Barrett greeted her. Shermaine gave a slight nod in response. After the pleasantries, Barrett got straight to the point. ¡°Cain, I just spoke with military headquarters. Due to the recent intensification of the war, our mecha fighter jets are in critically short supply. We simply don¡¯t have any spare units to allocate to you.¡± It seemed that ever since Judy¡¯s return, their situation had gone from bad to worse. They couldn¡¯t even spare a single mecha unit. Shermaine raised an eyebrow at this news but didn¡¯t press the issue. Instead, she asked pragmatically, ¡°What about scrapped ones?¡± They definitely had scrapped units. The female general spoke up immediately, ¡°We do have scrapped ones, but are you sure you want them?¡± After all, repairing mechas was incredibly expensive andbor¨Cintensive. Unless a professional,mechanic handled the work, it would bepletely useless. ¡°That won¡¯t be a problem. I can fix them myself.¡± This worked out perfectly. Since Shermaine was staying on this ship without , she had plenty of time on her hands. ¡®Repair them herself? That¡¯s impressive. The female general exchanged nces with Barrett and the others, clearly surprised. ¡°In that case, we¡¯ll send up the damaged mecha fighter jets when the ship docks next time. We¡¯ll prepare a set of equipment and materials you¡¯ll need for the repairs. Beyond that, we don¡¯t have any more to spare,¡± the general exined. ¡°That works for me.¡°. 1/2 07:36 Thu, 10 Jul WM One set should be enough. If it wasn¡¯t, she could always order more online. Whenever she needed something, she could just shop online. Expensive items could be air¨Cdropped anywhere, no matter the location. Joshua then had them sign the alliance agreement. After the contract was signed, Joshua wrapped up and headed back. Shermaine had been waiting for about seven or eight minutes when he returned. His warm palm slipped under the covers, and a tingling kissnded on her lips. Just as Joshua was about to lend a helping hand with some intimate service, Gracie woke up in the crib beside them. She was hungry and wanted her milk. Hearing the crying, Shermaine immediately went over to her. As soon as Shermaine approached, Gracie stopped crying and waited to be fed. Shermaine lifted Gracie into her arms and tugged at her loose clothing, preparing to nurse. She felt Joshua¡¯s gazend on her and pressed her lips together. ¡°Turn around. I need to feed Gracie.¡± Joshua¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. ¡°Don¡¯t we still have some of the pumped milk left for Gracie?¡± ¡°We can save that forter, just in case we need it.¡± Shermaine narrowed her eyes with a smile. ¡°Mr. York, you¡¯re not getting jealous of your own daughter, are you?¡± 212 Nurse walking 486 Chapter 485 10% When Joshua caught her in the act, Shermaine didn¡¯t show any embarrassment at being discovered. Instead, she nodded frankly and admitted, ¡°I want to take a nap, but I can¡¯t fall asleep.¡± ¡°Wait for me, Sheary,¡± Joshua said. ¡°There¡¯s no rush.¡± Shermaine remained calm and unhurried. ¡­.. Meanwhile, Barrett was deep in conversation with a female general from the military highmand. The general frowned when she heard them requesting two S¨Clevel mecha fighter jets. ¡°Barrett, if we had two new mecha fighter jets in our arsenal, or if the warfare situation wasn¡¯t so dire, we would naturally agree to their request.¡± She continued, ¡°But the reality is, we don¡¯t have them. Not only do weck spare units, but Judy¡¯s side has rolled out a terrifyingly powerful new mecha fighter jet. Our fighter jets have suffered devastating losses¨Csome are so badly damaged that they¡¯re beyond repair.¡± Barrett¡¯s expression grew heavy when he heard this news. He hadn¡¯t realized their situation had be so critical. ¡°I¡¯ll discuss this further with Cain,¡± he said. ¡°Fine.¡± The female general didn¡¯t end the video call. After Barrett returned, he cleared his throat to get attention. Joshua looked up. Barrett noticed that Shermaine in the video had flowing red hair that cascaded down her shoulders. It was incredible how one person could transform into someonepletely different through makeup alone. If it weren¡¯t for her familiar facial features, they would have mistaken her for someone else entirely. It was clear now that the woman Judy had put out a warrant for was none other than Boa Hanks. ¡°Hello, Ms. Hanks.¡± Barrett greeted her. Shermaine gave a slight nod in response. After the pleasantries, Barrett got straight to the point. ¡°Cain, I just spoke with military headquarters. Due to the recent intensification of the war, our mecha fighter jets are in critically short supply. We simply don¡¯t have any spare units to allocate to you.¡± It seemed that ever since Judy¡¯s return, their situation had gone from bad to worse. They couldn¡¯t even spare a single mecha unit. Shermaine raised an eyebrow at this news but didn¡¯t press the issue. Instead, she asked pragmatically, ¡°What about scrapped ones?¡± They definitely had scrapped units. The female general spoke up immediately, ¡°We do have scrapped ones, but are you sure you want them?¡± After all, repairing mechas was incredibly expensive andbor¨Cintensive. Unless a professional,mechanic handled the work, it would bepletely useless. ¡°That won¡¯t be a problem. I can fix them myself.¡± This worked out perfectly. Since Shermaine was staying on this ship without , she had plenty of time on her hands. ¡®Repair them herself? That¡¯s impressive. The female general exchanged nces with Barrett and the others, clearly surprised. ¡°In that case, we¡¯ll send up the damaged mecha fighter jets when the ship docks next time. We¡¯ll prepare a set of equipment and materials you¡¯ll need for the repairs. Beyond that, we don¡¯t have any more to spare,¡± the general exined. ¡°That works for me.¡°. 1/2 07:36 Thu, 10 Jul WM One set should be enough. If it wasn¡¯t, she could always order more online. Whenever she needed something, she could just shop online. Expensive items could be air¨Cdropped anywhere, no matter the location. Joshua then had them sign the alliance agreement. After the contract was signed, Joshua wrapped up and headed back. Shermaine had been waiting for about seven or eight minutes when he returned. His warm palm slipped under the covers, and a tingling kissnded on her lips. Just as Joshua was about to lend a helping hand with some intimate service, Gracie woke up in the crib beside them. She was hungry and wanted her milk. Hearing the crying, Shermaine immediately went over to her. As soon as Shermaine approached, Gracie stopped crying and waited to be fed. Shermaine lifted Gracie into her arms and tugged at her loose clothing, preparing to nurse. She felt Joshua¡¯s gazend on her and pressed her lips together. ¡°Turn around. I need to feed Gracie.¡± Joshua¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. ¡°Don¡¯t we still have some of the pumped milk left for Gracie?¡± ¡°We can save that forter, just in case we need it.¡± Shermaine narrowed her eyes with a smile. ¡°Mr. York, you¡¯re not getting jealous of your own daughter, are you?¡± 212 Nurse walking 487 Simon had been holding back his rage for so long that the murderous aura around him was practically suffocating. He refused to believe that Joshua could handle these many highly skilled assassins and mercenaries all at once. Besides, they were all equipped with top¨Ctier weapons that Simon had paid a fortune to procure for them. After the party ended, thepetition to narrow down from eighty contestants to fifty officially began. Jasmine sat in her room, anxiety gnawing at her. Even though Damien was there to keep herpany, she couldn¡¯t shake off her worries. When thepetition started, Shermaine had already taken her seat at the gambling table. She wasn¡¯t wearing a dress this time¨Cinstead, she sported an all¨Cck outfit with her blue hair pulled up high in a ponytail. This heroic, spirited look attracted another wave of admirers who werepletely smitten with her appearance. At this point, nobody was really paying attention to the actualpetition. Everyone desperately wanted the live stream cameras to stay focused on Shermaine so they could feast their eyes on her to their heart¡¯s content. Shermaine held her cards in her hands, but her gaze couldn¡¯t help drifting toward the area outside the auditorium. Joshua was nowhere to be seen outside the auditorium. After a quick nce, she pulled her attention back to the gam But that¡¯single nce didn¡¯t escape Simon¡¯s notice. His eyes gleamed with meaningful intent. ¡®So Boa was worried about that man, wasn¡¯t she? Of course she would be. After all, Boa cared so deeply about that guy. It was truly maddening to watch. Shermaine couldn¡¯t be bothered to guess what Simon was thinking. Her focus returned to the card table, and after the dealer dealt another round, she pushed all her chips forward. Meanwhile, Joshua, unable to attend the game, was surrounded by a crowd. No idler could approach this area, and the ship¡¯s security simply ignored him. They wouldn¡¯t interfere unless a VIP requested protection. The air hung thick with the metallic stench of blood. One attacker lunged at him from behind, but Joshua spun around and delivered a devastating roundhouse kick that sent the man flying. With a loud bang, the body sailed out of the cabin and plunged into the sea. The scream cut short. Joshua¡¯s trench coat billowed in the wind as his opponent aimed high¨Cend mechanical equipment at him. The moment a redser dot appeared on his body, a curved de materialized in Joshua¡¯s hand. Before his enemy could pull the trigger, the knife flew through the air and plunged straight into the man¡¯s heart. The de moved too fast for anyone to dodge. Another one down. This seemed almost too easy for Joshua. ¡°Boss, we¡¯re here.¡± The Eagle Assassins arrived as backup. Joshua retrieved his blood¨Cstained curved de. ¡°No survivors.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± A drunk man stumbled out of the restroom in a daze, and when he saw the carnage, he nearly wet himself from terror. ¡®Holy shit, it looked like a scene straight out of hell.¡® Bodiesy scattered across the floor- some dead, others badly wounded and unable to get up. The man sobered up instantly, and when he noticed someone¡¯s gaze on him, he stammered, ¡°Sorry to bother you, goodbye!¡± 1/2 07:37 Thu, 10 Jul 29 The tournament had been running for about an hour when the dealer slid another card across the felt. Shermaine didn¡¯t even bother to look at it before shoving all her chips forward. Joshua¡¯s business was wrapping up around the same time. ¡°Boss, we¡¯re pretty much done here,¡± one of his assassins reported, stepping forward. ¡°Have Damien bring me a clean set of clothes,¡± Joshua said, washing the blood from his hands. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°And make sure you clean up the scene.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± After Shermaine pushed all her chips into the center, her opponent across the table hesitated for a moment, nced at his cards again, then gritted his teeth and decided to go for broke¨Che shoved his chips forward too. The dealer gestured for Shermaine to reveal her cards. Shermaine slowly flipped over her hand, taking her time with each card. Outside the auditorium, Joshua had changed clothes and was now settling into one of the WVIP seats with deliberate ease. His presence made everyone around him hold their breath¨Cthe man radiated an aura of overwhelming power, like a mountain bearing down on them. Barrett and the others exchanged nces of amazement. Their ally was truly formidable. So many skilled opponents hade after him, and he¡¯d taken them all down. Shermaine noticed him too, ncing in his direction. Joshua pulled his hand from his pocket and formed a heart shape with his fingers, directing it at her. The onlookers exchanged nces, speechless. Somehow, the intimidating figure sitting beside them seemed almost approachable now. Shermaine caught Joshua¡¯s little heart gesture and allowed herself a faint smile before continuing to reveal her cards. When all the cards were finally turned over, she had a straight flush. The yer who had specifically challenged Shermaine went pale¨Che¡¯d lost. His hand couldn¡¯tpete with hers, which meant he was out of the game. Shermaine sailed into the top¨Cfifty tournament without a hitch. But when Simon spotted Joshua, his expression shifted through a dozen emotions. Those idiots still couldn¡¯t take him down. 212 Nurse walking 488 Chapter 488 Simon had clearly lost again.
Shermaine sessfully advanced to the top¨Cfifty tournament and emerged from the inner arena. Just likest time, Joshua waited for her at the entrance. 70% When Shermaine saw him, she stepped closer and sniffed at his scent. ¡°Are you showered?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Joshua nodded. ¡°Any injuries?¡± Joshua took her hand in his and shook his head. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go check out those mecha fighter jets they gave you.¡± They headed to the freezer storage on the third deck, where fresh ingredients and fruits were kept. Behind the food supplies, there was a hidden parel. When the panel slid open, it revealed two mecha fighter jets, each standing about six and a half feet tall and covered with ck tarps. Shermaine walked over and yanked off the covers, exposing two battle¨Cworn mecha fighter jets that looked like they¡¯d barely survived the scrapyard. ¡°Well, they¡¯re definitely beat to hell.¡± She stepped onto an automated lift tform and circled around both fighter jets for several minutes, examining every angle. Finally, she descended back down. ¡°I need to take a look inside. Want toe with me?¡± Joshua nodded and turned to his men. ¡°You guys can head back.¡± ¡°Yes, boss.¡± Joshua¡¯s long strides carried him up thedder, with Shermaine controlling the lift mechanism. They stopped at the ess hatch leading into the mecha¡¯s body, where the core systems housed the true essence of the fighter jet. The interior was surprisingly spacious and intricate. Shermaine began examining theplex systems while her Orthish device synced with theirwork, allowing her to study the data in detail. As she monitored the systems, she discovered a video file¨Cbattle footage automatically saved by the fighter jet¡¯s ck box before its defeat. She opened it. The recording showed multiple S¨Clevel mecha fighter jets surrounding a single silver craft that gleamed brilliantly in the light. Whoever had designed this machine had clearly drawn inspiration from the White Tiger, one of the four celestial guardians from Wallington mythology. This mecha fighter jet had to be the Apocalypse. Shermaine found herself wondering if, a thousand years ago, the Kingdom of Xyperia and Earth might have been one unified world before somehow splitting apart. That would certainly exin why everything the royal family created¨Cincluding their cursing skills¨Cbore traces of Wallington culture. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± Shermaine murmured. Joshua¡¯s eyebrow arched. That mecha belonged to the royal family, and since he was their descendant, it was rightfully his¨Cstolen by Judy. The recording quickly dissolved into static as the silver fighter jet fired a st directly at the camera. Within seconds, the pilot controlling the mecha failed to react in time and was blown to pieces. Watching the Apocalypse fighter jet gave Shermaine exactly the inspiration she needed for upgrading these two wrecked machines. After downloading the mecha¡¯s data and specifications into her Orthish device, they left the scene. After returning to their room, Shermaine handed off Gracie¡¯s bath time duties to Joshua. 1/3 07:37 Thu, 10 Jul ¡°Here¡¯s Gracie¡¯s little rubber duck for the tub,¡± she said, cing the yellow toy in his hands. +28 ¡°And here are her pajamas.¡± Shermaine leaned down and nted a soft kiss on Gracie¡¯s forehead. ¡°Daddy¡¯s going to give you your bath tonight, sweetie. Mommy has some work to catch up on.¡± Gracie giggled at Shermaine¡¯s kiss, her face lighting up with pure joy. She really was the happiest little baby. Shermaine disappeared into the study to work on her design sketches while Joshua faced his first solo bath duty. He filled the small tub with warm water, testing the temperature with his elbow¨Chis movements uncertain but careful as he gently lowered Gracie into the water. The moment she touched the warm water, Gracie¡¯s face scrunched up, and she let out a wail. Joshua must have positioned her wrong. ¡°Hey, hey, it¡¯s okay,¡± he whispered softly, cradling her tiny head in his palm as he adjusted her position. After a few moments of gentle coaxing, Gracie settled down and stopped crying. By the time Joshua finished giving Gracie her bath, he was soaked from head to toe. But practice makes perfect¨Che was getting better at taking care of her with each passing day. After the bath came the evening feeding. When Damien walked in from outside, he found Joshua¡¯s bottle¨Cfeeding technique had be remarkably smooth and practiced. He had to admit, he was getting a little jealous¨CGracie was just too adorable, and he wouldn¡¯t mind holding her himself. ¡°Boss,¡± Damien said, ¡°Bronx¡¯s been trying to reach us nonstop since the tournament ended. It won¡¯t be long before they figure out something¡¯s off and pull the plug on our deal.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. The money¡¯s already in Eagle Assassins¡® ount, isn¡¯t it?¡± Joshua smiled. Joshua was right. Bronx couldn¡¯t touch them now, and as for Simon¨Che wouldn¡¯t live to see the end of this. ¡°Smart thinking, boss.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother me with reports unless it¡¯s urgent.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°You can go.¡± After feeding Gracie and ying with her for a while, Joshua watched the baby yawn and drift off to sleep. He finished his own evening routine, and by the time he emerged from the bathroom, it was nearly eleven o¡¯clock. Shermaine was still holed up in the study with no signs ofing out. Joshua pushed open the door. ¡°Sheary, ready for a shower?¡± Shermaine replied, ¡°In a bit.¡± Joshua walked over to where Shermaine sat with a stylus in hand, tapping and sketching across the blue screen in front of her. The structural diagrampletely absorbed her attention. ¡°nning to pull an all¨Cnighter?¡± he asked. ¡°Maybe just a little one.¡± Joshua¡¯s response was firm and immediate. ¡°Absolutely not.¡± He pinched Shermaine¡¯s cheek gently. ¡°You get another half hour, then it¡¯s shower time and straight to bed.¡± Shermaine did listen and went to sleep early. However, she was back up at five in the morning, diving straight back into her structural diagrams. After three days of this relentless dedication¨Cbarely eating or sleeping¨Cshe had nearlypleted the entire project. -2/3 07:37 Thu, 10 Jul 70% Shermaine presented her structural diagrams to Joshua with obvious pride. ¡°Mr. York, doesn¡¯t my design look way better than what your ancestor came up with?¡± Poor Joshua, who had barely gotten any quality time with her after their long¨Cawaited reunion, found himself once again relegated to second ce as his attention was drawn to Shermaine¡¯s design work. The White Tiger served as the inspiration for the ancestor¡¯s Apocalypse design, but Shermaine¡¯s exceptional learning skills enabled her to take the inspiration and make it her own. Her diagrams featured mecha designs inspired by the Phoenix and Dragon, and even through the screen, you could feel the intimidating presence andmanding aura these two machines would project. ¡°Beautiful.¡± Joshua acknowledged. Shermaine held out her palm expectantly and moved closer. ¡°The equipment parts Shirley gave us aren¡¯t nearly enough. We¡¯ll need to buy more online, which means it¡¯s time for you to open that wallet, Mr. York.¡± After all, asking for money from her husband was perfectly reasonable. 315 Nurse walking 489 Joshua linked his ount to Shermaine¡¯s, and when she checked the bnce, she had to admit that no matter where he went, he always seemed to make money faster than she did. The amount in the ount was so staggering that she let out a low whistle. She scratched Joshua¡¯s chin yfully. ¡°Now that¡¯s what I call a serious bnce.¡± Afterplimenting him, she turned her attention to Orthish and opened an online marketce that had basically everything she needed. She¡¯d already loaded her cart with all the essentials, and now that she had ess to Joshua¡¯s Xyperia token ount, she cleared out everything with a single click¨Ca purchase that wiped out billions of tokens in one go. Anyone else watching would probably call her a reckless spendthrift. Of course, if she were just repairing the fighter jets, it wouldn¡¯t cost nearly this much, but Shermaine had upgrades in mind, which changed everythingpletely. The supplies would be air¨Cshipped and delivered within two to three days. 28 Naturally, anything brought aboard the ship would go through standard inspection, and if any items were gged as dangerous, she wouldn¡¯t be able to receive them. But that wasn¡¯t her problem to solve¨Cthe seller imed they had ways to get everything delivered directly to her designated cargo bay. ¡°All set?¡± Joshua asked. Shermaine nodded with a smile¨Ceverything was bought and ready. The design ns could still use some streamlining, and several areas needed additional modifications. She turned to him with a question. ¡°What do you think about the sections I marked with question marks, Mr. York?¡± ¡°Kiss me first, then I¡¯ll tell you.¡± Shermaine nted a quick peck on his cheek. ¡°Now spill.¡± After being ignored for three days, Joshua was finally satisfied and began sharing his opinions and ideas. Once they¡¯d worked through most of the blueprint revisions, all the necessary parts and equipment were shipped to her designated warehouse. Worried that Shermaine might be overwhelmed handling everything alone, Joshua sent Damien and the others to help out. Meanwhile, in Baykeep, Bronx was losing his temper. ¡°What the hell is Cain ying at? Why hasn¡¯t he made a move on anyone from the hit list yet?¡± ¡°Sir, we can¡¯t reach Cain directly, and even his subordinates aren¡¯t picking up their phones.¡± ¡°Could he actually be nning to break the contract?¡± Bronx frowned, his mind racing. Breaking contracts is absolutely forbidden in the assassin guild. How would he dare? His face twitched with barely contained rage. ¡°Get Simon on the line. I want to know what¡¯s happening on that ship.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Once connected to Simon, Bronx cut straight to the chase. ¡°Is there a man named Cain on your ship?¡± The moment Bronx mentioned that name, Simon¡¯s expression darkened. His repeated attempts to eliminate Cain aboard the vessel had failed miserably, one after another. ¡°Yeah, there is. How do you know about him, Father?¡± ¡°Thispetition determines whether the Moreno family stays in power over Baykeep,¡± Bronx exined. 1/2 07:37 Thu, 10 Jul
+ 70% 28 ¡°Her Highness Shirley and several other factions are circling like vultures. I¡¯m confident you can handle the other groups, but Shirley¡¯s people are no joke. As insurance, I hired an assassin to take them out and eliminate the threat once and for all.¡± ¡°Father, that man is the one we should be worried about. Don¡¯t let him fool you.¡± ¡°What makes you say that?¡± Simon¡¯s face grew grim. ¡°I¡¯ve seen his true face. He has red hair¨Che looks exactly like the man Her Highness Judy put that massive bounty on.¡± Bronx¡¯s expression shifted dramatically at this revtion. ¡°You are only telling me about something this important now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my fault, Father. I wanted to capture him myself and present him to Her Highness Judy after we docked, but the bastard¡¯s too cunning. ¡°I¡¯ve gone after him twice and couldn¡¯t bring him down either time. Queen Cobra even died because of him.¡± Simon¡¯s voice burned with frustration, though he carefully concealed his true motives for repeatedly targeting Joshua. ¡®Queen Cobra¡¯s dead? Well, the rumors about Cain being formidable weren¡¯t exaggerated after all,¡® Bronx thought. ¡°That man¡¯s strength is no joke¨Chalf the underworld fears him for good reason. Don¡¯t provoke him again. We¡¯ll settle scores once we reach Baykeep.¡± Bronx¡¯s mind was already working through the possibilities. ¡°By then, we¡¯ll have him surrounded with nowhere to run.¡± ¡°Yes, Father.¡± Bronx continued, ¡°As for the woman who killed Mandy¨Cif you can win her over and make her useful to you, that¡¯s ideal. If not, eliminate her.¡± Something flickered in Simon¡¯s eyes as he nodded his agreement. He definitely wanted to im Boa Hanks for himself, but that bastard Cain stood directly in his way. He hadn¡¯t bothered telling his father about the connection between Boa and Cain¨Cit didn¡¯t matter anyway. Once that man set foot in Baykeep, he¡¯d be trapped with no escape route. And Boa Hanks would eventually fall into his hands, bing his woman and serving his purposes. The thought finally eased some of the frustration burning in his chest. He found himself eagerly anticipating the day they¡¯d arrive in Baykeep. Nurse walking 490 Chapter 490 Time flew by when there was work to be done, and before they knew it, the top¨Ctwenty tournament had arrived. From fifty contestants down to twenty¨Cthis round would eliminate thirty people. While Simoncked the skill to take down Joshua despite having the motivation, he proved more effective once Bronx pointed out which contestants were aligned with Shirley. Forming alliances with others, Simon managed to eliminate several of Shirley¡¯s people in one fell swoop. By the time the dust settled on the top twenty, only two of Shirley¡¯s faction remained. When thepetition narrowed further from twenty to ten, Barrett stood alone as herst ally. Shermaine naturally secured her spot in the top ten. For someone of her caliber, this level ofpetition posed no real challenge. While the pressure mounted for everyone else as the rounds progressed, nothing changed for her. She breezed through each match effortlessly, dispatching opponents without breaking a sweat. Once she¡¯d wrapped up another easy victory, she headed back to tinker with her fighter jets. The next stage of thepetition¨Cthe final ten¨Cwould take ce once they reached Baykeep. +28) From those ten, only three would advance, and those final three would face off in onest battle. The winner would im the title of Baykeep¡¯s new city lord. Over the past two weeks, Gracie had grown even more adorable, her skin taking on a healthy, porcin glow. Joshua had been the one caring for her most of the time during this period. The moon hung full and bright in the night sky. Shermaine still hadn¡¯t returned to their room. After Joshua got Gracie settled for the night and left her in Jasmine¡¯s care, he headed downstairs to find her. With additional assistance, the modifications to the fighter jet were advancing rapidly. Most of the structural changes were nearlyplete, and now Shermaine was wrestling with the central control system. All the modifiedponents needed to sync with the main controls, but the connection sensors kept glitching out. Anyone walking into the hangar would be absolutely stunned by what they¡¯d see. The jets were nothing short of magnificent¨Cone gleaming in ck and gold, the other a striking crimson red. One embodied the power of a dragon, the other the grace of a phoenix. Joshua stepped into the lift and spotted Shermaine inside the red fighter jet. As he entered the cockpit, warmth enveloped him¨Ca stark contrast to the freezing warehouse outside. Shermaine was curled up in a chair, fast asleep and lookingpletely at peace. The sight made Joshua shake his head with exasperated amusement. He slipped off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders, and perhaps feeling a bit fed up with her stubbornness¨Csince she was clearly exhausted but still refused to go back- he gave her upturned bottom a light tap. That little smack was enough to wake her up.¡± Shermaine¡¯s eyes fluttered open, still drowsy. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± If I hadn¡¯t , were you nning to sleep here all night?¡± Shermaine burrowed into Joshua¡¯s embrace, resting her head against his shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m almost done with this I want to get the remaining issu out before we arrive at Baykeep 07:37 Thu, 10 Jul 0 M M 70%1 +28) ¡°What¡¯s the rush?¡± Joshua wasn¡¯t feeling any urgency at all. ¡°Once we reach Baykeep, Mr. York, you¡¯ll undoubtedly be the most formidable adversary there. And it¡¯s not like Noah Cruise Ship where things are easier to control¨Cwho knows, Judy might find out you¡¯re there and send an entire army after you.¡± Shermaine hadn¡¯t forgotten that Judy had her sights set on her man. ¡°Once I finish modifying these fighter jets, I can give her the beating she deserves.¡± Joshua chuckled, ¡°Just so you can give her a proper beating, Sheary¡¯s really going all out¨Cworking overtime every few days. Is it even worth it?¡± Shermaine paused for a moment, mentally calcting the implications. ¡®He¡¯s right. After all, staying upte can age a person, and I haven¡¯t been taking proper care of my skin these past few days.¡® She nced at the time. ¡®Oh wow, it¡¯s sote already, and I haven¡¯t even showered yet.¡® Shermaine seemed like she wanted to say something more, but Joshua cut in, ¡°Besides, Sheary, you¡¯ve been neglecting me for way too long.¡± Hearing theint in his voice, Shermaineughed and said, ¡°Alright then, should I head upstairs and give you some attention?¡± ¡°No need to go upstairs,¡± he replied. ¡°Right here works just fine.¡± É« Nurse walking 491 Chapter 491 ¡°Here? Right here? What kind of scandalous suggestion is that?¡± Shermaine instinctively nced around the room. Cold machinery surrounded them, screens casting an eerie blue glow in the dim space. Joshua¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as his eyes darkened with unmistakable intent. Shermaine knew immediately that this shameless man wasn¡¯t joking around. His hands hadn¡¯t even moved yet, but his gaze was already undressing her with predatory hunger¨Clike a starving wolf ready to devour herpletely, leaving nothing behind. No matter how much she indulged this man¡¯s whims, she absolutely couldn¡¯t let him get away with this here. His grip tightened around her waist as his breath fell against her neck, making her skin burn wherever it touched. Shermaine braced her hands against the armrests, trying to push herself up and escape. But Joshua¡¯s other hand pressed firmly on her shoulder, forcing her back down into the chair. His lips curved into a knowing smile. ¡°Sheary, why are you trying to run off when you should be sitting still like a good girl?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t agree with this.¡± Shermaine refused firmly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with here?¡± Joshua smiled as he leaned close to her ear, his lips barely grazing her skin. ¡°I think it¡¯s perfect. If Sheary wants to have her way with me, right here works just fine, hmm?¡± His hand found something beneath the chair, and suddenly it transformed, reclining into a lounge. Shermaine went from sitting upright to lying back in one smooth motion. Joshua followed, leaning over her. But Shermaine¡¯s foot shot up to meet him. Joshua caught Shermaine¡¯s movement and shifted to the side, his hand closing around her slender ankle. What followed was Shermaine¡¯s fluid sequence of moves¨Cwithin moments, she had Joshua pinned back against the chair,pletely reversing their positions. The scene reminded Joshua of their time in that vige in Mysonna, when they¡¯d shared a bed out of necessity. Shermaine had woken up, seen him there, and immediately started swinging at him without thinking. Back then, they weren¡¯t married, so he couldn¡¯t take advantage of the situation. But now they were husband and wife¨Cshe was his woman, and there was nothing to hold back. He wrapped his arms around Shermaine¡¯s waist and gently pulled her down, pressing her against his chest. Her ck dress spread around them like spilled ink as she sat straddling him. Joshua¡¯s voice was soft against her ear. ¡°Sheary, right here¡­ what do you say?¡± A blush painted Shermaine¡¯s cheeks, the ck fabric making her skin look porcin¨Cwhite in contrast. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Please?¡± 28/ ¡°No.¡± ¡°Sheary.¡± Joshua brushed his lips against hers, their foreheads touching. Shermaine turned her face away. ¡°Honey.¡± ¡®Don¡¯t let him get to you,¡¯ she told herself. But his persistent attention was wearing down her resolve. Hershes fluttered as warmth spread through her limbs beneath the dress. Her fingers clutched at Joshua¡¯s shirt as she finally snapped, ¡°Shut up.¡± Joshua smiled and kissed her again. Shermaine couldn¡¯t stand the burning intensity in Joshua¡¯s eyes any longer¨Cshe bit down hard on his lips, practically snarling. Joshua knew she was softening toward him. That was when the announcement crackled through the speakers. ¡°Attention all passengers and honored guests. The Noah Cruise Ship will dock at Baykeep at six AM. Please pack your belongings in advance, or if you prefer, you can call for robotic assistance.¡± The crew¡¯s reminder echoed throughout the ship as passengers erupted in cheers. They¡¯d grown tired of the luxury cruise, despite it being like paradise. But Baykeep¨Cthat was paradise within paradise, a man¡¯s ultimate yground. More importantly, it would host the final round of the International Gambling Tournament. Everyone was buzzing with anticipation about whether Boa Hanks, Simon, or Barrett imed the championship. They were crowd favorites. The announcement crackled through the ship¡¯s speakers, and in the cabin below, Shermaine¡¯s eyshes fluttered. Joshua pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. ¡°Sheary, don¡¯t bite down so hard.¡± The night had grown deeper, her ck dress swaying softly around them. After a long moment, Shermaine¡¯s shoe dropped to the floor. Her feet were delicate and small, and as the chair slowly returned to its original position, she leaned back against it. Her lips glistened like water catching light, her eyes were hazy and unfocused, and her breathing came in soft pants. She looked devastatingly beautiful. Joshua smoothed down her dress and picked up the fallen shoe from the floor. Before slipping it back onto her foot, he bent down and ced a tender kiss on the arch. Shermaine¡¯s face flushed an even deeper shade of red. ¡°What about your germaphobia, Joshua?¡± ¡°You smell sweet,¡± he murmured. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about kissing me tonight unless you brush your teeth first.¡± Even though Joshua had only kissed her foot, Shermaine still wrinkled her nose in mock disgust. Joshua chuckled as he gently slipped the shoe back onto her foot, promising he would. Nurse walking 492 Chapter 492 After putting on his shoes, Joshua led Shermaine away. Hand in hand, they left the freezer and walked toward the elevator. Once they were back in their room, Shermaine took a quick shower and copsed into bed the moment her head hit the pillow. Joshua sat beside her, tucking the nket carefully around her shoulders, his eyes soft with affection. ¡°Good night, Sheary.¡± Since she¡¯d fallen asleep early, Shermaine woke before dawn. They were still an hour out from Baykeep, and the sky was just beginning to lighten with the first pale hints of morning. Gradually, golden sunlight spread across the entire ocean surface, painting everything in warm hues. Joshua pulled Shermaine from the warm cocoon of nkets, urging her to get dressed and freshen up. After grabbing breakfast, he led her out of their cabin. On the ship¡¯s top deck, a gentle sea breeze stirred the air. The golden sun hung like a perfect orb, slowly rising from the horizon. The sight was absolutely breathtaking. ¡°Beautiful, isn¡¯t it?¡± Joshua asked. Shermaine nodded, her voice filled with wonder. ¡°It¡¯s gorgeous.¡± During all their time aboard the ship, Shermaine had never bothered with sunrises or sunsets. After Joshua appeared, she¡¯d been too busy modifying fighter jets to indulge in such leisurely pursuits. ¡°The Kingdom of Xyperia has plenty of beautiful spots we could visit before heading home,¡± Joshua suggested. ¡°Yeah.¡± Joshua nodded. Enjoying breakfast while watching the sunrise was truly a treat. After they finished eating, Shermaine cradled a cup of hot coffee in her hands. Gradually, the outline of a city appeared on their right side, growing clearer as they approached. Soon after, the ship¡¯s announcement crackled to life. ¡°We are now approaching Baykeep. Please gather your belongings and prepare to disembark.¡± Shermaine sipped her coffee thoughtfully. ¡°We¡¯re almost there.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Joshua replied. This meant they were getting closer and closer to taking control of Baykeep. The ship docked smoothly. The passengers disembarked in an orderly fashion while crowds waited on the pier to wee them. Most of the greeters were beautiful women, and ceremonial cannons fired celebratory salutes into the air. However, Bronx wasn¡¯t among them. Most of the passengers had already disembarked by the time Joshua and Shermaine finally made their way down with Gracie. As one of the top ten yers in the International Gambling Tournament, Shermaine had her amodations arranged by the organizers. They would be staying at Rosa Mansion, Baykeep¡¯s most expensive and luxurious hotel. When Jasmine arrived in the city, memories of her ancestors¡® recorded history made her feel an unexpected warmth toward this ce. A private car had been sent to pick them up¨Ca sleek ck stretch limousine that pulled up right in front of them. As they walked toward the vehicle, Simon suddenly darted in front of them with a grin. ¡°Boa! Wee to Baykeep¨Cwee to my turf.¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you trying to pick a fight with me?¡± Simon yed innocent. ¡°I can barely keep up with trying to please you. Why would I provoke you?¡± 1/2 08.25 FI, Shermaine let out a scoff. ¡°Move. Don¡¯t block the path.¡± Simon had been rejected once again, and this time he¡¯d been publicly humiliated by Shermaine in front of everyone. His face turned an ugly shade of red with anger. Shermaine didn¡¯t even bother to nce at him as she stepped around him and continued walking forward. Joshua moved to Simon¡¯s side and stopped, his voice calm but cutting. ¡°My girl won¡¯t lose to you in thispetition.¡± The implication was crystal clear- Simon wouldn¡¯t be the next city lord. Joshua was basically telling him he wasn¡¯t good enough. Joshua continued with casual cruelty, ¡°A weakling like you will never be Baykeep city lord.¡± Simon lost itpletely and swung his fist at Joshua¡¯s face. Joshua caught it effortlessly, his grip tightening as deadly intent shed in his eyes. ¡°I can fulfill your death wish.¡± After witnessing Joshua¡¯s disy of power on the ship, Simon¡¯s bodyguards were clearly intimidated. They quickly stepped forward to intervene. ¡°Mr. Moreno, calm down.¡± Then they pleaded, ¡°Cain, let go of Mr. Moreno.¡± A crowd had gathered, and all eyes were on them. Joshua chuckled softly and casually let go of his grip. Simon knew he wasn¡¯t strong enough to take him on, so he naturally wouldn¡¯t make any rash moves, but he still threw out a threat. ¡°You just wait and see.¡± Joshua ignored him and followed Shermaine into the car. Instead of heading to Rosa Mansion, Simon drove straight to the city lord¡¯s mansion. Once he arrived at the city lord¡¯s mansion, he went to see Bronx. Bronx hadn¡¯t seen Simon in a long time, so naturally there was plenty of small talk and catching up. But Simon was too impatient for pleasantries and cut to the chase. ¡°Dad, when are you nning to make your move on that guy?¡± Nurse walking 493 Chapter 493 Bronx stayed calm and confident. ¡°I¡¯ve already set the perfect trap; I¡¯m just waiting for him to walk right into it.¡± Regardless of Cain¡¯s strength, a single individual could not defeat an entire army. After they got off the ship, Damien had his hands full. He needed to secretly transport Joshua and Shermaine¡¯s two fighter jets without anyone noticing Luckily, they had an Eagle Assassins branch office right here in Baykeep. However, the branch office wasn¡¯t in good shape right now. Bronx knew Joshua had yed him, taking his money without delivering on their deal, and he was furious about it, so he¡¯d started going after their people. The car pulled up to Rosa mansion as Damien kept trying to reach Teddy Finch, the branch office director. But Teddy wasn¡¯t picking up his phone. Damien said, ¡°Boss, something might¡¯ve happened to our people at the Baykeep branch.¡± ¡°Go check it out. Since we can¡¯t count on the branch, have Jacob Hughes and his team find us a warehouse that can store fighter jets, somewhere not too far out.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The car stopped, and Damien got out. The mecha shipment could wait since the Noah Cruise Ship would dock for a full day to refuel and pick up new passengers before departing tomorrow. At Rosa mansion, Shermaine helped Jasmine and the others check in. Joshua didn¡¯t n to stay here since he was now a thorn in Bronx¡¯s side, and staying near Shermaine would only bring her trouble. After dropping off their luggage, Shermaine immediately began sweeping the room for bugs. Joshua checked the bedroom while Shermaine searched the living room. Joshua was inspecting the restroom when Damien¡¯s call came through. He found another listening device in the restroom, crushed it, and then answered Damien¡¯s call. ¡°Boss, our Eagle Assassins branch got hitst night. Some are hurt, some are dead, and they took Teddy alive.¡± Teddy was someone Joshua had sent from headquarters to expand their operations, so he couldn¡¯t just abandon him. Breaking deals was one thing, but if word spread through the organization that he left his people behind, it would destroy morale. The assassins who¡¯d sworn loyalty might turn against him and jump ship. Since Teddy was taken alive, Bronx¡¯s intentions were obvious wanted to lure Joshua out. Whatever danger awaited Joshua, it wouldn¡¯t be pretty. ¡°Can you track down where they¡¯re holding him?¡± Joshua asked. ¡°Not yet,¡± Damien replied. Joshua fell silent, thinking. ¡°Tell everyone to stay ready and wait for orders.¡± Just then, the doorbell rang, and Shermaine went to answer it¨Ca hotel staff stood outside. The staff handed over a golden invitation. ¡°Ms. Hanks, this is for tonight¡¯s wee party that Mr. Bronx Moreno is hosting for all yers. You must wear formal attire and attend on time.¡± 08.25 FTIN ¡°I have to go?¡± ¡°Yes, and Mr. Bronx Moreno has prepared special entertainment for everyone.¡± ¡®Of course he did,¡® Shermaine sneered inwardly. If she didn¡¯t want to go, she wouldn¡¯t give anyone face. After thinking it over, Shermaine reached out and took the invitation, said a quiet thanks, and closed the door. The party was set for seven tonight. Shermaine tossed the invitation to Joshua. ¡°If you want to know where Teddy is, wouldn¡¯t it be faster to just ask them directly?¡± Here was their chance. Joshua took the invitation. ¡°Sheary¡¯s got a point.¡± Shermaine walked over and looked him up and down. ¡°But you¡¯ll need to change your look before you go.¡± Otherwise, if he just waltzed in there like that, forget getting close to Bronx¨Chis cover would be blown before he even started. That would be like walking straight into a trap. After thinking it over, Joshua going in disguise would still be too risky. Shermaine took the invitation back, changing her mind. ¡°Never mind, I¡¯ll do it Joshua shook his head firmly. ¡°No way I¡¯m bothering you with this. I can handle it myself. You just sit back and enjoy the show.¡± AD Nurse walking 494 Chapter 494 AM The wee party was being held at Baykeep¡¯s most luxurious establishment, a pce¨Clike entertainmentplex called Eyster. Eyster was the biggest casino in the entire Kingdom of Xyperia, offering everything from gambling to gourmet dining and gorgeous women. The towering golden building was the tallest structure in all of Stand. Seven o¡¯clock was approaching fast. Shermaine arrived fashionablyte. She stepped out of the car first, then waited for Joshua to emerge. Camera shes lit up the night like lightning. She extended her hand back into the car. Everyone watched as the man who stepped out looked exactly like a vampire aristocrat¨Cnoble and utterly captivating. His hair was tousled and dyed golden, much longer than before, with gentle waves swept back elegantly, leaving just one yful strand falling across his forehead. His eyes were striking gray¨Cblue, his lips naturally red, and the ck suit made his presence even moremanding. Gold¨Cframed sses perched perfectly on his sharp nose. The moment he appeared, he became the center of everyone¡¯s attention. Anyone who had seen Joshua on the cruise ship wouldn¡¯t recognize him at first nce now. The man standing before them was far more striking than before. Joshua already had good looks to begin with, but Shermaine had done some touch¨Cups on his appearance, plus his hairstyle had changedpletely- unless someone looked really closely, the chances of being recognized were pretty slim. Besides, not many people had actually seen Joshua on the ship anyway, except for Simon. Even if Simon showed up, he probably wouldn¡¯t recognize him without getting up close. Shermaine and Joshua were thest ones to arrive at the banquet hall, walking into a scene of music, clinking sses, and cheerfulughter from well- dressed guests. A long oval table dominated the center of the room, with elegantly dressed hostesses serving course after course. Bronx stood at the podium giving his speech, basically rambling on about nothing important. Shermaine and Joshua found their seats and sat down. A hostess immediately set wine sses and tes in front of them, ¡°Tonight, we¡¯re going to make sure everyone has a beautiful evening, and after dinner, there¡¯ll be some exciting entertainment¨Cso stay tuned, everyone,¡± Bronx said. Simon kept staring at Shermaine and the man she¡¯d brought with her. ¡®Who the hell is this guy?¡® Simon studied him carefully. ¡®Damn, this man¡¯s even better looking than Cain.¡® He noticed how the man¡¯s hand rested on Boa¡¯s waist and never moved away. Though nothing seemed overly intimate, anyone could tell there was something special between them, which meant their rtionship was definitely not ordinary. ?? Simon called over one of his men. ¡°Find out where Cain is right now.¡± The bodyguard who came over got the message and immediately went to handle it. Soon, Simon received a message on his Orthish from the bodyguard saying that Cain had been staying in his hotel room the whole time. Ever since Cain got off the ship, Bronx had been watching him, tracking his every move. ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± Simon asked. ¡°We sent a hotel worker to check it out. He¡¯s definitely in his room and hasn¡¯t made a peep,¡± the bodyguard replied. Simon let out a coldugh. He thought, ¡®Maybe Cain chickened out and doesn¡¯t dare show up here. If he had the guts toe, he¡¯d be walking straight into his grave. So Boa Hanks has more than just Cain as her man.¡® ¡°Oh my God, Boa, isn¡¯t your boyfriend Cain?¡± asked the man sitting beside Boa. Shermaine raised an eyebrow. ¡°He is my man.¡± ¡°Then who¡¯s this guy?¡± Shermaine kept it simple. ¡°My lover.¡± ¡°A lover!¡± Joshua raised his eyebrows slightly, seemingly amused by this answer. The man gasped. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid Cain will get jealous?¡± From what he knew, Cain was the boss of an assassin group¨Ctotally badass. He became famous overnight, and countless assassin mercenaries who came after him all ended up groveling at his feet. He was absolutely devoted to Boa Hanks. Shermaine¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°He¡¯s too busy to pay attention to where I am or which man I¡¯m fooling around with.¡± ¡°I see.¡± The man nced at Joshua again. ¡°You¡¯ve got good taste.¡± ¡®So Boa Hanks had a lover. Since she wasn¡¯t the faithful type of woman, why had she been so heartless toward me?¡® Simon felt even more jealous. AD Nurse walking 495 Joshua felt as though Simon¡¯s piercing stare could have already torn him apart. Joshua looked up with a defiant smile, then leaned close to Shermaine¡¯s neck, breathing in her fragrance before speaking slowly. ¡°Baby, I heard that on the Noah Cruise Ship, tons of guys were chasing after you, wanting to be your lover. Is that true?¡± ¡°Who told you that?¡± Shermaine replied casually. ¡°Not tons of guys. Just one who wanted to take your ce, but don¡¯t worry¨Che¡¯s ugly as hell, so fm not interested.¡± Simon was speechless and furious that Boa Hanks had not only rejected him but was now mocking him in public. People who knew what had happened were trying to hide their snickers, making Simon¡¯s face burn with embarrassment. ¡°Simon, what are you staring at?¡± Bronx asked as he took his seat. Simon looked away, grinding his teeth. ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°That must be Boa Hanks, right? She¡¯s definitely gorgeous. No wonder you can¡¯t take your eyes off her.¡± Bronx had no idea how Simon had desperately pursued Shermaine on the cruise ship. Simon thought bitterly to himself, ¡®So what? That woman calls your son ugly. Boa Hanks, you better not fall into my hands. Simon¡¯s love had twisted into hatred. ¡°But she¡¯s clearly not someone you can easily handle, Simon. You know what needs to be done.¡± They had to eliminate Boa to prevent anyplications during the match. Their voices stayed low so no one else could hear their conversation. Joshua yed his role as a lover with dedication. ¡°Here, sweetheart, have some steaks.¡± His dress pants brushed against her, the fabric rubbing against Shermaine¡¯s skin beneath her skirt. Shermaine opened her mouth and ate the steak he fed her. After dinner, the real show was about to begin. Bronx led them to the elevator, heading downstairs. Joshua had been trying to get close to Bronx, but he never left his side unguarded. Soon they arrived at their destination. The doors opened to reveal what looked like a football field in the center. This level was packed; everyone crowded around the central arena watching. After Shermaine stepped inside, her eyes flickered as she realized this wasn¡¯t a football field at all, but a fight¨Cto¨Cthe¨Cdeath arena. A fighter had already entered the ring. He stood three meters tall like a giant, his muscles incredibly developed. One punch fro enough wind force to slice someone¡¯s face. could create Everyone loved watching the brutal fights between warriors, and just like betting on sports, they¡¯d go crazy cing bets on who would win or lose. The guy standing in front of them had been Baykeep¡¯s undefeated champion for the past six months. Then another person entered the arena through the entrance. It was a man in handcuffs. Someone went up to unlock his cuffs, shoved him onto the tform, and tossed him a weapon. The announcer¡¯s voice boomed. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, herees our appetizer! ce your bets¨Ccan this prisoner survive twenty minutes against Simba Walsh and walk out alive?¡± Others might not know who this prisoner was, but Joshua recognized him immediately¨Cthe prisoner down there was Teddy, the department head of Eagle Assassins¡® Baykeep branch. It looked like Bronx was using this method to draw him out of hiding while making an example of him while he was at it. ¡°Anyone interested can ce their bets in a bit,¡± Bronx said casually. They stood in the perfect spot with a crystal¨Cclear view of everything below. Teddy¡¯s face looked grim. His crew hadn¡¯t managed to retreat in time and got wiped out by Bronx¡¯s meri. He¡¯d gotten word that Joshua had arrived in Baykeep, but he wasn¡¯t sure if there¡¯d be a rescue tonight. Simba looked down at him with contempt. ¡°The city lord told me to take real good care of you, dude. You¡¯re done for!¡± Teddy grabbed a long spear from the ground as backup¨Che didn¡¯t want to die. But not knowing if help wasing, he felt pretty hopeless inside. After all, Joshua was ruthless when it came to killing, and this whole thing was obviously a trap. The fight broke out below, and Teddy looked like a helpless chick being toyed with for entertainment. Shermaine watched calmly, and honestly, she couldn¡¯t stand this kind of unfair treatment that trampled on someone¡¯s life. If she could, she wanted to go down there herself and teach Simba a lesson. Originally, they had onlye tonight to gather information, but they didn¡¯t expect to find what they needed without even looking. Damien and the others hadn¡¯t followed them inside but were waiting outside on standby, unable to get in anytime soon. Right now, if Joshua wanted to save someone, he had toe up with a n immediately. Otherwise, Teddy would be lucky to escape with his life, if he survived at all. At that moment, Joshua pulled Shermaine into a dimly lit corner and started getting cozy with her, instantly grabbing Simon¡¯s attention. ¡°Baby, don¡¯t go back to Rosa mansion tonight, okay?¡± he whispered, his voice low and thick with desire. Shermaine yed along perfectly. ¡°No, my husband would get jealous if I don¡¯te home.¡± Then she added with a teasing smile, ¡°Missing me already?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Everyone in the VIP room couldn¡¯t help but notice their little show. ¡°Damn, this is getting spicy. Then they heard Shermaine say, ¡°Sorry, but my date and I need to step out for a moment.¡± Nurse walking 496 Chapter 496 Seeing how the two of them could get so heated even in a setting like this, Bronx waved them off with a grin. ¡°Go on, you two¨Cdon¡¯t miss the real show that¡¯s about to start.¡± He even thoughtfully handed them a room key. Shermaine and Joshua left the lounge practically glued to each other. Just before stepping out, Shermaine shot Simon a meaningful look that made his pulse spike. That single nce hit Simon like a lightning bolt. ¡®Am I being mocked right now? Or is she actually hinting that I should do something about this?¡± The thought consumed himpletely, and he lost all interest in whatever was happening in the ring below. Once they stepped outside, Joshua grabbed Shermaine¡¯s waist and pulled her close, tilting her chin up before kissing her fiercely. The kiss was intense and possessive. When they finally broke apart, his jealousy was written all over his face. ¡°Don¡¯t look at him like that again.¡± Shermaine was still catching her breath. ¡°You¡¯ve got it all wrong. I was giving him a look ofplete disgust.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care what kind of look it was. Just don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Joshua, you¡¯re such a jealous mess,¡± she said, shaking her head. But honestly, this whole situation was actually working out perfectly. Simon¡¯s love had twisted into hatred, and now he was itching to cause some serious damage. He wanted to destroy Shermaine¡¯s loverpletely. Since the guy wasn¡¯t Cain, Simon figured he¡¯d be easy to deal with. With that cocky assumption fueling him, he decided to follow them outside. In their room, Joshua and Shermaine tumbled onto the bed together. They deliberately left the door wide open, setting the perfect trap for Simon. They looked intense from the outside, but Joshua wasn¡¯t even touching Shermaine. They were just putting on a show. ¡°Someone¡¯s outside the door,¡± Joshua whispered. His hearing was way sharper than most people¡¯s, and he¡¯d caught the sound of footsteps right away. Shermaine raised an eyebrow and ran her fingers through Joshua¡¯s hair, which he¡¯d dyed golden blonde. It was temporary, but damn, it looked good on him. That was when white smoke started pouring through the air vent above their room. Within minutes, Joshua and Shermaine were lying on the bed with their eyes closed, pretending to be unconscious. Simon walked in shortly after and barked orders to his men. ¡°Wait for me in the living room.¡± He couldn¡¯t believe his luck¨Cthe person who¡¯d been impossible to get close to on this ship had just fallen right into his hands through sheer carelessness. It was the perfect opportunity. When Simon walked into the room, his eyes immediately locked onto Shermaine with burning intensity. He reached out to shove aside the lover who was pinning her down, but the moment his hand moved forward, he found himself staring into a pair of deep gray¨Cblue eyes. Before he could say a word, Shermaine flipped over in one swift motion and struck the pressure point on his neck. Without so much as a sound, Simon copsed unconscious. Joshua nted his foot on Simon¡¯s face, yanked off his tie, and used it to bind the man¡¯s hands before dragging him into the bathtub and turning on the water. He said, ¡°I¡¯m going to go deal with the guys outside. Sheary, film a video. We¡¯ll send it to his dadter.¡± Shermaine nodded in response. About ten minutester, Joshua had taken care of all the bodyguards outside. He disappeared for a bit and came back carrying some tools. It was a booby trap setup. Anyone who tried to break into the room would trigger the mechanism, and the whole ce would blow sky high. Once they¡¯d finished setting everything up, they headed back to rejoin the others. When they returned, acting like nothing had happened, everyone shot them knowing, teasing looks. Joshua calmly wrapped his arm around Shermaine¡¯s waist and shed them a smile. ¡°Sorry for the entertainment, folks.¡± Shermaine¡¯s eyes dropped to the ring below, where Teddy was already beaten to a pulp. If this kept up, Teddy was going to die right there in front of everyone. Bronx had figured that even if Cain didn¡¯t show up himself, he¡¯d at least make contact. But there was nothing¨Cradio silence. It was evident that Cain didn¡¯t care whether Teddy survived or not. That was why Bronx hadn¡¯t bothered telling the ref to call it off yet. Just then, Bronx frowned. Simon had been gone way too long, and he was about to call his secretary to check what the hell was going on when his Orthish started beeping like crazy. The weird alerts forced him to open the device and see what was up. At that moment, he viewed the video, which showed Simon bound in a bathroom. Bronx¡¯s face went pale. A secondter, his phone rang. Before heading back, Joshua had given Damien the heads¨Cup, so now Damien was on the line. ¡°I want to see Teddy at Gate D in ten minutes. Otherwise, what you¡¯ll be looking at is your son¡¯s corpse.¡± Bronx couldn¡¯t risk it. Simon was his only kid. He immediately called his people in, the ref stopped the fight, and they dragged Teddy out of there. Bronx believed that this situation would provide him the opportunity to set an example and demonstrate his authority to everyone. But the second Simon stepped out of sight, everything went sideways. He had no clue when this guy even slipped in. The security footage showed absolutely nothing¨Clike the man was a ghost or something. It seemed the target of Judy¡¯s astronomical bounty wouldn¡¯t go down easily. Bronx had been hoping to earn some recognition for this, but now that was clearly off the table. He¡¯d have to inform Judy that the man had arrived in Baykeep. Meanwhile, Joshua pulled Shermaine down onto the couch beside him, grinning as he offered her a piece of fruit. ¡°Here, sweetheart, have some of this- it¡¯ll soothe your throat.¡± Shermaine stared at him in disbelief. He was acting like she¡¯d been screaming her lungs out in the bedroom. Her eyes narrowed dangerously as her hand found his waist and gave it a sharp pinch. She must have hit a sensitive spot because Joshua let out a muffled groan, his face tightening with difort. Sher puni s she lea Nurse walking 497 Chapter 497 After a chaotic scramble, Damien managed to extract Teddy. Joshua and Shermaine hadpleted their mission and made their exit, but Teddy¡¯s injuries were far more severe than anyone had anticipated. Baykeep Public Hospital was out of the question¨Cgoing there would expose their location immediately. Instead, Damien had located a private hospital and staged a takeover, posing as bandits. Once they¡¯d secured the facility, he administered an emergency stabilizer to keep Teddy¡¯s condition from deteriorating further. The medical staff, working under duress, rushed the patient into surgery while Damien maintained his watch from inside the operating room. As the hours dragged on, an unfamiliar tension settled in his chest. Within Eagle Assassins, Teddy was his only real rival¨Cand his only true friend. Sure, this line of work came with high stakes and constant danger, but that didn¡¯t mean he wanted to see Teddy die on this mission. By the time Joshua and Shermaine arrived, the surgery was nearlyplete. The good news was that they¡¯d managed to save him. When Simon regained consciousness, he found himself facing Bronx¡¯s fury. Without warning, Bronx¡¯s hand cracked across his face. ¡°You¡¯re nothing but a liability¡ªuseless at everything that matters.¡± Simon¡¯s face darkened with shame and anger. He couldn¡¯t believe he¡¯d been so stupid, walking straight into what was obviously a trap designed to lure him in. ¡°Father, what happened to Boa and her lover?¡± ¡°They¡¯re back at Rosa mansion.¡± ¡°Father, we¡¯ve both been yed.¡± For once, Simon¡¯s brain had kicked into gear. ¡°That wasn¡¯t some lover at all¨Cit was Cain.¡± ¡°What?¡± Bronx¡¯s fury intensified. Simon finally came clean. ¡°Boa Hanks¡® man is Cain. Tonight¡¯s so¨Ccalled lover was him in disguise.¡± He¡¯d been keeping Boa and Cain¡¯s connection from Bronx for two reasons. First, Cain¡¯s status as a wanted fugitive would have made his father target her immediately. Second, his own arrogance had convinced him he could eliminate Cain himself and win Boa¡¯s heart. Reality had shown him just how foolish that thinking was. Bronx had beenpletely in the dark, never suspecting the rtionship between Cain and Boa. Simon had only himself to me. The regret consumed him. If Bronx had known about Boa and Cain¡¯s connection, he wouldn¡¯t have let his guard down around Boa Hanks today. The ident wouldn¡¯t have happened, ruining everything they¡¯d worked for, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me sooner?¡± Bronx asked. ¡°I thought I could handle them myself.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve disappointed me beyond words.¡± Bronx¡¯s/voice carried sharp disapproval as he turned and walked out, unsure what else to say. He had urgent business now¨Creporting to Judy that the man they¡¯d been searching for had finally surfaced. As for that woman, his suspicions were growing stronger by the minute. She could very well be Boa Hanks. In her luxurious office, Judy reviewed documents while two strikingly handsome men attended to her every need. One massaged her shoulders with 08:50 Sat, 12 Jul practiced hands, while the other fed her fresh fruit with careful precision. Growing frustrated with the paperwork, she swept the files aside with an irritated gesture. ¡®It¡¯s been almost a year now, and there is still no information on Shermaine and Joshua. They¡¯re proving remarkably adept at staying hidden, Judy thought. It seemed they truly didn¡¯t care about whatever was locked away in Sky Prison they hadn¡¯t shown up to mount any rescue attempt. What worried her most now was the possibility that they¡¯d thrown their lot in with her sister, Shirley. Joshua and Shermaine weren¡¯t pushovers¨Cdealing with them would be a real headache. Then there was a bigger problem. They¡¯d figured out how to get Apocalypse up and running, but the cyborg piloting it was barely hanging on. His genes were close enough to the royal family¡¯s bloodline to make it work, but not close enough to make it work well. The cyborg¡¯s lifespan was already shortened from the constant rejection episodes his body went through every time he tried to control the machine. The cyborg couldn¡¯t even ess the real power of Apocalypse¨Chis bloodline just wasn¡¯t pure enough. The worst part was that they couldn¡¯t crack the royal blood system the royal family had built into the thing. No matter what they tried, they kept hitting that same wall. Judy¡¯s heart raced just thinking about it all. Harry stepped in from outside. ¡°Your Highness, Bronx is on the line.¡± AD Nurse walking 498 ¡°Bronx?¡± Judy frowned. Baykeep was currently in a state of high tension. The International Gambling Tournament would determine the next city lord, and even Judy was keeping a close eye on the situation. After all, Baykeep was the wealthiest city under her rule¨Cthere was no way she¡¯d let Shirley snatch it away. ¡°Put him through.¡± Harry connected the call. ¡°Your Highness Judy.¡± Bronx¡¯s voice came through the speaker. ?? ?? ??? ??? ??? ? ? ? ??? ? ? ? ? ???? ??????? Judy twirled her pen between her fingers. ¡°Bronx, it¡¯s quitete. What do you have to report?¡± The city lord cut straight to the point. ¡°Your Highness, those two people you¡¯ve been looking for¨Cthey¡¯ve shown up in Baykeep.¡± Judy¡¯s expression shifted instantly. The projection screen flickered to life, disying several photographs of the pair being captured as they disembarked from the Noah Cruise Ship. Judy clenched her fists in frustration. Joshua had been aboard the Noah Cruise Ship this entire time, yet she hadn¡¯t received a single piece of intelligence about his whereabouts. The man wasn¡¯t even trying to hide¨Cacting so brazenly without the slightest attempt at concealment. ¡®What were my nted informants on that ship even doing? They were utterly useless.¡¯ Judy was furious. Her gaze fixed on the woman beside Joshua¨Cthe one with blue hair and pale golden eyes. Though her features bore no resemnce to Shermaine¡¯s, Judy recognized her instantly. That woman was definitely Shermaine. Bronx continued, ¡°The woman is also one of the top ten yers in the tournament. As for the man, he¡¯s the newly appointed boss of the Eagle Assassins. His methods are absolutely ruthless¨Ceven Queen Cobra fell to his hands. Hell, even I suffered a major defeat against him.¡± He paused, his tone growing more serious. ¡°Since these are the people Her Highness Judy has been searching for, I respectfully request that Your Highness dispatch forces to surround and capture them. We need to prevent anyplications that might spiral into bigger problems.¡± Judy turned to Harry with decisive authority. ¡°Harry, mobilize five thousand army troops. The day after tomorrow at dawn, you¡¯ll apany me to Baykeep.¡± The timing would be perfect¨Cthe day after tomorrow was the final battle of the International Gambling Tournament. Teddy had been sessfully revived and moved to a secure location¨Ca secret base where they could keep him safe. Jasmine and Gracie had also been brought here by Joshua¡¯s people, while Bronx¡¯s men had raided the hotel only to find it empty. After sleeping for an hour, Teddy slowly came to. He¡¯d been certain he was going to die, but somehow Joshua and Shermaine had actually saved him. Damien pped him on the shoulder. ¡°Focus on getting better. Once you¡¯re back on your feet, you¡¯ll work alongside me for the boss.¡± Teddy nodded. ¡°Where is Boss?¡± ¡°Next room over.¡± Damien had already arranged for two fighter jets to be quietly transported and stored here. Shermaine was now working through the night to property calibrate the jets, with Joshua providing assistance. 1/2 08.50 Sat, 12 Jul At one in the morning, Joshua looked up from his work. ¡°Why don¡¯t you get some sleep? I can handle the adjustments from here¡± Shermaine yawned¨Cshe really was getting tired. Without any fuss, she adjusted her chair and pulled a nket over herself. ¡°Wake me when you re done.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Despite feeling drowsy, she found herself unable to fall asleep once she¡¯d settled down. Her thoughts drifted to Danielle and the others. Shermaine shifted onto her side, studying Joshua¡¯s profile in the dim light. ¡°Mr. York,¡± she said softly, ¡°we still haven¡¯t chosen a name for Gracie. ¡°We¡¯ll let Gracie¡¯s grandparents handle that when we get home.¡± That was probably for the best¨Cnaming was such a headache anyway. Joshua turned his head toward her. ¡°Can¡¯t sleep?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Shermaine replied. ¡°Want me to stay with you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He pulled back the nket and settled beside her, his voice gentle as he murmured, ¡°Go to sleep now.¡± Shermaine nestled into Joshua¡¯s arms, closing her eyes obediently. The steady, strong rhythm of his heartbeat gradually lulled her into slumber. When she woke the next morning, Shermaine intended to get back to work, only to discover that Joshua had finished adjusting the final data parameters for the fighter jets while she slept. This meant their two S¨Css mecha fighter jets were finally ready for flight testing. Nurse walking 499 Chapter 499 ?? However, the flight test would have to wait until nightfall¨Cflying during the day would draw too much attention and risk exposing their current location. The mecha fighter jets werepact units, standing only about six feet tall when transformed into their mecha forms. They were the perfect embodiment of the saying that good thingse in small packages. So Shermaine waited from morning until deep into the night. Only after Baykeep¡¯s bustling energy had settled into quiet did she climb into her mecha fighter jet and hit the startup sequence. She piloted one while Joshua took control of the other. At two in the morning, both fighter jetsunched straight up from their position. Nearby surveince cameras were scrambled by signal interference, unable to detect the jets¡® presence. Within moments, the two aircraft vanished into the sky, breaking through the stratosphere. Under a bright moon and scattered stars, the two fighter jets soared through the night. Although Shermaine had only piloted virtual mecha fighter jets before, this being her first time with the real thing, she admittedly felt clumsy at first. But after a few practice runs, she gradually got the hang of it. ¡°Switch to mecha form,¡± shemanded aloud. The fighter jet¡¯s systems responded instantly, initiating the transformation. The towering red mecha stood suspended in midair, its massive frame reaching nearly seven feet in height. In its mechanical grip was a rapier unlike any other¨Cforged from a material so extraordinary that it could slice through diamond as easily as paper. Shermaine¡¯s voice crackled through the high¨Cfrequency radio to Joshua. ¡°Feel like a sparring match?¡± Joshua¡¯s lips curved into something that might have been a smile. ¡°Sure thing, Sheary. Just go easy on me.¡± Dawn broke quickly, chasing away the darkness of night. Today was no ordinary day¨Cthe International Gambling Tournament had arrived, and the entire city of Baykeep pulsed with electric excitement. By early morning, massive parades had already begun snaking through the streets, drawing crowds so thick that every sidewalk and corner overflowed with people. Shermaine and Joshua had flown their jets far toote the night before, and after an intense dogfight in their fighter nes, their mental energy waspletely drained. They¡¯d copsed into bed the moment they got back. Themotion outside seemed to have nothing to do with them. Early that morning, Shermaine was still fast asleep while Joshua sat in his study conducting a video conference. A woman who bore a striking resemnce to Judy appeared on therge screen¨Cthis was Judy¡¯s sister, Shirley. She wore awn atop her head and sat regally on a jewel¨Cencrusted throne, dressed in full military uniform. ¡°Hello, Cain,¡± Shirley said with a slight smile. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to work with you on this Baykeep operation.¡± ¡°We¡¯re both getting what we need out of this,¡± Joshua replied curtly. Shirley¡¯s smile widened. ¡°I¡¯ve received word that Judy mobilized five thousand troops this morning and is heading toward Baykeep. I suspect you two have been exposed¨Cshe¡¯sing for you.¡± She leaned forward slightly. ¡°You¡¯ll need to hold your ground until my forces arrive.¡± After all, before Judy showed up, they still had to deal with Bronx and the Moreno family, who would undoubtedly try to prevent both her people and Boa Hanks from participating in the tournament. 08:50 Sat, 12 Jul ¡°What kind of troops are we talking about in those five thousand?¡± fethus asked ¡°Five hundred airmen, three thousand ground forces, and fifteen hundred androids. These five thousand troops are all site gelte grider katy¡¯smand specialists in both closebat and long range attacks, equipped with heavy weaponry that packs series firepower Joshua hummed in acknowledgment, then let out a derisive chuckle Shirley looked puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s so funny, Cain?¡± Judy was about to arrive with her forces, yet this man could still fret something tough about Joshua¡¯s tone remained casual, almost dismissive. ¡°Just five thousand troops? She¡¯ll regret bringing so few ¡°Even if it¡¯s only five thousand, don¡¯t forget that Baykeep has thirty thousand soldiers stationed here. We can¡¯t afford to be careless,¡± Shy marad ¡°No problem.¡± Shermaine had woken up from her nap. Joshua prepared a simple breakfast for everyone¨Cjust a bowl of pasta, nothing fancy After Shermaine and Joshua finished feeding Gracie, Joshua led Shermaine into another room. The space was packed wall¨Cto¨Cwall with weapons¨Cguns, high¨Ctech equipment, and gear she¡¯d never seen before. Shermaine¡¯s eyes darted around the room, overwhelmed by the sheer variety of armaments on disy. Joshua said, ¡°Pick out some closebat weapons for protection.¡± ¡°When did these weapons arrive?¡± Shermaine asked. ¡°Damien bought them yesterday.¡± Shermaine shook her head in amazement as she began making her selections. Half an hourter, the two prepared to split up and head to their respectivepetition venues. Jasmine came out to see them off, her anxiety evident. ¡°Shermaine, please be extra careful out there.¡± Shermaine settled into the car and rolled down the window. ¡°They¡¯re the ones who should be worried,¡± she said with a slight smile. Nurse walking 500 Chapter 500 Thepetition would take ce on the top floor of the Oster Tower. one by one t Inside the tower, yers filed from outside. The only people allowed to witness this match in person were journalists, politicians, and the ultra¨Cwealthy¨Cno one else could gain entry. Fortunately, thepetition. action unfold from inside. as being broadcast live across the globe. On every street corner and in every neighborhood, people could watch the Bronx surveyed the room before asking, ¡°Where¡¯s Boa Hanks?¡± ¡°She hasn¡¯t shown up yet, Sir,¡± came the reply. But no sooner had the words left his mouth than the secretary¡¯s searpiece crackled with a message from the scouts. ¡°Target spotted, target spotted. Three miles from Gate Bridge.¡± The secretary quickly corrected himself. ¡°Sir, she¡¯s appeared ate Bridge, still 3 miles out.¡± ¡°Excellent. Deploy our forces and make sure you intercept her.¡± If Shermaine waste, she¡¯d forfeit her right topete. Better yet, if their people could capture her in the process, that would be perfect. The moment Shermaine entered Gate Bridge territory, she could feel eyes on her¨Cwatching, tracking her every move. Sure enough, a sniper had positioned himself in a high¨Crise building a thousand meters ahead. His scope found her, crosshairs settling on their target. Shermaine¡¯s lips curved into a knowing smile. The sniper¡¯s finger tightened on the trigger. The shot rang out, the bullet cutting through the air toward her Shermaine yanked the steering wheel hard. The bullet whistled past her car, disappearing somewhere in the distance. The sniper cursed under his breath when he saw her dodge. Refusing to give up, he squeezed off several more rounds, but every shot went wide as Shermaine weaved through his crosshairs. She wasn¡¯t dealing with just one shooter¨Cmultiple snipers had been waiting for her to enter their kill zone, and now they were all opening fire. Without missing a beat, Shermaine released the steering wheel and switched to autonomous mode. In one fluid motion, she spun around and pulled out her own sniper rifle. Through her eight¨Cpower scope, she zeroed in on one of the shooters. Her finger found the trigger. The car window slid down automatically as the bullet screamed toward its target. With so many shooters and her car moving at high speed, they couldn¡¯t tell which one of them she was aiming for. 20- A split secondter, a sniper on the high¨Crise clutched his chest and dropped. Even as he died, he couldn¡¯t believe that w while racing at breakneck speed. The skill it took was absolutely terrifying. The closed roof was seriously cramping her style she needed a clear line of sight. ad managed to nail him As soon as Shermaine hit the convertible switch, she slipped on her sunsses and really started having fun. Sniper after sniper went down under her precise shots. More cars closed in fast. One of the pursuit vehicles mmed hard into her rear bumper, sending her car lurching forward. Shermaine nced back with casual annoyance and put a bullet right between the driver¡¯s eyes. 1/3 voi?? The unmanned car immediately spun out of control, weaving wildly before crashing through the bridge¡¯s left guardrail and plunging into the ocean below. The remaining attackers weren¡¯t taking any chances¨Cthey all drew their weapons and opened fire, bullets pinging off her vehicle in a relentless barrage, But Shermaine¡¯s ride was custom¨Cbuilt for exactly this kind of trouble, with bulletproof ting and reinforced tires that could take serious punishment She floored the elerator, and her car shot forward like a shadow, leaving the bridge behind in seconds. The surviving pursuers gave chase, their engines roaring as they tried to keep up. Meanwhile, Joshua had taken a different route and was clearing obstacles ahead. Damien and the others followed close behind, leaving a trail of bodies in their wake.
At the top of the Oster Tower, the tournament was about to begin. ording to this round¡¯s rules, anyone who arrivedte would be automatically disqualified. The live broadcast buzzed with concern from viewers wondering where Boa Hanks was and whether something had happened to her. The tournament director smiled knowingly. ¡°Everyone remembers when Ms. Hanks almost missed her entrance before? She made it with just seconds to spare, and we were all holding our breath for her.¡± He added, ¡°So don¡¯t worry¨Cshe¡¯ll be here.¡± Simon lounged in his seat, legs crossed, the ghost of a smirk ying at his lips. This time would be different. This time, she was destined to miss her chance entirely. As the minutes ticked by, only three remained until the tournament began. The tension in the air grew thick. Everyone feared she might actually bete and miss thepetition. She was the dark horse of this International Gambling Tournament. Without her, the whole game would lose its edge. The countdown began, both online and in the venue. ¡°Twenty, neen, eighteen¡­ ten, nine, eight¡­ three, two-¡± Before they could reach ¡°one,¡± Shermaine burst through the entrance. Viewers across the country leaped to their feet in excitement. Shermaine had made it¨Carriving under the spotlight of thousands of expectant eyes. Talk about cutting it close. Bronx¡¯s and Simon¡¯s faces immediately darkened. They hadn¡¯t expected Shermaine to ovee every obstacle they¡¯d thrown at her and actually show
  1. up.
Shermaine was slightly breathless¨Cshe¡¯d run up from the first floor after Bronx had cunningly shut down the elevators. ¡°Perfect timing,¡± she said with a grin. The director smiled when he saw her. ¡°Ms. Hanks, you¡¯re very fortunate.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Please, take your seat.¡± With all eyes on her, Shermaine strode confidently into the arena. The game was about to begin. Ten yers took their seats around a massive circr table, each starting with fifteen million chips. Once your chips were gone, you were out. Tonight¡¯s game was roulette. Roulette held special significance in the Kingdom of Xyperia¨Cit wasn¡¯t just any gambling game but something far more intricate. Simon¡¯s face twisted into a menacing scowl, his voice dropping to an icy whisper. ¡°Boa, this time you won¡¯t get the chance to win again. Bronx didn¡¯t share hisposure. If Shermaine managed to pull off a victory, the Moreno family¡¯s reputation as the King of Gambling would crumble overnight. Even if Simon imed the throne afterward, it wouldn¡¯t carry the same legitimacy or glory he deserved. But he had no choice. He tried to console himself with the thought that even if she won, Baykeep would never truly belong to her. Judy would arrive soon enough. Across from the Oster Tower, Joshua¡¯s hair had returned to its natural red after washing, now tousled by the wind. He raised his binocrs and watched Shermaine enter the venue, a slight smile tugging at his lips. Shermaine was about to show them what she could do. AD Nurse walking 501 Chapter 501 High above, fighter jets streaked across the blue sky dotted with white clouds. Inside the lead S¨Clevel mecha fighter, Judy asked, ¡°How much longer until we reach Baykeep?¡± ¡°Your Highness, ten minutes.¡± She would see them in ten minutes. Judy¡¯s eyes turned cold as steel. ¡°What¡¯s the situation with the gambling tournament?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t look good,¡± Harry replied. ¡°Turn on the live broadcast. I want to see for myself.¡± The feed showed only five yers remaining at the table. Shermaine stood out as the sole woman among them, drawing every eye in the room. Simon had been targeting her relentlessly, yet his every attempt backfired¨Cinstead of eliminating Shermaine, he¡¯d watched other yers fall one by one. With each failure, his frustration mounted. Shermaine, however, appearedpletely unbothered¨Ccasually munching on snacks and sipping her coffee, clearly enjoying herself. ¡°The final three are about to be determined!¡± the director announced. ¡°All five yers, please reveal your cards.¡± Barrett stared at the results, disappointment written across his face. He hadn¡¯t made it to the top three. He was out. Now their only hope rested with Shermaine. ¡°Eliminated yers must leave the table immediately. The game will resume in five minutes,¡± the director continued. Before leaving, Barrett nced once more at Shermaine. The final three¨Cthis was the moment of truth. They were finally going head¨Cto¨Chead for real. During the intermission, the dealers cleared the cards from the table. Soon, only stacks of chips remained. Shermaine¡¯s pile towered above the rest, a mountain of winnings. What they¡¯d be gambling on next remained a mystery. Simon leaned forward with a sneer. ¡°Boa, don¡¯t think you¡¯re going to win this.¡± Shermaine chuckled softly, ¡°You might want to save that line for yourself.¡± The next game was announced quickly¨Cckjack. The moment Shermaine heard it was ckjack, she raised an eyebrow with interest. For a mathematician, ckjack was practically child¡¯s y to manipte¨Call it took was using her analytical mind. odds in her favor. te probabilities and tip the The rules were straightforward enough. After removing the jokers, cards 2 through 9 held their face value, while 10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings were all worth 10 points. Aces could count as either 1 or 11, depending on what worked best for your hand. The game rules were straightforward enough¨Cboth yers added up their card values, and whoever had the higher total won. The maximum was 21 points, and going over meant you ¡°busted¡± and lost automatically. If both yers tied, it was a draw. For the first round, the tournament director randomly selected Shermaine as the dealer. Simon¡¯s eyes lit up at this development. He exchanged a meaningful nce with the other yer¡ªa look that said everything. They were working together. This yer had already been bought. Sat, 3 As the dealer, Shermaine would get to shuffle the deck. If she shuffled, their chances of hitting 21 would essentially vanish. So one of them would have to be eliminated from the equation. The question was who would draw the short straw. Shermaine took the fresh deck and began cutting the cards. Unless you watched very carefully, her shuffling technique was almost impossible to follow¨Clightning¨Cfast cuts and flourishes that made your eyes water just trying to track them. Even more impressive, she could flip individual cards through the air and catch them in perfect sequence. Within moments, she¡¯d finished shuffling. The director took the deck back and began dealing. Shermaine¡¯s first card was a 7, Simon drew a 10, and the other yer got a 9, Both of her opponents had drawn better opening hands than she had. By the time the third card was dealt, they had already doubled their bets and were eager to draw more cards. ¡°Dealer, are you in?¡± the director asked. ¡°I¡¯m in.¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t hesitate for a second. ¡°Since the dealer¡¯s ying, how about we just reveal our hands now?¡± Mammon, the other yer, suggested with obvious confidence. ¡°There are only two cards left anyway.¡± ¡°Fine by me.¡± Shermaine tossed in a hefty pile of chips and revealed his cards. Simon matched the bet. Mammon had calcted the odds¨Chis chances of busting were slim. He wasn¡¯t worried. But when the final two cards were revealed, his expression shifted. He never expected such low¨Cprobability bad luck to strike him directly, while Shermainended perfectly on twenty. Simon also hit twenty¨Ca push. Mammon was out. Simon had lost his right¨Chand man. It was down to one¨Con¨Cone. ¡°You¡¯re cheating,¡± Simon said, disbelief written across his face. Shermaine¡¯sugh was light and dismissive. ¡°Which eye of yours say me cheat?¡± The director issued Simon a yellow card warning for his usation. ording to the rules, since the dealer had won, they couldn¡¯t deal again¨CSimon would take over as dealer next, giving him his chance to shuffle the deck. Inside the fighter jets, Judy exploded. ¡°Useless idiots, getting yed like fools!¡± She turned away from the screen in disgust. ¡°Speed up. Take down Shermaine before this tournament ends.¡± Simon would never beat Shermaine¨Cshe¡¯d just toy with him like she had with everyone else. AD Comment Nurse walking 502 Chapter 502 Judy arrived just a moment toote. Shermaine¡¯s result was already in¨Ctwenty¨Cone. Simon had scored twenty. The oue sent Simon into aplete meltdown. ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± he roared. ¡°I calcted everything perfectly! How could you why did you ¡ª¡± Seeing his stubborn fixation on winning or losing, Shermaine took pity on him. ¡°Mathematics is my forts,¡± she said with casual confidence. ¡°ckjack is practically child¡¯s y for me.¡± ¡®Child¡¯s y?¡® Bronx¡¯s face darkened. ¡®Just how brilliant is she at math to make such an arrogant im?¡± Meanwhile, back at the secret base, Jasmine was cheering wildly. Shermaine had won and she¡¯d done it with suchmanding style, clean and decisive. For centuries, this had been the traditional way to transfer power in the city. The Council of Elders would step forward before the assembled crowd and personally present the city lord¡¯s si ring to Shermaine. Then the current lord would surrender the military token ofmand. This was the moment¨Cthe formal ceremony of session. The elders emerged from the council chambers, one of them carrying the ancestral si ring with ceremonial reverence. Simon¡¯s eyes zed with barely contained fury. Because of him, the Moreno family would be locked out of power in Baykeep for the next twenty years. Bronx¡¯s face had turned ashen, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles had gone white. ¡®Where the hell is Her Highness Judy? Those old bastards are about to hand over the si ring to Boa.¡¯ Shermaine gazed at the ring¨Cits lustrous surface gleaming with obvious quality, crafted from premium materials that screamed priceless hentage ¡°Ms. Hanks, congrattions,¡± the elder, Avon, said with formal solemnity. Shermaine smiled graciously and reached out to ept the si ring from Avon¡¯s outstretched hands. But in that instant, aser beam sliced through the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows from outside, aimed directly at her position. Her reflexes kicked in just in time¨Cshe dodged to the side as the deadly light barely missed its mark. The crowd erupted in screams at the sudden attack, and almost immediately, Bronx¡¯s people cut the live broadcast feed. Online viewers found themselves staring at nk screens, unable to witness what happened next. But they had caught one final, crucial image¨CJudy stepping out of an aircraft, her arrival perfectly timed with the chaos unfolding inside. The floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows had been shattered, and wind whipped violently through the broken ss. Judy emerged from her fighter jet, her gaze immediately finding Shermaine. When Avon saw it was Judy, fury shed across his face, though he forced himself to moderate his tone. ¡°Your Highness, what exactly u doing?¡± ¡°Obviously, I¡¯m not pleased with her taking control of Baykeep.¡± think you¡¯re ¡°But Baykeep¡¯s ancient traditions are clear,¡± Avon replied. ¡°Whoever wins the championship bes the next city lord. That¡¯s how it¡¯s always been. Judy¡¯s eyes narrowed dangerously. ¡°People adapt, but I don¡¯t have to follow outdated rules.¡± Her voice dropped to a threatening whisper. ¡°Avon, are you really going to oppose me?¡± 1/3 08:30 Sa Aven¡¯s face flushed red with anger, yet he remained visibly wary of Judy¡¯s power. At that moment, Sherinaine snatched the si ring from Avon¡¯s grasp. ¡°Since I won fair and square, this belongs to me now And naturally, os dete Baykeep.¡± Judy let out a coldugh. ¡°Pretty bold words, Shermaine.¡± Even in Judy¡¯s territory, Shermaine couldn¡¯t drop that arrogant attitude. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, Judy,¡± Shermaine replied with a light smile, stating the ufortable truth, ¡°if you h with me. You¡¯d have beenpletely defeated.¡± hadn¡¯t cheated, you wouldn¡¯t have managed a tran ¡°Shut up.¡± That memory was Judy¡¯s greatest shame, something she desperately tried to forget. In the next instant, a slender rapier materialized in her hand¨Csimr to those used in fencing¨Cand she drew it, pointing the de directly at Shermaine. ¡°This time, I¡¯ll defeat youpletely. You¡¯ll never recover from this.¡± ¡®Really? Who¡¯s the one talking big here?¡® Shermaine thought to herself. From the fighter jet, Harry watched with growing concern. ¡®Can Her Highness Judy really match Shermaine?¡± Even though Judy had trained relentlessly since her return, pushing her body to be stronger, when it came to facing Sharmaine, confidence abandoned her. The fight erupted between them. Shermaine found herself weaponless, clutching only a si ring that left her unable to counter Judy¡¯s attacks directly Then Barrett, who¡¯d been hiding nearby, hurled a long spear in her direction. She caught it smoothly and tossed the si ring back to him with her free hand. ¡°Catch this¨Ckeep it safe for me.¡± Barrett stared at the hot potato in his hands, his face creasing with frustration. Bronx and Simon watched him like hawks, their eyes fixed on what he held. Shermaine gripped her long spear. ¡°Five minutes.¡± Judy said, ¡°What?¡± ¡°Five minutes. That¡¯s how long it¡¯ll take me to beat you.¡± Judy¡¯s fury zed hotter, her attacks bing more vicious. Steel rang against steel in rapid session as their des crossed and shed. Despite Judy¡¯s relentless assault, she couldn¡¯t even graze a single hair on Shermaine¡¯s head. Her excessive force worked against her, leaving her overextended and vulnerable. Both Simon and Judy were desperate to win, but their ambition far outstripped their abilities. Two and a half minutes had passed. Judy went flying backward, tumbling across the ground in several rolls, while Shermaine stood poised with her long spear, every inch the warrior. ¡°Your Highness!¡± Harry shouted frantically from inside the fighter jet. Judy scrambled to her feet, wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth, and charged back into the fight. Shermaine dodged the rapier thrust, moved behind Judy with lightning speed, and drove her foot into Judy¡¯s lower back. Once again, Judy went sailing through the air. Where she had entered the battle with such swagger, now she could only writhe in humiliation. Judy had never been a match for Sherpaine in physicalbat. 213 08:50 Sat, 12 Jul A Shermaine thrust his long spear forward in a deadly arc. Judy barely managed to dodge, throwing herself to the side as the weapon whistled past her ear. That was when Harry struck from behind again, his fighter jet swooping in with mechanical precision. The machine gun roared to life, its barrel swiveling toward Shermaine as bullets sprayed in a relentless pattern. The stato burst of gunfire echoed through the shattered space. Back in Wallington, Judy had only managed to fight Shermaine to a draw because Harry had intervened. Now he was trying to tip the scales again With a swift motion, Shermaine hurled his long spear like a javelin. Harry¡¯s fighter jet banked sharply, engines screaming as he desperately tried to evade the spinning weapon. More bullets shattered the remaining floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, sending ss cascading down as the wind howled even more fiercely through the exposed building. ¡°I won¡¯t let you beat me, Shermaine¨CI won¡¯t!¡± Judy¡¯s rapier shed as she lunged forward, her eyes zing with fury. Shermaine rolled away from the de, but just then, a small voice cut through the chaos¨Ca young girl crying out, ¡°Help me, please!¡± The girl was dangling halfway out of the building, her fingers desperately clutching a strip of fabric that fluttered in the violent wind. Shermaine reached out to pull her to safety, but Judy saw her opening. She drew her pistol and fired. The girl felt the fabric tear in her grip. As she began to fall, Shermaine dodged the iing bullets and caught her hand. Together, they plummeted from the hundred¨Cstory tower, disappearing into the darkness below. AD Nurse walking 503 Chapter 503 Judy moved to the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window and peered down. She could see Shermaine clutching the other woman¡¯s hand as they plummeted toward the ground at terrifying speed. A fall from this height meant certain death. ¡°Oh, Shermaine,¡± Judy whispered, her voice dripping with satisfaction. ¡°You¡¯ll finally meet your end here. I don¡¯t care if she dies¨Cas long as Joshua stays with me.¡± A cruel smile spread across Judy¡¯s face, pure smugness radiating from her expression. This was exactly what she¡¯d been waiting for. But the next moment wiped the smile clean off her face. A streak of light zed across the sky, moving at incredible speed. It swooped down and caught both Shermaine and the falling woman in mid¨Cair. Judy¡¯s expression shifted instantly, her face draining of color. ¡°Fighter jets?¡± The fighter jet shot straight up and came to rest on the top floor of the Oster Tower. The cockpit opened, and Shermaine emerged with the girl, heading directly back into the building. The aircraft was unlike anything they¡¯d seen before¨Csleek and unfamiliar, clearly built with advanced technology. Judy¡¯s brow furrowed as she studied it. ¡°Has Shirley developed some new type of fighter jet?¡± They had to capture both Shermaine and Joshua before Shirley¡¯s army arrived, or there¡¯d be hell to payter. ¡°So Shirley¡¯s generous enough to gift you one of her finest fighter jets,¡± Judy said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°How thoughtful of her.¡± Everyone knew the two factions had been at war, andtely Judy had been winning decisively. She¡¯d destroyed several of Shirley¡¯s S¨Clevel mecha fighter jets, decimating her army and capturing city after city. If Shirley couldn¡¯t find a way to turn things around soon, she¡¯d face certain defeat¨Cand Judy would unite the Kingdom of Xyperia under her rule, bing its undisputed queen. No wonder Judy felt so confident these days. Having a superweapon like Apocalypse at her disposal would make anyone feel invincible. Meanwhile, Barrett¡¯s eyes went wide the moment he spotted the fighter jet. He¡¯d never imagined Boa Hanks was this skilled¨Ca genuine mechanical genius. The modifications she¡¯d made to that aircraft were absolutely wless. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder just how devastating it would be in actual Judy¡¯s eyes gleamed with calcted interest¨Cshe¡¯d clearly set her sights on that fighter jet too. If Shirley managed to produce such sophisticated aircraft, even with Judy¡¯s Apocalypse weapon, her ambitions to unite Xyperia would face serious dys. But if she could get her hands on this jet first, her mechanics could mass¨Cproduce copies. Shermaine dismissed the young girl with a casual wave, then turned back unhurriedly. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Caught your Judy would never admit it. ¡°It¡¯s just some fighter jet hardly worth my attention.¡± Her eyes shed with malice. ¡°Though I¡¯ll say this much¨Cyour little toy is an eyesore. Harry, destroy it.¡± Harry immediately became alert and made contact with the airmen. Within moments, fighter jets streaked overhead, targeting the obsidian¨Cgleaming aircraft below and opening fire. Shermaine remainedpletely unfazed. The jet had already switched to intelligent mode¨Cit wouldn¡¯t go down that easily. ¡°You know, you¡¯re surprisingly hard to kill,¡± Judy said. She obviously knew she couldn¡¯t take Shermaine in a direct fight, so within seconds, several androids emerged throughout the building. Their eyes glowed red as targeting systems activated, and crimsonser beams swept toward Shermaine from every direction. Shermaine dove for cover asser beams swept across the casino floor, striking gambling tables, decorative pieces, and the bar. The sound of shattering filled the air as priceless chandeliers came crashing down, exploding into glittering fragments across the marble. Meanwhile, Barrett found himself trapped in a deadly standoff. Bronx and Simon were closing in, determined to reim the si ring, which meant Barrett was now facing Simon¡¯s direct assault. He and his team were surrounded, sweat streaming down their faces as they fought to protect the si ring. Barrett had been smart enough to secure the si ring in a specialized lockbox¨Cone that required a specific code to open safely. Anyone who tried to force it would trigger an explosive device inside. Simon raised his gun, his voice cold and steady. ¡°Return the si ring, and I¡¯ll let you live.¡± Barrett¡¯s crew had been holding their ground for what felt like hours, but if backup didn¡¯t arrive soon, they¡¯d be captured¨Cor worse. After hurling her long spear, Shermaine found herself weaponless except for the dagger at her side. She cursed herself for being so careless¨Cshe¡¯d actually collected quite an arsenal during their journey here, but when they reached the Oster Tower and discovered the elevators had been shut down, she¡¯d been forced to abandon the entire bag of equipment to climb the stairs. The androids surrounded her, electrics spreading wide in their mechanical hands. One touch from thoses would send paralyzing currents through her body, leaving her helpless. Shermaine wasn¡¯t about to fall for such a simple trap. As an android lunged toward her, she dodged its attack, nted her foot on its knee, and vaulted over its head. In one fluid motion, she twisted its neck clean off. The android crashed to the ground with a heavy thud. She dispatched the next wave of attackers in the same way, each android falling as she broke their necks with practiced ease. But as she hung from one android¡¯s shoulders, finishing it off, a came flying straight at her face. That was when Judy made her move, firing another shot at the exposed Shermaine. Shermaine twisted mid¨Cair to dodge the bullet, but the electrified was already descending toward her. Just as it seemed certain to ensnare her, a chair came sailing through the air, knocking the off course with its weight. Joshua moved like a dancer, his speed almost inhuman as he swept Shermaine into his arms andnded gracefully on solid ground. Nurse walking 504 Chapter 504 The blue wig tumbled down with Shermaine, hitting the ground in a tangle of synthetic strands. 00% Without the wig to contain it, Shermaine¡¯s true hair spilled free¨Ca cascade of brilliant red that flowed past her waist. The silky strands caught the light, gleaming with an almost luminous quality that made everyone freeze in their tracks. They¡¯d already been staring when Cain first appeared. His red hair was devastatingly handsome in an otherworldly way, radiating raw masculine energy that was impossible to ignore. But now Boa Hanks¨Cwhoever she really was¨Chad the same striking crimson locks. Baykeepers hadn¡¯t forgotten what red hair meant. Everyone knew the stories of the royal family who had ruled Baykeep for generations. Under their reign, the city flourished like nowhere else across the vast territories, bing the strongest and most prosperous of all the major cities. The people worshipped the royal blood like gods¨Cand for good reason. They seemed capable of anything, masters of every art and skill. Even after the royal family¡¯s decline and disappearance from Xyperia, even after the Moreno family took control of Baykeep, the citizens carried those memories in their hearts. They remembered the glory days, when the red¨Chaired royalsmanded not just respect, but absolute devotion from everyone who served under them. The elders who had been hiding emerged, their eyes wide with shock and excitement. ¡°The royal family bloodline¨Clost for a thousand years¨Cthey¡¯ve returned!¡± one of them gasped. The deration shocked the crowd. ¡°Impossible!¡± Bronx stepped forward, his voice cutting through the murmur. ¡°It¡¯s nothing more than a coincidence of hair color. The royal family was wiped out centuries ago. These people just happen to share the same gic trait.¡± Avon¡¯s gaze sharpened as he turned toward Judy. ¡°Then perhaps Her Highness Judy would care to exin why she¡¯s ced such an enormous bounty on their heads?¡± His tone carried weight¨Cafter all, a thousand years ago, the Kingdom of Xyperia¡¯s ruling ss had been consumed with paranoia about the royal family¡¯s influence, constantly scheming to drive them into exile. When faced with the crowd¡¯s mounting suspicions, Judy offered no defense. Instead, most people found their attention drawn to the staggering reward amount¨Cenough to make anyone wealthy beyond their wildest dreams. Judy maintained a stoic expression. ¡°I have no obligation to provide you with an exnation.¡± While Shermaine wasn¡¯t born into the royal family, Joshua was. If his true identity ever came to light, the royal family¡¯s legendary status in Xyper¨ªa would send shockwaves through the entire nation. The people who had once worshipped the royal blood like gods would inevitably bow before him again¡ªjust look at what happened with Baykeep. Royal blood carried far more weight than any si ring or military token ever could. As heated discussions erupted around them, Joshua and Shermaine stood apart, theirposed demeanor a stark contrast to the chaos. Joshua set the person down and turned to Shermaine. ¡°Sheary, where are the weapons you brought?¡± ¡°Left them in the car.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you bring anything at all?¡± Shermaine narrowed her eyes slightly. ¡°The elevator was out of order, and these stuff are heavy. They slowed me down on the stairs.¡± 08:51 Sat, 12 Jul Joshua considered this for a moment. ¡°I suppose that¡¯s not really Sheary¡¯s fault.¡± He paused, then added with a hint of amusement, ¡°Though i distinctly remember packing some essential stair¨Cclimbing gear in that bag for you. If you¡¯d bothered to check, you wouldn¡¯t have been cutting it so close.¡± Shermaine blinked. She tried to recall when Joshua had been packing her things. He had mentioned something, but she¡¯d been ying with Gracie at the time and hadn¡¯t really been paying attention. ¡°Did you?¡± Joshua raised an eyebrow at her, his expression clearly saying, ¡°What do you think?¡± The corner of Shermaine¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll take the me for this one.¡± When it came to Shermaine¡¯s little slip¨Cups, they were never really a big deal anyway¨Cjust minor hups in the grand scheme of things. AD Nurse walking 505 Chapter 505 ¡°Do you realize your mistake now?¡± Joshua asked again. This time, it was Shermaine¡¯s turn to raise an eyebrow. ¡®What mistake was he talking about? Then it hit her he was referring to how she¡¯d been so focused on Gracie that she¡¯dpletely ignored him. ¡°Mr. York, shouldn¡¯t questions like that be settledter?¡°. ¡°Fine, we¡¯ll do it Sheary¡¯s way and settle itter.¡± They sounded like they were bickering, but Joshua¡¯s eyes held nothing but affection. Standing together, they looked like a perfect match¡ªas if they were made for each other. When Judy spotted Joshua, something deep inside her still yearned to tame this man, to bend him to her will. But seeing the two of them standing together now made her stomach turn with disgust. ¡°Laser cannons, prepare to fire.¡± Throughout the building, seven androids received themand. Circr apertures twenty centimeters wide opened across their chests, blue energy crackling as theser cannons charged to life. ¡°Run!¡± someone screamed. Theseser cannons packed several times more destructive power than the earlierser weapons they¡¯d faced. Shermaine turned to Joshua, her voice cutting through the chaos. ¡°Mr. York, I¡¯m leaving the military token in your hands. That woman is mine to deal with.¡± Joshua nced at Simon, then nodded with evident satisfaction. ¡°Okay.¡± People on the streets below had no idea what was happening, but they could see androids swarming around the top of Oster Tower alongside rows of fighter jets. Suddenly, brilliant shes erupted from within the building, followed quickly by billowing ck smoke. Above them, a red fighter jet dove from the sky. After it touched down, Shermaine leaped from the building and climbed back into the cockpit. Judy burst out after her and climbed into her fighter jet. Once aboard, she sneered, ¡°Absolutely foolish. Shermaine had actually gotten into a fighter jet.¡± Judy had brought three thousand airmen with her today, not to mention her own S¨Css mecha fighter. Her airmen alone could crush this woman. After takeoff, Shermaine piloted her fighter jet back up into the sky at breakneck speed. Dozens of other jets swarmed behind her, cannons zing. The thunderous roar of weapons fire echoed across the heavens like a raging storm. High above the cloud cover, Shermaine found herself surrounded. Inside her cockpit, her fingers flew across the holographic disy, tappingmands with lightning precision. When Judy caught up, she watched as a golden light began gathering around Shermaine¡¯s fighter jet. Then suddenly, a tremendous force erupted outward from its center. With a loud sound, every fighter jet in the surrounding formation exploded in a spectacr chain reaction. People on the ground watched in horror as fighter jets plummeted from the sky. After the explosions subsided, Judy clenched her fists. ¡°Damn it, those aren¡¯t ordinary fighter jets¨Cthey¡¯re mecha fighters.¡± Harry studied the wreckage before them, noting how the sleek, intimidating design rivaled even the legendary Apocalypse models. With Shirley¡¯s current mechanical expertise, there was no way she could have built something like this. ¡°Your Highness.¡± Harry ventured. ¡°Shermaine has always been a fast learner. A year would be more than enough time for her to advance her skills. Maybe 08:51 Sat, 12 Jul W she¡¯s the one who modified these fighters.¡± Judy sneered, ¡°If you told me Joshua had done the modifications, I¡¯d believe it. But her? Impossible¡± ¡°You¡¯re forgetting something, Your Highness¨Cback in Wallington, Shermaine was considered a prodigy across multiple fields Judy fell silent, unable to argue. The thought of someone with that kind of capability was truly terrifying. It reminded her of the ancient royal blood from over a thousand years ago¨Cancestors whose brilliant minds had pushed Xyperia¡¯s technological civilization to unprecedented heights, creating an era of unparalleled glory. Meanwhile, the fighter jets began their transformation sequence. Metal panels shifted and reconfigured as the aircraft morphed from fighter jet mode into towering mechas. Shermaine¡¯s crimson mecha materialized in the sky, its metallic frame gleaming as it gripped a sleek rapier. Her consciousness melded with the machine¡¯s systems, and with jets firing from its feet, the mechaunched itself toward Judy¡¯s fighter jet. The rapier sliced through the air in a devastating arc. Judy had no choice but to trigger her own transformation, her jet reconfiguring just in time to parry Shermaine¡¯s strike with her own de. ¡®Fine, Judy thought grimly. ¡®If Shermaine wants a mecha duel, I¡¯ll show her what I¡¯m really capable of. Below them, chaos erupted around the Oster Tower. Eagle Assassins operatives had arrived to provide backup, but Baykeep¡¯s local military forces were already mobilizing in response. The entire building was surrounded by tanks, artillery, and drones. Over a thousand city guards formed a protective barrier around Simon and his son, all because they held the military token. But when they saw Joshua, an inexplicable wave of panic swept through their ranks. It wasn¡¯t just the telltale red hair that marked him¨Cthere was something about Joshua¡¯s presence, an oppressive aura that made everyone instinctively want to keep their distance. ¡°What are you all standing around for? Get him!¡± Simon yelled. ¡°He already lost to my precious son in the Gambling Tournament, which means the Moreno family no longer controls Baykeep.¡± The logic was sound enough, but there was one problem¨CBronx still held the military token. ¡°Baykeep belongs to the Moreno family, and don¡¯t think for a second you can just waltz in here and take it!¡± Bronx roared. ¡°I won¡¯t stand for it, and neither will Her Highness Judy. I¡¯m ordering you to arrest this man immediately!¡± The mention of Judy¡¯s name changed everything. Since Baykeep now fell under her jurisdiction, they had no choice but to act. ¡°Anyone who doesn¡¯t want to die can drop their weapons and surrender now,¡± Joshua said calmly, raising his hand with a casual flick of his fingers. That was all the signal Damien and the other assassins needed. From their hidden positions in the shadows, the When Simon spotted Joshua, his face contorted with pure rage. After being yed for a fool time and again, he wanted nothing more than to tear this man apart piece by piece. Simon snatched a gun from one of his guards and fired wildly at Joshua, his shots fueled by sheer frustration. Joshua barely nced up at Simon¡¯s erratic movements, dodging effortlessly before a silver dart materialized in his hand. The sight sent an icy chill through the air. Without warning, the dart shot forward like a shadow¨Ctoo swift to dodge, too sudden to counter. It found its mark in Simon¡¯s left eye with sickening precision. 2/4 08:51 Sat, 12 Jul Simon¡¯s scream echoed through the room as crimson blood sttered across the pristine white tiles. 66% Joshua had despised the way Simon looked at Shermaine from the moment he¡¯d first seen it during that live broadcast¨Cthat disgusting, predatory gaze As far as Joshua was concerned, such vile eyes deserved to be blind. The moment Bronx saw the weapon protruding from his son¡¯s eye, his voice cracked. ¡°Simon!¡± Simon¡¯s agonized screams filled the air¨Cthis wasn¡¯t ordinary pain tearing through him. Before anyone could react, another dart found its mark, burying itself in his remaining eye. The bodyguards nking him were utterly powerless to protect him. The city guard soldiers exchanged uncertain nces, their resolve crumbling. One by one, weapons began hitting the ground. They couldn¡¯t bring themselves to raise arms against Joshua¨Cwhether it was the lingering authority of the royal blood that held them back or simply the brutal efficiency of his methods that struck fear into their hearts. Barrett stepped forward, his voice cutting through the chaos. ¡°Her Highness Shirley¡¯s forces will reach Baykeep in fifteen minutes. I suggest you surrender now and spare yourselves any further struggle. ¡°After all, the Moreno family lost fair and square in the Gambling Tournament to Boa Hanks¨Cwhich makes him your rightful city lord.¡± Judy¡¯s fighter jet struck the building¡¯s facade simultaneously. The entire structure shuddered violently from the impact, concrete and steel groaning under the assault. Shermaine was having the time of her life¨Cmore than a year¡¯s worth of pent¨Cup rage was finally pouring out of her, and it felt absolutely liberating, Judy was getting beaten so badly she began questioning her very existence. Her mental energy grew weaker by the minute, and no amount of aura water could replenish what she¡¯d lost. Her face had turned pale, and she gasped for breath between attacks. Shermaine¡¯s crimson fighter jet cut through the air with breathtaking elegance, its sleek form practically glowing against the sky. She spotted Joshua inside the tower and lifted her hand with a yful flourish, blowing him a kiss. The gesture looked wonderfully ridiculousing from the imposing war machine, and Joshua couldn¡¯t help but grin at the sight. ¡°Look at that¨CBoa Hanks is chasing Judy down! What do you think? Who¡¯s going to win this fight?¡± Barrett¡¯s voice carried across the battlefield. ¡°Your next city lord isn¡¯t just a skilled fighter. She¡¯s also a brilliant mechanical engineer, and that mecha fighter jet she¡¯s piloting? She modified it herself.¡± Barrett¡¯s persuasion was working. More and more city guards lowered their weapons and stepped back from the fighting Joshua nced at the holdouts who were still resisting, then caught Damien¡¯s eye with a meaningful look. Damien immediately charged them. Within moments, the Eagle Assassins had the remaining fighters under control. Damien wrestled the military token from Bronx¡¯s grip and handed it over to Joshua. Barrett, meanwhile, retrieved the si ring from its case and passed it along as well. From the co¨Cpilot¡¯s seat, Harry watched Judy getting thoroughly beaten down, then saw Joshua finishing off the Moreno family. Panic washed over him. Just then, his Orthish device started beeping. A transmission crackled through. ¡°General Harry, Her Highness Shirley¡¯s army will reach Baykeep soon. With our current fighter jets, we don¡¯t stand a chance against them.¡± After hearing the message, Harry turned to Judy with desperation in his voice. ¡°Your Highness!¡± Judy wasn¡¯t in the mood to listen to him. With a thunderous crash, the mecha mmed into another skyscraper, punching a massive hole through its ?/4 08:51 Sat, 12 Jul side. Her eyes burned crimson with rage. ¡°Host. I lost again!¡± ¡°Your Highness! We can¡¯t stay here any longer¨Cwe need to get out of here now.¡± Harry forcibly seized control of the mecha and sent it frying into retreat. Without Apocalypse, there was no way they could win this fight. Shermaine swapped her rapier for a rocketuncher, taking aim at the fleeing mecha, Without hesitation, she pulled the trigger Nurse walking 506 Chapter 506 By the time Shirley arrived with her army, a small mushroom cloud was blooming above the ocean. Momentster, a heavily damaged mecha came crashing down, mming into the water and sending up a massive spray. The mecha didn¡¯t sink to the ocean floor¨Cinstead, it bobbed back to the surface like a broken cork. If Shirley wasn¡¯t mistaken, that mecha wa Judy¡¯s s personal ride, the Madeesa. So Judy had lost this badly. the Kingdom of Xyperia. For years, they¡¯d been Judy and Shirley had been locked in constantpetition since childhood, fighting tooth and nar evenly matched in their bitter rivalry. Of course, when it came to strategy and breadth of vision, Shirley had always held the upper hand. Judy had always been the stronger fighter. Originally, in this two¨Csided battle, Shirley could have defeated Judy through strategy alone. That was until Judy somehow managed to find Apocalypse,pletely turning the tables. Fortunately, when one door closes, another opens. The arrival of Shermaine and Joshua marked a major turning point. With these two as her allies, theirbinedbat power alone was equivalent to an entire army. Watching this unfold, Shirley couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of vindictive satisfaction. After all, Judy had always bullied her with brute force when they were kids. It was absolutely satisfying to watch someone finally take down that arrogant brat. Soon after, Shirley spotted the red metallic mech gleaming in the sunlight. Shermaine descended to examine the damaged machine, and she peered inside to find it empty. It looked like Judy had made her escape underwater¨Cquick thinking on her part. But if Judy thought retreating to her base would keep her safe, she was sprely mistaken. Shermaine and Joshua would track down her stronghold sooner orter. The remaining army troops, learning of Judy¡¯s defeat, began their retreat. Shirley wasn¡¯t about to let them slip away. She immediately ordered her forces to pursue and eliminate the fleeing soldiers. Without Judy¡¯s leadership, their morale had crumbled¨Cthey wouldn¡¯t put up much of a fight. Meanwhile, Shermaine deployed two wed hooks to haul the damaged mech from the water¡¯s surface. The damage wasn¡¯t too severe; with some modifications and repairs, it would be operational again. The cost of refurbishing would be significantly lower than building a new one from scratch. That was when Shermaine noticed them in the distant sky¨CShirley and her army, a vast swarm stretching across the horizon. Clearly worried about their chances, they¡¯d doubled their troop numbers for this operation. Shermaine and Shirley exchanged greetings as their forces converged. By the shore, Shirley touched down from her descent. Shermaine emerged from her mecha as well. A rapier hung at Shirley¡¯s waist, and her golden hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, giving her a moremanding presence than Judy ever had. The two women shook hands in greeting. ¡°Hello, Shermaine,¡± Shirley said. Shermaine nodded slightly and returned the greeting. Shirley¡¯s gaze shifted to the mecha fighter jet parked nearby, and astonishment shed in her eyes. ¡°I can hardly believe it¨Cyou actually modified a 1/2 10:46 Sun, 13 Jul ??¡¯ G mecha, and the work is absolutely wless.¡± Her praise was genuine and wholehearted. ¡°You¡¯re incredible.¡± Shermaine¡¯s skills were wless in every aspect, and herbat abilities were unparalleled. Shirley knew her limitations well enough to seek partnership rather than dominance. Someone this talented would never bow to her authority¨Cit simply wasn¡¯t possible. A person had to know where they stood in the world. Shermaine smiled, seemingly unbothered by thepliment. ¡°It really wasn¡¯t that difficult.¡± Shirley raised an eyebrow at her words. In Xyperia, being a mechanic was one of the most challenging professions imaginable. Any mechanic capable of building a mecha fighter jet from scratch would be sought after wherever they went. Yet for Shermaine, it seemed as effortless as breathing. And it seemed easy for Shermaine. If it weren¡¯t, Shermaine couldn¡¯t have transformed a scrapped mecha fighter jet into something so perfect in just half a month. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Shermaine mentioned she needed to return to the Oster Tower to find Joshua. ¡°Transporting that mecha will be inconvenient for you,¡± Shirley offered. ¡°Let me have my soldiers help you get it back.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Shermaine provided an address. Meanwhile, Simony dying with both eyes gouged out, his pleas for mercy falling on deaf ears. Joshua¡¯s expression remained coldly impassive as he raised his weapon. One decisive shot rang out, and then the world fell silent. G Nurse walking 507 Chapter 507 Bronx¡¯s face contorted with grief as he lunged forward, ws extended. ¡°You killed my son! I¡¯ll kill you, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± But two assassins held him back. rendering himpletely helpless.. His only son had endured such torment before his soul departed for the heavens. The devastating loss of his child proved too much¨Coverwhelmed by rage and sorrow, he coughed up blood and copsed unconscious. Damien stepped forward. ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve rounded up the rest of the Moreno family members, along with the former city lord¡¯s confidants. What are your orders?¡± Joshua was silent for a moment, weighing his options. ¡°Exile.¡± He finally decided. Just like what had happened to Jasmine¡¯s branch family¨Cbanished to some impoverished corner where they¡¯d never have the strength to fight back Unless they got incredibly lucky and found someone like Shermaine to help them. But the chances of that were practically nonexistent. Besides, there weren¡¯t many people in this world who couldpare to Shermaine. Speaking of Shermaine, Joshua wondered how his precious girl was doing. As if summoned by his thoughts, he spotted a red mecha streaking through the sky toward him. It touched down just outside his window, and the cockpit hissed open. Shermaine stepped onto the boarding tform and walked toward him, with Shirley and the others following close behind. Joshua raised an eyebrow and gestured with his hand. One of his assassins immediately understood, pulling out a bottle of aura water and offering it to him. Joshua twisted off the cap and held it out to her. ¡°Where¡¯s Judy?¡± ¡°She got away.¡± Shermaine epted the water gratefully. This was exactly what he had anticipated. A woman like Judy could never be a match for Shermaine. Joshua ruffled her hair affectionately. ¡°Sheary¡¯s amazing.¡± ¡°Oh, please.¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°Am I not telling the truth?¡± His voice carried that familiar teasing lilt. Shermaine¡¯s lips curved into a nomittal smile, neither confirming nor denying his praise. After drinking about a third of the aura water, her gaze fell on Simon¡¯s motionless form sprawled across the floor, blood pooling beneath him. His eyes had been gouged out¨Che must have suffered considerably before Joshua finally put him out of his misery with a single shot. Shermaine felt no pity for scum like that. But as she watched, a question formed in her mind. ¡®If we¡¯re going to kill Simon anyway, why did Joshua have to blind him first?¡® She nced over, but before she could fully process what she was seeing, a pair of hands covered her eyes. ¡°Sheary, don¡¯t look,¡± Joshua said. ¡°Why not?¡± Joshua said in a matter¨Cof¨Cfact tone, ¡°It¡¯ll ruin your appetite.¡± Someone stepped forward with a ck bag and dragged Simon¡¯s body away. He had a point, actually. After all this time, she was starving Barrett approached Shirley and dropped to one knee. ¡°Your Highness.¡± ¡°Get up, there¡¯s no need for formalities.¡± Shirley exchanged greetings Joshua as well. Unlike Shermaine, Joshua was harder read¨Che could be having a conversation with Shirley, yet she couldn¡¯t see through him. There was always that subtle distance, as if everything had to remain strictly business. Shirley was not eager to discuss their next move against Judy. A war had just ended, and they needed time to rest and regroup. Besides, Shermaine had just taken office as city lord, and tradition demanded certain ceremonies. Every new city lord gave a city¨Cwide address the day after their appointment, followed by a fireworks celebration that night¨Ca city¨Cwide festival. Baykeep had already restored its order and prosperity, showing no trace of the recent conflict. rder and the new Now, the streets buzzed with gossip about the new city lord and her man. about Veysha. That evening, Shermaine, Joshua and Shirley shared avish seafood dinner together. After spending the entire day holed up in the secret base, Jasmine emerged with Gracie in her arms. She froze for a moment, taking in the sight before her, then burst into wildughter. Spinning around with Gracie, she nted several kisses on the baby¡¯s chubby cheeks. ¡°Gracie, your parents are absolutely incredible! Baykeep is ours again¨Cour royal family has finally reimed it. Our ancestors¡® dying wish has been fulfilled atst.¡± Gracie only ever smiled for Shermaine. With everyone else, she remained perfectly indifferent, content to eat when hungry and sleep when tired. As Jasmine spun her around, she simply let out azy little yawn. When Jasmine stopped spinning and turned around, she found herself face¨Cto¨Cface with Damien¡¯s ice¨Ccold stare. Her throat went dry¨Cthe man could be genuinely terrifying. Despite knowing Damien for quite some time now, even in the open¨Cminded Kingdom of Xyperia, she could count their conversations on one hand. ¡°Is there something you need?¡± Jasmine¡¯s usually sharp tongue stumbled over the words. Damien¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°Mrs. York wants to see Ms. York! ¡°Where¡¯s Shermaine?¡± ¡°Follow me.¡± Jasmine trailed behind him meekly. Since he was an assassin, he probably had a pretty decent build. As a formerly dirt¨Cpoor twenty¨Cfour¨Cyear¨Cold who was still, embarrassingly, a virgin, her mind began wandering to ces it shouldn¡¯t go. But one look at Damien¡¯s face snapped her back to reality with a jolt. ¡®What the hell am I thinking?¡® She was being ridiculous. She had money now¨Cshe could have any man she wanted. Damien abruptly stopped, and Jasmine collided directly with his back. Pain shot through her nose¨Cit felt like she¡¯d broken it. She inhaled sharply through clenched teeth. Thank God she¡¯d just settled Gracie back into the stroller. ¡°Why did you just stop like that?¡± she demanded, rubbing her nose. Damien¡¯s expression remained perfectly nk. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± 10:47 Sun, 13 Jul GO ¡°Oh.¡± Jasmine nced around and realized they¡¯d arrived at an opulent restaurant. An oval dining table dominated the space, where Shermaine and Joshua were already seated, along with Shirley and several others. Chapter 508 Nurse walking 508 Chapter 508 Jasmine didn¡¯t show any signs of nervousness. She quickly put on a bright smile and greeted everyone before taking the empty seat next to Shermaine. She offered Shermaine a polite greeting as she settled in. Shermaine nodded in acknowledgment, her gaze drifting to baby Gracie in the stroller. At two months old, Gracie was fighting sleep, her eyelids heavy with drowsiness. ¡°Did Gracie have her feeding before you left?¡± Shermaine asked. ¡°Yes, she did,¡± Jasmine replied. Shermaine had been extremely busytely, making breastfeeding sporadic at best. The milk drank was either pumped the day before or purchased fresh from a surrogate mother who provided for families in need. When others heard how close Jasmine and Shermaine were, envy flickered across their faces. But their envy came too soon¨Cthere would be even more to envy as the evening unfolded. The party began with a live band ying softly in the background. The venue was spectacr, offering a panoramic view of Baykeep¡¯s most stunning scenery. Jasmine held her wine ss gracefully, chatting animatedly with Shermaine and the others at their table. She¡¯d always been a naturalmunicator with a quick mind and an easy way with people, Watching Jasmine work the room, Shermaine thought to herself that Jasmine would be perfect for managing Baykeep. After dinner, Shermaine felt a tightness in her chest. She frowned slightly and stepped outside for some fresh air. The evening breeze was gentle against her skin. In her hand was something that looked like a cocktail but was actually just juice. Joshua followed her out. ¡°Why¡¯d you leave?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel well.¡± ¡°It¡¯s almost over anyway.¡± Shermaine set down her ss and turned into Joshua¡¯s embrace./ Joshua weed Shermaine¡¯s embrace, pulling her close and gently kissing her forehead and eyes. Meanwhile, inside the party, Jasmine had gotten thoroughly drunk. Her cheeks were flushed red, but she¡¯d managed to drink several high¨Cranking officials and military officers from the Baykeep government under the table. Her drinking capacity was truly impressive. Jasmine was quite popr at the party. Men kept approaching her, hoping for a dance, but she turned them all down. Their bodies just weren¡¯t appealing to her¨Cno way was she dancing with any of them. Still, they wouldn¡¯t take no for an answer. With a hup, Jasmine suddenly pointed at Damien, who was quietly eating in the corner. ¡°Whoever beats him gets to dance with me.¡± The men fell silent, exchanging uneasy nces. Damien continued eating, his expression unchanged. Emboldened by alcohol, Jasmine¡¯s inhibitions had clearly vanished. She raised her middle finger at Damien. Damien rolled his eyes. 1/2 10:47 Sun, 13 Jul GO Dinner wrapped up quickly. Jasmine had drunk too much and waspletely wasted, so Damien had to carry her to the car. He dumped her unceremoniously in the back seat. Suddenly, Jasmine¡¯s eyes snapped open. She grabbed Damien¡¯s tie and pulled him close. ¡°Are you trying to kill me so you can inherit my Xyperia tokens?¡± Damien looked down at her coldly. ¡°Let go.¡± ¡°No way.¡± Not only did she refuse to let go, but she also decided to cop a feel of his abs. Her fingers slipped under his shirt, and she grinned drunkenly. ¡°Wow, rock hard.¡± The car was a convertible, so everyone nearby could see exactly what was happening. Damien froze, then shoved her away. ¡°Hey!¡± Jasmine yelped as she fell back against the seat. Within seconds, she was out cold. . From a distance, Shermaine raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. She didn¡¯t expect that drunk Jasmine would be so bold. She¡¯d probably die of embarrassment when she sobered up tomorrow. Shirley witnessed the scene too and couldn¡¯t help but smile at the entertainment. The next morning, Jasmine woke up in a daze. Before she could process anything, several people were fussing over her, dressing her up, and practically shoving her into a sports car. Shermaine was already waiting in another car. The sports cars moved slowly, as if they were part of a parade. Meanwhile, a voice rang out. ¡°Wee our city lords, Ms. Hanks and Ms. Jasmine Farrington.¡± Jasmine¡¯s mind went nk. ¡®How did I suddenly be a city lord? And waitst night, did I do something absolutely insane? I had touched Damien¡¯s abs!¡± Her face darkened at the memory. The entire day felt surreal to Jasmine. She followed Shermaine through the session ceremony for Baykeep, and the whole city celebrated from dawn till dusk. The festivities continued for several days, keeping Baykeep in a constant state of celebration. Meanwhile, Shermaine and Joshua had already sat down with Shirley at the conference table, discussing their next move¨Chow to bring judgment upon Judy. Nurse walking 509 Chapter 509 Shirley said, her voice low, ¡°To take Summerbank from Judy, we need the city defense map to locate the aura shield and disable it. But it¡¯s suicide. Judy¡¯s main forces are there, and she¡¯s got Apocalypse.¡± The mere mention of Apocalypse made Shirley tense. That monstrosity had crushed her defenses before, leaving her scrambling to hold even a few cities. But Shermaine and Joshua showed no fear. ¡°Apocalypse isn¡¯t a threat,¡± Shermaine said coolly. ¡°It belongs to the royal family. My husband can handle it.¡± Shirley¡¯s expression remained neutral, but her mind raced. She thought, ¡®They are connected to the royal family.¡® Joshua snorted, ¡°Judy stole what wasn¡¯t hers. Time to return it.¡± Shermaine shot him a look, and for a moment, something sweet passed between them. Shirley couldn¡¯t help but envy it. She was older than Shermaine, yet her love life had been extremely dull. She had lovers, but they were only for satisfying basic physical needs. ¡°Who keeps the city defense map?¡± Shermaine asked. ¡°Breus Pce,¡± Shirley replied. ¡°It¡¯s heavily guarded, rigged with traps. I¡¯ve sent people before. None came back.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll get it,¡± Shermaine said. Rescuing Dave was her real goal. That was why she had agreed to this action. With Shermaine and Joshua taking the riskiest task, Shirley¡¯s role was subtler¨Cmoving her troops undetected to a nearby coastal town. There was only one way to do that without being detected¨Capproaching through the sea. It would be risky, but it was unavoidable. Shirley was determined to find a way to make it work. As the meeting ended, Shirley left with her entourage, already plotting the impossible. In the city lord¡¯s office, Jasmine stared at the mountain of paperwork on her desk and let out a long, despairing sigh. She had worked all morning and was utterly exhausted, yet stacks of unsigned documents still loomed before her. Looking at them, she¡¯d rather go back to babysitting Gracie. Jasmine contemted sneaking out, but she froze when she opened the door. Damien stood outside, his expression icy. Her legs trembled slightly as she forced an awkward smile. ¡°¡­ I was going to the restroom.¡± She tried to bolt, but Damien grabbed her by the cor and dragged her back into the office. ¡°You can¡¯t leave until this is done.¡± Jasmine huffed, ¡°You¡¯re totally getting back at me! So what if I identally touched your abs? If it bothers you, you can touch mine.¡± Damien¡¯s gaze darkened dangerously. ¡°I don¡¯t hold grudges against drunks.¡± ¡°Then let me go.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°It¡¯s your job.¡± Jasmine wanted to scream. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined Shermaine would appoint her as Baykeep¡¯s city lord and dump all the +16. responsibilities on her, Sure, reiming Baykeep had been Jasmine¡¯s goal, but she wasn¡¯t ready for this. Worse, she missed Shermaine¡¯s effortlesspetence. With Shermaine around, Jasmine never had to worry about a thing. Defeated, Jasmine slumped in her chair. ¡°I want to see Shermaine,¡± Nurse walking 510 Chapter 510 The moment Jasmine finished speaking, Shermaine walked in, fresh from her meeting. Damien greeted her with a nod. ¡°Mrs. York.¡± Shermaine returned the gesture. ¡°Damien, leave us. I need to talk to Jasmine.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Damien stepped out, closing the door behind him. In the office, Jasmine¡¯s eyes welled up. ¡°Shermaine, do you know how surreal it was when I woke up in that parade, hearing people call me city lord?! thought I was dreaming.¡± It had been a grand surprise. With a pout, Jasmine said, ¡°Shermaine, can I not be the city lord?¡± Shermaine smiled, ¡°No.¡± Jasmine groaned. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the city¡¯s affairs, but I don¡¯t want the title.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a name. Ignore it,¡± Shermaine said, then paused. ¡°Jasmine, we won¡¯t stay in the Kingdom of Xyperia forever. We will go home.¡± Jasmine blinked. ¡°Where¡¯s your home?¡± ¡°Wallington.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s that?¡± Jenny blinked in confusion. ¡°In another world.¡± Jasmine hesitated. ¡°But¡­ Isn¡¯t this Joshua¡¯s home too?¡± Technically, yes. The royal family had lived here for millennia before migrating to Earth. But now, with loved ones waiting back home, Shermaine and Joshua couldn¡¯t stay here. ¡°Our family and friends are on Earth,¡± Shermaine exined. ¡°Once Judy¡¯s dealt with, we must return. You¡¯ll have to stand on your own. Don¡¯t worry. Damien will help you.¡± Jasmine nearly whimpered. ¡°Damien¡¯s like a block of ice. Aren¡¯t you worried he¡¯ll bully me?¡± Shermaine said, ¡°He won¡¯t.¡± Truthfully, Damien wasn¡¯t as dull as Jasmine imed. He despised women, hence his coldness towards her. As Joshua¡¯s most trusted aide, Damien¡¯s loyalty was undeniable. Even after they left, Shermaine knew he would protect Jasmine, if only out of duty. ¡°You teased himst night, and he didn¡¯t even snap,¡± Shermaine teased. ¡°That¡¯s because you and Joshua were there.¡± Alone, Damien would¡¯ve made sure she ¡°never saw daylight again.¡± Jasmine¡¯s voice cracked. ¡°Shermaine, I¡¯ll miss you and Gracie.¡± After finally finding family in this world, losing them felt unbearable. Shermaine ruffled her hair. ¡°Don¡¯t grieve yet. If we can return once, we cane back. We¡¯ll see each other again.¡± Jasmine hugged her tightly. ¡°Don¡¯t forget me once you¡¯re back home. Promise you¡¯lle visit me sometimes.¡± Shermaine promised her. ?? IVIO 14 QUE Judy fled Baykeep wounded, with Harry escorting her on the two¨Cday journey back to Summerbank. Yet news traveled faster. Everyone knew Judy had lost Baykeep. Boa and Cain Reaper had already allied with Shirley. The trio¡¯s fame now echoed across the kingdom. Fear gnawed at Judy. Ignoring her injuries, she summoned her council at once. Defeat had rattled her, and ruling alone felt impossible now. One royal advisor said, ¡°Princess Judy, Boa and Cain Reaper allied with Shirley. They won¡¯t stop at Baykeep. We must deploy the Assassination Department to eliminate them.¡± The department was Judy¡¯s elite force¨Coperatives deadlier than any mercenary, each equipped with an S¨Clevel mecha fighter jet. Another advisor, Archie Macleod, countered, ¡°Why fear them? If they doe, set a trap and crush them. Apocalypse alone can crush them. Princess Judy, you still hold a trump card. Still, we must secure all entry points to Summerbank. Kill any suspicious travelers.¡± Judy¡¯s head throbbed. Her battle with Shermaine had drained her mentally and physically. She turned to Harry. ¡°Archie is right. Losing Baykeep was my carelessness, but Summerbank is mine. Let theme. They¡¯ll die here.¡± Harry nodded. ¡°Exactly.¡± Meanwhile, in Baykeep, Shermaine spent three days modifying Judy¡¯s mecha fighter jet before handing it to Jasmine. With ns set, Shermaine and Joshua prepared for Summerbank. Gracie stayed behind in Baykeep under Jasmine¡¯s care, protected by the Eagle Assassins. Once everything was arranged, Shermaine and Joshua headed to Linus City. Disguised with new identities, they boarded a flight to Summerbank. Ìï AD Nurse walking 511 Chapter 511 67% Judy wasn¡¯t foolish. She knew why Shermaine and Joshua hade to Summerbank. Their goals were obvious¨Crescue Dave, steal the city defense map, and destroy Apocalypse. After the humiliating defeat in Baykeep, Judy was determined to crush them here. Yet despite Summerbank¡¯s heavy security, unease gnawed at her. A week passed, and there was no sign of Shermaine or Joshua as if they had vanished. But Judy was sure that they had left Baykeep for Summerbank. However, not even the city¡¯s surveince cameras picked up anything suspicious. Judy couldn¡¯t figure out where they might be hiding. With their mastery of disguise, finding them in the city was impossible. Two weeks went by, Judy¡¯s patience frayed into frustration. She summoned her most trusted advisors again. In a luxurious mansion, the third¨Cfloor bedroom reeked of alcohol and indulgence. A maid, strikingly beautiful in her uniform, entered. She called toward the veiled canopy bed, ¡°Madam, time to rise.¡± ¡°Anything important?¡± A woman¡¯s voice sounded, thick with sleep. The maid replied, ¡°Princess Judy summons you.¡± The woman stirred slightly, as if waking from a drunken haze. ¡°Mm.¡± Momentster, several disheveled men and women slipped out of the oversized bed, shooting the maid flirtatious nces as they left. The maid remained impassive. Finally, the woman emerged¨Cck silk robe, tousled hair, rubbing her temples against the aftermath of wine and revelry. In the Kingdom of Xyperia, power belonged to those who seized it, regardless of gender. Ivy Mackay was formidable, a high¨Cranking official trusted by Judy to oversee Summerbank¡¯s finances. She was beautiful, skilled, and notoriously promiscuous. Those men and women who had just left her bed were merely part of her lovers. ¡°Dress me,¡± Ivymanded, stretching her armszily. ¡°Yes, Madam.¡± The maid stepped forward, carefully removing Ivy¡¯s robe and dressing her. Just then, Ivy¡¯s gaze sharpened, studying the maid closely. This maid¡¯s face was in, but her skin was tender, her figure curvaceous beneath the uniform. A subtle, intoxicating scent clung to her. It was something Ivy couldn¡¯t ce ¡°I don¡¯t recognize you,¡± Ivy murmured. The maid replied, ¡°I¡¯m new here.¡± ¡°Since when?¡± ¡°A week ago.¡± Ivy suddenly seized the maid¡¯s hand. ¡°Your hands are so soft.¡± The maid, Shermaine in disguise, paused. She had been prepared for suspicion, not flirtation. But she quickly regained herposure. 67%1 Ivy leaned in, inhaling deeply. ¡°You smell divine. What perfume do you wear?¡± Shermaine was only used to Joshua being near her like that. She instinctively recoiled. ¡°None.¡± ¡°I like it,¡± Ivy chuckled. Stillposed, Shermaine didn¡¯t react at all to Ivy¡¯s words. tvy¡¯s fingers trailed down Shermaine¡¯s back and found the zipper of her dress. She pulled it down slightly. A secondter, Ivy¡¯s demeanor flipped like a switch. A de shed, pressing against Shermaine¡¯s throat. ¡°Who sent you?¡± Nurse walking 512 Chapter 512 200% Ivy¡¯s sudden aggression didn¡¯t startle Shermaine. The moment Ivy had studied her closely, Shermaine had sensed the suspicion. No wonder Judy trusted her so much. Ivy truly was a sharp and perceptive woman. The moment Shermaine stepped in, Ivy sensed something strange. That was why Shermaine had chosen Ivy¡¯s vi to infiltrate¨Cposing as a maid and biding her time. ¡°No one sent me,¡± Shermaine answered calmly. Ivy sneered, ¡°ying stubborn?¡± Shermaine smiled, ¡°Just honest.¡± Suddenly, the dagger shed. But Shermaine was faster. A needle pricked Ivy¡¯s arm, striking a nerve. Pain red, Ivy¡¯s grip failed, and the de ttered to the floor. Yet Ivy didn¡¯t retreat. Instead, she fought through the pain,unching into a fierce exchange of blows. She was skilled, one of the few who could match Shermaine. The room was a trove of weapons. Ivy shoved a painting aside, revealing hidden firearms. Shermaine, anticipating that the sound of gunfire would attract attention, instantly flicked needles again. Ivy could only dodge and abandon guns. Panting, she stared. ¡°You¡¯re Boa Hanks.¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow, confirmation enough. Ivy¡¯s mind raced. ¡®Judy¡¯s most wanted, right here in my home. And she knows my routines, myyout. How long has she been watching me?¡® Dread coiled in her gut. Yet beneath it, something darker thrilled. Rising from nothing to where she was now, Ivy rarely met someone who could match her. Now, atst, he had found a real challenge, and it thrilled her. Ivy had been holding back earlier, but now, she was serious. ¡°I never expected you to show up in my home,¡± she said, pulling a whip from beneath the table. ¡°How about a real fight?¡± The whip cracked through the air, its electrified tip leaving a scorched mark on the wall. Ivy¡¯s skill was undeniable. The strikes came dangerously close to Shermaine. But Shermaine hadn¡¯te to fight. She had nned to eliminate Ivy after using her, but now, she reconsidered. In the Kingdom of Xyperia, Ivy was the first opponent who matched her in both wit andbat. Dodging anothersh, Shermaine said, ¡°Sorry, but we¡¯ll have to save the fight for another time.¡± Without hesitation, she produced a small ss vial, inside which a crimson insect writhed. The moment she uncorked it, the insect darted toward Ivy. Ivy¡¯s face paled. She swung her whip, but the insect was too fast, vanishing before her eyes. She looked around frantically. Then, suddenly, a sharp sting pierced her neck. Heat flooded her veins, and weakness followed. Ivy copsed, her vision blurring before darkness took her. When her eyes fluttered open again, they were zed and vacant. Shermaine approached as the insect emerged from Ivy¡¯s skin, its red eyes pulsing eerily before returning to the vial. This insect was Control Soul Insect, a kind of mutant, native to the Kingdom of Xyperia, It could control a host¡¯s nervous system upon biting it. Shermaine had learned tomand the Control Soul Insect from the royal family¡¯s ancient texts. After arriving in Summerbank, she had tasked Joshua with procuring one. 13:41 Mon, 14 Jul WO Mon, 14 Jul Now, with Ivy under its thrall, Shermaine ordered, ¡°Go freshen up. You have a meeting with Judy,¡± Obediently, Ivy rose and headed to the bathroom. *366% # +20) A shadow flickered outside the third¨Cfloor window. Then, Joshua slipped inside. In one fluid motion, he pulled Shermaine against him, pressing her into the couch as his lips found hers. Nurse walking 513 Chapter 513 After a long, heated kiss, Shermaine¡¯s clothes were disheveled. Joshua murmured against her skin, ¡°Sheary, once this is over, can I kill that woman?¡± Shermaine shook her head. ¡°No.¡± Joshua nipped her earlobe. ¡°She flirted with you.¡± ¡°She¡¯s a woman.¡± ¡°She swings both ways.¡± ¡°Keep her alive. She¡¯s too capable to waste.¡± ¡°Fine, then I¡¯ll just cut off one of her hands.¡± ¡°Absolutely not.¡± Joshua¡¯s displeasure deepened. If not for Shermaine¡¯s orders, he would¡¯ve slit Ivy¡¯s throat the moment sheid hands on Shermaine. Bisexual men weremon, but a woman who did the same? That was rare. 60% $20 Shermaine didn¡¯t care about Ivy¡¯s preferences, only her skills. If swayed, Ivy could be Jasmine¡¯s ally. After Shermaine and Joshua left, no one could guarantee Shirley wouldn¡¯t betray their pact and target Jasmine. An extra shield was never wasted. Noticing Joshua¡¯s darkening mood, Shermaine soothed. ¡°If Ivy refuses to yieldter, you can kill her then.¡± Grudgingly, Joshua relented. An hourter, Ivy arrived at Breus Pce. Inside the meeting chamber, Judy sat at the center while several royal advisors took their seats on either side of the long table. One advisor spoke, ¡°What urgent matter brings us here today?¡± Judy cut straight to the point. ¡°Two weeks, and still no trace of Boa or Cain Reaper. We need a n to lure them out.¡± Passive waiting would only invite another ambush. Judy couldn¡¯t afford another loss. Thus, every move now demanded precision. Advisor Matias An spoke, ¡°Princess Judy, didn¡¯t you say they came for that little creature?¡± The advisors knew Judy had captured something¨Ca small, clever being locked in Sky Prison, the most secure facility in Summerbank. It wasn¡¯t a mutant, but it was intelligent, capable of breaching even four¨Cdimensional space. Yet despite its value, it remained hostile, refusing to cooperate no matter the threats or bribes. ¡°Go on.¡± Judy gestured for Matias to continue. ¡°We can use it as bait to lure Boa and Cain Reaper out,¡± Matias said. ¡°How?¡± ¡°Simple. Announce its public execution under the charge of being an omen of disaster. If they are in Summerbank, they wille for it.¡± ¡°Good idea, but Boa and Cain Reaper are clever. Catching them won¡¯t be easy.¡± 13:41 Mon, 14 Jul 70. 66% 420) Using Apocalypse in the city was risky. Its destructive power was great, and civilian casualties were inevitable. Judy didn¡¯t care about coteral damage, but if she failed to catch them and lost public support, the cost would be uneptable. Matias continued, ¡°Princess Judy, I believe he could assist you.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Judy raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Matias pped his hands. ¡°Mutant 1013,e in.¡± The door opened, and a green¨Cskinned, tailed creature with a human face and beastly body stepped in. Seeing it, the other advisors frowned. The mutant, a fusion of human and animal DNA, was one of their decades¨Clong experiments. But gic rejection remained a problem. When mutants lost control, they became berserk, ughtering indiscriminately. Matias said, ¡°Princess Judy, this mutant is the Biological Science Department¡¯stest breakthrough. His speed and strength surpass any human, more than enough to handle Boa and Cain Reaper.¡± One advisor hesitated. ¡°But for decades, we¡¯ve failed to stabilize their fused gen¨¨s. If he goes berserk, we can¡¯t stop him.¡± ¡°Not anymore,¡± Matias countered. ¡°The experts have developed a serum. Inject it before he rampages, and he¡¯ll calm instantly¡°. The advisors exchanged nces. If true, this changed everything. Unlike Apocalypse, mutants followed orders. They were unpredictable killing machines. Judy noticed Ivy¡¯s uncharacteristic silence. ¡°Ivy, your thoughts?¡± Under Control Soul Insect¡¯s influence, Ivy reacted sluggishly. For a moment, her body tensed as if fighting the parasite¡¯s grip, but resistance was futile. She finally said, ¡°Princess Judy, I believe it¡¯s feasible.¡± Judy nodded. ¡°You and Matias will oversee this.¡± Matias frowned at Ivy¡¯s shared authority, but he held his tongue. If this seeded, he would im the credit. ¡°Yes,¡± Matias and Ivy answered in unison. Upon returning home, Ivy ryed every detail of the meeting to Shermaine. Shermaine thought, ¡®A mutant? The technology in the Kingdom of Xyperia is far more advanced, but the experiment must be brutal. ¡®Fusing humans and animals with government backing? How many have died in thesebs over the decades? Now that I know their n, the next move will be clear. The first to loseposure loses the game.¡® ¡°Get me the mutant¡¯s files,¡± Shermaine ordered. Ivy turned mechanically, returning momentster with a dossier. Her hand trembled as she extended it, but her will fought the insect¡¯s control. Shermaine yanked the dossier free. ¡°Stop struggling. The Control Soul Insect obeys me. Unless I kill it, you¡¯ll never break free.¡± Though Ivy was under control, she wasn¡¯tpletely unconscious. Her fingers twitched. Her face contorted in silent fury. She hated how Shermaine¡¯s cunning matched Judy¡¯s warnings, hated the insect¡¯s vition of her mind. The next day, all of Summerbank knew that Judy would publicly execute a ¡°monster¡± in three days. The creature was so dangerous that it devoured entire mountains of aura stones. 13:41 Mon, 14 Jul WO G100% Yet when people saw the creature, disbelief spread. Caged in a ss prison, it was adorable, round, and utterly harmless¨Clooking. But the thought of it swallowing a mountain¡¯s aura stones, Xyperia¡¯s vital resource, killed any sympathy. 20 Dave had woken up deep in the middle ofst night. It was starving. Hallucinating, it saw a golden fried chicken. Mouth watering, it lunged, only to smack into the ss. Pouting, Dave thought, ¡®How much longer till Shermaine and Joshua find me?¡® Nurse walking 514 Chapter 514 Since being trapped in this power¨Csuppressing cage, no one had entered. But today, a man walked in carrying an oven¨Clike contraption and shoved Dave inside. Dave had no idea where it was being taken, and resistance was futile. Without its power suppressed and on a full stomach, it could have beaten Judy up. Soon, Dave was hauled out of Sky Prison and into the streets. Crowds lined the roads, pointing and shouting, ¡°Burn it! Burn it!¡± Dave had lost count of how many centuries it had lived, but it had always been treasured. Never once had anyone wanted it dead. It couldn¡¯t die from fire, but being burned alive? That would hurt a lot. As they neared the church, Judy watched from the shadows, growing impatient. Shermaine still hadn¡¯t shown up. Judy thought, ¡®The whole city knows about this execution. If Shermaine and Joshua were here, they¡¯d have heard. Why aren¡¯t theying? Do they not care about it? No. This creature¡¯s abilities are too valuable to abandon.¡¯ The church was packed. Judy clenched her fists, frustration mounting. The crowd grew restless. ¡°It¡¯s time. Why isn¡¯t it burning yet?¡± ¡°Hurry up.¡± ¡°Just kill it already!¡± Under the crowd¡¯s shouting, a soldier yanked Dave from the box. Just then, an arrow whistled through the air, striking the soldier¡¯s hand. The soldier screamed as Dave hit the ground and bolted. The other soldiers lunged after it, but Dave, weakened by hunger, was quickly captured. But the next instant, another arrow struck. Dave tumbled free again, knowing that Shermaine and Joshua were here. The lead advisor bellowed. ¡°1013, deploy. Find the archers and kill them.¡± From within the crowd, the mutant¡¯s sharp gaze locked onto a tall building near the church. He dashed forward at incredible speed, only to be flung back through the air for dozens of feet by a speeding sports car. Screams tore through the crowd as people scattered. Joshua stepped out of the car. The mutant staggered to his feet, his wounds healing at an rming rate. From a distant rooftop, Shermaine calmly put aura stones into a bag, then attached it to a drone. With precise control, she guided the drone toward the church. The bag burst open mid¨Cair, scattering the stones across the ground. Spotting this, Dave pounced instantly, gulping down several in one bite. The effect was immediate. Energy surged through Dave¡¯s body. Now, even if the soldiers tried to recapture it, Dave was unstoppable. Dave shot forward like a missile, mming into the soldiers with brutal force. Instantly, screams erupted as bodies flew. After the rampage, Dave paused to snatch up more stones, replenishing its strength. 13:41 Mon, 14 Jul 0 Shermaine no longer worried about Dave¡¯s safety. With the aura stones, it could fend for itself. Her focus shifted to Joshua and the mutant. 66% The battle was fierce. The mutant¡¯s strength was undeniable. But Joshua, born of the royal family¡¯s bloodline, possessed a body honed forbat. Even as he took the mutant¡¯s blows, his counterattacks were devastating. With Joshua locked inbat, Shermaine was left without backup. Judy seized the moment, emerging from the crowd, to order members of the assassination department, ¡°Find Shermaine and kill her.¡± Nurse walking 515 Killing Shermaine? It was impossible. Secing that Dave was safe, Shermaine swiftly relocated. Judy¡¯s men couldn¡¯t pinpoint Shermaine¡¯s location, and the mutant remained locked inbat with Joshua. Judy¡¯s n had been wless, yet it failed spectacrly. Shermaine seemed to have anticipated every move, leaving Judy scrambling. Dave escaped. While others couldn¡¯t find Shermaine, Dave had no trouble. Over a year apart, and Dave was overjoyed. Itnded on Shermaine¡¯s head, tearful with relief. ¡°Sheary, you finally came for me!¡± Shermaine teased, ¡°Saving you was just a side mission.¡± Dave shook its head stubbornly, certain she hade specifically for it. Shermaine raised her binocrs, observing Joshua. The mutant outmatched him in speed and strength, yet Joshua grew stronger with each exchange. Dave, utterly unconcerned about Joshua, plopped onto the binocrs, blocking Shermaine¡¯s view. ¡°Sheary, Judy was so mean.¡± Shermaine lowered the lenses. ¡°How so?¡± ¡°She locked me up and starved me. A whole year without food. Look how skinny I got.¡± Dave whined pitifully. Shermaine examined it. ¡°A bit thinner, yes.¡± Her eyes crinkled with amusement. ¡°Missed fried chicken and barbecue?¡± Dave nodded frantically, drooling at the thought, its stomach growling loudly. Shermaine chuckled, ¡°Too bad we¡¯re in the Kingdom of Xyperia. No fried chicken here.¡± Dave pouted, ¡°Then let¡¯s go back.¡± Earth¡¯s delicacies were all it craved. Shermaine had been waiting for this. She had doubted Dave¡¯s capability, but now, relief washed over her. Dave hesitated. ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°But what?¡± Shermaine asked. Dave rubbed its belly. ¡°I need lots of aura stones first.¡± ¡°After we deal with Judy, eat all you want,¡± Shermaine said, patting its head. Dave huffed, ¡°Good! She deserves a beating.¡± Just then, a deafening explosion erupted from Joshua¡¯s direction. Shermaine shoved Dave aside and snatched up the binocrs. Through the smoke, she saw blood dripping from Joshua¡¯s arm. Her expression darkened as she pulled out a sniper rifle¨Cloaded not with bullets, but a custom serum. The mutant, sensing he was going to lose control, gulped down a stabilizing potion. At the same time, Shermaine fired. The syringe struck the mutant¡¯s neck. Two conflicting serums surged through the mutant¡¯s veins. Agony tore through its skull. 70 Seizing the opening, Joshua slit the mutant¡¯s throat and then vanished into chaos. After that, Judy searched frantically but couldn¡¯t locate their hideout. She ordered city¨Cwide house raids, plunging Summerbank into chaos. Fury burned in Judy¡¯s chest. Harry spoke cautiously, ¡°Princess Judy, I suspect a traitor.¡± Judy¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Impossible. My royal advisors are loyal.¡± ¡°Sut only they knew the n. If Shermaine and Joshua were prepared, someone must have warned them.¡± ¡°Investigate.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± With Dave gone, Judy had lost her greatest bargaining chip. Exhausted, she slumped into her chair, knowing Shermaine¡¯s next target would be Apocalypse or the city defense map. Meanwhile, atop a mountain, Dave was nibbling on an aura stone like a snack before diving into theke, swimming freely like a fish. Inside thekeside vi, lights glowed warmly. The scent of antiseptic filled the air. Shermaine tended to Joshua¡¯s wound, a deep gash requiring stitches. After administering local anesthesia, she began suturing. Joshua brushed her cheek with his uninjured hand. ¡°Your hands are shaking.¡± Shermaine kept a straight face. ¡°You¡¯re imagining things. Move again, and I¡¯ll leave you alone.¡± Joshua chuckled. ¡°Yes, Dr. Jean. I¡¯ll behave.¡± Shermaine rolled her eyes but smiled. Twenty minutester, the stitches were done. She dampened a towel to clean the dried blood stains from his arm. Joshua caught her wrist. ¡°Sheary, I need a bath. Help me?¡± His meaning was unmistakable. AD Nurse walking 516 Chapter 516 Shermaine helped Joshua out of his shirt. ¡°Go wash up.¡± Joshua smiled. A wild, predatory look that made Shermaine¡¯s pulse spike. In one smooth motion, he scooped her up with his uninjured arm. ¡°Not enough.¡± ¡°You¡¯re hurt.¡± 66% 20 ¡°My arm is injured. Not other parts.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you wait until it heals?¡± ¡°I missed you.¡± It had been too long since theirst intimacy in the mecha. The bathroom¡¯s steam cleared. For a long, lingering moment, the shower stopped running. Joshua emerged with just a towel slung low on his hips, putting Shermaine onto the bed. Then, he slipped under the nket. The vi was a temporary residence. It had been hastily cleaned before their arrival. The new nket still smelled of detergent. Shermaine¡¯s lips were rosy, like roses in full bloom. Joshua, insatiable, braced himself over her, muscles taut. He kissed her deeply, as if savoring a rare delicacy. ¡°Did your wound reopen?¡± Shermaine asked. ¡°No.¡± Joshua nipped her lips. ¡°I miss Gracie.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t have room to think of anyone but me soon.¡± After swimmingps in theke, Dave caught a fish. Hugging its prize, it flew toward the vi, shouting, ¡°Sheary, I want fried fish!¡± Before Shermaine could respond, Joshua hurled a pillow. Dave tumbled mid¨Cair, dropping the fish, which flopped on the ground. Sighing, Dave released it back into theke. No grilled fish tonight. After their intimate moment, neither Shermaine nor Joshua felt sleepy. Instead, they were hungry. Shermaine booted up Orthish, fingers flying over the holographic keyboard. Shirley¡¯s location blinked on the map. Her fleet was halfway across the sea, a week from Summerbank. Joshua headed downstairs to cook, Dave hovering eagerly nearby. The next morning, Judy¡¯s search yielded nothing. Harry¡¯s investigation into the royal advisors also came up empty. Harry thought it was weird. He couldn¡¯t believe Shermaine and Joshua were this untraceable. At Ivy¡¯s home, she woke with a start, her face ashen. The Control Soul Insect might be gone, but its effects lingered. She remembered everything. She thought, ¡®Damn it! If Judy finds out I leaked information, I¡¯ll be doomed. My mistake cost Judy the only leverage against Shermaine and Joshua. 13:41 Mon, 14 Jul Wo There will be no mercy. Just as these thoughts raced through her mind, a cold breeze swept through the room. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± Shermaine¡¯s voice cut through the silence. hvy whirled around, furious. ¡°You dare show your face?¡± Shermaine smiled, ¡°We¡¯re allies now. Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Allies? If I capture you, I might still salvage this.¡± ¡°Do you think you can?¡± Ivy hesitated. Was the insect¡¯s influence truly gone? Could she trust her own body? She wasn¡¯t sure. Shermaine¡¯s tone softened, almost persuasive. ¡°Be smart. You never truly served Judy. Why die for her?¡± The words were tempting. Ivy had no real loyalty. But betraying Judy was risky. One misstep, and Ivy would lose her life. Ivy countered, ¡°Judy may be simple and arrogant, but she has Apocalypse by her side. What chance do you and Shirley have?¡± Shermaine¡¯s gaze hardened. ¡°Apocalypse belongs to my husband¡¯s family. We will reim it.¡± 34 00% 20 Ivy¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line. She thought, ¡®So the man who killed the mutant is the royal family¡¯s descendant. That changes everything. Apocalypse only obeys true lineage. Judy¡¯s advantage was crumbling. It makes sense. Judy isn¡¯t on the same level as them.¡® After a pause, Ivy asked, ¡°What do you want from me?¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t mince words. ¡°Summerbank¡¯s defenses are tighter now. I can¡¯t move freely. But for someone like you, retrieving the city defense map shouldn¡¯t be difficult.¡± For lvy, it wasn¡¯t difficult, but far from easy, especially now. Judy had swapped the real map to prevent theft, never expecting Shermaine would bypass direct action and manipte Ivy into stealing it for her. But Ivy had no idea where the real map was hidden. ¡°Not difficult?¡± Ivy snorted. Shermaine smiled, ¡°You¡¯re capable. I have faith in you.¡± Ivy scoffed, ¡°ttery won¡¯t help.¡± Yet she was exceptional. Her rise to power proved that. Shermaine arched a brow. ¡°You have one week. I¡¯lle then.¡± As Shermaine left, Ivy thought, ¡®What a cunning woman.¡® Judy would never dream Shermaine would use Ivy as the thief. Time flew by in a sh. One weekter, under the cover of night, a warship emerged offshore. Shirley¡¯s forces had reached Summerbank¡¯s waters, undetected by radar. Shermaine went to Ivy¡¯s home. Hours passed before Ivy arrived, tossing the map at her. Ivy said, ¡°Get it done before Judy notices.¡± Shermaine caught it smoothly. ¡°Shirley¡¯s fleet is nearby. Join her. She knows you¡¯re with us now.¡± They parted just as Harry stormed in with guards. 13:42 Mon, 14 Jul DO An hourter, fireworks exploded in the sky. It was Shermaine¡¯s signal. On the warship, Shirleymanded, battle ready, ¡°Advance.¡± Nurse walking 517 Chapter 517 Shirley¡¯s army surged toward Judy¡¯s pce. Summerbank¡¯s defenses were thin. Most troops were stationed in border cities, guarding against mutants. Apocalypse remained in Summerbank, its pilot recovering from the strain of prolonged battles. The moon hung like a scimitar in the sky. Below, mes engulfed the opulent pce, the air thick with blood and gunpowder, Petals, stained crimson, trembled in the wind. Judy stood atop the tower, watching the carnage¨Cfallen soldiers, smoldering fighter jets. Her face was contorted with rage. Judy cursed inwardly, ¡®Shermaine, that bitch! Damn Ivy. I trusted her, promoted her, but she betrayed me with just a few sweet words from Shermaine! Judy¡¯s screams of fury echoed across the battlefield. If words could kill, Shermaine would¡¯ve died a thousand times. Harry found Judy. ¡°Princess Judy, anger won¡¯t help now. We have Apocalypse. The fight isn¡¯t over.¡± Judy forced calm, her voice icy. ¡°Take me to Apocalypse.¡± From the vantage point, Shermaine watched the ughter with sorrow. But a fractured nation could only be reunited through blood. Judy was no true ruler. She was petty, shortsighted, and arrogant. Without Harry, she would have fallen long ago. This war would birth a new empire. No more civil strife. Suddenly, the ground shook. Apocalypse ascended, its shadow swallowing the moon. Shirley¡¯s soldiers froze, dread wing at their throats. A single strike from this superweapon could vaporize tanks, jets, and battalions. But tonight, its target wasn¡¯t them. It had locked onto a figure atop a distant rooftop. Shirley followed its gaze. It was Shermaine. With a whoosh, Apocalypse shot forward, its wake sending gusts of wind so strong that people below nearly lost their footing. 201 Shermaine sensed the danger and leapt from the rooftop just as Apocalypse lunged. A red fighter jet swooped in, catching her mid¨Cair before seamlessly transforming into its mecha form. Two towering mechas stood face¨Cto¨Cface. Inside Apocalypse, Judy snarled. ¡°Kill her. At any cost.¡± The red mecha belonged to Joshua. He had just saved Shermaine. He handed control over to her, his voice steady. ¡°Sheary, be careful.¡± Judy was no threat, but Apocalypse¡¯s power was undeniable. Shermaine and Joshua had studied footage of its battles. This modified mecha might not stand a chance. Shermaine nodded. ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯ll buy you time to seize control of Apocalypse.¡± Joshua kissed her, lingering. ¡°Your safetyes first.¡± He could see Judy¡¯s hatred burning white¨Chot. She would fight like a cornered beast. Meanwhile, on the mountain, Dave sensed the chaos in Summerbank but couldn¡¯t help. Its energy reserves were depleted. Instead, it sat amidst a mountain of aura stones Shermaine had prepared, forcing itself to chew through them. At this point, the sight of aura stones made Dave nauseous. It imagined them as fried chicken, swallowing hard. 13:42 Mon, 14 JUL WOO 3003 20 In Summerbank, Shermaine¡¯s mecha shed with Apocalypse, their blows sending shockwaves that crumbled buildings. Civilians fled in terror. Shirley barked orders, ¡°Send fighter jets to support Boa.¡± But after just minutes ofbat, Shermaine understood why no mecha could defeat Apocalypse. Apocalypse¡¯s armor was indestructible, impervious to every weapon. Shermaine¡¯s mecha and the supporting jets, though advanced, were no match. A single misstep against Apocalypse¡¯s attacks meant devastation. Joshua stood atop the mecha¡¯s shoulder, the wind whipping through his hair. The wound on his arm had nearly healed in just a week. With a leap, heunched a grappling hook onto Apocalypse, swinging himself onto its massive frame before slipping inside. Meanwhile, Shermaine¡¯s mecha was sent flying by a brutal punch from Apocalypse. The impact rattled her to the core, but she managed to stabilize quickly. She gasped. One more hit like that, and this mecha would be destroyed. Confrontation was futile. As Judy prepared another strike, Shermaine dodged, buying time for Joshua. Inside Apocalypse, Joshua faced a squad of armed soldiers. His eyes gleamed with icy resolve. Tonight, Judy would fall. He and Shermaine would finally return to Wallington. In Baykeep, Jasmine, the city lord, took care of Gracie by herself. She was bathing Gracie. Though aware of the fierce battle in Summerbank, Jasmine wasn¡¯t worried about Shermaine and Joshua losing. Instead, she felt sad. Their departure was inevitable. Jasmine thought, ¡®Wallington must be far more interesting than the Kingdom of Xyperia.¡¯ Gracie sshed water, soaking Jasmine¡¯s clothes. Jasmine chuckled, tapping her nose, ¡°Little brat.¡± Gracie burst into giggles. After drying and powdering Gracie, Jasmine ced her in the crib and stepped into the shower. She didn¡¯t notice the shadow slipping across the balcony. Jasmine just rinsed off quickly. When she emerged, her blood ran cold. A man was cradling Gracie, about to vanish into the night. Jasmine screamed, ¡°Damien!¡± Damien burst through the door at Jasmine¡¯s scream, his aura radiating lethal intent. He lunged at the intruder, engaging in a brutal fight while more figures poured in from the balcony. After swiftly dispatching the first man, Damien snatched Gracie back and shoved her into Jasmine¡¯s arms. ¡°Run.¡± Jasmine clutched Gracie tightly. ¡°Be careful.¡± The assassins tried to pursue Jasmine, but Damien blocked their path, though a few still slipped past. Jasmine sprinted down the hall, heart pounding. Fortunately, Eagle Assassins stationed nearby intercepted the pursuers, cutting them down without hesitation. Gracie, oblivious to the danger, giggled with delight as Jasmine ran faster. The assassins adored Gracie. Anyone threatening her met instant death. 13:42 Mon, 14 Jul WOO By the time Damien finished inside, his clothes were spotless, but the murderous glint in his eyes betrayed the carnage he had wrought.. Jasmine¡¯s legs gave out, her breath ragged from exhaustion. Damien approached, his voice steel. ¡°Until Mr. York sends word, you and Gracie stay in my room.¡± 66% 420 Nodding weakly, Jasmine carried Gracie to his quarters. Afterying Gracie gently on the bed, she copsed onto it herself, forgetting that she was only wrapped in a towel. Nurse walking 518 After briefing the Eagle Assassins, Damien returned to his room. He closed the door gently, only to freeze at the sight before him.. Jasminey sprawled across his bed, exhausted, disheveled, and underdressed. Instantly, Damien¡¯s eyes narrowed. Jasmine¡¯s features were delicate yet striking, and her frame was petite. While most women in the Kingdom of Xyperia suffered from slightly rough skin under the dry climate, Jasmine¡¯s skin remained smooth and tender. It was a testament to her meticulous care. Jasmine used to be slender. But after eating and living well under Shermaine¡¯s care, she had be curvier than before. The room smelled faintly of Jasmine¡¯s perfume. Damien shrugged off his coat and draped it over her. The fabric carried his scent¨Csomething woodsy, intense. Jasmine found it oddlyforting. She thought, ¡®Scary as he looks, he¡¯s kind of thoughtful! Then reality hit. She bolted upright, clutching the coat around herself, legs pressed tightly together. ¡°S¨CSorry, I forgot this was your room.¡± She flushed with embarrassment as she nced at him. Damien¡¯s expression remained unreadable. Without a word, he walked over to the closet in a ck T¨Cshirt, grabbed fresh clothes from the wardrobe, and disappeared into the bathroom. The shower turned on. Through the frosted ss, Jasmine caught glimpses of his silhouette¨Ctall, broad¨Cshouldered, and powerfully built. Suddenly, her mind wandered into dangerous territory. Her throat went dry. A mental sh of Damien executing enemies snapped her back to sanity. She thought, ¡®What am I thinking? Lusting after him? Really? Now my hormones wake up?¡® Gracie yawned sleepily, her eyelids drooping. Jasmine hummed a luby, her gaze soft as she gently rocked Gracie until the baby drifted off. Once Gracie was asleep, Jasmine tucked Damien¡¯s discarded shirt around her like a tiny nket. A sudden chill made Jasmine sneeze. She wanted to fetch her clothes, but with Damien still in the shower and potential threats lurking outside, she dared not leave alone. Instead, she cautiously opened Damien¡¯s wardrobe and grabbed one of his shirts, slipping it on quickly. As she did, something ttered to the floor. It was a gun. Jasmine thought, ¡®A killer¡¯s wardrobe isn¡¯tplete without weapons.¡® She picked it up and tucked it back before shutting the door. Padding around the room, Jasmine checked the windows, locking each one securely. The guest room was spacious but impersonal, barely lived in. Jasmine thought, ¡®Damien probably only sleeps here. No wonder it feels so sterile.¡® The bathroom door clicked open. Damien stepped out, the scent of soap recing any lingering traces of blood. As an assassin, he never liked carrying that smell on him. Jasmine¡¯s breath hitched. Damien wore only loose sleep pants, water droplets glistening on his skin. Scars crisscrossed his torso, some old, some fresh. Each one only added to his raw, sexy allure. Curious, she asked, ¡°There are scar¨Cremoval treatments. Why don¡¯t you use them?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t need to,¡± Damien said tly. ¡°Why not?¡± Damien didn¡¯t exin. 13:43 Mon, 14 Jul Jasmine huffed, ¡°¡­ Uh, I borrowed your shirt. Hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± Damien nced at her. ¡°Return itter.¡± She nodded. ¡°Where will you steep?¡± ¡°The couch.¡± 65% 201 ¡°That¡¯s not ideal.¡± The couch was decent¨Csized, but for a man of Damien¡¯s height, it would be a cramped fit. Damien didn¡¯t respond. Grumbling, Jasmine flopped onto the bed and pulled the covers up. But sleep eluded her. Her thoughts kept drifting to Shermaine and Joshua¡¯s battle. In Summerbank, the pcey in ruins, and its grand halls reduced to rubble. The wreckage of fighter jets littered the ground like broken toys. High above, two mechas shed in a relentless duel. Shermaine¡¯s reflexes were razor¨Csharp, her evasions wless. But Apocalypse¡¯s pilot was faltering, fatigue dulling their reactions. A momentarypse, and Shermaine¡¯s cannon st struck true. Apocalypse plummeted, crashing through a wing of the pce. Yet the superweapon remained intact. Inside, Judy pried open a case, withdrawing a syringe filled with golden liquid. Without hesitation, she injected it into the pilot¡¯s arm. As the aura water surged through her veins, the pilot¡¯s head spun, nausea rising in her throat. Her expression twisted in pain. Then, with a guttural roar, she reactivated Apocalypse, its movements now erratic, frenzied. Under the influence of the overdose aura water, sheunched into a frenzy, shouting orders, ¡°Photon cannon, fire, Bazooka, fire. Frost ray, fire. Thunder cannon, fire.¡± The attacks came in a relentless barrage, each more devastating than thest. Smoke and fire engulfed the battlefield. The pce crumbled entirely. Nearby buildings toppled like dominoes. Half of Summerbank would be leveled if this continued. Judy grinned wildly. No one could survive this. She stared through Apocalypse¡¯s visual interface, searching for any sign of Shermaine. But in thick smoke, it was impossible. As the smoke cleared, Shermaine¡¯s battered red mecha emerged. She was alive. She had just dodged every strike. ¡°Again!¡± Judymanded. ¡°Use stronger weapons.¡± The pilot mmed a red button. A mechanical voice echoed through the cockpit. ¡°ess denied. Unauthorizedmand.¡± The pilot pressed it again, but the same response followed. ¡°ess denied. Unauthorizedmand.¡± Without the royal family¡¯s bloodline, Judy was locked out of Apocalypse¡¯s core functions. Her fury burned white¨Chot. Harry tried to soothe her. ¡°Princess Judy, stay calm. Let me attempt to hack its system.¡± ¡°Hurry,¡± Judy snapped. Harry¡¯s fingers flew across Orthish¡¯s keyboard. Ten minutester, he hit Enter, only for Orthish to sh red before short¨Ccircuiting. Apocalypse¡¯s Al had 158744 fried his Orthish. 20 ¡°Princess Judy, I¡¯m sorry. I failed.¡± Harry lowered his head. ¡°Useless!¡± Judy pped him. Hany didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°We must stall for time. Reinforcements are en route. We need to buy time.¡± Judy couldn¡¯t afford to lose Apocalypse or get captured. Even if her army arrivedter, it would be toote. Harry added, ¡°I¡¯ve sent men to Baykeep to capture Shermaine¡¯s daughter. With her as leverage, Shermaine and Joshua will surrender.¡± Judy¡¯s rage cooled instantly. ¡°You ordered a kidnapping?¡± ¡°Yes. They left the child behind.¡± ¡°Any updates?¡± ¡°Nothing yet.¡± Apocalypse¡¯s guardsy unconscious. Unseen by anyone, Joshua had entered the central control room and overheard the conversation. His eyes burned with fury. He held a loaded gun. Leaving Damien in Baykeep was the right call. Gracie would be safe. Joshua raised the gun, aiming squarely at Judy¡¯s head. A dying soldier gasped from the floor, ¡°Princess Judy¡­ behind you¡­¡± The warning finally snapped Harry to attention. He whirled around just as Joshua¡¯s gun fired. Several shots rang out. Harry lunged, shielding Judy. A bullet tore through his arm. Joshua didn¡¯t hesitate. His next shot targeted Apocalypse¡¯s pilot, but the mecha¡¯s defense system deflected the bullet. Harry ordered, ¡°Open the cryo¨Cchamber. Release the mutants!¡± A subordinate responded, ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Joshua fired again, aiming at Harry¡¯s leg. Harry cried out in pain, clutching his bleeding leg. Judy trembled, baffled why Apocalypse hadn¡¯t alerted her to Joshua¡¯s presence. Fear coiled in her gut. Joshua had no mercy for anyone but Shermaine. His methods were ruthless, even crueler than hers. Judy remembered how Simon had died. Joshua had blinded Simon and then thrown him alive into the deep sea to be devoured by sharks. Bending Joshua to Judy¡¯s will? It was a fantasy. Joshua was born to rule, not obey. Not everyone was like Harry, who remained loyal to Judy. ¡°Harry!¡± Judy cried out in panic. Harry gritted through the pain. ¡°Joshua, kill us, and your daughter dies too.¡± Joshua calmly reloaded. ¡°Eagle Assassins¡® best guard her.¡± ¡°My men are just as skilled.¡± 13:44 Mon, 14 Jul 265% ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Your daughter¡¯s life hangs on ours.¡± Joshua sneered, opening Orthish. He contacted Damien. Damien¡¯s voice crackled through Orthish. ¡°Boss.¡± Joshua didn¡¯t waste words. ¡°Where¡¯s Gracie?¡± The feed shifted to a bed where Jasmine slept soundly, Gracie cradled safely in her arms. Damien reported, ¡°She¡¯s asleep. We neutralized an assassin team half an hour ago.¡± Joshua gave a nod. ¡°Good.¡± Harry and Judy¡¯s faces drained of color. Just then, the mutants from the cryo¨Cchamber arrived, lunging at Joshua at feral speed. Joshua dodged effortlessly. For a moment, Judy and Harry thought they had a chance. But suddenly, one mutant locked eyes on them. Judy barely had time to gasp before the mutant¡¯s hand closed around her throat, lifting her off the ground. ¡°Princess Judy!¡± Harry screamed. A split secondter, a sickening snap echoed through the room. Judy¡¯s body went limp. AD Comment Send gift Nurse walking 519 Judy could never have imagined that the very mutant she unleashed would kill her. Joshua observed the scene with mild surprise, but felt no remorse. If it hadn¡¯t been for Judy¡¯s repeated attacks, especially her obsession with harming Shermaine, she wouldn¡¯t have ended up like this. Her death spared Joshua the trouble of pulling the trigger himself. The only one shattered was Harry. He threw himself at the mutant, shoving it aside with desperate strength before cradling Judy¡¯s body. His agonized wail echoed through the chamber. ¡°Princess Judy! No!¡± Yet, no matter how desperately he cried out, Judyy still. She was dead. Her neck snapped, eyes bulging in terror, lips parted in a final. ¡°Princess Judy¡­¡± Harry drowned in regret. If only he had been faster¡­ If only he hadn¡¯t been injured¡­ But fate never offered a second chance. Watching Harry¡¯s grief, Joshua understood his unwavering loyalty. It was love. Nothing else could exin such devotion. The mutants were relentless, their explosive strength a challenge even for Joshua. Dodging their attacks, he knocked out Apocalypse¡¯s pilot and dragged the unconscious body aside. Apocalypse came to a sudden stop. Outside, Shermaine sagged in relief as Apocalypse halted. Her mental stamina was spent. Exhaustion wed at her. She felt dizzy and heard a ringing in her ears. It was a sign of nausea. She closed her eyes, hoping to rest for a while. She willed herself to move and find Joshua right away, but her limbs refused. Joshua pressed his palm against a control panel. A mechanical voice announced, ¡°Bloodline analysis in progress. Result: 99% match. Wee, Commander. Apocalypse is fully activated. All permissions granted. Awaiting orders.¡± Apocalypse¡¯s Al synced with Joshua¡¯s consciousness, flooding his mind with the mecha¡¯s intricate schematics. Joshua was stunned, thinking, ¡®A marvel of engineering! ¡°Hostile behind you, Commander. Activating protective barrier,¡± the Al warned. The mutant lunging at Joshua was flung backward. A deafening crash shook the central control room. ¡°You¡¯re surrounded. Eliminate threats?¡± the Al asked. ¡°Do it,¡± Joshuamanded. Instantly, nozzles emerged from the ceiling, releasing a dense fog that filled the air. When it cleared, the mutantsy unconscious. Drones swooped in, hauling them away on cables, back to sleeping pods for cryogenic freezing. However, Judy¡¯s body and Harry were gone. Joshua frowned, ¡°Track Harry.¡± A blue hologram materialized, showing Harry carrying Judy¡¯s body into the pce¡¯s depths via an elevator. As Joshua had suspected, anything unusual usually meant trouble. ¡°Abnormal energy surge detected underground,¡± the Al reported. ¡°Explosion imminent in five minutes.¡± A number appeared before Joshua¡¯s eyes, climbing rapidly. He asked, ¡°What¡¯s the estimated damage radius?¡± A live damage radius simtion appeared¨Ca red circle expanding to three miles. Harry nned to bury them all. Joshua barked, ¡°Evacuate everyone within range.¡± The At responded, ¡°Acknowledged.¡± Joshua¡¯s gaze snapped to the epicenter of the impending explosion, and his heart lurched. Shermaine¡¯s downed red mechay motionless, directly over the st zone. Joshua tried contacting her through Orthish, but there was no response whatsoever. Nearby, Shirley and her forces had already evacuated without hesitation. Some civilians within the three¨Cmile radius had fled earlier, wary of the warzone. Others, now hearing the evacuation broadcast, scrambled into vehicles and sped away. Joshua maneuvered Apocalypse toward the red mecha. The ground here trembled violently, fissures splitting open like hungry jaws. A sinister purple glow pulsed underground, swelling toward detonation. Shermaine¡¯s mecha was wedged in a widening crevasse. Just as it began to slip into the abyss, Apocalypse swooped in and snatched it free. On the ground, desperate soldiers screamed for help at the sight of the soaring mecha. Joshua pried open the red mecha¡¯s cockpit, lifting unconscious Shermaine into his arms. He pressed a kiss on her cheek, his hands trembling with residual fear. Shermaine didn¡¯t wake, but she instinctively curled into his warmth, nuzzling against his chest. Joshua held her tighter. Then, ncing down at the stranded soldiers, he allowed a sliver of mercy. Apocalypse descended, its cargo bay gaping open. The soldiers wept with relief, shouting for theirrades as they surged toward salvation. The ground trembled violently with deafening roars, jolting Shermaine awake. Joshua cupped her face and kissed her deeply, so fiercely that Shermaine nearly lost her breath. When he finally pulled back, Shermaine gasped, ¡°What happened?¡± Joshua summarized the chaos that unfolded while she was unconscious. Shermaine frowned. She had expected Judy to fall by her or Joshua¡¯s hand, not be killed by her nation¡¯s mutant. Harry tried to drag everyone into Judy¡¯s grave. A fitting end for that pair. That cruelty was horrifying. The two of them really were a match. Shermaine asked, ¡°What¡¯s the situation now?¡± ¡°We save who we can, then leave,¡± Joshua replied. Shermaine understood. She would have done the same. Judy was dead. There was no need for more bloodshed. ¡°Evacuate in thirty seconds,¡± the Al warned. ¡°Understood.¡± Joshua nodded. On the mountain, Dave hupped, then jumped as a thunderous explosion lit up the horizon. ???????????? Floating into the air, it watched purple light engulf Summerbank¡¯s pce, reducing miles of structures to rubble in seconds. Dave knew exactly where Shermaine and Joshua were. A quick scan confirmed their stable vitals. It exhaled in relief. Meanwhile, Apocalypse hovered in the sky. Under the moonlight, its silver frame bathed in an ethereal glow. Harry¡¯s final act of vengeance hadn¡¯t reached Shermaine and Joshua, but many people perished in the st. News of Judy¡¯s death spread swiftly. The remaining soldiers in Summerbank surrendered. Soon, Shirley would ascend as the queen who unified the Kingdom of Xyperia. Once united, all military power would be redirected toward containing the mutants. Shirley and Judy had once been sisters, yet their fight for the throne had split them into enemies. Yet not all would bow easily. Some factions would resist and carve out their territories. Shermaine and Joshua had done enough. These struggles were no longer their concern. In Baykeep, Jasmine tossed restlessly in bed. In contrast, Damieny motionless on the couch, his breathing even. Jasmine wondered, ¡®How can he be so calm? Doesn¡¯t he care about Shermaine and Joshua?¡® Grabbing his coat, she tiptoed over, intending to drape it over him. The moment she leaned in, Damien¡¯s eyes snapped open, murderous. His hand shot out, mping around her throat. Jasmine choked, copsing against him. Recognizing her, Damien released his grip. Jasmine¡¯s forehead smacked into his chest as she coughed violently. ¡°Why approach me?¡± His voice was icy. Jasmine pushed herself up, cheeks flushed with anger. ¡°I was trying to be nice.¡± Damien said nothing. Infuriated by his indifference, Jasmine punched his chest. A feeble effort that didn¡¯t even make him blink. Momentster, Damien said tly, ¡°Done?¡± She huffed, ¡°No!¡± Damien stared at her. Jasmine felt the pain in her knuckles. Driven by sheer frustration, she straddled his waist and bit his neck. Damien¡¯s veins bulged. Feeling the pain, he moved to shove her off, then froze when his hand brushed something inappropriate. Jasmine tasted blood and recoiled, guilt shing through her at the sight of the wound. Damien¡¯s stormy gray eyes remained impassive. He simply lifted her off and deposited her onto the bed. ¡°Sleep if you¡¯re done.¡± 13:44 Mon, 14 Jul 1700
¡°I¡¯m worried about Shermaine and Joshua,¡± Jasmine admitted. ¡°They¡¯ll be fine.¡± Damien said calmly. ¡°Oh.¡± She pointed at his neck. ¡°You¡¯re bleeding.¡± Damien touched the mark, feeling the wet warmth of blood and saliva. He eyed her disheveled state andy back down without a word. Jasmine exhaled in relief, thinking, ¡®He¡¯s so forgiving.¡® Little did she know Damien, a cold¨Chearted assassin, never forgot a slight. And she could never guess how he would make her repay this one. AD Nurse walking 520 Chapter 520 The years¨Clong feud with Judy was finally over, but Shirley felt no triumph. Judy had been her sister, after all. Æø65%̨ 20 Shirley had imagined this end countless times, yet now that it had arrived, an unexpected sorrow weighed on her. But there was no time for grief. The future demanded her attention, and challenges stilly ahead. Shirley ordered teams to search for survivors in the st¡¯s aftermath, while the fallen would be unearthed and given proper burials. As for Judy and Harry? Their bodies had turned to ash. Nearby. Apocalypse loomed, its presence awe¨Cinspiring. Shermaine perched on its shoulder, sipping aura water in small gulps. When she tried to cap the bottle, Joshua insisted, ¡°Finish it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m full,¡± she protested. Her mecha piloting had drained her mental energy, and Joshua was about to coax her further when Dave¡¯s voice chirped from above. ¡°Sheary, I¡¯m here!¡± Davended atop Shermaine¡¯s head. It rarely approached Joshua. Their history wasplicated. Back when Dave had possessed Joshua¡¯s father¡¯s body, it had been a miserable experience. And during the time Dave was a cat, Joshua had always shooed it away. Shermaine smiled, ¡°Finished all the aura stones?¡± Dave pouted, ¡°I don¡¯t wanna eat them anymore.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°They¡¯re gross now.¡± Shermaineughed, ¡°Since when?¡± Dave curled into a ball. Once, aura stones were its favorite, but now? Fried chicken reigned supreme. ¡°Eat them up, and we¡¯ll go home sooner,¡± Shermaine coaxed. ¡°Then you can have all the fried chicken you want.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± For chicken, Dave would stomach those nd stones. Catching a whiff of sweetness, Dave zoomed toward Joshua¡¯s bottle and slurped the remaining aura water in one gulp. ¡°Sheary, this is yummy. Got more?¡± It was not as sweet as ice cream or milkshakes, but Dave was willing to ept it as a decent alternative. Shermaine was amused, thinking, ¡®This little glutton.¡® Joshua snatched Dave mid¨Cair and hurled it away. ¡°Noing back until you finish those stones.¡± Shermaine pinched his waist. ¡°Stop bullying Dave/ Joshua red at Dave. ¡°It¡¯s always clinging to you.¡± Shermaine smirked, recognizing Joshua¡¯s jealousy. ¡°Careful, or Dave might run away.¡± ¡°It hates this ce,¡± Joshua grumbled. Shermaine nodded. Dave didn¡¯t like this ce. It missed Wallington¡¯s culinary delights. 13:44 Mon, 14 Jul WD. Her stomach growled. Leaning into Joshua, she murmured, ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± Joshua pulled her closer. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Pasta.¡± Joshua carried her back to the cockpit. ¡°Sleep first. I¡¯ll wake you.¡± When Shermaine opened her eyes, a te of pasta awaited her, its aroma irresistible. 65% +20) In Baykeep, Jasmine woke to news of Summerbank¡¯s fall, Shermaine and Shirley¡¯s victory, and Judy¡¯s death. The news spread quickly. The kingdom buzzed with reactions¨Csome celebrated, others mourned. Jasmine felt both joy and sorrow. With the war over, Shermaine and Joshua would return to Wallington. That morning, Jasmine slumped at her desk, paperwork untouched. Damien entered and took one look at her. ¡°Get up.¡± ¡°No,¡± she mumbled. Damien yanked her upright. Jasmine red. ¡°What¡¯s your problem?¡± ¡°Meeting.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t wanna go.¡± Ignoring her, Damien hauled her toward the door. ¡°Put me down.¡± Jasmine kicked and squirmed. In a fit of pettiness, she wrapped her legs around his waist and tickled his ribs. After several failed attempts, she realized he wasn¡¯t affected at all. Frustrated, she aimed for his neck with her teeth. Damien¡¯s voice dropped to a warning growl. ¡°Try that again?¡± Jasmine froze, too intimidated to bite, yet perversely enthralled by Damien¡¯s dangerous aura. She wondered, dazed, ¡®Am I a masochist? How could I find this terrifying man so charming? If biting was off¨Climits, maybe¡­ licking?¡® Before she could stop herself, her tongue flicked over Damien¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple. Damien dropped her instantly. ¡°Ow!¡± Jasminended hard, rubbing her sore backside. ¡°Seriously? It was just a lick.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Damien said. Bystanders watched, fascinated. A man thought,/She licked Damien? Bold. Is she his kryptonite?¡® Within Eagle Assassins, Damien showed warmth only to Joshua and a select few. To everyone else, he was arctic. Jasmine smirked. ¡°Serves you right for scaring me.¡± Damien¡¯s expression darkened, his icy aura growing stronger. Her mncholy forgotten, Jasmine scrambled up and fled. Lingering meant risking real retaliation. After finishing the meeting and wrapping up the rest of her paperwork, night had already fallen. As soon as Jasmine was done, the first person on her mind was Gracie. ¡°I¡¯ming, cutie.¡± Jasmine pushed open the nursery door and saw Shermaine dangling a toy as Gracie giggled. ¡°Shermaine, you¡¯re back!¡± Jasmine beamed. Shermaine smiled, ¡°Thanks for looking after her.¡± ¡°My pleasure,¡± Jasmine said warmly. Meanwhile, Damien stood before Joshua. Joshua handed him a dossier. ¡°Shirley wants these targets eliminated. High priority.¡± Damien scanned the names. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not confident handling them all, you can split the jobs with others.¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯ll handle it alone.¡± Joshua nodded, then spotted the bite mark on Damien¡¯s neck. ¡°Jasmine left it?¡± Damien gave a small nod. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How did it feel?¡± Damien paused. ¡°Nothing special.¡± Joshua raised an eyebrow. ¡°Really?¡± Damien didn¡¯t respond. Joshua wasn¡¯t one to pry into his subordinates¡® personal lives. With a dismissive wave, Joshua sent him off. $20 As Damien left on his mission, Joshua took Shermaine and Gracie to explore other parts of the Kingdom of Xyperia. Jasmine joined the outing. Paperwork could wait. Emails would suffice. Normally, she could breeze through it in a couple of hours. Now, she cherished every moment with Shermaine and Joshua. That day, before leaving, Jasmine couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Where¡¯s Damien?¡± Strange how she had missed him after just a few days. Shermaine replied, ¡°He¡¯s on a mission.¡± ¡°What kind? Is it dangerous?¡± The concern slipped out before Jasmine could stop it. Shermaine studied her. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be. You can call him if you¡¯re worried.¡± Jasmine flushed. ¡°I¡¯m not worried about him. He bullied me when you were away.¡± Shermaine teased, ¡°Just wait till he bullies you. No amount of begging will help then,¡± Jasmine caught the yful tone and pouted, ¡°As if. Damien tolerates me at best.¡± She knew her ce well. Damien only put up with her because Joshua ordered him to guard her and the baby. Otherwise, he would have ignored her 3/4 13:44 Mon, 14 Jul 0 entirely. Grinning, Jasmine added, ¡°I¡¯m rich now. Finding men is easy.¡± Shermaine smiled, ¡°Finding the right one? Not so much.¡± Jasmine blinked. ¡°Really?¡± Their lighthearted banter continued as they explored. All while poor Dave faced its mountain of aura stones, fighting the urge to sob. 05% Time flew by. Gracie was already three months old. During these past few weeks, Shermaine collected curiosities, storing them in Apocalypse for future study. Every skill she had learned here would be put to good use back home. The Kingdom of Xyperia¡¯s politicalndscape remained turbulent, but no faction dared cross Shermaine or Joshua. Their reputation preceded them. Most scrambled to curry favor instead. Another month slipped by. Dave swallowed thest aura stone, let out a seismic burp, and finally felt its energy reserves peak. With a quick mental scan to locate Shermaine and Joshua, Dave vanished. At that very moment, Shermaine and Joshua had just finished handling a mutant. This one resembled a cockroach, towering over seven feet tall. Defeated but not yet disposed of, its corpsey sprawled before Shermaine, who masked and examined it with fascination. Jasmine gagged. She couldn¡¯t stand that stench. Shermaine carefully extracted the mutant¡¯s heart and sealed it in a cryo¨Ccontainer. Just then, Dave materialized overhead. ¡°Sheary, I¡¯m fully charged. Let¡¯s go home!¡± 4/4 Nurse walking 521 The thought of returning home sent Dave into a frenzy of excitement. It could hardly wait to whisk Shermaine and Joshua back to Wallington. Jasmine eyed the floating blue orb warily. She thought, ¡®It¡¯s cute, but what kind of creature is this? And it can even talk.¡® Her curiosity faded into mncholy as reality sank in. Shermaine and Joshua would leave. Shermaine peeled off her gloves and pinched Dave¡¯s cheek. ¡°Patience.¡± Dave iled its tiny appendages. ¡°When? I¡¯m ready.¡± ¡°After we finish touring the city and wrap up loose ends in Baykeep.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± 65% C20 Dave could wait a little longer. Its attention quickly shifted to Gracie, the cute baby in the stroller. ¡°Hello, little one. I¡¯m Dave!¡± Dave chirped,nding beside Gracie. Gracie blinked up at it, her big eyes curious, then promptly spat up a mouthful of milk, sttering Dave¡¯s face. Unfazed, Dave flew closer and nted a kiss on her cheek. Joshua snatched Dave mid¨Cair and flicked it away before tenderly wiping Gracie¡¯s mouth. He thought with a warm smile, ¡®What a little glutton.¡® In the days that followed, Jasmine carried a quiet sadness, though she hid it well to avoid dampening Shermaine¡¯s good mood. That night, they soaked in a hot spring, steam curling around them as Gracie floated nearby in a tiny boat. The air was fragrant, the sky studded with stars. Jasmine¡¯s cheeks flushed pink from the heat. ¡°Shermaine, can I go with you?¡± Shermaine smiled, ¡°You could. But would you truly leave Baykeep behind?¡± Jasmine¡¯s lifelong dream had been to reim and protect Baykeep her ancestral home. Torn between her duty and her desire to stay with Shermaine, she sighed, ¡°I have to guard Baykeep. I can¡¯t just leave.¡± ¡°Then do it well,¡± Shermaine said, ruffling her hair. ¡°Remember what I told you? Leaving doesn¡¯t mean forever.¡± Jasmine understood, but still, sadness filled her eyes. ¡°I know. I just don¡¯t want to be alon¨¦ again.¡± Shermaine knew exactly how Jasmine felt. After finally finding two family members, the thought of losing them was unbearable. But gathering woulde to an end. Shermaine and Joshua didn¡¯t belong here. ¡°There¡¯s a solution,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°Huh?¡± Jasmine blinked, curiosity in her eyes. Shermaine smiled, ¡°Find a man. Someone who¡¯ll grow old with you.¡± The dyed departure was for Jasmine¡¯s sake. Shermaine and Joshua were worried about her. They needed to ensure she could survive without them. Jasmine¡¯s face reddened further. ¡°You said finding the right one is hard.¡± Shermaine nodded. ¡°It is. But if you¡¯re willing, I¡¯ll gather every worthy man in the Kingdom of Xyperia for you to choose from.¡± 13.44 65% The idea was tempting, yet Jasmine¡¯s mind inexplicably conjured Damien¡¯s face. She thought, I must be insane. Falling for an assassin with no affection for me? Would he ever agree? Could I even force him?¡® Jasmine shook her head. ¡°Never mind.¡± Shermaine saw right through her. ¡°You already like someone, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°N¨CNo.¡± ¡°Is it Damien?¡± Jasmine shook her head. Shermaine raised an eyebrow. ¡°Really?¡± After a pause, Jasmine nodded. ¡°Good. Then I¡¯ll start the matchmaking when we return.¡± No amount of protest could sway Shermaine. Her mind was made up. The next day, after exploring Limodan, they returned to Baykeep. An hourter, they arrived. Everything was as they had left it. Jasmine learned Damien hadpleted his mission days ago, but he had been injured. Restless, she wanted to check on him, but at the same time, she felt awkward about going to see him. After lying in bed for a while, she opened her wardrobe, stuffed that shirt into a bag, and ran outside. Standing in front of Damien¡¯s door, Jasmine knocked several times before it finally opened. Damien was as cold as ever, but his face looked pale and tired. His voice was hoarse. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°I¡¯m returning your shirt,¡± Jasmine said, handing it over. Damien took it without a word and started to close the door. ¡°Wait.¡± Jasmine stretched on her tiptoes, pressing a hand to his forehead. ¡°You¡¯re burning up!¡± Damien brushed her off. ¡°Not your concern.¡± He had pushed himself hard afterpleting the mission, and naturally, his body was paying the price. But it was just a fever. A little rest and some medicine would fix it. Pushing past him, Jasmine barged in. ¡°You saved my life. I should return the favor.¡± She dragged him back to bed. ¡°Lie down. I¡¯ll call a doctor.¡± Too weak to argue, Damien relented, sinking back onto the bed. Jasmine tucked him in and called Shermaine. Shermaine answered, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jasmine said, ¡°Damien has a fever. Can youe?¡± ¡°On my way,¡± Shermaine replied. Damien frowned, ¡°It¡¯s unnecessary.¡± 2/4 * 65% ¡°Nonsense!¡± Jasmine huffed. ¡°A fever left untreated could fry your brain.¡± Damien sighed. ¡°You should take better care of yourself,¡± Jasmine scolded. Damien¡¯s eyes darkened as he pressed a hand to his forehead, ¡°You¡¯re loud.¡± Jasmine fell silent. Shermaine arrived with a medical kit. Damien¡¯s fever stemmed from an infected wound. After cleaning and redressing it, she prescribed antibiotics and fever reducers. ¡°Keep the wound dry and make sure he takes these on time,¡± Shermaine instructed. Jasmine nodded earnestly. ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Good. He¡¯s your responsibility now.¡± ¡°Thank you, Shermaine.¡± Shermaine teased, ¡°Damien is the patient. Why are you thanking me?¡± Jasmine flushed. ¡°Don¡¯t tease me again.¡± ¡°If you like him, go for it.¡± Shermaine grinned. Jasmine bit her lower lip and retreated to Damien¡¯s room. Damien was already asleep. Jasmine watched him for a while, then tentatively touched his face. His skin wasn¡¯t as smooth as she had imagined, but its warmth sent a thrill through her. After ordering groceries online, she spent the evening cooking soup. The sun was setting. Jasmine finished making the soup and gently woke Damien up. Damien sniffed the aroma. A faint scent of broth reached his nose, and he swallowed slightly. Jasmine handed him a bowl. ¡°Eat before sleeping.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Damien muttered, uncharacteristically soft. She smiled, ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± Damien studied her briefly before drinking. The soup was perfect. He finished it quickly. Jasmine held the medical supplies, cheeks pink. ¡°Time to change your bandages. Take off your shirt.¡± ¡°I can do it.¡± Damien declined. ¡°You¡¯re sick. Stop being stubborn,¡± Jasmine insisted. After a pause, Damien set the bowl aside and undid his buttons, revealing toned, sun¨Ckissed skin and a wrapped waist. Jasmine¡¯s heart raced as she stared, swallowing hard. She carefully removed the old bandage, exposing the raw, angry¨Clooking wound. She cleaned it with feather¨Clight touches, applied ointment, and secured fresh gauze. Half an hourter, she finally said, ¡°Done.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Damien responded, 3/4 7044 After finishing, Jasmine didn¡¯t leave right away. She handed him the pills with a ss of water. As drowsiness imed him, Damien drifted off, with Jasmine still by his side. Jasmine kept her distance. She hadn¡¯t forgotten how he had nearly choked herst time. After checking his temperature and seeing it had dropped significantly, she sighed in relief and stretched. Caring for the injured Damien was harder than tending to Gracie, but Jasmine didn¡¯t mind. Exhausted, she yawned and eyed the space beside him. She thought, ¡®He probably won¡¯t get mad if I take a quick nap here, right?¡® Without overthinking, shey down next to him. +20 The next morning, Damien woke early, his arm numb from the weight pressing against it. He opened his eyes to find Jasmine clinging to him. For once, he looked genuinely stunned. Slowly, he pulled his arm free, his expression unreadable. For the next two days, Jasmine continued her ¡°caretaking¡°, though Damien¡¯s fever had broken by the second day. She used his healing wound as an excuse to keep visiting. Jasmine was redressing his wound. The injury had already started scabbing over. After applying the medicine, she eyed his abs and, unable to resist, poked one. Damien instantly seized her wrist. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± Jasmine feigned innocence. ¡°I just wanted to see if they were as hard as they looked. Not like I was trying to flirt or anything.¡± In the Kingdom of Xyperia, where people were generally pretty open¨Cminded, she had barely even held a man¡¯s hand before. Damien released her. ¡°I¡¯m healed. You don¡¯t have toe tomorrow.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Jasmine¡¯s heart sank. She thought, ¡®Fine. He¡¯s going to be cold again. I might as well get something out of it!¡® She tilted her head up, grinning. ¡°Let me touch them one more time. Just consider it payment for taking care of you.¡± ¡°No.¡± Damien refused. Jasmine huffed, ¡°Why not?¡± Damien buttoned his shirt. ¡°I¡¯ll repay you another way.¡± Hurt but hiding it, Jasmine pouted, ¡°Humph. Once Shermaine finds me a man, I¡¯ll touch his abs every day.¡± 4/4 Nurse walking 522 Damien remained stoic, his expression unreadable as if Jasmine¡¯s words meant nothing to him. Yet an inexplicable irritation gnawed at him. He thought, ¡®ying matchmaker for Jenny? That doesn¡¯t sound like something Mrs. York would do. Jasmine is probably joking! Jasmine kept ncing back as she left, but Damien never followed. She actually hoped he would chase after her and coax her back, but reality was cruel. She thought, I¡¯m such a coward.¡® Confessing her feelings terrified her. If Damien rejected her¡­ She couldn¡¯t even imagine that. Damien stayed in Baykeep to look after Jasmine on Joshua¡¯s orders. With Eagle Assassins headquartered here, Damien managed operations in Joshua¡¯s absence. Even after Shermaine and Joshua left, Damien would stay to protect Jasmine. However, if Jasmine confessed and ruined their dynamic, the result would be unbearable for her. Later that night, Shermaine found Jasmine at a bar, her cheeks flushed from drinking. ¡°Trouble with Damien?¡± Shermaine asked, sliding into the seat beside Jasmine. Jasmine turned, pouting, ¡°Shermaine, he wouldn¡¯t even let me touch his abs. He hates me.¡± Shermaine was amused. ¡°That¡¯s how you gauge his feelings?¡± She hadn¡¯t expected Jasmine to be so straightforward. Jasmine downed the rest of her drink and mmed the ss onto the table. ¡°He brushed my hand away.¡± She lowered her head, looking discouraged. ¡°Shermaine, he doesn¡¯t like me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± ¡°Positive.¡± Romance hade effortlessly for Shermaine and Joshua, Advising Jasmine was tricky. Shermaine said, ¡°Then find someone else.¡± Jasmine blinked. ¡°Just like that?¡± ¡°Or keep drinking.¡± ¡°Wait. Can you drink?¡± Shermaine usually avoided alcohol, but tonight, she missed the taste. ¡°A little won¡¯t hurt. I¡¯ll join you.¡± Jasmine grinned. ¡°You¡¯re so sweet.¡± Shermaine signaled the bartender. ¡°Your finest.¡± Recognizing them, the bartender nodded. ¡°Right away, Ms. Hanks, Ms. Farrington.¡± The bar pulsed with deafening music as bodies swayed on the dance floor. Shermaine hadn¡¯t drunk for a long time. The first sip left her craving more. Jasmine raised her ss. ¡°Cheers!¡± ¡°Cheers.¡± They clinked sses and drank. Jasmine hupped loudly. A man approached, clearly targeting Jasmine. Shermaine¡¯s intimidating aura kept others at bay. 73.44 TAJUL The man was decent looking, offering a charming smile. ¡°Hello, beauty. May I have this dance?¡± Jasmine red ¡°No. Go away.¡± Undeterred, the man leaned closer. ¡°I¡¯m serious. I¡¯ve been watching you. You need fun, and I can give it to you.¡± His hand reached for her hair. Disgusted, Jasmine drained her ss before grabbing her bottle and smashing it over the man¡¯s head, Blood dripped down his face. She exhaled in relief, then kicked him. ¡°Creep!¡± Shermaine pulled Jasmine back, amused. ¡°Enough. You¡¯ll kill him.¡± Jasmine snorted, ¡°He deserves it.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Shermaine signaled the bartender to have security drag that man out. The man cursed, but the crowd onlyughed. As the night deepened, the bar¡¯s energy surged. Watching Jasmine dance on stage, Shermaine used Orthish to contact Joshua. ¡°Come get us. Bring Damien.¡± Half an hourter, Joshua and Damien arrived at Allure, Baykeep¡¯srgest nightclub. Damien frowned. He wasn¡¯t fond of ces like this. Joshua found Shermaine at the bar, surrounded by empty sses. His hand settled on her waist as he inhaled the scent of premium liquor. ¡°How much did you drink?¡± Shermaine tilted her head. ¡°Not too much.¡± ¡°Let me taste.¡± Joshua kissed her deeply. Shermaine, dizzy from the alcohol, melted into him, arms looping around his neck. Jasmine danced along with the music. She had taken dance lessons before, and her hips swayed, drawing cheers from the crowd. Damien¡¯s gaze locked onto her, a flicker of anger in his eyes, but he stayed put. 1 Joshua nudged Damien as he passed with Shermaine. ¡°Take Jasmine home.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Damien pushed through the crowd, yanking Jasmine off the stage. Stumbling, Jasmine winced at his grip, but seeing it was him, she didn¡¯t resist. Outside the club, Jasmine swayed, her vision blurry with tears. ¡°Slow down.¡± Damien kept striding ahead, ignoring her. Jasmine¡¯s chest tightened. Just when she was about to cry, Damien¡¯s pace eased. She blinked up at his back, dazed. Wearing high heels and not watching where she was going, she suddenly stepped on a banana peel. She stumbled, a sharp pain shooting through her ankle. Tears spilled instantly. Damien turned, his expression icy. Jasmine sobbed. She thought, ¡®Damn it. It hurts.¡® Crouching down, Damien examined her swollen ankle. His touch made her gasp, ¡°Gentler.¡± ¡°No fractures.¡± Damien stood up. ¡°Just ice it a few times and rest for a couple of days.¡± Jasmine spread her arms. ¡°I can¡¯t walk. Damien, carry me.¡± Damien stared at her without a word. Jasmine jutted out her chin, tears still glistening. ¡°Carry me.¡± AD Nurse walking 523 65% Jasmine looped her arms around his neck, resting her head against his shoulder, a smile ying on her lips. Even after his earlier rejection, she couldn¡¯t help but feel content now. She thought, ¡®If only he weren¡¯t so cold¡­ If only he could be gentle with me¡­ But the alcohol soon pulled her under, and she drifted off to sleep. Meanwhile, Shermaine was far from sleepy. Drunk and restless, she turned her attention to Joshua. In the car, she tugged at his shirt, popping a button loose. His chest peeked through. She removed his sses, cupped his face, and pressed a kiss on his eyelids. ¡°You¡¯re mine.¡± Her lips were soft, warm. Joshua¡¯s throat bobbed. Shermaine¡¯s kisses trailed down his cheeks. Tonight, she was unusually bold. The sight of her, flushed and teasing, reminded Joshua of their engagement party, when she had been just as intoxicating. ¡°Be good. Wait till we get home.¡± ¡°No.¡± Shermaine tilted his chin up. ¡°I want you now.¡± Joshua¡¯s gaze burned. Thankfully, the car¡¯s Al was driving. No human driver around could overhear their heated exchange. When he tried to speak, Shermaine pressed a finger to his lips. ¡°No objections.¡± Then, guiding his hand to her chest, she whimpered, ¡°It hurts. Rub it for me.¡± Joshua had no intention of resisting. With a quick voicemand to the A1, he leaned close to her ear. ¡°Will I get a rewardter?¡± Shermaine tugged at him impatiently. ¡°Hurry up.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Joshua hit the privacy switch, and the windows darkened. The Kingdom of Xyperia had few traffic lights. At this hour, the streets were nearly empty, allowing the car to speed through the night. In the car, Joshua¡¯s jacket draped over Shermaine¡¯s shoulders as she leaned against him, lips slightly parted, breathing softly. His skilled hands had worked their magic, leaving her rxed. This had be routine for themtely. The car carried a faint, milky sweetness. Joshua wiped his hands with a tissue. ¡°Feel better?¡± Shermaine hummed, tilting her face up to kiss him. ¡°Your reward,¡± she murmured when they parted. ¡°Just that?¡± Joshua teased. ¡°There¡¯s more.¡± Shermaine¡¯s teeth grazed his earlobe, voice dropping to a whisper. ¡°You love mechas, don¡¯t you? Let¡¯s go there.¡± Joshua¡¯s grip on her waist tightened. His eyes, usually sharp, softened with affection and something darker. Drunk Shermaine was irresistible. He chuckled, the sound low and warm against her neck, ¡°No rush. Here¡¯s fine.¡± At the city lord¡¯s mansion, Damien had brought Jasmine back to her room. Now awake, she sat on the sofa, fingers twisting the hem of her shirt. Damien knelt before her, carefully wrapping her sprained ankle with gauze after applying a cooling spray. ¡°Have a good rest,¡± he said, standing. 1/3 ??????????? 201 Jasmine caught his wrist. ¡°I¡¯m not tired.¡± The nap on the way back had sobered her up. Damien looked down at her, his expression neutral but not cold. Jasmine didn¡¯t want him to leave. ¡°You didn¡¯t let me touch your abs. Stay and y a game with me. Consider it payment for taking care of you.¡± Damien didn¡¯t refuse. ¡°Which one?¡± ¡°Snowy Witch.¡± ¡°Wait here.¡± Ten minutester, Damien returned with two VR helmets. Snowy Witch was a neural¨Clinked holographic game. Inside the virtual world, Damien¡¯s character was an assassin, while Jasmine yed a witch. He saved her repeatedly during gamey. Jasmine felt embarrassed. She thought, ¡®Even in games, I¡¯m just dead weight.¡® By 3 a.m., exhausted, she fell asleep mid¨Cgame, still wearing her helmet. Damien tried rousing her, then gave up. Removing her helmet, he lifted her onto the bed. Jasmine suddenly yanked him down. He lost his bnce and ended up falling onto the bed beside her, bracing himself with one arm. Jasmine mistook him for the pillow she usually hugged in bed. Instinctively, she clung to him like a teddy bear, her dress riding up her thighs. Damien tried to move away, but when his hand brushed against her skin, he froze. For the first time, he had wasted hours humoring a woman¡¯s whims. And now, staring at her sleeping face, something long¨Cdormant stirred in his chest. The following day, Jasmine woke with a pounding headache. Soon, she spotted painkillers by her bedside. She thought happily, swallowing the pills, ¡®Damien¡¯s so thoughtful.¡¯ Checking the time, Jasmine gasped, ¡°Shermaine was supposed to teach me mecha piloting today.¡± She dressed hastily, ate breakfast, and hurried to Shermaine¡¯s suite. Dave was entertaining Gracie inside. Joshua wasn¡¯t around. Jasmine asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Shermaine?¡± ¡°She¡¯s still asleep,¡± Dave said. Jasmine hadn¡¯t expected that. Usually, Shermaine would¡¯ve been up by now. Butst night¡¯s drinking exined it. ¡°I¡¯ll check on her,¡± Jasmine said. ¡°The devil said not to disturb her,¡± Dave warned. But it was toote. Jasmine was already tiptoeing in. Shermaine was still deep asleep in the dimly lit room. Jasmine pulled open the curtains, letting sunlight spill over the blue sheets where Shermainey. The sudden brightness made Shermaine frown¡® slightly. Jasmine crouched beside the bed. ¡°Shermaine, weren¡¯t you supposed to teach me mecha piloting today?¡± Shermaine blinked groggily. ¡°What time is it?¡± Her voice was rough, hoarse. ¡°ape 185#* Jamins repling Shemain up the Eisbet slipping to real faint red marketed as a segm¡® Fick Sn?f Shermaine¡¯s war backachel, shes ofst night flickering in her mind the covered a faca elth bath hands Jasmine stammered, ¡°Thermaine, you you and Jachus.¡± She couldn¡¯t even finish speaking. She hadn¡¯t arpacted joshua to take advantage of Shermaine¡¯s deben state like this. ¡°You there are really close.¡± Shermaine et embarrassed. ¡°Sorry, Jasmine. Let¡¯s reschedule the mecha lesson for tomorrow.¡± ¡°Rest well Jasmine stood, grinning ¡°I¡¯ll leave you alone.¡± Outside, Jasmine felt restless. She decided to find Damien and have lunch with him. But when she spotted him, her stomach twisted. A stunning woman with red hair stood beside Damien, leaning against a sleek sports car. She smiled brightly. Damien walked up to the woman, and she rested her hand lightly on his arm. Without hesitation, he got into the car with her and drove off Jasmine¡¯s vision blurred. Her chest tightened with jealousy as she thought, ¡®He allows that woman to touch him? But he acted like even a single touch from me disgusted him.¡® 3/3 AD Nurse walking 524 Chapter 524 Jasmine¡¯s curiosity about the mysterious woman gnawed at her. She sought out Teddy for answers. Teddy had fully recovered and was now handling business affairs. When Jasmine arrived, he greeted her politely. ¡°Ms. Farrington.¡± Ramor had it Joshua would soon depart, leaving Eagle Assassins under Jasmine¡¯s nominal leadership, though Damien would handle the day¨Cto¨Cday operations. Teddy didn¡¯t mind this arrangement at all. Jasmine smiled warmly, ¡°Just call me Jasmine.¡± Teddy nodded. ¡°What brings you here?¡± Noticing others nearby, she said, ¡°I¡¯d like to speak privately.¡± Teddy dismissed everyone else in the room. Once alone, Jasmine asked, ¡°You and Damien are close, right?¡± ¡°We are.¡± Teddy nodded. When he had been in trouble before, Damien had saved him. ¡°Then you must know him well.¡± ¡°Fairly well.¡± Jasmine hesitated. ¡°Do you know who the woman visiting him earlier was?¡± ¡°A woman?¡± Teddy blinked. Damien was cold and reserved. He hardly ever had women around. Teddy thought, ¡®Interesting. Someone finally caught his eye? What kind of woman could it be? But seeing how concerned Jasmine is¡­ Is she into him?¡® Damien¡¯s icy demeanor usually scared women off, unless it was mission¨Crted. Jasmine described that woman. ¡°Red hair, very pretty. Have you ever seen her?¡± Teddy thought hard. ¡°No.¡± Jasmine slumped. ¡°Oh. Thanks anyway.¡± As she left, she scolded herself inwardly, ¡®I¡¯m losing it over Damien. Pathetic.¡® Unrequited feelings were torture. Distracted, Jasmine made multiple errors in her paperwork. Thankfully, her vignt assistant caught them. Shortly after Jasmine left Shermaine¡¯s room, Joshua returned. Despitest night¡¯s indulgence, he looked refreshed, even more so than usual. Shermainey in bed, limbs heavy with exhaustion, stomach growling. Joshua sat beside her. ¡°How do you feel?¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t respond. Memories of their engagement party resurfaced¨Chow she had drunkenly demanded Joshua attend to her. Even then, she had been drawn to him, though her usual restraint masked it. Alcohol, however, stripped her defenses bare. Last night, intoxicated and uninhibited, she had clung to him with desperate need. No wonder he had lost control, keeping her awake until dawn. Joshua leaned closer, his voice a low murmur in her ear. ¡°Ignoring me?¡± ?? ???? Shermaine turned slightly, voice hoarse. ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± Joshua¡¯s gaze was soft. He had been relentlessst night, but it was all because she was irresistible. The memory of her possessive kisses still stirred him. Truth be told, he loved it when she showed her desire. Scooping Shermaine up, Joshua carried her to the bathroom, gently wiping her face with a damp towel. ¡°Oatmeal for now. We¡¯ll have a proper meal tonight.¡± Shermaine grumbled. Joshua kissed her rosy lips, then brushed his fingers between her thighs. ¡°Still sore?¡± ¡°A little,¡± Shermaine whispered. Joshua had applied ointmentst night. Without it, she would be in far worse shape. Just then, her stomach growled again. Joshua chuckled, tucking her back into bed. Shermaine loungedzily, waiting to be fed. After a while, Joshua spoon¨Cfed her oatmeal until she was half¨Cfull, then let her drift back to sleep.. Night had fallen. Jasmine waited outside Damien¡¯s door for hours until her legs grew numb and drowsiness set in before he finally returned. Spotting her, Damien was puzzled. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I¡­ I was just passing by,¡± Jasmine stammered. Damien didn¡¯t buy it. With a faint nce, he pressed his finger on the scanner and entered the room. Jasmine followed. ¡°I wanted to see you.¡± Damien stopped abruptly. Jasmine bumped into his back, inhaling the faint trace of a woman¡¯s perfume clinging to him. Jealousy red. She thought, ¡®He spent the whole day with that woman.¡® Turning, Damien asked, ¡°Satisfied now?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Jasmine lowered her head, nose stinging. ¡°Do you hate me?¡± ¡°No.¡± Perhaps sensing her distress, Damien¡¯s tone was uncharacteristically neutral. ¡°I need to shower.¡± Jasmine clutched his sleeve. ¡°Wait. Who was that red¨Chaired woman today?¡± Damien¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°I¡¯m just curious.¡± Jasmine bit her lower lip. ¡°You¡¯re so reserved. Why would a gorgeous woman seek you out? Even Teddy doesn¡¯t know her.¡± The moment the words left her mouth, regret flooded in. She had crossed a line, probing Damien¡¯s privacy through his friend. She looked up at him, her heart skipping a beat. Damien¡¯s expression hardened. Startled, Jasmine recoiled, releasing his sleeve. Damien said coldly, ¡°I don¡¯t like people prying into my life.¡± For an assassin, privacy was sacred. Even Teddy didn¡¯t know his past. 2/3 Tears welled in Jasmine¡¯s eyes. ¡°Sorry,¡± she whispered before bolting, too afraid to hear more heartbreaking words. Damien almost reached for her, but she was already gone. A rare thought struck him, ¡®Was I too harsh just now?¡± Nurse walking 525 Jasmine wasn¡¯t one to tough things out. Back in her room, she copsed onto the bed, tears streaming. Between sobs, she grabbed a pillow and pummeled it, pretending it was Damien. ¡°How dare you treat me like that! Jerk!¡± Once the storm passed, shey staring at the ceiling. She thought, If it hurts this much now, what happens when I fall deeper? Damien is all wrong for me. He¡¯s cold and unfeeling. I want someone warm and devoted. He¡¯s none of that. And he¡¯s already taken! The memory of that perfume made Jasmine seethe. She thought, ¡®Why torture myself over him? I have to let go! The next morning, Shermaine woke early for high¨Cintensity training. A day of rest had fully restored her. Jasmine showed up while Shermaine was training. Her eyes were puffy and red¨Crimmed, and she looked pale. Shermaine raised an eyebrow. ¡°What did you dost night?¡± ¡°Binged a show.¡± Jasmine lied. Shermaine¡¯s gaze lingered skeptically. Jasmine fidgeted. ¡°What¡¯s first?¡± Shermaine said, ¡°Train with me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Jasmine nodded. Shermaine didn¡¯t press. She had a feeling this had something to do with Damien, but since Jasmine didn¡¯t want to talk about it, she dropped it. Jasmine struggled through the run, legs turning to jelly by the end. Shermain¨¨, however, breezed through effortlessly. Returning, they found Joshua and Damien waiting. Jasmine¡¯s face soured at the sight of Damien. Joshua handed them water and towels. Damien stepped forward. ¡°Jasmine, we need to talk. Alone.¡± Jenny shot back, ¡°I¡¯m busy.¡± She thought bitterly, ¡®He probably wants to finish what he startedst night. Another warning to stay out of his business.¡® Her tone turned sharp. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I swear I won¡¯t ask about your privacy ever again.¡± Damien¡¯s eyes darkened. Chugging her water, Jasmine turned to Shermaine. ¡°When do I start mecha training?¡± ¡°Now,¡± Shermaine smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Jasmine skipped after her. Damien¡¯s expression darkened dangerously. Joshua observed with quiet amusement, having no intention of intervening. It was far too interesting. Besides, Damien¡¯s reaction spoke volumes. The 13:45 Mon, 14 Jul WOD only things that ever unsettled the unppable assassin were mission failures and Jasmine. Jasmine resolutely ignored Damien¡¯s presence, pointedly avoiding any mention of the red¨Chaired woman. When Damien attempted to approach her several times, she deliberately evaded him, not wanting to see the man who had hurt her. Jasmine¡¯s days were consumed by rigorous mecha training under Shermaine¡¯s guidance. Within a week, Jasmine could pilot the mecha with surprisingpetence. But nights were torturous. Anxiety gnawed at Jasmine¨Cnot just over Damien, but the looming departure of Shermaine and Joshua. Every skill mastered brought their farewell closer. Exhaustion finally imed Jasmine. One afternoon, dizzy from sleep deprivation, she copsed mid¨Ctraining, tumbling into ake and emerging with a sprained neck and scraped limbs.- When Shermaine heard what happened, she was furious and amused. But when she learned that Damien had pulled Jasmine out of the water himself, taken her to get treated, and then carried her back to her room, her mood softened. Shermaine went to see Jasmine and found Damien keeping vigil by the sleeping girl¡¯s bedside. ¡°How is she?¡± Shermaine asked in a low voice. ¡°Minor injuries,¡± Damien replied. Shermaine examined Jasmine. These superficial wounds could be healed within days. Then, she said, ¡°Damien, I need you to handle something.¡± Damien said, ¡°Go ahead, please.¡± ¡°In one week, I¡¯ll host a banquet.¡± Shermaine produced intricate designs for a gown and matching shoes. ¡°Have these tailored to Jasmine¡¯s measurements by a master craftsman.¡± She hadn¡¯t been joking before when she said she wanted to find Jasmine a boyfriend. This matchmaking banquet was very much real. 06 AD Comment Send gift No Ads Nurse walking 526 Chapter 526 Damien didn¡¯t take the design sketch 5 held out right away. ¡®Why is Mrs. York only making a dress for Jasmine? And what is her reason for throwing this party?¡® Several questions popped into Damien¡¯s head all at once. Shermaine, acting like she didn¡¯t notice his confused look, asked, ¡°What¡¯s up? Got something to ask me?¡± Damien did want to ask. But he pushed that puzzle aside, held back, and took the sketch. ¡°No, Mrs. York.¡± Shermaine said softly, ¡°All right then.¡± She thought, ¡®It¡¯s fine that he didn¡¯t ask. Once the party starts, that¡¯s when things get lively¡® She was looking forward to seeing how Damien would react then. Damien turned and left. The truth was, Shermaine wasn¡¯t sure of his reaction. Damien kept his thoughts well hidden, and that probably had a lot to do with his background and past. She knew she wasn¡¯t good at showing her feelings either, but Damien seemed even more unaware and reserved than her. Shermaine thought back to when Joshua had tried to win her over. Even though she¡¯d been new to love, she¡¯d known what it meant to feel her heart race and to like someone. But Damien didn¡¯t seem to care much about Jasmine. At least, Shermaine couldn¡¯t see that he did. Jasmine might be timid, but from the way she¡¯dined now and then, she¡¯d definitely tried to flirt with Damien. But every time, the result was the same. He¡¯d just brushed her off. Shermaine felt a little sorry for Jasmine. Then she thought of Roy. He¡¯d fallen for Molly the first time he saw her. Shermaine wondered if he¡¯d managed to get her to go out with him yet. Molly had gone to see Roy during her visit to Wallington. If Roy had tried hard enough, he should have won her over by now. After all, he was affectionate and clingy. With the party, Sherma?ne would sort things out for Jasmine first. Then she could go home, feeling at ease. If Damien really had no feelings for Jasmine, Shermaine would pick a good man for her, someone who¡¯d keep herpany. Jasmine was fast asleep. She hadn¡¯t slept well for days. This injury, in a way, was a blessing in disguise. Jasmine slept until the next afternoon. She woke up because she was starving. When she tried to get up, she found her hands, feet, and neck all hurt. She could barely move. She thought, ¡®Does being dumped bring bad luck along with it? Dammit.¡® She was both thirsty and hungry. She called, ¡°Anyone here?¡± Right away, a female nurse, ire Dunce, came in from outside. ¡°Ms. Farrington, you¡¯re awake.¡± Jasmine nodded. ¡°I¡¯m thirsty. Can you get me a ss of water?¡± 1/4 ¡°Sure, just a minute,¡± ire said. This was Jasmine¡¯s room, and there was no water in it, so ire went out to the living room to get some. Jasmine waited and waited, and finally heard footsteps. She nced over, and when she saw Damien was the one holding the ss, her face changed. She was so startled that she choked on her saliva. Damien saw she was choking hard. He put down the ss, helped her sit up from lying down, and grabbed a pillow from the side to prop up her back¡­ Jasmine¡¯s cheeks went red from coughing. The coughing made her neck ache, and when she finally stopped, she gave him a sour look. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Damien didn¡¯t answer. He just held the ss to her lips. ¡°Drink.¡± The cool edge of the ss touched her mouth. Jasmine pulled a face. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to feed me. Go get that nurse back.¡± Damien could feel her pulling away. He frowned, turned to stare at her, and a heavy feeling filled the air. He seemed angry. That made his gloomy vibe even stronger. Damien held onto the ss, keeping his temper in check, and said in a low voice, ¡°Drink.¡± Teary¨Ceyed, Jasmine shot back, ¡°Why are you snapping? I said I don¡¯t want you to feed me. Quit hanging around. Just looking at you bugs me.¡± Her neck was hurt, but her hands still worked. She pulled them out from under the covers. Maybe because she¡¯d slept for so long, her hands felt numb, but she tried hard to push the ss away. But as soon as she pushed it, the ss cracked. Water spilled all over her, soaking her pajamas. Jasmine looked up at Damien. His face, already cold, now looked really scary. ¡®Is he angry?¡® she wondered. But even if he was, this time Jasmine didn¡¯t feel that mix of helplessness and sadness like before. She thought, ¡®He has the nerve to be angry. He broke my ss and got me all wet.! God knew how embarrassed she was right now. If she could, she¡¯d kick Damien straight out. Stupid man. Coming here again to ruin my mood,¡® she thought. Jasmine¡¯s lips started trembling. She felt more and more wronged, and finally, she couldn¡¯t hold back. She let out a loud wail and burst into tears. Her tears kept rolling down, and she cried so hard, so miserably. Her eyes, already red, were now bright red and puffy. Her face was covered in tears, and her clothes were wet. Her neck hurt too much to move. God knew how upset she was. Damien hadn¡¯t meant to lose control of his strength and crush the ss into two pieces. He certainly hadn¡¯t expected Jasmine to start crying like this. It was the first time he¡¯d been stuck, not knowing what to do. Damien lifted his hand to wipe her tears. His rough, warm palm touched her cheek as he said in a low voice, ¡°Don¡¯t cry.¡± 10 ??? 78%1 Jasmine ignored it and just kept crying. She thought, I¡¯ll make him feel bad.¡® So her sobs got even louder. Damien¡¯s palm was all wet with her tears. He picked up a tissue from the bedside and went on wiping her face. After a while, he forced out one word. ¡°Sorry.¡± At that, Jasmine¡¯s eyshes fluttered. It seemed she hadn¡¯t expected such a cold person to apologize to her. Her crying stopped suddenly, though she still sniffled a little from how hard she¡¯d cried just now. Jasmine had always been good¨Clooking, with a gentle, soft air. Her smooth blonde hair made her look like a doll. She¡¯d lived a rough life before, and that had worn down some of her softness. But since she met Shermaine, her life had gotten better and better. Her skin was now soft and smooth, so it was no wonder men often hit on her at the bar. ¡°What did you say?¡± Jasmine asked. ¡°Sorry,¡± Damien said. Jasmine blinked her tear¨Cstuck eyshes. ¡°Say it again?¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Damien said again. Jasmine didn¡¯t think twice. ¡°I don¡¯t ept your apology.¡± Damien fell silent. Jasmine snorted. ¡°Not unless you say it 100 times. Then maybe¨Cjust maybe¨CI¡¯ll forgive you.¡± Damien¡¯s face went dark. ire must have heard the crying and got worried. She came in from outside. When she saw Jasmine all wet, she hurried over. ¡°Ms. Farrington, why are your clothes wet?¡± Jasmineined, ¡°It¡¯s all this stupid man¡¯s fault. He crushed my ss.¡± ire saw the broken ss lying all alone on the table. She wondered, ¡®Crushing a ss like that? Seriously, how much strength did that take?¡± She said, ¡°I¡¯ll go get you some clean clothes.¡± ¡°Hurry up,¡± Jasmine said. Her clothes were soaked through, sticking to her body, and it felt absolutely miserable. Damien didn¡¯t say a word. He turned and walked out. Jasmine watched him leave without a word. She thought, ¡®Good, just go. The sooner he¡¯s gone, the less he¡¯ll get on my nerves.¡¯ But once Damien was gone, her heart felt a little empty, and it bothered her. ire quickly fetched clean clothes. Noticing Damien had left, she said, ¡°Ms. Farrington, your neck¡¯s not up to it. Let me help you change.¡± Jasmine agreed. ire unbuttoned her wet top, picked up a towel, and dabbed the water off her body. ¡°Ms. Farrington, your skin is so smooth.¡± Thepliment cheered Jasmine up a bit. ¡°It¡¯s natural, but not as soft as Shermaine¡¯s.¡± ire thought, ¡®Not as soft as Ms. Hanks¡®? Wow. Just how amazing must her skin be?¡® Heaven knew ire had been blown away by how silky Jasmine¡¯s skin felt when she touched it. She was totally jealous. 11:07 Tue, 15 Jul le, 15 Jul G In fact, Damien hadn¡¯t left. He¡¯d just gone out to get a fresh ss of water. He stood at the door, watching as ire pulled off Jasmine¡¯s wet top and helped her into the clean one. A glimpse of Jasmine¡¯s soft skin caught his eye. Her long blonde hair hung down, covering part of her upper body. His breath caught. Nurse walking 527 Chapter 527 Damien had been a hitman for years. He¡¯d faced every kind of temptation, but he¡¯d never lost his cool like this. side the door, keeping his presence hidden as much as possible. The oblivious Jasmine didn¡¯t notice it, and He was quick and agile, though. He stood ire, with her back to him, didn¡¯t either. He didn¡¯t stay long. He set down the ss of water and slipped away w without a sound. Time passed in a sh. Tomorrow was the party. Jasmine was much better now. Other than that one time, Damien hadn¡¯te back. Jasmine thought, ¡®He said sorry, but there was no real sincerity in it. I told him I didn¡¯t ept his apology, after all. And then he did nothing else. It just fizzled out like that.¡® No denying it¨Ceven though Jasmine said she didn¡¯t want to see Damien, she¡¯d been hoping he¡¯d visit. But each day that went by, her hope died a little more. ¡°So you really like Damien, huh?¡± Early that morning, Shermaine took her out for a walk and asked. Jasmine mumbled that she didn¡¯t. Shermaine smiled softly, ¡°Good.¡± Jasmine wasn¡¯t sure of what Shermaine meant by that. It felt like Shermaine had something nned. In the gym, by the big pool, Teddy walked in and saw a strong figure swimming. It was Damien. Teddy waited at the other end, holding a towel. A few minutester, Damien swam over and came up out of the water. He was only wearing ck swim trunks. He had the body of a mature man¨Csharp and powerful with long, lean limbs. The scars on his body just made him look more dangerous. Water glistened, reflecting the murals on the ceiling. When Damien climbed out, his breathing was a little uneven. Teddy handed him the towel. ¡°Got something bothering you?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± Damien said. ¡°Really?¡± Teddy clearly didn¡¯t buy it. He¡¯d known Damien for years, and this was definitely out of the ordinary. Teddy couldn¡¯t help finding it funny. This was the first time he¡¯d seen Damien in such a bad mood as if he was all pent¨Cup. Damien took the towel and wiped the water off his body. ¡°You something?¡± Teddy nodded. ¡°Mrs. York wants us to handle security for the party tomorrow.¡± Damien grunted. Just then, Damien¡¯s Orthish beeped. Someone was trying to contact him. Teddy saw it was an unknown ount reaching out. The profile picture was a woman with crimson hair. It suddenly reminded him of the questions Jasmine had asked him the other day. Right after that, he noticed Damien ignoring the call. Teddy asked, curious, ¡°It¡¯s a call from a pretty girl. Why aren¡¯t you answering?¡± ¡°None of your business,¡± Damien replied. ¡°Come on, telling me won¡¯t kill you,¡± Teddy teased. ¡°Besides, Jasmine and I are both wondering. How does a cold, quiet guy like you suddenly get a woman reaching out?¡± Damien ignored him. Teddy joked, ¡°No wonder Jasmine doesn¡¯t hang out with you anymore.¡± Damien¡¯s expression turned even darker like a dark cloud hanging over him. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°Oh, you know exactly what I mean,¡± Teddy said, looking more amused. ¡°I heard you snapped at her that night, so she backed off. Pretty girls are meant to be spoiled, but you¡¯re always giving her the cold shoulder. See? You scared Jasmine away.¡± Teddy didn¡¯t point out that Jasmine liked Damien. If he did, that would take all the fun out of it. Besides, he wasn¡¯t sure if Damien liked Jasmine. If Damien didn¡¯t, it would be awkward for Jasmine. After all, things were already tense between them. Meanwhile, on a busy street, a woman with crimson hair bit her lip, frustrated that she still couldn¡¯t get through. Damien wasn¡¯t answering. She thought, ¡®Well, he¡¯s already repaid whatever favor he owed me/There¡¯s no reason for him to see me now.¡¯ She¡¯d once been engaged to Damien, but when his family fell on hard times, she¡¯d left him for another man. Time had passed, and now it was her turn to suffer and fall on hard times. By chance, she¡¯d heard Damien was in Baykeep, so she¡¯d worked up the nerve to track him down. She didn¡¯t want to live this wandering, unstable life anymore. Damien was her only chance. If she could be with him, she could livefortably again. Besides, Damien had grown into a very charming man. But Damien had always been cold. Even when they were engaged, he¡¯d never seemed interested in her. And he was certainly not now. On the other side of the street, a luxury car was parked. Shermaine watched the woman with interest. The woman¡¯s name was Ava Reid. ¡®Does she have some close connection with Damien?¡® Shermaine wondered. ¡®After all, she¡¯d once been engaged to him. ¡®If Damien had let bygones be bygones and was willing to help Ava, that must mean their past was pretty serious. Why else would he help her? Damien, a hitman who¡¯d seen his family destroyed and been abandoned by his fianc¨¦e, had be a cold, unfeeling man after all this. He was definitely not the type to suddenly get soft¨Chearted. The thought annoyed Shermaine. She thought, ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter if they have history. But I¡¯ll never let Jasmine end up with someone tangled up with another woman¡® So, Shermaine had written Damien off. No matter how much Jasmine liked him, she couldn¡¯t be with Damien. Of course, if there was another reason for his actions, Shermaine might give him a chance. Shermaine took out an invitation and handed it to Joshua. ¡°Joshua, could you do me a favor?¡± Joshua took the invitation and raised an eyebrow. ¡°You really want me to deliver this?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°What if she takes a fancy to me?¡± At that, Shermaine narrowed her eyes. ¡°If she even thinks about hitting on you, I¡¯ll throw her in the ocean to feed the sharks.¡± Joshua smiled, ¡°Give me two minutes.¡± He leaned down, kissed her, and then got out of the car. Shermaine was so wrapped up in sorting out Jasmine¡¯s love life. He might as well help a little. When Ava was stopped, she looked up at Joshua, surprised by how handsome he was but intimidated by his elegant, noble air. Joshua held out the invitation to her. He introduced himself. ¡°I¡¯m Damien¡¯s boss. You¡¯re wee to the party tomorrow night.¡± Ava paused. ¡°Why?¡± Joshua smiled faintly, his tone hinting at something more. ¡°I hear you someone by their side.¡± ere once Damien¡¯s fianc¨¦e. He¡¯s not young anymore. Even hitmen should have AD Nurse walking 528 Chapter 528 Ava¡¯s heart raced when she heard that. She didn¡¯t overthink it and just took the invitation. ¡®This is a huge chance,¡¯ she thought to herself, She knew things like this didn¡¯t just fall into herp, but she also knew she¡¯d regret it if she didn¡¯t go. Even if she couldn¡¯t win Damien over, meeting other rich people would be worth it. The sun rose. After another day of rest, Jasmine was fully recovered. She stood on the balcony, stretching and taking a deep breath. What a beautiful day. The Al robot chimed and came over to tell her, ¡°Miss, there¡¯s a visitor.¡± Shermaine had arranged for the robot after Jasmine got hurt. ire couldn¡¯t stay with Jasmine all night, after all. If she wanted a drink or something in the evening, getting up would be a hassle. Having the robot watch over her at night made things much easier. ¡°Who is it?¡± Jasmine asked. ¡°Mr. Hale,¡± the robot replied. ¡®Damien? What¡¯s he doing here? I haven¡¯t epted his apology,¡® she wondered. Jasmine froze mid¨Cstretch. She didn¡¯t want to see him at all. ¡°Tell him to leave and go cool off somewhere else.¡± Then she turned on some music right away, swaying her hips to the mellow tune. She¡¯d been lying around for a week. If she didn¡¯t move, her bones would get stiff. ¡°Yes, miss,¡± the robot said and then went to pass on the message. i The cold, mechanical voice came through the door. Outside, Damien¡¯s mood turned even gloomier, his presence growing heavier. With him was the tailor who¡¯d made Jasmine¡¯s dress. The dress was ready, so they¡¯de to check the fit and see if any adjustments were needed. But it seemed the conversation wasn¡¯t going well. This cold man had been shut out. The tailor thought for a second. ¡°Mr. Hale, should I contact Ms. Farrington instead?¡± Damien paused and said no. The next moment, he typed a code into the smart lock, and the door opened. The Al robot immediately started ring. ¡°Intruder alert. Intruder alert.¡± Damien shut it off quickly. The tailor went in and waited in the living room, while Damien headed off to find Jasmine. The room wasrge, decorated in a cozy, artsy style. Lots of photos hung on the walls, and the sofa was piled high with fluffy stuffed animals. Just then, Jasmine was on the balcony in a silky ivory camisole nightgown, humming along to music. Her hips swayed as she got lost in the tune,pletely absorbed. The scene was lovely. In the sunlight, Jasmine had a shapely figure. Her nightgown fluttered up now and then with her movements, the whitece of her panties peeking through. Her waist¨Clength golden hair flowed, as soft as silk. Damien stopped short, his gaze fixing on her, unblinking. His gray eyes looked like a predator¡¯s, watching and waiting to pounce. He couldn¡¯t exin the feeling, but he couldn¡¯t look away. Every inch of her glowing skin seemed to hold a magic that made him want to devour her whole Jasmine, though, had no idea Damien hade in. As the mellow music hit a peak, she lifted her hip and tossed her head, and then froze when she saw Damien inside. Her feet slipped, and she nearly stumbled forward, almost falling. Flustered, Jasmine steadied herself and turned off the music. ¡°How¡¯d you get in?¡± Damien answered slowly, ¡°Just like this.¡± ¡°What are you here for?¡± Jasmine asked. ¡°To drop off the dress,¡± Damien said. ¡°Huh?¡± Jasmine said. Damien kept it simple. ¡°For the party.¡± ¡®The party?¡® Jasmine thought, looking confused. Then it hit her. ¡®Is Shermaine really going to throw me a blind date party? ¡®Shermaine sure acts fast. But since Shermaine has already started it, I might as well go.¡® Just imagining all the cute guys she¡¯d get to choose from at tonight¡¯s party made her smile. She thought, ¡®Maybe I¡¯ll meet someone who catches my eye, someone I click with right away. ¡®Then I can get over Damien, this boring, grumpy guy who just scowls and snaps at me all the time.¡® The thought made her feel really good. Jasmine straightened her face and walked in from outside. She passed Damien without even looking at him. Damien grabbed her hand. Jasmine looked up. ¡°Anything else?¡± Damien said, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to snap at you that night. I just don¡¯t like people prying into my privacy. Don¡¯t take it personally.¡± Jasmine said, ¡°Oh.¡± Her tone sounded totally unconcerned. She thought, ¡®What¡¯s there to care about? It has been so long.¡¯ Back then, if Damien had just run after her to exin andfort her, she never would have stopped liking him. But now, she was still just like everyone else to him¨Csomeone with no right to ask even the smallest thing about his private life. She couldn¡¯t get into his world. ¡°Let me go now that you¡¯ve said what you needed to,¡± Jasmine said. Damien didn¡¯t let go. Instead, he held on a little more tightly. He didn¡¯t like her attitude. He thought, ¡®I exined, so why is she still being so cold and distant?¡® Jasmine, seeing that he wouldn¡¯t let go, tried to pull free but couldn¡¯t. She huffed, ¡°What are you doing? Let me go Damien tugged, and Jasmine fell right into his arms. Her nightgown brushed against his clothes. He put his other hand on her waist, holding her tightly. ¡°Why are you still mad?¡± Jasmine said, ¡°I¡¯m not mad.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying,¡± Damien said. Jasmine¡¯s face went red with anger, and her heart started thumping. She was nervous from being so close to him. Damien took her chin and lifted it up. ¡°Look me in the eye and say that.¡± Jasmine¡¯sshes fluttered. She tried with all her might to break free, but it was no use. She panted. ¡°Y¨CYou¡¯re crazy. Let me go.¡± Her strength was nothingpared to Damien¡¯s. Jasmine bit him again. This time, she bit down on his wrist. The wet, soft feel of it made Damien¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple move. It was like an electric shock, and his grip loosened. Jasmine pulled free. But the next second, Damien pulled her back, lifting her up and tossing her onto the bed. She raised her hand, ready to pinch his face. She thought, ¡®Jerk, picking on me again.¡® Damien grabbed one of her hands, pinning it above her head, and used his leg to hold hers down. They were in an intimately tangled position, he on top and she underneath. Jasmine was trapped beneath him. Damien said, ¡°Answer me.¡± The rush of his masculine scent hit her, and Jasmine¡¯s heart raced. Her camisole had slipped off one shoulder from struggling. Her skin peeked through. Damien saw it all. Jasmine didn¡¯t notice. She bit her lip. ¡°Does it even matter to you if I¡¯m mad?¡± Damien didn¡¯t reply. He looked like he was thinking, yet not. Jasmine¡¯s fragrance washed over him, and heat stirred low in his stomach, his thoughts drifting elsewhere. But Jasmine, annoyed by his silence, let out a bitterugh. ¡°You need that long to think? You want me to answer for you?¡± Her eyes were red and glossy like she might cry. Damien¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, his breathing growing heavier. Something smoldered in his gray eyes, burning hot, Jasmine shouted, ¡°If you don¡¯t let me go, I¡¯ll tell Shermaine on you.¡± Damien snapped back to his senses, releasing her abruptly. He steadied his breath and grunted in response. ¡®What does that even mean? Who knows?¡® she thought. Jasmine was furious, too worked up to care. She jumped up, kicked him, and ran out. AD Nurse walking 529 The tailor had been waiting for a while. When he saw Jasminee out, he went right over to her. After finding out about the dress Shermaine had designed for her, Jasmine took a moment to calm down. Then, full of excitement, the opened the bor ¡®It¡¯s so sexy,¡¯ Jasmine thought the moment she saw the dress. It was a silver sequined slip dress with a high slit. Jasmine loved it the second she saw it. She ran her hand over it, dying to put it on Just then, Damien came out of her room too. He said nothing and walked off. Jasmine ignored him, took the dress back to her room, and put it on. She had to admit that the dress was the kind that only someone with a great figure could pull off. The tailor had made it to her exact measurements, so it fit perfectly, showing off every curve of her body. When the tailor saw her in it, his eyes lit up. ¡°Ms. Farrington, you look amazing. You¡¯ll outshine everyone tonight.¡± Jasmine smiled, ¡°Thank you. It fits perfectly. No need for any changes.¡± ¡°Good. Now try the shoes,¡± the tailor said. Jasmine did as he said. The shoes were ck strappy heels with a three¨Cinch heel. They fit well¨Cno problem dancing with a partnerter. In the beautiful dress, Jasmine finally felt better. After breakfast, she went for a spa. As the day turned to evening, luxury cars started pulling up outside Oster Tower one after another. Reporters crowded the entrance, blocking the way because all the elite heirs of high¨Cranking officials and heirs of powerful families from the Kingdom of Xyperia were there. So were famous celebrities and models. It was a grand party. Most importantly, nearly all the guests were men¨Crich, powerful, and really handsome. They were all curious why Shermaine had invited them. Of course, there were female guests too. Shirley, the most powerful woman in the Kingdom of Xyperia, was there. She¡¯d heard almost all the best men in the kingdom wereing, and with Shermaine inviting her, she just had to check it out. Maybe she¡¯d find someone she liked to have kids with. Up on the top floor, the party hall was gorgeous, with sses clinking everywhere. Al waiters moved among the guests. The symphony orchestra yed on. Everything about tonight felt perfect. Damien hadn¡¯t seen the guest list. He never thought the ce would be full of men tonight, but right away, he figured out what Shermaine¡¯s party was really for. She was trying to find someone for Jasmine. ¡®So Jasmine wasn¡¯t joking that time,¡® he thought. 11:07 Tue, 15 Jul GA His gray eyes clouded over. He turned and walked out. By then, Jasmine had arrived at Oster Tower, looking stunning in her outfit. The reporters were kept far away, only able to snap a few photos from a distance. There were plenty of tourists around too, taking pictures of her. Voices around her murmured with praise. Jasmine wore a soft smile, her posture graceful as she walked confidently in her heels toward the entrance. But just as she stepped inside, Damien appeared and blocked her path. In her morous look tonight, Jasmine was like a radiant socialite, turning heads wherever she went. Her blonde hair fell in loose waves, and her shapely figure had countless men eager to win her attention. Damien¡¯s voice was low as he stepped forward and grabbed her hand. ¡°Come with me. I need to talk to you.¡± Jasmine struggled. ¡°No.¡± She hit him with her bag. ¡°Let me go.¡± Damien¡¯s face was cold as he moved to pick her up and carry her away. The bodyguards meant to protect her¨Call Eagle Assassins¨Chesitated when they saw Damien, not daring to act. Just then, Ava appeared, looking thrilled. ¡°Damien.¡± At the sound, Damien paused and frowned. He had no idea why she was there. Ava stepped closer. ¡°Damien, why didn¡¯t you answer my call the other day?¡± ¡°Why are you here?¡± Damien asked coldly, his voice giving nothing away. ¡°I¡­ I came to find you,¡± Ava said. Jasmine froze when she saw Ava, forgetting to struggle for a second. Then her face darkened, and she snapped, ¡°What are you all standing around for?¡± The assassins hesitated and spoke up. ¡°Sorry, Damien.¡± Chaos broke out. They went for Damien, and a fight started. They were no match for Damien. After a few moves, they were quickly beaten to the ground. They thought, ¡®Ouch. That crazy dog Damien. He hit us really hard.¡¯ When Jasmine saw, she took off running. Damien¡¯s face was dark as he started to chase her, but Ava pulled him back. ¡°Damien, where are you going to leave me?¡± Shermaine and Joshua, standing not far away, watched the whole thing. Shermaine smirked, a little mischievous. Joshua didn¡¯t feel sorry for Damien at all. If only Damien hade around sooner, none of this would be happening. There wouldn¡¯t be an extra obstacle in his way. And yes, that obstacle was Shermaine. All the hardship Jasmine had been through before? Tonight, Shermaine was probably going to get revenge for her. Nurse walking 530 Chapter 530 Damien yanked his hand free from Ava¡¯s grip. ¡°We¡¯re not that close.¡± He was icy, radiating hostility, finding the woman in front of him really annoying. When he tried to look for Jasmine, he saw her scamper into the elevator, flustered, as if some ferocious wolf was nipping at her heels. That only upset him even more. Ava¡¯s face went pale, panic all over her. ¡°Damien, please don¡¯t talk to me like this. You never used to be like this with me.¡± Back then, Damien hadn¡¯t been so sharp. He¡¯d been gloomy, mild with everyone, a polite gentleman with noble manners. Ava thought that if she showed weakness, Damien would soften and forgive her. Her eyes glistened with tears. Ava was pretty, and she dressed up nicely today. By any standard, she was a real beauty. But after her family fell on hard times, whatever grace she¡¯d had was worn awaypletely. All that was left was a pretty face with no real charm, just an empty shell. ¡°I know I was wrong. Can you forgive me?¡± Ava made to tiptoe, leaning in to kiss him A cloying perfume hit his nose. Damien shoved her away hard. Ava lost her bnce, crashing to the floor. Shended hard on her bottom, the pain sharp. She¡¯d always thought she was pretty. Even with her family broke, plenty of men still wanted to keep her around. Sure, none wanted to marry her, but at least she still had that allure. ¡®Why is Damien so heartless?¡® she wondered. Damien¡¯s expression turned more menacing, disgust filling his eyes. ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± Ava felt crushed under the overwhelming wave of his lethal presence, struggling to breathe. ¡°I help you because I owe you a debt. Don¡¯t tter yourself.¡± Damien knew he¡¯d never been a good man¨Cthen or now. If his family hadn¡¯t owed her that favor, he wouldn¡¯t have given her the time of day. That so¨Ccalled engagement? It meant less than nothing to him. Since his family was destroyed, he¡¯d had nothing left to care about. Once he became an assassin, he grew even colder and more ruthless. He was born for the darkness. With blood on his hands, killing gave him a thrill. Yet Ava, so full of herself, actually thought she could seduce him. He¡¯d never thought much of her before, and now he thought even less. Damien was used to being alone and loved quier. He hated women chattering in his ear. He hated trouble. Even as a man, with natural physical needs, he¡¯d rather take care of it himself than sleep with a random woman. In his mind, women equaled trouble. So he never got tangled up with them, emotionally or physically. But things were different now. A variable hade into his life. That variable was Jasmine. Chapter 530 At first, Damien had found Jasmine annoying. She really was a handful But because of Joshua¡¯s orders, he¡¯d had no choice but to look after her and protect Gracie. Jasmine wasn¡¯t exactly some spoiled rich girl, but she found ways to bother him every single day. Sometimes he even wondered how someone so scatterbrained had managed to take care of Gracie on that cruise ship. Slowly, though, his irritation faded without him noticing. Taking care of her started to feel like second nature. No matter how much trouble she brought him, he¡¯de to ept it. As long as she behaved, he¡¯d happily protect her for the rest of his life even without Joshua¡¯s orders. He¡¯d even started wanting her. He wanted to sleep with her. He didn¡¯t get those kinds of thoughts about a woman for no reason. There was only one exnation¨Che liked her. AD Nurse walking 531 Damien even considered himself a bit perverted. Killing got him excited, and now there was something else making Jasmine cry excited for t?o That thrill was even more intense than the rush he got from killing. Every cell in his body was screaming for it. Yesterday, when he pinned her to the bed, he wanted to make her cry, take her hard, and tease her. But it was the first time he¡¯d had such dark thoughts. It really threw him off and left him unsure of how to handle those twisted urges. Scared he might actually go too far, he¡¯d left. That was when he realized why he hadn¡¯t felt disgusted when Jasmine bit him. His body had been okay with her getting close. Yet, because of his nature, he¡¯d instinctively pulled away. He could protect her, but his world didn¡¯t need anyone else pushing in. That was what he thought. He was fine on his own. So when Jasmine kept forcing her way into his space, trying to get into his life, and even prying into his privacy, he¡¯d unconsciously put up a wall to keep her out, starting to guard himself. He hadn¡¯t expected that his coldness would hurt her. He never meant to hurt her. Like he¡¯d said, it really wasn¡¯t about her. He¡¯d have acted the same with anyone else. That night, he¡¯d snapped at her and scared her off. ¡®Good,¡® he thought. ¡®She shouldn¡¯t have tried to get close.¡¯ But that hurt look on her face that night? He cared about it so much. He¡¯d held back from going to her, and by the time he couldn¡¯t resist anymore, Jasmine had changed. She wasn¡¯t clinging to him, checking on him, or smiling at him like before. He apologized, but she still brushed him off. The second he touched her, she¡¯d get all worked up like she hated him so much that she couldn¡¯t stand to see him, hiding from him. Tonight, Jasmine was even going on blind dates with a bunch of guys. He thought, ¡®Mrs. York invited them, so they must be brilliant. Jasmine¡¯s pretty enough, and she¡¯s Joshua¡¯s cousin, not to mention Baykeep¡¯s city lord. ¡®She¡¯s bound to be popr with these men. She¡¯s like a/cute bunny¨Ceasy to be after by them. I won¡¯t allow it. These men didn¡¯t even get to think about eyeing my bunny. Jasmine belongs to me.¡¯ But he¡¯d been so close to taking his bunny with him/Then Ava showed up and he lost his chance. Before he knew it, his bunny had slipped away. And Ava even dared to keep pestering him. He was tempted to kill her. Ava was crushed. Damien calling her delusional had stung, burning her cheeks She thought, ¡®He¡¯s right. I was trying to reach for something way out of my league.¡® Damien¡¯s voice turned cold. ¡°Get lost. And don¡¯t let me see you again.¡± Ava¡¯s face went even paler. Her legs felt weak like she couldn¡¯t stand. She could tell if she stayed, Damien might take back whatever mercy he ¡®duhoun Worse, he might even kill her. The man in front of her was nothing like he used to be. No amount of trickery would foot him now. Ava forced herself up, stumbling away in a panic. Damien had no choice but to head back to that so¨Ccalled party. Not far off, Joshua watched the whole thing and actually admired Damien¡¯s bluntness. Most men in the Kingdom of Xyperia had a soft spot for women, always letting their sympathy get the better of them. It was his least favorite thing about them. That was why in the Kingdom of Xyperia, even though men imed to respect women, the divorce rate was a whopping 80%. Of course, it wasn¡¯t all men¡¯s fault. The culture there was loose and women yed the field just as much. It was a lot like some developed countries. That meant people¨Cmen and women¨Cwho were truly loyal and devoted were few and far between. Damien was an odd one out there. And Jasmine? She was from a branch of the royal bloodline. The royal family¡¯s tradition was simple. Whether it came to family, friends, or lovers, the royals must be loyal to them. Joshua slid his hand around Shermaine¡¯s waist. ¡°Sheary, let¡¯s head up and watch the drama.¡± Shermaine looked up, chuckling, ¡°Joshua, why do I get the feeling you¡¯re more eager to see him make a fool of himself than I am?¡± Joshua¡¯s voice dropped, as smooth as a cello¡¯s hum, rich and pleasing. ¡°Sheary, it¡¯s your little setup. Of course, I¡¯m interested.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just bored,¡± Shermaine said. Joshuaughed, thinking, ¡®Sheary really knows me well. I¡¯m bored indeed.¡® He¡¯d stepped back from power and stopped handling things with the Eagle Assassins. Gracie didn¡¯t need much looking after, and he couldn¡¯t very well spend every day glued to Shermaine, lost in bed. So, yeah, he was a little bored. Joshua didn¡¯t argue. He bent down and kissed her. When Jasmine made it up to the party hall, she was/breathing hard. She grabbed a ss of red wine and chugged it, trying to calm down. She thought, ¡®Damien, that bastard. He already has a woman around, and he made it clear he couldn¡¯t stand me. So why is he still pestering me? What¡¯s his problem?¡® The wine settled in her stomach, and Jasmine seethed. But soon, her attention was snagged by all the hot guys in the room. She thought, ¡®Holy crap. There are all types of hot guys here.¡® Right now, a group of them was chatting together, and Jasmine felt a little thrill just watching Then a spotlight hit her, and a voice rang out. ¡°Gentlemen, our City Lord, Ms. Farrington, has arrived¡± In an instant, every eye turned to her. Jasmine pasted on a polite smile. Inside, though, she wanted tough out loud. She loved Shermaine for throwing this party. The guys burst into apuse. Let¡¯s be real. These days, aside from Shirley, the two city lords of Baykeep were probably thest people anyone in the Kingdom of Xyperia would dare cross. Everyone was too busy trying to curry favor. ¡°And our esteemed Her Highness, Shirley,¡± the voice said. Another spotlight flickered on,nding in a darker corner. Shirley was sipping a drink. When the light hit her, she smiled faintly. The room buzzed even louder. They all knew, of course. Tonight was basically a blind date party. Everyone hade, hoping for a good match, ready topete. No one had expected Shirley to be there though. But then again, Shirley didn¡¯t have any men in her life right now. Still, she was the Kingdom of Xyperia¡¯s only queen now. A lot more guys hesitated to make a move on her than they did with Jasmine. The host went on to introduce several single socialites from Baykeep. Shermaine had invited them all and they were all single. After the introductions, the host said, ¡°Now each of you has a rose in hand. If anydy here catches your eye, go ahead and give her the rose. Let¡¯s see if you can win her heart and get the first dance of the night with her.¡± As soon as the host finished speaking, the men in the room started moving. The moment Damien walked in, he saw Jasmine holding flowers. A line of men was waiting to give her roses and her eyes were full of smiles. Jasmine was undoubtedly the most popr one there tonight. She looked stunning in her outfit, Sexy, yet still innocent. The men didn¡¯t hold back theirpliments, praising her figure and beauty. They wanted her too. Jealousy hit Damien like a wild wave. He wanted to take her away. But it was toote now. If he acted out, he¡¯d surely cause a scene. And if that happened, Shermaine would probably kick him out without a second thought. Damien knew this was Shermaine¡¯s way of punishing him. Jasmine was finding it hard to choose. All the men handing her roses were handsome and tall. She was overwhelmed by the choices. 11:08 Tue, 15 Jul They introduced themselves by name, but she could barely remember any of them. She felt a little awkward, and it felt like something was missing. Jasmine was happy but also frustrated. ¡®Even if none of them makes my heart race, at least one should make me want to dance, right? Is that too much to ask?¡® Jasmine sighed inwardly as she kept epting roses, her thoughts drifting elsewhere. Just then, she felt a familiar presence drawing near. She looked up, her gaze settling on him. Her heart gave a lurch. It was Damien. He was watching her, his gray eyes deep. She was so spooked that she almost turned to run again. But she nced around. ¡®There are so many people around. He shouldn¡¯t dare do anything,¡® she thought. He walked up to her. Jasmine¡¯s palms grew hot and sweaty. She spoke up. ¡°I¡¯m not going with you.¡± As soon as the words left her mouth, Damien held out a bouquet of roses to her. Jasmine froze, wondering,¡® What¡¯s this jerk ying at? Could I just not take his flowers?¡® When Damien held out the roses, the assassins patrolling the shadows for security let out low murmurs. Teddy couldn¡¯t believe it, but he found it even funnier. He thought, ¡®If he¡¯de around sooner, he wouldn¡¯t have had topete with all these men for Jasmine tonight. She would¡¯ve been all over him herself. Well, now it¡¯s different.¡® They started making bets on whether Jasmine would choose to dance with him tonight. Teddy bet she wouldn¡¯t. He thought, Jasmine is pretty good at holding a grudge. Damien won¡¯t win her back that easily. He¡¯s definitely in for a tough night.¡® Damien didn¡¯t seem to think there was anything wrong with what he was doing. His eyes were still deep, no hint of what he was thinking. Even so, just looking at him made Jasmine¡¯s whole body feel hot, her bones going weak. ¡°Choose me,¡± he said. Jasmine¡¯s heart kept racing. She didn¡¯t take the roses he was holding out. She just asked, ¡°Damien, you¡¯re not trying to be my man too, are you?¡± AD 1 Comment Nurse walking 532 When Jasmine asked that question, she hadn¡¯t actually expected Damien to answer anything. It had just slipped out.. Tonight¡¯s party was for mingling. It was for her to find a nice guy to date. As for why Damien was handing her roses, Jasmine didn¡¯t dare think too hard about it. She¡¯d never be so conceited as to think he was doing it because he liked her. She was more worried he¡¯de to mess things up and stop her from meeting cute guys. ¡®After all, he¡¯s always been cold and mean to me,¡® she thought. But she hesitated. She found herself thinking Damien was such a cold person, yet the other day, he¡¯d beening to her, apologizing, and trying to make up. His attitude had been a bit forceful, but he¡¯de in person at least. Today, he¡¯d even tried to take her away from this party. ¡®If he doesn¡¯t care about me, why would he do all that?¡® she thought. But Jasmine quickly brushed the thought off. It was impossible. She thought, ¡®Damien couldn¡¯t possibly like me. He already has that red¨Chaired woman with him. That red¨Chaired woman even came here, looking for him. She called his name so softly and affectionately earlier.¡® And there had been hostility in that red¨Chaired woman¡¯s eyes. Jasmine had felt it. That red¨Chaired woman had treated her like a homewrecker, keeping her at bay. She thought, ¡®Really, if he already has a beautiful woman with him, why is he hanging around me?¡® Jasmine felt sad and angry. It was like there was a stone stuck in her chest, making her feel terrible. She was also disgusted by the idea. She¡¯d never be a homewrecker. She hated homewreckers most of all. Damien really wasn¡¯t good at expressing his feelings. When Jasmine asked that question, he blurted out ¡°Yes¡± almost without thinking. Once he¡¯d realized his own feelings, he¡¯d epted them without a second thought, no hesitation at all. That was exactly what he thought. Jasmine is mine. I won¡¯t let anyone take her away. She can only be mine. Anyone who tries to take her from me will regret it.¡® His desire for Jasmine was like spotting a mirage in the desert. Even knowing it was fake, he¡¯d still run toward it as fast as he could, desperate to grab hold and keep it. When Jasmine heard it, her soul seemed to jolt. She froze,pletely dumbfounded. ¡®What had Damien just said?¡® she thought, staring nkly and stammering after a moment, ¡°What did you say?¡± She thought she must have misheard. She wondered, /Damien said ¡°yes¡°? He wants to be my man?¡® Damien spoke slowly, each word clear. ¡°I said yes.¡± When Jasmine heard that, her heart surged with wild joy for a split second. But the feeling was quickly suppressed. She snapped, ¡°In your dreams. I¡¯d never let you be my man, you two¨Ctiming jerk.¡± She added, ¡°Get away from me. Stop interrupting others when they¡¯re giving me flowers.¡± ¡°She and I¡­¡± Damien started to say. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it. I don¡¯t care.¡± In her agitation, Jasmine pushed the rose back into his hand. ¡°Here, take it back, you jerk.¡± Damien knew full well he was being misunderstood. His face showed no expression but a sense of helplessness wrapped around him. Every nerve in his body was taut. He was about to say more when someone beside them spoke up. ¡°Sir, since Ms. Farrington has turned you down, I hope you won¡¯t keep pestering her. Please follow the party rules.¡± Another man said, ¡°That¡¯s right. Who Ms. Farrington likes is her freedom. Even if we¡¯re jealous, we can¡¯t push our way in.¡± a Someone else chimed in, ¡°Sir could you move? You¡¯re blocking me from giving Ms. Farrington Tose.¡± Damien was the first person to have his rose returned to him in front of everyone. So quite a few teasing nces fell on him. They were whispering, talking about him. Damien held the rose in his hand. He didn¡¯t care what others were saying. He only had eyes for Jasmine. But Jasmine didn¡¯t look at him. She turned around and walked away. AD Comment Nurse walking 533 Jasmine wasn¡¯t trying to get back at Damien for being cold to her before. It was just that the thought of Damien and that red¨Chaired woman possibly having some secret rtionship made her so angry. After shoving the rose back at him, she actually started to regret it a little. ¡®I shouldn¡¯t have been so impulsive, she thought. But she¡¯d always had a quick temper and struggled with feeling secure. The moment she sensed trouble, she¡¯d bristle up like a porcupine¨Call to protect herself from getting hurt. She thought, ¡®Was Damien about to exin something earlier? If hees after me to talk, maybe I¡¯ll listen, just maybe.¡¯ Jasmine nced back a few times, but Damien was nowhere to be seen. She had no idea where he¡¯d gone. ¡®Typical. He gave up again,¡® she thought. Jasmine bit her lower lip, her thoughts wandering. After that, no matter who handed her a rose, she didn¡¯t really look at them. Her mind was too muddled. For the first 20 minutes, Shirley didn¡¯t get a single rose. She sipped her drink, lookingzy, and raised an eyebrow. She wondered, ¡®Is there not a single man in the Kingdom of Xyperia brave enough to be with me?¡® It made sense really. She carried herself with such strength and as a queen, she held a high position. Even if some men were interested in her, her status would make them think twice. After all, being a queen¡¯s man wasn¡¯t easy. Finally, right before the event was about to end, one man stepped forward and handed her a rose. He looked young and refined with a gentle, clean vibe¨Cnot effeminate. His hair was past his shoulders, tied back loosely with a hairband. He wore a in shirt and ck pants. His eyes were clear as he said, ¡°For you, Your Highness.¡± Shirley took the rose and studied him. ¡°You¡¯re brave.¡± The man smiled, ¡°This is a mixer, isn¡¯t it? If Your Highness is here and I like you, there¡¯s nothing wrong with that.¡± Shirley raised an eyebrow, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Frank,¡± he replied. ¡°How old are you?¡±
  1. 22.
  2. Way too young¨Csix years younger than me,¡¯ Shirley thought. ¡®No wonder he looks so fresh¨Cfaced. So he¡¯s just a kid really!
Shirley said, ¡°I¡¯ll take the rose, but let¡¯s skip the date. I don¡¯t date guys younger than me.¡± Frank Knox¡¯s face fell, but he didn¡¯t leave. Instead, he said, ¡°But what if I really like Your Highness Shermaine knew exactly what was going on at the party. She was in the back and robots were recording every little thing, Damien had left because he¡¯d gotten word that suspicious people had entered Oster Tower. He¡¯d gone to check it out. it wasn¡¯t like he¡¯d left on purpose. But when Jasmine had looked back and didn¡¯t see him, she¡¯d seemed pretty upset. It was all a misunderstanding really. Shermaine thought, ¡®Well, that works out. By the time he got back, he¡¯d probably have a hard time finding Jasmine Then there was Shirley. ¡®It¡¯s weird for half an hour, not one guy went up to give her a rose. That¡¯s crazy, Shermaine thought Jasmine, on the other hand, had half the guys at the party into her. That made sense. Baykeep was the richest city in all of Xyperia. Marrying Jasmine meant both wealth and power. Not a bad deal. Not that many were there tonight for true love. In the end, a cute young guy had gone up to Shirley. He was clearly younger than her and she¡¯d turned him down, but he didn¡¯t seem ready to give up. He was bold, his tone hinting at a subtle flirt. The flower¨Cgiving part was over. Now it was time for the reverse choice. Jasmine was really torn. She couldn¡¯t remember a single name of all the guys who¡¯d given her roses. She thought, ¡®It¡¯s all Damien¡¯s fault. Why did he have toe over with a rose, saying he wanted to be my man? Then after I turned him down, he just ran off. So annoying. It has totally killed my mood for meeting cute guys.¡¯ In the end, under everyone¡¯s gaze, she picked thest guy who¡¯d handed her a rose. It was not because he was good¨Clooking, but because he¡¯d been thest one and she¡¯d actually remembered his face. Lots of guys looked disappointed. Once the reverse choice was done, it was time for the first dance of the night. Jasmine¡¯s outfit was on the sexy side. When the guy smiled and asked her to dance, she felt a little reluctant. But there was no way around it. She¡¯d just have to suck it up and go. -A couple¡¯s dance was bound to get a little close of course. But the guy was a gentleman. While they danced, he took the initiative to step back a bit, putting space between them. Once Jasmine noticed that, she rxed a lot. She wasn¡¯t so stiff anymore and her movements loosened up. She was a good dancer to begin with. In no time, the two of them stood out, shining brightly on the dance floor. Meanwhile, in the dimly lit underground garage of Oster Tower, a light glowed from one spot. It was Damien¡¯s Orthish. Teddy had sent him a video where Jasmine was dancing with some guy. Under the lights, they looked like a perfect match. Damien nodded, but his footsteps froze instantly. In the dark, his eyes seemed to flicker with a reddish hue and a violent rage roared inside him. 215 He wanted to chop off that hand resting on Jasmine¡¯s waist. Suddenly, a dark figure emerged from the shadows and charged at Damien. But the next second, Damien, his face twisted with a menacing scowl, spotted him. Right away, a shrill scream echoed through the garage. Damien hit hard. He threw a punch at the guy¡¯s face and blood spurted out. A few drops sttered on his arm, but he didn¡¯t care. He kept hitting hard. In just a couple more blows, the guy was out cold. Even so, Damien¡¯s fury didn¡¯t fade. After beating the guy senseless¨Cwho knew if he was alive or dead¨CDamien checked his identity. Turned out he was a loyal follower of the former Baykeep city lord. He¡¯d snuck into ?ster Tower to nt a bomb but hadn¡¯t gotten far before he was spotted. Damien had tracked him all the way there. With nowhere left to hide, he¡¯d tried to attack Damien. But he was out of luck. Showing up at that exact moment? He¡¯d be nothing but a punching bag for Damien to vent on, and he paid dearly for it. After dealing with him, Damien had someonee down to haul the guy away. Then he hurried off, eager to go back and get his bunny Jasmine. But when he got back to the party, Jasmine and that guy were gone. No one knew where they¡¯d gone. More beautiful women were brought into the party. The music was upbeat and lively. There were beautiful women, fine wine, and even gambling. So even the men who hadn¡¯t won Jasmine¡¯s favor were having a good time. Damien couldn¡¯t find her, so he tracked down Teddy and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Jasmine?¡± ¡°On a date, of course,¡± Teddy replied. Damien¡¯s eyes turned even redder. ¡°Where did they go for the date?¡± Teddy said, ¡°How would I know that?¡± Damien tried to get in touch with Jasmine, but he couldn¡¯t reach her. Teddy thought, ¡®Damien must be in the mood to kill right now. This is really exciting. Mrs. York is ruthless, but isn¡¯t this also a test for Damien? Teddy suggested, ¡°I think you should ask Mrs. York. She must know.¡± When Damien found Shermaine, she was sitting in front of a small mountain of drinks. Shermaine said, ¡°Finish these and I¡¯ll tell you where Jasmine is.¡± Jasmine never would have guessed that after the dance, there would be a private one¨Con¨Cone date. Luckily, the man was really a gentleman and he was funny too. So their conversation wasn¡¯t awkward at all. They were having dinner at a very romantic restaurant. ¡°The guy you turned down earlier,¡± the man started, ¡°you must like him a lot, right?¡± Jasmine picked up a small piece of beef with her fork and put it in her mouth. She didn¡¯t say yes or no at first, but then she nodded. It was because she cared about him and liked him that she¡¯d gotten so worked up and angry when she saw Damien. ¡°He made you mad?¡± the man asked. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°No wonder,¡± the manughed and teased a little. ¡°Looks like I don¡¯t stand a chance then.¡± Jasmine smiled awkwardly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± he said. ¡°Just getting to have dinner with you is an honor. And if there¡¯s any business cooperation in the future, I hope you¡¯ll keep me in mind.¡± ¡°Sure thing,¡± Jasmine said. Once they¡¯d cleared the air, her appetite opened up and she ate to her heart¡¯s content. Heaven knew how much time she¡¯d wasted getting dolled up today. Beforeing, she¡¯d even only eaten some fruit to keep her figure looking good and avoid showing a little belly. Now she could finally eat as much as she wanted. In the blink of an eye, an hour had passed. Originally, there was another activity nned after dinner, but now that things had been made clear, there was no need to go on with it. Jasmine, full and satisfied, signaled that she needed to go to the restroom. She picked up her bag, stood up, left the restaurant, and walked out. Suddenly, an arm stretched out from the fire escape and dragged her into the darkness. Jasmine was startled. She pushed hard with both hands, but her legs were pinned down and her waist was held tightly, leaving her unable to move. Her back pressed against the cold wall. The next second, her lips were bitten. Wafting over was a strong smell of alcohol, mixed with a pleasant scent. She thought, ¡®It¡¯s Damien. He¨CHe¡¯s kissing me! You jerk, did I give you permission to kiss me?¡® Jasmine turned her head to avoid his kiss. ¡°You let me go.¡± Damien panted, his gray eyes simmering with dark desire. ¡°You keep moving, and I¡¯ll take you right here.¡± Jasmine¡¯s face flushed bright red. She didn¡¯t dare move again. She never thought Damien would say such a bold thing. ¡°You¡­ You womanizer. Just try touching me.¡± Damien squeezed her waist a little harder, pressing his body closer. His voice was deep. ¡°Watch me.¡± ¡°Why are you picking on me?¡± ¡°Because I like you. Is that enough?¡± This was probably the most unbelievable thing Jasmine had heard all night. Damien really liked her. It was something she¡¯d never even dreamed of Jasmine still wasn¡¯t sure. ¡°But you have another woman.¡± ¡°She has nothing to do with me,¡± Damien exined. Jasmine pouted, ¡°You¡¯re so mean. How could you like me?¡± 11:08 Tue, 15 Jul Damien¡¯s voice softened. He lowered his head first. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It won¡¯t happen again.¡± Jasmine continued toin, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t even let me touch your abs. I was really hurt.¡± Damien¡¯s eyes darkened. He took her hand and slipped it under his shirt. ¡°You can touch them now. Will you forgive me?¡± AD Nurse walking 534 Last time, Jasmine had only poked one of Damien¡¯s abs with a finger, but now her entire palm was pressed against his abdomen. She thought, ¡®It feels great. But is Damien¡¯s body too hot?¡® His warmth seeped through, making her palm feel like it was on fire in an instant. Jasmine¡¯s face flushed bright red like a ripe cherry. Her mind wentpletely nk, and she couldn¡¯t say a word. ¡®Should I forgive him?¡® she wondered. The scale in her heart was actually tipping. Deep down, she already had an answer because he had won her over. The moment she touched Damien¡¯s abs, her mood was absolutely over the moon. ¡®They feel really nice,¡® she thought. She wiggled her fingertips a little. They are so firm. And they move. Heh, this is fun,¡® she thought. Jasmine¡¯s eyebrows and eyes rxed into a smile. She was kind of getting addicted, reluctant to pull her hand away. Damien, though, held his breath. He didn¡¯t rush her, letting her touch as much as she wanted. One of his hands was propped against the wall, and right then, the veins on the back of it were faintly visible. Clearly, he was holding back. In the darkness, his gray eyes stared intently at his bunny. Taking advantage of Jasmine¡¯s enjoyment, Damien asked again, ¡°Can you forgive me now?¡± Jasmine nodded vigorously like a chick pecking at grain. Her oval face lit up with a huge smile. Just a moment ago, she¡¯d been the elegant and poised Ms. Farrington, but now she¡¯d dropped the act, looking totally silly. Those abs had quite the charm. All her earlier frustration vanished, and she felt utterly, thoroughly happy, body and soul. ¡®Forgive him? Sure. Absolutely, totally, definitely. Let me keep touching, and I¡¯ll agree to anything,¡® she thought. When Damien saw her nod, a faint smile tugged at his lips. He thought, ¡®Good, she forgave me. My bunny is actually this easy to cheer up. I really messed up before.¡® Damien¡¯s cold, sharp scent mixed with the smell of alcohol. When he¡¯d kissed her earlier, she¡¯d caught a whiff of the strong liquor on his breath, so intense, it stung, almost burning. She never drank anything that strong, so just that tiny taste had made her feel like she might get drunk. ¡®Could it be that my rejection left him heartbroken, driving him to drown his sorrows?¡® she wondered. ¡®Hmm, no way. Damien, that self¨Cdisciplined, controlled killer, would never let himself go like that.¡® Jasmine asked, ¡°But why did you drink so much?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Damien said. ¡°How could it be nothing if you drank that much?¡± Jasmine was still curious and insisted on knowing. ¡°And when I turned you down, you just disappeared. Where did you¡­¡± The rest of her words were cut off by his kiss/silencedpletely. It was then that Jasmine realized something was off. ¡®Crap. This dark little spot is perfect for making out.,¡® she thought. What was more, she could clearly feel Damien¡¯s breathing growing heavier, more unrestrained by the second. He was like moltenva, as if he wanted to melt her right there. Her heels were high. The kiss made her legs go weak. She could barely stand and was almost out of breath. Her lips felt numb from kissing. It even hurt a little. ¡®Crap, he¡¯s really bad at kissing,¡¯ she thought. Jasmineined right after, ¡°Are you a puppy? You bit me so hard that it hurts.¡± She lifted a hand to touch her lips. ¡°Did you bite me until I bled?¡± ¡°No,¡± he said. ¡°Oh,¡± she replied. Damien was a killer. Even in the dark, with no light at all, his vision wasn¡¯t affected. He could see clearly. The pretty woman in front of him had lips glistening with moisture. He¡¯d never kissed a woman before. Jasmine was the first. So it was no wonder his kissing was less than great. But being criticized by Jasmine was a different story. ¡°Also, my feet are numb.¡± Jasmine asked softly, ¡°Can we leave here?¡± She was afraid someone might walk by and catch them making out. That would be so embarrassing. The answer was no. Nurse walking 535 C Chapter 535 Damien made another move. He lifted Jasmine uppletely with both hands, so she no longer had to dand only ding to tank.. This position was really hot. Jasmine¡¯s face flushed even more. She felt awkward, yet at the same time, sort of expoyed the atyja verenig now. This time, Damien¡¯s kissing skills had clearly improved. He kissed Jasmine so thoroughly that she felt dizzy live she was finating on cloud She thought, ¡®How could he be such a fast learner?¡® Jasmine¡¯s mind was a total mess. Without realizing it, she followed Damien¡¯s lead as if lured in by him, falling into the trap, and Meanwhile, Shermaine waszily curled up in Joshua¡¯s arms. Teddy, who¡¯de with Damien to find Shermaine, hadn¡¯t left yet. Seeing the empty wine bottles on the table, he was really amazed by how Darmst had chugged all that alcohol earlier. ¡®That¡¯s intense,¡® he thought. Then he even thought Shermaine¡¯s little punishment was a bit mischievous. After all, alcohol went to your head so easily. And this was strong liquor, no less. Teddy wondered, ¡®Damien drank so much and then went to find Jasmine. With beauty and alcohol mixing, will he lose control and end up sleeping with her?¡® The mental image was too much. Just thinking about it made him feel shy. What Teddy was thinking, Shermaine quickly thought of too. First, she frowned, but soon her brows rxed slowly. She thought, ¡®Given Damien¡¯s personality, Jasmine is probably in for a tough night. It¡¯s my oversight. Alcohol is such a test of a person¡¯s self¨Ccontrol ¡®And Jasmine is dressed so sexy and beautiful tonight. But then again, Jasmine has always had the hots for Damien, in a way, I¡¯m doing her a favor.¡± Judging by how quickly Damien had downed all that wine in front of her without a word, Shermaine had already approved of him. Damien and Jasmine¡¯s rtionship had broken through, so whatever happened between them next, she would let things take their natural course. At that moment, a killer came in from outside to report, ¡°Mr. and Mrs. York, Her Highness Shirley has arrived.¡± ¡°Show her in,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°Yes,¡± the killer replied. Shirley strode in from outside with quick, energetic steps, looking sharp and confident. She plopped down casually in front of Shermaine and Joshua. Teddy poured her a ss of wine. Shirley hade to Baykeep tonight mainly to catch up with Shermaine. She¡¯d heard Shermaine and Joshua would be leaving soon. Shermaine spoke up. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be on a date with that pretty boy?¡± Shirley shook her head. ¡°He¡¯s too young.¡± She paused and then added, ¡°The men in the Kingdom of Xyperia sureck backbone. Shermaine smiled, ¡°You¡¯re a queen. They probably hold back because of who you are ¡± ¡°Still, it¡¯s pathetic. Only one boy had the nerve to hand me a rose,¡± Shirley scoffed. Shermaine said, ¡°He is young, but he seems nice enough.¡± Shirley shook her head again. Then Joshua chimed in, ¡°How much younger?¡± ¡°Six years,¡± Shirley answered. ¡°So what?¡± Joshua said. Shirley paused. It really wasn¡¯t a big deal, but she just couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that going for someone that much younger fett oft But Joshua acted like age wasn¡¯t even an issue, so he scoffed at Shirley¡¯s concern over it. Shermaine exined, ¡°Joshua is 11 years older than me.¡± It suddenly dawned on Shirley. ¡°Oh, I see. I never would¡¯ve guessed.¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t look his age,¡± Shermaine said. It was true. Joshua was almost 34, but time had left no marks on him no wrinkles at all. He was handsome, mature, and utterly charming If he¡¯d been at tonight¡¯s party, he would¡¯ve stood out like no one else. Everyone would¡¯ve had their eyes on him. Shirley asked, ¡°Boa¡¯s that much younger, but you never felt guilty?¡± Joshua¡¯s expression didn¡¯t flicker. ¡°No.¡± He never would, not in a million years. An 11¨Cyear gap meant nothing to him. If he wanted someone, even if they were younger, he¡¯d never let a thing like age make him let go. Beside him, Shermaine let out a softugh. She nced at Joshua with a warm smile and said, ¡°Where we¡¯re from, age gaps don¡¯t matter. If you like someone, age isn¡¯t an issue. Besides, you¡¯re a queen with all that power. Why worry about silly things like that?¡± The conversation there was going smoothly while Jasmine felt her whole body go weak from Damien¡¯s kisses. The strange, trembling physical reactions her body was having made her extremely ufortable. Yet Damien, holding and kissing her for so long, showed no sign of tiring. Jasmine wriggled ufortably and asked, ¡°Damien, do you have a gun on you?¡± Damien paused, his voice hoarse. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Really? Don¡¯t lie to me.¡± Damien fell silent. The atmosphere turned a little odd. Suddenly Jasmine thought of something and her eyes widened. She tried to jump off him in a panic, but Damien held her too tightly. She couldn¡¯t break free. ¡°Let me down,¡± she said. ¡°No,¡± Damien said. ¡®Like hell he would, Jasmine thought, panicking. ¡°I just forgave you, and now you¡¯re being so outrageous. This isn¡¯t right ¡°What isn¡¯t right about it?¡± Jasmine¡¯s mind went nk. She couldn¡¯t think of a reason, so she just said, ¡°It¡¯s not, that¡¯s all.¡± Damien repeated, ¡°Toote.¡± He lifted her by the hips and walked straight ahead. After walking around for a while, he pushed a door open and stepped inside. When Damien took out a card, Jasmine was shocked. ¡°Why do you have a room key?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a key, but it can open the door.¡± With that, there was a beep and the door to the 8888 suite in front of them unlocked. The door opened and then closed again. Jasmine was set down on the bed and she scooted back a little. Damien stared at her and pulled off his shirt, revealing his strong, imposing physique, Maybe because of the alcohol, his tanned skin had a faint, dark flush. The sight of his abs hit her so hard that Jasmine felt dizzy. She thought, ¡®I must be crazy. I want to reach out and touch them again.¡¯ In her daze, Damien took her foot in his hand. He was taking off her high heels, and soon her ck heels were off and tossed onto the floor. His palm was burning hot, so hot that it made Jasmine¡¯s toes tingle. Jasmine pulled her foot back, nted both feet on the floor, and was ready to bolt. She didn¡¯t even care about her shoes anymore. But she had taken only a few steps when Damien dragged her back. She plopped right down onto hisp. Jasmine¡¯s voice was low and a little shaky. ¡°You¡¯re using the alcohol as an excuse to act like this.¡± He hadn¡¯t even taken his pants off yet, but he was already putting enormous pressure on her. It was mainly because Damien looked so intimidating. She felt like a piece of mouthwatering meat and he was dying to devour her. Damien said, ¡°I¡¯m not drunk.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe you.¡± ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter if she believes me. She isn¡¯t getting away anyway,¡® he thought. Damien hooked his finger around her thin camisole/strap. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, and he gave it a sharp tug. Dawn broke and light filtered in from outside. Jasmine must have felt ufortable. She instinctively pulled the covers up, tucking them over her head. But when she moved her hands, they ached like they had been run over by a car. They were really sore. She was lying on her side. Assuming that the position started to feel ufortable too, she tried to roll over. But she found she didn¡¯t even have the strength to turn over. In a daze, she opened her eyes. They were red, looking a lot like a rabbit¡¯s. Staring at the unfamiliar ceiling, she had no idea what day it was or even what time. She felt like she was still dreaming, unable to tell what was real, All she knew was that her body felt terrible. Really terrible. ¡®Who hit me? Son of a bitch!¡® she thought. Then she thought maybe that wasn¡¯t right. Jasmine¡¯s mind froze for a moment, but soon memories ofst night came flooding back like a spring. She thought, ¡®Damien and I slept together. No. To be precise, Damien slept with me!¡® Jasmine tried to get up from the bed, but as soon as she did, she copsed back down. Her lower back ached badly. Her face flushed as she cursed under her breath, ¡°Damien must be crazy.¡± AD Nurse walking 536 Chapter 536 Once Jasmine copsed back onto the bed, she couldn¡¯t get up again. Memories ofst night reyed in her mind like a movie, over and over. Her legs trembled involuntarily from fear. By the end, she couldn¡¯t stop the crazy Damien from kissing and biting her. She felt like she¡¯d almost been gnawed down to a bare bors. By that time, Damien was long gone. Jasmine felt a little wronged. She thought, ¡®That bastard. He slept with me and then ran off Her eyes grew redder, moisture pooling in them. She pulled the covers tight and started crying softly. When Damien returned, he found Jasmine curled into a ball, with tiny sobs escaping her. He set the bag down, walked over, and dug her out from under the covers, The second Jasmine saw him, she let out a loud wail and burst into tears. Amused and helpless, Damien lifted her, who was still wrapped in the nket, onto hisp. He wiped her tears and asked in a low voice, ¡°Why are you crying?¡± His tone wasn¡¯t as cold as usual. It had softened a lot. He was naturally like that, but with Jasmine, he was changing. Right now, seeing her cry, even this hard¨Chearted man had softened. Jasmine¡¯s voice was thick with tears. ¡°I thought you were a scumbag. You slept with me and then ran off, leaving me here to fend for myself¡± ¡°When have I ever left you alone?¡± Damien asked. ¡°It¡¯s different this time.¡± ¡°How is it different?¡± ¡°It just is.¡± Damien didn¡¯t argue. ¡°From now on, you¡¯re my woman. I¡¯ll always take care of you.¡± ¡°For my whole life?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Jasmine felt relieved. ¡®Damien¡¯s a man of his word. I can trust what he says,¡® she thought. Jasmine fidgeted a little and asked, ¡°Can you not be so rough in bed?¡± Damien said, ¡°No.¡± Damien was willing topromise and indulge pasmine in other things, but in bed, it was his territory. That he wouldn¡¯t give in on. Jasmine mumbled, ¡°Fine.¡± She figured from now on, she¡¯d avoid it as much as she could. ¡®I¡¯ll definitely not let Damien get his way every time,¡¯ she thought. Damien smoothed her hair. ¡°Go wash up first. I brought you food.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t move.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll carry you.¡± Jasmine went to the bathroom. Damien hung the bag of clothes on the side, but she felt a little shy and shooed him out. In front of the mirror, the blonde beauty looked thoroughly ravaged. If she didn¡¯t know what they¡¯d donest night, she¡¯d have sworn she¡¯d been mistreated. Even she felt embarrassed looking at herself. She quickly took the clothes from the bag and put them on. Damien had bought the clothes himself. They fit perfectly¨Ca thin ck turtleneck knit dress. Once dressed, she started getting cleaned up. She¡¯d already taken off her makeup during their intimacy in the bathroomst night, so now she just needed to brush her teeth and wash her face. Damien waited outside the whole time. When Jasmine said she was done, he came in and carried her out. The messy bed had been changed by an Al robot with fresh sheets and nkets. The room smelled clean. Her dress fromst night though was lying all alone in the trash can. After they¡¯d eaten their fill, Damien took her back to the city lord¡¯s mansion. Jasmine slept the whole way there. When she opened her eyes again, she was in Damien¡¯s bed. ¡®Honestly, I have my own room, so why bring me to his? Hmph. He must have ulterior motives,¡® she thought. It was already dark. Jasmine sat up, feeling much better than she had that morning. Damien wasn¡¯t there, so she called him on Orthish. ¡°Where are you?¡± ¡°At Mrs. York¡¯s,¡± Damien replied. As soon as she heard he was at Shermaine¡¯s ce, Jasmine said, ¡°I¡¯ming over now.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Jasmine got out of bed, sshed some water on her face, tidied herself up, and headed over. Shermaine was ying with Gracie. Damien stood in front of her, calm and patient, not rushing her even though she wasn¡¯t speaking. He had no more weakness. But he knew he was strong enough now. Protecting Jasmine would be no problem at all. Besides, Jasmine had her own backing. Still, Damien was sure he wanted to be with Jasmine forever. He thought, ¡®Once she¡¯s my woman, she¡¯ll be mine for life. I slept with her, so I owe her that responsibility! Shermaine was satisfied with his answer. Jasmine arrived quickly. When she walked in, Shermaine¡¯s gaze made her a little shy. She sat down next to Damian and said softly, ¡°Shermaine Shermaine nodded. ¡°Are you feeling okay? Any difort?¡± Jasmine¡¯s face flushed bright red like a tomato. ¡°I¨CI¡¯m fine. No difort.¡± Shermaine smiled and told Jasmine about the wedding ns she¡¯d just discussed with Damien. Damien being willing was one thing, but the main thing was whether Jasmine was on board. Jasmine had no objections to getting married. She¡¯d already slept with Damien, so marrying him was only a matter of time. It was just once they were married, Shermaine would probably leave. She knew that but didn¡¯t ask. She thought, ¡®Sometimes goodbyes aren¡¯t necessarily sad. I shouldn¡¯t be so pessimistic.¡± With both agreeing to the marriage, Shermaine set about arranging it. The next day they went to register and got their marriage license. To Teddy and the others, a hitman getting married was unheard of. They thought, ¡®Damien¡¯s moving at lightning speed. He just won Jasmine over, and now they are already husband and wife.¡® Maybe Damien¡¯spany made Jasmine feel less down and sad. Their wedding was held two weekster. It wasn¡¯t grand, but the venue was decorated just how Jasmine loved. She also had a stunning wedding dress that Shermaine had designed for her personally. Gentle sea breezes blew. The sun shone brightly. The sea was a clear, sparkling blue. The venue was decked out with romantic balloons and pink roses. Jasmine hadn¡¯t wanted anything big or shy, but news of her wedding had already spread across the entire Kingdom of Xyperia. With everyone watching, Shermaine led her out. She took Jasmine¡¯s hand and ced it in Damien¡¯s. Apuse broke out. They exchanged rings and the ceremony ended. Damien tilted Jasmine¡¯s chin up and kissed her. The whole ce was lively, especially the hitmen. They were having a great time. Joshua sat in the audience, sipping his drink. If he hadn¡¯te there, he and Sherma¨ªne would¡¯ve already had their wedding as nned. But no, Damien and Jasmine had just gotten together and immediately registered to marry. It was like a whirlwind. The sun set. Joshua took Shermaine¡¯s hand and walked along the beach. ¡°Sheary, when we get back, we¡¯ll have our wedding.¡± Shermaine smiled and nodded. But even after they returned, their wedding still didn¡¯t happen right away. Nurse walking 537 Chapter 537 It got dark. Jasmine had drunk quite a bit, but she wasn¡¯t drunk yet. Damien raised his ss to Shermaine and Joshua. He didn¡¯t say anything, but everything was understood without words. The party was really lively. Shermaine joined them for beach volleyball. Joshua had wanted to be on Shermaine¡¯s team at first, but they were way too unbeatable when they paired up. So they were split up and ended up as opponents. Joshua was on the opposite side from Shermaine. Damien was there too, on the other team. On Shermaine¡¯s side were Jasmine, Teddy, Shirley, and a few others. The cheers nearby were loud. Everyone was eager to see who¡¯d win tonight. Shermaine held the volleyball, her smile seductive as she tilted her chin slightly. ¡°No holding back.¡± She was obviously talking to Joshua. Joshua hadn¡¯t really wanted to join. Being on Shermaine¡¯s team would¡¯ve been fine, but now he was against her. Hearing her tell him that, he smiled, ¡°I just hope you¡¯ll go easy on me.¡± Jasmine had changed out of her wedding dress. She was in a bikini with a loose shirt over it. The shirt wasn¡¯t hers but Damien¡¯s. In the open¨Cminded Kingdom of Xyperia, Damien had surprisingly conservative views. In a crowd, he¡¯d absolutely refused to let Jasmine wear such a sexy bikini. Jasmine finally understood why Shermaine, despite her great figure, never wore overly sexy clothes. Shermaine must do it to keep Joshua from getting jealous. Jasmine was probably the weakest on her team. She was really worried about dragging everyone down. She batted her eyes, sending obvious suggestive looks across to Damien on the other side. Damien¡¯s expression was calm. ¡°Go for it.¡± Jasmine was speechless. ¡®That¡¯s not what I mean. I want you to let me win,¡® she thought. For fairness, Shermaine¡¯s team had five people, including two men. Joshua¡¯s team also had two women. It was Shirley who grabbed the ball first. She was over 5¡¯7¡°, a little taller than Shermaine. The woman from the other team went for the ball too, but Shirley was faster. So Shermaine¡¯s team got to serve. Shermaine hit the ball over. It was fast and aimed trickily. Joshua was the one to receive it. He didn¡¯t hold back, hitting it right back. The game was intense from the start. The onlookers loved it, finding it really exciting/¡®When top yers go head to head, it¡¯s incredible,¡® they thought. Shermaine didn¡¯t keep hitting the ball toward Joshua. She jumped up and spiked it hard. Damien, guarding the front, managed to pop the ball up before it hit the ground. 1/3 Right after, Joshua jumped and hit it back. Shirley was ready. Before the ball came over, she smacked it straight toward the other woman on the opposing team. The woman missed it. The ball was too powerful. She couldn¡¯t stay bnced and fell to the ground, her hands numb. ¡®Are these people even ying volleyball?¡® she wondered in disbelief. Teddy and Jasmine hadn¡¯t moved for that y. They hadn¡¯t gotten a chance to do anything. Shermaine¡¯s team scored a point. The woman stood up, looking a little apologetic. Damien said, ¡°You can sit this out.¡± The woman was more than happy to step down. She thought, ¡®I shouldn¡¯t have been so eager to y in the first ce. That one hit almost crippled my hands. A few more and my hands will really be crippled.¡® A female assassin took her ce. She yed pretty well, fitting into the team smoothly. Their defense tightened up, making it hard for the opposing team to score.- Jasmine stood there, just watching Damien. ¡®Oh my god. Hubby¡¯s so hot. Hubby looks amazing ying,¡® she thought. She wanted to hit the ball too, but it never came her way. Then the ball got to Damien. When he jumped, he nced at Shermaine¡¯s side. The only weak spot in their defense was where Jasmine stood. His gray eyes flickered and he hit the ball toward Jasmine. Jasmine saw iting, held her breath, and was about to reach for it, but it flew straight out of bounds. The ball scraped a dent in the ground. Clearly, if Jasmine had tried to hit it, she would¡¯ve ended up in tears. It was obvious he¡¯d let her off easily. Jasmine grinned, while the onlookers murmured. Someone called out, ¡°Cheating. Punishment. 50 push¨Cups.¡± Jasmine was pulled over and sat right on Damien¡¯s back. Damien did the push¨Cups in a steady rhythm, not even breaking a sweat. His stamina was incredible. Watching this, Joshua, Damien¡¯s boss, thought, ¡®I really wanted to go easy on Shermaine, but she wouldn¡¯t let me.¡¯ Joshua was usually the one showing off his affection the most, but now he was the one getting an eyeful of others¡® love. Waves crashed against the rocks, and the party didn¡¯t end untilte. After the volleyball game, Damien got stuck drinking a lot. He and Jasmine were swarmed by everyone and sent to the biggest luxury suite at the hot spring hotel. As soon as the door closed, they fell onto the huge bed. Damien kissed her lips. ¡°Happy?¡± 13:49 Wed, 16 Jul G Jasmine nodded. It was the happiest day she¡¯d had in her whole life. ¡°There¡¯s an outdoor het spring. I want to take a bath.¡± She¡¯d been ying all day, and her whole body felt stirby and ufortabis ¡°Together,¡± Damien said. They took off all their clothes, and mist curled up from the hot spring. Meanwhile, Apocalypse stood on the beach, with Dave on its head. Shermaine carried Gracie as she and Joshua walked toward the rain it was time for them to head back. Once the cabin door closed, a blue light red from Dave. Above the starry sky, a ck hole appeared. In the next second, Apocalypse, sitting on the beach, turned into a shooting star and vanished into the sky. Jasmine noticed the movement, but Damien pulled her into his arms. ¡°Jasmine, let¡¯s have a baby.¡± C Nurse walking 538 Chapter 538 Jasmine thought, ¡®Have a baby? Our rtionship is already moving fast enough. Damien isn¡¯t just rushing. He¡¯s trying to leap straight to the ord Of course, Jasmine was going to say no. Even though babies were cute and she¡¯d dreamed of having a little one as pretty as Gracie, all pink and perfect. Just thinking about it made her happy. But not now. Since that night, they hadn¡¯t been intimate again, mostly because Damien was too busy handling everything for the wedding. She¡¯d had it easy, just dealing with a few documents each day. Jasmine bit his lip. Damien pulled away from her. Jasmine said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to have a baby so soon.¡± Her cheeks flushed. ¡°We¡­ We haven¡¯t even dated yet.¡± ¡°We can start now,¡± Damien said. Jasmine¡¯s eyes lit up when she was about to ask how they were going to date. Damien¡¯s hand moved to the bikini strap around her neck. He gave it a light tug and the string came loose like scattered sand. Water sshed. Skin pressed against skin. Jasmine was like a fish, swimming freely in the water one minute. But then her tail was caught, leaving her at Damien¡¯s mercy. After they had sex, Damien carried her back to the bed. He kissed the tears from the corner of her eye, as gentle as could be. ¡®I¡¯ll stay with her for life,¡¯ he thought. In Wallington, lights were justing on. Shermaine and Joshua had been gone for nearly two years. Snowkes fell from the sky. Every household¡¯s windows were covered in thick frost. At Yaleview Hospital, Danielle had just finished another four¨Chour surgery. She stepped out. Her mask covered her pretty face, but her eyes were still bright. Though there were dark circles under them and red streaks, showing she hadn¡¯t slept in a long time. The patient¡¯s family swarmed around her as she came out. One asked, ¡°Doctor, is my son going to be okay?¡± Another said, ¡°Doctor, how¡¯s my husband?¡± Their voices were full of concern, but their chatter only made Danielle¡¯s headache worse. She¡¯d meant to tell them the surgery had gone well, that they didn¡¯t need to worry so much. But before she could speak, she fainted. A nurseing out saw her and hurried to hold her up. Danielle was exhausted. After pulling two surgeries back to back, she was alreadypletely worn out. Danielle was a surgeon, but her real specialty was the heart, not brain surgery. Tonight¡¯s operation was on a police officer who¡¯d been shot in the head, causing heavy bleeding. The officer¡¯s life hung in the bnce. 13:49 Wed, 16 Jul G Danielle hadn¡¯t wanted to take part in this surgery. She¡¯d just finished a highly difficult operation and was already feeling west then the intera dhe her to lead this one. It was too big a challenge for her. The officer¡¯s condition was urgent. But with several top surgeons from the department out of town at a conference, the vids the only one left in the hospital who could perform the surgery. Danielle had no choice but to push through. Before she fainted, Danielle thought, ¡®It would be good if Shermaine were here! But Shermaine and Joshua vanished nearly two years ago and still hadn¡¯t returned. Secrets couldn¡¯t be kept forever. With them staying out of the public eye and what had happened that night, the media and people in the circle aft guessed Shermaine and Joshua had met with misfortune that night. They were dead. But the York family was influential, and Joshua was the head of York Group. If the news of his death got out, the York family would be thrown into chaos overnight. So the news of his and Shermaine¡¯s death was kept under wraps. The York family had been the top family in Basterel for a long time. When word spread that Shermaine and Joshua might be dead, many other families grew restless. They joined forces to take on the York family. With Joshua gone, they were like untamed horses with no restraints. They hit York Group from all sides in the business world. Luckily, the York family didn¡¯t fall apart without Joshua. They didn¡¯t get pushed back. Owen stepped up to run thepany. He took over all the projects Joshua had been in charge of before disappearing. Ross was helping too. All in all, the York and Jean families went through a big upheaval after Shermaine and Joshua left. But they weren¡¯t hurt at the core. They remained unshakable in Basterel. The only real problem was that Molly went back to Ustrana and Roy followed not long after. But then the two of them got into a car ident. People said it was a car ident. But it was actually an ambush. After all, Molly¡¯s family was huge andplicated. She had so many; outstanding heirs among them. So after she went back, Molly was ambushed. siblings all wanting to inherit the throne. And Molly was definitely one of the most That attack left her badly hurt and in the hospital. She had been in a First, Shermaine and Joshua suddenly disappeared. That was hard enough. Two people just vanished right in front of them. They were already on edge. Then not long after, Roy went missing too. So Ross has been really busy these past two He was busy with Jean Group¡¯s business, also bolning the Shay family look for Roy. Danielle had plenty to do at the hospital. She and Ross barely get to see each other. After Molly recovered from her injuries, she had been looking for Roy too. But there was still no sign of him. All traces of him had been wiped clean. So there was still no news of where he was. When Danielle woke up again, she saw Ross sitting beside her and going through papers. It had been over two weeks since she¡¯d seen Ross. So when she opened her eyes and saw him, she was a bit dazed. She thought she must be dreaming. 49 Wed, 16 JUN 0 O Then Ross touched her cheek, asking gently, ¡°How are you feeling? Danielle looked at him. This gentle, refined man seemed to have lost a little weight. But he still had that same charm. He was wearing a well fitted gray suit. With an overcoat over it because it was cold. He looked elegant and smart- Over the past two years, Danielle has grown more and more fond of him, who¡¯d risked his life to save her during the earthquake. After missing hen f?r over two weeks, she shook her head and held out her arms. ¡°Ross, hug me.¡± Ross helped her up from the bed. He put his arms around her and she sat on hisp. Danielle leaned in, pressing her soft lips on his. She¡¯d always been the forward one, often getting Ross all worked up. This noble, refined man had long since fallen for her. Ross parted his lips. Danielle still felt weak after sleeping. She kissed him for a moment and pulled back, out of breath. Then Ross took over. But his kisses were gentle When their slow, soft kiss ended, Danielle¡¯s s lips glistened and her eyes were a little red. She looked just like a pink rose in spring, with a faint flush. ¡°Poss I missed you so much.¡± AD Nurse walking 539 Chapter 539 As she said that, Danielle snuggled closer against Ross. Ross¡® eyes darkened. He held her waist to stop her from moving around. ¡°Danielle, teasing me right after waking up. You don¡¯t care about your health anymore?¡± Danielle smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. ¡°Ross, don¡¯t you miss me?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you feel it?¡± he shot back. Danielle snuggled again, feeling his hand on her waist B even warmer. ¡°Once I¡¯ve had enough sleep, I¡¯ll take care of you.¡± Rossughed and gave her a light tap on the bottom. ¡°Still being naughty.¡± Danielle gave him a yful pout, then wrapped her arms around him, and kissed him again. Ross was all worked up from her antics, with no way to let it out, but he didn¡¯t mind one bit. After that kiss ended, Ross ruffled her hair. ¡°You¡¯ve been working hard.¡± Saving people had drained her energy and focus. There was no doubt Danielle was a dedicated doctor. ¡°You too.¡± Danielle draped herselfzily over Ross and yawned. She¡¯d only slept for a couple of hours. She was still tired and hungry too. Just then, Alex came in from outside. ¡°Mr. Jean, I brought the sandwiches.¡± ¡°Put them on the nightstand,¡± Ross said. ¡°Okay.¡± Alex set the sandwiches down and left again. The packaging looked really fancy. Ross lifted Danielle back onto the bed. Eat some sandwiches first. Then you¡¯reing back to Jean Vi with me.¡± Over the past two years, even though they weren¡¯t married, everyone already saw them as a couple. After all, they were engaged. Besides, she often stayed overnight at Jean Vi to keep Janicepany. For now, all they could do was wait for Shermaine and Joshua toe back. In their eyes, it was only a matter of time before Shermaine and Joshua returned. Danielle nodded. ¡°Ross, feed me.¡± Ross opened the package and started feeding Danielle the sandwich. Once he fed her until she was full, he took her back to Jean Vi. The house had the heating on. Maybe because they missed Shermaine, Janice and Ruth were sitting Competition. on the couch, watching videos and photos of Shermaine at the Tech Conference Christmas wasing soon, but Shermaine and Joshua still hadn¡¯te back. No one knew if they¡¯d find a way L urn. ¡°Ruthie, do you think Sheary and Joshua could really be stuck in another world?¡± Janice asked. ¡°They won¡¯t.¡± Ruth reassured her. ¡°Sheary and Joshua are so capable. They¡¯ll definitely find a way back.¡± Janice sighed, ¡°I¡¯m getting old. I can¡¯t help but overthink. I¡¯m just scared I might die before they get back.¡± 1/3. 13:49 Wed, 16 J¨¹l & ? C Chapter 539. ¡°Janice, don¡¯t say things like that. It¡¯s upsetting,¡± Ruth said. She hated hearing Janice worry so much. Most of all, dwelling en lever le health. ¡°All right. Oh, yes, Richard has been after you for over two years now. You¡¯re not getting any younger. When are you going to makerso let pidi n Janice said. In the two years that had passed, Ruth still looked the same thanks to her good care. She still seemed young Out on the street, peagle verde (thick ¨C was at most 30. When Richard was mentioned, Ruth¡¯s face grew a little uneasy. ¡°I know.¡± Richard had been with her these two years. He really deserved an answer. ¡°As for Jamie, you can stop bothering with him. If he hadn¡¯t messed up so badly, he wouldn¡¯t be all alone noir, Janice said the enne somaten had been trying to make things right with her, Ross, and Ruth ever since he recovered. But the terrible things Jameson had done in the past¨Ctime couldn¡¯t wipe those away. There was a rift in their hearts. It could never be fixed, They were still talking when Ross and Danielle arrived. Janice and Ruth had heard about Danielle fainting. So when they saw her, they were quick to ask how she was feeling and fuss over het Then they told the housekeeper to bring out the chicken soup that had been made that evening. Danielle drank the soup. Ross must have been busy. He sat beside her and went on with his paperwork. Then his phone pinged. A text message came in. Ross read the message and frowned. A cold look flickered in the gentle man¡¯s eyes, but it was gone in a sh. Danielle was sharp. She leaned over. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ross looked at her. ¡°Nothing. Just a spam message.¡± Danielle didn¡¯t suspect a thing. Janice thought of Roy then. ¡°Ross, you went to Ustrana again a few days ago. Did you find any news about Roy?¡± After all, they weren¡¯t as worried about Shermaine and Joshua, The one who really worried them was Roy. To this day, they still didn¡¯t know if he was alive or dead. Ross said no. Not long after finishing the chicken soup, Danielle went upstairs to wash up and rest. She really needed to catch up on sleep. She¡¯d been pushing through the whole time. Ross stayed busy with work. It wasn¡¯t untilte at night that he went back to their room. Hey down beside Danielle, held her, and fell fast asleep. The next day, when Danielle woke up, Ross wasn¡¯t there. He¡¯d left early in the morning. Danielle didn¡¯t go back to the hospital for work until the afternoon, and stayed there until evening. Then, all of a sudden, a trending topic about Ross popped up online. The hashtag was ¡°Ross cheating¡°. At the same time, in the middle of nowhere¡ªsome remote mountain forest in who knew what country a snowstorm was howling Apocalypse crashed down, leaving a deep hole in the ground. When Shermaine and Joshua woke up in their sleep pods, Dave looked guilty. ¡°I got the coordinates wrong,¡± it told them. ¡°Wended in the wrong ce.¡± AD Nurse walking 540 Chapter 540 Shermaine and Joshua didn¡¯t me Dave. Just being back was enough. They¡¯d find a way to get to Basterel. Right now, they mostly wanted to know where they were. Apocalypse was in hibernation. Joshua went to the control room and powered it up. The cabin, which had been freezing cold, suddenly warmed up. In the snowstorm¨Cswept mountain forest, a light appeared. Shermaine was more concerned about Gracie. She lifted Gracie out of the sleep pod. She called her name twice, and Gracie Voke
  1. up.
Probably hungry, Gracie let out a loud cry. Shermaine started to soothe her, taking milk from the thermos container to feed her. ¡°Sheary, I¡¯m going to check outside,¡± Joshua said. As he finished, Dave opened the cabin door and darted out. Then snow hit its face, turning it into a round, fluffy snowball in an instant. Even though Dave wasn¡¯t cold, when it flew up and saw the endless forest and ocean, it felt like whimpering. There were no signs of human habitation for miles around. So its wish of getting delicious fried chicken as soon as they got back was ruined. Dave ran back into the cabin, upset. In the control room, Joshua asked, ¡°Where are we?¡± A female Al voice spoke up. ¡°There¡¯s no signal here. I need to connect to a satellite. Please wait.¡± That was probably the benefit of advanced technology. The satellite was connected with no sign of intrusion at all. No one at the satellite station noticed a thing. After connecting to the satellite, Apocalypse showed them their current location. ¡°Sir, this is Remdik Penins.¡± Shermaine, who was feeding Gracie,ughed, thinking, ¡®Remdik Penins, all right. Dave surely knows how to picknding spots.¡® Remdik Penins was a high¨Crisk uninhabited area on Earth. Even explorers didn¡¯t daree there because there were so many volcanoes, and they erupted often, so idents were very likely. Their exact location was in the center of the ind, surrounded by tworge mountains. It was winter, so the temperature was extremely low, with lots of snow and cold. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising to find wild bears around, too. Any ordinary personnding there would only be able to wait for death. Shermaine thought of something and said, ¡°Can Apocalypse get in touch with Grandma and the others?¡± The Al replied, ¡°We can use the satellite to contact them, but there¡¯s a high risk of being exposed.¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow. ¡°Then forget it.¡± She wasn¡¯t in a hurry to get in touch with Janice and the others, anyway. It could wait until they got back to Basterel. It would even be a nice surprise. They¡¯d been in the Kingdom of Xyperia for almost two years. She figured the time on Earth was probably the same, but to be safe, the assed on is it on Earth right now?¡± The Al replied, ¡°December 29th, 2022.¡± ¡®Sure enough, time in the two worlds is about the same.,¡® she thought. Just then, a wild bear, drawn by the noise, came out of the darkness. It wandered over to one of Apocalypse¡¯s legs, sniffing left and right. It opened its mouth like it might even take a bite. Apocalypse sensed it, lifted its leg, and kicked the big grizzly clear away. Dumbfounded, the grizzly climbed up from the thick snow. Suddenly, a strong wind blew. It saw the thing that had fallen from the sky rise back up, Feeling an unprecedented threat, it bared its teeth and snarled in warning. Joshua said, ¡°Plot a course back to Basterel, Wallington.¡± Two beeps, and the Al replied, ¡°Course plotted.¡± Joshua marked Mount Hordeum and ordered, ¡°Take off.¡± They had no ns to stay there. Apocalypse rose into the atmosphere and quickly left Remdik Penins. With its speed, it wouldn¡¯t take long to cross most of the Earth and reach Basterel. In Basterel, Ross¡® rumor was all over the city. Danielle was at work and knew nothing about it, but word soon spread through the hospital. Danielle¡¯s colleagues all knew Ross. The love story between him and Danielle had been a big topic for two years. He¡¯d been linked to a female celebrity before, and he and Danielle had even broken up over it. Butter, during the Lightspring City earthquake, Ross went to find Danielle and saved her life. Danielle had exined to her colleagues afterward that the rumor was fake. The female celebrity had made it up to get attention. Two yearster, there was another rumor. The photos in the post showed Ross having dinner with a woman at a ce popr for couples. Later, he was photographed dropping her off at a hotel. The woman¡¯s face wasn¡¯t clearly captured, but from her profile, you could tell she was pretty. Still,pared to Danielle, she looked really in, This rumor was different from the one two years back. This time, he was photographed dropping her off at a hotel. And from what the paparazzi said, they had stayed inside for a good hour beforeing out. A lot could happen in an hour, right? Anyway, there was plenty of talk online, much of it critical. Danielle¡¯s colleagues huddled together, gossiping. One said, ¡°Do you think Ross is really cheating?¡± 214 Another replied, ¡°Who knows? It sure feels like he and that woman have something. I wonder if Dr. Shelly¡¯s sean liste Someone else said, ¡°Dr. Shelly likes him so much. If this turns out to be true, she¡¯ll be devastated? ¡°And if it does,¡± added another, ¡°I¡¯ll never believe in true love again.¡± ¡°Me too,¡± someone agreed. They kept chattering away. Danielle was making her rounds. She noticed people giving her weird looks everywhere she went. Then a teenage patient¨Caround 16, probably a shipper of Ross and her¨Churried over with her phone. ¡°Dr. Shelly, look at this franding topic. The girl had a heart condition, and getting upset was the worst thing for her. Danielle spoke softly. ¡°Calm down Let me see. Danielle looked at the screen and pressed her lips together. The photos weren¡¯t faked. The man in them was definitely Ross. But from what she knew of him, cheating wasn¡¯t something he¡¯d do. What she was more curious about was who the woman he¡¯d had dinner with was. In one photo, the woman looked up at Ross, with a faint smile in her eyes. Danielle trusted Ross, but she couldn¡¯t help feeling a little jealous. Ross rarely met up with other women in private, except for work. And with this woman¡¯s identity unknown, Danielle couldn¡¯t stop her mind from wandering to silly thoughts. ¡°Dr. Shelly, you should hurry and ask Mr. Jean who that woman is,¡± the girl said, curling her lip, looking really upset. ¡°My heart broke when I saw this news.¡± Danielle couldn¡¯t help smiling at her words. ¡°I¡¯m his girlfriend and I¡¯m not worried. Why are you so worked up?¡± ¡°I¡¯m such a big shipper of you two,¡± the girl said, clutching her chest, looking miserable. ¡°I just want to see you two all lovey¨Cdovey every day, but this rumor today has really bummed me out.¡± She was terrified Ross might turn out to be a jerk who¡¯d hurt Danielle. What was more, Jean Group still hadn¡¯t put out a statement to clear up the rumor, even after all this time. Danielle reassured her. ¡°All right, go back to rest. I¡¯ll find out what¡¯s going on.¡± ¡°Then¡­ do you believe Mr. Jean?¡± the girl asked softly. Danielle didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Yes.¡± At that, the girl let out a breath of relief. ¡®As their shipper, I should have more faith in Mr. Jean. Those shy women out there are definitely not his type,¡® she thought, After calming the girl down, Danielle called Ross. But no one answered. Danielle narrowed her eyes, thinking, ¡®Ross must be asking for it, ignoring my call like that.¡® She had Alex¡¯s number, so she hung up and dialed him instead. The phone rang twice before Alex picked up. ¡°Dr. Shelly, Mr. Jean¡¯s in a meeting. Don¡¯t believe the rumor online. I¡¯ve already had people take care of it Danielle was about to say something when a woman in a wheelchair appeared in front of her. Danielle recognized her right away. This was the woman linked with Ross. Nurse walking 541 This woman wasn¡¯t the ¡°innocent act¡± type. She looked gentler and more fragile than that, and she was in a wheelch?r. Her eyes met Danielle¡¯s, and they sized each other up. ¡°Dr. Shelly¡­¡± Alex¡¯s confused voice came from the phone. ¡°Hmm, got it,¡± Danielle replied, ending the call. The woman smiled, ¡°Hello, Ms. Shelly.¡± She held out a hand. ¡°Let me introduce myself. I¡¯m Emma, a friend of Pises. ¡®A smooth operator, Danielle thought. She smiled and shook Emma Hond¡¯s hand. ¡°Hello. I¡¯m Danielle, Ross¡® girlfriend.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve really wanted to meet you,¡± Emma said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for dropping by unannounced, Ms. Shelly. You won¡¯t mind, will you?¡± Danielle smiled, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Could I buy you a coffee?¡± ¡°Guests should be treated. My treat.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Danielle changed her clothes, handed over her work to another doctor, grabbed her bag, and left with Emma. No one thought much of Emma in her wheelchair at the hospital, but once they were outside, they drew plenty of stares. Emma seemed not to care at all. They crossed the street and entered the caf¨¦ opposite the hospital. Danielle ordered atte and a cappino. Across the table, neither gave anything away. Emma took a few sips of coffee and started talking, ¡°I never thought having dinner with Ross would end up trending. He didn¡¯t stay long when he dropped me off at the hotel. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± Danielle didn¡¯t say yes or no. ¡°Have you known Ross for long?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve known him since he was 20,¡± Emma said, her eyes dropping, a hint of sadness in her voice. ¡°But¡­¡± She trailed off. Danielle prompted. ¡°But what?¡± Emma gave a bitter smile. ¡°Seven years ago, I saved Ross and ended up with paralyzed legs. All these years, I¡¯ve seen countless doctors to get treatment, but none could fix my legs.¡± ¡®An old friend, who saved Ross and ended up in a wheelchair because of it. Wow. What a drama, Danielle thought, sneering inwardly. Still, if that were true, Ross owed Emma a huge debt of gratitude. And seeing Emma still in a wheelchair, it seemed her legs hadn¡¯t gotten better after all these years of treatment. Danielle didn¡¯t believe Emma hade back just to catch up. Danielle¡¯s voice was calm. ¡°There¡¯s a highly respected senior orthopedic doctor at Yaleview Hospital. You could go see him.¡± ¡°Thank you, but I¡¯ve given up. I¡¯m not getting treatment anymore,¡± Emma said. Danielle wasn¡¯t sure of how to respond. Then Ross called back. Danielle smiled at her. ¡°I need to take this.¡± ¡°Is it Ross?¡± Emma asked. ¡°Yeah.¡± Danielle didn¡¯t like other women¨Cexcept Shermaine¨Cacting so close to Ross. After all, in her book, that kind of closeness between unrted men and women carried a hint of intimacy. Danielle believed only she got to be affectionate with Ross. Emma seemed to put away all her sharp edges. When she heard Ross was calling Danielle, she didn¡¯t seem to care. She looked out at the busy traffic and sipped her coffee. Danielle didn¡¯t hold back and answered the call. Ross asked, ¡°Danielle, are you still at the hospital?¡± Danielle replied, ¡°I¡¯m at the caf¨¦ across from the hospital, chatting with your friend.¡± Ross frowned. ¡°Emma went to see you?¡± ¡°Yep,¡± Danielle said, sounding thoughtful. ¡°Want toe over?¡± Ross nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll be there.¡± Danielle let out a soft huff and put down her phone. ¡°Ross ising?¡± Emma asked. Danielle nodded. Emma smiled, ¡°You two have a great rtionship.¡± Danielle said nothing. Emma didn¡¯t act like a typical rival. It was as if she¡¯d reallye just out of curiosity to meet Danielle. Danielle hoped she was overthinking it, but there was a strange feeling in her gut. -They waited like that. In the meantime, Danielle checked Twitter on her phone. She saw that Jean Group¡¯s official ount had issued a denial, and the hype had died down a bit. But there were still plenty of doubts online. People even brought up Jameson, saying he had a bad reputation and maybe Ross had inherited his womanizing ways. In short, the storm wasn¡¯t over yet. Now that Shermaine and Joshua were gone, too many people were keeping an eye on the Joan and York families. The Wilson and rk families, in particr, had risen to fame over the past two years and were watching most greedily. Half an hourter, Ross arrived. 213 Danielle was angry, but she still ordered him a hot cocoa to warm him up. As soon as he got there, the waiter brought it over. Ross sat down next to Danielle, a man fresh from the cold, his crisp, cool scent carrying a chill. Danielle reached over and twisted his waist hard. Ross¡® hand holding the ceramic cup trembled slightly. With his other hand, he grabbed Danielle¡¯s to stop her from pulling away Danielle didn¡¯t want to hold his hand, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn¡¯t yank her hand back. But his hand was really cold, so she gave up struggling. Ross looked at Emma and asked, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Emma replied, ¡°I was bored staying at the hotel, and I really wanted to meet Danielle, so I came over.¡± She smiled, ¡°You¡¯re not mad, are you, B Ross set down his cup. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Emma said with a smile. The three sat at the table. The mood wasn¡¯t awkward, but it felt a bit odd. Thankfully, after another 30 minutes, Emma said she needed to go back to the hotel to rest. Danielle and Ross walked her back to the hotel together. Once they¡¯d dropped her off, Ross took Danielle to the apartment they usually stayed in. Danielle grabbed Ross by the tie, led him to the couch, and pushed him down, straddling him. ¡°Nice going, Ross. Another admirer, and this one¡¯s top¨Ctier -definitely a pro.¡± Ross, who was elegant, now had messy hair and a tie skewed from Danielle¡¯s tugging. He looked surprisingly alluring. He chuckled, ¡°She did save me once, but I won¡¯t throw myself at her just to repay a debt.¡± ¡°Easy for you to say. I¡¯ve read those cheesy novels where the guy broke up with his girlfriend to pay back a favor.¡± Danielle ran a hand from his eyebrows down to his Adam¡¯s apple, twirling it yfully. ¡°If you ever break up with me, I¡¯ll break your legs and lock you up.¡± Nurse walking 542 Danielle sounded fierce but in a cute, almost yful way. There was even a hint of! that obsessive edge. Ross chuckled, pulled Danielle off his body, and wrapped his arms around her. ¡°So Dr. Shelly, you¡¯re into bondage y, huh?¡± Teased like that, Danielle felt her cheeks warm up, but she kept up her tough act. ¡°Quit dodging. Tell me, why¡¯d you stay at the hotel for over an hour before leaving?¡± Ross exined gently, ¡°The person in charge of a project Jean Group¡¯s trying tond is staying there. I went to talk business with him.¡± Danielle pressed on, ¡°And what about you and Emma? She¡¯s definitely back for you. How do you n to repay that huge debt of hers?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve beenpensating her materially ever since what happened to her,¡± Ross said. ¡°Danielle, I¡¯m not the kind of person. She saved me, and I feel guilty. But guilt won¡¯t make me give myself to her in return.¡± Because of his family, Ross had been cold by nature since he was a kid. He¡¯d even been diagnosed with emotional detachment as a child. ¡°Later, when Janice came back from the countryside to take care of him, she gave him love. With treatment and his desire to find Shermaine, things got better. That old story was tied to Ross fighting in illegal boxing matches when he was in college abroad. When he was young, he seemed gentle and calm, but deep down, there was a wild streak that hated being controlled. Now, as he¡¯d gotten older, he¡¯d learned to rein in his ws. He was like Joshua. When they were young, they¡¯d yed around with all sorts of things, never staying out of trouble. Back then, Ross¡¯d gone to a bar with friends and identally crossed a local thug. What was even more clich¨¦, the thug had a girl he liked, but she liked Ross, so the thug came after him. That night, he¡¯d taken on over 20 guys from the thug¡¯s gang alone. The thug held a grudge and plotted to have him chased down. Emma had taken a hit for him in that incident. That was when her legs got ruined. Ross went on, ¡°I can give her the best material life, but when ites to feelings, I won¡¯t spare her a single bit, I¡¯m just that cold.¡± He was theplete opposite of Danielle. Danielle was warm, gentle, and had slowly made herself right at home in his world, no holds barred. As a doctor, she had the warmest heart for loving the world. She was just as lovely as Shermaine and worth protecting. He loved her deeply. Danielle adored this two¨Cfaced side of him. Even though she was a doctor, she could be pretty selfish, especially when it came to Ross. She gave him her lov wouldn¡¯t let him spare a single thought for any other woman. In that way, they really were perfect for each other. Danielle thought, ¡®If only Emma¡¯s legs could be cured, that would be even better. If only Shermaine were here.¡® 1/2. in return, she wanted all of his. She The thought of Shermaine made Danielle miss her a lot. Back then, Shermaine had never told she was pregnant. If she had, her and Joshua¡¯s elders would have been up in arms ¡°Ross, you did the right thing,¡± Danielle said, catching the clean scent on him. She kissed him. ¡°You¡¯re not cold at all. You don¡¯t have to be gentle with me world, I¡¯ll do that for both of us.¡± Even though Shermaine wasn¡¯t around, Danielle still wanted They kissed on the couch wildly and lingeringly. Ross¡® passion showed itself fully with her. They hadn¡¯t been intimate in a long time and now it was The room was warm with heating. ind a good orthopedic doctor to check Emma¡¯s legs to see if they could be cured Ross¡® body had already reacted to her when Danielle had been toying with his Adam¡¯s apple earlier. His coat fell to the floor. Ross pulled off his tie and whispered in her ear, ¡°Dr. Shelly, you wanted to y bondage, didn¡¯t you?¡± He put the tie in Danielle¡¯s hand. ¡°Here¡¯s your chance.¡± AD Nurse walking 543 Chapter 543 Back in her room in Hilton Hotel, Emma took off her coat and went to take a shower. Her personal caregiver ran the bathwater and came out. After Emma got out of the shower, she told the caregiver to leave. No sooner had the caregiver gone than the doorbell rang. Emma checked who it was and opened the door. It was a man dressed all in ck, wearing a mask and a hat. Emma asked, ¡°What are you here for?¡± Once inside, the man asked in a hoarse voice, ¡°When are you going to make your move?¡± ¡°Calm down. You can¡¯t rush things,¡± Emma said, staying cool. ¡°You know why you failed? You were too reckless. That¡¯s why you¡¯re in this mess now The man fell silent, oozing a dark menacing vibe. ¡°Hurry. I can¡¯t wait to see Ross lose the one he loves.¡± ¡°It¡¯s arranged. I¡¯ll contact you. Get out of here before someone sees you.¡± The man left. He was like a bug hiding in the dark greedily eating away at people¡¯s lives. After leaving Hilton Hotel, he stopped at a convenience store, bought a few sandwiches, and headed for the slums. The alley was dark, reeking of sewage. A nicely dressed woman came out of a building. The street was too narrow and they bumped into each other. The woman muttered, ¡°Excuse me. Don¡¯t you knowdies first?¡± The man looked up, his eyes full of murderous intent. ³ö°æ Danielle held the tie in her hand, her eyes seductive as she ran her hand over his chest. ¡°All right, Ross. But you have to take a shower first.¡± She sent Ross off to shower and tossed the tie on the bed. It was the tie she¡¯d given him. He loved it and wore it almost every other day. Danielle smiled. Ross had done well today. She wanted to give him a reward. Once he was in the shower, she grabbed her pajamas and went to the next room to wash up. By the time she finished and came out, Ross was sitting on the bed. He wore a ck silk bathrobe, tied tightly and clinging to his body with the cor slightly open. The refined man looked unexpectedly sexy. He had a book in his hand. When he saw Daniellee out, he looked up, with a smile in his eyes. He put th arms to her. ¡°Shall we start?¡± down right away and held out his Danielle was wearing the same style of bathrobe as his, the women¡¯s version, which made her look small and delicate. She walked over, her smile charming, and kissed his eye. ¡°Ross, you¡¯ve been missing me that much?¡± 18:50 Wed, 16 Jul ? U Ross didn¡¯t answer directly. He cupped her face and kissed her. ¡°Mhm, a lot.¡± Danielle pressed her lips together, hiding augh. She just picked up the tie lying nearby and twirled it casually in her hand. Themp by the bed went off. The whole room was dimly lit. Barely visible, the two figures were very close. Danielle tugged at the sash around his waist. ¡®If this is supposed to be a reward, I want to make it count,¡® she thought. The room was plunged into darkness. He leaned back against the bed, pulling her back into his arms. His hand stroked her hair gently for a long while. Danielle¡¯s soft lips were glossy and vividly red. Ross¡® breathing grew heavier. He leaned down and kissed her. Her lips tasted a little tart, but he didn¡¯t mind it at all. Danielle felt that Ross was wilder tonight than ever before. She wrapped her arms around his neck and called his name softly. ¡°Poss, I love you so much.¡± ¡°I love you too,¡± Ross said. However, tenderness could be even more torturous. AD Nurse walking 544 Chapter 544 Late at night, Apocalypse was flying through the sky. There was a snow¨Ccapped mountain below, covered in dark clouds with lightning shing through them. Dave had used up a lot of energy bringing them back through time. Now it was curled up in Gracie¡¯s small bed, fast asleep. Joshua and Shermaine had just woken up and weren¡¯t sleepy. They huddled on the couch, looking up thetest news about Basterel. Apocalypse had hacked into thework, able to directly gather all the information from the two years they¡¯d been away from Basterel, especially updates on their family and friends. Their disappearance had been rumored to be death in that night¡¯s incident. Since then, many forces in Basterel had started openly and secretly targeting the Jean and York families. Thankfully, their roots ran deep, so their positions were unshakable. Even so, there was a hint of fierceness in Joshua¡¯s expression. Janice and Owen were both in good health. Ross and Danielle¡¯s rtionship had grown stronger. They were engaged but not yet married. However, Ross had been photographed with another woman today, sparking rumors. Shermaine and Joshua had to ask about the details once they got back. Most importantly, Roy was missing. It was clear this was what Joshua cared about most. The data Apocalypse had collected showed that Roy had gone to Beskary with Molly. Roy¡¯sst known activity in Beskary was leaving the hotel to go find Molly. After that, all his personal records were erased. Apocalypse couldn¡¯t track him any further. Worst of all, there was no way to confirm if Roy was still alive. If he were, Apocalypse would definitely have found him. Shermaine and Joshua also had no idea of how Molly was doing now. For the moment, they wanted to head back first. Once things at home were sorted out, Shermaine nned to go to Ustrana. Shermaine frowned. ¡°I can¡¯t believe so much happened while we were gone.¡± Sheforted Joshua. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. Roy¡¯s still chasing Molly, so he couldn¡¯t bear to leave her.¡± Her gut told her Roy was alive though his situation was probably critical. The conflict involving Molly¡¯s family had drawn in far too many forces. In the reports Apocalypse had gathered, there was mention of that old guy researching the Immortality Project in Horington. Not long after they left, Horington had returned to its usual order. Most people who¡¯d been affected by the mution had recovered. And as a silver lining, many who¡¯d been seriously ill before the mutation had their cells regenerate afterward, extending their lives. Joshua nodded. He was a bit worried but still had faith in Roy. Roy might seemid¨Cback, but when he got serious, he could be incredibly explosive. Even though he usually came off as a naive sweetheart, he had a real talent for being scheming when he wanted to. How he chased after Molly was proof enough of that. As they talked, the Al¡¯s voice came on. ¡°Life signs detected in the thunderstorm clouds.¡± At the sound, their eyes turned toward the clouds. From within the clouds, a ne burst out. But the ne had already been damaged in the clouds. Its entire body was shaking violently, heading straight for the snow¨Ccapped mountain ahead. There were 113 people on the ne, screaming, ovee with fear. Everyone had only one thought. ¡®It¡¯s over.¡® ¡°Captain do something!¡± someone shouted. But the ne was badly damaged. The control stick was unresponsive, making a safending impossible. Besides, there was nowhere tond anyway. Shermaine and Joshua couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch. That was when their advanced tech weapons proved their worth. Shermaine said, ¡°I¡¯ll take the mech out to help. Gracie¡¯s a restless sleeper. Keep an eye on her.¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± Joshua replied. Just as the ne was about to crash into the mountain, an external force kicked in and the entire aircraft suddenly stabilized. Shermaine maneuvered the mech to lift the ne, then flew over the mountain through the forest, and set it down on the vast in. The people on the ne were stunned, especially the captain. Once the nended safely on the in, everyone let out a breath of relief. Then the captain looked through the window and saw a robot. No, to be precise, he thought he was looking at Iron Man. But the robot in front of him looked way more advanced than Iron Man¡¯s gear, like a Gundam. After setting the ne down, Shermaine was about to leave. But one person on the ne had an extremely weak life signal. If they didn¡¯t get help right away, they might not make it. Inside the cabin, a child took off their oxygen mask, pressed it against the window, and said to their mom, ¡°Mommy, Superman saved us.¡± Having cheated death, everyone was still shaken. The child¡¯s mom didn¡¯t speak. She just held them close. ¡°It¡¯s so good. We survive.¡± Shermaine opened the cabin door and stepped inside. The flight attendants saw her and froze. They had no idea of what was going on, but they were saved at least. Still, someone suddenly opening the cabin door and walking in was bizarre. ¡®How did she do that?¡® they wondered. Noticing their confusion, Shermaine spoke up. ¡°We can talk about thister. First I need to save someone.¡± Then she headed toward first ss. The attendants were about to stop her, but the captain appeared, excited. ¡°Don¡¯t stop her.¡± Danielle and Ross had spent the night tangled up together. The next day, Danielle didn¡¯t wake up until ten o¡¯clock. Luckily, she didn¡¯t have to go to the hospital that day. When she woke, her throat was parched. Ross was busy with work. He wasn¡¯t in bed anymore. He¡¯d probably gone to the office. Danielle didn¡¯t think much of it. She got dressed and got up, nning to get some water. As soon as she went downstairs, she saw Ross in the kitchen. Danielle walked over, looked at the messy kitchen, andughed, ¡°Ross, are you trying to destroy the kitchen?¡± Ross hadn¡¯t expected her to wake up. He still hadn¡¯t finished making breakfast. ¡°Just wait a little longer. Breakfast will be ready soon.¡± Danielle couldn¡¯t help chuckling, teasing him, ¡°Sheary¡¯s really good at cooking.¡± Ross replied, ¡°When Sheary gets back, I¡¯ll ask her for tips.¡± Nurse walking 545 Chapter 545 Danielle pulled out a chair and sat down. She nced around. Even though the kitchen was a mess, Ross was at least getting the hang of cooking. She took out her phone and started scrolling through the news. There were two big stories. One wasst night¡¯s dismemberment case in Tayhaven City in the southern part of town. The killer had brutally murdered a woman and dismembered her body. In the early hours of this morning, an elderly man found an arm in a trash can while collecting garbage. The killer was still being tracked. ording to the police, this was a serial killer who¡¯d brutally murdered seven people over the past two years. Because the culprit had strong anti¨Cinvestigation skills and left no clues at the crime scenes, their identity remained unknown. The killings seemed random with no specific target,pletely unpredictable, and extremely dangerous. This murder case was one of today¡¯s top news stories. The other was about Flight 1721 traveling from Ibica to Basterel. When it passed Mount Jadeborough, it hit severe weather. By the time the ne emerged from the thunderstorm clouds, it waspletely out of control. Everyone on board thought they¡¯d die in the crash. But satellite footage showed that just as the ne was about to hit Mount Jadeborough, a mech like something out of ¡°Iron Man¡± appeared, stabilized the aircraft, and brought it down in a safe area. This scene was caught on camera, sparking heated discussions online. [Oh my god, if this weren¡¯t a real ident, I¡¯d swear it was a movie scene.] [Superheroes from movies¨CI never thought they¡¯d exist in real life. I¡¯m so curious who¡¯s behind this.] [That mech is so cool. I want one.] [All I see when I look at that mech is money. Though you definitely can¡¯t build something like that without the tech.] [Insane.] [Putting these two news stories side by side really shows how striking the difference is. One terrifying serial killer and one superhero saving 100 lives.] Thisment from aizen was one of the most liked with 30,000 likes so far. Under it, other users hoped the superhero would track down the killer and bring him to justice to stop him from harming more innocent people in Basterel. Danielle hit the like button. She was actually curious top¨Cwho could have built this ¡°Iron Man¡± style mech? It looked incredibly high¨Ctech. Even with Shermaine gone, her status in the tech world remained the same. ¡®But if Shermaine were back, she¡¯d definitely contact us first. There was no way she¡¯d be out there saving people like that, Danielle thought. Ross brought over the breakfast and asked, ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Danielle handed him her phone. ¡°There was a murder in Basterelst night and a ne crash averted by a mystery mech. One killing and one saving. Netizens are saying the difference is striking.¡± It was true. Ross asked, ¡°Any leads on the killer?¡± 1/2 LUILL Danielle said, ¡°No.¡± Ross added, ¡°That area isn¡¯t far from Yaleview Hospital. From now on, I¡¯ll pick you up after work.¡± Danielle thought that would be too much trouble for him. ¡°No need to go to the hassle. I¡¯ll just be careful.¡± But Ross refused. ¡°I¡¯lle if I¡¯m free. If not, I¡¯ll send the driver.¡± Until this serial killer was caught, he was a huge threat to everyone living nearby. You never knew who he¡¯d target next. Nurse walking 546 Chapter 546 Ross insisted, and Danielle didn¡¯t argue. She leaned in and kissed him. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll listen to you. You¡¯re not going to work today?¡± she asked. ¡°I¡¯m taking the day off,¡± Ross replied. ¡°Thought I¡¯d spend it with you.¡± Danielle smiled. ¡°I feel like seeing a movie.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Ross said, ¡°I¡¯ll grab us tickets in a bit.¡± The soup Ross made wasn¡¯t bad at all. It was rich, aromatic, and actually pretty tasty. Danielle had burned through plenty of energyst night and was already feeling hungry. She ended up having two full bowls. After finishing her soup, she went upstairs to pick out an outfit, wash her face, and put on some makeup before heading out with Ross. Meanwhile, back at the York residence¡­ Ever since Owen resumedmand of York Group, his workload had piled up. Even with Logan¡¯s help, it felt like the paperwork never ended. His face was permanently scrunched in frustration. After having enjoyed a leisurely, semi¨Cretired life, he had no desire to be dragged back into the grind. Yet here he was, two years deep, running thepany again. He hadn¡¯t had time to raise chickens or ducks in forever. What weighed on him even more was the uncertainty around when Joshua and Sheary would return. He was terrified of dying before his family made it home. ¡°Mr. York, these documents still need your signature,¡± Logan reminded him, watching Owen visibly contemte rebellion. Owen nced over, lips twitching, and grumbled, ¡°I¡¯m done. My back¡¯s killing me. I¡¯m going out for a walk.¡± ¡°If it really gets too much,¡± Logan offered, ¡°we could bring Victor and Jack back to help run the group.¡± Owen scoffed. ¡°I¡¯d love that. But they¡¯ve never touched York Group¡¯s business. If we throw them into this mess, they¡¯ll be eaten alive by those old snakes circling the boardroom.¡± Fair enough. 201 Victor and Jack never had a head for business. They weren¡¯t like Joshua. When he was active in the corporate world, he was a force of nature. Ruthless, sharp, and feared by many. As he spoke, Owen grabbed a jacket and stepped outside. It had been two years. Even the chickens he used to raise were getting old. Seeing his ck of free¨Crange chickens stirred something in him. Owen stood there, visibly heartbroken. As he wallowed in sentimental grief, a sudden gust of wind whipped through the yard. The chickens scattered in a frenzy, squawking and pping wildly. The nts nearby twisted and bent under the violent breeze. Then came a deafening boom. The ground trembled like an earthquake, and Owen nearly lost his bnce. Right in front of him, a gleaming silver mecha descended from the sky,nding with astonishing force. He stood there, stunned, unable to process what he was seeing. It was just too surreal. And then he saw the familiar silhouettes stepping out from the cockpit. R 23:22 Thu, 17 Jul @ae In the next moment, a sh of white light blinked across thewn, and the mecha vanished. Owen stared nkly, still trying to understand what had just happened. It was Logan who snapped first, face twitching with excitement. ¡°Mr. York, it¡¯s Joshua and Shermaine. They¡¯re back!¡± Only then did it register. This wasn¡¯t a dream. His grandson, Joshua, and his granddaughter¨Cinw, Shermaine, were really here. ¡®Wait a second,¡¯ Owen told himself. Shermaine was holding something. No, someone. It was a baby, an absolutely adorable, round¨Ccheeked, and delicate baby. ¡®Is that¡­ my great¨Cgranddaughter? Oh my God,¡® he eximed inwardly. Owen was overwhelmed. His back pain? Gone. He rushed toward Shermaine and the baby with surprising speed. In no time, he was standing in front of her. Shermaine smiled. ¡°Mr. York, we¡¯re home.¡± Owen¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°And this is¡­¡± Shermaine beamed. ¡°This is your great¨Cgranddaughter, Gracie.¡± ¡®She really is,¡® Owen thought. Owen couldn¡¯t contain his joy. He reached out instinctively, and Shermaine gently passed Gracie into his arms. As soon as he held her and felt her warm little body, Owen lit up with a wide, beaming smile. Gracie didn¡¯t cry. She was calm and well¨Cbehaved. Joshua, who had been ignored entirely, raised an eyebrow, thinking, ¡®Yeah, I figured. The second he saw us, all his attention would go straight to Gracie.¡± ? Nurse walking 547 Chapter 547 Owen had been dreaming of a great¨Cgrandchild for years. Victor? Aplete disappointment. He was well past the age most people would settle down, yet still had no interest in marriage. Sure, he was finally dating someone, but as a movie star, who knew when he¡¯d actually tie the knot? Jack was even more of a wildcard, wandering all over the globe. If it hadn¡¯t been for Joshua¡¯s ident, Owen doubted he¡¯d have seen him return to Basterel at all. As for Jenny, Owen didn¡¯t put much pressure on her. She still had two older brothers ahead of her in line. Truth be told, if Joshua hadn¡¯t been engaged since childhood, if he hadn¡¯t met Shermaine, Owen was pretty sure the boy would¡¯ve stayed single forever. Of all his grandchildren, Joshua was the one he worried about most. All Owen had ever wanted was to see him settle down and have a family. Now, finally, that wish hade true. The wedding had happened, and now they even had a baby. Owen never could¡¯ve imagined that after vanishing two years ago, the two of them would return not just safe, but with a child in their arms. ¡°How old is Gracie now?¡± he asked. ¡°Five months,¡± Shermaine replied. They had spent over a year in the Kingdom of Xyper¨ªa. Though time moved a bit differently therepared to Earth, with things running slightly faster on this side, it hadn¡¯t caused much of a gap. Owen looked down at Gracie, a delighted warmth swelling in his chest. ¡°That¡¯s her nickname, right? Have you picked a full name yet?¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± Shermaine said, ¡°Josh and I were thinking we¡¯d wait till we got home. We wanted you and Grandma to name her.¡± ¡°Well, what are we waiting for? Let¡¯s go to Jean Vi,¡± Owen said without missing a beat. He was already imagining himself bringing out the entire list of names he¡¯d saved over the years to find the perfect one for Gracie. Besides, the Jean family had to be missing Shermaine terribly. She had been abducted as a child and was only reunited with her birth family after more than a decade. And just when they had her back, she disappeared again for two whole years. They had suffered the most. Now that Shermaine was officially his granddaughter¨Cinw and had returned with Joshua, the fact that they came to the York residence first, just to bring him the good news, already meant the world to him. ¡°Logan, get the car. We¡¯re heading to Jean Vi,¡± Owen called out. Logan lit up. ¡°On it!¡± Owen added quickly, ¡°Sheary, don¡¯t tell Janice you¡¯re back. Let¡¯s surprise her.¡± Shermaine smiled and nodded. At the movie theater, Ross and Danielle were watching a newly released sci¨Cfi film. The ce was packed. Their seats were right in the middle¨Croomy and cozy, part of a screening room designed especially for couples. Ross wasn¡¯t a fan of popcorn, but he kept feeding/Danielle bite after bite. She leaned against him, Ross¡® jacket draped over herp. The theater was a bit cold, so he had insisted she cover up with it. They were actually watching the movie, not just pretending to. Danielle was totally immersed. Eventually, though, all the popcorn made her thirsty. ¡°Ross, I need some water,¡± she whispered. Ross handed her the hot drink he¡¯d brought, and she sipped from the straw. Once she¡¯d had enough, she let it go and leaned in to kiss him on the check- 1/2 23:23 Thu, 17 JUL R in thanks. They weren¡¯t trying to be showy, but the sweetness radiating off them was impossible to miss. Everyone in the room could feel it. And with their public profiles, it didn¡¯t take long for someone to recognize them. Sure enough, photos of the two of them on their movie date were already circting online. Some gossip blogs had been clinging to the narrative that Ross was cheating. Now, that im was crumbling fast. The rumor mill had no choice but to back off. Midway through the film, Danielle needed to use the restroom. She let Ross know, grabbed her purse, and headed out. ¡°Ms. Shelly, restroom¡¯s to the right when you exit, and then straight down two hundred yards and take a left,¡± an usher at the door said warmly as she stepped into the hallway. Danielle gave a polite smile. ¡°Thanks.¡± After she finished, she stepped up to the sink to wash her hands and touch up her lipstick. As she looked into the mirror, she suddenly felt like someone was standing just outside the door. She turned to nce that way. She couldn¡¯t see the person clearly, but she caught a glimpse of someone¡¯s legs¨Cck pants, standing just past the entrance. She slung her purse over her shoulder and walked out. The hallway was quiet. Whoever had been there was already gone. Nurse walking 548 Chapter 548 It hadn¡¯t been her imagination. Someone had definitely been standing outside the bathroom door. But whoever it was had left in a hurry. Danielle wasn¡¯t sure what they were doing there, and while it left her a little puzzled, she didn¡¯t dwel! on it. As she headed back, she spotted Ross waiting for her at the theater entrance. ¡°Why are you out here?¡± she asked. The movie clearly wasn¡¯t over yet. ¡°My grandma called,¡± Ross said, ¡°asked us toe home.¡± Danielle¡¯s expression shifted. ¡°Is everything okay with Janice?¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t say.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go,¡± she said immediately. Ross nodded. ¡°We¡¯lle back for the ending some other time.¡± Danielle smiled. ¡°We¡¯ve had the experience now. We should just install a theater in the apartment. Then we can watch whatever we want at home.¡± ¡°Sounds good,¡± Ross agreed. Danielle leaned in close, whispering in his ear, ¡°And maybe do some other things too.¡± Ross¡® eyes darkened a shade as he grinned. ¡°Dr. Shelly, you really are a wicked little tease.¡± Over at Jean Vi, the atmosphere in the living room was warm and full of joy. When Janice heard Owen was stopping by, she didn¡¯t think much of it until he walked in, followed by Shermaine, Joshua, and baby Gracie. Janice and Ruth were overwhelmed. Tears welled in their eyes almost instantly. One had just be a great¨Cgrandmother, the other a grandmother. Ruth¡¯s eyes were still red as Shermaine stepped up to give her a hug, ¡°You look amazing today. Don¡¯t ruin it by crying,¡± Shermaine teased gently. ¡°I¡¯m way too old to care about looking good,¡± Ruth said with a softugh. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you so much that I couldn¡¯t hold it in.¡± Shermaine gave her shoulder a light pat. ¡°You were heading out somewhere?¡± ¡°I had ns to meet Richard,¡± Ruth replied. ¡°We were supposed to go out for dinner, but now? Definitely not leaving.¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow. ¡°You and Richard still aren¡¯t official?¡± It had been two years. Ruth looked slightly embarrassed. ¡°You weren¡¯t around. I couldn¡¯t bring myself to think about any of that. And with all the business going on at thepany, I didn¡¯t want Ross to burn out, so I took a position there too.¡± Shermaine chuckled. ¡°Richard must really be the patient type.¡± Ruthughed along. ¡°He¡¯s waited this long. A little more won¡¯t hurt.¡± Her eyesnded on Gracie. ¡°She looks just like you did when you were little.¡± ¡°Her eyes are all Joshua,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°But that mouth is pure you.¡± 1/4 18 The two of them kept chatting, mother and daughter picking up right where they left off. Meanwhile, Janice and Owen¡¯s focus was exactly where you¡¯d expect it to bepletely absorbed in Gracie. Janice had her in her arms and looked like she couldn¡¯t stop smiling. Gracie, for her part, didn¡¯t fuss no matter who held her. She was calm, sweet, and irresistibly cute. Owen was settled on the couch with his reading sses on, a thick baby name book open on hisp. His brow was slightly furrowed in concentration. ¡°We need to give Gracie a proper name,¡± he said. Janice walked over with a cup of coffee and sat beside him. ¡°Didn¡¯t you already say Gracie was perfect?¡± ¡°That¡¯s her nickname. For official documents¨Cpassport, school records¨Cshe needs a full name,¡± Owen replied, flipping pages. ¡°What do you think of ¡®Willow¡®? I like how it sounds. Soft, but a little wild.¡± Janice shook her head. ¡°Too trendy. Not timeless enough.¡± ¡°¡®Evelyn¡®?¡± ¡°Too grandma.¡± They went back and forth but never saw eye to eye. No matter what name one of them suggested, the other would shoot it down. Half an hour passed, and the two just sat there, staring each other down, getting nowhere. ¡°Are you disagreeing with me on purpose?¡± Janice sighed. ¡°You¡¯re one to talk. Is there any name you actually like?¡± On the other couch, Shermaine had already buried her face in her hand. She turned to Joshua, silently pleading for help. He got the message loud and clear. Taking his time, clearly in no rush, Joshua watched the two elders squabble like they were about to start a full¨Cblown argument. Without looking up, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve got an idea.¡± Both Owen and Janice turned to him in sync. ¡°What idea?¡± He set the paper down and, with mock¨Cseriousness, said, ¡°Pick a a page in the name book at random. Whatever letter your fingernds on, we choose from that section.¡± Both Owen and Janice frowned, thinking, ¡®That soundszy.¡® But Shermaine nodded. ¡°I actually like it. Better than listening to you two bicker all night.¡± It might¡¯ve sounded silly, butpared to endless bickering, t this was at least an easy way out. If Gracie really had luck on her side, maybe the right name would juste to her. Owen and Janice exchanged a look and then gave reluctant nods. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s try it.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s try,¡± Janice agreed. Owen got up, grabbed an old name book from the shelf, flipped to a random page, and pointed. ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­¡± Janice leaned in. ¡°Gracelyn.¡± They both fell silent for a moment and then n?dded at the same time. ¡°That¡¯s actually cute,¡± Owen said. ¡°Gracelyn York,¡± Janice repeated. ¡°That has a nice ring to it.¡± ¡°If she grows up and doesn¡¯t like it, she can always go by Gracie again,¡± Owen added. For once, they were inplete agreement. Gracie¡¯s full name was finally chosen. Next came the official steps, filing her birth record and applying for her certificate, but there was no rush. Joshua and Shermaine were back, but they weren¡¯t ready to announce it publicly just yet. First, Joshua needed to take back the reins from Owen and resume control of the projects Owen had been managing. About forty minutester, Ross and Danielle arrived at Jean Vi. They moved quickly through the entryway. The moment Danielle stepped inside, her eyesnded on Shermaine. She blinked hard and then gasped. ¡°Sheary? Is that really you?¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow. ¡°Who else would it be?¡± ¡°Oh my God, you¡¯re finally back! I missed you so much.¡± Danielle ran over and threw her arms around her. It really was the best kind of surprise. After hugging Danielle, Shermaine turned to Ross and gave him a tight embrace too. ¡°Thanks for holding it down.¡± Ross tousled her hair. ¡°Two years. I¡¯ve been waiting for this.¡± ¡°No choice,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°We got separated on the other side. And with Judy? She was practically a queen there, so we needed time to sort things out.¡± ¡°I still can¡¯t believe Judy¡¯s from another world,¡± Danielle said. ¡°Why did she evene to Earth?¡± ¡°She was after a superweapon,¡± Shermaine exined. ¡°And that thing has ties to Joshua¡¯s mom¡¯s side of the family. That¡¯s why she targeted us.¡± ¡°So Josh¡¯s mom is from there too?¡± ¡°Yeah. She came to Earth over a thousand years ago.¡± ¡°Wait, then their civilization must be way more advanced than ours, right?¡± ¡°Definitely.¡± Danielle tilted her head. ¡°How did they get here all the way back then?¡± Right then, something stirred in Gracie¡¯s little hoodie pocket. Dave had been curled up asleep inside, but now that he was rested and had caught the tail end of the conversation, he sprang out. ¡°Obviously, I brought them over,¡± he dered. Everyone froze. No one had expected to see Dave, and now that he realized how many people were in the room, he got flustered. Clearly still a little groggy from sleep, he panicked and dove back into Gracie¡¯s hoodie. ¡®Too many people! Too scary!¡® Dave whimpered. Shermaine chuckled. ¡°Rx, Dave. It¡¯s just family.¡± Dave peeked out, still wary. Ruth¡¯s eyes lit up. She had a background in biology and was always fascinated by rare creatures, especially insects and butterflies. ¡°What kind of species is this?¡± she asked, intrigued. Nurse walking 549 3/4 Chapter 549 ¡°It¡¯s probably an unidentified alien species,¡± Shermaine said. ¡°A powerful one. It can take us through dimensions, but it needs aura stones to recharge.¡± This time around, Dave had devoured half a mountain¡¯s worth of aura stones to refuel and had just about finished digesting them. Thankfully, they had stocked up plenty in the Apocalypse. That stash alone could power Dave through at least two more round trips. Shermaine had promised Jasmine she would return to visit. Dave didn¡¯t argue because she was right. Ever since it left its home, arrived in the Kingdom of Xyper¨ªa, and thenter found its way to Earth, it had unexpectedly grown attached to this world. The thought of going back had never really crossed its mind. With its small, childlike voice, it piped up, ¡°Sheary, I¡¯m hungry. I want fried chicken.¡± Ruth offered with a coaxing smile, ¡°Come over here, I¡¯ll order you some.¡± Without a second thought, Dave zipped across the room. For fried chicken, it feared nothing. As night fell, the reunion felt like it was going by way too fast. Richard showed up at Jean Vi. He¡¯d originallye to pick up Ruth for their dinner ns, but when he realized Shermaine and Joshua were back, he canceled without hesitation and stayed for dinner with the whole Jean family. Henry, Lily, and the others were invited as well. The only one missing was Roy. Henry, still single, med it all on Roy. He had traveled across continents chasing after Molly, only to disappear off the grid himself. With Joshua gone, Henry had stepped up as the one person who refused to let Roy fall off the map. Of everyone, he had been the mostmitted to the search. Last year, he spent nearly the entire twelve months abroad. This year had been no different, until just a few days ago when he was forced to return home as the new year approached. After all the sun and travel, Henry had gone from a pampered yboy to a tanned, rugged man. His once¨Cwless looks? Long gone. At the dinner table, Shermaine was chatting with Lily, asking about the current state of Oliger Company. Oliger had expanded dramatically over the past two years. Several powerful families had tried to take it over during that time, but with Jean Group and York Group backing them, they managed to survive more than one close call. It hadn¡¯t been easy. With Shermaine gone, Lily had shouldered the full weight of thepany. Now that Shermaine was back, she could finally exhale. The table was full, and everyone was enjoying dinner together. Midway through the meal, Ross¡® phone rang. He stepped away to answer. ¡°Hello, this is Ross Jean.¡± A voice replied, ¡°Mr. Jean, this is Officer Cole from the East End precinct. Are you acquainted with Emma Hond? There was an assassination attempt on her at her hotel. She¡¯s unstable and not in a good condition. We need you toe down if you can.¡± Ross¡® brow furrowed at the word assassination. I¡¯m on my way.¡± ¡°Pleasee as soon as possible.¡± Back at the table, Danielle looked up. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Emma¡¯s in trouble. I need to go check on her.¡± 1/2. Danielle immediately set down her silverware. ¡°I¡¯lle with you.¡± Ross shook his head. ¡°Let me go first. Sheary just got back. You should stay here, catch up, and enjoy the night.¡± The Hilton was no longer safe. He couldn¡¯t risk Danielle being exposed. She pouted slightly. ¡°Thene back soon.¡± ¡°I will,¡± Ross promised and then left. After he was gone, Shermaine asked, ¡°Who¡¯s Emma?¡± Danielle exined, ¡°The woman who saved Ross¡® life. She just came back from overseas and has been staying at the Hilton.¡± ¡°How¡¯s she doing?¡± Shermaine asked. Danielle picked up her utensils again. ¡°She came to the hospital the other day and found me. We talked for a bit. She¡¯s sharp. Really sharp. Whatever she¡¯s nning, I can¡¯t read her.¡± Shermaine raised a brow. ¡°So what? If she makes a move, we¡¯ll handle it.¡± Danielle smiled. ¡°I was nervous before, but now that you¡¯re back, I¡¯m not afraid of anything she might try.¡± Shermaine had always been that kind of woman, someone who made everyone around her feel safe. AD Nurse walking 550 Chapter 550 Thirty minutester, at Hilton Hotel, Room 2301, two officers stood guard at the door. When Ross arrived and identified himself, they let him in. The suite didn¡¯t show much sign of struggle, but there was a deep bruise around Emma¡¯s neck, already turning a dark, mottled purple. From what he was told, if the room service attendant hadn¡¯t knocked, sensed something was wrong, and gotten the front desk to open the door with a master key, Emma would¡¯ve been strangled to death right there on the bed. Hotel medics were inside treating her injuries and helping calm her down. ¡°Ross,¡± Emma said softly as he entered, ¡°you came.¡± Ross gave a brief nod. ¡°What happened?¡± Emma¡¯s voice was weak. ¡°Better let the officers exin. Talking hurts.¡± One of the officers stepped forward and handed Ross a tablet. ¡°Mr. Jean, we pulled this footage during the investigation. The man who broke into Ms. Hond¡¯s room tonight is from Moranta. ¡°I understand you were stationed in Moranta some years ago and had a run¨Cin with a local gang. You and Interpol worked together to bring down their leader, Damon, and had him imprisoned.¡± The officer continued, ¡°The suspect Vektor was one of Damon¡¯s men. We have every reason to believe this attack on Ms. Hond was retaliation tied to that past incident. ¡°We¡¯ve just received word from Interpol that Damon has been released from prison. It¡¯s likely this attack was carried out under his orders.¡± The officer¡¯s tone turned serious. ¡°We¡¯ll stay in contact with Interpol. If there¡¯s any new movement on their side, we¡¯ll update you immediately. But in the meantime, Mr. Jean, we strongly suggest that you and your loved ones stay on high alert.¡± Ross listened, nodded slowly, and took a moment to think it through. Afterward, he moved Emma to a different room and arranged private security to guard her door around the clock. Only once everything was set did he quietly take his leave. Emma didn¡¯t ask him to stay. But after the way Ross left, something/cold flickered in her eyes. A trace of resentment lingered behind her silence. Back at Jean Vi, Danielle and Shermaine were bathing Gracie together. The baby was in the tub, a rubber duck floating nearby. Dave stood on the edge of the tub, posed dramatically like he was about to dive into an Olympic pool. Then with a ssh, he leapt in, sinking into the warm water with a blissful sigh. After stuffing himself with fried chicken earlier, his face was still greasy. A bath was long overdue. After all, he was nning to snuggle with Gracie tonight. Cleanliness was mandatory. Twenty minutester, Gracie was squeaky clean. Shermaine wrapped her in a fluffy white towel, gently dried her off, dusted her with baby powder, and dressed her in a fresh diaper and a ridiculously cute pajama set. Danielle, proudly ying the future auntie, scooped Gracie up and nted a kiss on her cheek. There was no question that Gracie had be the beloved treasure of the entire household. Fresh out of the bath, she was immediately carried downstairs by Owen and Janice, who took turns holding her and ying with her. Meanwhile, Danielle grabbed a bottle of wine and called Lily to Shermaine¡¯s room. The girls settled in to drink. She checked the time and muttered, ¡°What¡¯s taking Ross so long?¡± Shermaine said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you call him and find out?¡± Danielle took another sip. ¡°I¡¯m not that clingy.¡± Still, barely a minute passed before she pulled out her phone and dialed. The voice that came through the receiver was soft and tender, a world away from the woman who had just dered herself independent. Ross¡® voice was warm. ¡°I¡¯m almost home. Don¡¯t drink too much, okay?¡± Across the room, Lily was catching up with Shermaine. She shared that Maple Leaf Ville had beenpletely rebuilt during the two years Shermaine was gone. Based on the blueprints Shermaine had provided before she left, the ce had been transformed. What was orice a poor, struggling vige was now nearly unrecognizable. ¡°Sheary, Mr. Gill and the others all miss you a lot,¡± Lily said. ¡°If you have time, you should visit.¡± ¡°I will,¡± Shermaine nodded. Two years away was a long time, and there were a lot of people she owed a proper visit to. Reconnecting with the old crew felt necessary now. AD Nurse walking 551 Chapter 551 Downstairs in the game room, Henry and Joshua were ying pool. +38 Joshua, calm andposed in a ck turtleneck, lined up his shot. He bent down with practiced ease and struck. The striped 11¨Cball rolled smoothly into the corner pocket with a sharp thunk. Henry stood off to the side, a cigarette between his fingers. He flicked the ash, watching. ¡°Hey, Joshua, that Kingdom of Xyperia ce¡­ do they even have pool tables?¡± ¡°No,¡± Joshua replied. Henry¡¯s hand twitched. ¡°So, you went two years without ying and still didn¡¯t get rusty?¡± Joshua raised a brow, his expression dry. ¡°You just saw for yourself.¡± Henry groaned. ¡°You could at least let me take the opening shot.¡± ¡°Be patient,¡± Joshua said. So Henry waited¡­ and waited¡­ until the next round finally came. They yed several more games. Joshua was clearly enjoying himself. Henry, not so much. It was hard to have fun when you never won a After the match, Henry grabbed a water bottle and leaned back. ¡°Hey, Joshua, about Roy¡­ think you could give me a hand?¡± ¡°I already am,¡± Joshua said. Henry ¨¦xhaled, relieved. ¡°Good. Once we find that idiot, he betterpensate me for two years of wasted time.¡± Around ten o¡¯clock, Ross came back through the front door. As he was passing by the game room, Henry called out, ¡°Wanna join?¡± Ross shook his head. ¡°Danielle¡¯s waiting on me.¡± round. Henry muttered under his breath. ¡®Must be nice¡­¡® Poor guy didn¡¯t even have a girlfriend. Watching all his friends pair off had left him genuinely envious. But then a thought struck him, and a grin followed. ¡°Then get Sheary toe down,¡± he said. Ross gave a quick nod. Joshua chuckled. ¡°Henry, you¡¯ve gotten smarter over thest two years.¡± Henry said nothing, but everyone knew if anyone in this estate could beat Joshua, it was Shermaine. Upstairs, Danielle was tipsy. She had never been much of a drinker, and the wine was definitely catching up to her. Lily had drunk quite a bit top. Shermaine had already asked the staff to prepare a guest room for her, letting her crash for the night instead of driving home. Ross knocked, then opened the door, and stepped in. Danielle was sitting on the carpet, hugging a wine bottle, her amber eyes hazy and shimmering as she kept drinking with Lily. Ordinarily, Ross would¡¯ve stopped her from drinking this much, but with Shermaine finally home, he knew Danielle was just happy and didn¡¯t want tol dampen the mood, If it weren¡¯t for what happened with Emma, he would¡¯ve liked to stay and catch up with Shermaine too.
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+38 ¡°Sheary,¡± he called gently. Shermaine nodded. ¡°Danielle had a bit too much.¡± Ross didn¡¯t seem concerned. ¡°She¡¯s excited to see you. Let her have it.¡± Shermaine knew Danielle had been worried about Ross. She walked over and said softly, ¡°Ross is back.¡± Danielle turned at the sound of his name. She set down her drink and gazed at him, totally mesmerized. Shermaine couldn¡¯t help but shoot Ross a teasing look. The way they acted around each other, their rtionship was somehow even sweeter than hers had ever been with Joshua. Ross took it all in stride. As if this were the most normal thing in the world, he walked over and lifted Danielle into his arms. She grumbled, ¡°Why were you gone so long? What happened with Emma?¡± Ross didn¡¯t hide it. ¡°I¡¯ve got security watching her now. Until they catch the guy, you need to be careful at the hospital.¡± Danielle blinked. ¡°Why me?¡± ¡°Because the man who went after her is tied to someone from my past. He wasn¡¯t really after Emma¡­ He was after me.¡± ¡°Then why go after her? She¡¯s not even your-¡± She was drunk, but her logic was still sharp. Ross had asked himself the same question. The more he thought about it, the more he suspected the attacker had simply misunderstood, maybe assuming Emma was involved with him romantically. ¡°Could be the rumors. Maybe he believed them and thought she mattered to me,¡± Ross said. Danielle scoffed, ¡°What, the guy didn¡¯t bother doing a basic inte search before trying tomit murder? Could¡¯ve figured out you¡¯re mine in two seconds. My future husband.¡± It wasn¡¯t something Ross could argue with. He pinched her cheek, amused. ¡°That¡¯s why I told you to be careful. He might stille after you.¡± Danielle narrowed her eyes, proud as ever. ¡°I¡¯ve got Sheary and you. I¡¯m not worried.¡± Ross¡® voice softened. ¡°Not going to argue with a drunk. Ready to go to bed?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± She kissed Shermaine good night. ¡°Night, Sheary.¡± Shermaine smiled. ¡°Good night, Danielle.¡± As Ross lifted her again, he turned back. ¡°Sheary,¡± he said with a smirk, ¡°Henry¡¯s getting thrashed and wants backup. Thinks you¡¯re the only one who can beat your husband.¡± Shermaine arched a brow. ¡°Well, somebody¡¯s got to save him.¡± Lily didn¡¯t follow them to the game room. She headed to the guest room, ready to get some sleep before work in the morning. Ross carried Danielle into their room. Her legs wrapped instinctively around his waist, her voice soft and teasing. ¡°Ross, Gracie¡¯s so cute. Let¡¯s have one of our own.¡± She was picturing a baby boy, a little cousin to Gracie, growing up beside her, looking out for her. What she didn¡¯t know was that someday, Gracie would grow up to be just like Shermaine, a total powerhouse. Nurse walking 552 Chapter 552 Ross helped Danielle out of her coat and shoes. Before long, her bare feet brushed against his waist, the cool metal of his belt buckle making her flinch. ¡°Let¡¯s make a baby after we¡¯re legally married,¡± he said. Danielle thought for a moment. ¡°Then let¡¯s get our marriage license tomorrow.¡± Rossughed softly. ¡°Let me handle the timing.¡± Her feet were cold, so she slipped them under Ross¡® shirt, nudging them against his skin to warm up. ¡°It¡¯s not like Ross caught her ankle. ¡°The house is full tonight. Next time, alright?¡± we¡¯ll get pregnant the first time.¡± Danielle propped her head up on her hand, her hair brushing against the navy sheets. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll y by myself. You can rest.¡± Ross tried to hold back. Really tried. But after a moment, he gave up and muttered, ¡°Just don¡¯t moan too loud this time. The walls aren¡¯t soundproof.¡± Downstairs in the billiard room, Shermaine had taken Henry¡¯s ce, stepping in to challenge Joshua. Joshua looked over at her. ¡°Sheary, maybe we just skip the game and go upstairs?¡± She smiled. ¡°We¡¯re already here. Might as well y a couple rounds.¡± Henry cheered her on. ¡°Shermaine, you¡¯re our only hope. If anyone can destroy Joshua, it¡¯s you.¡± Shermaine stayed calm. ¡°Trust me, I¡¯ve got this.¡± The match between husband and wife lit up the room with quiet sparks. At first, Henry watched with full attention,pletely engaged. But after a while, sleep started creeping in. He yawned. Owen didn¡¯t want to leave either and chose to stay, though he was mildly disappointed that he couldn¡¯t sleep in the same room as Gracie Janice had whisked the baby away to her room for the night. Owen wasn¡¯t thrilled about it, but he consoled himself with the thought that he¡¯d get to see Gracie first thing in the morning. With that, he drifted off to sleep, smiling. Just before eleven, Henry finally gave in. ¡°I¡¯m going to bed. Joshua, Shermaine, night.¡± Once he left, only the two of them remained. Joshua set down his cue stick. ¡°Sheary, I give up.¡± Shermaine still looked energized, probably because her body was still adjusting to the time difference after being in the Kingdom of Xyperia. ¡°You tired?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°Then one more game?¡± When it came to pool, they were evenly matched, which kept things interesting. Joshua smiled. ¡°If you¡¯re still awake, I can think of something else we could do.¡± He walked over and effortlessly lifted her onto the edge of the table, his meaning unmistakable. ¡°I like this sport better, he added. Shermaine gave him a little shove. ¡°Behave. ¡°I think this is the perfect spot. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t.¡± He leaned in, brushing the tip of his nose against hers. ¡°Come on, Sheary. Spoil me just a little, will you?¡± She grinned. ¡°Not in the mood. Try againter.¡± Joshua bit her gently. ¡°Then onest game, and off to bed.¡± ¡°Deal.¡± They yed another quick round, then headed upstairs to shower, and get ready for bed. But even once they were lying down, Shermaine couldn¡¯t fall asleep. Joshua pulled her into his arms. She rested her head against him. ¡°I wonder how Jasmine¡¯s doing.¡± ¡°She¡¯s with Damien,¡± Joshua said, his voice low and steady. ¡°She¡¯ll be okay.¡± ¡°She must still be heartbroken.¡± ¡°Damien will know how tofort her.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± When she didn¡¯t bring up Jasmine again, Joshua whispered, ¡°Want me to help you fall asleep?¡± Shermaine murmured an ¡°mm¨Chmm,¡± closing her eyes. Joshua started humming a luby in her ear. It wasn¡¯t long before her breathing slowed and deepened. Once he was sure she was asleep, he finally closed his eyes. The entire estate fell into a peaceful, quiet sleep. Well, almost the entire estate. In one room, Danielley bonelessly on the bed, her legspletely limp Ross was massaging her ankles. ¡°Still sore?¡± he asked. Danielle¡¯s voice was soft and sweet, barely above a whisper. ¡°Yeah.¡± She wiggled her toes. ¡°Your stamina is ridiculous.¡± Ross chuckled. ¡°Didn¡¯t you start it?¡± Danielle gave a breathy scoff and buried her face in the pillow. Just keep massaging. I¡¯m not letting you stop.¡± The next morning, Logan delivered a stack of documents from York residence to Jean Vi. Now that Joshua was back, Owen had no intention of dealing with business anymore. He dumped everything back on his grandson. Which meant he now had more time to cook for Shermaine and y with Gracie. Logan also brought a free¨Crange chicken with him, one they¡¯d raised for two years. It was finally time to fulfill its destiny and be soup. After handing off the files, Joshua headed into the study. ¡°I¡¯ve already asked Bradley toe by,¡± Logan said. Joshua nodded. ¡°Thanks. Go catch up with my grandfather.¡± ¡°Will do,¡± Logan replied with a grin. That morning, Henry and Lily had breakfast and then each went their separate ways. 0941 odl,, 205% (+381 Shortly after, Ross and Danielle came down as well. Danielle was still walking a little unsteadily, and Ross had to hold her the whole way. ¡°Take it slow,¡± he murmured, ¡°no rush.¡± She muttered under her breath, ¡°This is all your fault.¡± Rossughed. ¡°All my fault.¡± That made her legs even weaker. She nced at his smiling face and felt herself practically melt. ¡®That massagest night didn¡¯t help at all,¡® she thought, ¡®Total waste.¡® As they came downstairs, Janice¡¯s eyes immediately found them. Danielle¡¯s face flushed pink. Janice, holding Gracie in her arms, beamed. ¡°Looks like Ross and Danielle might be the next ones in line for a baby.¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Nurse walking 553 Chapter 553 Ross didn¡¯t seem fazed by Janice¡¯s teasing, but Danielle turned crimson. After a quick hello, the two had their breakfast and left for work. In the kitchen, Owen was busy ughtering a free¨Crange chicken. The bird clucked in protest, pping wildly as it struggled against its fate. It had no idea it was being sacrificed in the name of tradition. Owen rolled up his sleeves and said, ¡°I raised you for two years just for this moment. Sheary¡¯s finally back, and you¡¯re going into the soup pot.¡± ¡°Cluck¨Ccluck¨Ccluck!¡± the chicken protested. Logan had offered to help, but Owen insisted on handling everything himself. When it came to soup, he didn¡¯t trust anyone else. So Logan just stood off to the side, with nothing to do but watch. Joshua was deep in work. At that moment, the most idle person in the entire household was Shermaine. With nothing urgent to do, her mind drifted to the collection of items she¡¯d brought back from the Kingdom of Xyper¨ªa. Most of it had been stored in Apocalypse, waiting for the right time to be studied or tested. But before diving into research, she felt like taking a stroll around Basterel. ces like Basterel University, and First High, were tied to her past in ways that still felt unfinished. She didn¡¯t go out looking like herself. Back in Xyperia, she¡¯d mastered facial modification for the sake of stealth. That skill remained useful now. After changing her appearance, she took Ross¡® car and headed out. There were no issues on the road. Even if she¡¯d been pulled over, the Orthish device she carried had already linked with Earth¡¯s digital infrastructure. It could automatically detectw enforcement checkpoints and reroute her before she ran into any trouble. Her first stop was Basterel University. In the two years she¡¯d been gone, not much had changed. A couple of newboratory buildings had been added, and some of the older ones had been renovated. The campus felt broader now, more refined, almost majestic. Even with her altered appearance, Shermaine stood out. Blonde hair, sapphire eyes, a graceful silhouette? There was no hiding how striking she looked. She headed toward the Department of Chemistry. But before she reached the entrance, her steps slowed. There was a fountain outside. And in its center stood a statue¡­ of her. The water in the pool was crystal clear, and the bottom was lined with coins. Shermaine¡¯s lips twitched in disbelief. Students had been treating her like some kind of academic deity, tossing in wishes as if she could actually hear them. Most of the students were rushing to ss, and the crowd near the Chemistry Department entrance was thinning. A girl stopped by the fountain, dropped in a coin, and sped her hands together. ¡°Goddess Shermaine, please help me pass my finals,¡± she murmured. Shermaine stood motionless, thinking, ¡®So most of the world really does think I¡¯m dead.¡± After the girl walked off, another figure appeared¨Ctall, broad¨Cshouldered, dressed entirely in ck, with a cap pulled low over his face. It was Jason. He stood in front of the statue without moving. The day the world believed Shermaine and Joshua had died, Jason had celebrated. No one had hated her more. But her death hadn¡¯t brought the satisfaction he expected. Instead of being forgotten, she had been revered. The entire city mourned her like a saint. News outlets called her a once¨Cin¨Ca¨Cgeneration genius. Basterel University had erected this statue in her honor, the only one on campus. 1/3 Chapter 553 Mathematicians named an award after her. Scientists and physicians across disciplines praised her as a singr, unmatched mind. Some even called her divine. Meanwhile, Jason had be a ghost. He dropped out. No one remembered him. No one even said his name. He had be a cockroach in the dark corners of society. His father, Jameson, had disowned him. His mother, Natalie, was locked in a government facility for life after releasing a virus. Though the disease had been cured, her name remained toxic.. So yes, Jason hated her even more now. ¡®Why does she get worshipped while I rot?¡® His hatred clung to him like smoke. And though Shermaine couldn¡¯t see his expression from where she stood, she recognized the rage in his posture. A momentter, she saw him pull out a can of spray paint. He defaced the statue without hesitation, coating it in chaotic color. Shermaine¡¯s face darkened. She stepped forward. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Jason froze. When he turned, his eyes gleamed with malice. His voice was low, dry, andced with venom. ¡°I already called security.¡± Right on cue, three campus guards rounded the corner, batons in hand. Jason¡¯s masked face twisted. Without another word, he bolted. ¡°Stay out of it.¡± The guards gave chase. Ten minutester, they returned out of breath, empty¨Chanded. One of them cursed loudly. ¡°Little bastard. Next time we catch him, he¡¯s getting smashed.¡± Shermaine remained beside the statue. ¡°Does he do this often?¡± she asked. ¡°All the damn time,¡± one guard replied. ¡°Every time we fix the thing, he shows up again. You¡¯d think Shermaine actually wronged him or something. It¡¯s sick. She¡¯s dead, and he¡¯s still vandalizing her statue.¡± Another added, ¡°It¡¯s jealousy, in and simple. She was young, brilliant, and famous. People like him can¡¯t handle that.¡± ¡°We¡¯re probably going to have to rebuild the whole thing again.¡± ¡°Think we can scrub it before the paint dries?¡± ¡°It¡¯s worth a shot.¡± t The guards began cleaning the statue while Shermaine stood quietly off to the side. No one paid her a second nce. She didn¡¯t bother going into the Chemistry building. No one would recognize her in this form, and even if they did, they wouldn¡¯t let her into thebs without clearance. Instead, she stopped by a nearby kiosk and bought a snack she used to love. She then wandered the campus for a little while longer before heading out. By the time she left Basterel University, it was already noon. Joshua¡¯s name shed on her phone. She hadn¡¯t used it in so long that even answering felt foreign. When she picked up, his voice came through. ¡°Where are you?¡± 09.40 Mon, 21 JulG ¡°At Basterel University.¡± ¡°My grandpa finished the chicken soup. Want toe home?¡± ¡°I¡¯m on my way,¡± she said. After hanging up, she headed toward the underground parking structure near the academic building. She didn¡¯t feel like biking back and took her time walking. The path was shaded and quiet, lined with tall trees. It was a peaceful little stretch¡­ almost too peaceful. Her steps slowed. Something wasn¡¯t right. She didn¡¯t say a word and kept walking. The parking garage was nearly empty. No one else was around. She pulled out her keys. Behind her, a shadow moved. Someone lunged, pipe in hand, aiming straight for her neck. 27480 Before the attacker could make contact, Shermaine twisted into a clean, brutal roundhouse kick. The man hit the concrete wall hard and slid to the ground. She stood over him, calm and deliberate, lowering her leg. ¡°You trying to kill me?¡± Jason staggered to his feet, dazed. The voice again. It hit him like a cold ssh of water. ¡®Why does that sound so familiar?¡® he wondered. But her presence, which was too strong and too controlled, kept him from speaking. There was a sharpness in her gaze that made him feel like prey. He¡¯d changed since two years ago. He¡¯d studied, trained, and even gone down dark paths to gain power. And he had seeded. At least, he believed he had. His eyes shifted. A pale green glow, slit like a snake¡¯s. Shermaine narrowed her gaze. It reminded her of Natalie. The stench in the air, metallic and bitter, clung to her skin. Jason was covered head to toe, every inch of him wrapped tight. He spoke through his mask. ¡°I could kill you in a heartbeat.¡± She let out a softugh. ¡°Then do it. Let¡¯s see how that works out for you.¡± Nurse walking 554 Chapter 554 Shermaine sensed a sudden shift in his movements as he lunged at her again. Whether in the Kingdom of Xyperia or on Earth, there would always be people utterly consumed by madness¨Cjust like the man standing before her, a remnant of the Immortality Project. She realized her abrupt departure had left too many loose ends. Without hesitation, she drew a sleek silver pistol¨Capact yet brutally powerful weapon she had smuggled from Xyperia. Its bullets caused twice the pain of ordinary rounds, and before he could react, she fired, with the shotnding silently but precisely. Jason staggered back, clutching his wound in agony. He had never missed a kill before, but he hadn¡¯t expected her to be such a formidable opponent. Instead of fighting back, Jason turned and ran. Shermaine had no intention of letting him escape. After analyzing his blood on the ground with her holographicputer, she jumped into her car and took off after him. Outside the garage, Jason hijacked a small car, mmed the gas pedal to the floor, and vanished into the night. Several students on the sidewalk barely managed to leap out of the way as his car barreled past. Shermaine floored it after him, but with the campus speed limits I so many students clogging the roads, she had no choice but to give up. As her car crawled out of the campus, she checked the data from her holographicputer. The results were clear¨Chis blood was anything but normal. Two years ago, a virus had swept through Horington before being eradicated. To her shock, Jason had used that same virus to modify his own body. Pulling something like this off in just two years took brains and serious skill. But of all the things he could have done, she wondered why he had to go down such a twisted path. Meanwhile, Jason staggered into his usual hideout¨Ca filthy, pitch¨Cck dump. Without a second thought, he plunged his fingers into his wound and dug out the bullet, his face turning deathly pale from the excruciating pain. He roared like a wild beast and raged inwardly, ¡®Who the hell is that woman? And what the hell is this bullet made of? Why does it hurt so damn much? The next time I see that woman, I swear I¡¯ll transform and kill her.¡® In fact, even though Jason had fled, Shermaine was still tracking his exact location. She wasn¡¯t in a rush to confront him, and she nned to watch him for a few days first. She thought, ¡®He¡¯d better not stir up any more trouble. If he does, I¡¯ll finish him once and for all.¡® A little after midnight, Shermaine finally drove back to Jean Vi, The moment she stepped inside, she was greeted by the rich,forting aroma of chicken soup. Owen beamed in joy when he saw her. ¡°Sheary,e over here and have some some soup.¡± He had butchered an old hen and simmered it for over two hours, so the soup smelled absolutely divine. Joshua followed her down from upstairs. Owen had also prepared soup for Joshua, but when he peered into the bowl, he frowned. ¡°Grandpa, why did you give me bone broth?¡± It had been over a month since Shermaine had left the Kingdom of Xyperia. When Jasmine woke up and couldn¡¯t find Shermaine the next morning, she broke into tears right away. Too afraid of being disliked, she always hid away to cry alone. But no matter how well she hid, Damien always found her. Every time, he would spend ages coaxing andforting her until she finally stopped crying. Damien had never been good atforting people. Honestly, trying to soothe Jasmine had worn him outpletely¨Che¡¯d thrown every trick in the book at her, and it still left him utterly drained. Ever since Shermaine left, Jasmine had be incredibly clingy. The inoment Damien was out of sight, she¡¯d hide away and sob pitifully In the middle of the night, Jasmine jolted awake from a nightmare, still clutching her stuffed rabbit. Finding Damien¡¯s side of the bed empty, the scrambled out barefoot in a panic to look for him. Jasmine scoured the entire house, growing more anxious with each empty room, but there was still no sign of Damien. By the time Damien finally came back, Jasmine was a mess¨Cher eyes were red and puffy, her nose swollen from crying, making her look utterly miserable. Damien rushed over to her. Seeing no tissues nearby, he simply used his sleeve to wipe her tears away. ¡°I didn¡¯t leave you. Teddy called me out for a drink, so I went to chat with him for a bit.¡± Without a word, Jasmine threw her arms out, wanting nothing more than to cling to him. Damien let hertch onto him, wrapping around him like a vine. Jasmine locked her arms and legs around him like a ko and whimpered, ¡°I had a nightmare¡­ that you abandoned me.¡± Damien gently patted her back. The cold¨Cblooded assassin who could face any enemy without flinching now stood helpless in front of a crying girl. ¡°I will never leave you. Not in this lifetime¨Cunless you leave me first.¡± Hearing those words, Jasmine finally felt some of her unease melt away, but she still felt insecure and whimpered, ¡°But¡­ you¡¯ve never even said you love me.¡± Damien fell silent. He had only ever managed to say he liked her once before. But love? For someone as cold and reticent as he was, that word felt impossible to force out, no matter how hard he tried. Seeing him stay quiet, Jasmine pouted and started to cry again, ¡°I knew it. You just want to sleep with me. You don¡¯t love me.¡± Damien let out a long sigh. Though clearly exasperated, he still stayed patient. After a long, awkward pause, he finally squeezed out the words. ¡°You¡¯re wrong about that. I love you.¡± Jasmine pouted, ¡°You said it like you were just reading a grocery list!¡± Damien was tempted to give her a light spank to teach her a lesson. Here he was, finally confessing his love, yet she was stillining about hisck of feeling. He said firmly, ¡°Jasmine, if I didn¡¯t love you, I wouldn¡¯t be sleeping with you.¡± As he spoke, he gently guided her onto the bed, murmuring, ¡°I¡¯d rather show you than say it. Jasmine wentpletely still, her tears vanishing in an instant. The truth was, ever since their wedding night, when she¡¯d been too hurt and upset to feel any physical desire toward him, they hadn¡¯t made love. Trapped beneath him on the bed, she squirmed and kicked weakly. ¡°No¡­ I don¡¯t want to.¡± The thing was, the second Damien got her into bed, he turned into a total beast¨Cdevouring her inside and out, over and over again, like he could never get enough of her. Seeing her eyes red and shimmering with tears, so heartbreakingly beautiful and tempting, Damien felt his Adam¡¯s apple bob as he gulped. For a man who¡¯d barely gotten a taste of her before being forced into a month of abstinence, resisting now was nearly impossible. He cupped her face, pressing gentle kisses along her cheeks before capturing her lips with his own. His tongue slipped inside, teasing and iming her deeply. ¡°I don¡¯t like seeing you cry,¡± he murmured against her lips. Then, after a pause, his eyes darkened with a wicked glint. ¡°Unless I¡¯m the one making you cry.¡± Jasmine gasped, her lips parting as she gasped for breath. ¡°I don¡¯t want to cry either,¡± she whispered, her voice shaking, ¡°but I just can¡¯t help it.¡± Damien said, ¡°No more hiding to cry, or sneaking off by yourself. If you feel like you¡¯re gonna break down, you to me. Got it?¡± ???. Jasmine nodded and murmured, ¡°Damien, you¡¯re the best.¡± As she spoke, her hand slid down, unable to resist tracing over his abs she had missed so much, and that single touch changed everything. She could already tell she was about to bepletely devoured. But just as Damien was ready to pounce, Jasmine suddenly clutched her stomach and gasped, ¡°Damien¡­ my stomach hurts.¡± Seeing Jasmine¡¯s pained expression, Damien immediately called for a doctor. The doctor rushed over in the middle of the night. After examining her carefully, he finally looked up and announced, ¡°Congrattions, Mrs. Hale. You¡¯re three weeks pregnant.¡± Jasmine and Damien froze in shock. If she was three weeks pregnant, it meant it was from the time they made love on their wedding night. ¡°Then what¡¯s causing the stomach pain?¡± Damien asked worriedly. ¡°It¡¯s likely due to emotional stress,¡± the doctor exined calmly. ¡°She just needs to rest and stay rxed from now on.¡± A secondter, Jasmine¡¯s eyes lit up as she grabbed Damien¡¯s arm. ¡°Oh my goodness, Damien. We¡¯re having a baby!¡± Damien was thrilled too, but at the same time, he felt a pang of despair. ¡®Great. That means ten months of no action, he thought miserably, already mourning his impending dry spell. AB Nurse walking 555 Chapter 555 Jasmine gently rested her hand on her belly. She really wanted to share the news with Joshua and Shermaine, but they hadpletely cut off contact That thought left her a little sad, though the excitement of her pregnancy quickly washed most of that loneliness away. While the doctor went over all the precautions with them, he eventually got to the topic of intimacy. ¡°No sex for the first three months. After that, you can do it but nothing too rough. You need to be careful.¡± Hearing that, Damien finally rxed a little, the tension in his furrowed brows easing. Jasmine noticed his reaction right away and thought, ¡®This cold, usually unreadable man would only soften up slightly when he¡¯sforting me. I¡¯ve never seen him visibly let out a sigh of relief like this. ¡®Unbelievable. Even now, when I¡¯m pregnant, that¡¯s all he thinks about. I knew he just wanted to sleep with me all along The thoughts made her pout so hard that she looked like an angry little pufferfish. After finishing his long list of instructions, the doctor added reassuringly that premature births were almost unheard of in the Kingdom of Xyperia unless someone chose to give up on their baby. Finally, he said, ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Hale, if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± ¡°Thank you, Dr. Foyet,¡± Jasmine and Damien said in unison. After seeing the doctor out, Damien came back to find Jasmine ring at him, her cheeks puffed out in a dramatic huff. Confused, he climbed into bed beside her, his voice gentle as he asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I need to set some ground rules,¡± Jasmine dered firmly. Damien blinked. ¡°Ground rules?¡± After a moment, he asked, ¡°What ground rules?¡± Clutching the nket tightly, she said, ¡°Once we hit the three¨Cmonth mark, you¡¯re not allowed to touch me. And you¡¯re definitely not allowed to sleep with other women either.¡± Jasmine thought, ¡®For someone who can¡¯t get enough of me, I need to let him experience the true torment of abstinence.¡® Damien, of course, had never even considered being with another woman. But hearing her rules, he couldn¡¯t help frowning again. He stared at her as he narrowed his eyes slightly. ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡°Of course I¡¯m serious,¡± Jasmine shot back, ring at him with conviction. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s sleep,¡± Damien said, his expression unchanged. Jasmine froze, thinking, ¡®Huh? This isn¡¯t what I pictured at all. Shouldn¡¯t he be fighting me on this? Why is he so calm?¡® She rolled it over in her mind again and again. ¡®He must be ying hard to get, Whatever. When ites down to it, he¡¯ll definitely be the first to cave in. But three monthster, to Jasmine¡¯s shock, she was the one who had to eat her own words. At Jean Vi, in response to his grandson¡¯s question, Owen replied, ¡°At your age, you¡¯re still working around the clock like a machine? You need something to keep your strength up.¡± ¡®At my age?¡® That one really hit Joshua where it hurt. So be it. The age gap between him and Shermaine had always been a quiet sore spot in his heart. But regrets aside, he¡¯d long epted it. In her prime years, he¡¯d offered her the most steady, mature love he had. Joshua arched a brow. ¡°Then why exactly is it a¡­ bone broth?¡± Sipping her chicken soup, Shermaine beamed with amusement, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as she wondered how Owen would respond ¡°Sheary, cover your ears for this,¡± Owen said. Shermaine smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m good, Grandpa. I can handle it.¡± Owen gave a dramatic sigh and delivered his line like it was the punchline of a joke. ¡°It¡¯s to make sure your nighttime activities with Sheary remain¡­ great experience for both of you,¡± he said, dead serious. Then he added, ¡°Staying up all night weakens a man, you know. Don¡¯t kv the exception.¡± Joshua said tly, ¡°Grandpa, you really don¡¯t need to worry about that. Even if I stay up for days, I¡¯ll still do just fine.¡± Owenpletely ignored his protests and urged, ¡°Hurry up and finish that tonic. Not a single drop can be left, you hear me?¡± Joshua let out a resigned sigh. In the end, he had no choice but to swallow his pride and sit down, forced to go along just to keep his grandfather happy. As soon as he sat next to Shermaine, he immediately picked up a faint metallic scent. ¡°Weren¡¯t you at Basterel University today? Why do you smell like blood?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not mine,¡± Shermaine answered casually. Then, she went on. ¡°I ran into someone who clearly had it out for me. He even tried to destroy my statue. called security, but after that, he turned around and tried to kill me. ¡°And the worst part is he¡¯s carrying that old virus from Horington, and it looks like he can control when to activate it.¡± Joshua¡¯s gaze turned sharp. ¡°Did you get him?¡± Shermaine said, ¡°Nope. I let him run so he can enjoy a few more days while he can.¡± The truth was, she didn¡¯t really feel like chasing him down. With the campus speed limits and so many students around, it just wasn¡¯t worth the hassle. And honestly, she was more interested in getting back home to enjoy some chicken soup. Besides, the guy had only just started to show his true colors. She wanted to watch him for a few days and find out what exactly he was trying to aplish by turning himself into such a monster, Anyway, the moment he tried to cause trouble again, her Orthish would notify her right away. While Joshua and Shermaine chatted, Janice and Owen stayed out of it. Meanwhile, over on the sofa, little Gracie, who was just five months old, was already crawling around. She scurried back and forth, full of energy and mischief,pletely stealing the spotlight. The two elders watched her with absolute delight, their faces glowing with pride. Normally, most babies didn¡¯t start crawling until they were around nine months old. But Gracie was already on the move at just five months old. To the -elders, that meant she was one smart cookie. Owen chuckled, ¡°I remember Joshua didn¡¯t start crawling until he was six months old.¡± Janice nodded. ¡°Sheary started crawling when she was about five months old too.¡± Eventually, Gracie got tired and flopped down on the sofa to rest. A momentter, to everyone¡¯s surprise, she even managed to roll over on her own. It was almost too cute for words. After lunch, Joshua and Shermaine took a leisurely stroll in the backyard. After their stroll, he roped Shermaine into joining him for an afternoon nap. Five days flew by in the blink of an eye. Joshua had been swamped with work, withpany matters still unresolved, so they decided to keep their return under wraps for now. 213 09:46 Mon, 21 Jul G @0 Meanwhile, Shermaine decided to take a two day trip to Maple Leaf Vilte for a little break. The moment Owen heard she was going to the countryside, he immediately started packing, determined to tag along. Janice felt the same way about it, thinking it would be tough on Shermaine to take care of Gracie on her own. Hence, she decided to tag along to help Shermaine out, and maybe even enjoy a little getaway herself. Over the past two years, whenever her friends invited her out, Janice never felt up to it. With Shermaine gone, she just hadn¡¯t been in the mood for anything. Before they left, Shermaine put on a brand¨Cnew disguise to visit Danielle at the hospital. This time, she wasn¡¯t a brown¨Chaired beauty. She had red hair, light gray contacts, a hat, a shirt dress, knee¨Chigh boots, and a ck mid¨Clength puffer jacketyered on top. Despite Shermaine¡¯s disguise, Danielle still recognized her right away. She was still seeing patients but was almost done. Since Shermaine wasn¡¯t in a hurry, she waited patiently inside. When Danielle finally finished, she closed the door and turned to Shermaine. ¡°Weren¡¯t you about to head off to Maple Leaf Ville for a couple of days? Why¡¯d youe here?¡± Shermaine took out a ne and handed it to Danielle. ¡°This is a tracker. Wear it, and just tap the center diamond three times to activate it. Then, I can pinpoint your location.¡± Since her brother¡¯s issue still hadn¡¯t been resolved, Danielle¡¯s safety remained a real concern. Danielle frowned slightly. ¡°What if the signal gets jammed? Will it still work?¡± ¡°The signal in this tracker is pretty unique,¡± Shermaine exined calmly. ¡°There¡¯s no jamming device or technology in the country that can block its connection to my Orthish.¡± Danielle had seen Shermaine¡¯s so¨Ccalled Orthish before. It looked like a regr wristwatch, but in reality, it was an advanced Al¨Cpoweredputer. Apparently, it was the standard device formunication and inte ess in the Kingdom of Xyperia. Of course, Shermaine had upgraded and modified hers, making it different from the standard one in quite a few ways. ¡°You¡¯re the best, Sheary,¡± Danielle said with a happy grin as she picked up the ne and put it around her neck. Once it was fastened, she announced, ¡°All set!¡± Shermaine nodded. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s grab lunch together before I leave.¡± AD Nurse walking 556 Chapter 556 After lunch with Danielle, Shermaine set off for Maple Leaf Ville with Janice and Owen. They took a helicopter, so the trip only took about two hou The winter sun was warm and bright that day. The sky stretched overhead in a clear, cloudless blue. Even though the temperature was below S0¡ãF, the sunshine took the edge off the chill, making the day feel surprisingly pleasant. As the helicopter flew over stretches of farnd, a vast expanse of lush green meadows came into view, stretching endlessly before their eyes. On the grasnds below, cows and sheep wanderedzily, grazing and strolling without a care in the world. Scattered across thendscape were charming cottages, small arched bridges crossing gentle streams, and thin curls of smoke rising from chimneys, making the ce look like something out of a fairytale. Among the nearby hills, one stood out in particr as it waspletely nketed in blooming camellias. The sea of flowers was so beautiful, it took their breath away. Tourists who came here couldn¡¯t hide their excitement. They snapped photos nonstop from sightseeing trams, eager to capture everything their eyes saw. Beyond the natural beauty, the area¡¯s facilities were impressively modern and high¨Ctech. On top of that, the ranches were spotless, almost unbelievably clean. Thanks to Lily and Ruth¡¯s tireless promotion effortsst year, Maple Leaf Ville had skyrocketed to be the country¡¯s most popr tourist destination. The once¨Cstruggling vige chief and local elders had gone from barely scraping by to bing millionaires. After all, the business potential here soared to hundreds of millions in just one year, making this ce one of the most profitable and sought¨Cafter spots in the nation. Moreover, milk from their dairy cows was shipped all over the world. And their sheep, too, raked in millions from theirst sale. Plenty of people from nearby towns tried to buynd, move in, or purchase property here, but every single one of them was turned down. Only the original vigers were allowed toe back, settle down, and build a life here. Outsiders weren¡¯t permitted to own any property or assets at all. All the businesses here were run exclusively by the vigers. When their businesses were too much to handle, they would hire extra help. Finally, the helicopter touched down, and the vige elders had been waiting patiently for their arrival. As soon as Shermaine stepped out, they broke into excited cheers. It had been so long since they¡¯d seen her, and they¡¯d missed her dearly. ¡°Ah, this ce is incredible,¡± Owen eximed as he stepped off, breathing in the fresh air, He feltpletely recharged already. Ruth had once invited Janice to visit, but she had turned it down back then. Now, thinking about it, she realized she should¡¯vee sooner to rx. She agreed, ¡°It really is a wonderful ce.¡± Shermaine chatted and caught up with Jay and the other vigers. Soon after, Jay led them to their vi so they could unpack and settle in. It was the same vi Shermaine had stayed in before. Over the past two years, it had been cleaned regrly, so it was still spotless and just as weing as she remembered. Gracie was clearly loving this ce¨Cher smile was brighter than ever, and herughter rang out even more carefree than usual. Guided by Jay, the whole family took their time exploring the area. Meanwhile, Shermaine couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®There¡¯s still so much potential here. For example, if we levelled the eastern hill, we could build an amusement park. It¡¯s far enough from the ranch that it wouldn¡¯t disrupt the peaceful atmosphere or beautifulndscape. ¡®And we could upgrade the local facilities to cut down on manualbor by having fully automated hotels, self¨Cservice supermarkets and all that, where everything would be built around the new amusement park. It would be perfect! In the blink of an eye, another half month slipped by. Shermaine stayed busy. On one hand, she continued treating the vigers. On the other, she meticulously upgraded every robot in town, including overhauling the sightseeing vehicles so they ran smoother and performed better than ever. Back in Basterel, with Bradley¡¯s help, Joshu had finally gotten a full handle on the York Group¡¯s projects and operations from the past two years, He took off his sses and rubbed his temples, feeling the weight lift just slightly. Bradley reported, ¡°Mr. York, I have a new update. Our long¨Cterm partner, Fadele Technology, recently had their contract with us expire. Their new CEO, it would mean a significant loss for thepany. After all, Fadele Technology was the top yer in that field at this time. Joshua asked, ¡°What¡¯sn¡¯s stance?¡± Bradley replied, ¡°The Kennedy family is offering him exceptionally high profit margins. Ian is clearly tempted, but he¡¯s still weighing his options.¡± ¡°Where isn at the moment?¡± ¡°To win him over, the Kennedy family¡¯s eldest son is throwing avish cocktail party tonight at his multi¨Cmillion dor mansion. They even invited Michelle Aniston as a special guest to help sway him.¡± Joshua frowned slightly. He had no idea who Michelle was. Bradley exined, ¡°Michelle has been one of the country¡¯s most popr actresses these past two years. She actually looks a bit like Mrs. York.¡± Then, he thought to himself, ¡®However, the odd part is that no one knows if she was born that way or if she had some work done, especially her eyes. ¡®Strangely enough, maybe because of her impressive talent in both music and acting¨Cor perhaps thanks to her carefully crafted public image¨Cmost of Mrs. York¡¯s fans never attacked her. ¡®Instead, they often felt a kind of warmth toward her. Her resemnce to Mrs. York, paired with her own achievements, reminded them of Mrs. York, which made them feel a sense of familiarity toward her.¡¯ People often remarked that truly exceptional individuals always seemed to share simr features. Shermaine was a legend, and Michelle wasn¡¯t far behind¨Cthere was hardly an instrument she couldn¡¯t y. Bradley thought, ¡®But now that Mrs. York had returned, seeing Michelle would definitely make Mr. York ufortable.¡® To Joshua, Shermaine¡¯s beauty was something no one could ever replicate. He thought, ¡®True beauty lies in the soul, not just in the face.¡® Even if someone looked exactly like her, they could never share her spirit matter how perfect the imitation, he would always recognize his Shermaine. Joshua finally spoke, his voice firm and steady. ¡°Sheary is one of a kind. There¡¯s no one else like her in this world.¡± Then, he added, ¡°Get the car ready.¡± Bradley immediately went to carry out the order, thinking, ¡®Now that Mr. York is stepping back into the game, those wild, reckless yers in the business world had better brace themselves because their time is up.¡® Night fell over Yaleview Hospital as the dinner hour approached. After hiding away in her hotel room for half a month, Emma finally decided to step outside tonight and invited Danielle to dinner. She still seemed deeply haunted by the night she had almost been killed. Danielle agreed to meet for dinner since she wanted to talk to Emma about her leg treatment anyway, so they decided to meet at a steak ce a few blocks away from the hospital. When Danielle arrived, Emma was already sitting inside the restaurant, calmly sipping on a ss of juice. Seeing her walk in, Emma gave a faint smile. ¡°Ms. Shelly, you¡¯re here.¡± Danielle could never quite get used to being addressed so o formally. ¡°I¡¯m really not that much older than you. Just call me Danielle.¡± Emma insisted. ¡°Ms. Shelly, why don¡¯t you go ahead all Irst? Order whatever you like.¡± Danielle paused. ¡®This woman is definitely doing this on purpose,¡® she thought. Keeping her expression neutral, she took the menu. In truth, Danielle wasn¡¯t a fan of raw food, especially raw meat. So it came to steak, she would order at least a medium¨Cwell one, fully cooked. Naturally, she focused on the other cooked dishes on the menu. and often ordered it The restaurant itself was nearly empty, but Ross¡® bodyguards, following his strict instructions, stood watch outside the restaurant the entire time. Meanwhile, that morning, Ross had received a call from the police informing him that Damon would be arriving at Wallington International Airport at 8
  1. PM.
Believing Damon¡¯s purpose was likely assassination and retaliation, Ross arrived at the airport well before eight, ready to coordinate with the police to apprehend him the moment hended. However, Ross couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something didn¡¯t add up. He wondered, ¡®If Damon really came for revenge, how did the police manage to get his information so easily?¡® Back in the day, Damon ran a massive criminal syndicate, so he definitely wasn¡¯t clueless when it came to covering his tracks. AD Nurse walking 557 Chapter 557 ¡®Something just doesn¡¯t add up,¡® Ross thought, a growing sense of unease gnawing at him. Through his earpiece, one of his men reported, ¡°Attention, the ne hasnded. The targets areing out. Everyone, get into position and keep eyes on them.¡± His earpiece buzzed with chatter from his team. Meanwhile, the airport police were all set, ready to make arrests the second the targets appeared. Ross silently listened to the updates, then pulled out his phone and called Danielle. On the other hand, Danielle, who had just finished herst piece of food, picked up. Emma¡¯s eyes briefly flicked over to her before she calmly continued eating her steak. Ross asked softly, ¡°Where are you, Danielle?¡± Danielle didn¡¯t bother to hide anything. ¡°Out having dinner with Emma,¡± she replied, sending him her location on WhatsApp at the same time. ¡°What about you? Have you eaten yet?¡± Ross had long suffered from stomach issues, but after two years of Danielle¡¯s attentive care, he¡¯d fully recovered. However, if he started skipping meals or eating inegrly again, those old problems could easily re up again. Ross¡® gaze turned solemn for a moment, but when he heard Danielle¡¯s concern for him, his voice softened. ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten. After dinner, don¡¯t wander around and let the driver take you straight home. Tomorrow, we¡¯re going to the city hall to get our marriage license.¡± ¡°Tomorrow?¡± Danielle repeated, her voice full of surprise and delight. ¡°Dr. Shelly, you don¡¯t want to?¡± he teased lightly. ¡°Of course I do!¡± Danielle¡¯s face lit up with a bright smile. ¡°I always thought this engagement ring was a little too small. It¡¯s about time we upgraded to a bigger one.¡± Ross chuckled indulgently. Come to think of it, Danielle¡¯s shopping habits far surpassed even Shermaine¡¯s. Danielle was a true shopaholic through and through. The walk¨Cin closet in the apartment was crammed with all kinds of luxury items she¡¯d bought¨Cdresses, shoes, jewellery¨Cuntil it was practically bursting at the seams. And that closet wasn¡¯t small either; it spanned over 300 square feet. That alone said plenty about just how much she loved to shop. But for Ross, that wasn¡¯t a problem at all, as he could easily afford all of her shopping sprees. No matter how wildly Danielle spent, it barely put a dent in his fortune. She did buy a lot, but her annual spending was really just a drop in the bucket. Honestly, Ross thought she could go even crazier if she wanted, and he didn¡¯t mind at all. He replied indulgently, ¡°Yeah. Tomorrow, we¡¯ll get you a bigger ring.¡± ¡°Thene home early tonight, okay?¡± Danielle replied sweetly. After they exchanged a few more words, they ended the call. Just then, Emma got up to use the restroom. Seeing her leave, Danielle decided she might as well finish what she had to say and head home early, so she simply followed her. Emma stood in front of the mirror, fixing her makeup. ¡°So, Ms. Shelly, you and Ross are really getting married?¡± Danielle smiled. ¡°Yes,¡± she said, setting her phone on the counter. ¡°Actually, another reason I came out tonight was to talk about your leg. If I could find 09.47 the right specialists to help you recover, would you be open to therapy?¡± Emma tightened her grip. ¡°Are there really doctors that skilled in Wallington?¡± ¡°Of course, there are,¡± Danielle stated matter¨Cof¨Cfactly. ¡°You¡¯re still so young. Once your leg heals, you can do so much more. There¡¯s no need to spend the rest of your life confined to a wheelchair.¡± Emma smirked. ¡°And what if I said I don¡¯t want it?¡± D¨¢nielle¡¯s smile vanished, her tone turning cold. ¡°So what now? You n on clinging to Ross for the rest of your life?¡± Emma let out a softugh. ¡°I always thought Ross would never let a woman get close to him. I¡¯ve seen so many women throw themselves at him, only to be ruthlessly turned away, myself included. I never imagined he¡¯d actually fall for you. ¡°Fine. If he loves you, then so be it. But I thought I would at least hold a ce in his heart. But how could he go an entire year without visiting me even once? ¡°Every time I called, it went straight to voicemail. He owes me his life. How could he treat me so coldly?¡± Danielle finally saw just how unhinged and obsessive Emma could be. She frowned, about to say something, when a dark figure suddenly appeared behind her. A hand mped over her mouth and nose, forcing her to inhale a drugged scent. Her vision blurred, and she copsed into unconsciousness. Meanwhile, at the airport, the police and Ross¡® men were already chasing Damon down. It didn¡¯t take long before they had Damon and his crew surrounded and arrested. Damon lookedpletely stunned. He hadn¡¯t expected the police to close in on him the moment he stepped off the ne. He had no idea that the police knew about his whereabouts all along. He cursed inwardly, ¡®Since when diding to Wallington for a business deal be this damn hard? Fuck this shit.¡® His confusion vanished the moment Ross stepped forward. Damon froze for a second, then bellowed, ¡°Cesar, you always ruin my ns!¡± Cesar was the name Ross used while he was abroad. Damon was cursing under his breath when Ross turned to him, his face cold as he snapped, ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Damon, still fuming, snapped back, ¡°I should be the one asking you that! What the hell does it have to do with you if Ie to Basterel? Why¡¯d you show up with a whole army of cops to arrest me?¡± AD Comment Nurse walking 558 It was a ssic diversion tactic, and Damon was nothing more than a pawn. But who was really behind this? Ross¡® suspicion fell on Emma. Without a word, he pulled out his phone and dialed Danielle again, but the line just kept ringing with no one answering on the other end. Pressing his lips together, Ross felt his heart sink, a suffocating heaviness crashing over him as if he were drowning. At that moment, his assistant hurried forward and reported, ¡°Mr. Jean, the bodyguard who was following Emma just reported that Dr. Shelly had gone missing, and her whereabouts are currently unknown.¡± Ross pressed, ¡°What about Emma?¡± ¡°The bodyguard found her passed out at the restroom entrance. He¡¯s rushing her to the hospital now.¡± The news of Danielle¡¯s disappearance plunged Ross into a despair even deeper than when Shermaine had gone missing as a child. This time, the terror was suffocating, wing at him from the inside. His mind screamed at him to stay calm, but emotionally, he couldn¡¯t obey. ¡®This is all my fault,¡® he thought bitterly. The thought of Danielle out there, helpless and possibly in danger, sent a cold chill down his spine. Everyone saw her as this invincible miracle worker in the operating room, but outside of that, she was soft, pampered, andpletely unguarded. She wasn¡¯t like Shermaine, who could fight back if someone tried to hurt her. Danielle wouldn¡¯t even know where to begin defending herself. Horrible images kept shing through his mind, each more unbearable than thest, with all the ways she could be hurt right now. His knuckles turned bone white, his whole body radiating a violent, barely contained rage. Even though Emma had been found unconscious, he didn¡¯t trust her for a second. She¡¯d already pulled off such an borate diversion, so she had to choose a far more subtle, foolproof way to clear her name. Ross¡® eyes were bloodshot. ¡°Find her! Mobilize everyone to search for her!¡± The police, having learned of Danielle¡¯s abduction, immediatelyunched a full¨Cscale search, tapping into the city¡¯s traffic surveince system to trace any possible lead. Wallington had already lost a brilliant doctor like Shermaine; they couldn¡¯t afford to lose Danielle too. Losing her would be a devastating blow to the nation¨Cone they simply couldn¡¯t bear. Ross immediately headed to the hospital. By the time he arrived, Emma was already awake. The room, however, was shrouded in darkness; not a single light was turned on. Standing by the bedside, Ross looked utterly terrifying in the dim glow. It was a stark contrast to the gentle, refined man he had always appeared to be. Beneath the nket, Emma¡¯s hand trembled ever so slightly, but she forced herself to look lost and fragile. ¡°Why¡­ why am I here¡­¡± she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. After a pause, as if the memory slowly came back to her, she continued to say, ¡°I remember it now. Ross, I was with Ms. Shelly in the restroom when a masked man suddenly showed up. ¡°He took her down before I could even react. I tried to fight him off, but I was too weak. I couldn¡¯t stop him. There was nothing I could do.¡± Then, she asked anxiously, ¡°Ross, what about Ms. Shelly? Is she okay? Did she get hurt?¡± If Shermaine had been there to see her act, she probably would¡¯ve stood up and apuded on the spot. Honestly, it was a tragedy Emma hadn¡¯t gone into acting. With a performance like this, she could¡¯ve been crowned the best actress without breaking a sweat. ¡°She¡¯s missing. We still don¡¯t know where she is,¡± Ross said coldly. ¡°What?¡± Emma¡¯s eyes widened in exaggerated shock. ¡°Ross, do you know who did this? Could it be Damon?¡± His gaze turned grave, ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb. You know exactly who¡¯s behind this.¡± Emma bit her lip. ¡°Ross, what are you saying? You think it was me?¡± Her voice cracked as if she might cry at any second. ¡°I know you¡¯re worried about Ms. Shelly, but how could you even suspect me? Is that really how you see me?¡± With tears in her eyes, she protested, ¡°If I were really that cruel and scheming, why would I have saved you back then? Why would I let myself end up like this?¡± But Ross didn¡¯t waver for a second. He stepped forward and, without warning, grabbed her by the throat. ¡°Drop the act. I know it was you. Tell me! Where is she?¡± Emma choked, eyes wide with panic,pletely unprepared for his sudden attack. The burning rage in his eyes and the crushing force of his hand made her genuinely believe she might die right there and then. She thought, ¡®Ross, I can¡¯t believe how ruthless you are. All this just to protect that damn Danielle? I literally saved your life! It¡¯s too bad because I¡¯m crazier than you can even imagine. I¡¯vee too far to let it all fall apart now!¡® Tears streamed down Emma¡¯s cheeks as she pleaded, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me. I swear, Ross, you have to believe me.¡± Ross felt a wave of disgust at her tearful act and abruptly released his grip on her. Just then, his phone rang. With a look of utter revulsion, he pulled out a handkerchief and meticulously wiped his hand repeatedly. Once he felt clean again, he finally picked up his phone. It was a call from Joshua, and Ross stepped out to answer it. On the other end, Joshua¡¯s voice was steady and reassuring. ¡°I heard what happened to Danielle, but don¡¯t lose your head. Before Sheary left, Danielle a tracker. I¡¯ve already told Sheary about it, so it won¡¯t take long before she brings Danielle back safely.¡± she gave Joshua¡¯s words finally managed to calm Ross down; he trusted Shermaine¡¯s abilitiespletely. Still, Ross couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Isn¡¯t Sheary all the way in Maple Leaf Ville? Can she really make it back in time?¡± ¡°She can,¡± Joshua assured him. Shermaine had taken both Apocalypse and her mecha jet to Maple Leaf Ville. If she could lock onto Danielle¡¯s location, getting back to rescue her would take only about ten minutes. Hence, Ross gave a soft hum in response. In Maple Leaf Ville, Shermaine learned from Joshua that Danielle had been drugged, taken away, and gone missing. With Danielle unconscious, there was no way for her to call for help. By a strange twist of fate, the same creep Shermaine had run into at Basterel University showed up at the restaurant where Danielle had been dining. After that, the man drove out of the city, and no one knew where he was headed. Shermaine had every reason to believe he was the one who had taken Danielle. It seemed Ross had been set up by Emma after all. Shermaine activated her mecha via her Orthish. Momentster, the mecha automatically hovered outside the building. From the second floor, she leapt straight into the cockpit, and in the blink of an eye, the mecha shot off like a meteor, disappearing into the night. Meanwhile, Danielle began to stir from unconsciousness. As she regained consciousness, she felt her head still spinning. Realizing her hands were tied, she jolted upright in panic. Danielle realized she was in a moving car. The man behind the wheel was driving recklessly, and she had no idea where he was taking her. At first, a wave of panic surged through her. But years of facing high¨Cpressure situations had trained her to stay calm. Despite the sedative still dulling her strength, she managed to speak, her voice soft and barely audible. ¡°Who are you? Where are you taking me?¡± But the driver remained silent, only stepping harder on the elerator as the car lurched forward at terrifying speed. The farther they drove, the more remote the surroundings became. Before long, he pulled off the main road and stopped in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nothing but deste wilderness. A small, dpidated wooden cabin stood before them. Once the car stopped, he dragged Danielle out of the car. Danielle staggered as he yanked her forward, nearly falling to the ground. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re in cahoots with Emma to bring me here. If it¡¯s money you want, let me go. I can pay you far more than whatever she¡¯s offering.¡± However, the man dragged her into the cabin and switched on a single light. The dim, yellow glow filled the room, casting long, distorted shadows against the walls. He ripped off his hat and mask, his voice low and rasping, dripping with malice. ¡°Dr. Shelly, I don¡¯t want your money. I just want Ross, that bastard who stole you from me, to suffer so badly he wishes he were dead.¡± Danielle finally saw his face. ¡°Jason? Why is it you?¡± AD Nurse walking 559 3730 Never in a million years did Danielle think that Jason, who had disappeared two years ago, would show up now and take her away to some remote ce The way Jason stared at her with that sickening obsession sent shivers of revulsion down her spine. With a cold look on her face, she said, ¡°Jason, what the hell happened to you in thest two years?¡± Jason¡¯s face contorted with rage. ¡°You really wanna know why I turned out like this, Dr. Shelly? Who do you think screwed up my life?¡± His eyes burned with venom. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Shermaine and Ross, my mother wouldn¡¯t be rotting in prison, my father wouldn¡¯t have abandoned me. and I wouldn¡¯t be crawling around in this nightmare of a life. ¡°Though I¡¯m bitter that Shermaine is dead,¡± he cackled maniacally, ¡°at least Ross is still around.¡± Danielle red at him furiously. ¡°So you took me away just to get back at Ross, is that it?¡± Jason crouched down, his eyes glinting with a sick, greedy hunger. ¡°Sure, part of this is revenge. But the real reason? You know it. I¡¯ve always wanted you. Always. And you never even gave me a second nce.¡± He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a twisted whisper. ¡°From now on, you¡¯re mine. You¡¯ll stay here with me. Just bear with it for a while, okay? Once! have money, I¡¯ll get you a big house and buy you pretty clothes.¡± Danielle sneered, ¡°In your dreams.¡± His face turned solemn in an instant. ¡°Dr. Shelly, don¡¯t push me. I don¡¯t want to hurt you,¡± he snapped, reaching for her face. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare touch me!¡± Danielle recoiled sharply. Jason could sense her revulsion. His voice was cold as he said, ¡°Oh, I¡¯m going to touch you. On top of that, I¡¯m going to take photos and videos, and send them straight to Ross. He¡¯ll get to enjoy every second.¡± Danielle felt so disgusted by him that she was literally sick to her stomach/She was terrified, her mind racing, wondering, ¡°What if Shermaine can¡¯t find me because I didn¡¯t activate the tracker?¡® She couldn¡¯t imagine spending another second trapped with Jason. She forced herself to speak calmly. ¡°These ropes are cutting into my wrists. Can you untie me?¡± Jason remained silent, so Danielle said again, ¡°I¡¯m so weak right now. Do you really think I could escape?¡± Jason mulled it over for a moment before untying the ropes that bound her hands. As Jason leaned in, he caught her scent and his eyes lit up with a sick delight. Twirling a strand of Danielle¡¯s hair, he breathed out, ¡°Oh dear, you smell incredible, Dr. Shelly.¡± Danielle¡¯s scalp prickled with disgust. She had to stall, keep him talking, anything to keep his hands off her. She forced a mockingugh. ¡°Oh, is this what you call love?¡± Jason said, ¡°Dr. Shelly, don¡¯t take it the wrong way.¡± ¡®You¡¯re out of your damn mind,¡® Danielle cursed silently, fighting the urge to throw up everything she¡¯d ever eaten. Then, she scoffed, ¡°You really think this is going to hurt Ross?¡± Jason sneered, ¡°Of course, it can. You¡¯re his lover, aren¡¯t you? He love s you so much. Just imagine how furious he¡¯ll be when he sees you ruined by me.¡± The thought alone made Jason giddy. His lips curled into an excited, manic grin as he rummaged through a ck bag in the corner, pulling out a camcorder and setting it up on a tripod. Meanwhile, Danielle¡¯s fingers shot to her ne. She tapped it three times, fast and firm. At that exact moment, Shermaine¡¯s Orthish lit up, picking up the emergency signal instantly. ¡®Exactly what I expected,¡® Shermaine thought grimly, her eyes locking onto the exact coordinates. Back in the cabin, Jason finished adjusting the camera and started the recording. He stepped toward Danielle, grabbing her roughly and dragging her toward the small, broken¨Cdown cot. ¡°Dr. Shelly, I¡¯m just as good as Ross. Maybe even better.¡± Danielle finally lost it. ¡°You sick bastard! Who the hell do you think you are, putting yourself on Ross¡® level? I might let him push me around, but you? You¡¯re not even worth the dirt on his shoes. ¡°I used to think you were at least somewhat human, but damn, was I wrong. You¡¯re nothing but a parasite. Your mom? She was a homewrecker, and you¡¯re trying to defend her? ¡°She didn¡¯t just wreck a marriage¡ªshe tried to crawl her way into the family, shove out the real wife, and steal everything that belonged to Ross and Shermaine. And you stand here acting like you¡¯re justified? You¡¯re pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. ¡°You brought this on yourselves! I¡¯m warning you¨Cif you dare touch me tonight, I¡¯ll bite my tongue off and kill myself. Fuck you. Get the fuck out!¡± Danielle had never cursed her entire life, but right now, she just couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore. It was the only way to let out the pure, nauseating disgust churning in her gut. ¡®If I had even a shred of strength left, I¡¯d drag this bastard down to hell with me,¡® she thought, trembling. Even after cursing him out, she still wanted to scream at him, but her head was spinning¨Cshe needed to catch her breath before round two. Jason¡¯s face turned livid at her insults. He lunged at Danielle, intent on overpowering her. Snarling, he said, ¡°Dr. Shelly, congrattions. You¡¯ve officially pissed me off. Now I¡¯ll show you exactly what happens when you cross me.¡± Jason shoved Danielle to the ground, making her foot throb with pain from the impact. He was about to pin her down when suddenly, a redser dot flickered across the room. A secondter, a bullet ripped right through the door. Jason didn¡¯t even see iting. The shot tore right into his old injury, and the pain hit him like a freight train, knocking the air out of his lungs and leaving him writhing in shock. His face went pale in an instant as he wondered, ¡®How the hell could anyone find this ce? There isn¡¯t even any signal out here. Who is it? And how did theye so quickly?¡± Rage twisted across Jason¡¯s face, his expression turning into a savage, feral snarl. Danielle¡¯s face lit up with wild relief and triumph. ¡°You¡¯re finished. Sheary¡¯s here!¡± At that name, Jason¡¯s entire body jolted, his pupils blown wide in shock. ¡°Shermaine? Isn¡¯t she dead?¡± Danielle let out a sharp, mockingugh. ¡°Dead? Please. You¡¯re the dead one, and your whole damn family too! Sheary¡¯s perfectly fine.¡± Jason refused to ept it. But the moment the bullet tore into his body, his mind shed back to that woman in the underground parking lot at Basterel University. ¡®No wonder she felt so familiar. So that woman was Shermaine all along?¡® he thought. The next second, Shermaine kicked the door down and burst in. Jason¡¯s eyes locked on her weapon, his face a mix of terror and rage. ¡°Shermaine, so it was you. I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re alive.¡± What a sick joke that life yed on him. When he heard Shermaine was dead, he was over the moon¨Csure, there was a tinge of regret that he couldn¡¯t exact revenge himself, but mostly, he was just thrilled. But now, he found out Shermaine was alive, and she¡¯d even managed to track him down to this godforsaken ce. Shermaine arched a brow. ¡°Seems like you¡¯re real pissed I¡¯m not dead.¡± 1 Jason¡¯s face contorted in shock and rage. ¡°So it was you at Basterel University that time too!¡± ¡°Damn right it was me,¡± Shermaine confirmed. Suddenly, ck scales began crawling across Jason¡¯s skin, creeping up his face as his entire body contorted and mutated into something grotesque Shermaine warned, ¡°Danielle, get away from him!¡± Danielle scrambled off the bed, hugging the wall as she sprinted to Shermaine¡¯s side- and in the very next heartbeat, Jason transformed into a full- blown monster. His transformation bore some resemnce to Natalie¡¯s earlier state, but his hulking frame dwarfed hers. His legs had morphed into a massive serpent¡¯s tail¨Clong, sinuous, and utterly terrifying. Danielle nearly jumped out of her skin. She thought, ¡®What the hell did Jason do to himself? This freakish half¨Chuman, half¨Cbeast form is straight¨Cup nightmare fuel. She gulped, her voice trembling. ¡°Sheary, do you really think you can take him down?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a piece of cake,¡± Shermaine smirked. ¡°Hop on this cool ride with me. We¡¯re gonna have a st kicking his ass.¡± In the next instant, a massive mecha mmed down from the sky, crushing the entire wooden shack in one fell swoop. Shermaine grabbed Danielle¡¯s hand and pulled her toward the cockpit. It was only then that Danielle finally put it all together that Shermaine wasn¡¯t just any fighter. She was that superhero, the one all over the inte, the so¨Ccalled ¡°Iron Man¡± everyone couldn¡¯t stop talking about. AD Nurse walking 560 Chapter 560 The cockpit was way more advanced than Danielle had imagined. She settled into a side seat, and the harness automatically clicked shut around her. Shermaine synced their visual feeds, and Danielle¡¯s vision instantly expanded, panoramic and sharp. The second she saw Jason in front of them, she felt a rush of pure rage. ¡®God, he¡¯s hideous. I just want to stomp his face in,¡® she thought. Almost as if reading her mind, Shermaineunched forward and delivered a crushing kick. Jason felt the mecha¡¯s overwhelming force bearing down on him. Before he could react, a brutal kick sent him flying over twenty feet through the air. A sword glimmering with faint blue light materialized in the mecha¡¯s palm. Jets roared underfoot as Shermaine sted forward, closing the gap in the blink of an eye. Shermaine treated Jason like a ser ball, kicking him up, down, and back and forth at blinding speed. Jason couldn¡¯t even react, let alone fight back. Danielle found the rapid perspective shifts disorienting¨Cher head was spinning. But being fully immersed in the action, it felt like she was the one delivering the blows. ¡®This feels fucking awesome,¡® she thought, utterly exhrated. Jason barely caught sight of the mecha¡¯s silhouette and, with a desperatesh of his serpent tail, swept it across the ground. The strike kicked up a storm of sand and gravel. Shermaine¡¯s instant counter was a powerful de cleave. The sheer disparity in strength saw the entire tail severed clean off, and in an instant, blood burst out like a fountain. Jason¡¯s scream tore through the deste wilderness, echoing in the night and making the whole scene even more chilling, Above him, Shermaine hovered like an executioner in the sky. Jason crumpled to the ground, his monstrous half¨Cserpent form fading away until he was fully human again, except now, his legs were gone. In that serpent state, his tail scales were supposed to be imprable, strong enough to shrug off any de or bullet. But that single strike had ripped through him like paper, and the pain was so intense it almost split his mind. Blood gushed endlessly from where his legs used to be, pooling around him in a grotesque fountain. Anyone else would¡¯ve gagged at the sight. But Shermaine and Danielle, both trained in medicine and used to dissecting cadavers, barely flinched. Danielle felt nothing but deep, visceral satisfaction. She thought, ¡®Normally, I¡¯m a softie, and I¡¯d pity anyone groveling on the ground like this. But him? I don¡¯t feel a damn thing except relief.! Jason had warped himself into something monstrous, an abomination against nature itself. And all because he¡¯d let hatred consume him, refusing to wake up from his obsession. The injuries were so severe that his legs would never regenerate. As Shermaine¡¯s mecha stomped closer, raw terror gripped Jason¡¯s eyes. Reduced to a pathetic, crawling insect, he dragged himself forward inch by inch, desperately trying to flee the inevitable. Shermaine didn¡¯t show him any mercy and stepped on him, pinning him to the ground. Her voice travelled from inside the mecha. ¡°You¡¯re so terrified of dying. How did you have no problem destroying yourself from the inside out?¡± At her words, a deep, primal fear wed up Jason¡¯s spine. Before him, Shermaine loomed like a deity, delivering divine judgment on the monster he had be. She stood above, untouchable, while he crawled in the dirt below. From the start, he¡¯d gnty ever been able to look up at her. Jason roared, his voice seething with hatred, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t be in this wretched state! Weren¡¯t you supposed to be dead? Why the hell aren¡¯t you dead already?¡± His fingernails dug so deeply into the ground that they nearly ripped off. Shermaine said coolly, ¡°How naive. How could you believe those baseless rumors?¡± Danielle chimed in yfully, ¡°Exactly.¡± K77371 Jason¡¯s face spasmed, his entire body shaking violently. He tried to spit out another curse, but instead, rage overwhelmed him, and he hacked up another mouthful of blood. Shermaine¡¯s eyes stayed as cold as a winter de. ¡°Two years, and you¡¯ve learned absolutely nothing.¡± Her sword gleamed with a sharp, biting chill as she lifted it slightly. ¡°The Jean family has never owed you a damn thing.¡± Blood kept pouring from Jason¡¯s mouth, but he only sneered. Deep down, he knew the truth¨Che had always known. Yet he refused to ept it. The Jean family didn¡¯t owe him a thing. Still, he couldn¡¯t stop hating them. He hated his own wretched fate, and he hated Shermaine, It was only natural that people envied her. She was that rare kind of brilliance that blinded everyone around her, a dazzling star no one could touch. It was as if she¡¯d been born to stand above the rest of the world. It was as if she were heaven¡¯s chosen favorite, untouchable and perfect in every way. A bitterugh escaped him as despair washed over his eyes. ¡°Go on,¡± he rasped, his voice barely a whisper. ¡°Finish it. Kill me.¡± Shermaine slid her sword back into its sheath and said coldly, ¡°You won¡¯t survive the night.¡± His HP was dropping fast; it wouldn¡¯t be long before this ce became his grave. ¡°If it hurts too much, do yourself a favor and end it.¡± Above them, moonlight spilled like silver, and a biting wind cut through the dark. Jason crawled desperately toward the wooden cabin. The next moment, mes roared to life, devouring the old structure in a raging inferno. In the distance, the sound of an approaching car broke the heavy silence. Ross had finally arrived. Shermaine let Danielle out of the mecha¡¯s cockpit and helped her down, knowing Ross must be out of his mind with worry by now. Sure enough, Ross¡® face was etched with panic as he rushed over and swept Danielle into his arms, holding her as though he¡¯d just reimed a lost treasure. He asked tenderly, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Danielle shook her head, snuggled into his arms. Leaning close to his ear, she whispered yfully, ¡°Ross, Sheary is incredible.¡± Ross let out a soft breath, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. ¡°Yeah. Thankfully, Sheary¡¯s here. Otherwise, I would¡¯ve lost you.¡± ¡°Never gonna happen.¡± Danielle smiled. The truth was, if not for Shermaine¡¯s presence, Danielle wouldn¡¯t have dared provoke Jason the way she had. She would have endured everything quietly, buying time until Ross came for her. Danielle grinned and teased, ¡°Ross, shouldn¡¯t you be the oneforting me? How did we end up with the roles reversed?¡± Ross didn¡¯t bother to reply. Instead, he lowered his head, found her lips, and kissed her deeply. Danielle¡¯s cheeks turned bright red, and she thought, ¡®Sheary is still here¡­ and the driver too! How could he just kiss her like this?¡® Her body was still weak from the sedative; she had no strength to push him away, even if she¡¯d wanted to. Though if she was honest with herself, she didn¡¯t really want to resist at all. Jason might not haveid a hand on her, but his filthy words had still left her feeling tainted, sickened to her core. She needed Ross to wash all that filth away, to cleanse her soul. Lost in that moment, she wrapped her arms around his neck, and the two deepened their kiss. After what felt like ages, Shermaine climbed out of the mecha and cleared her throat. Only then did Danielle snap out of it and hurriedly push Ross away. Ross didn¡¯t seem to mind Shermaine¡¯s presence at all, showing not the slightest bit of embarrassment. He took out a handkerchief and gently dabbed the lingering moisture from Danielle¡¯s lips. Shermaine didn¡¯t tease them. She had, after all, been a little toote for levity. Danielle was still somewhat shaken by the ordeal, and only Boss could trulyfort her. Later, Ross turned to Shermaine and said softly, ¡°Sheary, thanks a lot.¡± Shermaine smiled and said, ¡°We¡¯re family. That¡¯s no biggie.¡± Then, she checked the time. ¡°I won¡¯t be heading back with you guys. I left without saying goodbye to Grandma and Owen, so I should head back now.¡± Ross asked, ¡°You¡¯re noting with us to meet Joshua?¡± She hadn¡¯t seen him in days¨Cof course, she missed him, but she could hold out. Shermaine paused for a moment, then said with a yful smile, ¡°We¡¯re basically like an old married couple now. We video chat every day, so I¡¯m not going back.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Ross said, his eyes softening as he affectionately ruffled Shermaine¡¯s hair. ¡°Please tell Grandma and Grandpa Owen I said hello.¡± Shermaine gave a slight nod, then returned to the mecha¡¯s cockpit. With a roar of thrusters, she piloted the machine away, her silhouette quickly disappearing into the night. Meanwhile, Ross¡® assistant could barely contain his excitement when he saw the mecha up close. He thought, ¡®No way. I saw the news about that ne crash and the mysterious hero who saved everyone. ¡®I never imagined that a real¨Clife superhero would turn out to be Shermaine, the legendary genius from Wallington, and Mr. Jean¡¯s sister.¡± AD Nurse walking 561 Chapter 561 As for Emma, Ross could handle her on her own. There was no need for Shermaine to step in. After Shermaine left, Ross wrapped an arm around Danielle, hustled her into the car, and wasted no time getting out of this godforsaken wilderness. The ce waspletely deserted, so empty that even if it burned to the ground, no one would ever notice. Back in Basterel, the car rolled up to an opulent mansion, its grand gates opening slowly to let them in. They drove leisurely down the long, winding driveway for several minutes before finally stopping in front of the main house. Sleek luxury cars lined both sides, gleaming under the lights. Bradley found an open space, parked, and stepped out without a word. Joshua, however, wasn¡¯t in a hurry. He checked his watch and called Shermaine. ¡°Sheary, is everything settled?¡± Shermaine switched her mecha to autopilot mode and replied, ¡°All settled. I¡¯m heading back to Maple Leaf Ville now.¡± Upon hearing this, Joshua fell silent for a moment. Then, with a hint of disappointment in his voice, he asked, ¡°Sheary, aren¡¯t youing back to see me?¡± He figured that since his sweetheart was back in Basterel, she¡¯d at leaste see him. But no¨Cshe just wrapped things up and left without a word. Shermaine studied his face on the screen. Even in the dim light, he looked ridiculously handsome, though right now, there was a stormy, brooding edge to him. She tilted her head slightly and asked, ¡°Mr. York, are you upset?¡± Joshua pouted. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be?¡± Shermaine teased. ¡°What¡¯s got you so upset?¡± ¡°You came back and didn¡¯t even bother to see me,¡± Joshua said slowly, each word heavy, his throat tightening as he gulped. After a pause, he added, ¡°Sheary, it¡¯s been days since west saw each other. I¡¯ve missed you.¡± Shermaine smirked. ¡°Oh, please. We literally FaceTime every day.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the same.¡± Ever since he got back, he felt strangely ignored. Shermaine just rolled her eyes. ¡°Mr. York, rx. We¡¯re basically an old married couple by now. Not seeing each other for a week or two is normal. Besides, don¡¯t you have that fancy party tonight? Go handle it. I¡¯m hanging up.¡± Joshua pressed his lips, thinking, ¡®If Sheary were here, I¡¯d grab her and remind her exactly how much she¡¯s been missed.¡® Outside the car, Bradley waited patiently until Joshua finally stepped out of the car. He had been working for Joshua for years, and even after those two missing years, he knew exactly when his boss was in a mood. And right now, Joshua was definitely in a sulky mood. It wasn¡¯t obvious to most, but Bradley could read him like a book. He wondered, ¡®Wasn¡¯t he on a call with Mrs. York? Did they fight? That¡¯s new.¡® However, the truth was even simpler, and almost funny. The famously stoic,posed Joshua was sulking like a kid, all because his wife didn¡¯te home to see him. Inside the mansion, it was a scene of pure decadence¨Cchampagne flowed freely, beautiful women drifted among the guests, and sultry music set a heady, flirtatious mood. Young heirs from Basterel¡¯s elite circles lounged with women draped on either arm, while others sshed around the pool with bikini¨Cd beauties, withughter echoing through the night. It was a world drenched in luxury and excess, a true yground of indulgence. Raymond raised his ss and clinked it againstn¡¯s, shing a slick grin. ¡°So, what do you think? Enjoying the party so far?¡± Raymond grinned smugly and said, ¡°I¡¯ve got something even better in store. Since you¡¯re such a big fan of that A¨Clist celebrity who¡¯s all the rage in our country, I invited her over tonight.¡± As his entourage parted behind him, Michelle stepped into view. Michelle clearly hadn¡¯te willingly¨Cher expression tight with displeasure. Yet tonight, she was dressed to kill in a sizzling red dress that entuated her curves and left little to the imagination. Raymond patted Michelle on the shoulder with a sly grin and said, ¡°Make sure Mr. Reagan is thoroughly entertained. If you can get him to sign with Kennedy Corporations, you¡¯ll be well¨Crewarded.¡± For Michelle, this was a disaster she never sawing. Though she was famous, shecked powerful industry connections. When a behemoth like the Kennedy family decided to use her as nothing more than a pawn, she had no way to fight back. Michelle stood in her spot, refusing to move, until Raymond roughly shoved her forward, sending her stumbling right inton¡¯s arms. She wasn¡¯t some prude, but standing in front of these men, being treated like a disposable toy, was beyond humiliating. Her pride made it impossible for her to give in. Men loved the thrill of a challenge. Watching Michelle fight back only maden grin wider. ¡°Stop struggling, sweetheart. Behave now, and I¡¯ll be gentle Seething with anger, Michelle swung her hand and ppedn hard across the face. Enraged by the p,n seized her wrist, yanked her hair back, and crushed his lips against hers. Raymond barely batted an eye at the scene, simply ordering someone to fetch the contract. ¡®Better lock in that signature now,¡® he thought coolly. ¡®Can¡¯t let him enjoy the girl and then suddenly change his mind afterward¨Cthat¡¯d be a whole new headache I don¡¯t need.¡® Michelle had been sprayed with some potent aphrodisiac perfume, andn was already half¨Cferal. All he could think of was surrendering to his most primal urges. Raymond said with a sly smile, ¡°Mr. Reagan, we¡¯ve got a room ready for you. But before you enjoy some private time with this beauty, how about we get that contract signed first?¡± Panting,n demanded, ¡°Give me the pen.¡± Raymond wasted no time, quickly handing over a sleek fountain pen. But beforen could touch it, Michelle shoved him away with all her strength and bolted for the door without a backward nce. Upon seeing this, Raymond barked, ¡°Don¡¯t let her escape. Get her back here!¡± The bodyguards immediately went after her. Michelle sprinted as fast as she could, her heart hammering in her chest. But suddenly, she stumbled, crashing to her knees. Suddenly, a pair of polished leather shoes appeared right in front of her. Michelle looked up, her breath catching in her throat as shock shed in her eyes. She certainly hadn¡¯t expected to run into Joshua here. She thought to herself, ¡®Wait, wasn¡¯t he supposed to be dead? I guess that was just a rumor after all.¡® Michelle had seen his feature in a business magazine two years ago, and even then, she thought he was absolute perfection. The gold¨Crimmed sses 09:47 Mon, 21 Jul G RD. gave him a refined, intellectual air, but beneath it, there was a quiet, smoldering restraint that made him impossibly irresistible. Time seemed to have skipped right over him. His smooth, chiseled face was wless, his tie perfectly knotted, and every detail about him was immacte. With his hands casually tucked into his pockets, he stood there towering over her, his gaze cool and aloof. Joshua was looking at her. Meanwhile, she clutched her dress, frozen and stiff in her spot. On the other hand, gasps erupted around them. ¡°That¡¯s Mr. York!¡± 73%0 ¡°Wait, wasn¡¯t he supposed to be dead?¡± ¡°Damn, so it really was just a rumor.¡± When Raymond saw Joshua, he nearly dropped the fountain pen in his hand. A sudden, inexplicable panic gripped him. After all, it was terrifying that after two years, the ¡°dead¡± Joshua suddenly appeared at his party. By tomorrow morning, word of Joshua¡¯s return would likely spread like wildfire through the elite circles. Raymond broke out in a cold sweat. Meanwhile, Joshua didn¡¯t even spare Michelle another nce as he brushed past her and kept walking, leaving her with a pang of disappointment. Bradley, however, crouched down and offered Michelle a hand. Rising to her feet, she said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Bradley wasn¡¯t interested in her¨Che was simply being a gentleman. As for Joshua, he would never help her up. He hadn¡¯t before, and he certainly wouldn¡¯t now. After all, a true gentleman remained aloof to all, except his wife. Meanwhile, inside her mecha cockpit, Shermaine recalled the obvious displeasure on Joshua¡¯s face before she cut the call. After a quick moment of deliberation, she figured she might as well go back and coax him. She didn¡¯t think twice. With a swift turn, her mecha reversed course and shot back. At that moment, Joshua strode right up to Raymond. Raymond forced a shaky smile. ¡°Mr. York, it¡¯s been ages. Where have you been hiding these past two years?¡± Joshua replied impassively, ¡°I just spent a couple of years recovering from a minor ident. Anyway, don¡¯t let me interrupt your business talk, Mr. Kennedy. I¡¯m just here to look around.¡± ¡®Look around? Who is he kidding?¡® Raymond thought, knowing perfectly well Joshua was here to put him in his ce. Joshua gaven a polite nod but didn¡¯t bother with a handshake. Instead, he asked casually, ¡°Mr. Reagan, how¡¯s your father doing these days?¡± Joshua gave a faint hum. ¡°That¡¯s good. I¡¯ll drop by and catch up with him sometime.¡± He inwardly cursed himself for letting loose tonight. If word got back to his father, he¡¯d be in deep trouble. Luckily, the contract hadn¡¯t been finalized yet -otherwise, he¡¯d be doomed. Trying to salvage the moment,n forced a smile. ¡°It¡¯s pretty noisy here tonight, Mr. York. Perhaps we can find a quieter ce to discuss the contract renewal another day?¡± Joshua said coolly, ¡°My assistant will handle it.¡± 77351 Raymond¡¯s face turned ashen. The sure¨Cwin deal he had in hand slipped right through his fingers. With Joshua in the room, nobody dared to get too wild anymore. The women might have been restless and eager, but with Joshua still alive, it meant Shermaine was too boldest of them in check. and that alone was enough to keep even the After all, a big shot like Shermaine was not someone they could afford to trifle with. Sensing the shift in the atmosphere,n didn¡¯t stick around. He didn¡¯t even bother exchanging pleasantries with Raymond before turning on his heel and leaving without a backward nce. Joshua, however, wasn¡¯t in a hurry to leave. Since he was already here, he figured he might as well enjoy a few sses of the good wing¨Cit would¡¯ve been a waste otherwise. It wasn¡¯t like Shermaine was waiting for him at home, so he¡¯d return to an empty bed anyway. Raymond could only grit his teeth and roll out his finest vintages, not daring to show the slightest displeasure. The night dragged on into the wee hours. Joshua eventually put down his ss, still feeling utterly bored. With a curt call to Bradley, he stood up and left without another word. As Joshua reached the front door, someone suddenly called out, ¡°Mr. York.¡± Joshua turned around and saw Michelle step forward before she asked, ¡°Mr. York, would you mind giving me a ride?¡± AD Nurse walking 562 The moment the words left her lips, her heart hammered against her ribs. She tilted her head up, proudly disying what she believed to be a heavenly beautiful face¨Cor rather, the very face that had earned her the nickname ¡°Little Shermaine.¡± Michelle hated that nickname. But ever since people started calling her that, her career in the entertainment industry had taken off like wildfire. Even when shended herself in trouble, there was always someone willing to lend a hand, simply because she looked so much like Shermaine. Yet, despite the resemnce, Michelle¡¯s aura waspletely different. Having studied music, she carried an ethereal, almost untouchable air, It was her first time meeting Joshua in person today, and she couldn¡¯t stop her heart from thumping wildly in her chest for him. She knew all too well that a man like Joshua was out of her reach. He was married, and the wedding band on his finger was all the proof she needed. But now that fate had put them in the same ce, she thought, ¡®Why not be a little greedy? Why don¡¯t I seize this moment and try to get a bit closer to him, even if just for tonight?¡® In the entertainment industry, nights like this were bound to happen again in the future. Michelle liked to think of herself as a rare exception in this world ¡ªa breath of fresh air who had somehow managed to hold on to her virtue. ¡®So many men desire me,¡® she thought. ¡®But if I could give my first time to the one man I truly want, I wouldn¡¯t have any regrets. Bradley nearly choked, thinking, ¡®Is she out of her mind? She wants to hitch a ride with Mr. York? Does she really not know how strict he is about keeping his distance, especially now that he¡¯s married?¡® Bradley figured this whole ¡°hitching a ride¡± stunt was just her tant attempt to flirt¨Cshe definitely had that intention, at least a little. Michelle noticed that Joshua¡¯s expression hadn¡¯t changed one bit since the beginning. When his deep¨Cset eyesnded on her, they held an endless chill that was downright suffocating. Michelle was terrified, even wanting to turn and run. But she had already spoken. Biting her lip, she pleaded, ¡°Mr. York, I didn¡¯te here willingly tonight. And if I don¡¯t leave soon, Raymond might not let me off the hook.¡± After all, she was one of those people who had ruined his ns tonight. She had no choice but to lean on that excuse, but in truth, though, her assistant was already outside waiting to drive her home. ¡°Take me with you, and I¡¯ll owe you a favor. If you ever need anything in the future, just let me know,¡± Michelle said. Bradley stole a risky nce at Joshua¡¯s expression. The man, already in a foul mood, now looked like a stormy sky, with dark clouds gathering, ready to unleash a raging tempest. Bradley scoffed inwardly, ¡®Ms. Aniston, did you really think tonight was some kind of romantic chance encounter? Sure, maybe it started off like the heroine bumping into her knight in shining armor, but you¡¯re really overthinking this. ¡®You¡¯re not the heroine here. You¡¯re just an unremarkable supporting character.¡¯ From the shadows, Shermaine hade looking for Joshua, only to find a woman chattering away at him nonstop. In an instant, she picked up that this woman was trying to make a move on her man, and she was currently in action. Shermaine thought, ¡®Oh? At certain angles, she really does look a bit like me!¡® Leaning casually against a nearby car, she watched the scene unfold as though she were enjoying a private show. Finally, Joshua said calmly, ¡°That eye shape doesn¡¯t suit you at all.¡± Michelle gripped her skirt even tighter, her knuckles turning white at this point. Then, Joshua continued to say, ¡°You¡¯re nothing like her. Anyone who says otherwise must be blind.¡± Bradley stood frozen for a moment. He¡¯d just said something simr earlier, and now, he felt like he was being called out for it. Joshua nced at him. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see this kind of nonsense online agairt. Deal with it.¡± ¡°Got it, Mr. York,¡± Bradley replied. Without sparing Michelle another look, Joshua turned and strode straight toward the car. Michelle looked as if she¡¯d been struck by a heavy blow, her face drained of all color. ¡®Honestly, if she hadn¡¯t pulled this ride¨Chitching charade today, Mr. York wouldn¡¯t have spared her a second nce. Now look, she¡¯d gotten more than she bargained for,¡® Bradley thought, feeling no sympathy whatsoever for her. Then, he said, ¡°Ms. Aniston, you heard what Mr. York said. Would you like to find a stic surgeon yourself, or shall I rmend one for you?¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll contact one myself,¡± Michelle stammered, her lips trembling. She had never imagined he could be so cold, so merciless. She watched his silhouette disappear into the night, his posture straight and powerful. Just the sight of his retreating figure was enough to make her lose herselfpletely. However, he suddenly froze in his tracks¨Conly to pick up his pace a momentter. In front of his sleek ck Rolls¨CRoyce, a woman was leaning casually against the hood. Her beauty was like a bewitching rose blooming in the dark night¨Cstrikingly gorgeous, dangerously alluring, yet undeniably regal. The woman was Shermaine without a doubt. For some reason, seeing the legendary Shermaine in person suddenly made Michelle feel utterly insignificant. She thought, ¡®So I really look nothing like her at all.¡® Joshua didn¡¯t hesitate for a second. He strode up, yanked Shermaine into his arms, tilted her chin up, and crashed his lips down on hers in a fierce, almost punishing kiss. Needless to say, it was a rough kiss. With her hands resting on his shoulders, Shermaine could feel the fierce intensity of Joshua¡¯s grip and his bruising, possessive kisses. She thought, ¡®It seems that my Mr. York is truly mad, but I think he misses me, not just a little, though.¡¯ His palm cupped her waist, the heat seeping through the fabric. Then, he pulled her even tighter against him, demanding she feel the full force of his desire. Watching from a distance, Michelle felt her face burn and her heart race uncontrobly. But more than anything, she was shocked to see that this cold, ruthless man could be someone entirely different when he was with Shermaine. Their lips finally parted, though the air between them still crackled with heat. Shermaine¡¯s lips were still tingling from his fierce kiss. She teased. ¡°Mr. York, what¡¯s gotten into you? Jumping me like that right out of the gate?¡± Joshua gave her another yful nip, his voice a seductive rasp as he said, ¡°Sheary, aren¡¯t you here to make it up to me?¡± Shermaine feigned indifference. ¡°Nope.¡± His gaze turned solemn. ¡°Sheary, cheer me up. I¡¯m still upset.¡± With a yful smile, Sherma?ne teased. ¡°So, how exactly do you want me to cheer you up?¡± After a moment¡¯s thought, Joshua replied, ¡°Let¡¯s go back to Riverswood Vi first¨Cthen we¡¯ll talk.¡± Meanwhile, at a hotel across town, Emmay in bed, wide awake. She couldn¡¯t sleep¨Cnot after what she¡¯d done, not with suspicion already hanging over her like a de. 1 09.47 Mon, 21 After some thought, she pulled out her phone and stared at Ross¡® name on the screen, her finger hovering over it in hesitation. Elsewhere, Ross had already brought Danielle back to the apartment they often stayed at together Once inside, Danielle immediatelytched onto him like a ko, her limbs wrapped tightly around him in unabashed affection, bold and unreserved. ¡°Ross, hurry up and help me!¡± Danielle whined in a sweet, pouty voice. ¡°Just thinking about what Jason said makes me feel all gross.¡± Ross held her firmly by the hips, every muscle in his body coiled with tension. Her words wed at than he cared to admit. his chest, squeezing his heart in a way that hurt more He leaned in, brushing a slow, burning kiss against her earlobe and murmured hoarsely, ¡°Don¡¯t think about any of that. Just listen to me, His usually cool voice now carried a husky edge, tinged with unmistakable desire, making him sound utterly captivating. Danielle.¡± Danielle wrapped her legs around him even tighter and murmured coquettishly, ¡°Mmm. I want to take a shower.¡± Carrying Danielle in his arms, Ross strode right into the bathroom. Soon, his suit jacket slid off, falling to the floor without a sound. Danielle sat on the vanity, biting her lip, her gaze growing increasingly intense with desire. Ross showered kisses along her corbone, devoting himself entirely to her pleasure. s, the moment was ruined by his ringing phone. Danielle¡¯sshes fluttered as she breathed out, ¡°Ross, your phone¡¯s ringing.¡± ¡°Ignore it,¡± Ross murmured, sliding his hand up her skirt. Yet the damn phone wouldn¡¯t stop ringing. Danielle tugged at his tie, pouting, ¡°That¡¯s so annoying. Just go check it!¡± Reluctantly, Ross pulled away from her and went to grab his phone, only to see that it was a call from Emma. AD Comment Nurse walking 563 Chapter 563 Ross¡® face darkened the moment he saw Emma¡¯s name shing on the screen. Danielle nudged his waist with her foot. ¡°Who is it?¡± He turned to her, still holding the phone. ¡°Emma.¡± At the sound of that name, Danielle¡¯s mood immediately soured. ¡°Give me the phone.¡± Ross had been nning to deal with Emma properly tomorrow. Tonight, his priority was Danielle. Thest thing he wanted was to leave a rift between them over this. ¡°Just ignore her, alright?¡± he said gently. Danielle smirked. ¡°You really don¡¯t get it. If she hears me answering your call, what do you think she¡¯s gonna do?¡± Ross couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Go ahead then.¡± Danielle leaned her head on his shoulder and hit the answer button. Emma¡¯s voice came through right away, anxious and pleading. ¡°Ross, I swear I had nothing to do with what happened to Ms. Shelly. You have to believe me. I had no idea any of that would happen.¡± She paused, sounding on the verge of tears. ¡°I¡¯m so worried about her. Do you have any news? Is she okay?¡± Danielle rolled her eyes. Just then, Ross pinched her waist, fingers trailing with the confidence of someone who knew exactly where he was going. She jolted slightly, almost letting a sound slip. Emma must have heard nothing but Ross¡® heavier breathing on the other end. Confused, she asked, ¡°Ross? Are you alright?¡± Danielle answered for him, her tone deliberately sweet. ¡°He¡¯s doing just fine.¡± Emma froze. The voice on the line wasn¡¯t Ross¡®. Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes widened in disbelief. Danielle wanted to sound more menacing, but her voice betrayed her calm. ¡°Ms. Hond,¡± she said coolly, ¡°thank you so much for your concern. As for what happened tonight¡­ we¡¯ll be seeing you tomorrow to settle things properly.¡± And with that, she hung up. Emma sat there, stunned. Her rage quickly dissolved into panic. Jason was supposed to have taken Danielle out of the city. She never thought Danielle would be found so quickly. Everything had gone ording to n. It was airtight. So where had it all gone wrong? Outside, the night was thick and still. For the first time, she was afraid of what tomorrow would bring. In the bathroom, Danielle gave Ross a yful punch. ¡°Out. I¡¯m taking a shower.¡± Ross leaned against the doorframe with a grin. ¡°Toote. I¡¯m already in. Let¡¯s just shower together.¡± After returning from the Kingdom of Xyperia, Shermaine and Joshua came back to Riverswood Vi for the first time in a while. Chapter 563 The lights were on, casting a warm glow through the familiar space. It had been a long time since they¡¯d stayed there, but nothing about the ce left- distant or unfamiliar. Instead, it felt likeing home. Shermaine picked up Joshua¡¯s phone and called Owen. When he heard she was back in Basterel with Joshua, he said warmly, ¡°Alright, got it. I¡¯ll let your grandmother know. You two just enjoy your evening. Have some quality time together. Gracie is in good hands with us. I¡¯ll leave you to it.¡± And just like that, the call ended. Shermaine let out a helpless littleugh. Owen hadn¡¯t said anything outright, but it was painfully obvious that he was already dreaming about grandchild number two. She set the phone down. From the bathroom came the sound of running water. Joshua was in the shower now. She had showered first and was now lying on the bed in her bathrobe, chin propped on her hand, waiting. Ten minutester, Joshua stepped out, wearing a ck silk robe, his hair still dripping wet. Shermaine watched him, eyes gleaming with amusement. ¡°So tell me, darling. How exactly should I cheer you up?¡± The most straightforward approach would¡¯ve been to just pull him into bed, but judging by the look on his face, that wasn¡¯t what he had in mind. She¡¯d even considered if once wasn¡¯t enough, then twice. Joshua handed her a towel. ¡°Dry my hair.¡± She took it without hesitation. She¡¯d done it enough times to know the routine. He pulled her onto hisp as she got to work. Once she¡¯d towel¨Cdried it, she tossed the cloth aside and reached for the hair dryer. When she was done, she looked at him and asked, ¡°Now what?¡± Joshua¡¯s hair was slightly tousled, a few strands falling across his eyes. Shermaine made a mental note that he needed a trim tomorro She was still mid¨Cthought when he suddenly pulled her under the covers with him. The light went out. Hey beside her, wrapping himself aro Co ¡°Sleep,¡± he murmured, eyes already closed. her tightly. Shermaineughed softly and wrapped her arms around his waist. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± came his quiet reply. He hadn¡¯t had a proper/night¡¯s sleep in over days. As he held her now, exhaustion settled in quickly. Work had been brutal, full of long nights. And with Shermaine gone, even when he did manage to close his eyes, rest never really came. It was just like those nights in Xyperia when they were apart. Every time hey down, sleep became impossible. Only now, with her in his arms, did peace return. Shermaine¡¯s hand rested gently at his waist as she whispered with a smile, ¡°Sleep tight. Good night.¡± Joshua pressed a kiss to her forehead. ¡°Good night, Sheary.¡± Chapter 563 Emma hadn¡¯t slept a wink. She¡¯d spent the night waiting in her hotel room, checking the time again and again. It was close to ten when Row flly showed up. Earlier that morning, around seven, Ross had woken Danielle. She¡¯d been exhausted after the night before, but the moment he mentioned registering their marriage, she instantly perked up. Her dressing room was overflowing with outfits. She tried on one after another until she finally settled on a dress. After putting on her makeup, simple b¨²t elegant, she headed out with Ross to City Hall. Even though they arrived early, the line was already long. They joined the queue like everyone else. Danielle leaned on Ross, yawning as she rested her eyes. By the time they made it to the front, her mind was still a little foggy. When Emma saw them walk in side by side, her hands, resting on herp, clenched so tightly her nails dug into her skin. Danielle spoke first, her tone casual, ¡°Sorry, we¡¯rete. Getting the marriage license took longer than expected. You didn¡¯t wait too long, did you?¡± Emma didn¡¯t respond, but the storm brewing in her eyes said everything. Danielle gave her a slow, sultry smile. ¡°Disappointed to see me? Thought I¡¯d be gone for good, didn¡¯t you?¡± Her tone shifted, turning icy. ¡°Ms. Hond, you¡¯re clever. A great actress too. But starting today, you¡¯re out of the game.¡± Emma snapped. She lunged, aiming for Danielle¡¯s face. Danielle usually didn¡¯t bother with makeup for work, maybe a little lip balm. But today, even with the lightest touch of makeup, her beauty was undeniable, impossible to ignore. Ross had seen iting. He moved fast, kicking the wheelchair hard. It rolled forward and mmed into the sofa. Emma lost bnce, slipped off the seat, and hit the floor. With no use of her legs, she couldn¡¯t get up. Ross looked down at her, his face expressionless. ¡°You should¡¯ve never touched her. Yes, you saved me once. I owed you. But over the years, I¡¯ve more than repaid that debt. The money, the house? Do you think you could¡¯ve earned any of that on your own?¡± Emma¡¯s voice cracked as she broke down. ¡°You think that makes us even? I never wanted those things. I wanted you!¡± Ross didn¡¯t even blink. ¡°Then I wish you¡¯d never saved me in the first ce.¡± His voice was cold, final. ¡°Starting now, I owe you nothing.¡± Two men stepped forward, lifted Emma back into the wheelchair, and rolled her out. Ross had made up his mind. Emma would be sent away, and once she was gone, she wasn¡¯ting back. Last night, the inte exploded with news of Joshua¡¯s unexpected appearance. It all started when a wealthy socialite snapped a photo and posted it on Twitter, captioned: [Who said Mr. York is dead? Two years , and he stillmands the room like a king.] The post went viral overnight, and by morning, it was trending. The truth was, they¡¯d never died. They¡¯d rified the rumors back then, but no one wanted to believe it. The lie was simply more exciting. Now that Joshua has made a surpriseeback, it was only natural that people were turning their attention to Shermaine. The Jean Group¡¯s official ount was bombarded with tags and mentions. After a long silence, they finally posted a photo with a cheeky caption. [Just got this clip from Ms. Leanne. Your queen Shermaine is out in the countryside¡­ feeding sheep.] Fans rushed to open the image. It was a breathtaking shot of a vast pasture, endless green stretching beneath a sky so blue it looked surreal. In the middle of it all stood Shermaine, effortlessly elegant, holding a bundle of hay while a flock of sheep gathered obediently at her fest, waiting to be fed. She hadn¡¯t been seen publicly in ages. The moment her fans saw the video, emotions ran high. Some were genuinely tearing up. Shermaine was as radiant and captivating as ever. Toward the end of the clip, she looked a little tired. She called It moved gracefully, picking up the hay and continuing the job a ut, and within seconds, a sleek robot rolled into the frame to take over. as f it had been trained by Shermaine herself. Everyone was curious about where this ce was, and many hoped they might have a chance to run into Shermaine there. After the initial excitement settled, some of Roy¡¯s fans began to speak up. Since both Joshua and Shermaine had returned, they were eager to know when Roy woulde back as well. His disappearance had never been a secret. Desperate for answers, fans started tagging Henry, Ross, and every known friend of Roy¡¯s, trying to dig up even the smallest lead on where he might be. But there was still nothing. Meanwhile, in Ustrana, Molly was buried in work. A cigarette dangled from one hand, her phone in the other, Twitter open. Her hair was still short and sharp, her crimson lips bold. There was something wild about her look, fierce, but undeniably feminine. Smoke curled around her, adding to the mix of allure and weariness that clung to her like perfume. She exhaled slowly, eyes fixed on the screen, and thought to herself, ¡®Shermaine¡¯s back. Joshua¡¯s back. Roy¡­ where the hell are you?] AD Nurse walking 564 Chapter 564 38 Molly hated to admit it, but Roy had be a fixture in her heart, deeply, and stubbornly lodged. She¡¯d once convinced herself her feelings were minor, maybe even just a fleeting attraction. But ever since he vanished, that illusion had shattered. The ache didn¡¯t fade with time. It grew and gnawed at her, day by day. Worse, it was messing with her ambition. Two years had passed. Her father was visibly declining, yet he still hadn¡¯t named a sessor. The power vacuum only made the scramble to the top more brutal and desperate. Everyone wanted the throne. And yet Molly was losing interest. She exhaled slowly, cigarette between her fingers. Power, wealth, legacy¡­ things she¡¯d once obsessed over now felt like cheap distractions. Even if she won, it would mean nothing if Roy was gone. Somewhere along the way, she¡¯d lost the only thing that truly mattered. Shermaine had tried tofort her when she came back. She and Joshua were already looking into Roy¡¯s disappearance. If there were any updates, Molly would be the first to know. But for now, there was only silence. And silence was the worst kind of answer. She nced around the office, piles of files, endless agendas, corporate clutter. The irritation rose before she could stop it. Without thinking, she grabbed her bag and keys and walked out, needing to breathe. Shermaine was now living two lives. By day, she returned to Maple Leaf Ville. By night, she was back in the city, sleeping next to Joshua. She hadn¡¯t expected him to be this clingy. Apparently, he couldn¡¯t fall asleep without her beside him. It wasn¡¯t exhausting, and it didn¡¯t take much effort. Still, Shermaine knew this couldn¡¯t go on. He needed to learn to sleep alone. What if she had to leave for a few days in the future? Was he just going to stay up all night like a lovesick fool? Life in the countryside had been oddly healing, slow, simple, and even fun, especially for Dave, who had made himself right at home. ¡°This ce is exactly what I dreamed of,¡± he said one afternoon, floppingzily on the porch. ¡°Fried chicken, rivers, mountains¡­ y all day, nap all night. It¡¯s paradise.¡± That night came quickly. Once again, Shermaine made the trip back to the city. Before she left, Owen handed her a small pot of soup for Joshua. When she arrived at Riverswood Vi, the sound of running water echoed from the bathroom. On the bed was a box. She opened it and paused. Inside was a breathtaking gown, deep blue, sequined like a starry sky, with a dramatic train and delicate off¨Cshoulder cut. A sheer shawl in matching blue misted over the top, not warm, but undeniably elegant. Shermaine couldn¡¯t help herself. She took the dress into the walk¨Cin closet and tried it on. It fit like a dream. Every curve and every line was made for her. Standing before the mirror, she added sapphire earrings and a matching ne. In an instant, she looked like royalty, mysterious, graceful, powerful, like a queen from some oceanic kingdom, wrapped in moonlight and velvet. Then she remembered Joshua had mentioned the York Group¡¯s annual g. Technically, it was a joint event with the Jean Group. It was set on the same night and in the same hotel. The entire five¨Cstar venue had been booked out. Every major yer in Basterel¡¯s business, politics, and media would be there. 1/3 Chapter 564. It would be their official return to the public eye and the perfect stage for it. Shermaine turned slightly, checking her reflection onest time. She reached behind her, about to unzip the dress when she felt warmth press in from behind, damp with the scent of shower steam. Joshua brushed her hair gently over one shoulder. His lips followed, kissing the bare skin of her back, soft at first, then lingering. A momentter, she felt his mouth tighten slightly, a yful sting. ¡°Careful,¡± she said with a small smile, not moving. ¡°Aren¡¯t I supposed to be going with you to this g? You leave a mark, I¡¯m not going.¡± Everyone already knew she was alive. This wasn¡¯t the only night she could make a statement. She was sure her inbox was flooded with invitations anyway. She just never bothered to open them. Joshua murmured, ¡°You have a shawl.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s not a pass,¡± she shot back. He chuckled against her skin, tempted to leave another kiss anyway. But if her back was off¨Climits, he¡¯d just find somewhere else no one would see. In one smooth motion, he picked her up, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck. The midnight¨Cblue gown shimmered and swirled around them as he carried her to the bed. ¡°Your grandpa made you some soup,¡± Shermaine said. Joshua gave her a look. ¡°Please don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s m soup again.¡± Shermaine chuckled, catching the sarcasm in his voice. ¡°How would I know? I didn¡¯t even open it.¡± Joshua set her down gently on the bed. ¡°Next time he brings soup, just leave it. I don¡¯t need to nourish myself.¡± Shermaine smirked, teasing, ¡°Owen put his heart into it. I¡¯d feel bad turning him down.¡± It had been weeks since they¡¯dst been intimate. Joshua had been working nonstop, and by the time he got home, it was always toote and he didn¡¯t want to disturb her. But tonight was different. He¡¯d been saving his energy for something more satisfying. He pushed Shermaine down onto the dark sheets, his body pressing over hers as he kissed her, deep and full of want. The kiss wasn¡¯t gentle. It was hungry, almost possessive, thick with tension he hadn¡¯t let out in days. She broke away after a moment, breathless. ¡°Careful. This dress wrinkles easily.¡± Joshua brushed his hand up her leg, lifting the hem just enough to reveal her silhouette. ¡°I¡¯ll be gentle,¡± he murmured. He loved how she looked in that dress, elegant, alluring, almost sacred in its beauty. It made him want to ruin her in the best possible way. ¡°Sheary¡­ did you miss me?¡± Her cheeks flushed under his gaze, as if painted by heat. Joshua leaned in again, kissing her softer this time. ¡°Tell me,¡± he whispered, ¡°did you?¡± Shermaine stretched like azy cat, her voice teasing. ¡°Even if I did, I bet it¡¯s nothingpared to how much you missed me.¡± She nipped his lower lip lightly. ¡°Just don¡¯t mess up the dress.¡± Joshua¡¯s breathing grew heavier. His grip tightened. ¡°If it gets ruined, I¡¯ll just have a new one made. There¡¯s still time.¡± Shermaine arched an eyebrow. ¡°Well, tonight n to spoil this dress.¡± ¡°Sheary,¡± he groaned, batfughing, ¡°don¡¯t do this to me.¡± She gave him a wicked smile. ¡°Toote, I already am.¡± 2/3 11:36 Tue, 22 Jul XI GM Meanwhile, Danielle was struggling with apletely different dress dilemma. She had too many, and yesterday, Ross had someone drop off a whole new batch, delicate little things in pastel shades, all hanging neatly in her walk¨Cin closet. Wearing one of Ross¡® button¨Cdowns, Danielle picked out a few dresses, snapped some photos, and sent them to Shermaine. But there was no reply. ¡®Is she busy?¡® she wondered, frowning. Just then, Shermaine¡¯s Orthish came to life on the bed, even though Shermaine and Joshua weren¡¯t around. That didn¡¯t stop it from being loud. ¡°Lovely, radiant, gracious master! You have a message! You have a message!¡± it dered at full volume, filling the empty room with dramatic ir. Of course, no one responded. Danielle was just about to call her when Ross walked in. ¡°Don¡¯t bother,¡± he said casually. ¡°Can¡¯t reach Joshua either.¡± Danielle blinked, then instantly caught on. She grinned, wisely deciding not to interrupt whatever they were getting up to. Holding the dresses in her arms, she turned to Ross. ¡°So¡­ which one do you like best?¡± ¡°You¡¯d look amazing in all of them,¡± he replied, not missing a beat. Danielle smiled. He¡¯d gotten very good at saying the right thingstely. ¡°Come on. Just pick one for me.¡± Ross pointed to the purple dress. It had the most fabric and brought out the elegance in her features, and Danielle had always looked incredible in purple. Now that the decision was made, she moved on to jewelry. But everything she picked up felt familiar, worn, done, uninspired. Nothing felt right anymore. Turning to Ross again, she draped her arms around his neck. ¡°I think I¡¯m missing a few essories. Will youe shopping with me tomorrow?¡± Ross gave her a look. ¡°Aren¡¯t you forgetting something?¡± Danielle twirled his tie around her finger, her voice sweet and yful. ¡°Baby¡­ will you?¡± He melted instantly. ¡°Of course,¡± he said, pulling her closer. ¡°Say it again.¡± She giggled, repeating it in a dozen different tones, each one sweeter than thest He kissed her tenderly, unable to resist. ¡°Forget tomorrow. I¡¯m taking you right now.¡± ? Nurse walking 565 Danielle was beaming as she walked out with Ross, practically glowing with excitement. Back at Riverswood Vi, the soup in the thermos on the table had gone cold, long forgotten. Moonlight spilled into the room, casting soft silver shadows. Shermaine sat perched atop the piano, the once¨Cwless starry gown now crumpled and carelessly hanging off her legs, the hem swaying with each slight movement. Joshua stood close, one arm snug around her waist. With his other hand, he gently lifted her chin, his lips brushing against hers in a kiss that was slow, deep, and almost reverent. His gaze was dark and unreadable. Sweat glistened at his cor, a single drop sliding down his throat, disappearing beneath his shirt. Shermaine had this maddening effect on him. Whenever she got in the mood, it was never just about surrender. She had to match him, push him, challenge him, as if it were a game of equals. What she didn¡¯t know was how much that turned him on. After a long moment, he murmured against her mouth, ¡°The dress is ruined.¡± She lifted one leg and nudged him in the chest with her foot. ¡°You did that on purpose.¡± He caught her ankle easily, his thumb running lightly along the curve of it. ¡°Of course I did.¡± And he had. There was no way in hell he was letting her wear that dress out again. Joshua¡¯s voice softened, warm and coaxing. ¡°I¡¯ll find you something better.¡± Shermaine looked at him for a moment, weighing it. Then, coolly, she said, ¡°Not enough. y for me. On the piano. Until I forgive you.¡± Joshua¡¯s throat worked as he swallowed back his next move. The heat in him hadn¡¯t cooled, but he nodded and stepped away. He lifted the lid and sat down, fingers finding their ce on the keys. The melody that followed was soft and beautiful, like the night itself, quiet and weightless, the kind of music that made everything outside the room fade. Shermaine reclined across the piano top, resting her head on her hand. A few strands of hair fell forward, brushing the keys and grazing the back of Joshua¡¯s hand as he yed. She watched him through half¨Clidded eyes, azy smile ying at her lips. There was something in her gaze, wicked, inviting, and dangerous. When he hit a wrong note, she couldn¡¯t help it andughed, then slowly licked her lips. The music unraveled in an instant. The notes fell apart, discordant and clumsy. Joshua exhaled, giving up. ¡°Sheary¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Oh? For what?¡± ¡°For messing up your dress.¡± ¡°And will you do it again?¡± Shermaine asked. He didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Absolutely.¡± He stood, scooped her into his arms, and carried her back to the bedroom. As he dropped her gently onto the bed, a slow grin spread across his face. ¡°Sheary¡­ round two?¡± 1/4 1730 Tue, 22 Jul xi Thepany¡¯s annual gnded squarely on December 30th. The venue was an opulent five¨Cstar hotel. Luxury cars lined the driveway, camera shes flickered, and the air buzzed with anticipation. Everyone dressed to impress, but not everyone expected who would show up tonight. Janice and Owen had decided against staying at Maple Leaf Ville. With the new year approaching, they packed up their things, brought Gracie along, and flew back by helicopter to join the celebration. Dave hadn¡¯t wanted to leave at first, but his attachment to Gracie won. Wherever she went, he followed. There would be plenty of time to returnter. Owen and Janice arrived at the g looking lively and radiant, the joy on their faces impossible to miss. But the real surprise was what they were pushing in front of them, a stroller. Inside, a chubby baby in a fluffy bunny¨Ceared hat sat blinking up at the lights. It was the kind of child that instantly made everyone melt, soft cheeks, wide eyes, and an undeniable charm. Naturally, questions started swirling. Whispers fluttered from one guest to another. Whose baby was this? Given that it was Owen and Janice who brought the child, it didn¡¯t take tong for people to draw their own conclusions. People approached with warm smiles and polite greetings, but no one asked the question directly. They all knew the answer wasing soon enough. And sure enough, not long after, Joshua and Shermaine entered the ballroom together, walking straight toward the stroller. The baby suddenly came alive, arms iling in excitement, the little bell on its bracelet jingling like crazy, as if recognizing its parents instantly. Shermaine wasn¡¯t wearing that star¨Cstudded gown from before. Tonight, she wore a gold slip dress, bold, elegant, and nearly impossible for anyone else to pull off. But she looked like a goddess. That shade of gold, so rarely seen, clung to her figure like it had been made for her and her alone. She wasmanding and ethereal, cool and untouchable. The moment Shermaine and Joshua entered the room, all eyes turned to them. Shermaine, in particr, was the center of attention. People from every circle had shown up tonight, and most of them were here to see if the rumors were true. Word had spread that she was still alive, and no one was willing to believe it until they saw her for themselves. The annual g was being streamed live, and the online viewership had just crossed eight million. The chat was going wild, the same line scrolling nonstop across the screen. [Wee back, Shermaine! Wee back, Joshua!] Shermaine could feel Gracie calling out to her. She stepped forward and gently lifted the little girl out of the stroller. The moment she did, the crowd got the message loud and clear. Shermaine was the child¡¯s mother. Someone finally broke the silence and asked Owen, half¨Cjoking, ¡°That little one¡¯s too cute. Who¡¯s the lucky family?¡± Owen had been waiting for this question all night. He was actually surprised no one had asked sooner. These people had nerves of steel, but the suspense had been driving him crazy. Clearing his throat dramatically, he raised his voice and announced, ¡°Well, allow me to introduce you. This is my great¨Cgranddaughter, Gracelyn York. She¡¯s the daughter of Joshua and Shermaine. We call her Gracie.¡± Gasps spread through the crowd. No one had expected that Joshua and Shermaine had not only disappeared for two years, but had also had a child it the meantime. Those at the event exchanged astonished nces, while online, viewers were losing their minds. Gracelyn¡¯s arrival felt like the birth of royalty, blessed with both status and charisma. People were already wondering if she might one day outshine her legendary parents. Not long after, Ross and Danielle made their entrance, a picture¨Cperfect couple. Then came Ruth and Richard. Ruth rested her hand on his arm, the gesture showing they were more than just friends. As for the families who¡¯d thought they could take advantage while Joshua and Shermaine were gone, they were probably kicking themselves right now. Even in their absence, the two families were far too powerful to be pushed around. And now, with everyone back, no one in their right mind would dare stir the pot tonight. Joshua and Shermaine were kept busy the entire evening, caught up in a whirlwind of greetings and social obligations. With such an overwhelming presence from both families, any troublemakers had wisely decided to keep their heads down. Outside, fireworks lit up the night sky in a dazzling disy that went on for ages. The new year had arrived, and snow began falling softly over Basterel. Meanwhile, in Avalmere, the skies were pitch ck and a vicious blizzard was tearing through thend. From deep inside an ancient stone fortress, blood¨Ccurdling screams echoed through the halls. Momentster, two military trucks pulled up to the gates. Armed men burst through the doors, only to find a nightmare waiting for them, bodies torn to pieces, blood staining every surface, the stench of death overwhelming. A petite woman stepped down from one of the vehicles. The snowfall was heavy, so she opened an umbre as she walked, casually humming a tune. When she stepped inside and took in the carnage, she barely reacted, just a slight frown, a flicker of disgust in her eyes. Then she asked, slowly and coldly, ¡°Where¡¯s my ve?¡± A bearded man stepped forward. ¡°Ms. Channing, he¡¯s escaped.¡± Without warning, Faye Channing pped him across the face. Her demeanor turned on a dime. ¡°Then what the hell are you standing around for? Go find him!¡± She was furious. That man had been her most sessful test subject, with unbreakable will, striking looks, and a body like a sculpture. She¡¯d nned to keep him close, more pet than a prisoner. Another man approached, holding out a device. ¡°Ms. Channing, the boss is calling.¡± Faye raised an eyebrow. ¡°That old fossil? I¡¯m not in the mood.¡± The man hesitated. ¡°You might want to take it. Sounds urgent.¡± She sighed, annoyed, then snatched the iPad from/him. On the screen, an elderly man appeared, lying in a hospital bed, tubes running from every limb. ¡°Faye,¡± he croaked. ¡°How¡¯s the researching? I¡¯m running out of time.¡± Faye popped a lollipop into her mouth, her voice light and careless. ¡°Almost there. I¡¯ll bring what you need in a couple days. Later.¡± And she hung up without another word. Somewhere in the heart of the storm, a small cabin stood with its windows lit. Inside, Mireya Volkova sat watching television. Suddenly, a faint sound drifted from the storage shed out back. She took off her reading sses, picked up a wooden stick and a gun, and headed out. 4137 Tue, 22 Jul ?? E The shed reeked of blood. With a shlight in hand, she crept forward. Then she heard it, a low, guttural sound, like a wounded animal. She swung the beam of light ahead, and there it was. A wolf, badly injured,y motionless in a bed of overgrown weeds. Nurse walking 566 Chapter 566 The wolf was fully grown and majestic, its coat a wless white, thick and smooth like freshly fallen snow. But he was hurt. Blood leaked steadily from a wound in his side, staining his fur a deep crimson. He looked like royalty. If wolves had kings, he would¡¯ve been one. When his eyes met Mireya¡¯s, he bared his teeth in warning. There was no trust in him, only survival. But Mireya didn¡¯t flinch. She¡¯d once been a soldier, trained to face down worse than this. A wounded wolf wasn¡¯t enough to make her hesitate if anything, logic should¡¯ve told her to put it down and kill it cleanly before it could turn on her, But instead, she turned and walked back into the cabin, returning with a metal first¨Caid box. People said wolves were clever, almost cunning. Mireya crouched a few feet away and spoke calmly, as though talking to a child. ¡°I¡¯m not here to hurt you. If you¡¯ll let me help, just wag your tail once.¡± The wolf hesitated. Then, slowly, his tait shifted. She smiled. ¡°Good boy.¡± Cautiously, she approached. He stayed still, watching her with sharp, intelligent eyes, but he didn¡¯t move, didn¡¯t growl. And he didn¡¯t stop her. Outside, the storm thickened. Snow fell in heavy curtains, muffling sound, erasing every track. Back at the fortress, the search had long since be futile. Any trace of the fugitive was buried underyers of fresh snowfall. Still, men were sent to scour the mountains, though they all knew it was hopeless. When they returned empty¨Chanded, no one dared breathe too loud. Faye was seated in the center of the room, one leg crossed elegantly over the other, her eyes cold with fury. ¡°Useless!¡± she snapped. ¡°All of you.¡± She stood, pulled out a pistol, and without hesitation, fired point¨Cnk into a man¡¯s skull. He dropped to the ground instantly, blood soaking the floor. The rest stood frozen, eyes downcast, bodies trembling. Faye Channing was every bit the mad scientist the stories warned about, brilliant, unpredictable, and vicious. Her experiments were legendary, and so were her executions. Life, to her, had no meaning beyond data. ¡°I want him found,¡± she said, voice like ice. ¡°Bring him back to me.¡± She paused, her fury only partially soothed by one fact that the research hadn¡¯t been destroyed. The data was intact. But that man had been special. She wasn¡¯t sure if anyone else could replicate what he¡¯d be. Still fuming, she descended to her privateb, selected a vial of serum from storage, and without ceremony, injected it into the neck of the nearest assistant. Within seconds, screams rang through the corridors, The man writhed, eyes bulging, veins splitting beneath his skin. Then his heart gave out. He dropped without so much as a twitch. Faye¡¯s expression twisted. ¡°Dead already? Pathetic. No fun at all.¡± That man, her subject, had been different. No matter how she broke him, he never screamned or cried. The gic fusion had been wless. Animal DNA and human resilience were locked together in harmony. She stood motionless, frowning in thought. Something was off. The form worked once. Why not again? It was nearly an hour before Mireya finished bandaging the wolf¡¯s wounds. There were quite a few gashes, but thankfully none were deep. With a bit of rest, the wolf would likely be able to move around within a week, Until then, it could stay here, and she didn¡¯t mind. She brought it some water and food, then quietly turned in for the night, switching off the light as she went. The night was still, the only sound the asional creak of the door as the wind pushed against it. In the dark, the white wolf lying on the straw began to shift. Slowly and silently, it transformed into a man. His hair was long and tangled, falling over half his face tinged with a faint, almost ghostly pink. A strong, straight nose cut a clean line down his features. His lips were pale from blood loss, Hey unconscious, his breathing uneven. His body was lean and toned, muscles defined in a way that seemed almost sculpted. Mireya had tossed a nket over him before she left. It now rested across his waist and hips, barely covering him. Sweat slicked his skin. One hand gripped the hay beneath him as if clinging to something real in the middle of a nightmare. His brow was furrowed, jaw tight, and he kept whispering a name under his breath, again and again. ¡°Momo¡­ Momo¡­¡± . Meanwhile, in a bar in Ustrana, Molly was halfway through a bottle of whiskey. She had the kind of constitution that didn¡¯t get drunk easily, so the more she drank, the sharper her mind seemed to get. Men nced her way now and then, some openly intrigued, others trying to work up the nerve to approach, but no one dared. There was something about her, something dangerous. Molly wasn¡¯t the kind of woman an average man could even dream of having. Beckett walked into the bar and immediately spotted Molly with yet another drink in her hand. His face twisted in frustration. She¡¯d been like this ever since Roy disappeared, colder, harder, like something inside her had died. He strode over and snatched the ss from her grip. ¡°Seriously, Momo? This is pathetic. That guy wasn¡¯t worth it. Just a pretty face with a maniptive streak a mile wide. Why the hell are you still hung up on him?¡± Molly lifted her gaze slowly. Her eyes were icy, emotionless and sharp enough to make someone flinch. ¡°Give it back.¡± Beckett softened his tone, trying to sound gentle. ¡°Let me ta you home, alright?¡± ¡°I said,¡± she replied, slowly and clearly, ¡°give me the damn drink!¡± He clenched his jaw. ¡°If Roy ever shows his face again, I swear I¡¯ll kill him!¡± Beckett was burning inside. For the past two years, Molly had been distant. She hadn¡¯t even shown up to their engagement partyst year, and things had gone downhill from there. Now, the two families could barely sit in the same room. If not for Beckett holding the line, his own family would¡¯ve dropped their support for hers a long time ago. He could risk his life for her, just like Roy had. But no matter what he did, she never saw him the same way. She never wanted him. And still, like some pathetic fool, he kept chasing after her, year after year. Beckett snapped. He hurled the ss against the floor, then lunged toward her, grabbing both her arms. If kindness wouldn¡¯t work, maybe force would. If he couldn¡¯t have her heart, maybe having her body would be enough. Maybe that would count for something, He leaned in, lips twisted with desperation, ready to steal a kiss she would never give. But cold steel pressed against his throat before he got the chance. Beckett froze. Molly was holding a gun. Her expression was pure ice, her stance unwavering, her finger already curled around the trigger. ¡°You really wanna find out if I¡¯ll shoot?¡± she said, voice low and lethal. The gun was cocked, and the click had been unmistakable. Around them, the bar fell into a tense silence. Everyone was staring. ¡°Momo¡­¡± he started. ¡°Take your hands off me.¡± Beckett backed off, slowly raising his hands. His face had hed a deep, ugly shade of red. Molly shoved him hard in the chest, sending him stumbli back a few steps. She stood tall, looking down at him with disdain. ¡°Talk shit about him again, and next time I won¡¯t just pull a gun.¡± Beckett lost it. With a roar, he turned and mmed a chair into a table, shattering them both. Then he looked back at her with a bitter sneer. ¡°You¡¯ll never have him, Momo. For all you know, he¡¯s already dead.¡± After leaving the bar, Molly lost all desire to drink. Instead, she headed straight home. The estate was vast, yet all it ever gave her was a suffocating sense of dread. Thest assassination attempt had been orchestrated by her third sister, Karina Hill, the same night Roy disappeared. Once Molly uncovered the truth, she didn¡¯t hesitate. She ruined Karina¡¯s face and crushed her legs. Their father, Fred Hill, terrified that Molly might actually kill her, had Karina shipped out of Ustrana in the dead of night. She¡¯d likely nevere back. Naturally, her name was struck from the list of heirs. But even with Karina out of the picture, there were still nine heirs left in the Hill family, Molly included. As Molly stepped inside, she found her mother, Hiry Hill, lounging on the sofa. Just over forty, Hiry carried herself with the elegance of a woman well aware of her allure. She nced at Molly, catching the scent of alcohol. ¡°Been drinking again?¡± Molly didn¡¯t answer. Instead, she asked tly, ¡°Did you send Beck t to mess with me?¡± Hiry¡¯s brows pinched slightly. ¡°Mess with you? He¡¯s your fianc¨¦.¡± Molly gave a coldugh. ¡°Did I say yes to that? If you don¡¯t want me to kill him, do us both a favor. Keep him the hell away from me.¡± Ìï AD Comment Nurse walking 567 Hiry was quiet for a moment. ¡°Fine. If you don¡¯t like Beckett, I¡¯ll find you someone else.¡± Molly didn¡¯t even look at her. ¡°Stop trying to control who I marry.¡± ¡°I¡¯m only trying to help you.¡± ¡°The best help you can give me is to stay out of it.¡± Molly had reached the end of her patience. Hiry cared more about power and wealth than anyone else Molly had ever known, which, in retrospect, made perfect sense. It was Hiry who had crafted Molly¡¯s icy, unflinching view of the world. Since childhood, Hiry had fed her daughter a steady stream of cold truths, like men couldn¡¯t be trusted¡® love was a luxury no one could afford; status was everything, and emotions were a liability. Hiry¡¯s tone hardened. ¡°Do you think I¡¯d be meddling if you weren¡¯t such a mess? Your father¡¯s on his deathbed, and everyone¡¯s scrambling to get in his good graces. And look at you, drinking, wasting time, doing nothing with your life.¡± Molly¡¯s tone didn¡¯t change. ¡°If it¡¯s mine, it¡¯s mine. If it¡¯s not, I don¡¯t want it anyway.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Molly turned and walked toward the elevator. She swiped her card, rode up to the fifth floor, and entered her room, where a husky greeted her at the door. She had raised the dog since it was a puppy. But dogs never live as long as people. This one was old now, slower and quieter. She didn¡¯t know how much time they had left together. She patted its head gently. ¡°If hees back,¡± she murmured, ¡°I¡¯ll say yes. I¡¯ll be with him. What do you think, Lucky?¡± The dog let out a soft howl, as if in reply. From inside her Herm¨¨s bag, her phone started ringing. It was Shermaine and Molly picked up. It had been two years since theyst saw each other. As the video call connected, both women smiled faintly. Shermaine noticed her flushed cheeks. ¡°Been drinking?¡± ¡°A little,¡± Molly replied, her voice low and rxed. Shermaine smirked. ¡°You used to be a tank. If your face is red, you¡¯ve had more than a little.¡± Molly kicked off her heels and sank into the sofa, stretching her legs across the cushions. ¡°Roy messed me up,¡± she murmured. ¡°I don¡¯t care about anything anymore. I just want him back.¡± ¡°If Roy heard you say that, he¡¯d probably do a happy little dance,¡± said Shermaine. Molly gave a faint smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking for him for over a year. Nothing. Not a trace.¡± Just saying it ou 1 made her head throb. The ache was constant now. Shermaine¡¯s voice softened. ¡°He¡¯s strong, Molly. If anything had really happened to him, we¡¯d have heard by now. The silence means something. It means maybe he¡¯s trapped, or in hiding. But he¡¯s out there. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t die without seeing you again. I¡¯m sure of it.¡± Molly¡¯s eyes turned red around the edges/It was because she loved Roy so much that she felt this crushing guilt. If only she had been stronger, she could¡¯ve protected him. 1/4 She lit a cigarette and took a long drag. As the smoke curled in the air, the look in her eyes sharpened with a new rity She couldn¡¯t keep falling apart like this, not if she wanted to keep him safe when he came back. If she truly wanted to protect him, she had to take down everyst one of their enemies before they ever had the chance to hurt him again.. The next morning, Hiry was stunned to see Mollye down for breakfast. She wore a ck suit and tall boots, her posture sharp, eyes clear. For the first time in months, she looked like her old self,posed, determined, and unshakable. Hiry¡¯s expression softened into something almost proud. This was the daughter she knew, the one who couldn¡¯t be swayed by feelings ¡°After breakfast,¡± Hiry said, e with me to the hospital to see your father.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go,¡± Molly replied. ¡°But not with you.¡± Hiry¡¯s face went cold again. In Avalmere, the wolf had been locked away in the shed for three days. Maybe Mireya lived too far from town. Maybe no one even thought to look here. Either way, the hiding ce had worked. Inside the house, music yed softly. Mireya was frying eggs. In the storage shed, the snowy white wolf stirred from sleep at the sound. His wounds had healed fast. He was ready. It was time to go. But then, loud crashes came from inside the house, as if something had fallen with several things followed. The wolf bolted into the house. Mireya was on the floor, one hand clutching her chest, her face drained of color. ¡°My medicine¡­¡± But he was still a beast. He couldn¡¯t understand her words. He ran off again, leaving Mireya slumped on the floor,pletely hopeless. Then suddenly, a man burst into the house, wearing one of Mireya¡¯s old coats. He was tall, striking, a handsome man from Wallington. He asked quickly, in fluent Ustranasion, ¡°Where do you keep your medicine?¡± If Molly or Shermaine had been there, they would¡¯ve recognized him in an instant. It was Roy. Dazed, Mireya pointed toward the cab beside the TV. ¡°There¡­¡± Roy grabbed the bottle and handed it to her. After she took it, her breathing slowly steadied. ¡°I should take you to the hospital,¡± he said, concern etched on his face. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Mireya said, waving him off. ¡°Old condition. Comes and goes.¡± But then, without warning, Roy shifted and transformed back into the wolf. Before she could react, he lifted her gently onto his back and took off at full speed. He wasn¡¯t just being kind. He owed her. Still, Mireya couldn¡¯t help feeling a little terrified. Another year had arrived in the blink of an eye. 3 For Owen and Janice, this year had turned out to be far more joyful, especially for Owen, since Joshua had finallye home, bringing along an adorable little great¨Cgranddaughter. Today, the York family wasplete; everyone had returned, not a single one absent. Gracie easily became the star attraction, adored by the entire family. Her stroller was already overflowing withvish gifts. There was barely room left for anything else. With Joshua¡¯s marriage settled and a child now in tow, it was only natural that Owen started turning his attention to the rest of his grandchildren He decided he¡¯d seize this rare chance to set up some blind dates while everyone was still around. After all, Joshua, who was the third eldest, already had a family of his own and even a daughter. Yet, his two older siblings remained hopelessly single. After dinner, Shermaine happily carried Gracie back to their room to give her a bath. Before that, she sat on the bed, sorting through Gracie¡¯s pile of presents. The York family was exceptionally generous. The gifts Gracie received today could easily buy several properties in Basterel. Just then, Dave quietly picked up a particrly valuable¨Clooking present and started sneaking away. Shermaine cleared her throat and called out, ¡°Hold it right there. What are you doing with Gracie¡¯s gift?¡± Dave froze guiltily. ¡°Um¡­ nning to sell it.¡± ¡°And do what exactly?¡± she asked. ¡°Save up some pocket money?¡± Shermaine chuckled, shaking her head. ¡°No way. That belongs to Gracie. Hands off.¡± Looking crestfallen, Dave reluctantly handed the gift back to her. Seeing his pitiful expression, Shermaine softened and handed him a hundred¨Cdor bill.. Dave immediately perked up, thrilled. After so many years surviving on Earth, he¡¯d finally gotten his first taste of having real money. He held tightly onto the bill, his mind already racing with thoughts of how many buckets of fried chicken he could buy. After tidying Gracie¡¯s presents away safely, Shermaine picked her up and headed to the bathroom. She carefully bathed Gracie until she smelled fresh and sweet, thenid her gently onto the bed to let her crawl around freely. Soon after, Joshua came into the room, reeking of alcohol. Shermaine, now dressedfortably in a soft lc nightgown, was busy checking emails on her phone. Joshua leaned toward her, but Shermaine scrunched up her nose and lightly pushed him away. ¡°You stink. Shower first,¡± she teased. Ignoring her protests, Joshua gently wrapped a hand around the back of her neck and leaned closer, stealing a lingering kiss. After a moment, he pulled away slightly, producing a small wrapped gift and cing it into her hand. His voice, softened by the alcohol, sounded especially deep and alluring. ¡°For you. Happy New Year.¡± Shermaine smiled softly and kissed him again. ¡°Thank you. You¡¯re always so sweet.¡± Meanwhile, far away in the Kingdom of Xyperia, Jasmine was now three months pregnant. Her belly had started to show slightly, though it wasn¡¯t obvious, and loose clothing easily concealed it. ?? 22 JUI D E She was currently munching strawberries, rxing on the couch and I watching TV as Damien showered Soon, the sound of running water stopped, and Damien stepped out of the bathroom, dressed only in a pair of grey cotton pants, ches glistening slightly with droplets of water. bate and Suddenly, the strawberry in Jasmine¡¯s hand lost its sweetness. She fixed her eyes on Damien¡¯s toned figure, realizing just how much she¡¯d missed sesing those familiar abs. AD Nurse walking 568 Chapter 568 Damien caught her staring, a yful smile tugging at his lips as he casually towel¨Cdried his hair. ¡°You want me?¡± Jasmine flushed, instantly flustered at being called out so bluntly. ¡°As iff¡± she huffed. ¡°I¡¯m just appreciating, okay?¡± Then she snapped, ¡°Can¡¯t a woman admire her own husband¡¯s body in peace?¡± Right now, Jasmine was like an overly sensitive child, short¨Ctempered, emotional, and prone to tears. Damien knew better than to push her buttons. Besides, there was no way she was escaping tonight. He¡¯d been patient for three months, and it hadn¡¯t been easy. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. ¡°Alright. Appreciate all you want.¡± Taking her hand, he guided it to his abs. ¡°Go ahead. Touch.¡± Her fingers trembled slightly as they made contact. She pouted, then started running her hand over his torso, clearly getting way too into it. One more second and she might¡¯ve buried her face there. But after a moment, she stiffened. Something felt off. . Realizing what she was touching, she shifted awkwardly, yanked her hand back, and shoved it into her pocket like a guilty child. Damien just looked at her, his gaze deep and unreadable. Under that stare, Jasmine felt like her whole body had turned to jelly. She scrambled away in a panic, clutching her stomach. ¡°No. We can¡¯t.¡± Damien ran his tongue slowly along his jaw, his eyes darkening with restraint. ¡°Alright.¡± That surprised her. He wasn¡¯t usually this agreeable, not like him at all. She shot him a suspicious nce, but he didn¡¯t move. After a beat, she hesitantly scooted back over. Damien pulled her into hisp but didn¡¯t make a move. He was clearly waiting, waiting for her toe to him. Jasmine sat on his thigh, still feeling restless. ¡°Damien, I want ice cream. Come with me?¡± He frowned. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant. You shouldn¡¯t be eating that.¡± She puffed out her cheeks, sulking. ¡°I don¡¯t care. I want some.¡± To her, a few bites wouldn¡¯t hurt. Damien sighed in surrender. He changed clothes and took her out. They walked, no car. Walking was good for expectant mothers, after all. Even on such a casual outing, Jasmine¡¯s status meant a small group of guards. Outside a small ice cream shop, she ordered a cup of strawberry milk¨Cvored ice cream. The weather in Xyperia varied by region. In Baykeep, it was spring all year round, mild, pleasant, perfect for ate¨Cnight stroll. As Jasmine spooned the ice cream into her mouth, the edge in her mood began to fade. She dug in slowly, licking the spoon with obvious satisfaction. Damien watched her in silence, throat bobbing slightly. When she had eaten more than half, he reached over and took the cup. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡° Jasmine pouted again, ready to argue, but then she thought of the baby. ¡°Fine¡­ Can I save the rest for tomorrow?¡± He gave her a stern look. ¡°No.¡± Her eyes immediately welled up, and Damien softened. ¡°It¡¯s not good for the baby if it melts and you eat itter. I¡¯ll bring you out for more ned time, okay?¡± ¡°You better not go back on your word.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± he said gently. Only then did the tears retreat. She mentally noted how effective this tactic was. Cry a little, and Damien folded like paper. It was practically her They bought a few snacks on the way back, and she walked home with a satisfied smile, But barely a few steps in, she suddenly said her legs hurt and wanted him to carry her. superpower. Damien didn¡¯t hesitate. He crouched down immediately. Under the moonlight, his figure looked tall, steady, and dependable. Jasmine giggled and climbed on, happily swinging her legs as he carried her. With Damien around, she was truly content. Still¡­ she couldn¡¯t help missing Shermaine. Back home, Jasmine washed up and flopped onto the bed. A momentter, Damien came out of the bathroom in his sleepwear andy down beside her. Normally by this hour, she¡¯d be fast asleep the second her head hit the pillow. But tonight, sleep refused toe. That restless buzz was back again, humming low in her body like a fuse about to spark. She tossed and turned, rolling over to face Damien. She could feel the warmth radiating from him and hear the steady rhythm of his breathing. She bit her lip, trying to hold herself together. Damien noticed her shifting and pulled her into his arms. ¡°Stop wriggling.¡± She nudged her foot against his thigh, slow and deliberate, but he didn¡¯t even twitch. ¡®Seriously?¡® she thought, annoyed. ¡®You¡¯re really just going to lie there like a saint? I¡¯m literally throwing myself at you. What more do you need? Fine, I¡¯ll let you have me, just this once.¡® She tried again, brushing up against him, just a little bolder this time. There was still no reaction from him. Jasmine gave up with a frustrated sigh. But the heat in her body had built up too much to ignore. She held out as long as she could until finally, she couldn¡¯t anymore. She clung to Damien like she was melting into him. ¡°Baby¡­ kiss me,¡± she whispered. He opened his eyes atst, and even in the dark, she could see the smirk in them, calm, satisfied, like he¡¯d been waiting her out. Jasmine leaned in and kissed him. It was awkward and hesitant, the way someone might kiss for the very first time. Damien rolled on top of her, trapping her beneath him with ease. ¡°You know,¡± he murmured, voice low and teasing, ¡°you came to me. Her eyes shimmered, breath catching. ¡°I know¡­ now shut up and kiss me already.¡± He didn¡¯t hesitate. His lips met hers, slow at first, deepening with every second. He¡¯d gone three months keeping himself in check, pulling back every time things got too heated. But not tonight. Tonight, he let go. UE, 22UU 7531 Even in his hunger, he was careful, never putting pressure on her belly, never letting instinct override tenderness. The kiss went on and on, stealing her breath and scattering her thoughts. Jasmine¡¯s whole body trembled under the weight of sensation, it had been so long since she¡¯d felt anything this intense. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. That restless, maddening energy that had been tormenting her finally began to ease, but it still wasn¡¯t enough. She was too sensitive. Every time Damien touched her, her body reacted like it had a mind of its own, softening, giving in, unraveling He caught her hand as she pressed it to his chest and gently pinned it above her head. His lips left hers, then wandered lower, scattering kisses down her neck like falling stars. His hand found her waist, fingers brushing her side before giving it a light pinch. She flinched, breath catching in her throat. Damienughed softly. ¡°That sensitive?¡± Jasmine shot him a re, cheeks flushed. ¡°You¡¯ve clearly never been with a pregnant woman.¡± ¡°Guess not,¡± he murmured, letting his palm rest against her belly. ¡°You¡¯re the only one I¡¯ve ever had. If something feels wrong, you have to tell me. Okay?¡± Her face went even redder, but she nodded. Outside, the moon hung bright and full in the night sky. A slow¨Cmoving cloud drifted in, covering it like a curtain drawn over something too private, too intimate to be seen. In Avalmere, by the time Mireya finished her examination, the hospital was quiet again. There was no sign of the wolf. He was gone. Plenty of people had seen the white wolf escort her to the hospital earlier. The rumor spread fast. Staff and patients alike had been whispering, asking when she¡¯d started keeping a wolf for a pet, one so intelligent it almost seemed human. Mireya didn¡¯t answer. She knew the truth. He was a werewolf. Roy had left. He had no choice. He was something else now, something monstrous. There was no way he could face Molly, not looking like that. Worse still, his body hadn¡¯t fully healed. Without the suppressant, he¡¯d lose control and anyone who got close would be in danger. Going back to Wallington was out of the question. He had no ID or passport. If his identity were exposed, Faye would be on him in a heartbeat. It had taken everything he had to escape. There was no way he¡¯d risk going back. He could reach out to his family, but Roy didn¡¯t think it was worth it, not with what he¡¯d be. Sometimes, he thought it might¡¯ve been better if he¡¯d just died. Chapter 569 Nurse walking 569 Chapter 569 But if that were really true, he wouldn¡¯t have fought so hard to survive. Molly had always been the reason he kept going. But now, he was a werewolf. Whatever dreams he once had of being with her were gone. Someone like him could never be part of her life again. It would only put her in danger. Roy didn¡¯t hope for much anymore. All he wanted was to catch a glimpse of her in Ustrana. Even if he had to spend the rest of his life watching from afar, silently protecting her, he¡¯d ept that fate withoutint. As for his family, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to face them. His mother was gentle and fragile. If she saw what her son had turned into a beast, he wasn¡¯t sure she¡¯d survive the shock. Two years had passed already. Maybe they¡¯d all just assumed he was dead. A train roared past. Roy sprang from the tall grass andnded on one of the cars without hesitation. He was going to Ustrana. Even if he could only watch her from the shadows, he had to know Molly was still living her life. After regaining herposure, Molly once again put her siblings on alert. With Bruce quietly supporting her behind the scenes, she was not a force to be underestimated. Yet even Bruce had been preupiedtely. Ever since the immortality project began two years prior, he¡¯d been determined to eliminate the old man behind it. But the man had proven elusive, vanishing after withdrawing from Wallington, constantly on the move, and hiring the most elite mercenary group in Epea for protection. Killing him was no longer a feasible option. His so¨Ccalled immortality project was, unsurprisingly, about prolonging life. He had no intention of dying anytime soon. What had be of him now, no one could say. Still, if someone managed to turn the tables on Bruce, Molly would lose a powerful ally. In the hospital room, Molly stood beside the bed, looking down at the frail, sallow¨Cfaced old man. The doctor had said he only had a few days left. Fred opened his eyes and smiled faintly. ¡°You came, Momo.¡± ¡°I heard you¡¯re not doing well,¡± she said. ¡°Thought I¡¯d stop by.¡± Her words drew immediate criticism from her Siblings, who found her tone callous. Fred, however, seemed unfazed. ¡°At my age, there¡¯s no fighting nature. The fact that you came means¡­ well, maybe you still see me as your father. That¡¯s enough for me.¡± Molly gave a slight scoff. People always said she was his favorite, but she had never felt particrly cherished. From childhood, Fred had demanded perfection in everything she did. Even the smallest mistake came with a consequence. Fortunately, she had always been strong¨Cwilled. Long before Fred imposed standards, she held herself to even higher ones. ¡°My friend¡¯s back,¡± she said after a moment. ¡°If you can hang on a bit longer, I¡¯ll bring her to take a look at you.¡±¡± Fred¡¯s eyes lit up slightly. ¡°Shermaine?¡± ¡°Who else? It¡¯s not like I¡¯ve got many close friends.¡± ¡°And her husband?¡± ¡°He¡¯s back too.¡± Fred didn¡¯t press further. Molly hadn¡¯te only to check on him. ¡°Have you you chosen a sessor yet?¡± It was a question no one else dared to ask, but Molly never hesitated. Fred replied simply, ¡°Mywyer will announce it after I¡¯m gone ¡± That day came sooner than expected. A weekter, Fred passed away. After the funeral, hiswyer released the will, dividing the estate generously among the children and wives, while dering Molly as the sole heir to the Hill family legacy. She was the first female head of the Hill family in over a century. The others received wealth enough tost a lifetime, but all actual power was stripped from them and transferred to Molly. And with that power came peril. If she were to die, the will would be rendered void. A new sessor could be named. At the funeral, Molly wore a sharp ck suit, a gray scarf draped around her shoulders, and held a single bouquet. The ceremony wasvish, with over a hundred bodyguards assigned solely to protect her. News of Fred Hill¡¯s death, leader of Ustrana¡¯s most powerful family, had spread across the nation. Shermaine had heard as well. Molly was headed into stormy waters. Shermaine had nned to travel to Ustrana eventually, but now, it seemed she would have to leave sooner than expected. In Loang, rain fell steadily. The sky hung low and heavy with fog, and the streets were nearly empty. After the funeral, Molly was scheduled to make visits to each branch of the family¡¯s business empire. Hiry insisted on apanying her. Molly thought it unnecessary and potentially risky. But Hiry was determined. Perhaps she believed that now Molly was the family¡¯s new matriarch, some of that glory might spill over onto her. Molly stared out the window, her mind heavy with a yague, nagging restlessness. She reached into her bag, pulled out a cigarette, rolled the window down, and lit it. As the me flickered to life, her eyes lingered on the lighter, softening with a touch of longing. Roy had given it to her before everything went to hell. He knew that when the world felt too loud, she reached for a cigarette. One side of the lighter bore an engraving of a blooming rose, and the other name, Momo. Then suddenly, a sharp m of brakes, jarring and violent. The lighter slipped from her hand and flew out the window. 214 Her expression went cold in an instant. Without hesitation, she pushed the car door open. ¡°Molly, wait!¡± Hiry grabbed her arm. ¡°You can¡¯t go out there. Someone¡¯s trying to kill you,¡± Molly pulled free. ¡°I dropped something. I¡¯m getting it back.¡± She¡¯d expected this. There were too many people unhappy with her taking this seat of power. Trouble was inevitable today. Gunfire cracked through the air. Bodyguards in uniform sprang into action. Helicopters swirled above, their des a constant roar. Enemies emerged from all directions, and the firepower was intense, coordinated, and ruthless. A nearby building exploded under a rocket st, disappearing in a cloud of fire and rubble. The street turned into a war zone. Molly moved through the chaos, eyes scanning for the lighter. Rain poured, soaking her face and hair, but her lips pressed into a tight, determined line Then, without warning, one of her own bodyguards raised his gun¡ªand fired at her. She dropped low, narrowly dodging the shot, then sprang forward and kicked him with lethal precision. The betrayal was clear now. Other guards reacted instantly, putting him down on the spot. But it was only the beginning. More traitors revealed themselves. The entire convoy dissolved into a chaotic firefight. Still crouched low, Molly kept searching. Her heart beat fast, but her focus never wavered. Finally, she spotted a glint of metal in a crack between two broken stones. She grabbed it and held it tightly, like it was the only steady thing in this nightmare. Then came the kick. Hard and fast from behind, it knocked her off her feet, sending her crashing across the pavement. Her attacker followed with a de, no hesitation and no wasted movement. Molly blocked the strike and retaliated with a sharp kick, forcing him back. But they kepting, more and more killers. All of them were efficient, silent, and deadly. She was nearly out of bullets, but every shot she fired hit its mark. There was no room left for fear. Her mind went quiet, cold. Every movement was precise, every trigger pull deliberate. Blood stained the ground around her. High above, hidden in the shadows of a clock tower, a sniper took aim. No one had spotted him as his position was perfect. He pulled the trigger. The bullet tore through the rain, fast and deadly, aimed straight at Molly¡¯s heart. And then, out of nowhere, something white shed through the air. The impact knocked Molly sideways, and the bullet/mmed into the car door behind her with a metallic ng. The sniper squinted through his scope. At first, he thought it was a husky, but that was a wolf. When Molly was knocked aside, she wasn¡¯t hurt as the wolf had shielded her. She froze, momentarily stunned that a wolf hade to her rescue. It looked disheveled, matted with dirt from head to paw. As Molly¡¯s gaze fell on him, Roy instinctively backed away. He was filthy and didn¡¯t want to stain her clothes. But more than anything, he wanted to hold her again. Still trapped in the form of a beast, he resisted the urge. He didn¡¯t feel worthy of touching her, not as a monster. His ears drooped, eyes dim. There was something unsettlingly familiar in the wolf¡¯s eyes. Molly couldn¡¯t ce it, but it reminded her of Roy, the man she¡¯d spent countless nights thinking about. AD Comment Nurse walking 570 Chapter 570 The thought was absurd. She must be imagining things. Still, this wolf had saved her. And just when she thought the worst was over, another shot rang out from the tower. Molly ducked behind a ck sedan, yanked the door open, and reached under the seat with practiced ease. Her hand emerged gripping a pistol. Without hesitation, she aimed toward the tower and fired back. One clean shot, and the sniper went down with a bullet through the head. Now, wherever she went, the wolf followed, always protecting her. People couldn¡¯t help but nce at each other, puzzled. No one had ever seen a only had a dog. a wolf this intelligent. And Molly wasn¡¯t exactly a wildlife whisperer. She But Molly didn¡¯t have the time to figure out what the wolf wanted. She was busy cutting through her enemies like a de through silk. To everyone watching, she was death incarnate, a woman with no mercy, no survivors left in her wake. As for the wolf, it never let anyone get the drop on her. Anyone who tried was instantly met with ws and teeth. Several assassins ended up torn to shreds, their wounds so gruesome no one dared look too long. It took over an hour for the ambush to fully fall apart. The attackers scattered, retreating in chaos. Rain fell in a fine mist as Molly stood silently, jaw tight, the fury in her eyes still simmering. One of her aides came over with an umbre, calm and efficient. She handed Molly a handkerchief. ¡°Ms. Hill, for your hands.¡± Molly took it and wiped the blood from her fingers. ¡°Clean it up. I want names. Who backed this hit?¡± She didn¡¯t need to spell it out. She meant her siblings. A few of them, clearly couldn¡¯t stand the thought of her taking charge. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± Something crossed her mind. ¡°How is my mother?¡± ¡°Mrs. Hill is fine. She¡¯s waiting for you in the car.¡± Molly¡¯s tone waszy, almost bored. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯m heading home.¡± Just as she turned, she caught sight of the wolf walking away. It was limping, its leg bloodied. She didn¡¯t think twice and started after it. ¡°Hey, hold up.¡± Roy hadn¡¯t nned on staying. He¡¯de a long way to get to Ustrana, and he looked like hell, filthy, bruised, and barely able to: Molly see him like this. e couldn¡¯t let His leg was injured in a fight as he¡¯d been distracted, too focused on pain was nothing new. keeping her safe, unwilling to go full savage in front of her. It had cost him, but the He heard her voice, but he didn¡¯t turn around. ¡°I¡¯m talking to you, boy.¡± Her voice was sharp and clear. ¡°Stop. Right now.¡± Roy paused, then slowly looked back with a pitiful expression in his eyes. And there it was again, that familiar look. Molly saw it instantly, that exact same expression Roy used to sh when he wanted something from her. Molly¡¯s tone had lost its edge. ¡°Come here.¡± Roy hesitated, but the pull in his heart was too strong. He returned to her side. A faint smile touched Molly¡¯s lips. ¡°Good boy.¡± She reached out and gently patted his head. ¡°You saved my life. And you¡¯re hurt. If you want¡­ you cane home with me.¡± The words made Roy so thrilled he almost howled. He struggled inwardly, torn for only a moment. Molly opened the car door beside her. ¡°I¡¯m leaving now. If you want toe, get in.¡± Without a second thought, Roy jumped in and sprawled across the entire back seat. He only wanted to be near her. Even if it meant staying a wolf for the rest of his life, he was willing. Molly brought the wolf home. Hiry had weathered plenty of storms in her life, so she didn¡¯t make a fuss. Today¡¯s little scene would be enough to remind those stubborn old folks and Molly¡¯s siblings that Molly had never been someone to mess with. Feeling reassured, Hiry headed upstairs to get some rest. Molly took the wolf into her room. The entire fifth floor belonged to her, essible only with a keycard. No one could reach it without her permission. Her husky, seeing her walk in with a wolf, nced at the neer briefly before curling back into the nkets. That was a wolf, not his kind. Besides, he was old and too tired for drama. He¡¯d spent all his energy earlier that morning chasing a butterfly around the garden. Now, all he wanted was sleep. Molly frowned at the wolf¡¯s dirty coat. The first order of business was a bath. She wouldn¡¯t tolerate otherwise. She led him into the bathroom. As the shower turned on, warm water poured down. Roy didn¡¯t flinch. He knew he was filthy and needed to be cleaned. But in this form, he couldn¡¯t scrub himself. Soon, he was soaked. The water stopped. Molly picked up a bottle of body wash and squeezed it onto his fur, She was clearly intent on washing hi In no time, he was covered in foam. As Molly¡¯s hands moved from his back to his chest, he let out a startled yelp, lifting a paw as if to stop her. He might¡¯ve been a wolf, but her touch still stirred something in him. Molly narrowed her eyes yfully. ¡°A male wolf, huh?¡± elf. ¡°Howl.¡± came his soft, sheepish reply. She chuckled. ¡°A little shy, aren¡¯t you?¡± Ray lowered his head in silent protest. He wasn¡¯t shy. But Molly¡¯s tone remained firm. ¡°Still, you need to be clean. I¡¯m a bit obsessive about hygiene.¡± She straightened up. ¡°Lie down. On your side.¡± Roy relented. He had no choice but to obey her. Shame lingered, but the truth was, he couldn¡¯t help enjoying the care. With her tending to him, he felt oddly content. Even so, he used his tail to cover the most private part of himself. Molly noticed but said nothing, letting him be. After nearly an hour, the foam was thoroughly rinsed away. ¡± His fur turned out to be soft and sleek. She took a blow dryer and worked patiently until he waspletely dry. It took over thirty minutes, leaving her a bit winded. ¡°There. All done.¡± He was a strikingly handsome wolf, especially his eyes. They were just her type. They reminded her of Roy. At the thought of him, a hint of sadness flickered in her gaze. But then the wolf nudged closer, gently pressing his head against her like a child seeking affection. Molly squirmed from the ticklish motion and pushed his head away. ¡°Enough. I just got you clean. Don¡¯t get me all dirty again.¡± She looked down at herself. The effort had left her a mess, but considering how much blood had soaked her earlier in the day, she¡¯d needed a shower anyway. ¡°Wait outside.¡± She rose, unbuttoning her clothes as she walked toward the bathroom. Roy caught a glimpse of her graceful figure and the curve of her hips, images he had long fantasized about. Flustered, he bolted out the door without watching where he was going and smacked headfirst into the wall! Lucky looked up at the noise, gave him a sidelong nce, then rolled his eyes in pure disdain. 1 Nurse walking 571 Roy remained unaware he had just been scored by a husky. With ears drooped low, he curled up, trying to tune out the sound of running water from the bathroom. Nearly half an hour passed before Molly emerged. Her robe hung loosely around her, and she was towel drying her hair. Once it was mostly dry, sha crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed. The past few days had left her utterly drained. Sleepless nights buried in family affairs, the weight of an entire legacy resting on her shoulders, and now, an attempted assassination. Her body ached for rest. Lying back, she muttered, ¡°There¡¯s dog food in Lucky¡¯s bowl. If you¡¯re hungry, help yourself.¡± Roy let out a low whine. He wasn¡¯t hungry. And he didn¡¯t eat dog food. She nced over. ¡°Do you have a name?¡± He said nothing. Of course he did. It was the name she had been calling out in her heart all this time. Molly¡¯s voice was quiet, casual. ¡°If you do, make a sound. If not, wag your tail.¡± After a pause, Roy wagged his tail. ¡°Alright,¡± she said. ¡°Then Roy it is.¡± She pulled the covers over herself, clicked off the light, and turned onto her side. ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep now. Goodnight, Roy. Goodnight, Lucky.¡± Outside, the rain continued in a soft, steady drizzle. Lucky was already snoring. And Molly, too exhausted to think, soon drifted into deep sleep. At the foot of the bed, Royy wide awake. The scent of her filled the room, seeping into his bones. His excitement was instinctive, impossible to suppress. He knew he didn¡¯t deserve her, not now, but the desire to be close to her overwhelmed every rational thought. He climbed onto the bed. The mattress shifted under his weight, but she didn¡¯t stir. Momentster, his form shifted. He was human again. Roy gazed down at her sleeping face, entranced. ¡®Did Momo miss me? Is that why she chose this name? Could she still care for me?¡® he wondered. The thought brought both joy and pain. If only he hadn¡¯t be what he was. Images of Faye surfaced, and with them, a cold fury/He had endured two years of torment. If she ever appeared again, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate. Killing her wouldn¡¯t be enough. ¡°Momo¡­¡± he whispered, voice rough with longing. ¡°Momo¡­ ¡°I just want one kiss. Just one.¡± He braced himself on either side of her shoulders and leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her brow. It wasn¡¯t enough. She was defenseless in her sleep, and he knew moments like this wouldn¡¯te again. So he kissed her again gently, moving from her brow to her nose, then finally to her lips. Her lips were so sch and sweet. Buddenly, she stirred. Her brows drew together slightly. ¡°Ray..¡± she murmured. ¡°Roy¡± Though her voice was barely audible, Roy heard every syble. In her dream, she reached for him, the Roy she believed lost. Her arms wrapped around him, and she kissed him as though to tell him she missed him. In the waking world, Roy was pulled fully into her embrace, his lips meeting hers. Heat flushed through him. Her kiss was unguarded, tender, and warm. He couldn¡¯t hold back. His hands clenched at the sheets as he returned the kiss, catching her tongue, deepening the connection. But she remained asleep and unaware. When she fell still again, he curled into her, murmuring her name like a prayer, ¡°Momo¡­¡± Morning light filtered into the room. Molly woke with a start, feeling as though something heavy was crushing her chest. When she opened her eyes, she saw the wolf from the night before sprawled over her, sleeping peacefully. No wonder the night had felt so warm. It was like being wrapped in a living furnace. She gave him a shove with her foot, but he didn¡¯t budge, far too heavy. ¡°Roy,¡± she called, her voice firm. ¡°Off.¡± He stirred at the sound of her voice, let out a soft whine, and obediently hopped down from the bed. Molly threw back the covers and nted her feet on the floor. Roy looked up at her, eyes fixed. She followed his gaze, then nced down. Her robe hade loose in her sleep. She quickly adjusted it. But he was just a wolf, and she didn¡¯t let it bother her. Without a word, she headed to the bathroom to wash up. Sleep had left her famished. Fortunately, breakfast had already been arranged in the kitchen. Once she was dressed, she made her way downstairs. Roy and Lucky followed close behind. By morning, news of Molly¡¯s bravery had spread throughout Ustrana. In just one night, she had earned a new title, Lady Reaper. And with the striking white wolf that had fought alongside her, some began calling her the Wolf Queen, To tame a wild beast, people whispered, there had to be something untamed in her blood as well. When Molly came downstairs, the dining room was already full, her siblings seated alongside Fred¡¯s other women, her mother notably absent. All eyes turned as she entered, poised and graceful, a white wolf trailing quietly behind. His fur gleamed, his stance proud, energy coiled in his limbs. Though clearly dangerous, he followed her with eerie obedience. Molly took her seat at the head of the table and said to the maid, ¡°Bring two extra chairs. And more meat, plenty.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Hill.¡± The maid returned quickly with the chairs. One was ced beside Molly. Roy leapt up and sat neatly, his tail flicking as he swept a nce over the table, deliberately baring his teeth. ¡®Keep staring, and I¡¯ll tear your throat out,¡¯ he thought. Instantly, the room¡¯s atmosphere shifted. Eyes dropped, and forks clinked against tes. Lucky, despite his age, hopped up onto the second chair with a soft grunt. Breakfast wasvish, and soon the table filled with trays of meat, some cooked, some raw. Molly nced at Roy. ¡°Which one?¡± He pointed a paw at the cooked meat. Hunger had set in, and he reached instinctively for the food. Molly gave him a look. ¡°You want to get filthy again? I just bathed youst night.¡± Roy let out a small, apologetic whine. He didn¡¯t want to, but he couldn¡¯t use utensils either. Lucky, meanwhile, eyed the meat longingly. His appetite was intact, but his stomach no longer cooperated. Molly picked up a piece of meat and fed Roy directly. He epted it eagerly, chewing with noisy satisfaction. Then she passed a small bone to Lucky. ¡°You¡¯ve got a weak gut. Two bones at most.¡± Lucky gave a single bark in reply. As the meal went on, conversation was sparse. Every face wore a mask, and everyone had their own thoughts. Finally, someone spoke. ¡°Momo,¡± said ra Hill, Molly¡¯s second sister, her voice almost too casual, ¡°did you find out who was behind the attack yesterday? Do you need help looking into it?¡± Molly crossed one leg over the other, sipped her milk, and replied coolly, ¡°I¡¯ll find out. And when I do, I won¡¯t let it slide.¡± ra leaned in slightly. ¡°I might have a lead.¡± Molly gave a slight smile. ¡°I appreciate it.¡± ra softened her tone. ¡°Any time.¡± The others followed suit, offering simr pleasantries and subtle favors. But one face at the table remained sour. Lio Hill, the eldest, said nothing. He had always assumed that, as the firstborn son, the family¡¯s legacy would fall to him. Instead, Fred had handed it to Molly. Now the power that should¡¯ve been his was in her hands, and watching her sit in that chair only deepened the wound. He stood abruptly. ¡°I¡¯m done. I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± He walked out without waiting for acknowledgment. Molly didn¡¯t stop him, Leisurely, she continued feeding Roy and eating her breakfast, her mood unbothered, almost light. E Once the meal ended, she rose to leave. Roy, unwilling to be left behind, insisted on following. The moment she stepped into the car, he leapt in after her. Elsewhere, in a secluded rose garden deep within the estate, Lio had already gathered with Carter Hill, the fourth son, and Lucy Hill, the seventh daughter. Their expressions were tense, eyes darting. ¡°The assassination failed,¡± Lucy said. ¡°What now?¡± If they didn¡¯t act quickly, Molly would uncover everything. And once she had proof, there would be no hiding the consequences. Lio¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°We still have one chance. Bruce is in custody. Given their history, she¡¯ll try to rescue him. When she does, we use that opportunity to bring her down.¡± Three dayster, Shermaine finished handling her private affairs and boarded a flight to Ustrana. At 9 p.m., she arrived in Loang, Comment Nurse walking 572 Shermaine had given Molly a heads¨Cup about her trip to Loang. Molly had originally nned to pick her up at the airport until she found out Sharmaine wasn¡¯t flying in at all. So instead, she decided to wait for her at the bar. The bar belonged to Molly, a ce she frequented. Since the assassination attempt three days ago, she no longer left the house without security. That evening, a sleek sports car pulled up outside the entrance. Before the engine cut off, the white wolf at her side had already jumped out. ¡°Get back here,¡± Molly called firmly. Roy paused, turning back with clear reluctance. He didn¡¯t understand why she was visiting a bar, but he didn¡¯t like it. ces like this were crawling with men who¡¯d love nothing more than to get close to her for the wrong reasons. Even if he no longer believed he deserved to be with her, it didn¡¯t mean anyone else did. That possessiveness ran deep in his bones, and it was getting harder to suppress. Reluctantly, Roy jumped back into the car. Molly shut the door behind him and locked it. ¡°If youe with me, you¡¯ll cause a scene. Stay in the car and be good.¡± Roy whined in protest. He lifted a paw and tugged at Molly¡¯s sleeve, clearly unhappy about being left behind. Molly sighed. He really did remind her of Roy, always needy and trying to win her over with those pitiful eyes. She reached over and scratched behind his ears. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be like that. Just wait here.¡± She hadn¡¯t nned to bring him at all. But he¡¯d followed her to the car and refused to leave. She didn¡¯t have time to argue, so she gave in. ¡°Awoo!¡± Roy whined again, this time more insistent, his snout pushing against her shoulder. He was trying to charm her, clearly wanting to go inside with her. Then, before she could stop him, he leaned forward and licked her neck. Molly flinched. His tongue was rough, the barbs on it catching her skin. It stung enough to leave a tiny red mark, even drawing a few beads of blood. Roy instantly froze. He had been gentle, or so he thought. He¡¯d even retracted the barbs. And still, he¡¯d hurt her. The sight of that red spot made something twist inside him. He shrank back, curling into the seat like a scolded dog, ears t and body rigid with guilt. Molly wiped the blood away with a tissue, unconcerned. The mark was minor. By tomorrow, it would be gone. Her skin healed fast, and scarring was rare. A bit of ointment tonight, and it would leave no trace. Still, the location of the mark, just beneath her jawline, was hard to ignore. The redness lingered, unmistakably intimate., like a lover¡¯s bite. She didn¡¯t dwell on it. She reached out again and scratched behind his ears. ¡°I¡¯m not upset. Why are you?¡± What she hadn¡¯t expected was that this wolf really understood. The fact that he was genuinely upset about hurting her meant someth. But Roy stayed huddled, silent. In this form, he couldn¡¯t even get close to her the way he wanted to. Molly leaned down and pressed a kiss to his head. ¡°Don¡¯t be sad, Roy. It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m fine.¡± Tue, 22 Roy¡¯s ears twitched. Just that little bit of affection from her was enough to make his entire bodye alive. He let out a happy grow and rubbed hi against her, almost knocking her off bnce. Mollyughed, breathless from his enthusiasm. She ced a hand on his head, eyes dark and searching. ¡°You really do feel like him Roy froze, lifting his gaze to hers. He knew exactly who she meant. And the ache in his chest deepened. After a pause, Molly pulled herself together. ¡°Stay in the car, okay? Don¡¯t wander off. I mean it.¡± She cracked a window before the left, just enough to keep the air moving so he wouldn¡¯t feel stuffy inside. Roy watched miserably as she disappeared into the bar. He was restless, fighting the urge to charge in after her and drag her back out. He scratched at the window a few times in frustration. Deep w marks marred the bulletproof ss. Roy saw what he¡¯d done and immediately retracted his paw, curling back into the seat in defeat, waiting for Molly to return. After Molly entered the bar, the bodyguards found seats without much thought. She, however, asked the manager to bring out the finest selection of spirits. That night¡¯s shift happened to be covered by one of the top bartenders in all of Ustrana. Shermaine had always had a taste for alcohol. On that point, they clicked immediately. Molly sent her a message. [How far out are you?] Shermaine: [Ten minutes.] Molly: [Good drinks are waiting.] Shermaine: [Love that.] They chatted beneath the low lights and pulsing rhythm of the bar, the music deep and visceral, as if designed to draw out hidden desires and let them dissolve in the night¡¯s intoxication. Then, a man approached, someone from Bruce¡¯s side. A bodyguard moved to intercept him, but Molly gestured slightly. ¡°Let him through,¡± she said. The man came forward, speaking inly. ¡°Bruce has gone missing.¡± Molly¡¯s brows drew together. ¡°When?¡± ¡°Two days ago.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re telling me now?¡± ¡°We tried earlier,¡± he replied. ¡°But your mother intercepted the message.¡± His voice held a restrained edge. ¡°Without the proper token, we can¡¯t mobilize anyone from the organization to search for him.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll authorize ess,¡± Molly said. ¡°Keep me informed.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Hill.¡± He tipped his hat and disappeared into the crowd. 11:38 Tue, 22 Jul E G M Roughly six minutes passed, though to Roy, waiting in the car, it felt like a lifetime. Then, outside, a woman¡¯s scream cut through the night. She was being dragged into a car by a group of men. No one moved to help. Incidents like this were far toomon overseas. Roy hadn¡¯t nned to get involved until he caught a glimpse of her. She looked like someone from Wallington: With a single blow, he shattered the sports car¡¯s window and slipped out. The road was wide and open. He ran hard, gaining on the car. Pedestrians gasped, turning to watch. His speed nearly matched the vehicle¡¯s. The driver nced in the mirror, spotted what looked like a wolf in pursuit, cursed, and floored the gas. Royunched himself into the air,nding squarely on the roof. Then he dropped into the driver¡¯s line of sight, blocking the windshield. Blinded, the driver panicked. The car veered and mmed into a wall. Smoke rose from the crumpled hood. Several rough¨Clooking men spilled out, brandishing pipes and knives. But the moment Roy bared his fangs, they fled in fear. The woman inside wasn¡¯t conscious, her face pale, breath faint. They¡¯d likely given her something. The vehicle was still operational. Roy spotted a man¡¯s jacket in the back. He grimaced at the strong stench of smoke, but still draped it over his legs as he slid into the front seat.. The car lurched, then sped off. Roy shifted back into human form, took the wheel, and drove. Meanwhile, on Shermaine¡¯s end, a message came through. Apocalypse had spotted Roy. They¡¯d sent a satellite image of Roy behind the wheel of a car, and the location was Loang. Comment Nurse walking 573 Only Joshua could operate Apocalypse for now, but with the ess he¡¯d granted, Shermaine could issuemands through it as well. She was mildly surprised to learn that Roy was in Ustrana and asked, ¡°Where is he now?¡± The coordinates weren¡¯t far. Apocalypse returned another location. The vehicle had stopped at a hospital. What was strange, though, was that as soon as Roy appeared there, the system lost track of him. The surveince feed nked. A new message came through. [Tracking target lost.] Shermaine was momentarily stunned. [He¡¯s gone?] Apocalypse: [Affirmative.] She couldn¡¯t help but wonder what Roy had been through over the past two years. He was clearly in Ustrana, yet he had made no attempt to contact them, least of all Molly, who lived here too. Shermaine was already near the bar and walking toward the entrance when her phone rang. Joshua¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Roy showed up, Sheary.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Shermaine replied. ¡°But then he vanished again,pletely.¡± Roy¡¯s skills with technology were formidable. It wasn¡¯t surprising that he could mask his movements. But Apocalypse¡¯s tracking system was designed for more than standard evasion. It was high¨Cend and aggressive. Even if Roy attempted to shield himself, the system should¡¯ve pierced through the interference. Yet now, he had disappeared entirely, without a trace. That was something else altogether. Joshua, well¨Cacquainted with Roy¡¯s methods, remained calm. ¡°If he¡¯s in Ustrana,¡± he said, ¡°he¡¯s probably keeping tabs on Molly. Sheary, set the bait. Draw him out.¡± Shermaine arched a brow. That had been her n all along. Under the cover of night, Roy shifted back into his wolf form and made his way toward the bar. He kept to the shadows, avoiding crowds so as not to cause rm. Within ten minutes, he returned to the sports car and climbed inside through the window. Inside the bar, Shermaine and Molly had already met. Though it had been some time, the familiarity between them remained. Shermaine lifted her ss in greeting, the rim clinking crisply against Molly¡¯s. Molly thought Shermaine¡¯s presence had changed, moreposed, colder perhaps, but striking all the same. As they settled in, Shermaine asked, ¡°You came out of that assassination attempt unscathed?¡± Molly gave a softugh. ¡°Of course. Haven¡¯t you heard what they call me now? The Lady Reaper, the Demon Queen, the Wolf Queen.¡± She swirled the liquor in her ss before downing it smoothly. ¡°That attack turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The old guar gone silent since. I¡¯d call that progress.¡± Shermaine took a slow sip, then, seeing Molly¡¯s ss empty, refilled it for her. ¡°When did you start keeping a wolf?¡± ho opposed me have ¡°You mean Roy?¡± Molly smiled faintly at the name. ¡°I didn¡¯t raise him. During the attack, he came out of nowhere, filthy and wild, but immediately protective. He stuck close, followed my lead.¡± 17:38 Tue, Chapter 573 Animals had always been drawn to Molly, but this was different. She hadn¡¯t given it much thought at first. She brought the wolf home out of sympathy. She had never seen a wolf so affectionate, loyal, and reminiscent of the Roy she had once loved, Hearing that the wolf was named Roy, Shermaine understood. Molly still missed him deeply, and the wolf must¡¯ve reminded her une anely of Roy. A thought stirred in Shermaine. She kept her tone casual. ¡°So the wolf¡¯s at your ce? I¡¯m curious. Mind if I see him?¡± ¡°He¡¯s actually with me tonight,¡± Molly said. ¡°But I didn¡¯t want to scare anyone, so I left him in the car. If you¡¯re interested, we can take a lookter¡± Still, she seemed a little uneasy. Roy had been left alone in the car. She wasn¡¯t entirely sure he¡¯d stay put. Shermaine¡¯s eyes shed with subtle recognition. ¡°No rush. Let¡¯s enjoy the drink first.¡± Molly, in rare good spirits, nodded. She usually drank alone. It was dull, with no one to talk to. Tonight was different. But as the evening wore on, something felt off. She hadn¡¯t had much to drink, yet a wave of dizziness washed over her. Her vision blurred. The next moment, she slumped forward, unconscious. The woman who hardly got drunk hadn¡¯t passed out from liquor. Shermaine had slipped a mild sedative into her ss, just enough to induce sleep for about forty minutes. Molly slumped forward onto the table. Before her bodyguards could react, Shermaine stepped in with a calm wave of her hand. ¡°She¡¯s fine,¡± she said casually. ¡°The drink just hit her a little too hard.¡± Most of Molly¡¯s people knew Shermaine. Seeing her here, they instinctively rxed. After all, tonight¡¯s gathering had been arranged to wee her. ¡°I¡¯ll take her home. You guys go enjoy yourselves.¡± Shermaine said. Just then, a man happened to pass by. Shermaine called out to him, pulled a thick wad of cash from Molly¡¯s purse, and handed it over. ¡°Hey, could you give us a ride?¡± The man nced at the money and took it without hesitation. ¡°Where to?¡± Shermaine gave him the address and passed Molly off to him. ¡°Get her in the car. I¡¯ll be right back. Just need to hit the restroom.¡± But the guy could feel something wasn¡¯t quite right. Molly¡¯s bodyguards were watching him like hawks, making his skin crawl. He handled her like ss, doing everything he could to avoid actually touching her. The bodyguards didn¡¯t know why their boss was suddenly being handed off to a stranger. But Shermaine, iming she needed the restroom, didn¡¯t go inside. She circled the building quietly and followed them instead. They were left puzzled. Shermaine didn¡¯t let them follow, so they exchanged a few nces, shrugged, and let it go. The man helped Molly into the car and waited inside, expecting Shermaine to show up any second. But instead of a woman, what showed up was a wolf. It stared him down with a predatory re, teeth bared, ready to pounce. The man¡¯s heart dropped straight to his shoes. ¡®What the hell¡­ a wolf? In the middle of the city?!¡® he screamed in his mind. The beast lunged forward, and he didn¡¯t wait to see what would happen next, bolting from the car and yelling at the top of his lungs, ¡°Help!¡± 513 Æ· 11:38 100, 22 JUL YI Roy didn¡¯t bother chasing him. He leapt into the car and nudged Molly gently with his head. She didn¡¯t respond, still and silent. But her breathing was steady and peaceful. She was just sleeping. Her scent lingered in the air, a fnix of liquor and something sweetly familiar. It was the scent he couldn¡¯t get enough of ¡®Idiot,¡® he thought, a flicker of frustration in his eyes. ¡°How could you drink this much? And those useless bodyguards almost let some random guy take you away. He was furious but helpless. There wasn¡¯t much he could do, except carry her out of that car and gently ce her back in the sleek sports car she¡¯de
  1. in.
He fished her keys from her bag, started the engine, and drove off. As the car pulled away into the night, Shermaine received a new message from Apocalypse. [Target located. Currently operating a vehicle. License te: RR1] She smiled to herself, satisfied. There was no mistake. The wolf was Roy. Comment Nurse walking 574 Chapter 574 Roy brought Molly home. It waste, and the servants had already retired for the night. As he pulled up in front of the mansion, he shifted back into his wolf form. He couldn¡¯t risk the patrolling guards discovering his identity. Though not enormous, Roy¡¯s physique was far from average. As a creature beyond the ordinary, carrying a full¨Cgrown adult posed no difficulty. He could even run at full speed without breaking a sweat. The bodyguards, recognizing him, barely spared a nce. They all knew the wolf by Molly¡¯s side was practically like a spirit beast. With Molly draped over his back, they figured she was likely drunk and being dutifully escorted home. Still, the fact that the car had returned on its own raised suspicions. They couldn¡¯t quite believe the wolf had driven. More likely, Molly had driven back herself, then let the wolf carry her inside. That seemed usible enough. Inside the elevator, Roy carried her to the fifth floor before shifting back into human form. As always, he emerged bare, clothes torn away in the transformation. After cing Molly gently on the bed, he turned to find something to wear, only to lock eyes with the family husky, who stared at him nkly. It hesitated, then suddenly bristled, ready to bark. Roy frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t start. Just go back to sleep.¡± The husky barked twice ?n protest. Roy rolled his eyes. ¡°Oh, knock it off.¡± The dog studied him a little longer. There was something familiar. He did look like the young man Molly often talked about. A few secondster, the husky seemed to recognize him and settled down, no longer hostile. With the dog appeased, Roy headed to Molly¡¯s wardrobe, pulled on a loose shirt and pants, and returned to check on her. But to his surprise, someone was sitting in the chair beside the bed. He froze for a moment. Then his face lit up. ¡°Shermaine!¡± She gave a soft hum in response. ¡°When did you and Joshua get back?¡°. ¡°It¡¯s been a little while.¡± Joy surged through Roy. He had thought they might be gone for years, exploring an unfamiliar world full of unknowns. During his time in the dark, windowlessb, he¡¯d thought of them constantly. But as time passed, despair crept in, and he began to fear they might never return. Shermaine satposedly, one leg crossed over the other. The cool, striking woman regarded him with a faint chill in her eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve done well for yourself,¡± she said calmly. ¡°All this time, and not a word.¡± If she hadn¡¯te to Ustrana, if Apocalypse hadn¡¯t lent a hand, and if Molly hadn¡¯t let a few things slip, she wouldn¡¯t have uncovered Roy¡¯s secret so easily. She had every right to be angry. Roy had been free for some time now. Though his body had changed in ways he hadn¡¯t expected, he was no longer a prisoner. And yet, he hadn¡¯t reached out. 13 10:12 Wed, 23 Jul G He recognized the disappointment in her tone. Approaching like a child caught red¨Chanded, he spoke quietly, ¡°Shermaine don¡¯t be mad, I didn¡¯t mean to shut you out. I just didn¡¯t want anyone to know what I¡¯d be. ¡°I only returned recently. The day Momo was nearly assassinated, I came back from Avalmere. Before that, I was imprisoned too. I had to kill every guard in thatb to get out.¡± As those memories surfaced, a shiver ran through him. His body tensed, like his very nerves were barbed. The anger was still there, raw and roiling, Faye had done this to him, twisted him into something unrecognizable. And all he wanted now was revenge. ¡°You know what I am now,¡± he said, voice low. ¡°A monster. I can barely stand to look at myself. How could I ask you all to ept me?¡± But what he hadn¡¯t expected, what now truly struck him, was that if Shermaine had returned, then Joshua must have too. Shermaine¡¯s expression softened slightly as she looked at his anguish. ¡°Even so, you can¡¯t shut out your family and friends. How do you know we couldn¡¯t help?¡± He fell silent because she was right. If he had reached out to his family and Henry, he might¡¯ve known they¡¯d returned. Lifting his head, eyes clouded with uncertain hope, he asked, ¡°Do you think¡­ it can be fixed?¡± He wouldn¡¯t dare ce that kind of faith in anyone else. But with Shermaine, he believed. She¡¯d always operated on another level. If anyone could help him reim his humanity, it was her. He didn¡¯t trust easily. But then again, few people could match what Shermaine was capable of. Faye had been vicious, calcting. Roy still didn¡¯t know who had handed him over to theb in the first ce. In fact, since returning, he hadn¡¯t even looked into it. All he¡¯d wanted was to be near Molly. ¡°I can¡¯t say for sure what¡¯s going on inside you until I take a proper look,¡± Shermaine said, calm andposed. She tapped on her device, and a soft blue beam of light swept over Roy. It was Orthish, scanning his body and collecting internal data. Once the scan wasplete, the information was instantly transmitted to Apocalypse, which quickly ran an analysis and sent the results back. Roy¡¯s eyes lit up with curiosity as he stared at the sleek, high¨Ctech gadget wrapped around Shermaine¡¯s wrist. ¡°What is that thing?¡± he asked, clearly impressed. ¡°It¡¯s called Orthish. Think of it like aputer, but way more advanced. Its processing power is a hundred times stronger than anything we¡¯ve got on Earth.¡± Of course, it made sense. If Xyperia¡¯s technology wasn¡¯t miles ahead, there¡¯s no way they could¡¯ve made it here in the first ce. Roy looked genuinely envious, practically drooling over the thought of owning something that powerful himself. Shermaine caught the look on his face and gave a faint smile. But as her eyes returned to the data streaming in from Orthish, that smile slowly vanished. Roy wasn¡¯t just fast or strong. His physical capabilities had already exceeded the boundaries of what was humanly possible, like strength, speed, and healing. He could punch through a tank or bring down an entire building without breaking a sweat. But the path to that kind of power hadn¡¯t been easy. It was brutal, dangerous, and clearly inhuman. He¡¯d survived two relentless years of agony, pain, and near¨Cconstant death. And it had taken a toll, a massive one. His heart rate was three times higher than formal At that speed, it wouldn¡¯t take much for his heart to give out entirely. The risk of sudden cardiac failure was terrifyingly real dorse still the side effects of the gene fusion weren¡¯t just physical. The beast like factor embedded deep in his biology had be increasingly 10:12 Wed, 28 Jun unstable. When it surged beyond control, he would lose himselfpletely and be a savage, uncontro minister Whoever had conducted the experiment on him had real skill. But even so, they hadn¡¯t managed to fix any of these ws Now that Roy had escaped, going back was out of the question. And if Shermaine hadn¡¯t returned when she did, there was s no telling how much longer he could¡¯vested. If she¡¯d been just a year or twoter, he might¡¯ve died alone, in and that wasn¡¯t even his own. AD Nurse walking 575 Chapter 575 The thought alone made Shermaine¡¯s blood boil. There weren¡¯t many people in the world capable of using human and animal bodies for experiments, especially not to this extent. No one but the team behind the Immortality Project in Wallington all those years ago. It had to be them. She even suspected that Jason¡¯s current grotesque condition wasn¡¯t entirely self¨Cinflicted. Somewhere along the way, their research data must¡¯ve leaked, winding up in the hands of people crazy enough to act on it. Jason was living proof of that madness. ¡°I¡¯ve got your vitals under control,¡± Shermaine said, her tone calm but firm. ¡°But you should brace yourself. The wolf DNA has fully merged with yours. Removing itpletely isn¡¯t an option. Some of it¡¯s going to stay.¡± Roy nodded, then hesitated. ¡°How much are we talking about?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going to transform into a wolf again, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about. But the enhancements that came with the genes? Those are permanent. Strength, speed, stamina¡­ and unfortunately, that damn mating season instinct. Spring¡¯sing. You¡¯ll want to be extra careful.¡± Roy let out a quiet groan. He hadn¡¯t been a wolf for long, but his body had already started picking up certain habits, like a constant craving for meat. Shermaine noticed the twitch at the corner of his mouth and chuckled. ¡°What? You really hate that part of yourself so much?¡± Roy looked down. ¡°Yeah, I do.¡± Being a wolf meant he couldn¡¯t hold Molly the way he wanted to. Shermaine tapped her chin thoughtfully. ¡°Have you ever read those romance novels where the female lead gets thrown into a world of shapeshifters? You know, half¨Chuman, half¨Canimal types like you. ¡°At first, she¡¯s totally grossed out, but after spending time together, she softens up. Eventually, they settle down and raise a bunch of cute little cubs.¡± Roy shook his head. Those books weren¡¯t his thing. And besides, the way she said it made him feel like he was the punchline to some joke he didn¡¯t get. Shermaine kept musing, unbothered. ¡°Well, maybe you should read one sometime. Might give you a different perspective.¡± Two years without seeing her, and she¡¯d grown sharp¨Ctongued, almost as cunning as Joshua. Shermaine nced at the clock. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s gettingte. I¡¯m heading out. If you need to reach me, just call the same number as before. Momo should wake up in about half an hour. Take care of her.¡± Roy nodded. ¡°Shermaine¡­ before I go back to normal, could you not tell Momo that the wolf was me?¡± Her brow arched. ¡°Why not?¡± He shifted awkwardly. ¡°Just¡­ don¡¯t.¡± He couldn¡¯t bring himself to say it out loud, but the truth was, he felt broken, and someone like that didn¡¯t deserve someone like Molly. Shermaine, on the other hand, thought honesty might serve him better. If Molly ever found out he¡¯d kept something this big from her, there¡¯d be hell to pay. Women like Molly were strong, proud, and independent, and they didn¡¯t take betrayal lightly. But Shermaine didn¡¯t press. If Roy wanted to keep digging himself into a hole, that was on him. He¡¯d already made enough mistakes, surviving the ordeal, and disappearing without a word, and now he was still hiding. ¡°Suit yourself,¡± she said. ¡°Thanks, Shermaine.¡± She left without another word. Not a single guard noticed her arrival, and none of them saw her leave. It was as if she¡¯d never been there at all. 1/3 10:12 Wed, 23 Jul. Once she was gone, Royy on the bed beside Molly and watched her sleep. He reached for her hand, but even that simple touch wasn¡¯t enough. The ache inside him wouldn¡¯t go away. He needed to be closer. So he slipped under the covers and wrapped himself around her, telling himself he just wanted to hold her for a while. But maybe it was Shermaine¡¯s warning echoing in his head, or maybe it was something deeper. The second he touched her, something ignited inside him, fast, hot, and impossible to ignore. His breath quickened, and his face flushed red. He nuzzled into her, intoxicated by her scent and the softness of her skin. He pressed his face to the curve of her neck, unable to resist trailing his tongue gently along her ear. Before long, two furry wolf ears poked out from the top of his head. Molly felt as though she were burning up, her body heavy and suffocating, as if trapped by something pressing down on her, like an octopus wrapping its limbs around her. She could barely breathe. In the haze of sleep, she vaguely heard the sound of a man¡¯s heavy breathing. But when she opened her eyes, the darkness around her was absolute. The chandelier above her swung gently, and there was no man by her side, only the wolf. The wolf was lying next to her. Her head throbbed painfully, and her body felt weak and limp. Thest thing she remembered before cking out was drinking with Shermaine, but how she got home was a mystery. She slowly sat up, her mind foggy as she tried to piece things together. Roy whimpered softly, nudging her gently, as if trying tofort her. Molly turned to look at him. The wolf¡¯s eyes were wide, round, and bright. She reached out and patted his head. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she murmured. Roy whimpered again, then slowly backed away from her, jumping off the bed and settling down under it. Something felt off about him now. Molly didn¡¯t think too much of it. She got up from the bed, her feet bare against the floor. She was still wearing the dress from earlier that night, which now feeked of alcohol and smoke. She wrinkled her nose at the smell, then tugged the dress off and tossed it aside carelessly. Itnded on the wolf¡¯s head. After undressing, Molly walked toward the bathroom. Roy let out a frustrated sigh, his body burning with unease. He pulled the dress off his head with his paws and sniffed it. He couldn¡¯t help but feel like a creep, his thoughts constantly drawn to Molly, which made him restless and irritated. When Molly finished her shower, she realized the bathrobe she¡¯d left in the bathroom was gone. With no other choice, she wrapped herself in a towel and headed for the closet. She opened it to find somethingfortable to wear, but that was when she noticed something strange. Her wardrobe was a mess. Molly narrowed her eyes, pulling out a couple of clothes and sniffing them. They smelled fresh, almost too fresh. But the wardrobe had been tidy before. It didn¡¯t look like this. She continued rummaging through her clothes and found a single ck hair, neither long nor short. She pulled it out, pondering for a moment. Comment ¡®Could it have been Shermaine?¡® she thought to herself. She stood there in silence for a moment, then stuffed the clothes back into the closet. Walking out, she found Roy lying on the carpet. She sat down on the edge of the bed and asked, ¡°Roy, did anyonee to my room tonight?¡± Roy let out a soft howl. Molly hesitated, then asked, ¡°Was it a particrly beautiful woman?¡± Roy howled again. Molly nodded and decided not to press further. Roy, on the other hand, felt a bit guilty, especially after Molly went into the closet. With her sharp, cautious nature, if he kept appearing in front of her in human form, she¡¯d definitely catch on to something. He wagged his tail nervously, hoping Molly wouldn¡¯t notice how uneasy he felt, afraid that seeing him like this would scare her. Nurse walking 576 Chapter 576 Mollyy back down, still feeling a little drowsy. What struck her as odd was that the clingy white wolf, who had insisted on sleeping in bed with her every nighttely, had, for once, curled up at the foot of the bed instead. It felt a little off to Molly. ¡°Roy,e up here,¡± she said. Roy had wanted to keep his distance tonight, but he couldn¡¯t resist Molly¡¯smand. After all, she was the one he loved most. He jumped onto the bed andy down obediently, as still as could be. Molly smiled and stretched her legs out from under the covers. ¡°My feet are freezing. Warm them up for me.¡± Her legs were long, and on her left calf was a tattoo, one she hadn¡¯t had before. It had appeared during the two years Roy had been gone. It was a thorny rose, winding and tangled, sultry and untamed. Roy gently covered her feet with his body. His tail twitched without him realizing it. Faced with her bare legs so close, he felt a strange, growing tension he couldn¡¯t quite name. His ears drooped again as he quickly looked away, trying not to stare. Warmth spread quickly from his body to her chilled feet. Molly let out azy yawn, already drifting off again, her eyes closing asfort settled in. Meanwhile, after Shermaine had left, she checked into a hotel. The screen of her device gleamed as her fingers moved quickly across it, searching for something. After a while, she found what she was looking for, a website. The site had an administrator. Shermaine registered for an ount, and once it was approved, she had ess to the forum and its posts. The forum was filled with anonymous users, posting pictures of themselves after undergoing animal gene fusion. They were half¨Chuman, half¨Cbeast. Some had turned their arms into vicious ws, and others had terrifying eyes where their legs used to be. Some hadn¡¯t undergone any visible changes but had gained abnormal strength. Most of them were criminals or terrorists. They weren¡¯t quite like Roy. No one had seeded in the way he had, but they were more simr to Jason. Shermaine finally found what she had been looking for. The Immortality Project was indeed casting a wide, turning these desperate individuals into subjects for its twisted experiments. Getting the data was simple. Shermaine didn¡¯t even need to lift a finger. She just told Apocalypse what she wanted, and the job was done. Before long, all the website¡¯s data had been transferred to Shermaine¡¯s Orthish. The website had been created in Avalmere, and the administrator was from there, too. Shermaine quickly uncovered the identity of the person behind it. It was a former biotechnologist who had been imprisoned for murder and sentenced to twenty years. But after just a few years, he had been released. Clearly, someone had orchestrated his escape. Then, Shermaine found the woman who had turned Roy into what he was now, the crazy scientist, Faye. Faye was every bit the maniac they¡¯d described. Her criminal record was long, filled with countless offenses. She had blood on her hands, hundreds of lives lost, maybe more. 10:12 Wed 23 Jul GO Two years ago, after theirb in Harington was destroyed, Faye had been relocated to Avalmere, where she was hired by Joseph one of the investors the Immortality Project.. But what was odd was that Faye didn¡¯t have a past. It was like she had appeared Tout of nowhere. Her identity had only been registered five years ago. That night, Molly slept peacefully, but Roy spent his night in a strange state of unease. Before dawn, he ran downstairs and wandered outside for a while, only to return after some time. He still had plenty of energy, but it felt like it wasn¡¯t fully released. Meanwhile, the husky, out on a leisurely walk, was suddenly hit by a gust of wind, blowing dirt and leaves straight into its face. It had just had a nice bath the night before, and now it was dirty again. The husky red at the wolf¡¯s back and barked angrily, its frustration evident. It was so mad. If it were younger, it would have chased after the wolf, marking its territory in the most revengeful way possible. Early that morning, Molly got a call from Shermaine. ¡°Can you get ab ready for me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll sort it out right away,¡± Molly replied without missing a beat. ¡°Did you stay uptest night?¡± ¡°Yeah, I was going through some material. I¡¯m heading back to sleep now. Call youter.¡± Shermaine ended the call and crawled back into bed. Around nine, the shrill ring of her phone pulled her out of sleep. It was Joshua. At the same time, someone was persistently ringing the doorbell. Ignoring the door for the moment, Shermaine picked up the call, her voice still thick with sleep. ¡°Babe, waking someone up from a good dream? That¡¯s a crime.¡± Joshua¡¯s voice came through warm and smooth. ¡°Eat something before you go back to sleep. Go open the door.¡°, She blinked at the phone, surprised. Even after flying abroad, he was still making sure she didn¡¯t skip breakfast. He was nothing if not consistent. Dragging herself out of bed, she slipped on her shoes. ¡°Sheary, adjust the robe,¡± he reminded. Shermainezily adjusted her robe and asked, ¡°Darling, did you sleep wellst night?¡± Joshua, of course, hadn¡¯t slept well without her by his side. Hey in bed, restless, with no sign of sleep. It seemed he had developed a new habit. If he didn¡¯t have Shermaine in his arms, sleep just wouldn¡¯te. He took a sip of the coffee on his desk, savoring it. ¡°Only when you¡¯re next to me.¡± Shermaine opened the door for room service. A hotel staff member wheeled in her breakfast and quietly set it up on the table. ¡°You know, this habit of yours really needs fixing,¡± she said into the phone. She¡¯d thought about this more than once, but Joshua never seemed interested in changing. Honestly, he wasn¡¯t sure he could even if he wanted to. As she headed to the sink to wash up, she continued, ¡°You can¡¯t rely on me being there every time you travel for work. And you definitely can¡¯t depend on sleeping pills just to get through the night. Shermaine knew well the consequences of relying on sleeping pills. They weren¡¯t good for the body. Truth be told, she didn¡¯t even know when he¡¯d developed such a terrible habit. 10.12 Joshua asked, half¨Cseriously, ¡°Why not?¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t bother to answer. ¡°Why can¡¯t I take you with me everywhere?¡± he pressed. ¡°You just can¡¯t.¡± She spat out the toothpaste and turned off the toothbrush. ¡°I¡¯ll have Bradley send you some herbal supplements. They¡¯ll help you rx¡± Joshua wasn¡¯t thrilled about the idea, but if it was Shermaine¡¯s suggestion, he wouldn¡¯t argue. Instead, he changed the subject. ¡°How¡¯s Roy?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just say,¡± she said with a hint of amusement, ¡°a little trickst night flushed him out.¡± Joshuaughed. ¡°That¡¯s my girl. Always two steps ahead.¡± Shermaine gave a faint smile. ¡°Back when we left, the Immortality Project wasn¡¯tpletely dismantled. ¡°Over the past two years, they¡¯ve beenying low in Avalmere, recruiting new tech experts. Roy took the brunt of it. He was experimented on by a woman named Faye. She¡¯s one of their lead scientists. He ended up bing the project¡¯s most sessful test subject, a werewolf. ¡°Physically, everything looks perfect on paper. But the underlying damage is serious. If we don¡¯t fix itpletely, he¡¯ll end up just like the others, dead from cardiac failure when the pain bes too much to handle.¡± Joshua quickly processed the news, his voice calm as he responded, ¡°Thank you for dealing with all this.¡± With Shermaine on the case, he knew even Roy¡¯s messed¨Cup biology had a shot at recovery. AD Comment Nurse walking 577 Chapter 577 028 Molly was quick to act, swiftly setting up arge, high¨Ctechboratory for Shermaine. She sent over the address and then casually asked, ¡°What do you need theb for?¡± Shermaine smiled and replied, ¡°You¡¯ll find out in a couple of days.¡± Molly didn¡¯t press the matter as she¡¯d know soon enough. Remembering that Bruce and Shermaine had some history, Molly asked, ¡°Do you remember Bruce?¡± Shermaine paused for a moment, then nodded. ¡°I remember him.¡± Molly¡¯s face grew serious. ¡°He¡¯s gone missing.¡± She lit a cigarette, the me flickering briefly. ¡°It looks like after you left, Bruce went back to Ustrana and kept tracking the Immortality Project. ¡°He was determined to take them down, but they¡¯re slippery. He got a lead a little while ago, went after them¡­ and then he vanished.¡± Shermaine changed into her clothes, taking her time before walking out the door. ¡°If the news spreads too quickly, it¡¯s probably a trap.¡± Molly blinked, confused. ¡°What do you mean?¡± She was capable when it came to fighting, but she wasn¡¯t quite as skilled in reading between the lines and ying games of deception. Shermaine shrugged. ¡°Roy¡¯s disappearance is connected to those people from the Immortality Project.¡± After a moment of thought, Shermaine decided to share a bit more with Molly. If she didn¡¯t, Molly might never figure out that Roy was the wolf she¡¯d been keeping by her side, especially with Roy hiding it so well. Molly¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°You found something out?¡± Shermaine nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°You mentioned that Bruce had been tracking that group for years. But if you couldn¡¯t find Roy¡¯s whereabouts for two years¡­ shouldn¡¯t it be suspicious if his news suddenly leaks out like this?¡± Molly¡¯s words made sense. Shermaine added, ¡°Honestly, if it wasn¡¯t for Roy hiding you two years ago, they would¡¯ve found you instead. You¡¯d have been the one taken. And you wouldn¡¯t have had a chance to wait for Bruce toe and save you.¡± As they reached the parking lot, she pulled out her car keys. ¡°So, in a way, this just confirms what happened back then. It wasn¡¯t just your third sister behind it all. It was a group effort.¡± Molly hadn¡¯t considered that angle before. She always thought her siblings were too scattered, each focused on their own things. She never imagined they¡¯d work together like that. Shermaine continued, ¡°Right now, your weak spot, aside from your mom, is Bruce. Your mom is always at the estate, never out in the world, so she¡¯s tough to get to. But Bruce¡­ he¡¯s another story. ¡°No matter how strong he is, he can¡¯t fight everyone. If something happens to him, you won¡¯t just stand by and do nothing.¡± Molly bit her lip, then let out a soft, bitterugh. So it¡¯s my fault that Roy ended up like this.¡± If not for Roy, it would have been her who disappeared two years ago. Shermaineforted her gently, ¡°Roy loves you. He¡¯s willing to do anything for you. You don¡¯t owe him anything.¡± It was a kind sentiment, but Molly still couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of guilt. Roy had sacrificed everything for her, even his life. As Shermaine drove away, they ended their call. Roy had spent the whole morning out, but he came back just in time. He walked in to find Molly standing on the balcony, digan clearly off. He hadn¡¯t expected a short trip would leave her like this. Roy padded up to her, his tail sweeping behind him like it was the softest part of him. Molly felt the familiar tingle in her legs as she saw hime back, and she put out her cigarette, kneeling down. Roy nuzzled her gently, as if trying to offerfort. Molly sighed softly, ¡°I miss you again, Roy.¡± Roy¡¯s tail flicked, a jolt of surprise rushing through him. He knew she wasn¡¯t speaking to the wolf, A wave of longing hit Roy, both sweet and painful. He didn¡¯t know how to respond. Thefort she wanted wasn¡¯t something he could offer right now. And just like that, Roy found himself feeling more frustrated than ever. Two dayster, Shermaine reached out to Molly, asking her toe over. She mentioned she needed Molly to apany her to a ce. Molly agreed but was a bit surprised when Shermaine told her not to bring the wolf along. She thought it might be because the wolf had some bad history with Shermaine. After all, the wolf was only ever nice to her. He¡¯d been pretty vicious with everyone else. So, that morning, she left without Roy. Roy, being his clingy self, wasn¡¯t too thrilled. He howled and whined for what felt like hours. Molly didn¡¯t cave in, figuring she¡¯d make it up to him when she came back. When she met Shermaine at theb, she was led to a sleek, high¨Ctech aircraft she¡¯d never seen before. It was an unmanned ne. Molly didn¡¯t ask too many questions about traveling to another world, but it was clear that this ce had technology far beyond Earth¡¯s. Before long, they arrived in Spaunia, a war¨Ctorn country. The ce was battered and broken, like it had just finished a brutal war. The air was thick with the metallic stench of blood. ¡°What are we doing here?¡± Molly asked, looking around. After Shermaine gave her a short exnation, Molly frowned. ¡°Are they insane?¡± Shermaine shrugged. ¡°Some people will do anything to get stronger. They have no boundaries.¡± Greed ran so deep in some that they couldn¡¯t even understand when to stop. As they walked through the streets, the crowds thinned. Ahead, the area was more deste, a dangerous zone controlled by armed militants. Molly and Shermaine were both stunningly beautiful, and in a ce like this, their presence didn¡¯t go unnoticed. A group of men quickly stopped them, but Shermaine wasn¡¯t in the mood for small talk. She shoved her gun into one man¡¯s face. ¡°Where¡¯s Loff?¡± she 213 demanded. ! Loff Arden was their leader. As if on cue, one of the men tried to sneak up from behind. But Molly was quicker. She spun around, kicked him with precision, and sent him flying Without missing a beat, she pulled out a knife, throwing it at his foot. ¡°Stay put,¡± she snapped. These weren¡¯t just ordinary women. They were dangerous. The man, now their captive, led them up the building. The higher they went, the louder the screams gof. It was clear that Loff was using people for experiments, but his efforts weren¡¯t going well. One of his victimsy unconscious on the floor, evidence of a failed test. The whole situation was sickening. These people were using innocent lives asb rats. When Loff saw Shermaine and Molly enter with one of his men in tow, he didn¡¯t seem fazed. But then, as he saw two women as beautiful as them, his expression turned less than respectful. ¡°Two gorgeousdies, what can I do for you?¡± Loff asked, clearly enjoying the attention. Shermaine tossed the man aside, no longer needing him, and smirked. ¡°Change. Let her see your real form.¡± Molly couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°If you¡¯re ugly, I¡¯m not even looking.¡± Loff froze for a second, clearly stung by her words. AD Nurse walking 578 Chapter 578 Loff didn¡¯t expect them to know his secret. He¡¯d always been so careful to hide it. Now, with them aware, he was on high alert. ¡°Are you agents?¡± he growled, eyeing them carefully. After all, plenty of countries had top¨Ctier female agents, strong, seductive, and fearless if they har were bold enough to barge into his turf, they had to be more than just pretty faces. Shermaine didn¡¯t answer. Instead, she raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°So, are you going to change or not?¡± Loff¡¯s blood boiled. He thought, ¡®Bitch, do you think I¡¯m some kind of circus animal, here for your amusement? Without another word, he grabbed a chair and threw it at them in a fit of rage. Shermaine and Molly easily sidestepped it, unfazed. ¡°Grab them!¡± Loff snarled, turning to his men. ¡°Don¡¯t kill them. I want them alive!¡± He paused. In this ce, women were scarce. His armedckeys charged forward, but Molly just yawned, her expressionzy. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with the little guys. You take care of the ugly one.¡± Shermaine grinned, cracking her knuckles. It had been a while since she¡¯d fought, and now her body felt like it was itching for action She tied her hair back into a loose ponytail, casually preparing herself. With Molly watching her back, there was no way anyone would get close. Once her hair was out of the way, Shermaine shed them all a middle finger. That did the trick. Loff¡¯s face turned red with rage, a vein popping on his forehead. He couldn¡¯t believe it. A woman had the nerve to mock him so tantly. He stormed toward her, intent on making her regret that gesture. He was going to break her. But after just a few moves, it was clear who had the upper hand. The tough guy who¡¯d been barking orders was now on the floor, clutching his stomach. Shermaine moved with ease, her strikes fluid, her punchesnding with painful precision. The onlookers stared, a mix of disbelief and awe. They¡¯d thought they were the weak ones, but it was clear now. It was Shermaine who was too strong for them. Loff, now covered in bruises, started to question everything. He was powerful, but with every attack he made, Shermaine just blocked and countered with lightning speed. He gritted his teeth, his face swelling from the punches. Blood dripped from his nose as he felt his anger surge. Suddenly, his muscles began to bulge, his hands turning into massive, lethal ws. He was merging with the genes of a leopard, and it showed. His arms were covered in a wild, spotted pattern, his teeth sharpened to deadly points. Even his face was marked with feline spots, making him look even more grotesque. Molly couldn¡¯t help but stare in disgust. The way these people mutted themselves for power was mind¨Cboggling. She couldn¡¯t hide her revulsion. With a primal scream, Loff swung a wed fist at Shermaine but missed. Instead, he smashed it into the wall. The impact left a huge dent, and the entire wall began to crack His strength had clearly increased, and Molly now understood why so many were eager to fuse their bodies with animal genes. She shuddered, thinking about what could¡¯ve happened if the Immortality Project had gotten their hands on her. She might¡¯ve ended up as one of their twisted experiments. Her mind briefly wandered to Roy, and a sudden wave of heartache washed over her. The thought of him made her chest tighten, as if she couldn¡¯t breathe. Lost in her thoughts, she didn¡¯t notice a terrorist quietly sneaking up behind her with a gun. But Shermaine was quicker. She whipped out her gun, shooting him in the arm before he could get a shot off. The scream that followed snapped Molly back to reality. Loff, already halfway turned into a beast, was seething with rage as he lunged toward Shermaine. But Shermaine had already aplished her goal by bringing Molly here, and she wasn¡¯t about to waste any more energy on him. With a swift move, she grabbed the syringe she had developed over the past two days and jammed it into his body. The liquid inside surged into him. She wasn¡¯t entirely sure how well it would work, but judging by the look of agony on his face, it was clear it wasn¡¯t a painless process. dging they The animal genes were being forcibly stripped away, but since they had already merged with his blood and tissue, the process was brutal. Loff copsed to the ground, groaning in pain. ¡°What the hell did you inject me with?¡± he gritted out between gasps. Shermaine¡¯s voice was calm, almost detached. ¡°Nothing special. Just a little something to turn you back into a human.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to go back! I refuse!¡± Loff yelled, panic rising in his voice. Shermaine¡¯s gaze hardened. ¡°You don¡¯t get to make that choice.¡± Ever since Loff had merged with animal genes, war¨Ctornnd, killing innocent people without a second thought. he¡¯d be a ruthless terror in this If he kept growing stronger, he¡¯d just continue dominating the weak, and Shermaine wasn¡¯t going to let that happen. Loff¡¯s face twisted in terror as the pain continued to consume him. It felt like hours before his beastly form started to fade away, leaving himpletely drained. His strength, his power, and everything vanished, and he copsed, exhausted, lifeless. As Shermaine and Molly turned to leave, Loff¡¯s desperation hit its peak. With shaky hands, he retrieved the animal gene serum he had used before and injected it straight into his own body. zak body But this time, the consequences were far worse. The pain was unbearable, his body convulsing violently as he fell to the ground. Foam bubbled from his mouth, and his heart thudded erratically in his chest. With a final, agonized scream, his heart couldn¡¯t take it anymore. His chest exploded in a gory mess, and his body went limp. His eyes stared into nothingness as death imed him in a gruesome end. The men watching in shock felt a deep, visceral chill run through them. They had all dreamed of power, but none of them had the courage or the foolishness to pay the price like Loff had. After Shermaine and Molly teft, Molly was a picture of dejection. They walked back, the wind hitting them in the face. Molly broke the silence, asking, ¡°Do you think Roy will end up like that too?¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t respond immediately, but her silence spoke volumes. Molly sighed deeply. ¡°How bad is it for the body, though?¡± If Roy turned out like Loff, she wouldn¡¯t hate him. She¡¯d just feel heartbroken that Roy had to suffer like that because of her. Shermaine nodded, her face somber. ¡°It¡¯s not good. These half¨Cbeast, half¨Chuman hybrids don¡¯t live long. Every so often, their hearts will start to hurt like 10:13 Wed, 23 Jul hell, and they need medicine just to cope.. ¡°And once they¡¯ve fused with animal genes, they start to pick up¡­ some of their habits. They get more¡­ animalistic.¡± Roy running away meant he didn¡¯t have the meds. Shermaine still hadn¡¯t managed to make any herself. The potion she whipped up earlier was meant to suppress the animal genes, and it worked to some extent, but the side effects were too harsh. It wasn¡¯t gentle enough. Loff¡¯s condition had pretty much been wrecked by it. A weakened body meant he wouldn¡¯tst here anymore. If he had any sense, he¡¯d get out of this ce. But knowing Loff¡¯s ambition, Shermaine figured he¡¯d probably repeat the same mistakes, so it was likely he was already done for. Molly¡¯s face darkened. ¡°So, can we find Roy? He¡¯s been suffering for two years. He can¡¯t keep going like this.¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t look at her and just continued, ¡°The truth is, he¡¯s already escaped, but we still can¡¯t find where he¡¯s hiding.¡± Molly bit her lip, a storm of emotions swirling inside her. ¡°If he¡¯s out there, why hasn¡¯t hee to us? Why hasn¡¯t he reached out?¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow with a slight smile. ¡°Maybe he feels like a monster now. He¡¯s probably too embarrassed to show himself.¡± Back at the mansion, Roy, who had been lost in thought about Molly, couldn¡¯t shake the ominous feeling creeping over him. AD Nurse walking 579 Chapter 579 Molly was genuinely upset when she found out that Roy had escaped, yet hadn¡¯t reached out to any of them. To her, there was nothing shamell abouts it. They were his family, his trusted friends. They would never turn their backs on him. Sure, seeing Loff in his beastly form had been a bit revolting, but the moment she imagined it was Roy, that feeling instantly disappeared. Molly couldn¡¯t care less what form he took. Even if his face was disfigured, it wouldn¡¯t matter to her. She didn¡¯t love a man for his looks. She loved Roy simply because he was the first person in the world to love her with such purity and sincerity. Her family had always been tooplicated, and it had made her distrust the so¨Ccalled love, friendship, and family bonds from a young age. Even her mother had told her not to ce too much importance on those things. To Molly, they seemed optional at best. Still, she was grateful to have friends like Shermaine and Danielle. Right now, the only thing she wanted was for Roy toe back to her. Once they returned to Ustrana, Shermaine and Molly parted ways. Shermaine went straight to theb, and Molly had a pile of work waiting for her. So Roy waited patiently until the evening. Around 11 p.m., Molly finally returned. Roy had been waiting at the elevator, his tail wagging furiously as soon as he saw her. Molly was exhausted. She kicked off her heels as soon as she stepped inside, and Roy followed her, practically bouncing with excitement. She went to the liquor cab, poured herself a drink, and sank onto the couch, taking a sip. Noticing that she wasn¡¯t in the best of moods, Roy, curious, wondered where Shermaine had taken Molly and what they had talked about. Molly didn¡¯t feel terrible. At least she knew from Shermaine that Roy was safe. He had been hiding for some reason, not wanting to contact anyone. ¡®Has he been keeping an eye on me all this time?¡® she wondered. As she sipped her drink, she suddenly felt something furry brush against her hand. Looking down, she saw Roy¡¯s wolf head trying to snatch the ss away. Molly froze for a second. ¡°Roy, knock it off,¡± she said, but Roy wasn¡¯t listening. He whimpered, determined to steal her drink. Molly lifted her hand higher, but Roy, his body shifting with the weight of his wolf form, pushed himself up. With a loud crack, thezy sofa couldn¡¯t handle the pressure, and it split open. Both Molly and Roy tumbled to the floor. Mollynded on a pillow, thankfully not hurt, but the weight of the wolf on top of her was a lot. Roy¡¯s paw, soft and warm, rested gently on her chest. Roy felt an unsettling stir within himself. Nearby, a husky watching the scene couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. The wine spilled over them both, a sweet, rich scent lingering in the air, intoxicating in its own way. Molly had taken off her coat when she got home, leaving her in just a white shirt. Now, with the alcohol soaking into the fabric, the ckce of her lingerie showed through, while Roy¡¯s paw stilly on her chest. Molly eyed him, then smirked, ¡°You little perv, move your paw.¡± Roy quickly pulled his paw back, but as he did, he yanked at a button on her shirt, sending it flying across the room. The button rolled away, leaving her skin exposed. Roy¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he took a step back, eyes wide, not daring to look. He had touched her before, but now, as he recalled the feeling, his woll tail stood straight up. He knew he shouldn¡¯t be thinking about it, but he couldn¡¯t help himself. All he wanted was to touch her again. If there had been a pool nearby, Roy might have jumped in to cool off. He was worried Molly would be angry, and he hated the thought of making her feel ufortable. Molly had never seen a wolf so intelligent. After what Shermaine had shown her earlier, with those beastly people, she couldn¡¯t help but connect this wolf to Roy. Her gaze turned to Roy, her voice firm. ¡°Roy,e here.¡± Roy lowered his head and trudged over. Molly gently reached up to touch his eyes, then scratched his chin. Roy wagged his tail harder, relieved, thinking she wasn¡¯t mad anymore. But then Molly¡¯s voice turned cold. ¡°Go stand in the corner and think about what you did. Don¡¯t move until I say so.¡± Roy spent the whole night in time¨Cout, staring at the wall. Over the next three days, he realized he was clearly out of favor. Molly didn¡¯t take him on walks anymore. When she came home, she barely acknowledged him. Worst of all, he was no longer allowed on the bed. Even when she took the husky out, she left him behind. Roy was sulking and restless, itching to destroy something just to let off steam. But he held back. Last time he¡¯d chewed up a chair and ruined some of Molly¡¯s clothes, and she¡¯d been furious. The memory was enough to keep him in check. Still, he needed an outlet. So when the husky came back from a walk, Roy snuck up behind it and yanked out all the fur from its tail until it waspletely bald. That morning, Molly had the rare luxury of a few hours off. After her workout, she was greeted by the husky trotting up to her, barking anxiously and turning around to show its bare, pathetic tail. She didn¡¯t need to ask who was responsible. It had Roy written all over it. Lucky looked heartbroken and utterly betrayed. He howled pitifully, ying up his victimhood for Molly¡¯s sympathy. Molly couldn¡¯t helpughing. She crouched down to pet him, whispering, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll deal with him.¡± And so Roy was back in the corner, front paws on the wall, his signature punishment pose. It wasn¡¯t the mostfortable position, but he¡¯d been through worse. What really stung, though, was how cold Molly had be. ¡°I¡¯m heading out. Stay right there,¡± she said, grabbing her bag. ¡°Awoo¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even try that whiny stuff,¡± she shot back without turning around. Lucky was curled up in his bed, happily gnawing on a bone. But his peace didn¡¯tst long. He suddenly felt a chill, a sense of danger creeping in. Before he could react, Roy was on him again. This time, he went for the top of Lucky¡¯s head, leaving him with a shiny bald patch right between the ears. ?? JUI Lucky caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and looked devastated. Heartbroken and full of righteous fury, the husky finally snapped. He went into full demolition mode. Age may have slowed him down a little, but when it came to wrecking a room, he was still a pro. Roy stood amid the chaos, silently weighing his options. Maybe it was time to skip town for a while. When Molly got back, there was no way this was going to end with just a p on the paw. After all, a fallen¨Cfrom¨Cgrace wolf didn¡¯t exactly rank high in the household hierarchy. What Roy didn¡¯t know was that a seed of suspicion had already taken root in Molly¡¯s mind. After observing him for the past three days, she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that there was something too familiar about that wolf. His sudden appearance was just a little too well¨Ctimed. And that constant, almost haunting sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu was hard to ignore. The only reason she¡¯d named him Roy in the first ce was because he reminded her so much of someone. She thought back to the day Shermaine had taken her out. In hindsight, Shermaine hadn¡¯t been subtle at all. She¡¯d been dropping hints left and right. Molly could have asked her to confirm everything right then. But she didn¡¯t. She wanted to see how long Roy could keep pretending. AD Nurse walking 580 Chapter 580 News from Bruce finally came through, and just ka Sharmaine hued predicted, it was a tog But even if it was a trap, they still had to go. Bruce had fallen into their hands, and they couldn¡¯t just leave hi Had Molly been caught off guard, she might have walked right into their soare. But now, with advance and take them all down. Molly gave the order. ¡°Get the team ready. Fuel the jet. We leave for Avalmere first thing tomorrow She nned to split her team into two groups. The first group would go with her, and the second group would stay behind. They¡¯d leave tonight w once they arrived, wait for her instructions, without a single hint of their ns leaking out. The people she¡¯d arranged were her loyal assassins, ones she¡¯d trained personally. She didn¡¯t worry about spies revealing their movements. Shermaine around, even if something went wrong, she¡¯d be the first to step in. Once everything was set, it was already evening Molly stretched and thought about Roy back at home. She wondered how he was doing, She couldn¡¯t help but recall the way he had looked at her when she left earlier, his eyes full of longing. Her heart softened. Whether human or wolf, it seemed like he always found a way to pull at her heartstrings. But he was already back, at her side, without revealing his true identity. Molly felt the punishment was light enough. In a good mood, she grabbed her car keys and headed home. Roy had been waiting all day, and now it was already night, but Molly still hadn¡¯t returned. Worse, his body was starting to feel wrong. His heart was racing, and soon a sharp, suffocating pain spread through him. He was burning with fever now. His head was dizzy, and he staggered to the bathroom, copsing beside the cool tub in an attempt to cool down. His heart was pounding so fast that he wanted to reach out to Shermaine, to figure out what was happening, but his body was too weak to move. Roy thought maybe a nap would help, like it always had before. He had always managed to get through the pain by focusing on Molly. No matter how bad it got, as long as he thought of her, he could push through. She was his anchor. When Molly arrived home, she was met with chaos. The sofa was torn apart. Feathers were scattered everywhere, and everything was a mess, except for her bed. She put down her keys, already feeling a headacheing on. She nced at the corner of the room, but Roy was nowhere to be seen. Lucky, on the other hand, was sprawled in his bed, happily ying with a toy. Molly shouted, ¡°Lucky!¡± Lucky jumped, then started barking in protest, as if saying it wasn¡¯t his fault. He ran over, wagging his tail and shaking his head, almost like he was trying to tattle. Molly spotted the patch of fur missing from Lucky¡¯s head. She was furious at first, but then, seeing his pitiful expression, she couldn¡¯t help butugh. She didn¡¯t even need to check the security footage. She already knew what had happene Roy was probably still angry, jealous even, and had taken it out on Lucky by pulling his fur torky, in turn, adverted furniture. Molly sighed andforted him. ¡°It¡¯ll grow back. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Lucky, not expecting her to side with Roy, felt a little abandoned. Molly asked, ¡°Where is he?¡± Lucky let out a grunt and refused to answer. The truth was, Lucky didn¡¯t know. With age, his sense of smell had dulled, and after he¡¯d woken up from his nap, he simply couldn¡¯t End Boy anyo Molly searched the house, calling out anxiously, ¡°Roy? Roy?¡± Her eyes shed with panic. If Roy had left her again, this wouldn¡¯t just be about a little punishment. It would be far worse than that. She checked every room, her frustration growing with every passing second. But no matter where she looked, there was no sign of ham. Molly¡¯s anger bubbled up, and her eyes started to redden. The husky watched her quietly, sensing her distress. For the first time, he saw her so upset, like she had lost something precious. Seeing his owner so shaken over a wolf, Lucky decided to stop causing trouble. He sniffed the air, struggling to track Roy¡¯s scent. After a moment, seemed to focus on something in the bathroom. Lucky let out two sharp howls, and Molly¡¯s eyes snapped to him. Another howl, and she quickly followed him into the bathroom. That was when she found Roy, curled up in the bathtub. Seeing him there, in human form, Molly felt like she had stepped into a dream. Roy¡¯s face was flushed with fever, his skin burning, and he was clutching his chest like he couldn¡¯t breathe. Without a second thought, Molly lifted him up. Despite the two year¡¯s that had passed, his body was still lean and strong, every muscle defined, every line smooth. She quickly took off her jacket and wrapped it around him, then called Shermaine. Shermaine was mid¨Ccall with Joshua, but the calming medication she had given him wasn¡¯t working. He hadn¡¯t had a decent sleep since Shermaine had left. Molly¡¯s call came in, and Shermaine switched to her. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Molly didn¡¯t waste any time. ¡°Roy¡¯s not okay.¡± Shermaine frowned. ¡°It sounds like an episode. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll send the medication via drone.¡± The meds would only stabilize him for now as Shermaine was still working on a perfect form. Roy needed something much stronger than what worked for others. Molly nodded, ¡°Okay, thank you.¡± ¡°Is his heart rate still high? How fast is it?¡± Molly ced her hand on his chest, feeling the rapid thud. She quickly calcted. ¡°About 800 beats per minute.¡± Shermaine¡¯s voice was calm but firm. ¡°It¡¯s not as bad as it sounds. Don¡¯t worry. He¡¯ll be fine.¡± Meanwhile, Roy, half¨Cconscious and disoriented, felt like he was dreaming. He saw Molly holding him and instinctively clung to her ¡°More chest¡­¡± Roy had always been the affectionate one, and Molly couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of sympathy for him. ¡°It¡¯ll pass, I promise Just hang in there, On the other end, Shermaine wisely hung up, giving them some privacy. Mollyforting Roy like this was something Shermaine had never witnessed before. Roy buried his face against Molly, rubbing against her. The pain in his body seemed to lessen with her warmth ¡°Momo, don¡¯t ignore me Don¡¯t be mad at me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not ignoring you.¡± ¡°You took that dog out, but you didn¡¯t take me with you,¡± heined, his voice almost childlike. Roy had such an innocent, almost angelic look, with eyes so clear and pure that it was hard to believe he had such a possessive streak lurking underneath. When he acted this way, Molly couldn¡¯t help but feel a mix of affection and amusement. Molly sighed, trying to stay serious. ¡°Do you even realize what you did wrong?¡± Roy, still feverish and out of it, blinked up at her, clearly confused. He looked at her gorgeous, striking face, the way she glowed with an alluring scant, and felt a rush of warmth. He kissed her softly, murmuring, ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. You¡¯re mine, Momo. I missed you so much.¡± AD Nurse walking 581 Chapter 581 Roy kissed her fiercely, almost as though he were biting her. Despite the searing pain coursing through his body, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to pull away from Molly. His kiss was urgent, desperate, like it was the only thing keeping him tethered to reality. Molly flinched slightly at the sharpness of his bite, the sting making her gasp, but she didn¡¯t pull back. She needed him just as much Roy kept murmuring, ¡°Momo¡­ ¡°Momo¡­¡± His kisses were frantic, almost suffocating. The pain in his body was unbearable, but in the moments when he held her, it felt like he could breathe again. ¡°Momo, you smell so good¡­¡± he rambled. Before long, Roy¡¯s ears shifted into wolf form. Then, a tail emerged. It wasn¡¯t long after that he noticed his nails had grown long, sharp, and ugly. It felt like a bucket of cold water was dumped over him. He recoiled, terrified. He felt like a monster, scared that he might hurt her. His eyes filled with panic, his hands quickly trying to hide his ws, afraid Molly would see. But Molly, noticing his distress, couldn¡¯t help but feel her heart tighten. She gently moved closer to him, her voice soft andforting. ¡°I don¡¯t care. Roy. I love you, no matter what you are.¡± Roy¡¯s breath caught in his throat. He looked at her, his heart aching. ¡°You love me?¡± Molly smiled and cupped his face, kissing him gently on the forehead. Then she brushed her lips against his. ¡°Yes, I love you.¡± Roy¡¯s breathing quickened, his heart racing. Molly kissed his throat, her lips trailing down. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to hold me?¡± Unable to resist, Roy wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. His grip was tight, and Molly¡¯s body went soft in his embrace. Roy¡¯s voice trembled as he whispered, ¡°Momo¡­ kiss me more¡­ it hurts so much¡­ I missed you.¡± He was like a parched desert, desperate for water, craving her touch, thefort of her love. Molly ran her fingers through his hair, pulling him into another kiss. Roy surrendered, letting her take control, feeling safe in her arms. For a moment, he almost convinced himself this was just a dream. Time passed in a blur, and a drone suddenly flew in, dropping off the medicine Shermaine had sent. Roy¡¯s condition had worsened. His heart wasn¡¯t the only thing out of control. His body was beginning to give way too. Molly took the medicine and immediately ced it in his mouth. Chapter 581. The bitter taste made Roy wrinkle his nose. ¡°Momo, what did you give me?¡± Molly smiled softly. ¡°It¡¯s medicine to help you feel better. Trust me. Swallow it.¡± Roy nodded, swallowing it obediently, though the bitterness made him grimace. His face was flushed, his body tight with difort. But as the medicine took effect, his heart rate began to slow, and his breathing steadied Hekay holding onte Molly. ¡°Momo, I¡¯m so tired. Just let me sleep for a bit¡­¡± Molly stroked his hair, whispering, ¡°Go ahead, sleep.¡± And so, Roy slipped into a deep sleep, his body shifting back into his wolf form, almost as if it were instinct. Molly adjusted his position carefully, making sure he wasfortable, before stepping out of the bathtub. Her clothes had been ruined in the chaos, and as she looked at herself in the mirror, she saw the marks from his desperate grip, bruises and scratches from where he had clung to her. Her skin still tingled from the heat of the moment, but she took a deep breath and turned on the shower. She washed quickly, then grabbed a bathrobe from the closet. After tossing the ruined clothes in the trash, she grabbed a nket and gently covered Roy. Since she couldn¡¯t lift him, she made the best of it, letting him sleep in the bathtub for the night. It wasrge enough for him to befortable. Once everything was set, she went to the medicine cab and applied some ointment to the marks on her body. She checked her phone and saw a message from Shermaine. [How¡¯s Roy?] Molly replied: [He¡¯s asleep.] Shermaine: [Good. Get some rest yourself. Good night.] Molly: [Bruce¡¯s message came through. I need to head to Avalmere tomorrow morning.[ Shermaine: [Go ahead. Call me if you need anything.] Molly: [Thank you. Good night.] Shey down in bed, wincing as she felt the lingering pain from Roy¡¯s touch. Next time, if Roy couldn¡¯t control his strength, she¡¯d make sure he didn¡¯t hold her like that again. Shermaine had just said goodnight to Molly and was about to settle into bed when the doorbell rang. At this hour, she figured it was probably someone who¡¯d had too much to drink and stumbled to the wrong door. She peered through the peephole, then chuckled to herself. Opening the door, she found Joshua standing there with a bouquet of roses in hand. He grinned and handed them to her. ¡°Surprise!¡°/ Shermaine raised an eyebrow, taking the roses. ¡°So, you just came all the way here to sleep with me?¡± Joshua shrugged yfully, not answering directly. Without Shermaine, he couldn¡¯t sleep. And with that thought, he had Apocalypse drive him straight to Ustrana. 214 It didn¡¯t take long. Apocalypse was fast, and he¡¯d head back in the morning. Shermaine couldn¡¯t help but think it was a bit of a waste for such a high¨Ctech Al to be used just as a ride. Joshua scooped her up, grinning. ¡°Baby, I¡¯ll just nap for a bit and head back.¡± It was daytime in Wallington, and nighttime in Ustrana, so technically, a nap wasn¡¯t that far off. Shermaineughed, lying down on the bed. She ced the roses aside, and Joshua leaned in to kiss her. ¡°Good afternoon, Sheary.¡± Joshua, who couldn¡¯t even sleep with calming pills, immediately drifted off once he had Shermaine in his arms. After setting an rm for two hours, it rang, and he woke up feeling totally refreshed. Meanwhile, Shermaine had fallen asleep. Then, she felt someone nudge her. She blinked awake and saw Joshua staring at her, his eyes dark with longing. ¡°Sheary, I missed you.¡± Shermaine raised an eyebrow, suspecting that this was Joshua¡¯s real n all along. She was just about to kick him out of the bed when he grabbed her leg, kissing her ankle, then slowly working his way up her body. The morning came in Ustrana. Roy woke up feeling surprisingly good, though he quickly realized he was still in the bathtub, a nket draped over him. His mind was a bit hazy, and he couldn¡¯t remember when Molly hade back. Last night, he was delirious with the fever, and his memories were a blur. But just the thought of Molly had him leaping out of the bathtub and rushing out of the room. Molly, exhausted from the previous night, hadn¡¯t had anyone disturb her. It wasn¡¯t until morning that she¡¯d called for help. She was getting ready to leave now, wearing her Martin boots and a ck coat, with a gun and a knife hidden under her jacket. Roy¡¯s eyes widened as he dashed toward her, letting out a small howl. Molly looked over at him, noticing how he was staring at her like he hadn¡¯t remembered anything fromst night. ¡°I¡¯m going out. Stay here. Don¡¯t cause trouble. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± Roy grabbed at her clothes, pulling at her sleeve with his teeth, as if saying he wanted to go with her. Molly sighed, feeling a bit defeated. ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± Roy let out a howl again, his eyes wide, almost as if he was worried about something he did the night before. Molly raised an eyebrow. ¡°You wannae with me?¡± Roy howled in response, wagging his tail. Molly hesitated for a moment. She really didn¡¯t feel safe leaving him alone, and after considering it, she gave in. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go together.¡± What Roy didn¡¯t know was that Molly was heading out for some serious business, revenge. revenge. Nurse walking 582 Chapter 582 Chapter 582 Roy happily followed Molly onto the ne. By morning, he was feeling full of energy, like his old self again. Molly, who had been distant and cold for the past few days, was back to her usual self, spoiling him and letting him get away with things. Roy couldn¡® help but feel at ease. Turns out, being sick wasn¡¯t all bad after all. He was dying to know where they were headed, but since he was a wolf now, asking wasn¡¯t exactly an option. Just then, Molly had ordered some milk, along with a te of delicious meat, toast, cheese, and bacon. The smell made his stomach growl louder than ever. These were all high¨Ccalorie foods, but Roy burned through energy quickly, so he didn¡¯t have to worry about packing on the pounds. Molly was flipping through a magazine, but her eyes kept drifting over to Roy as he ate. Even as a wolf, he had manners. He wasn¡¯t using his paws to grab food and was sitting with proper posture, like a well¨Ctrained gentleman. After a few bites, Roy got thirsty and started drinking the milk. The way he licked his lips and sucked it down reminded Molly of a cat. He was so cute, and his tail even wagged with joy. She couldn¡¯t help but smile. Maybe it was the way she was looking at him. Roy noticed her gaze and looked up. Molly called out, ¡°Roy,e here.¡± He padded over and rested his head in herp, looking up at her with those big, soulful eyes. Molly, unable to resist, grabbed a handkerchief and gently wiped the milk from his mouth. Roy felt his heart flutter. She looked gorgeous today, and he suddenly really wanted to kiss her. His tail wagged faster, and he almost forgot himself, leaning forward to lick her again. Molly wiped his mouth clean and leaned in to kiss the top of his head. ¡°Good boy.¡± But as much as Roy wanted to bask in her affection, something was off. He was starting to feel jealous of himself as a wolf. Molly had kissed him while he was a wolf. The way she looked at him and the tenderness in her touch was something he hadn¡¯t experienced before, and it made him feel uneasy. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder if she was starting to see the wolf as a recement for him. After all, she had named the wolf Roy. Why would she do that if she didn¡¯t see him as a stand¨Cin for the real thing? The more he thought about it, the more it gnawed at him. Jealousy twisted inside him, and he couldn¡¯t shake it. Molly noticed his sudden shift in mood and grinned/guessing Roy was probably jealous of himself. She reached down and teased, ¡°Roy, give me your paw.¡± Roy hesitated, then reluctantly ced his paw in her hand. Molly held it gently, being careful to avoid the sharp ws. She squeezed the soft part of his paw and gave it a few light scratches. Roy¡¯s heart sank. ¡®She really does think of me as the wolf, doesn¡¯t she?¡® The thought made him feel more miserable than ever. About two hourster, theynded in Avalmere. The moment Roy stepped off the ne, he was hit by the sharp cold and instantly recognized their surroundings. They were in Avalmera Roy didn¡¯t have any particr hatred for the ce, but thinking about the two years he¡¯d spent locked in Faye¡¯s underground made his blond bol He couldn¡¯t help but entertain the thought of going back to get revenge on Faye. He wanted to kill her, but he knew better than to act on impulse Faye was clever, and if he messed up, he wouldn¡¯t be able to stay by Molly¡¯s side. For now, he decided it was best to wait and figure out why Molly had brought him here. A jeep pulled up to pick Molly up, and the rest of the group piled into other jeeps. The weather was bitterly cold, and the sky was overcast. Molly, wearing her coat, leaned against the window, holding a cigarette with one hand, exuding an effortless, sexy confidence. There was a kind of raw elegance about her that Roy couldn¡¯t resist. After finishing her cigarette, she slipped her hand under Roy¡¯s belly, probably trying to warm up from the cold wind. Roy¡¯s body was naturally warmer, and within moments, her hand was toasty. She even gave him a yful scratch, teasing him in the way she always did. Roy¡¯s jealousy bubbled up inside him, more intense than ever. He was, in a way, the recement, yet here he was, feeling possessive over Molly¡¯s attention. When they reached the base, Roy finally understood why they were in Avalmere, It had to do with a man named Bruce. Bruce had been trying to take down the Immortality Project for years, but he¡¯d been caught in a trap. Now, he was being held hostage. Molly was busy in a meeting with the team, nning the rescue. Bruce was being kept on a mountain, and the ce was surrounded by at least a hundred guards. Avalmere was perpetually snowy, and that mountain was nearly impossible to scale. They had a detailed n to rescue Bruce, set for the early hours of the morning. The afternoon slipped by, and even though the base had heating, the cold still seeped in. Roy ran out for a bit, but by the time night fell, he hadn¡¯te back yet. Molly stood by the door, her brow furrowed with concern. Roy had dashed off without saying a word, and she was getting frustrated. But Roy hadn¡¯t gone far. He¡¯d just ventured up the mountain to take a look, sniffing around the area. He confirmed that Bruce was indeed held there, and he could smell the wild animal scent on the guards. He didn¡¯t get too close but made a mental note of everything before heading back down. When he returned, he found Molly standing outside, smoking, her expression cold as ever. He called out to her and shook the snow off his/fur as he approached. Molly didn¡¯t say anything at first, just exhaled sharply. ¡°Next time, tell me before you run off like that.¡± Roy could tell she was mad, but he trotted over and wagged his tail. Weo, Molly wasn¡¯t having it, though ¡°If you do that again, I¡¯ll tie you up. Roy was confused. He was d tolly cared so much, but it also made him feet a bit conflicted She was treating him like a real person, even though he was just a wolf, Roy followed her into the base and down to their room. The room had one bed, and the cold was cutting. There wasn¡¯t even a nket on the floor. Molly grabbed a hairdryer and began drying the snow off Roy¡¯s fur. Since she was still mad, Roy didn¡¯t dare get on the bed, and the cold floor wasn¡¯t any better After a few minutes, Molly finished drying him off and went to the bathroom to wash up. She came out in a sweatshirt and sweatpants but still felt cold She was still upset, but the chill made it hard for her to sleep. With a frustrated sigh, she called out, ¡°Roy,e here.¡± Roy immediately jumped up on the bed, and Molly lifted the covers. ¡°Crawl in here.¡± Roy snuggled under the nkets, his wolf head poking out. It was their first time sharing a bed like this. If he were human, it would¡¯ve been much better, but the warmth quickly made him forget about that. Molly rxed as the warmth filled the bed. She closed her eyes, letting go of her frustration. After a while, the room was quiet, and Roy finally shifted back into his human form. He gently pulled Molly into his arms, careful not to wake her. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a little frustrated. When he was human, he had to work so hard just for a kiss. Now, as a wolf, everything came so easily. He kissed her softly on the nose, then moved to her lips, unable to get enough. His hunger for her couldn¡¯t be satisfied. AD Nurse walking 583 Roy held Molly in his arms, ready to take a quick nap before she woke up. He nned to change back into a wolf before she stirred. With that in mind, he closed his eyes, buried his face in her neck, and drifted off to sleep, holding her close. But suddenly, Molly¡¯s eyes popped open, a mix of annoyance and amusement on her face. She ran her fingers through his hair, realizing what had happened, and then pinched his cheek. She pulled back a little, but Roy immediately leaned in again. Mollyughed softly and stopped pushing him away. Around 4 a.m., Roy woke up with a frown. He suddenly pushed her off, his ears flushing red with embarrassment. He quietly backed away and shifted back into his wolf form. strange heat rose in him. He was thirsty, restless, and needed to get outside for a bit. Roy tried to steady himself, but it wasn¡¯t until Molly got up at 5 a.m. that he started feeling better and even a little embarrassed. With a frustrated howl, Roy bolted out of the room, rolling around in the snow a few times to cool off before heading back inside. By then, everyone at the base was gearing up to leave. Molly, in her ck gloves, stood by a snowmobile, ready for action. She hopped on, swinging one leg over the vehicle, with Roy quickly jumping up beside her. Some of the others, seeing how smart the wolf was, couldn¡¯t help but stare. Up on the snow¨Ccovered mountainside, Bruce was locked in a cage, his hands and feet shackled with iron chains. He was a pretty terrifying guy, and capturing him had taken a lot of effort. The guards here worked in shifts. The lights were on, and six men and women were lounging on a couch. One of them holding a phone said, ¡°Molly¡¯s hooked, and she¡¯s on her way. Get ready for good news. ¡°Don¡¯t forget the favor you promised our boss when you take over as the head of the Hill family. Alright, I¡¯m hanging up now.¡± After the call ended, one woman, sucking on a lollipop, sighed. ¡°This is so boring. If we¡¯re wasting time, at least let me find that wolf¨Cgene test subject.¡± A man grumbled darkly, ¡°That wolf killed my sister. I¡¯ve been waiting for revenge ever since.¡± They keptining until they heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Molly and the team had arrived. ¡°Stopining. It¡¯s time to work,¡± one of them said, and they all stood up. Molly tested the gun in her hand. Shermaine had given it to her. After firing a shot, she was impressed by how powerful and long¨Crange it was. The st was so strong that it blew everyone off the watchtower before they could even react. With Roy and a few subordinates clearing out other guards, Molly quickly entered the house, it was a three¨Cstory building. As soon as they stepped inside, Roy howled a couple of times. Molly seemed to understand his meaning. ¡°Go ahead. Be careful.¡± Roy darted off, knowing exactly where Bruce was locked up. He raced up the stairs, and anyone who saw him didn¡¯t dare stop him. Those who tried to shoot at him were sent flying by a single swipe of his nam The unfortunate guard, unable to withstand Roy¡¯s strength, was knocked out told with one swipe. ¡°This wolf¡¯s pretty tough. You guys head down. Let me handle him,¡± one of the six said as they descended from above. ¡°Fine,¡± the others agreed. Roy smelled something familiar. These people also had the scent of beasts on them, so they were test subjects of Faye¡¯s experiments. Roy¡¯s eyes narrowed, his gaze filled with deadly intent. One man, staying behind, smirked and rushed toward him. His speed was impressive. As he kicked, his muscles bulged, and brown fur sprouted, revealing his orangutan gene. Roy raised his paw just in time to block the kick, then sank his ws into the man¡¯s flesh. With a quick motion, he flung him across the room. The mart mmed into the wall with a deafening crash. The man was stunned. He hadn¡¯t expected the wolf to catch his attack and toss him aside like a ragdoll. The impact was painful. Enraged, the man¡¯s body continued to morph, fully transforming into a beast, his head still human. He roared and threw another punch. In his beast form, his strength was ten times what it had been in his human body. He was the second most powerful beast¨Cman, after the wolf¨Cgene human. Roy casually caught his punch again and effortlessly tossed him away, this time with even more force. ¡°You¡­¡± the man tried to guess something, but before he could finish, Roy lunged at him. A swipe of Roy¡¯s paw silenced the man¡¯s cries as the sound of his body being torn apart echoed through the floor. Roy¡¯s ws shed again and again until the man¡¯s body was a bloody mess, lying motionless on the ground. After a moment, Roy calmly licked his ws before continuing his ascent. The third floor wasn¡¯t any safer. Roy bared his teeth and charged forward, tearing through the guards with brutal efficiency. Downstairs, Molly gripped her gun and aimed at one of the shapeshifters with snake genes. She pulled the trigger, and the recoil sent a rush of satisfaction through her. The shot hit its mark, and the snake¨Clike shapeshifter¡¯s body shattered into a bloody mess. His face was unrecognizable. The scene was gory, and the rest of the crew couldn¡¯t help but freeze in shock. The remaining four shapeshifters exchanged wary nces. ¡°Watch out for that gun,¡± one muttered. ¡°Let¡¯s spread out and take her down.¡± But by the time thest of their allies had been wiped out, the four remaining were losing steam. ¡°Where¡¯s the backup? Why are they taking so long?¡± one of them barked. Molly gave a smirk, thinking, ¡®Backup? They¡¯re probably not getting here at all.¡® Meanwhile, on the second floor, the gori¨Clike shapeshifter, his body still slumped on the floor, managed to twitch his fingers. With thest of his strength, he shot a quick text to Faye. Back in Ustrana, Shermaine was monitoring Molly¡¯s progress. Thanks to the Apocalypse system, she had everything under control, even catching the message the dying shapeshifter had sent. 211 Joshua, who had promised to return to Wallington within two hours, hadn¡¯t left at all. He¡¯d given himself a day off. Meanwhile, Bray, back in Wallington, was practically drowning in work. Shermaine was about to climb out of bed when Joshua, ever the trickster, wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back into the covere As he shifted, his back exposed red, scratch¨Clike marks. His body was taut and defined, a reminder of his earlier efforts. He hadn¡¯t let go yet. In fact, he clung to her more tightly now. It looked like it wasn¡¯t just Roy who was about to face his heat cycle this March. ¡°I¡¯m serious, Joshua. Let go. I need to get to Avalmere. Molly¡¯s there,¡± Shermaine said, her tone firm. Joshua whispered, ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere. We¡¯ll goter.¡± Shermaine pushed up off his shoulder. ¡°Joshua, you¡¯ve been glued to me all day.¡± Joshua leaned in, kissing her lightly. ¡°You don¡¯t mind, do you?¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t respond. He smirked, his eyes twinkling with mischief. ¡°Gracie needs a little brother, right?¡± Shermaine was momentarily speechless, knowing exactly what he was doing, using any excuse to keep her close. After Roy took care of thest of the guards on the third floor, he snapped through the steel bars of Bruce¡¯s cage with ease, breaking the chains apart like they were nothing. Bruce watched the whole thing, frowning. It was clear that this wolf wasn¡¯t just any wolf. Roy ignored him, turning to head downstairs. He needed to find Molly. The shapeshifters might have been no match for him, but Molly didn¡¯t have their strength, and that could be dangerous. It was a worry that turned out to be unnecessary. By the time Roy made his way down, Molly had already handled the rest. The floor was littered with bodies, and she was casually smoking a cigarette. Roy padded up to her. Molly exhaled a puff of smoke, her face half¨Chidden by the wisps of it. She looked at his dirty paws. ¡°You¡¯ve gotten them all filthy.¡± Roy let out a frustrated whine. He didn¡¯t want to use his mouth, but he didn¡¯t have much of a choice with his paws in such a state. Just then, Bruce came down from upstairs. They exchanged a few quick words, then Molly turned to Roy. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go wash up.¡± But as they stepped toward the door, the ground started to tremble. The entire house seemed to shake violently. Molly looked up toward the mountain, watching it tremble. Her eyes narrowed. ¡°Avnche. Everyone, get out. Now!¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Nurse walking 584 Chapter 584 At Molly¡¯smand, everyone immediately started to move out. But the avnche was something else entirely. It roared down from the mountain, crashing like a tidal wave. The speed only increased, creating a chain reaction, and the massive white waves seemed to rise up and threaten to swallow them whole. The sky was still dark, and the snow¨Ccovered mountain was steep. Behind them, more snow kept tumbling down, and the path they¡¯d been following had long since vanished as they scrambled to escape. Molly steered the snowmobile toward an area with more trees and rocks. The trees and rocks would slow the avnche¡¯s momentum, giving them a better chance of surviving. Roy wasn¡¯t with her on the snowmobile. His speed and strength were more than enough to keep him ahead, and in the darkness, his vision was sharper than anyone¡¯s. He stayed out front, guiding them through the chaos. Every now and then, Roy would nce back, making sure Molly was still safe. Their group had scattered in the chaos of the avnche, and now, only Roy could protect her. If he could, he would¡¯ve carried Molly on his back. It would¡¯ve been safer than riding the snowmobile. But with the snow closing in so quickly, it wasn¡¯t the time to change tactics. Just then, the unmistakable sound of a helicopter cut through the air, and a bright light shone down from above. Roy immediately sensed the danger. It was the enemy. Through the darkness, he saw her, Faye, on the helicopter, her night¨Cvision scope trained on them. A cold, murderous rage filled Roy¡¯s eyes. That maniac had shown up. Molly, too, noticed the helicopter overhead. She nced back, her expression darkening, but she didn¡¯t flinch. Her face remained unreadable. Inside the helicopter, Faye leaned over and asked a man nearby for a gun. She¡¯d already spotted Molly and the wolf leading the way. She was almost giddy. She hadn¡¯t expected her experiment to seed so soon. Roy was everything she hoped for, the perfect specimen. She knew she had to take him, but the woman with him was a problem. If Roy was so attached to her, Faye decided to remove her without a second thought. Faye aimed, pulling the trigger. Molly, however, mmed the throttle and pushed forward, speeding up. The st from the cannon sounded like thunder, and snow exploded everywhere, rocks shattered, and a massive hole appeared in the ground. But he avnche quickly filled the hole, covering it in seconds Faye scowled when her first shot missed. So, this was the woman who had killed five of her beastly subordinates. She wasn¡¯t to be underestimated. Her face twisted into something feral as she fired again and again, each shot fueled by madness. Roy let out a growl, full of rage. The snowmobile surged forward, lifting into the air. Molly pulled out her gun and shot at the helicopter. The helicopter pilot jerked the controls, changing course. The bullet hit the side of the aircraft with a loud thud. Molly fired a few more shots, her wild and fierce energy radiating off her. Even with the avnche chasing them, she wasn¡¯t afraid to fight back. 15.01 24 JUL G GO Molly, mimicking Shermaine¡¯s move, shot the helicopter a middle finger. Faye¡¯s face twisted with fury. She thought, ¡®That¡¯s it. She¡¯s challenging me.¡¯ Without hesitation, she snapped, ¡°Take her down! st that snowmobile out of the sky!¡± Instantly, the firepower grew even more intense. Roy¡¯s frustration red. He wanted nothing more than to sprout wings and tear those people to shreds. The ground beneath them shook as another shell exploded, sending shockwaves through the air. Molly¡¯s snowmobile swerved dangerously, barely staying upright. Roy spotted the trees ahead, hoping Molly could make it. If she could get to the woods, the avnche would slow down, and they¡¯d finally have some cover. They couldn¡¯t keep using her as target practice. But then, disaster struck. The snowmobile hit something, maybe the stress of the chase or the snow finally taking its toll, and the tire blew out. Molly went flying. Roy whipped around, seeing her sail through the air. He raced back, his wolf body leaping across the snow, catching her mid¨Cfall. They tumbled in the snow for a few moments, rolling and sliding until they finally came to a stop with Roy underneath her. The avnche quickly covered the snowmobile, burying itpletely. Roy couldn¡¯t speak, so he simply licked Molly¡¯s face gently, checking if she was hurt. Molly, thankfully, was fine. She stood up quickly, looking at him with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Roy, are you crazy?¡± She really didn¡¯t need him to catch her. A couple of rolls on the ground wouldn¡¯t have done much harm. Roy let out a soft, apologetic whine, licking her face and neck again. He nudged her, signaling he wanted to carry her. Molly, rolling her eyes, didn¡¯t hesitate. She climbed onto his back. Roy felt her warmth against him. Despite the freezing cold, a strange thrill surged through him. Up in the helicopter, Faye¡¯s fury boiled over. Her perfect creation was supposed to follow her orders, not pledge loyalty to another woman. ¡®I should have marked him from the start,¡® Faye fumed. ¡®He should know who his true owner is.¡¯ She snarled into the radio, ¡°Why are you standing there? Fire! Don¡¯t just sit there!¡± But they¡¯d run out of ammo. The soldiers hesitated but quickly sped up the process. But this time, they weren¡¯t aiming at the snowmobile. They were after Roy. And even with all their firepower, they couldn¡¯t hit him. He was faster than the snowmobile, and he knew how to use the terrain to stay out of their line of sight. Before long, they were deep in the woods, vanishing from sight. The helicopter circled above, but the avnche was relentless. It roared into the trees, crashing through them for what seemed like forever, before slowly fading away. It took over ten minutes for Faye to climb down from the helicopter. She was seething. ¡°Find them. Now!¡± Roy found a hollow at the base of a tree and carefully carried Motty inside. The space was pitch dark, devoid of light, Molly slid off his back and sat on the ground. She reached into her pocket for her phone, only to realize it was gone. It must have been jostled out during 15:01 Thu, 24 JUIC GO their frantic escape. Roy, still tense and driven by instinct, sensed an opportunity. Faye would likelye looking for them, and this might be his only shot at revenge. H. leaned down and gave Molly¡¯s cheek a rough lick. Maybe once wasn¡¯t enough, because he did it again. Molly flinched, her face warm and slick from his tongue. Though the barbs were thankfully retracted, the texture still prickled her skin. ¡°Roy, what the hell are you doing?¡± she¡¯s said, pulling back. Roy gave a low growl and kept licking. Molly tried to dodge, but he followed relentlessly. In moments, he lunged and tackled her to the ground. Nurse walking 585 Chapter 585 Roy kept licking Molly. He might have been scared, trying to calm his jittery heart this way. Molly said helplessly, ¡°Alright, get up You¡¯re too heavy¡± Only then did Roy let out a low how, got up reluctantly, unwilling to leave. Molly sensed his intention to go out, so she asked, ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Roy howled. He signaled Molly to hide here for a while, that he¡¯d be right back, then ran out. ¡°Roye back?¡± Molly shouted Roy heard it, but he didn¡¯t look back After seeing him disappear, Molly clenched her fots. She was furious that Roy dared to leave her here again to take on Faye. This time was different from thest time. Last time, the was ambushed and injured,pletely unable to stand up to Faye. She even thought she might de. But Boy saved her, just like this sme, found a ce, and fiel has But now, she was fine the fitted to be uden is a secret ce waiting for rescue or anything. Molly wanted to help kay get evenge personally Faye was a scientist. She must know Roy¡¯s current abilities were strong, so she definitely wouldn¡¯t choose to fight how, Faye must have something to watan Boy, Molly walked auf of the the full with a sad expression. The only things left on her were a knife and apass. She was about to leave when a strong word came from ithout & marcha tal from the sky andnded in front of her Shame got out of the masha, haw Wolly, and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Boy 2 Molly¡¯s fours moerd a little Ster said, ¡°I ran off to get manga on kaya.¡± Sherman and anayobow. ¡°Set you Morty¡¯s mand turned sour again. She nodded meluctantly, then locked at Shermaine. Under Shermaine¡¯s sweater was her messy hair, Molly said, ¡°Don¡¯t tall me you came tune just affor making out¡± Shermame¡¯s expression changed for once. She pursed her lips, neither confirming nor denying Molly had been quite upset, but seeing Sharmaine like this, sheughed. She asked, ¡°When did foshuae to find you? You just let him get away with Sharmaine replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t let him get away with it. We won¡¯t have sex in the next three months,¡± Mollyughed loudly. She had finally won against Shermaine in this kind of banter. The Cestart pn Sherman¡¯s wrist glowed faintly blue, showing a map of the entire forest, with red dots representing Faye and her men However, Roy¡¯s current state didn¡¯t support face recognition, so Shermaine couldn¡¯t figure out his exact location ne just needed to find Faye, after all, Roy most wanted to kill Faye Ray¡¯s recklessness west bind fach in his own abilities. He knew Faye was a cunning woman, but with Shermaine¡¯s return, he didn¡¯t hold back his eng like before me thought even if he was in danger, Shermaine would definitely get him out of it. Let¡¯s go, we gang to find Roy, Shermage said, My dad 74% The mecha was too eye¨Ccatching and would easily expose their whereabouts, so Shermaine left it here. Walking was too much trouble, so Shermaine took out a snowboard bought from the Xyperia Empire. This snowboard worked almost like an ordinary one, except that ordinary ones needed you to slide yourself. This one started immediately when it sensed someone stepping on it, and it was extremely fast. Then Shermaine threw a pair of sses to Molly. When Molly put them on, at first she saw only ck, then her vision became extremely clear, it was clearer and brighter than any night¨Cvision goggles she had worn. Shermaine stepped on the snowboard first. She sped past trees at an extremely fast speed, heading for the target. Molly followed. Molly had to say this snowboard was really easy to use. She barely needed to operate it, just keep her bnce, and she could shuttle through the trees. High¨Ctech stuff was really handy. By this time, Roy was getting closer and closer to Faye. Along the way, whenever he encountered Faye¡¯s men, he would pounce and tear them apart. Those people didn¡¯t even get to let out a scream before being buried in the snow. Faye had felt Roy approaching. She said with a smile, ¡°Roy, you¡¯d bettere back with me. Your problem hasn¡¯t been solved. Without me, you¡¯ll die soon.¡± Roy didn¡¯t want to reply to this arrogant lunatic. Faye couldn¡¯tpare to Shermaine in any way. Shermaine¡¯s return had given him full confidence, so Roy started killing wildly. He killed enemies so fast that the forest was filled with the smell of blood. Faye knew he wouldn¡¯t submit to her. She shouted, ¡°Prepare the knockout smoke.¡± After everyone around her put on masks, a white smoke spread quickly through the forest. This knockout smoke was specially made for Roy. If he inhaled even a little, he would be weak all over and eventually unable to fight back. But that was far from enough. Faye also had a tranquilizer gun with arge dose of anesthetic. Roy pounced from the dark. Faye immediately shot the anesthetic, but Roy dodged. At this moment, Roy threw a stone at Faye from the dark. Faye rolled nimbly to avoid it, then shot in that direction. Roy jumped up, and the injection hit a tree. He turned back into a human, then grabbed the clothes and pants of a man nearby and put them on. His eyes were as fierce as the alpha wolf of a pack. The wolf¡¯s body had somewhat restricted his strength. Then he picked up a gun from the ground and shot at Faye. He held his breath while doing all this, and he could only hold it for five minutes. So after five minutes, when he breathed again, he must not inhale the knockout smoke. After turning back into a human, his physical enhancement didn¡¯t disappear, making Roy¡¯s attacks even more rapid. Faye barely avoided his punch. She leaned back to dodge, then Roy kicked her away. Faye hit a tree and fell into the snow. But she didn¡¯t seem to feel the pain, and the smile on her face became more insane. ¡°Roy, your strength is perfect, If we can fix that little w in your body, you¡¯ll definitely be the most perfect superhuman on earth.¡± Faye¡¯s madness made Roy narrow his eyes, and then he shot at her. He didn¡¯t care about being a superhuman. He just wanted to live a loving life with Molly. Faye didn¡¯t dodge, so the bullet shot into her shoulder. But she didn¡¯t seem to feel the pain. When she saw the blood gushing out, she immediately pulled out the bullet from her body, and then the wound healed quickly. Roy saw all this. He frowned, thought, ¡®What the hell is that?¡® Nurse walking 586 Chapter 586 Roy didn¡¯t find Faye¡¯s self¨Chealing weird. After all, his body could heal automatically, too. But his healing speed was nowhere near as fast as Fayes That night, after he got injured, it took him three to four hours to fully heal. If Joy had been shot just now, it would have taken him at least an hour to recoverpletely. Roy stared at her, puzzled. Faye said, ¡°Roy, don¡¯t be such a bad boy pointing a gun at me.¡± After saying that, she suddenly vanished. Roy couldn¡¯t catch her speed or position. And he couldn¡¯t breathe, so there was no way to use his sense of smell to find where she was. Suddenly, he lett someone behind him. Faye was holding a syringe, about to stab his shoulder. Roy turned around and grabbed her hand, then kicked her flying again. This time, she flew farther, rolled several times on the ground, and her head hit a stone, causing her to bleed. But when Faye stood up, her wound healed quickly. Herughter was crazy. By this time, five minutes had passed. Roy had to step out of the smoke again to get some oxygen. He thought, Thave to kill her. Roy shot Faye several more times, but this woman just wouldn¡¯t die. He felt he had made a miscalction. Roy had thought he could kill her, but he didn¡¯t expect Faye¡¯s self¨Chealing ability to be so strong, in that case, he¡¯d better leave. To avoid any idents, he chose to retreat quickly. After retreating, he could ask Shermaine if she could deal with Faye¡¯s fast self¨Chealing ability. However, after sensing Roy¡¯s intention to run away, Fayeughed even more wildly. She shouted, ¡°Roy, you can¡¯t run away. I won¡¯t let you get another chance to run.¡± Then, she gestured to her men, ¡°Cast the.¡± In the lingering smoke, the others threw electrified fishings at Roy one after another. Roy was focused on getting back to Molly. He would never let himself be caught by Faye here. Thest time was an ident, and he wouldn¡¯t let it happen again. A strong desire to survive made Roy quickly break through thes and escape from the smoke. Faye chased him while crazily shooting syringes. Soon, one syringe hit his calf. Though Roy pulled it out quickly, the dose in the syringe was really toorge. Just a little was injected, and he already felt dizzy. Roy thought, ¡®No, I have to run quickly:¡® Roy bit his tongue, using the pain to stimte his mind. This method really worked. So, he kept running while pinching his leg hard. Yet, Faye kept chasing him at a fast speed, not letting up. The wind howled in Roy¡¯s ears. The snow in the woods/was covered with many footprints. The drug slowe Roy had one thought all along¨Che couldn¡¯t be caught. If he were caught again, it would be a total shame. As he ran, Roy seemed to hear someone sliding toward him on the snow. He immediately turned and ran in that direction. When he found it was Shermaine, he was overjoyed. But then Roy saw Molly following Shermaine He shivered and immediately turned from a human into a wolf. lown. After turning into a wolf, he got out of his clothes. Seeing that the clothes on the ground would easily arouse suspicion, he suddenly stopped, then started digging a hole to bury them. 15:01 Thu, 24 JUL G G O Anyway, he couldn¡¯t let Molly find anything wrong. Besides, he ran off without permission, so Mome would deficitaty be angry with him, if a b he had hidden his identity, she¡¯d probably be even angrier, maybe even ignore him.. At the thought of this, he dug the hole deeper. So, everyone saw a white wolf keep digging. Faye nced at the wolf suspiciously, then noticed the two peopleing from afar. She knew one of them was Molly and why Molly was here. But Faye didn¡¯t expect the n to fail, and one of her loyal subordinates had died ads f
  1. it.
Faye didn¡¯t feel sorry for that subordinate. She just regretted that the most sessful test subject besides Roy had died like this. With another experiment, Faye might have made the chimpanzee¡¯s genes perfectly merge with his, creating a superhumanparable to Pay Faye didn¡¯t know the other woman, but she felt an inexplicable sense of alert. She looked Shermaine over, then noticed the Orthish on her wid. She was shocked. She thought, ¡®Earth shouldn¡¯t have such super¨Cadvanced technology. Why does this woman have it?¡± After Shermaine stopped, Faye stopped too. Roypletely buried the clothes in the deep hole, then happily ran toward Molly, howling to tell her about his injuries. Molly let out a sigh of relief when she saw Roy. She was afraid this fool would die for no reason, but luckily, Roy hadn¡¯t been blinded by anger. Roy ran toward Molly excitedly, but he didn¡¯t expect the drug to be so strong that his whole leg went numb. He didn¡¯t even feet himself hitting a store, so he tripped hard and rolled to Molly¡¯s feet. Molly¡¯s snowboard stopped. She was angry at first when she saw this, but couldn¡¯t helpughing. Roy was covered in snow, with snow in his mouth. He was spitting it out. He didn¡¯t expect to make a fool of himself in front of Molly, and Molly was evenughing at him. Maybe it was because Molly¡¯s smile was too nice, and with Faye chasing him all the time, he felt very uneasy. Now Roy just wanted to hug Molly, to be petted andforted by her. With that thought, Roy pounced on Molly again. Molly was pushed into the snow by Roy once more, Roy wagged his tail, stuck out his tongue, and started licking Molly¡¯s face. Shermaine felt speechless seeing this. Roy looked so silly. She really felt embarrassed to be his friend. But Molly just loved him like this. Shermaine decided that when Gracie grew up, she must not let her date someone like Roy or Joshua. Molly pulled his fur without mercy. ¡°What are you being so clingy for? You didn¡¯t deal with Faye, and you let her chase you. I told you to turn back then, why didn¡¯t you listen?¡± Roy¡¯s fur was pulled, but he didn¡¯t feel pain. Instead, he kept rubbing his head against Molly¡¯s chest. Molly loved him deeply. Even though he got jealous over nothing, the feeling of being cared for and loved by Molly was really great. Roy was carried away by the sweetness, so he didn¡¯t notice that he had exposed his identity. AD Comment Nurse walking 587 Chapter 587 Meanwhile Shermaine looked over at Faye. She noticed that even though Faye had been shot several times, her clothes stained red with blood, the was still full of energy, chasing after Roy. Faye was immortal. That was probably why Roy had retreated. Faye lost her patience first. She nced at Shermaine¡¯s wrist and asked, ¡°Why do you have that thing?¡± Shermaine lifted her hand. ¡°You mean the Orthish?¡± Faye nodded with a serious expression. Shermaine, of course, had no intention of answering her. She smiled and said casually, ¡°Guess.¡± She added calmly, ¡°It seems you¡¯re not from around here.¡± Faye didn¡¯t answer that question, for she really wasn¡¯t from Earth. She¡¯de to Earth a long time ago, then slept in the deep sea for years before waking up. But she couldn¡¯t leave Earth anymore, and she didn¡¯t want to. She thought it better to live on Earth than do that damn bounty mission. It would be even better for Faye if she could be the ruler of Earth. But there were too many rules here, made by countries and people. It was hard for her alone to break them all. So she wanted an army of her own. That was why she¡¯d created the longevity n, The old man wanted eternal life, and she wanted to survive. They hit it off right away. She was the real mastermind behind the longevity n. She¡¯d nned to merge humans with her genes to make them her people. Unfortunately, her genes shed violently with humans. After years, she¡¯d found no solution. Then she¡¯d turned to fusing human and animal genes. Faye had thought, once these humans fully merged with beast genes, she could use her blood to make them submit. Soon enough, she¡¯d have her own army and country on Earth, with humans hailing her as their ruler. ¡°I¡¯m not a native. But I grew to love this beautiful blue after waking up,¡± Faye said. Her pale skin, set off by the red blood on her, looked as white as a ghost¡¯s. Roy and Molly were surprised to hear this. But after Shermaine vanished on them two years ago, they found it easier to ept strange happenings. The universe was vast. Earth was just a tiny among countless others. It made sense for outsiders from others to exist. Shermaine said, ¡°We natives wee you if you love this. But you shouldn¡¯t experiment on them with animals.¡± Faye scoffed at that. ¡°Weak humans are meant to be used by the strong. You¡¯ve made so many silly rules here. I¡¯ll be the one to break them.¡± ¡°How about this? I¡¯ll leave Roy and the woman with you alone for now. But you gotta stay out of my bu >,¡± Faye added. She didn¡¯t know Shermaine¡¯s strength, but she was sure Shermaine was a high¨Clevel native of Earth. When Shermaine stared at her, Faye felt a sense of pressure. So, stepping back a bit was the best option for Faye right now. Until she knew Shermaine¡¯s strength and built her own empire, she¡¯d y it safe. But that didn¡¯t mean she feared Shermaine. As a member of the Vampire n, one of the top ten races the gxy, Faye would never fear slow¨Cevolving humans on Earth. Shermaine smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m very protective of my friends and family. Roy was tortured by you for two years. If he weren¡¯t so tough, you¡¯d have killed him long ago. I need to settle that score.¡± She went on, ¡°Two years ago, the chaos the longevity n caused in Wallington¨Cthere¡¯s a score to settle for that too 15:02 Thu, 24 Jul G GO Just then, a mecha descended from the sky. Shermaine climbed in and said, ¡°Not to mention, your ambitions will bring endless trouble to the and to that I¡¯ve found you, I can¡¯t just stand by.¡± When the ne crashed earlier, the whole world had talked about Shermaine¡¯s mecha. So when they saw this, everyone present realized Starmone ar the one from the rumors. Seeing it in person was more shocking than seeing photos. The mecha was exquisitely crafted and high tech. Every part showed the perfection of mechanical design and precise technology. Even Faye was stunned when she saw the mecha. Shermaine had not just the Orthish, but such an advanced mecha. Faye was sure she¡¯d been beyond Earth. After operating the mecha, Shermaine pulled out a long sword. This sword had cut through monsters like Jason, so Shermaine was eager to see how it fared against Faye. Faye snorted. ¡°Show me how powerful this mecha is.¡± Then she grabbed a person, bared her sharp fangs, and bit hard into his neck. She needed to drink blood to replenish her aura. After getting full, Faye smirked. Her speed became even faster than when she¡¯d chased Roy. Then she threw a punch at Shermaine. Shermaine blocked the punch. Faye was incredibly strong now, each punch sending gusts of wind. She was definitely a physically strong alien race, much like the mythical vampires. Earth had no real vampires, but the universe did have blood¨Cdrinking races like this: In the fight, dark purple lines appeared on Faye¡¯s pale skin, and her eyes turned dark purple too. Shermaine was curious about this. Just then, data from Apocalypse came through. Faye was from Valmora, a gxy with over 25 million people. Vampire n was one of the top ten races in the gxy. They were born warriors, loved war, and often conquered others. Faye was an A¨Clevel warrior. Themon weakness of the Vampire n was their heart¨Cif pierced, they couldn¡¯t heal. Looking at the data Apocalypse sent, Shermaine didn¡¯t care that Faye¡¯s race was among the gxy¡¯s top ten. All she wanted to do now was take Faye down. She wanted to see just how tough Faye¡¯s body was. With a loud boom, snow sshed over ten meters high. Shermaine punched Faye, sending her flying to the ground. The punch was so powerful that it almost kicked up a blizzard. Seeing this, Roy quickly picked Molly up in his mouth, took her to a safe spot, and kept watching the fight. Shermaine was really strong, and Faye was stronger than Roy had thought. It turned out she¡¯d been faking weakness against him, hiding her true power. Watching this, Molly licked her lips, itching to join the fight. Her eyes were filled with a desire for battle. AD Comment Send gift Nurse walking 588 The faint light of the crescent shone on the entire snow¨Ccapped mountain. Shermaine and Faye¡¯s battle kicked up waves of snowstorms. Bare frem me even torn in half by their power. This violent scene deeply shocked everyone present. Roy then noticed that Molly was also verybative. She wanted to join the fight, too. But Molly definitely couldn¡¯t beat Faye right ree, so Roy was afraid Molly would be too impulsive. He grabbed the hem of Molly¡¯s clothes tightly with his ws. However, Faye¡¯s subordinates just had to stir up trouble with them. Roy saw a man behind a free to the side, aiming at them. He picked up a stone and hit the man right on the head. Blood instantly poured from the man¡¯s head. Molly also noticed something was wrong and nced over there. Roy was afraid Molly would notice his suspicious behavior, so he deliberately let out a pitiful howl to draw Molly¡¯s attention to himself. Molly looked down and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Roy licked his stabbed leg, so Molly bent down to check it for him. Roy¡¯s leg was still numb, but luckily, the effect of the drug hadn¡¯t spread. Molly didn¡¯t see a wound, but she noticed that Roy¡¯s leg seemed to have no feeling. She asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your leg?¡± Roy let out a weak whimper. Molly said, not very concerned, ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± Roy was speechless. He thought, ¡®Momo, you weren¡¯t like this before. I thought you always knew what I wanted to say when I howled Feeling around Roy¡¯s thigh, Molly asked, ¡°Is it your leg that¡¯s ufortable, or something inside your body?¡± Roy finally felt Molly¡¯s touch. His tail shot up immediately. Then he buried his whole head in the snow and shifted his body a little. ¡°What are you hiding from?¡± Molly touched his ear. Roy¡¯s wolf ears were soft. She remembered that time Roy had a high fever in the bathtub and was delirious, clinging to her, and his wolf ears popped out. He locked so cute. Molly really wanted to knead his ears. Back then, Roy¡¯s tail was also very fluffy and soft. Thinking about this, Molly licked her lips and looked at Roy with a yful, ambiguous gaze. Molly pinched his ear. ¡°Shy, you lecher?¡± Roy trembled all over. He had only one leg numb before, but after Molly touched his ear, his whole body went weak. His weakness was his ears, just like Molly¡¯s weakness was her waist. In this form, he couldn¡¯t fight back against Molly. For the first time, Roy felt how inconvenient his wolf form was. He also wanted to caress Mally, to be intimate with her. Molly felt Roy¡¯s ears twitch and couldn¡¯t helpughing. ¡°You are really being shy.¡± Letting out a whimper, he buried his face deeper in the snow. He hoped Molly would stop teasing him. He really longed for close contact with Molly now. But after a while, he felt down again. Molly didn¡¯t know he was Roy, yet she caressed him like this. He was afraid Molly would fall in love with him in this form instead. Roy was very unhappy. He didn¡¯t want to steal Molly¡¯s love from himself at all. 1/3 After pinching his ears, Molly saw him bury his head in the snow and then pinched his tail. Roy trembled and lifted his head, wanting to beg Mally to st¨¢p ying with him. Since she couldn¡¯t join that fight, and Roy wasing close again, she might as well flirt with him a little. The more he reacted like this, the more she wanted to tease him. Molly smiled and asked, ¡°What are you hiding from?¡± Roy rubbed his head against Molly, hoping she¡¯d let go of his tail. He didn¡¯t expect Molly to start kneading both his tail and ears at the same time. He just wanted to run away. If he didn¡¯t run, he wouldn¡¯t have the courage to face his own reactions. Molly teased, ¡°You¡¯re usually so clingy to me, even wanting to sleep with me every night. Isn¡¯t that just to get my attention?¡± The others saw Molly teasing the wolf and couldn¡¯t help thinking it was odd that she was so rxed in such a critical situation. But that woman in the mecha was so strong, so Molly and Roy didn¡¯t need to do anything. They were still trying to figure out when to slip away. If Roy were in human form now, his face would have turned as red as a ripe apple. He felt like he was in a sauna. Roy almost wanted to turn back into a human to exin why he climbed into Molly¡¯s bed. He just felt at ease sleeping next to her. He almost couldn¡¯t help transforming back to kiss this woman who kept teasing him. However, Roy still couldn¡¯t make up his mind, so he could only let her y with him, feeling down. Molly saw that he was clearly unable to hold back his lust but was suppressing it. She narrowed her eyes and thought, ¡°You¡¯re quite good at holding back.¡® Thinking that Roy still didn¡¯t want to give up his disguise even like this, Molly felt very unhappy. So she deliberately pinched his ear hard. Roy¡¯s body trembled again. Fortunately, Shermaine¡¯s battle drew Molly¡¯s attention away. After being kicked away, Faye crashed into and broke several thick, round trees. She spat out a mouthful of blood. The next second, Shermaine held that sword and descended from the sky, aiming straight for Faye¡¯s heart. Faye felt the danger and dodged in a hurry. The next second, Shermaine¡¯s sword stabbed straight into the spot where Faye¡¯s heart had just been. The aura on the sword instantly cut a deep crack in the ground. Faye was greatly shocked. As an A¨Clevel warrior, though she wasn¡¯t considered very strong on her, she was already someone most people couldn¡¯t defeat. Her naturalbative nature made her fight wildly. However, Faye didn¡¯t expect Shermaine to be even crazier and stronger than her. Shermaine¡¯s ability would already be stronger than an S¨Clevel warrior on Faye¡¯s. It was actually very difficult for an A¨Clevel warrior to advance to S¨Clevel. So Faye had no chance of winning against Shermaine. During the fight just now, Faye had gradually been at a disadvantage, while Shermaine got stronger as the fight went on. Though Faye¡¯s healing ability was indeed fast, this kind of aura still needed to be replenished. After Faye dodged a sword, the sword in Shermaine¡¯s hand turned into aser cannon. She started firing at Faye, not far away Theser cannon kept firing, and Faye dodged it, flustered. Her gorgeous dress was burned and charred, After her wounds kept healing, her healing speed slowed down noticeably. Faye rushed at the person closest to her, then bit hard into his neck with her sharp teeth: Shermaine didn¡¯t give her much time to drink blood. She fired a cannon, then rushed forward with the sharp sword. Faye had an arm cut off. It would take a long time for the arm to heal. Her eyes turned fierce. ¡°Damn it! How dare you hurt me! 2/3 Nurse walking 589 Shermaine replied dismissively, ¡°If you¡¯re not convinced, you can also sh me to this extent, if you have the ability¡± Faye was furious. She thought, ¡®All Wallingtons are so damn annoying. Shermaine added, ¡°If you can¡¯t fight back, just take the beating obediently.¡± As she finished speaking, she shed over and attacked again, not giving Faye a single chance to catch her breath. These words greatly enraged Faye, but in the face of Shermaine¡¯s attack, Faye could do nothing. They tangled and fought again, the battle fierce and earth¨Cshattering. Soon, Faye¡¯s speed dropped again. Shermaine stabbed over with her sword once more. Her attacks were too fast, neat, and crisp. As long as Faye showed even a little weakness, she would press her advantage and drive her to a dead end. The speed was too fast, Faye couldn¡¯t dodge in time, and was stabbed in the chest. Though the sword didn¡¯t go straight through the middle of her heart, the aura on the sword still shocked and injured her fragile heart. At this moment, the severe pain in her heart made Faye turn her dark violet aura into dense purple spikes and hurt them at Shermaine. Molly saw this scene and was a bit worried about Shermaine. But Shermaine calmly activated her aura shield, and only then did Molly let out a sigh of relief. However, she noticed that Roy had suddenly disappeared, and the driver frowned slightly. Roy had already sneaked behind Faye, using his sharp ws to stab at her heart from behind. Faye turned around. ¡°Damn it, Roy, you actually sneak attacked!¡± She gathered her dark violet aura again and struck Roy with a palm. Roy was knocked flying by this aura, , and Faye disappeared from the spot with a loud rumble. ¡°Roy!¡± Molly shouted loudly. After the dark violet aura exploded, Roy fell into the snow. He was shaken and felt a bit dizzy, and his body hurt too, but he could bear this much pain. When Roy heard Molly¡¯s shout, he howled once to indicate that he was fine. Moreover, this w strike could be considered revenge for himself, so he was very happy. After Faye ran away, Shermaine got down from the mecha. Faye had blocked Apocalypse¡¯s tracking, so Shermaine couldn¡¯t find Faye¡¯s whereabouts. Since Faye had left no traces either, Shermaine simply gave up tracking. Faye¡¯s injuries should have worsened a lot after being sneak¨Cattacked by Roy. The heart of the Vampire n is the only part that can¡¯t heal quickly. If their hearts are injured, just like earthlings, they can only wait slowly for recovery. Meanwhile, Bruce and the others also came from elsewhere. They dealt with everyone who tried to Shermaine. ay after Faye left, and then Bruce looked at It had been a long time since they met, and Shermaine was still as beautiful as usual. Under the moonlight, she stood in this messy ce, looking as beautiful as a painting. ¡°Long time no see, Shermaine,¡± Bruce said. Hearing this, Shermaine looked up and said with a smile, ¡°Long time no see.¡± What left the deepest impression on her about Bruce was that handkerchief she had lost, but she hadn¡¯t seen it since Joshua took it away. Molly said to Shermaine, ¡°Sheary,e over/and look at Roy. He was hit by Faye just now.¡± Roy did get a little hurt, and he did feel a bit ufortable now. 1/3 13.02 Thu, 24 JUIG GO nu, 24 Jul G Shermaine walked towards Roy. She squatted down and started checking Roy. After a while, she replied, ¡°He¡¯s not seriously hurt. Ha just has some internal injuries. He¡¯ll be fine after resting for a night.¡± Molly nodded, thinking that Roy had been making her worry a lottely. She said, ¡°Faye ran away. What do you n to do next?¡± Shermaine said casually, ¡°She can¡¯t do any more bad things. Anyway, she can¡¯t run out of Earth. I¡¯ll find her sooner orter.¡± ¡°That mecha is really awesome,¡± Molly licked her lips and said greedily, ¡°Is that for sale, girl?¡± Shermaine said with a smile, ¡°You¡¯re my girl. You can get it for free.¡± Molly was overjoyed when she heard this. Shermaine replied, ¡°I¡¯ve already prepared one for you. I¡¯ll send it to you in a couple of days.¡± When she was in the Kingdom of Xyperia, she had prepared different gifts for everyone. Considering Molly¡¯s personality, she decided to give Molly a mecha. As she had expected, Molly really liked this gift. Moreover, Shermaine had already mastered the technology of making mechas, and she had stocked up a lot of materials when she was in the Kingdom of Xyperia, so she couldpletely make mechas by herself. But she was a bitzy. With Dave around, she could go back to the Kingdom of Xyperia to buy assembled mechas. After all, she had plenty of money in her ount in Xyperia. When Molly heard this, she said happily, ¡°When I get back, I¡¯ll send you a few bottles of good wine as a thank you.¡± Shermaine smiled and nodded. She had consumed a lot of mental energy after this fight, so she felt a bit sleepy. ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave first. You and Roy can head back slowly.¡± Molly took Roy back to the base, and Bruce followed them. The reason why Bruce was framed was that there was a mole in the organization who exposed his whereabouts. Currently, that mole was still in the organization, and they all knew who the mole was working for. After returning to the base, Molly took a ne back to Ustrana directly. Roy had been asleep next to Molly since getting on the ne; he needed rest. Back in Ustrana, Roy was drowsily woken up by Molly. He got into Molly¡¯s car, and when they got home, it was already afternoon. Hiry had been very worried about Molly, feeling restless since she left home. When she heard that Molly was back, her tense emotions finally rxed a little. However, after Molly¡¯s return spread in the Hill family, many people started to feel anxious. ¡°Momo, you¡¯re finally back,¡± Hiry said. Molly nodded, but when she saw Beckett next to her mother, her eyes turned a little cold. Roy noticed it too. He had been a bit drowsy, but he perked up immediately when he saw Beckett and showed strong hostility. Beckett had always loved Molly, and after all this time, he still hadn¡¯t given up. Seeing Molly¡¯s cold eyes, Hiry exined, ¡°Beckett heard that you went to Avalmere and was very worried about you. He was also afraid that I would be uneasy alone at home, so he came over to apany me.¡± Molly nodded indifferently. Beckett stepped forward, wanting to care about Molly. He thought there must be something wrong with his head. Clearly, Molly was cold and unfeeling towards him, and he felt angry too, but after a while, he missed Molly very much. The more a man can¡¯t get a woman, the more he wants her. It¡¯s their inherent bad nature. 15.02 Thu, 24 Jul C But as soon as he got a little closer to her, a wolf darted out from beside her, baring its teeth and ws at him. Beckett stopped in his tracks. He knew that Molly kept a wolf, but this wolf¡¯s hostility was really too strong, making him can¡¯t help but feel scared. Beckett said, ¡°Momo, can you let this wolf move aside? I want to talk to you for a white,¡± Molly nced at him, not wanting to let Roy move aside. She had nothing to talk about with Beckett and was just about to refuse when Roy let out an unhappy whimper, then hugged her leg and rubbed against it hard. He thought, ¡®Momo, don¡¯t talk to him, don¡¯t let him get close to you. I don¡¯t like this. Look at me, don¡¯t look at him/ Nurse walking 590 Chapter 590 Having Roy rub against her like this, Molly was tempted tough at how hard he was trying to get her attention. She thought, ¡®If Roy doesn¡¯t want me to talk to Beckett alone that much, why doesn¡¯t hee back to me in human form! Looking like this, he still does to be jealous.¡¯ Molly thought for a moment, then said, ¡°Roy, you go upstairs first.¡± Roy refused to do as told. He thought angrily of pouncing on Beckett and throwing him out. Beckett froze when he heard the wolf¡¯s name. Molly had named this wolf Roy, which showed just how much she missed that man Molly said, ¡°Be a good boy.¡± Roy drooped his tail and flicked it. He really wanted to carry Molly away, so she wouldn¡¯t talk to other men, but he had no right to do that now! Roy took a couple of steps, stopped, and looked back at Molly, hoping she would change her mind and not talk to Beckett alone. But Molly didn¡¯t look at him. Instead, she took Beckett toward the backyard. Hiry had never seen a wolf so in tune with humans. Roy¡¯s aggrieved expression was like he¡¯d been abandoned by Molly. Then, Hiry thought of the wolf¡¯s name and frowned. Molly missed Roy so much that she even renamed a wolf after him. She couldn¡¯t let Molly keep thinking about that man. But Molly had clearly rejected Beckett several times, and their engagement had long been called off. Hiry thought it was time to find a man worthy o Molly¡¯s status for her. Roy paced around upstairs, waiting. He kept counting the time. It was almost eight minutes, but Molly hadn¡¯te back. He didn¡¯t know what they needed to talk about for so long. When Lucky saw Roy venting his anger on its favorite toy, it felt really distressed. But it couldn¡¯t get its toy back, so Lucky decided to tell Molly when she returned to the room. Lucky¡¯s beloved duck doll, which it had had for years, was now torn to pieces by Roy. It was really a sorry sight. This made Lucky extremely sad. In the backyard, Molly made it clear once again that she would have no emotional involvement with Beckett. She stated that she would never like Beckett. What¡¯s more, Beckett had kept quiet, making her and Roy miss two years. He had also let Roy suffer for two years at Faye¡¯sb. For that alone, Molly would list Beckett and his entire family as enemies. But Beckett really had no obligation to tell her where Roy was. They were rivals in love, and Beckett would have been d if Roy had nevere back. So, in that regard, she had no reason to me him. But while Molly allowed Roy to y tricks in fr er, she couldn¡¯t stand Beckett doing the same. Beckett hadn¡¯t expected that Molly would learn everything that happened two years ago during her trip to Avalmere. He also knew that Lio and others wanted to kill her He had thought of going to rescue Molly, but Molly didn¡¯t need his help. So he had returned to Ustrana today,ing here to wait for her. Beckett said, ¡°Did you find Roy?¡± Molly said, ¡°Yes, I did.¡± Beckett pressed his lips together, then said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t regret it.¡± He didn¡¯t regret hiding the fact that Roy was locked up in the , in fact, it was Lio who had identally let it slip one time when he invited Beckett for a drink. 1/3 15:02 Thu, 24 JUI G GO That night, he had acted as if he¡¯d never heard it and didn¡¯t say a thing to Molly. Lio went on, ¡°Now that he¡¯s hack, Lubh your happiness? Roy hade back, and Beckett was no match for his scheming. Thinking of how Roy had put on an act in front of Molly two years yes, Serban palk funky annoyed. But Molly just spoiled him. Molly nodded. ¡°From now on, we¡¯re just allies.¡± Beckett epted his fate, then left dejectedly. In Molly¡¯s room on the fifth floor, after destroying Lucky¡¯s duck doll, Roy picked up a teddy bear doll in his mouth. Lucky fought back. The two animals each held one arm of the teddy bear in their mouths. Angry sounds escaped from between Lucky¡¯s teeth, urging Rog to return its doll. But Roy was already mad with anger. He gave a hard tug, and the other arm of the teddy bear broke off, with all the white cotton inside spilling out Lucky pounced and bit Roy¡¯s tail. Even though it was an old dog, it wouldn¡¯t let Roy bully it, But after Lucky pounced over, Royy on the ground motionless, letting it pull his tail. Even though a lot of fur was pulled out, he didn¡¯t care Fifteen minutes had passed, and Molly still hadn¡¯t finished talking to Beckett. Roy¡¯s heart was almost breaking, Then, Molly went upstairs. When Roy felt the movement, he suddenly got up and ran over. Lucky was knocked over by him, letting out a whimper. Roy almost grabbed Molly and held her in his arms, not letting her go anywhere. Molly was still wearing the coat fromst night. She took it off, threw it aside, and said, ¡°Why are you making so much noise?¡± Roy just wanted Molly tofort him now. After taking off her coat, Molly was only wearing a tight sweater and ck pants, which made her sexy figure even more graceful. Of course, Molly knew that Roy was jealous. It seemed he wanted her tofort him, but that was impossible. He hadn¡¯t fully realized his mistake. Molly asked, ¡°Are you jealous?¡± Roy nodded quickly. He was almost burned up by jealousy. Molly squatted down, pinched his ear, and said casually, ¡°But you¡¯re just a wolf. You¡¯re not my man.¡± Roy was about to copse. Molly smiled and said, ¡°What, do you want to be my man?¡± She used her toe to step on his wolf paw. Roy immediately retracted his sharp ws, afraid of hurting her. Roy hung his head low. He was a wolf now. He couldn¡¯t be Molly¡¯s man, nor did he have the right alous. Molly saw how sad he was, but he still didn¡¯t want to turn back into a human in front of her, which made her even angrier. She pinched his ear harder.¡°! don¡¯t want a wolf to be my boyfriend.¡± With that, she left Roy and headed for the bathroom. When she came out, Roy was no longer in the room. He had learned to run away from home now, which made her even angrier. She thought, ¡®His body hasn¡¯t fully recovered, and he dares to run around.¡® Molly wasn¡¯t worried that Roy would get into trouble now, so she lit a cigarette to vent her anger. Just then, the phone rang. She changed her clothes and went downstairs again. After all, she hadn¡¯t dealt with her brothers and sisters who wanted to kill her. Now that Roy had been found, she definitely had to deal with those people. herself. Chapter 591 Nurse walking 591 Molly reached the living room on the first floor. All around were bodyguards in suits standing guard, while Lin, Carter, and Lucy nice sed us wa Their mothers, along with their influential uncles and grandfathers, had alreadye over, but it was his use. Molly had plenty of evidence that they a tried to harm her. Present, besides Bruce, was thewyer who had announced the heir and the distribution of the estate Molly sat down on the sofa. Her three elder siblings were pressed down by the bodyguards and knelt on the ground. Molly took the coffee handed over by the servant and said, ¡°You have five minutes to defend yourselves¡± Lio¡¯s expression twisted, and he said nothing. But Carter and Lucy had already started begging for mercy. Molly was alive, which meant disaster wasing for them. They had thought Molly was sure to die, but she had long been prepared, wanting forthem to fall into her trap. Molly listened to their pleas without being moved. With thewyer here, they were just afraid she would take back all the assets they currently held. As the leader of the household, she certainly had the right to do so when they made mistakes. Still, watching them beg was a bit of a guilty pleasure for Molly. It also served as a warning to others, so they wouldn¡¯t dare defy her like this. Molly looked at Lio¡¯s expression and said, ¡°Lio, are you not convinced?¡± Lio¡¯s face was cold. ¡°Father¡¯s decision was wrong. You¡¯ll ruin the Hill family.¡± Upon hearing this, Molly sshed the coffee in his face. ¡°A loser like you has no right to say such things.¡± She said with selfposure, ¡°If wepare the businesses we each run, everyone will see my abilities are far greater than yours. What¡¯s more, you don¡¯t have the ability to gain those benefits, yet you still can¡¯t stay settled.¡± The coffee scalded Lio¡¯s face, turning it red. His features twisted, as if he wanted to rush forward and hit Molly, but she kicked him away with one foot. Lio¡¯s mother, Eva, stood up. ¡°You say they plotted to kill you. You should show us the evidence.¡± Molly crooked her finger, and Bruce handed over the documents. She tossed the folder to Eva and said, ¡°Here¡¯s the evidence. Take a good look.¡± Eva looked extremely embarrassed. Molly added, ¡°if Lio weren¡¯t my half¨Cbrother, he would have been dead when I caught him.¡± After these words, Eva didn¡¯t dare to object anymore. Molly casually said to thewyer, ¡°Mr. Miller, you can tell them clearly which use in the will they ated.¡± There was a use in the will¨Cif Lio and the others tried to seize the position of leader of the household and failed, their property and power would be taken back by Molly. So, Molly froze and reimed all their assets without mercy. They could get one hundred and fifty thousand dors a month as living expenses, on the condition that they had to leave Ustrana. Of course, even after leaving, they would still be monitored by Molly. It got dark. After dealing with them, Molly had a meeting in the study to sort out some matters. At this time, Roy also came back from outside. He hadn¡¯t gone far because he was still thinking about Molly, so he ran back. He had internal injuries, so after returning, he was so sleepy that hey down on the carpet beside the bed and fell asleep. Molly was actually wondering if she had been too harsh with her words. After all, Roy hadn¡¯t been able to confess his identity because of some worries 1/3 15:02 Thu, 24 Jul G GO When she finished her work and came back, she saw him sleeping soundly on the floor, so she walked over and touched his heard ¡°Silly thing, I didn¡¯t mean to hate you. You used to be so scheming, always trying to take advantage of me, but now you¡¯re so prifully cautious, murmured. Unfortunately, Roy was sleeping too soundly and didn¡¯t hear a word she said. Ever since Molly said those words, Roy had been well¨Cbehaved. Over these three days, he hadn¡¯t gotten close to Molly or shown any emotions Betty was almost annoyed to death by him; he hadn¡¯t been like this before. She pressed her lips together and called Shermaine. ¡°Have you developed the new medicine?¡± Shermaine said, ¡°Almost. It¡¯ll take a few more days. What¡¯s wrong?¡± Molly said, ¡°Will there be any problems if Roy doesn¡¯t take the medicine anymore?¡± Shermaine said, ¡°That pill I gave you¨Cif he feels unwell, you can feed him one. That way, he can hold on for a while longer Molly added, ¡°If Roy asks you about the medicine, give it to himter. I want to see how long he can keep being silly.¡± Hearing this, Shermaineughed. ¡°I actually think, with Roy¡¯s personality, he¡¯ll wait until you can¡¯t stand it anymore before asking me about the medicine. Why don¡¯t you tell me what happened between you two?¡± Molly pr¨¨ssed her lips together. She could, of course, let Roy take the medicine first to return to his human form, but she wanted Roy to realize he had been exposed ande to her to admit his mistake obediently. ¡°Listen to me. It¡¯s not toote to punish himter. Otherwise, with him staying by your side as a wolf, you can¡¯t even get close to him if you want to, Shermaine said. Molly was persuaded. Anotherte night, Roy waited as usual for Molly toe back. That night, Molly came back veryte. She smelled of alcohol, took off her high heels, and copsed on the bed. Roy walked to the bed and howled softly. Molly kept her eyes closed and ignored him. Roy saw she hadn¡¯t removed her makeup. He was just about to lick her awake when Molly suddenly took off her clothes. Immediately, he saw the love bites on Molly¡¯s body. They looked like,they had been there for several days. In an instant, his face turned pale. He just wanted to know who had left these marks on her. Molly turned to her side, and the finger marks on her waist were also exposed. Roy didn¡¯t even remember that all these marks were left by himself. He was so grief¨Cstricken now that he couldn¡¯t control the jealousy in his heart. He instantly changed back from his wolf form to his human form, then fiercely kissed Molly¡¯s lips. He thought, ¡®Momo is mine. These marks are so annoying. I want to cover all these marks.¡± When Roy pounced on her, Molly opened her eyes. Roy kissed fiercely. After Molly kicked him awa Molly¡¯s hands captive with one hand, then murmured frrationally, ¡°Momo is mine.¡± unced again. He pressed down on her legs, held His hot kisses moved from her lips down along her ear, leaving mark after mark on Molly¡¯s body, while he also caressed her. Molly felt a little pain from Roy¡¯s biting. She said coldly, ¡°Roy, don¡¯t you think you should exin what¡¯s going on right now?¡± Nurse walking 592 Chapter 592 Roy didn¡¯t want to exin at all right now. He just wanted to kiss every inch of Molly, leaving his marks all over her body, in fact, the thought of test being intimate with someone else made him furious. At Molly¡¯s cold voice, he paused for a moment, then bit down harder on her soft lips. His scorching kisses seemed like they would matt Her Molly hadn¡¯t expected Roy to react so intensely. Roy kissed her lips again. He was pinching her so fard, his movements filled with a fierce possessiveness over her. He deliberately squeezed Molly¡¯s waist. Molly instantly went weak, having to let him take control. ¡°Momo, only I can kiss you, only I can hold you.¡± He kissed her lips until they were slightly swollen. His eyes were filled with obsession for Molly. His red eyes added a hint of charm to him. Even though he could smell his own scent on her, his heart still ached, a kind of sadness that felt suffocating Roy buried his head in her neck. ¡°Momo, how could you let someone else kiss you?¡± He left another tooth mark on her shoulder. ¡°Momo, my heart hurts so much, like it¡¯s going to die.¡± His breathing was heavy, and as he spoke, he bit down harder. Molly felt sorry for him, yet found it a little funny. The marks on her body were clearly left by him, but he didn¡¯t remember. She hadn¡¯t meant to agitate him. She just wanted him to see these marks and remember what had happened that night. But he hadn¡¯t remembered a thing; instead, he¡¯d started being jealous. It hurt her, too. Roy had even broken the skin. Usually, Roy loved to act cute, but when provoked, he turned fierce at once, as if he wanted to devour her. To control her, Roy kept touching her sensitive spots. If he¡¯d used that cleverness elsewhere, Molly wouldn¡¯t have needed this way to remind him. Roy said almost frantically, ¡°Momo, has this ce been touched by others, too?¡± He pointed tremblingly at her vagina, his whole body tense, as if he might copse any second. At the thought of that image, his sharp wolf ws couldn¡¯t help but emerge. The bed sheet was torn by him. ¡°Who did this to you, Momo? Who is he?¡± Roy kissed her eagerly and heavily. ¡°Momo, you¡¯re being so bad, letting other men touch you? You¡¯re mine, mine!¡± Roy wanted to possess her. He wouldn¡¯t give other men any chance. Only he could touch Molly¡¯s most private ces. Just then, Molly suddenly said, ¡°Don¡¯t you remember touching there yourself not long ago?¡± His movements froze. Roy was stunned. He held his breath, looking at Molly with teary eyes, the mured, ¡°Momo, what do you mean?¡± Molly looked at him unhappily and said, ¡°Roy, do you think you¡¯ve hidden your identity well?¡± She mocked, ¡°If I didn¡¯t know you¡¯re Roy, do you think I¡¯d let you sleep in my bed, and tter me like that every day?¡± Roy felt cold sweat break out on his back. Molly said somewhat unhappily, ¡°Let go of me.¡± Roy¡¯s momentum deted at once. He let go of Molly in a panic, then looked at her innocently. But when he saw those marks on her snow white skin, he felt guilty. Roy was holding Molly¡¯s wrist. His grip was so tight that it left faint red marks. She said, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen you act like that before.¡± She pinched his jaw ¡°You like being jealous of yourself that much?¡± Roy¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple rolled. ¡°Momo, I¡± He held her hand, speaking humbly, ¡°Momo, let me blow on it for you.¡± Feeling his warm breath, Molly almost couldn¡¯t hold back augh. Her heart softened. But if Roy noticed that, he would definitely go too far. Roy held Molly¡¯s hand, blowin Molly replied faintly, ¡°It¡¯s not th on her red and swollen wrist. He said in a trembling voice, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I hurt you.¡± first time.¡± Roy choked up. He had no idea when he¡¯d left those marks on her. He hung his head, racking his brain to remember, but couldn¡¯t recall a thing. He grabbed his hair in frustration. Because he couldn¡¯t remember, he felt defeated. He hung his head, peeping at the love bites on Molly¡¯s body. Then, something suddenly crossed his mind. At that time, he was curled up in the bathtub, his heart hurting so much that his whole body ached. Momo seerned to appear, and he held her, crying that it hurt. So, those marks he saw were indeed made by him. He had already exposed his identity back then. Yet, he still tried every means to hide his identity. He not only dug holes to bury clothes when in wolf form, but also got jealous of himself. Thinking about this, Roy felt utterly discouraged. Molly had known from the start that the wolf was him, which was why she indulged Roy so much and was so gentle with him. Roy tensed up. ¡°Momo, I didn¡¯t mean to hide from you. I just didn¡¯t want you to see me like this.¡± He exined carefully, ¡°Momo, don¡¯t be mad at me. Forgive me, okay?¡± He did his best to look cute. If he didn¡¯t apologize, he¡¯d be done for. Roy¡¯s mind was working very fast, not at all like his silly self before. Molly narrowed her eyes. ¡°No,¡± She said with a smile, ¡°Just look at how many mistakes you¡¯ve made.¡± Roy hugged Molly again. This time, he kissed her very gently, even pressing a kiss on the spot he¡¯d bitten earlier. ¡°Momo, I won¡¯t do it again.¡± Molly pushed him away, stopping his kisses, then pinched his ear and squeezed his face. After that, she stroked his abs and ordered, ¡°Kneel.¡± Roy had thought his apology would make her stop being angry and forgive him, but punishment was unavoidable. Roy endured the difort, kneeling obediently on the bed. He looked at Molly pleadingly and said, ¡°I¡¯m kneeling, Momo.¡± Molly got off the bed. The butterfly tattoo on her corbone and the thorns tattoo on her calf made her look both dangerous and charming. She picked up something, was gone for about a minute or two, then slowly returned. AD Nurse walking 593 Chapter 593 Roy¡¯s eyes flickered, and he was so obsessed with Molly right now. Right now, all he wanted was Molly. Roy licked his lips, watching as Molly walked toward him with handcuffs. She sat down on the edge of the bed, and he inched closer. Longing showed in his eyes. ¡°Momo, what are you going to do with the handcuffs?¡± Molly said to him, ¡°Give me your hands.¡± Roy stretched out both hands. Then, he was cuffed. He thought the handcuffs wouldn¡¯t be much of a problem, after all, he was so strong, Roy hung his head. Suddenly, he caught the scent of Molly¡¯s perfume. Then, he felt her breath near his ear. In an instant, his fluffy wolf ears popped out, and he couldn¡¯t retract them. Mollyughed, then started kneading his wolf ears. Thest time she¡¯d teased Roy, she¡¯d particrly wanted him like this, thinking the human¨Cform Roy was more fun to tease. So, when she¡¯d heard Shermaine¡¯s suggestion, she¡¯d been convinced right away. Shermaine was right; she was definitely the first one to lose patience. Molly blew another breath at Roy¡¯s ear. ¡°Do you think this is over?¡± Roy swallowed. ¡°What else do you want?¡± Molly narrowed her eyes. ¡°Look at what you¡¯ve done.¡± She pointed to the marks on her body, especially the finger marks on her waist. It had taken five days for those marks to fade, and now they were prominent again. She looked as if she¡¯d been domestically abused. Roy¡¯s eyes grew redder. ¡°Momo, shall I put some medicine on you?¡± He¡¯d lost control earlier, so he¡¯d used too much force. He couldn¡¯t bear to see Molly in pain. In fact, Molly hadn¡¯t been with any other man; all those marks were left by him. It was only right for Molly to be angry, so he felt even more guilty. ¡°I can do it myself.¡± She didn¡¯t care about the injuries on her body right now. After the pain faded, all she felt was a tingle. The sensation Roy had left seemed to linger on her skin. Molly wasn¡¯t going to be all soft and affectionate with him. The only thing she wanted now was to punish Roy properly, so he wouldn¡¯t hide his identity again or be jealous of himself. When Molly touched his ears, his skin flushed at once. ¡°Momo¡± He used a lot of strength to try to break free from the handcuffs, but they wouldn¡¯t budge. He looked confused for a moment. Molly exined, ¡°I got these handcuffs from Sheary.¡± Roy didn¡¯t know what to say. The quality of Shermaine¡¯s gift was so good that even with his great strength, he couldn¡¯t break free. Molly held his wolf ear in one hand and his cheek in the other. She ran her finger along his straight nose, then pressed his lips. Roy licked her fingers to please her. ¡°Momo, can we not do this?¡± These handcuffs meant he couldn¡¯t hold Molly. Molly pulled her finger out of his mouth. She smiled wider, then stroked his neck, his chest muscles, and finally drew a circle on his abs. In the next second, Roy¡¯s wolf tail popped out too. He wagged it, his eyes full of pleading. ¡°Momo, forgive me, okay? Momo-¡± he begged. Molly paid him no heed. She was having too much fun, and there was no way she¡¯d listen to Roy¡¯s pleas. Seeing this cute little pup, she licked her lips, 1/3 10.02 TTTU, 24 Our D excitement sparkling in her eyes. She touched his tail again. Then, his tail wrapped tightly around her hand, as if stopping her. Earlier, Roy had squeezed Molly¡¯s waist, so now Molly was getting her revenge. Roy knew he was done for. Momo¡¯s way of punishing him was too harsh. There was nothing he could do now. He even silently med Shermaine for giving such a magical pair of handcuffs to Molly. He couldn¡¯t break free at all. Shermaine, who was being med by Roy, spotted Faye¡¯s trace through Apocalypse at this moment. She was standing above the Pacific Ocean, gazing at the dark sea surface. Shermaine sneezed, then controlled her mecha to dive straight into the water. At the same time, a dpidated spaceship was parked on the seabed. Faye kept swimming downward. Her face was pale. In the deep sea, there was no oxygen, but she didn¡¯t need any either. Shermaine was too cruel. The longevity n had beenpletely destroyed, and her whereabouts had been exposed. She was at the end of her rope. Faye couldn¡¯t believe she would die here. She was from the Vampire n, one of the top ten powerful ns of the gxy¡¯s races. To be reduced to such a state by a mere human was thest thing she could ept in this world. So, no matter what, Faye had to get her revenge, even if she died. By this time, Faye had entered the spaceship. She went to the control room and activated the ship. The spaceship couldn¡¯t fly, but it could send signals. Faye was transmitting information about her current location to her home. At first, Faye hadn¡¯t wanted to do this because she hadn¡¯tpleted her mission. She hadn¡¯t found the Neb Beast that the Vampire n had been searching for, which could automatically jump through time and the entire gxy. But now, she had to use this signal to get back at Shermaine. So, filled with madness, she pressed the red button. In an instant, a beam of colored light shot upward from the deep sea, piercing through the clouds, breaking through the Earth¡¯s surface, and flying toward the gxy. Shermaine noticed the light. She frowned, then asked Apocalypse, ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°Faye has contacted her Valmora. Valmora¡¯s spaceships and warships will reach Earth in twenty years, but there¡¯s no ruling out other ways to speed up their arrival.¡± Apocalypse said. Shermaine narrowed her eyes. She said nothing, just increased her speed. She descended into the dpidated spaceship and found Faye. Faye was sitting on a chair, coughing up blood nonstop. Sheughed wildly as she coughed. ¡°She you¡¯ve doomed the entire Earth.¡± Shermaine pointed her sword at Faye¡¯s throat. ¡°Are you talking about your race invading us when they arrive in twenty years?¡± Faye¡¯s smile faded a little. ¡°In any case, in twenty years, Earth will be finished.¡± Shermaine said calmly, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking. Twenty years is enough time for me to make all preparations.¡± Then, she didn¡¯t give Faye a chance to speak, stabbing straight through her heart. At this moment, in Ustrana, Roy¡¯s abs tensed. His breathing was heavy, and his whole body was flushed. He said pitifully, ¡°Momo, I feel so bad.¡± Molly smiled mischievously and said, ¡°That¡¯s the point.¡± She rubbed the cold handcuffs, scratched the back of his hand, then kissed his fingers. ¡°I need you to do me a favor.¡± 15UZ Thu, 24 Jul GO Nurse walking 594 Chapter 594 Roy¡¯s wet eyes turned fierce. Molly needed his help, which meant these goddamn handcuffs mighte off his wrists. He waited for Momo to unlock the handcuffs. But hope, which hade so quickly, was dashed just as fast. Momo looked at him yfully. ¡°You want me to take off your handcuffs?¡± She poked his abs again. Roy knelt, unable to move. His body trembled, and he didn¡¯t dare look down at his sorry state. At her words, he nodded vigorously. Having Molly unlock the handcuffs was his greatest wish right now. Molly said, ¡°I need your help, but there¡¯s no need to take off the handcuffs.¡± She held his hands. ¡°I just need your hands.¡± Roy¡¯s hope vanished. He even started to grumble about Molly. Molly kissed him. ¡°Be good at serving, or I won¡¯t use you next time.¡± The long night was pure torment for Roy. Molly rested her hand on his shoulder, lookingzy and sexy. She was satisfied with Roy¡¯s service, so she leaned against him. But Roy kept rubbing against her body, using this way to ease his skin hunger. He said pitifully, ¡°Momo, I want to make love to you.¡± At that, Mollyughed. Shey down, then covered her curvy figure with a nket. ¡°You can do that in your dreams.¡± He begged Molly repeatedly, but she paid him no attention at all. Roy felt utterly crashed out. Molly wasn¡¯t feeling great after lying down either. She had to hold back, not giving Roy a treat right after he¡¯d tasted hardship. Seeing that Molly really ignored him, Roy said dejectedly, ¡°Momo, can I lie down and sleep?¡± After a while, Molly replied, ¡°Go wash your hands first.¡± Roy looked at his hands, then said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to wash them.¡± He liked the lingering scent of Molly on his hands. He lifted his hand, raised one finger, as if he wanted to put it in his mouth and suck. In fact, that¡¯s exactly what he did. Then, he said as if slightly drunk, ¡°Momo, you¡¯re so sweet.¡± Molly¡¯s face turned red with shyness, but she still kept a straight face. ¡°Go wash your hands, or you¡¯ll keep kneeling all night.¡± Roy had no choice but to go wash his hands. He took a long time to wash them, so long that Molly had fallen sound asleep. After about an hour, Roy, wearing a loose pair of gray cotton pants, quietly slipped under her nket. He could finally hug Molly ow His hands were still cuffed, and there was no way those handcuffs woulde off tonight. When he¡¯d washed his hands, he¡¯d thought about breaking the handcuffs; otherwise, he couldn¡¯t do anythingfortably. But all he could do was clean his body with his slightly movable right hand. He was deeply tormented by Molly. As Royy awkwardly, Molly had turned to face him in her sleep. After staring at her for a while, Roy kissed her rosy lips. The kiss made Molly let out a little sound. She didn¡¯t wake up, just snuggled closer to him, then wrapped her leg around his 1/3 15:02 Thu, 24 Jul GGO. It was like she was using him as a pillow. Molly rested her head on his chest, and he could only circle his cuffed hands around her back Although he couldn¡¯t really hold Molly while sleeping, he was content now. But this inevitably reignited the desire he¡¯d just managed to suppress Roy had to turn his back to Molly, but she still pressed against him. He endured for a long time, and finally, unable to take it anymore, he put he hands under the nket, shifted his body a little, and got through the torturous night. Lucky had slept soundlyst night. When it woke up, it wanted Molly to buy it a new toy. It needed a new duck doll to y with. So, after waking up, Lucky ran to the bed and barked once. That¡¯s when Lucky noticed there was a man in Molly¡¯s bed. He waspletely naked, and so was Molly. Lucky knew that man was Poy Realizing Roy could get into Molly¡¯s bed, but it couldn¡¯t, Lucky suddenly jumped onto the bed and kept barking at Roy. Roy hadn¡¯t slept all night, so even though he heard Lucky¡¯s annoying barking, he didn¡¯t want to wake up. He was too sleepy, and he felt drained. But Lucky was determined to drive him out of bed, Besides barking, it resorted to violence. It jumped high, then stepped hard on Roy¡¯s stomach Roy felt terrible from the stomp. By this time, Molly had woken up. She couldn¡¯t help butugh when she saw Lucky barking fiercely at Roy. Roy hugged her, pouting, and said, ¡°Momo, tell it to go away, I¡¯m so sleepy.¡± Mollyughed. She was satisfied that Roy hadn¡¯t turned back into a wolfst night. If Roy had dared to turn into a wolf, she would have given him a good beating. Looking at Roy¡¯s cute behavior, maybe feeling that he¡¯d suffered enough fromst night¡¯s torment, she said to Lucky, ¡°Lucky, stop.¡± As a smart dog, Lucky barked once, then ran to Molly¡¯s side and barked again. Lucky had been with her for a long time, and Molly knew exactly why it ran to her side early in the morning. ¡°I get it, the duck doll Roy broke, right? I¡® have the servants buy you a new one today.¡± Lucky barked once, looked at Roy beside them, and still wanted to take its frustration out on him. But since Molly had promised to buy it a new toy, Lucky nned to get back at Royter. So, Lucky happily ran out to the balcony to sunbathe. The annoying barking finally stopped, and Roy rxed, snuggling closer to Molly. Hugging Momo all night felt really good. Molly looked down at Roy, then ruffled his hair. His soft hair was messed up in an instant. She said, ¡°Sleep a little more, I¡¯m getting up.¡± She pulled out of Roy¡¯s arms, then picked up the bathrobe draped over the nearby bean bag chair and put it on. Then, she noticed the tissue box on her nightstand was empty. There were no tissues on the other -up and thrown in the trash can. Molly raised an eyebrow. the bed either. All those tissues were crumpled Without Molly in bed, Roy no longer felt sleepy. He opened his eyes. ¡°Momo, can¡¯t you stay and sleep a little longer with me?¡± Molly smiled, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ll sleep well if I stay with you?¡± Roy pressed his lips together, his gaze on Molly, looking a little confused, but with a hint of longing. ¡°Momo, can the handcuffs be taken off now?¡± Molly didn¡¯t hesitate to say, ¡°No.¡± Roy was speechless. Molly pinched his face. ¡°Get some sleep. I have to go to work.¡°. Roy had no energy right now; otherwise, he would definitely follow her. He really needed to catch up on sleep. 15:03 Thu, 24 Jul G G O Molly¡¯s punishmentst night was really harsh, if he didn¡¯t rest well during the day and she did aga at sight, he definitly convident cau Seeing Molly head to the bathroom, Roy had to resign himself to lying back in bed to continue sleeping, He wondered when these handcuffs woulde off Roy kicked his leg, couldn¡¯t help grumbling about her in his heart, but he couldn¡¯t stop being infatuated with such a Molly. AD The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Nurse walking 595 Chapter 595 ewhat inversed to, eher evigning her work, Molly woke Boy up and had her mane to pick him up and on the Hry had no idea Riby had returned, she was still nning to set up a blind das When Roy left the manor, his hands were still cuffed. So, Molly¡¯s men teased him along the way, but he didn¡¯t care. He only showed his soft de to Molly, front of others, he remained cold. While waiting for the green light, the bodyguard driving nced at Roy in the rearview mirror, He was wearing a ck sweater, looking se The handcuffs added a hint of sexiness to him The bodyguard thought, ¡°So this is the type of man Ms. Hill likes, and they really y hard The bodyguard asked curiously, ¡°Mr. Shay, between you and Ms. Hill, who¡¯s on top?¡± Roy pressed his lips. ¡°I did something wrong, so now I¡¯m the one being yed with.¡± The bodyguardughed and said, ¡°So, you¡¯re the bottom.¡± Roy didn¡¯t defend himself. He didn¡¯t even get a chance to touch Molly now¨Cshe wouldn¡¯t let him. Besides, he didn¡¯t mind Molly taking the initiative, he liked that. Thinking of something, he couldn¡¯t help licking his lips. Then he lifted his hands, stared at them in a daze, and found himself envying his own hands. The car reached the airport, and Roy boarded a helicopter. They headed to Bardington, a beautiful coastal city. Upon arrival, Roy was taken to a seaside vi. The bodyguard said, ¡°Ms. Hill will be back once she¡¯s done with work. Wishing you a happy night¡± Roy was thrilled to hear this¨Cit was exactly what he wanted. It seemed Molly had brought him here for a vacation. With the longevity n mostly dealt with, Shermaine went to see Roy before returning to Basterel. At that moment, Roy was fast asleep on a beach chair. Then, his sharp senses told him someone was approaching, Roy opened his eyes and saw Shermaine. He said delightedly, ¡°Shermaine, you¡¯re here.¡± Shermaineughed when she saw the handcuffs on his hands. ¡°You enjoy these tricks, do you? Roy felt embarrassed by the tease. Shermaine took out a potion. ¡°Take this. It can eliminate the werewolf gene in your body. But as I said, some wolf genes will remain¨Cthere¡¯s no helping that Roy nodded. ¡°I get it. It¡¯s good to keep some.¡± After the avnche, he¡¯d suddenly found he wasn¡¯t so repelled by being a werewolf anymore.. At least, being a werewolf made him stronger, letting him protect Molly in dangerous situations. So, keeping some werewolf genes wasn¡¯t bad. As Shermaine loaded the potion into a syringe, Roy rolled up his sleeve. Shermaine injected him. ¡°This is an improved version. It won¡¯t hurt, but it¡¯ll make you sleep. Perfect¨Cyou¡¯ll wake up just as Molly arrives.¡± Roy felt no pain, but drowsiness washed over him. ¡°Thank you, Shermaine.¡± Shermaine nodded. ¡°Enjoy your time with Molly these days. Once you¡¯ve had enough fun, remember to go back to Wallington¨Cyour family¡¯s worried sick about you.¡± ¡°Shermaine, can you tell my family I¡¯m okay now? I¡¯ll go back in a while,¡± Roy said. Shermaine replied, ¡°Joshua already told your parents. They know you¡¯re with Molly and want you to bring her along when youe back? At the thought of taking Molly home, Roy grinned foolishly. ¡°Got it, thanks, Shermaine.¡± Shermaine left, Roy was so sleepy that he went back to the bedroom andy down on the bed. He fell into a deep sleep at once, and when he woke up, he felt someone sitting on the edge of the bed. It was Molly. Roy leaned against her softly. ¡°Momo, when did you get here? Why didn¡¯t you wake me?¡± Molly asked gently, ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± Roy shook his head. He felt nothing strange¨Che¡¯d just slept. Roy tried to turn into a wolf again but failed, though he did feel a surge of greater strength. The potion Shermaine gave him not only removed the werewolf gene but also strengthened his body. Of course, this enhancement only worked for Roy. as his physical constitution was unusual. ¡°Momo, I haven¡¯t seen you for half a day. I missed you so much,¡± Roy said. Molly smiled at his cute look. ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± She pinched his ear again. ¡°Otherwise, how will you have the energy to be toyed with by me tonight?¡± At that, Roy¡¯s wolf ears popped out. Molly pinched them again. ¡°Why are they out again? Did Shermaine¡¯s potion not work?¡± Feeling her touch, Roy¡¯s breathing quickened. ¡°Shermaine said the werewolf gene can¡¯t be fully removed. Momo, I can¡¯t turn into a wolf anymore.¡± But these ears annoyed him. Molly smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine, you don¡¯t need to. But these ears are cute, so it¡¯s okay.¡± This made Roy so happy that he hugged Molly onto the bed. He kissed and teased her, coaxing, ¡°Momo, can you take the handcuffs off?¡± Molly was indeed turned on, but she was far more patient than Roy. She said, ¡°No. Get up now and go downstairs to eat.¡± Roy was devastated. He¡¯d been cuffed like this for a week. That week, Roy felt like he was being roasted alive. Molly toyed with him in new ways every day, and he was really at his limit. It was another bright, sunny day. Roy woke up feeling something was off, but Molly was no longer by the bed¨Cshe¡¯d gone back to Loang. He immediately took a cold shower, but it did nothing. The odd feeling in his body made him think of one possibility¨Chis mating season. Roy fell silent, then forced himself to endure. After a whole night of enduring, he realized Molly hadn¡¯t returned when she usually would. Meanwhile, Molly was in Loang. Hiry had called her home, and Molly thought she really hadn¡¯t had a meal with her mother in a long time, so she went back. However, Molly never expected Hiry to throw a party, with only men in attendance. There were women, too¨Call thedies Hiry was friendly with. As soon as they saw Molly, their eyes lit up, eager to introduce their sons to her. But Molly was too cold; she disdained socializing, like a high and mighty queen. Molly pulled Hiry aside, frowning. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Hiry said, ¡°I heard you got yourself a boy. You can y with men casually, but your husband must be someone who matches your status.¡± Molly scoffed. ¡°Do you know my boy¡¯s name?¡± Hiry said, ¡°What does that matter?¡± ¡°His name is Roy,¡± Molly said. Hiry fell silent. She couldn¡¯t oppose that Molly was going to marry Roy. Molly lit a cigarette and said casually, ¡°Do you think I¡¯ve been rushing through worktely for no reason? In a couple of days, I¡¯m going with him to Wallington to meet his parents.¡± Molly flicked ash from her cigarette and went on, ¡°Mom, please prepare gifts for when I visit his family. As for tonight¡¯s party, handle it yourself.¡± Hiry was short of words. Nurse walking 596 Chapter 596 After talking with Molly, Hiry felt a bit at a loss. Looking at the young and handsome men in front of her, and the nobledies waiting for her to go back and chat, she called the servant, ¡°Tell Victoria toe see me.¡± After finishing her cigarette, Molly went upstairs. She wanted to visit Lucky and arrange for the servants to take good care of it. When she went upstairs, she saw Lucky ying happily with a new duck toy, but it was still very happy to see here back. Molly and Roy hadn¡¯t been home for several days, and it once thought Molly had abandoned it and eloped with Roy. Meanwhile, Lucky circled around Molly for a while. Molly touched its head and said, ¡°I won¡¯t be staying at home much these days. You have to listen to the servants.¡± Lucky actually expected that Molly had taken Roy on a vacation. ¡°Did you hear me?¡± Molly asked. Lucky let out an unwilling bark. It was old now, so it was more suitable for a retired life. Besides, since Roy came, it felt relieved. It wouldn¡¯t have much time to apany Molly, and Roy could just take on that responsibility. Molly smiled and yed with it for a while. When she saw it was almost time, she left. The nobledies came to set up their sons on a blind date, but the heroine of the blind date had left, so they were very confused. Hiry felt their stares, cleared her throat, and announced, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s Ms. Victoria Hill, who¡¯s here for the blind date tonight, is not my daughter.¡± The nobledies were all speechless. A helicopter was parked on the manor¡¯s tarmac. Molly received a call from Roy. His voice sounded as sweet and heavy as if soaked in honey. He said, ¡°Momo, I¡¯m not feeling well¡ª¡± Molly held the phone. His voice seemed much hoarser, as if he were really unwell, and she immediately became nervous. She asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Royy on the bed. His hair fell down, covering those wet and lustful eyes. ¡°Everywhere, Momo. I¡¯m so ufortable.¡± Molly thought it might be an adverse reaction after he took the medicine, so she didn¡¯t think much. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back. I¡¯ll call Sheary again to ask about your situation.¡± Roy said anxiously, ¡°No, don¡¯t ask Shermaine.¡± Molly paused. ¡°Why?¡± Roy¡¯s wolf ears drooped at this time. ¡°It¡¯s my mating season.¡± Maybe because of the sweetness with Molly these days, Roy now felt no strangeness in saying such embarrassing words. He just wanted to hold Molly and getfort from her. Molly breathed a sigh of relief when she heard this. She smiled and said, ¡°Wait for me toe back. Hold on first.¡± ¡°Momo, don¡¯tugh at me,¡± Roy said. Molly teased, ¡°Baby, you¡¯re so cute. I can¡¯t help it.¡± Her unapologetic teasing made Roy¡¯s drooping head tremble. Then he also smiled and said, ¡°Momo, you¡¯re cute too.¡± Molly called him baby. That was what he cared about. Just listening to Molly¡¯s voice, he felt his body react more strongly. The desire in his eyes grew stronger, and his ears trembled along with it. ¡°Momo, I 1/3 14:37 Fr, 25 Jul G. don¡¯t think I can hold on.¡± Molly had already boarded the helicopter. The sound of the propellers was very noisy, but she still heard Roy¡¯s words clearly. She knew Roy¡¯s breathing was heavy and disordered. He called Molly¡¯s name over and over again, and she responded to him patiently. At this time, the chain of the handcuffs made a clear clinking sound, Roy said aggrievedly, ¡°Momo, the handcuffs are so annoying. They¡¯re so inconvenient.¡± Molly said subconsciously, ¡°I¡¯ll unlock them for you when I get back.¡± She might have been bewitched by Roy¡¯s voice just now, and now she was bent on going back to check on Roy¡¯s situation. She could bet that the scene must be very beautiful and tempting. Upon hearing this, Roy said in a trembling voice, ¡°Don¡¯t go back on your word.¡± Molly agreed. She wasn¡¯t someone who liked to break her promises. Originally, the handcuffs wouldn¡¯t be kept on any longer. She wouldn¡¯t let him meet his parents with the handcuffs on. This week of discipline was probably enough to make Roy deeply realize his mistake. He shouldn¡¯t do such silly things as deceiving her in the future. At this moment, Roy sniffed the pillow Molly had slept on in bed. His forehead was covered in sweat. ¡°Momo, can you coax me again, please?¡± His voice seemed to hide a trace of pain. Molly¡¯s heart softened when she heard him say that. ¡°What do you want to hear?¡± ¡°I want to hear you say you love me,¡± Roy said. Molly said, ¡°I love you.¡± Roy¡¯s ears trembled. ¡°Say it again.¡± Molly said sincerely, ¡°Roy, I love you.¡± She smiled and said, ¡°When we get back to Wallington, I¡¯ll marry you.¡± Roy said discontentedly, ¡°Momo, I can¡¯t wait.¡± Molly smiled and said, ¡°Be patient, my dear.¡± Comparing their two families, Molly¡¯s seemed to be much more powerful. Moreover, Molly was the leader of the household, simply the overlord of Ustrana. Not to mention, the Hill family had a foot in both legitimate and illegitimate businesses. Anyway, Roy was very happy as long as he could be with Molly. He didn¡¯t care whether their families matched in status and wealth. Roy said, ¡°Momo, my penis¡® noting out.¡± Mollyughed, ¡°How did you be such a little loser?¡± Roy¡¯s eyes were red. He licked his lips and said, ¡°Momo, when youe back, you¡¯ll know if I¡¯m useful or not.¡± As a man, he couldn¡¯t be described as useless. The sea was calm until a helicopter flew over. Then, it slowlynded in front of a vi. Molly got off the ne under the bright moonlight. As soon as she entered the door, Roy hugged her from behind. His embrace was as hot as a volcano. He kissed her ears and neck, pouting and saying, ¡°I¡¯ve been holding on all day. I¡¯m almost dying of difort.¡± ¡°I went back to the manor today. Why didn¡¯t you call me during the day?¡± Molly said. ¡°I thought I could hold on and it would pass,¡± Roy bit her earlobe. ¡°But I didn¡¯t expect it to get worse at night. Hurry up and kiss me.¡± Molly turned around, grabbed his jaw, and then kissed him. She was wearing eight¨Ccentimeter high heels. Although she wasn¡¯t as tall as Roy, she didn¡¯t 2/3 14:37 Frl, 25 Jul G need to stand on tiptoe. As they continued kissing, Roy wanted to hug her, but found his hands couldn¡¯t move freely. ¡°Momo, the handcuffs.¡± Molly put her hand on a certain part of his handcuffs. There was a fingerprint sensor there. When she touched that ce, the handcuffs were unlocked immediately. With his hands free, Roy picked Molly up at once. He held her buttocks with both hands, pressed her against the wall, and then kissed her passionately. AD Comment Nurse walking 597 Chapter 597 Molly knew that Roy¡¯s soft demeanor was only surface¨Clevel; when it came to sex, he turned bold in an instant. As their lips and tongues tangled, Molly¡¯s high heels fell to the floor. She wrapped her legs around Roy¡¯s waist, her hands resting on his neck, while her fingers toyed with the wolf ears that had popped up. Lately, these soft ears had be her favorite obsession. At the pinch, Roy let out a low groan. He stripped off Molly¡¯s coat and nuzzled her neck. He¡¯d vowed not to lose control likest time, but even with gentler motions, his kisses left vivid marks on her corbone. Roy had held back for far too long. Kissing Molly felt like a desperate attempt to ease the hunger, yet it only burned brighter. Heid her on the sofa, his hands roaming over her waist. ¡°Momo, you smoked,¡± Roy murmured against her lower lip, his voice ragged. It was a light, feminine cigarette, faint enough to almost miss¨Cbut Roy¡¯s nose was sharp. He added, ¡°And there¡¯s the scent of other men on you.¡± Molly knew this was his real concern. ¡°I went home today. My mother threw a party.¡± Roy¡¯s grip on her waist tightened. ¡°Did other men hit on you?¡± Molly arched an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying. The party was Hiry¡¯s attempt at a blind date, after all¨Cevery man there hade hoping to win her over. A few had even tried to chat her up, asking for a dance. She softened her posture, a yful smile curving her lips. ¡°I¡¯m beautiful, powerful, and wealthy. Men line up to seduce me. You gonna get jealous every time?¡± Roy answered with a searing kiss, his silence a clear admission. If other men lusted after her, he would seethe¨Cbut soon enough, the entire upper crust of Ustrana would know¨CMolly was his. He nned to announce their rtionship before they returned home. ¡°I¡¯m jealous because I love you,¡± Roy said, determined to overwrite every trace of those other men with his own scent. Truth be told, their smell was faint -his senses were just that sharp. Molly let him mark her as he pleased. ¡°Do you know? You¡¯re the only one who could ever seduce me.¡± Roy paused, his lips hovering over her waist, eyes zing with excitement. He crashed his mouth against hers again, gasping, ¡°Momo, hands.¡± Molly understood. Even her phone calls hadn¡¯t been enough to make him climax. The weeks of teasing had trained him well¡ªwithout her, he couldn¡¯t release. She ruffled his hair. ¡°Carry me to bed.¡± Roy scrambled up, lifting her into his arms. Their figures vanished from the first floor. Molly left her coat and heels strewn in the hallway. A sh of whitece peeked from beneath her shirt, hinting at something far more provocative underneath. Shermaine¡¯s days after returning home were spent dominating industry events. Hereback was undoubtedly a cause for celebration in Wallington. Amidst the busyness, she didn¡¯t neglect her ¡°daughter.¡± When Dave saw Shermaine, his eyes darted away nervously. Gracie could now crawl steadily and was currently ying with toys in her little ypen. Gracie had no love for fuzzy stuffed animals¡ªshe preferred toy cars and robots. Anything she could take apart, she adored. 1/3 Chapter 597 ¡°What are you guilty of?¡± Shermaine asked. Dave fluttered over to her. ¡°A week ago, I sensed an aura radiating from the Pacific Ocean. It felt familiar.¡± Shermaine shrugged. ¡°A Vampire n member from Valmora sent it. I crippled her in Avalmere, so she activated the signal. Dave¡¯s expression soured at the mention of the Vampire n. ¡°Figures. They¡¯re the worst¨Call they want is to capture me and exploit my power On hearing this, Shermaine nced at Dave. ¡°I thought you¡¯re kind of badass.¡± Dave said, ¡°Their abilities are too abnormal. Warriors above S¨Clevel will awaken their own talents, and the talents of the Vampire n royal family are just bad for me.¡± His ability was time and space travel, and the ability of the Vampire n royal family was the exact opposite of his. As long as his domain space was activated, Dave couldn¡¯t escape. Dave said pitifully, ¡°Sheary, you must not let them capture me back. I will be miserable, really, really miserable. He thought, ¡®I definitely don¡¯t want to be their tool.¡® Shermaine¡¯s tone was calm. ¡°In twenty years, I¡¯ll be old.¡± Forty was the time for her to retire and enjoy a quiet life. Dave pouted, then switched to ttery. ¡°You¡¯ll never look old. And even if you did, you¡¯d still be a warrior god.¡± Shermaineughed, ncing at Gracie. ¡°You¡¯d be better off begging her.¡± Her daughter was brilliant, destined to be a pir of the world when she grew
  1. up.
Dave trotted over to Gracie, putting on his cutest act. But Gracie hated squishy things. When a fluffy blur drifted toward her, she tossed it aside without a second thought. Dave realized winning Gracie¡¯s help might be harder than he¡¯d thought. In Ustrana, the night was hazy, moonlight veiled by clouds. Molly grabbed a tissue from the nightstand to wipe her hands. Roy pulled her close, pressing kisses to her flushed palms. He trailed kisses up her arm to her corbone, drunk on the intimacy, never enough. ¡°Momo¡­ do you want forever with me?¡± Molly looped her arms around his neck. ¡°You tell me.¡± He drawled her name, but she held back, teasing him. Roy pointed to his lips, then his hands, then himself. ¡°Which do you want?¡± Molly smiled, brushing his soft, naturally pink lips. ¡°Can you even use these?¡± Roy¡¯s lips were a vivid, natural red¨Cso striking people often asked if he wore lipstick. He never had. Once, it had even drawn offers from wealthy women, but he¡¯d declined. He didn¡¯t need their money. But if Molly wanted to ¡°keep¡± him, he¡¯d leap at the chance. Roy nodded, grinning. Molly licked her lips, pretending to think¨Cuntil Roy¡¯s kisses wandered lower, reigniting the fire. The wind scattered the clouds, deepening the night. She¡¯d trained him well, she thought. The intense pleasure left her dizzy, a mix of amusement and affection. This boy¨Cnaive yet cunning¡ªhad captured herpletely, not to mention his patience was impressive. She relented; there was no point in holding back. Kicking Roy gently, she signated her surrender. He looked up, lips glistening, andughed as he rolled them both under the covers. ¡°Changing your mind?¡± Molly nodded. ¡°If you¡¯re good, I¡¯ll take back what I said about you being ¡®useless.¡°¡± She wiped his lips. ¡°Go on¨Cbe wild.¡± ?¡¯??. Nurse walking 598 Chapter 598 By dawn, the bed was too disheveled to sleep in. The entire vi reeked of romance, and the bathroom floor was soaked with water. Molly had given upining about Roy¡¯s terrifying stamina. She was exhausted, yet she could clearly feel his lingering desire. ¡°Why are you still inside me? Get your penis out.¡± After the night they¡¯d had, Molly¡¯s voice was hoarse beyond recognition. Roy clung to her, reluctant to move. ¡°No. It feels good like this.¡± Molly draped herself over him. ¡°I¡¯m sleepy. Carry me somewhere to sleep.¡± Roy kissed her lips, then lifted her and carried her to another room. There, they copsed onto the bed again. As he kissed her, he asked, ¡°Are you sore?¡± Molly yawnedzily and shook her head. She half¨Csuspected Roy¡¯s sperm had healing properties¨Cafter the night they¡¯d had, she felt no difort at all. ¡°Can we sleep like this, then?¡± Roy nuzzled her, his eyes wet with hope. Molly nodded, already drifting off. Roy adored her indulgence and fell asleep contentedly beside her. Meanwhile, Wallington had just slipped into the night. Shermaine remained in the study, the Orthish screen glowing as Apocalypse fed her data about the Vampire n. The Vampire n was indeed a fiercely warlike race. They often engage in fights, and their conflicts with the other nine major ns werebyrinthine. Shermaine was stunned to discover that Apocalypse¡¯s database contained information on the entire gxy¨Cand it was constantly updating. Dave had mentioned that Apocalypse¡¯s core was stolen from the Mechanical n, one of the top ten races. The Mechanical n¡¯s technology was unrivaled in the universe, with no other raceing close. Dave had smuggled the core to the Kingdom of Xyperia, gifting it to the royal family, who¡¯d built Apocalypse from it. Apocalypse housed a library containing the sum of all cosmic knowledge. Shermaine devoured it. Earth felt tiny inparison, and this chance to explore the universe fascinated her. She was so absorbed that she didn¡¯t notice Joshua entering with a ss of milk. He was used to her focus and wordlessly lifted her into hisp. Joshua had heard from Shermaine about Valmora and Faye. The universe beyond Earth sounded vibrant, worth exploring. Since returning from the Kingdom of Xyperia, Shermaine had wanted to travel beyond Earth. With Dave as their guide, getting around would be effortless. Dave had once feared wandering far, but with Shermaine protecting him, he was bold. But it waste, and time for bed. ¡°Sheary, drink your milk.¡± Joshua still kept the habit of preparing milk for her at night. Shermaine didn¡¯t look up. ¡°Feed me.¡± Joshua smiled fondly, bringing the ss to her lips. ¡°Open your mouth.¡± Shermaineplied, continuing to read as she drank. 14:37 FM, 25 Jul Chapter 598 Joshua fed her slowly, but she finished the ss quickly. A drop of milk lingered on her lip, softening the sharpness of her beauty indu licked it away. Shermaine asked, ¡°Done?¡± Joshua tilted her chin up. ¡°Are you unsatisfied with me, Sheary?¡± ¡°I want to read more,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯ste. Time to sleep.¡± Joshua shut off the Orthish and carried her to their room. Shermaine wasn¡¯t upset¨Cwithout his reminder, she might have read until dawn. After washing up, shey in bed, still restless.. Joshua pulled her into his arms, stroking her hair. ¡°Roy called me the other day. Said you gave Molly a pair of handcuffs Shermaineughed, ¡°Mr. York, do you want to try being cuffed?¡± ¡°Not opposed to the idea,¡± Joshua said. ¡°You¡¯re full of ideas,¡± she teased. Joshua¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. ¡°Spicing up our marriage, isn¡¯t it?¡± Shermaine brushed her leg against his, feeling his breath hitch. Desire flickered in his handsome eyes. He hooked a finger in thece of her might gown Shermaine warned casually, ¡°Mr. York, move again, and our next time will be this day next year.¡± The threat was worse than a nightmare. Nurse walking 599 Chapter 599 Joshua conceded with augh. It seemed their encounter in Ustrana had left a deep impression on Shermaine¡ªno wonder she¡¯d been avoiding intimacy since their return. He held her close and asked, ¡°How long did you n to ban me?¡± ¡°Three months,¡± Shermaine replied. Three months without sex would¡¯ve driven him to frustration. He had been too intense that time. Joshua massaged her lower abdomen. ¡°Did we use protectionst time?¡± If not, he could live with three months of abstinence. Shermaine rolled over, ignoring him. Joshua wrapped his arms around her. ¡°Angry?¡± Only a nightlight glowed in the room. He coaxed, ¡°What¡¯ll it take to make you forgive me, Sheary?¡± The thought of Joshua fixating solely on getting her pregnant still irked her. They hadn¡¯t used protection that night. It was her safe period, but with Joshua¡¯s sperm count, the odds of conception were high. Yet Shermaine suspected Joshua¡¯s words held magic¨Cif he kept talking, she might actually get pregnant. Joshua pressed on, ¡°We talked about going on a date two years ago. What if we make it a space trip?¡± Her eyes lit up. Apocalypse could navigate the cosmos, even if itcked a spaceship¡¯s instant teleportation. But with Dave around, travel was effortless. Dave had once feared wandering far, but now Shermaine¡¯s protection emboldened him. Shermaine¡¯s mood shifted instantly. She rolled back to face Joshua. ¡°No backing out. When?¡± She refused to explore alone¨Che had toe with her. Joshua thought a moment. ¡°If you¡¯re not pregnant, we leave now. If you are, we¡¯ll go after you give birth.¡± ¡°Deal.¡± Before sleeping, she grinned, ¡°I didn¡¯t just give Molly handcuffs. Danielle got a pair too.¡± Molly and Danielle were her closest friends, both in rtionships, s? Shermaine had shared the ¡°gift¡± with them. Joshuaughed, ¡°I¡¯d happily let you cuff me, Sheary.¡± ¡°Save the chatter. Sing me to sleep.¡± Shermaine was restless, needing Joshua¡¯s stories to drift off. He nodded,unching into a soothing bedtime tale in his deep voice. Down the hall, Gracie slept soundly in her crib. She nodded off quickly, no lubies needed¨Cso she never got to enjoy such perks. Danielle had owned the handcuffs for days, hiding them at the bottom of her closet to avoid Ross¡® notice. But she¡¯d craved using them, with no luck. Shermaine had also sent condoms from the Kingdom of Xyperia¨Cseven, each with unique packaging and instructions. Danielle wanted to try them too, but opportunities eluded her. She stood in the walk¨Cin closet, staring at the handcuffs. She, Molly, and Shermaine shared everything, When Molly gushed about the handcuffs¡® effectiveness, Danielle ached to take charge in bed for once. Danielle frowned. Molly and Shermaine thrived as dominants, but she¡¯d always let Ross lead. ¡°Danielle, you¡¯ve been standing there a while.¡± Ross leaned in the doorway, suit jacket discarded. 4:37 Fr, 25 JUN (30 Chapter 599 She jumped, spinning around. Usually cool, her cheeks flushed like roses. ¡°Wee home, Rost Ross smiled, the elegant man teasing, ¡°Hiding something?¡± Danielle sped her hands, eyes darting. ¡°Curious?¡± She thought, ¡®This is my chance to use the handcuffs.¡± Ross arched a brow, waiting. Danielle crooked a finger. ¡°Come here, dear, and I¡¯ll show you.¡± Ross approached, unguarded. Marriage had only amplified Danielle¡¯s allure.. Between their busy schedules¨CDanielle as a surgeon, often hometer than him¨Cquiet evenings together were rare. But Ross soon sensed her tone shift. He advanced anyway, curious. Danielle breathed in his scent¨Cfaint smoke mingled with the cologne she¡¯d gifted him. It disarmed her. Ross asked, ¡°What¡¯s the secret?¡± ¡°Hold out your hands,¡± she said, and he obeyed. She said, ¡°Both.¡± He alsoplied. Danielle whipped out the handcuffs, but Ross moved faster, grabbing her wrist and cuffing her. She couldn¡¯t reach the fingerprint lock. Flustered, she red. ¡°That¡¯s not fair!¡± Ross¡® smile turned knowing at the sight of the cuffs. He pulled her close, gripping her jaw. ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s my instinct.¡± She thought, ¡®Liar.¡® Her face burned¨Cher dream of dominating him shattered. Ross brushed her lips. ¡°Sheary send anything else?¡± She said, ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Dr. Shelly, control your heartbeat before lying.¡± Ross pressed a hand to her chest, feeling its rapid thud. Danielle swatted his hand away. ¡°Can we pretend this never happened?¡± Ross shook his head, then found Shermaine¡¯s condoms in the closet¨Cseven, each with distinct packaging and instructions. He read them carefully. Danielle tried to stop him, but Ross pinned her against the closet wall. Cuffed, she was helpless. Five minutester, he finished studying the condoms. He held one up, murmuring in her ear, ¡°Let¡¯s test these.¡± She¡¯d wanted the handcuffs, not these. Danielle found herself cuffed to the bed, Ross gripping her jaw as he kissed her. Roy and Molly had left the seaside vi, returning to Loang. He clung to her, following wherever she went. That night, after Molly finished work, she took Roy to dinner. As soon as she parked, he insisted on a kiss. Molly relented. His mating season wasn¡¯t over in a day, but that night had eased it. ALA Chapter 599 Suddenly, Molly noticed shes paparazzi outside, taking photos. Roy, sensing her distraction, bit her lip harder. ¡°Focus, Momo.¡± Molly caught his drift, grinning as she wrapped her arms around him, kissing him openly. Within two hours, all of Ustrana knew¨Cthe Hill family¡¯s new leader was making out in a luxury car with her Wallington boyfriend. The photos giere crysta clear. Men who¡¯d idolized Molly as a fantasy mourned. The aloof Hill heir, letting a man kiss her like that. Her indulgence screamed his importance to her Details about Roy emerged: he was a Shay, scion of Wallington¡¯s elite. What¡¯s more, he¡¯d pursued Molly two years ago, vanished after she did, and now returned¨Ctheir love rekindled. That night, Roy celebrated the news over dinner, thrilled that the world knew they were together. They returned to the Hill mansion, where Hiry had prepared mountains of gifts for Roy¡¯s family, stacked in a corner. It was Hiry¡¯s first time meeting Roy, and she noted his good looks. Roy smiled. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Roy.¡± Hiry summoned coffee, gesturing for him to sit. Roy joined Molly on the couch as servants brought fruit. Hiry asked Molly, ¡°Gifts are ready. When¡¯s your trip?¡± ¡°Tomorrow.¡± Molly fed Roy a cherry. ¡°Why so many?¡± Hiry shrugged. ¡°Seemed insufficient.¡± She stifled a sigh at their sweetness¨Cshe¡¯d get used to it. Molly arched a brow. ¡°I¡¯m meeting his parents, not getting engaged.¡± Hiry marveled that the Shays would let Roy marry into the Hills. Molly rified, ¡°He¡¯s not.¡± Hiry sighed and nodded. Roy said, ¡°Momo, I want kiwi.¡± She speared a piece and fed him. 20 Hiry stayed silent a moment, then watched Molly wipe a drop of juice from Roy¡¯s lips, then kiss him. That was too much. Ustrana was a liberal ce, but watching her daughter make out? Hiry left, servants trailing. Roy pinned Molly to the couch. ¡°Momo, I want you.¡± She cupped his face. ¡°Later.¡± She licked her lips. ¡°Lucky¡¯s upstairs. Let¡¯s go to the garden.¡± Nurse walking 600 Chapter 600 Roy returned home. When his private jetnded at the airport, his parents had already been waiting for him for a long time. If it were just Roying back, they wouldn¡¯t need to pick him up in person, but with Mollying too, things were different. Roy¡¯s younger brother, tsaac, came along too. Isaac was born while Roy was still around, but when Roy went missing, Isaac was only four. Now, at six, he was really cute. He hol a Isaac asked, ¡°Mom, is big brother reall teddy bear and wore a little gentleman¡¯s suit. His hairstyle looked a bit silly, but he was still handsome back?¡± Lilian held his hand. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Isaac adored Roy. He would video call Roy every day just to see him. After Roy went missing, Lilian didn¡¯t dare tell Isaac the truth. Now that Poy was back, Isaac was over the moon and couldn¡¯t wait. Meanwhile, the cabin door opened, and Roy led Molly down from the ne. When he saw his parents and brother, he was so happy that he waved to them. A tough woman like Molly felt a bit nervous meeting Roy¡¯s parents. But she never showed it. On the ne, she and Roy spent most of their time in bed. When she woke up, they were already in Wallington. Roy had woken her with a kiss. As he dressed her, Molly felt the oing wind sober her up a lot. Now, facing Roy¡¯s parents, she pressed her lips together. Roy¡¯s parents were thrilled; after all, they had worried about him for two years. Lilian smacked Roy on the back. The force was harder than any time she¡¯d hit him before, but to Roy now, it felt like a tickle. ¡°Mom, if you hit me like this, it¡¯s you who¡¯ll hurt,¡± Roy said. Lilian red at him. She did feel her hand hurt a bit. Jake, with a straight face, said, ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re back.¡± Roy smiled brightly, then said to them, ¡°Dad, Mom, this is my girlfriend, Molly.¡± Jake and Lilian had heard about how Roy had gone all out to chase Molly two years ago. Molly was far more outstanding than Roy. She was beautiful, rich, skilled inbat, brave, and resourceful. Now she was the leader of the Hill family, the top family in Ustrana, holding great power, and she was also friends with Shermaine. ¡°Momo, meet my dad and mom,¡± Roy said, his voice softening when he spoke to Molly. ¡°We¡¯re family now.¡± Molly smiled and greeted them; ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Molly.¡± Roy¡¯s parents took a real shine to Molly, so they quickly started chatting with her. When Isaac saw Molly, he realized Roy only had eyes for her and wasn¡¯t paying him any attention. He pouted, clutching his teddy bear, and started sulking. While they were talking, Isaac huffed and said, ¡°Big brother!¡± Only then did Roy notice him. Roy looked at Isaac and ruffled his hair. ¡°It¡¯s been two years, and you¡¯ve only grown a little bit?¡± 14.37 Fri, 25 Jul & G Even though Rey said that, Isaac was happy to have his head patted. He hugged Roy¡¯s leg, ¡°Roy, I missed you so much¡± As he hugged Boy (aac pa at Molly. Molly noticed that. She smiled and thought, ¡®Roy¡¯s little brother, he doesn¡¯t seem to like me. Roy looked at Isaac, clinging to his leg. He wasn¡¯t overly excited about their reunion, but he was d. Roy messed up Isaac¡¯s hair, then gently pinched he cheek and said, ¡°This is my girlfriend, Molly. Go on, say hi to her.¡± Isaac let out a short. Roy frowned and said, ¡°Hurry up.¡± ¡°Hi, Molly,¡± Isaac said, clearly reluctant. Roy said, ¡°This is my little brother, Isaac.¡± Molly said, ¡°He¡¯s very cute.¡± When Roy heard that, he stared straight at Molly, then pinched her waist. ¡°Momo, I¡¯m cuter than him.¡± Isaac even started to wonder if this was really his brother. Molly wanted tough but had to pretend to be serious, saying, ¡°Stop fooling around.¡± It was the first time Roy¡¯s parents had seen him like this; he¡¯d never been so affectionate with them. He hadn¡¯t been a cute kid when he was little, and every time they thought back to his mischievous childhood, they just felt at a loss. On the way back to Shay Vi, Roy never let go of Molly¡¯s hand. Isaac was so jealous. He loved Roy so much that he couldn¡¯t stand Roy only focusing on Molly. When Roy saw that Lilian had prepared a room for Molly, he said, ¡°Mom, no need to get a room for Momo. We¡¯ll share one.¡± ¡°Oh, no.¡± Lilian disagreed. ¡°You two aren¡¯t married yet. And stop clinging to Momo all the time; you¡¯re taking up all her time to talk to us. Isaac¡¯s already a bit upset that you¡¯re ignoring him. Go and cheer him up.¡± Roy shrugged it off, saying, ¡°That kid¡¯s easy to please with a piece of candy.¡± He still insisted, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m sharing a room with Momo. I can¡¯t sleep without her.¡± So he went to the guest room and moved all of Molly¡¯s luggage to his own room. Lilian thought Roy seemed to have been spoiled rotten. Meanwhile, Molly was ying chess with Jake and chatting. Molly could keep up with all of Jake¡¯s topics, so he grew more and more satisfied with her. He thought his son was incredibly lucky to have Molly. After Molly finished ying chess with Jake, Shermaine called her. ¡°How¡¯s it going?¡± Shermaine asked. Molly chuckled, ¡°Roy¡¯s parents are really nice.¡± After a pause, she added, ¡°But his little brother doesn¡¯t seem to like me much.¡± ¡°Oh, a lot of kids look up to their older brothers and sisters,¡± Shermaine said. That seemed odd to Molly. Her own siblings had been scheming andpeting with each other since they were little; there was no real bond between them. Molly asked, ¡°How do I win that kid over?¡± Shermaine thought for a moment and said, ¡°If Roy wants to be alone with you, take his brother along. If he wants his big brother, let Roy go to him.¡± Molly thought about it and took the advice. ¡°Got time to meet tomorrow?¡± Chapter 600 Shermaine replied, ¡°Henry¡¯s treating. He already sent the address to Roy, juste tomorrow afternoon. The Shay family was getting along wonderfully. By dinner time, lots of people hade, all of Roy¡¯s rtives. Everyone took a liking to Molly, except Isaac. Molly could hold her liquor better than even the heaviest drinkers in the Shay family. She was a bit tipsy, but she¡¯d sober up soon enough. She went, upstairs to drink some yogurt to sober up. Earlier that afternoon, Roy had moved her luggage to his room, so she went straight into Roy¡¯s room. The cab was full of models, and his closet had so many shoes it was dazzling. The whole room had a faint, cozy feel. Roy had just gotten out of the shower when he saw Molly flipping through his photo album. He walked over. ¡°Momo, I¡¯m so happy.¡± Molly was tickled by his nuzzling and was about to say something when Roy kissed her. She was about to kiss back when she saw Isaac at the door in his teddy bear pajamas. She said, ¡°Roy, your brother¡¯s here.¡± Roy turned to see Isaac and asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you in bed?¡± Isaac said, ¡°I want to sleep with you,¡± ? Nurse walking 601 Roy didn¡¯t want to sleep with Isaac at all. But isaac¡¯s expression made it clear if he dared to refuse, Isaac would burst into loud cries, Isaac conten believe that Roy wouldn¡¯t sleep with him anymore now that he had Molly. Roy was about to say no when Molly spoke up, ¡°Go sleep with your little brother.¡± Roy froze. ¡°Momo, 1-¡± Molly covered his mouth with her hand. ¡°Listen to me, be with your little brother.¡± Roy was reluctant, but he had to listen to Molly. Isaac was over the moon, and he was grateful to Molly, too. So he happily stepped forward, grabbed Roy¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Roy,e sleep with me. I still want to hear a bedtime story. You tell me one.¡± Just like that, Roy was dragged away. Molly ignored Roy¡¯s look. To go out for breakfast and get a facial with Lilian early the next morning, she took out her pajamas, went to take a shower, and nned to go to bed early. While soaking in the bath, she scrolled through the chat history in the group with her phone. Molly saw Danielle send six periods, then tag Shermaine. Shermaine replied with a question mark. Danielle: [I didn¡¯t have any chance to use your handcuffs on Ross at all.] Shermaine sent aughing¨Cout¨Cloud emoji. Danielle: [Next time, don¡¯t send me your condoms, and don¡¯t give any to Ross even if he asks.] Shermaine: [Can¡¯t you resist him at all?] Danielle pretended not to see Shermaine¡¯s teasing. It wasn¡¯t that she was too weak to resist Ross, but Ross¡® skills and the condoms made her have to beg for mercy. Molly got curious. Molly: [What condoms?] Shermaine quickly sent the condom instructions and asked if Molly needed some. Molly read the instructions with great interest, then agreed with Shermaine. Danielle: [Ms. Hill, good for you.] Molly: [Roy doesn¡¯t want kids.] They kept chatting until the water turned cold, and Molly got out of the bathtub. She dried herself and applied body lotion. By then, she was sober from the alcohol, but sleepiness hit her. Molly wasn¡¯t picky about beds; shey down and fell asleep soon after. In the next room, Roy kept telling stories, but Isaac just wouldn¡¯t sleep. He kept excitedly sharing his daily life with Roy. Roy said, ¡°Close your eyes and go to sleep quickly.¡± Isaac pouted. ¡°Roy, you¡¯re so mean.¡± Roy said helplessly, ¡°It¡¯s reallyte now. I¡¯ll y with you tomorrow. I¡¯ve been on the ne all day, and I¡¯m tired too.¡± Hearing that, Isaac obediently closed his eyes. He was actually very sleepy, but he wanted to chat more with floy, so the beal forces maricar le awake. Before long, Isaac fell asleep too, but his hand was still clutching Ray¡¯s shirt hem. Royy beside him and in the end, decided to stay with his little brother for the night. But in the middle of the night, difort mada kay pre Isaac¡¯s hand away, and then he ran back to his own room. Royy down on the bed, and soon woke Molly, who was sleeping soundly. When Molly opened her eyes, she felt Roy get in ¡°Momo, can you sleep a bitter?¡± he said. Molly let out a muffled hum. ¡°Roy, you¡¯ve already started, so why ask me?¡± Roy murmured, ¡°I just miss you.¡± He was addicted to her, wanting to be by her side 24 hours a day. Molly¡¯s eyes grew a little hazy. She wrapped her arms around his neck and said, ¡°I have to get up early tomorrow. Don¡¯t go too far. This spring was wonderful. In the morning, Molly and Lilian had breakfast and got facials together. In the afternoon, they want with Roy to meet Shermaine and the others for a gathering. Roy didn¡¯t want to take Isaac out, but Molly insisted. So Isaac sat happily in the car, didn¡¯t seem so hostile to Molly anymore, and even quietly gave Molly his favorite candy. At Moonlight Vi, Henry looked a bit glum. Roy had already won Molly over, but he was still single. He wondered if he might stay single forever. This gathering had hurt his feelings. He and his friends were all good¨Clooking guys, but only Henry couldn¡¯t find a girlfriend. When Henry saw Roy showing off, he couldn¡¯t help rolling his eyes. Henry wasn¡¯t short of women around him, but none of them made his heart race. He didn¡¯t even know what kind of woman he liked. ¡°Henry, you¡¯re the only one without a girlfriend. Are you jealous?¡± Roy came over to tease Henry. Henry clicked his tongue and said, ¡°Don¡¯t you start.¡± Royughed loudly. It used to be Henry teasing him, but now it was finally his turn to mock Henry. Henry said, ¡°If youugh again, we¡¯re not friends anymore.¡± Royughed even louder. Henry waspletely speechless. Meanwhile, Shermaine was ying cards with Molly and the others. As a beginner, Molly had already lost two million dors, but she¡¯d be really interested in the game. Just then, Joshua walked into the game room, followed by a man. ¡°Sheary, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Zachary Gray, director of the Wallington National Defense Department in Technology.¡± ¡°Shermaine, hello. Could I borrow a little of your time to talk about something serious?¡± Zachary said. Hearing that, Shermaine said calmly, ¡°Mr. York, take my ce for a while.¡± Then she followed Zachary out. Zachary hade mainly because satellites had detected a special energying from the Pacific Ocean. After that energy shot out of Earth, it kept traveling in one direction. Unfortunately, the satellites weren¡¯t capable enough to track where that beam ended up. Later, Moranta¡¯s satellite identally captured an image of a human. After analysis by the United Nations, it was confirmed to be Shermaine. The United Nations representative then contacted Wallington. They were confused why Shermaine would be in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and they were also very interested in the mecha she was piloting Shermaine exined Faye¡¯s story in detail and didn¡¯t hide that the mecha she piloted was from another world. After exining, she didn¡¯t give Zachary time to process it, and added, ¡°I was nning to contact the Wallington government myselfte, but i distri expect you were faster. ¡°About the invasion in twenty years, I think we need to prepare for it. So, before that, we need to speed up Earth¡¯s development. I¡¯ve already made a n. ¡°You can share this secret with the United Nations. To let scientists master a higher level of technological civilization as soon as possible. I¡¯m willing to send them to that world to study, but there are only 30 spots.¡± Zachary asked, ¡°How many spots will you give to Wallington?¡± Shermaine favored her own country. ¡°Three to five. You can arrange the people. But the team leader must be someone from me.¡± As for who to put in charge, she was a bit torn, so she needed to discuss it with Joshua. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Nurse walking 602 Chapter 602 Besides needing to discuss with Joshua who would be in charge of the scientific team, Shermaine also had to tell Shirley in advance about sending humans to the Kingdom of Xyperia to study. The n was set to officially kick off in June, and before that, she had plenty of time to make thorough preparations. Roy had left Isaac to take care of Gracie. After ying with Gracie for a while, he ran off to find Molly. When he saw that Molly had already lost over three million dors, he stepped up without hesitation to be her strategist. Danielle had lost money too, but not as much as Molly. After Roy arrived, Molly¡¯s situation turned around a bit, but they still couldn¡¯t beat Joshua. So Danielle called out, ¡°Dear,e over here.¡± Ross had been chatting with Henry, but upon hearing Danielle¡¯s call, he left Henry behind and ran to help her. Joshua didn¡¯t feel threatened. Shermaine was the gambling king in the Kingdom of Xyperia, and he, as the garbling king¡¯s husband, was also highly skilled. Lily felt really tormented ying cards with them. Though Lily couldn¡¯t beat them, over the years of helping Shermaine manage Oliger Company, she had grown tougher and tougher. Lily was quite well¨Cknown in the entire business circle, and many men wanted to tter her. However, after being hurt by her scumbag ex, Lily hadn¡¯t looked for another boyfriend. Left alone, Henry lit another cigarette, feeling lonely, and at the same time, nced at Lily with sympathy. Lily smiled faintly at him, seemingly not caring much about their being in pairs. Perhaps due to good luck, Lily even made a little money, so she still wore a smile while ying cards and was in a good mood. After finishing his cigarette, Henry went to watch cartoons with Isaac and Gracie. Isaac actually struggled a bit holding Gracie. Seeing this, Henry took Gracie from him, then looked carefully at the little girl who was like a doll. He thought, ¡®She¡¯s really cute. When will I find a woman I¡¯m satisfied with to have a child?¡® He almost forgot that he was frigid about sex. While Henry was holding Gracie, Isaac squeezed over and said, ¡°Henry, you can¡¯t be biased. Hold me, will you?¡± Henry was handsome, and when he smiled, he really looked like a fox, so Isaac started clinging to him. This group of people yed cards from the afternoon until it got dark. At nine o¡¯clock in the evening, they had dinner, and then each went their separate ways. Molly nned to stay in Wallington for a week. A weekter, Roy¡¯s parents went with Roy to Ustrana to meet Hiry. The parents of both sides spent half a month discussing the wedding. Molly was very efficient. She registered for marriage with Roy. When Roy saw the marriage certificate, he was overjoyed. He shared the news of his marriage on every social media tform and told each of his friends. In the end, Henry blocked him for a week. Maybe Roy had shown off his wedding date too much in the group, sp Joshua kicked him out. The wedding was set for May 1st. The Shay family was very happy about Roy¡¯s marriage. Molly was much more reliable than Roy, who only knew how to stick with Molly. Anyway, Jake and Lilian just wanted a grandson, so other things didn¡¯t matter. After being kicked out of the group chat by Joshua, Roy went to the study to find Molly. Molly was having a video meeting on her , arranging the wedding. Suddenly, she felt someone under the desk. She looked down and saw Roy. Roy was grinning, with a glint in his eyes. It was obvious he was up to no good. 1/3 Molly kept a straight face. Roy had really been trained well by her; now he would do anything, especially when it came to sex, with no bottom line. The people at the meeting, seeing that Molly wasn¡¯t speaking anymore, asked, ¡°Ms. Hill, do you have any other instructions?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s discuss other things tomorrow morning,¡± Molly said, then closed herputer. ¡°Weren¡¯t you inviting your friends to the wedding and moving your work to Ustrana? Did you finish that so quickly?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve arranged the work, and I¡¯ve invited my friends. But maybe I showed off too much, so Joshua kicked me out of the group,¡± Roy kissed her knee. ¡°You¡¯re still the best.¡± Molly smiled, ¡°Our wedding date is set the fastest. He and Sherry have been married for so many years and still haven¡¯t held a wedding. He must not be able to stand you.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Roy kissed Molly. ¡°Joshua is just jealous of me.¡± He whispered in her ear, ¡°Momo looks really nice today.¡± ¡°You little rascal,¡± Molly teased. Roy said, ¡°You asked Shermaine for those condoms. Can we try them now?¡± Molly didn¡¯t expect he had found out about that. She said, ¡°The condoms are in the room.¡± Roy then took out a condom and put it on the desk. ¡°I brought three. Do you want the prange one or the blue one?¡± Molly replied, ¡°Blue.¡± ¡°Help me, will you?¡± Roy held her. Molly was in a good mood, so sheplied. After kicking Roy out of the group chat, Joshua thought it was time to hold his and Shermaine¡¯s wedding. He went to find Shermaine. When he talked to Shermaine about the wedding, Shermaine replied, ¡°I¡¯m pregnant.¡± She was pregnant as Joshua had wished. Though they couldn¡¯t go traveling, Joshua was still very happy. Shermaine teased, ¡°Mr. York, does your mouth have magic?¡± Joshua held her and said, ¡°I think my dick is magical.¡± His wish to have another child hade true, but his wedding with Shermaine would have to be postponed. Shermaine dic while pregnant, not to mention she was too busy to spare time to n the tedious wedding. Shermaine looked at him and smiled. ¡°Mr. York, I¡¯m going to trouble you to take care of me during this pregnancy.¡± nt to hold a wedding ¡°I will,¡± Joshua said. When Shermaine was pregnant with Gracie, Joshua wasn¡¯t by her side. That was a great regret in his life. This time, no matter what, he would make it up to Shermaine. They smiled at each other. Shermaine asked again, ¡°I asked you to choose a person in charge. Do you have someone in mind?¡± Joshua nodded and said, ¡°Henry.¡± Hearing that, Shermaine raised her eyebrows. Henry was indeed a suitable candidate. ¡°Have you told Henry?¡± ¡°Yes, and he was happy to take it,¡± Joshua said. Shermaine teased, ¡°Maybe in the next few years in the Kingdom of Xyperia, he can solve his single problem.¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible,¡± Joshua said. But ever since he became an adult, Henry had never been to one woman. He hung around in ces of pleasure but never dated women, 2/3 10:28 Sun, 27 Jul A G 84%1 Joshua knew one of his secrets. Because Henry¡¯s parents had a bad rtionship when he was a child, and he had caught his mother fooling around with another man, he had a mental cleanliness about rtionships, which seemed to have led to his frigidity. Joshua told Shermaine about this. Shermaine smiled and said, ¡°Mr. York, you also have strong self¨Ccontrol, but as soon as I tease you, your body starts to invite me.¡± ¡°Henry not having a girlfriend isn¡¯t because of physical problems, and his psychological issues aren¡¯t that serious either. If one day he meets someone he likes, this obstacle will break down on its own,¡± Joshua said. But Henry never expected that two yearster, the lover he met would almost drive him into depression. Nurse walking 603 Chapter 603 There were many happy events this year. Roy and Molly got married, and Shermaine was pregnant with their second child. Janice and Owen were over the moon. Not long after Shermaine found out she was pregnant, another happy event came to the Jean family. Ruth and Richard also registered their marriage. Richard got his wish. He had admired Ruth for so many years, and finally, at nearly fifty, he got to be with her. It had been no easy feat. In addition, Ruth was also pregnant. Getting pre at that age made her both happy and worried. Ruth¡¯s body was a bit weak. Though she had been nourishing her body all along, getting pregnant at that age still carried too high a risk. That was what the doctor said after examining her body. Richard immediately did not want the child, but having an abortion would be bad for Ruth¡¯s health, too. He had no choice but to take Ruth to see Shermaine. Now, Richard sat across from Shermaine, looking refreshed, but Ruth seemed a little embarrassed. After taking the supplements Shermaine her, she looked younger and younger, and by then she did not even have white hair. Since being with Richard, perhaps because she was nourished by love, herplexion had be even rosier. Moreover, Ruth had gained a mature charm at her age, looking very elegant. Shermaine had quite severe negative reactions to her pregnancy this time and could not eat many things. Luckily, Joshua was good at cooking, otherwise, she would definitely have lost weight. ¡°Sheary, I brought Ruth here to ask for your opinion. She is pregnant now, but the doctor says the risk of childbirth is quite high. I am worried she will suffer a lot,¡± Richard said. Hearing that Ruth was also pregnant, Shermaine looked delighted. She would soon have a younger brother, and Gracie and her unborn child would have an uncle. She asked, ¡°How far along were you?¡± Richard said, ¡°More than three months.¡± Ruth had gotten pregnant earlier than Shermaine. After examining Ruth and looking at her hospital test reports, Shermaine said, ¡°The doctor was right, but the current medical conditions were good.¡± She continued, ¡°Mom, you just needed to take good care of yourself during this period, and you could choose to have a came.¡± ean section when the time Richard said, ¡°I was afraid a cesarean section would be bad for Ruth¡¯s health.¡± Shermaineforted the anxious Richard. ¡°It was okay. The recovery shot I bought in the Kingdom of Xyperia was already on sale in major hospitals in Basterel. I had had a shot when I gave birth to Gracie, and my body had recovered very well.¡± The recovery shot had been what Shermaine most wanted to bring back from the Kingdom of Xyperia back then. It had been a godsend for women The cost and profit of the recovery shot had not been high. Shermaine had privately negotiated this project with the government in the name of Oliger Company, and the national government had been fesponsible for promoting it, which had been a win¨Cwin for both sides. Richard immediately felt relieved. Upon learning that he would soon have a child with Ruth, he was so happy that he almost danced for joy. Time flew by, and May arrived. Everyone went to Ustrana to attend Roy and Molly¡¯s wedding. The magnificent castle was filled with guests, including prominent nobles from various countries, as well as Roy¡¯s family and friends. Henry, as the only single man, took on the role of best man. Since Molly did not have a suitable bridesmaid, she asked her secretary to be the 1/3 bridesmaid. The wedding was very grand. O Molly¡¯s wedding dress was a noble and mysterious ck. When this strapless tulle dress was finished, Roy had wanted to have it changed because it was too sexy. Arge part of Molly¡¯s back was exposed. Moreover, she had his name tattooed on her back. He also had a tattoo of Molly¡¯s name on his waist. No one but him and Molly could see it. Undoubtedly, Shermaine was the most popr person at the event besides the bride and groom. Too many people had wanted to make her acquaintance. Joshua apanied her while keeping a tight hold on her waist to protect her. Gracie was already one year old. She could say ¡°dad¡± and ¡°mom,¡± but that was it. She also loved watching TV very much. Janice and Owen had brought Gracie to the wedding. She sat in a stroller, with her soft chestnut short hair tied into small braids. Wearing a bow and a pink dress, she had looked very adorable. She had held a bottle of milk and drunk it, showing little interest in such a lively and festive asion. After finishing the milk, she started yawning When it was her usual nap time, she had fallen asleep right away. No matter who had held her during that time, she had not woken up. Trance had also been present. He had enthusiastically gone up to greet Shermaine. As a former rival in love, Joshua had no longer paid him any mind. Trance had been single then, just like Henry. At an event like that, quite a few had struck up conversations with them, but they had not met any they liked. What Trance had envied most was Joshua. By then, Shermaine had been going to have a second child with him, while he was still single. Soon, witnessed by everyone, Roy and Mollypleted the wedding ceremony. When it came time to toss the bouquet, Henry had not gone to grab it. He had not needed it, but the bouquet had flown straight towards him. He had had no choice but to catch it. After catching the bouquet, Henry let out a soft snort. He had already thought he was destined to be alone for the rest of his life, so getting the bouquet had really been a waste. However, what Henry had not expected was that Lily had actually brought a boyfriend to the wedding. He was a college student younger than her and was currently a promising member of the national swimming team. He h energetic, and had an outgoing personality. When he had smiled, he had had dimples on his cheeks. ked quite sunny and At the wedding party, he and Roy had gotten along well, so they had kept drinking together. It had been gettingte. Roy had been given a lot to drink, but his friends had just not let him leave. In the end, Molly hade to rescue him in her wedding dress. Roy had drunk so much that his face had been red, and his eyes had been misty. When he had seen Mollying, he had hugged her. ¡°Momo, they¡¯re being so mean.¡¯ Molly had smiled at them and said, ¡°I have to take him back.¡± In the moonlight, her ck wedding dress had trailed on the ground, and Roy¡¯s name had been tattooed on her beautiful back, Roy had smiled and said, ¡°Momo,¡± She had asked, ¡°What is it?¡± He had said, ¡°My dear!¡± 10:28 Sun, 27 Jul A Molly had been about to turn around when he had hugged her. Roy had kissed the tattoo on her back and than said. ¡°These you the most She had felt the same. She had loved Roy the most in this life. If there had been a next life, she would have fallen in love with him an Nurse walking 604 Meanwhile, Shermaine was on her way back to the hotel with Joshua. They had gone shopping after the wedding ended. Before that, Shermaine had already stored quite a lot of snacks in Apocalypse. What she bought in Ustrana were all beautiful jewelry and the like. The things designed by designers from the Kingdom of Xyperia were different from those back in her home country. Shermaine yawned in the car at that moment. ¡°Are your feet sore?¡± Joshua asked. Shermaine nodded. 20 She had been standing for a long time today. She didn¡¯t feel anything at first, but now she did feel a bit sore in her feet. Moreover, her belly seemed to be bigger than when she was pregnant with Gracie. At the same time, Shermaine got hungry very easily. Halfway through the journey, Shermaine said she was hungry. Joshua then said, ¡°What do you want to eat? I¡¯ll buy some ingredients and go back to make it for you.¡± Shermaine said, ¡°I want durian pizza.¡± Joshua smiled, ¡°Sheary, was your taste this strong when you were pregnant with Gracie?¡± Shermaine didn¡¯t used to eat such heavy¨Ctasting food. Shermaine thought for a moment, then said, ¡°Was it that bad?¡± The car stopped in front of a fruit store. Joshua said, ¡°I¡¯ll go down to buy, you wait in the car.¡± Shermaine grabbed his hand, wanting to go with him. Joshua realized that Shermaine was relying on him, so he put his arm around her waist and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t your feet weak?¡± She said, ¡°Even so, I still want to go.¡± Joshua then took her out of the car. The two held hands and walked into the fruit store. The store was big, and since it was nearly closing time, there weren¡¯t many people. There were all kinds of fruits here, and they were very fresh. Joshua put a durian into the shopping cart. Shermaine remembered something¨Cthere seemed to be no cherries or strawberries in the Kingdo Xyperia. So, Shermaine found a shop assistant and asked her to send several boxes of fresh cherries and strawberries to the hotel the next morning. Meanwhile, Shermaine suddenly paused and nced outside. A car had parked behind theirs, and a man sitting in the car was staring straight at them. Actually, Shermaine hadn¡¯t paid attention to him at first, but that man¡¯s gaze was really sinister and didn¡¯t leave them. The light was too dir, and the man was wearing a hooded sweater, so she couldn¡¯t see his face clearly at all. It would be easy to find out his identity, but recently, there were quite a lot of people paying attention to Shermaine, and she didn¡¯t have time to check each one carefully. As long as those people didn¡¯te to cause frouble, she didn¡¯t mind being followed. However, being pregnant for the second time had made her temper a bit worse, at least worse than when she was pregnant with Gracie for the first time. Maybe it was because Joshua had spoiled her, Shermaine¡¯s expression turned cold all of a sudden. The man drove away immediately after Shermaine Jul, 27 Jur looked over After buying the fruits, Joshua and Shermaine went to a supermarket again. This time, Shermaine didn¡¯t go in with him, instead, the looked at the information about that man which Orthish had just found out. His life was quite sad. He had been abandoned by his parents since he was a child and grew up being bullied. The man was dull and had no interpersonal rtionships. However, he graduated from the Department of Mathematics at Harrod University. It was just that because of his gloomy personality, he achieved nothing and then became an ordinary otaku. Now he worked as a teacher in a school. Shermaine pondered for a moment, then closed the information. Although this man had a miserable growth process, Shermaine didn¡¯t like to sympathize with the weak, because he was clearly very smart and had the chance to be strong. So, she didn¡¯t take him to heart. The silver car drove for a long time and finally stopped. The man went into the house, locked the door, and then went to the basement. When he got to the basement, he turned on the light. He hadn¡¯t shaved for a long time, and his eyes were green. His basement was actually a research room; he was a scientific and technological professional. He turned on theputer, and there was a photo of Faye on it. Looking at Faye¡¯s photo, he murmured obsessively, ¡°Baby, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll avenge you.¡± In this world, only Faye was good to him, but Shermaine killed his dearest person. This waspletely unforgivable. Back at the hotel, Joshua started making durian pizza for Shermaine. Joshua¡¯s cooking skills were really good. Shermaine had a big appetite and ate har fill, lying on the sofa like a satisfied cat, while Joshua sat beside her and massaged her feet. During this period, he had been working hard withoutint, taking her orders. Even when Shermaine lost her temper a little, he didn¡¯t show any displeasure. After the massage, Shermaine sat on hisp and kissed his lips. After being kissed, Joshua teased, ¡°You taste like durian.¡± Shermaine leaned over to kiss him again. Joshua opened his mouth ordingly and then hugged her. He didn¡¯t dislike the durian¨Cvored kiss. In his opinion, Shermaine¡¯s lips were always sweet. He hooked Shermaine¡¯s tongue, kissed her bard, and then began to caress her body. Shermaine frowned and pushed him away. ¡°Stop, this is a reward.¡± Joshua buried his head in her neck. ¡°I want a little more reward.¡± They hadn¡¯t had sex for three months, and Joshua couldn¡¯t hold back a bit. Shermaine put her finger on his lips and pressed it slightly. ¡°No.¡± She was sleepy and wanted to sleep. Joshua kissed her neck and then asked, ¡°Then can you call me Dear?¡± He had heard Danielle call Ross that way and Molly call Roy that way, too. But Shermaine had never called him Dear. No matter when, she always called him Mr. York or Joshua. Shermaine refused, ¡°Sheary, please.¡± Joshua coaxed her patiently. But Shermaine refused no matter what. She got off Joshua¡¯sp and went back to the bedroom to brush her teeth. Joshua waited for her on the bed patiently. After a while, as soon as shey down, he wrapped himself around her. ¡°Sheary, I want to hear you call me Dear.¡± Shermaine was too annoyed by him to sleep, so she red at him. ¡°Mr. York, stop messing around.¡± Joshua kissed her lips to shake her resolve. ¡°If you call me that, I¡¯ll stop messing with you.¡± 10:29 Sun, 27 Jul A G Shermaine really wanted to sleep, so after hesitating for a while, she said, ¡°Dear.¡± After actually saying the name, Shermaine thought it was nothing, just a bit strange, not as good as calling him Mr. York. But Joshua was very happy. He had said he wouldn¡¯t mess with her, but after hearing the name, Joshua obviously kissed her more passionately and clingingly. ¡°Sheary, I love you.¡± He liked Shermaine calling him that. Shermaine smiled, feeling the warmth from him on her back. ¡°Then can I sleep, Dear?¡± Joshua put his arm under her neck. ¡°Sleep, baby.¡± AD Nurse walking 605 Chapter 605 The next day, after receiving lots and lots of fruits delivered from the fruit store, Shermaine and Joshua took Gracie and first went to the Kingdom of Xyperia. With experience from this teleportation, Dave made theirnding very steady. The location this time was the city lord¡¯s mansion in Baykeep A beam of light fell from the sky, and a huge mecha descended. Everyone froze for a moment. Then they realized Shermaine hade back. As they expected, Shermaine came out of the mecha. They were overjoyed, and then someone said, ¡°Hurry and inform Ms. Farrington that Ms. Hanks is back.¡± At the same time, a delicate¨Clooking boy was in pain, and Jasmine was trying to soothe him. Damien had a cold look on his face. This was their son Thomas, nicknamed Tommy. Jasmine had been quite busy with work today, so she had left Thomas with Damien. When she came back, she saw Thomas crying his heart out. She said, ¡°Damien, Thomas is crying. Why aren¡¯t you soothing him?¡± Damien said, ¡°I don¡¯t know how to soothe kids.¡± He hadn¡¯t expected his son to cry so easily. As soon as he put on a cold face, Thomas started crying. Damien didn¡¯t think it was good for a boy to cry so much. Jasmine was really angry. She knew Damien had a bit of low emotional intelligence, but she hadn¡¯t expected him not to know how to soothe their own son. She said, ¡°I don¡¯t care. You have to soothe our son properly today.¡± It was always her soothing Thomas, but Thomas wanted his dad to soothe him more. So Jasmine handed Thomas over to Damien to hold. Damien said helplessly, ¡°Jasmine, I only know how to soothe you.¡± From the time he and Jasmine first started dating until now, she was the only one he knew how to soothe. If it were a daughter, he would be willing to soothe her, but he didn¡¯t want to cuddle a son. Jasmine couldn¡¯t help smiling when she heard him say that, but can lift him up high. Maybe he¡¯ll stop crying then.¡± t quickly pressed her lips down. ¡°Then are we just going to let Thomas keep crying? You Damien nodded. However, when she saw Damien lifting Thomas high, Jasmine was almost scared to death. Damien tossed Thomas up, as if he were throwing a basketball. Thomas was so scared that he stopped crying. Jasmine really wanted to kick Damien, but Thomas did seem to have stopped crying. After he stopped crying, Jasmine picked Thomas up. ¡°Thomas, I¡¯ll take you out to y. We don¡¯t want Daddy the fool anymore.¡± Foolish Damien said nothing. He decided to settle things with Jasmine in the evening. Just then, news came from Orthish. Teddy sent a message: [Mr. York and Ms. Hanks are back. Bring Jasmine here quickly.] Jasmine was over the moon when she heard Shermaine was back. She held Thomas, pulled Damien, and said, ¡°Hurry up, hurry up.¡± Damien picked her up in one go. ¡°If I walk fast, you won¡¯t be able to keep up. It¡¯s better for me to carry both of you.¡± Jasmine said with a smile, ¡°You¡¯re such a genius! At this time, in the backyard of the city lord¡¯s mansion, there was a beautiful sea of flowers. There was a table under a sun umbre with brewed coffee on it. Dave was sitting there/munching on a strawberry. When Teddy saw Gracie, he was really happy and thought Gracie was extremely cute 1/3 10:29 Sun, 270 After arriving at the backyard, Jasmine called out, ¡°Shermaine!¡± Then she greeted Joshua. Damien put her down, and Jasmine ran towards Shermaine. Shermaine saw her running over with Thomas in her arms and said, ¡°You and Damien are pretty quick.¡± Unable to handle Shermaine¡¯s teasing, Jasmine¡¯s face turned red. Damien had said he wanted a child, and then they really got pregnant. Jasmine sald shyly, ¡°It happened on the wedding night.¡± ¡°That¡¯s nice,¡± Shermaine said. Damien went over to greet Joshua, and Joshua nodded slightly at him. ¡°Boss, would you like to go take a look at the organization?¡± Damien asked. ¡°Then let¡¯s go take a look.¡± Joshua took out a lighter coat, draped it over Shermaine, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡± Shermaine nodded. Thomas waved at Gracie, who was sitting on the ground. Gracie was holding a milk bottle and drinking. She nced coldly at Thomas, then looked away ¡°Shermaine, this is my son Thomas,¡± Jasmine introduced. Shermaine reached out, picked Thomas up, and said, ¡°He¡¯s very cute.¡± Thomas had inherited Jasmine¡¯s genes, with golden hair, light blue eyes, and particrly long eyshes. ¡°He cries a lot,¡± Jasmine said. But Thomas didn¡¯t cry when Shermaine held him. Jasmine found it amazing. She thought Thomas waspletely different from Gracie. Gracie was very well¨Cbehaved and didn¡¯t cry no matter who held her, but Thomas would cry if anyone other than Jasmine held him. Thatw even applied to Damien. He also liked to put on a fierce face, and as soon as Thomas saw it, he cried even harder. Thomas didn¡¯t cry this time, but he still stretched out his hand towards Gracie, as if he wanted to go y with her. Shermaine put him down, and Thomas crawled towards Gracie. But as he crawled, he fell and hit Gracie¡¯s foot. Gracie moved her foot away in dislike. Thomas still crawled over with a smile. Jasmine said, ¡°Thomas, this is your cousin Gracie.¡± Thomas started babbling in baby talk that no one could understand. After Gracie finished drinking water, she waved at Shermaine, and Shermaine took her water cup. Jasmine watched this and thought Gracie was really smart. She said, ¡°Gracie, I¡¯m Jasmine. Do you remember me?¡± Gracie looked confused at first. After looking at Jasmine for a while, she still gave her a cute little smile. Jasmine leaned over and kissed her. When Thomas also wanted to kiss her, Gracie pushed Thomas to the ground. Jasmineughed, but was also afraid Thomas would cry. Luckily, Thomas didn¡¯t cry. Instead, he took out his little toy to try to please Gracie. Gracie didn¡¯t feel like ying with him. But in the end, she epted Thomas¡® overture. After all, this was her cousin, but in the end, she epted Thomas¡® overture. After all, this was her cousin Jasmine ate some fruit from the table and said, ¡°Shermaine, this fruit is really delicious.¡± ¡°I brought a lot over,¡± Shermaine said. 10:29 Sun, 27 Jul ¡ø G Jasmine ate another strawberry and fell in love with its sweet and sour taste. She asked, ¡°Shermaine, how long do you n to stay in Xyperia? ¡°Not too long. I¡¯ll go back after I finish what I need to do,¡± Shermaine said. Jasmine asked, ¡°What is it?¡± Shermaine then mentioned the matter about Faye. In fact, Xyperia had known for a long time that there were other races living in the universe, and the mutants that had been trying to attack Xyperia actually came through wormholes. Currently, after Shirley took unified control of the Kingdom of Xyperia, most of its military forces had gradually started to campaign against the mutants outside its borders. Baykeep had also sent a batch of supplies and troops there not long ago. Jasmine nodded. ¡°Then we really need to take precautions. Shermaine, you can just send them to the most famous academy in the Kingdom of Xypera to study.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I was thinking,¡± Shermaine said. The most famous academy in the Kingdom of Xyperia was Faraday Academy. But before that, she needed to have a talk with Shirley. That day, Jasmine kept sticking with Shermaine and Gracie. She was so happy that she didn¡¯t want to leave even when it got veryte. After Jasmine brought Thomas back, she handed him over to the robot maid to bathe. After bathing, he fell asleep. Jasminey on the bed, unpacking the gifts Shermaine had brought back. One of them was a perfume that smelled particrly nice. It had a very sweet scent, and she liked it a lot. At this time, Damien got into bed and hugged her from behind. He wasn¡¯t wearing a shirt, and his body was damp. After smelling the fragrance on her, he asked, ¡°Is this from Mrs. York?¡± ¡°Yes. Does it smell good?¡± she asked. He nodded, then flipped Jasmine over in one go and lifted her waist. ¡°Put the gifts aside first. We need to settle the problem during the daytime.¡± Jasmine waspletely confused. &f Nurse walking 606 Chapter 606 Jasmine pushed him away and asked, ¡°Wait, what are you on about?¡± Damien kept a straight face and said, ¡°You called me a fool this morning.¡± Jasmine thought, ¡®This is just an excuse he made up to have sex with me.¡® She retorted confidently, ¡°You lifted Tommy so high that you scared him. What¡¯s wrong with me calling you that?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Damien said. ¡°Th¨Cthen let me go,¡± she stammered a little. Damien paid no heed to her. He pinned her hands under the pillow and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll get my revenge tomorrow.¡± Realizing the punishment was unavoidable, Jasmine turned around in chagrin, kissed Damien, and then clung to him like a ko. ¡°You like this position?¡± he asked. ¡°Not at all,¡± Jasmine said softly, ¡°Don¡¯t be so petty, okay?¡± Damien raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°You think I¡¯m petty?¡± Jasmine said in annoyance, ¡°If not, why do you have to pick on me? Every time you do this, I have to stay in bed all the next day.¡± Damien sucked her tongue hard and then said, ¡°It¡¯s not my fault that you keep putting off exercising with me every time I ask.¡± He held her buttocks and said, ¡°I can¡¯t always control myself.¡± ¡°Your exercise n is too tough. It¡¯s enough for me to run every day,¡± Jasmine thought, ¡°My physical strength is already good, and I even have abs. It¡¯s Damien whose physical fitness is abnormal, but he still mes me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just making excuses to make me stay in bed for a day,¡± she said, pouting. ¡°Whatever you say,¡± Damien took her hand and ced it on his abs, saying, ¡°Do you feel it?¡± He was using this trick again. Jasmine thought, ¡®I suspect that after I was unconsciously tempted by his good looks before and took the initiative to have sex with him, he came up with this scheme to tempt me with his abs. Jasmine was more than happy to go along. She just loved touching his abs, so she smiled and enjoyed the wonderful feel. Damien took a deep breath, then pointed to his Adam¡¯s apple and said, ¡°Here.¡± Jasmine leaned in to kiss his Adam¡¯s apple and then sucked it gently. The rolling Adam¡¯s apple amused her. That scent made Damien¡¯s mood even more restless. He was looking for an opportunity, but he was already getting a little impatient. Then, Damien pinched Jasmine¡¯s jaw and kissed her passionately. He pulled her arms around his waist and lifted her a little. Jasmine¡¯s pajamas slipped off her shoulders. She opened her eyes and finally realized a problem¨Cshe seemed to have been tempted by Damien. Her original intention was to coax him out of his anger, then sleep soundly, and go with Shermaine to find Shirley tomorrow. But she had forgotten her initial purpose, and now she was instead addicted to teasing him. The gift box fell off the bed. Jasmine said with tears, ¡°Stop.¡± ¡°But I want you,¡± Damien wrapped them in the nket. He was like a predatory beast and said in a deep voice, ¡°Jasmine, you¡¯re lying¡± ¡°I¡¯m not Journe¡¯s cheeks were red, and then she couldn¡¯t help but cry. 118 Damien said, ¡°Tommy inherited your tendency to cry so much.¡± Jasmine was silent for a moment before retorting, ¡°I was not a weeper when I was little.¡± ¡°Really?¡± he asked. She said, ¡°O¨Cof course.¡± Damien smiled, then bit her tender cheek. Jasmine cried even harder. It was all his fault that she was made to cry. Jasmine bit back in anger. She wanted to bite harder than he did, so that he wouldn¡¯t have the face to go out and see people tomorrow. The next day, it was Jasmine who felt ashamed. Damien openly let others see the hickies on his body, which made Jasmine extremely ashamed and regretful of her impulsiveness the night before. Moreover, Shermaine had finally returned to the Kingdom of Xyperia, but she couldn¡¯t get out of bed because of excessive sex. It wasn¡¯t until the afternoon, when her waist was less sore, that she got up. Shermaine was very understanding and changed their morning schedule to meet Shirley in the afternoon. Thomas woke up early in the morning wanting to y with Gracie. The robot maid picked him up and took him to find Gracie¡­ All morning, Thomas pestered Gracie at Shermaine¡¯s ce. By noon, Thomas still refused to leave. Gracie was growing more and more displeased with Thomas. Seeing this, Shermaine let him stay for a nap with Gracie. However, Gracie firmly refused to take a nap in the same bed as Thomas. So Shermaine prepared a small bed for Thomas, cing it next to Gracie¡¯s. Thomas stretched out his hand towards Gracie and kept babbling. Shermaine couldn¡¯t help but smile when she saw this; she had never seen such a cute boy as Thomas. Thomas was making so much noise that Gracie couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. She frowned and held Thomas¡® finger, which made him quiet down. Hey down, still holding Gracie¡¯s hand, and fell fast asleep. The noise finally stopped. Gracie yawned and then fell asleep too. Shirley had already heard the news that Shermaine was back in Xyperia and knew she woulde to discuss matters with her in the afternoon. At this time, after finishing her official business, she saw a minister hand her a list, which was full of the names of outstanding young men from the Kingdom of Xyperia. ¡°Your Highness, it has been over a year. I think it¡¯s time for you to choose someone suitable to marry and bear an heir for the royal family,¡± the minister said. Shirley rubbed her temples in resignation. She didn¡¯t want to hear anything about bearing an heir. Shirley said with a stern face, ¡°Alright, stop. If there¡¯s a suitable candidate, I will marry him with great fanfare.¡± She liked men who were a bit more innocent. A man with too manyplicated thoughts would repel her. It just so happened that all the men who wanted to marry her were in it for profit, not love. She was now in a position of great power and no longer needed to choose a marriage alliance to consolidate her interests. This was not only because she now ruled Xyperia, but alsorgely because Shermaine had given her this confidence. Shirley had always been well aware that as long as Baykeep stood firm and their cooperative rtionship remained, she would not need to cooperate with any other forces. Golden sunlight shone on the sacred and magnificent pce. After ruling Xyper¨ªa, Shirley had moved her main city to Summerbank. After reconstruction, Summerbank was even more prosperous than before. Luxurious crystalmps illuminated the pce throughout the night, Just now, Shermaine had arrived. Shirley had been waiting for her for a long time. Jasmine came with Shermaine. They had not brought Thomas and Jasmine to meet Shirley, but had left them at Baykeep in the care of their two fathers. It had been a long time since Jasmine had gone out without her son and husband. The feeling was wonderful. After meeting Shirley, they started having dinner. Shirley raised her wine ss and said to them, ¡°Long time no see.¡± Shermaine picked up her ss, which contained not wine but orange juice. She replied, ¡°Indeed.¡± The three of them did not talk about official business. Instead, after dinner, they went to soak in the hot spring. They all enjoyed it very much, Afterwards, Shirley heard Shermaine mention the crisis in twenty years and the need to send a group of talents to the Kingdom of Xyper¨ªa now. She readily agreed, saying, ¡°I will send people to arrange this. You just send those people over.¡± Shermaine said, ¡°I¡¯m pregnant, so I won¡¯t be able toe again for a while. The person leading the team is my friend, named Henry Jean.¡± Then she turned on her Orthish, clicked on Henry¡¯s information, and showed his photo to Shirley. ¡°Let me introduce you first. You can trust him. But I still suggest you keep an eye on the others.¡± After all, thoseing to study were from all over the Earth, with different purposes. It would be bad if they caused trouble here. Jasmine and Shirley nodded. Shirley looked at Henry¡¯s photo and said, ¡°He¡¯s quite good¨Clooking.¡± However, those eyes of his made him look like a man with deep schemes. Shermaine raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°He¡¯s still single. If you like him, you can pursue him.¡± Shirley shook her head. ¡°He¡¯s from your side, and I¡¯m the queen. A long¨Cdistance rtionship wouldn¡¯t work. Besides, he¡¯s not my type.¡± She liked simpler people. 18:10 Mon, 28 Jul W Nurse walking 607 Chapter 607 Shermaine thought, ¡®Looks like Henry will have to stay single forever. That good¨Clooking face of his isn¡¯t helping him at all.¡® She stayed in the Kingdom of Xyperia for about five days. It was only after Dave had swallowed quite a few aura stones that they set off back to Wallington. 438 They got back just in time. As soon as Shermaine returned, she received a list from Zachary. It had the names of students from various countries chosen to be sent to Xyperia. Each one was the cream of the crop in their respective countries. Shermaine flipped through it and thought it was all right. The night grew deep. The night in Loang was romantic and blurry. A young man named Rhys Hugh from that list was walking out of a bookstore to his car at this moment. The streetmp here was broken, and no one was passing by. Suddenly, he felt someone cover his mouth from behind. He inhaled the knockout drug and fainted. Immediately, he was dragged into a car. At this moment, it started to rain. Late at night, a man in a ck raincoat was digging a hole. He threw the man, who was only wearing pants, into it and then buried him. After cleaning up the evidence, he drove home. Of course, he did not return to his old home but to Rhys¡®. From now on, he would be Rhys. He hade for revenge. In two years, he was determined to make Shermaine pay for killing Faye. Early the next morning, he boarded the ne arranged by the government under Rhys¡® identity, heading to Wallington to gather. Then, all the schrs were put up in a hotel. After arriving in Wallington, he became even more cautious. In June, they were picked up. Then, in the early hours of that night, a Little Dave squatted on top of Henry¡¯s head. When Henry saw everyone had arrived, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Dave nodded, then emitted a blue light and floated into the air. At this moment in Xyperia, Thomas kept crying because Gracie had gone home. After Gracie left, he was so sad that he cried almost every time he woke
  1. up.
Jasmine wiped his tears andforted him, ¡°When you grow up, you can y with Gracie.¡± Thomas could not understand this. He only knew that Gracie was not here. He wanted to y with Gracie, Gracie. Thomas¡® tears got on Jasmine¡¯s nerves. Luckily, Thomas was so young that he cried himself to sleep. Jasmine shook her head with a bitter smile. She could not reduce Thomas¡® dependence on Gracie either. After sending him back to his room to sleep, Jasmine felt exhausted. Coaxing Thomas was more tiring than handling official business or having sex with Damien. ¡°Damien,¡± she called out. Damien came out of the study. When he saw a now.¡± At this moment, a beam of light descended from the sky. The next second, the group of schrs vanished from where they were. After a dizzy spell, they arrived in the Kingdom of Xyperia. It was Henry¡¯s first time here, and he was immediately shocked by this cool country. Damien was waiting to receive them. When he saw Henry, he stepped forward to greet him. Henry shook his hand in return. ¡°Hello, Mr. Hale.¡± Beforeing, Shermaine had told him that Damien was Joshua¡¯s right¨Chand man in this country. Damien added, ¡°Wee to the Kingdom of Xyperia.¡± Nurse walking 608 Chapter 608 Two years passed by in a sh. At this moment, a beam of sunlight shone into a beautiful blue room in Basterel, where a cute child around three years oldy on the bed. She seemed to hear something and opened her eyes. In an instant, she looked like an exquisite dolle to life. Gracie heard her little brother crying. She got off the bed. As she stood up, a round, chubby thing on the bed asked, ¡°Gracie, where are you going?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to find George. You can keep sleeping,¡± she said. Dave nodded, then rolled over and went back to sleep. Gracie put on her cute white sheep slippers and yawned listlessly. She went to her little brother¡¯s room next door. Her brother was named George York. Their mother had named George quite casually, simply because she thought the name sounded nice. Though George was still a baby, he was already quite a handful. However, Gracie could keep George, who was like a little devil, in line. George had wet his diaper. He probably started crying because he couldn¡¯t stand the bad smell. Gracie took a diaper from the drawer and skillfully changed it for George. As a three¨Cand¨Ca¨Chalf¨Cyear¨Cold, Gracie was smarter than kids her age. George looked very simr to Gracie, but maybe because he was only a little over one, he didn¡¯t look like a boy. People who saw him would think he was Gracie¡¯s little sister. After getting a clean diaper, George stopped crying. His crying was just to get someone¡¯s attention to change his diaper. Then, he kissed Gracie¡¯s cheek. Though Gracie was aloof, she didn¡¯t dodge her brother¡¯s kiss. Then she picked George up from the crib and put him on the floor. George held onto the hem of Gracie¡¯s clothes. Gracie activated the robot maid to brush George¡¯s teeth, wash his face, and change his clothes. By the time the robot maid led George out of the bathroom, Gracie had already gotten dressed and even made a bottle of milk for him. When Shermaine came over, she saw her two babies sitting on the sofa. Gracie was reading a book, and George was drinking milk. She thought the scene was adorable, so she went over and kissed them. Gracie closed her book and said, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m hungry. Will Dad make pancakes? I want them.¡± Shermaine said, ¡°I¡¯ll have your dad make them for youter.¡± At the mention of Dad, George¡¯s eyes lit up. He cried out to see his dad, eager to go find Joshua right away. Usually, sons tend to be more attached to their moms, but George loved clinging to his dad. Gracie wasn¡¯t big on hanging with people. She¡¯d started recognizing characters when she was two and was hooked on reading. If Shermaine didn¡¯t limit her daily reading time, she¡¯d probably spend all day with a book in hand. George was always sticking to Joshua, so he didn¡¯t disturb her. Shermaine was happy with that, but sometimes, seeing how much her son adored Joshua, she wondered if George didn¡¯t like her much. Because George was so fond of Joshua, Shermaine only got to have Joshua to herself when they slept; the rest of the time, she had to let George have him Thinking that, Shermaine n?ITUWEM DEL steal my man.¡± What¡¯s more, carrying George had been much harder than carrying Gracie. She¡¯d had severe morning sickness in the first three months, but when it came to giving birth, George had arrived in just an hour. George smiled at her, then tugged at Shermaine¡¯s pants, urging, ¡°Dad.¡± ¡°Call me mom, and I¡¯ll take you to find dad,¡± Shermaine ruffled his hair. George said softly, ¡°Mom, Dad.¡± Shermaine stood up. ¡°Follow me.¡± Gracie was still reading, but the next second, Shermaine took the book away. Shermaine said, ¡°Eat breakfast first, then read.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Gracie, though reluctant to put the book down, obediently went to have breakfast. Shermaine put the book on the table and led the two kids downstairs. The maid was watering flowers downstairs; when she saw Shermaine and the kids, she greeted them with a smile. Gracie greeted the maid. George babbled a ¡°hi¡± too. The maid adored Shermaine¡¯s two kids. They were good¨Clooking and smart, like little angels. Shermaine asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Joshua?¡± ¡°Mr. York is swimming,¡± the maid said. Shermaine headed for the backyard pool, with George tagging along. Gracie didn¡¯t want to go but got dragged over by George. The outdoor sunlight fell on them, as if coating them in a soft golden glow. The water sparkled. In the middle of the pool was a muscr man, swimming like an agile fish. Seeing his sexy shoulder des, Shermaine smiled. She walked up and waited for him to swim over. George thought his dad looked super cool swimming. He pped his hands and shouted, ¡°Dad, dad!¡± Joshua had already spotted his wife and kids, so he picked up speed. In no time, he swam to Shermaine and emerged from the water, looking very handsome. Earlier, Shermaine had even colored his dragon tattoo herself. Now, the whole tattoo looked wilder, as if it mighte to life. Even after all this time, Joshua was still handsome. His beautiful, deep eyes made her feel like she was falling into a midsummer night¡¯s starry sky, and there wasn¡¯t a single wrinkle on his face. Maybe it was his royal family blood, or maybe his disciplined fitness routine, but Joshua stayed looking very handsome. At this moment, with water droplets on his face, Shermaine reached out to touch his face and said, ¡°Good morning, Mr. York.¡± Joshua kissed her palm, then said in a deep, rich voice, ¡°Good morning, Sheary.¡± Shermaine found Joshua so charming and sexy that she kissed him, disregarding the kids and the maid. Joshua parted his lips, letting Shermaine kiss him. Shermaine bit his lip, gently stroking the dragon tattoo on his chest, as if admiring a fine work of art. The water was cold, but Joshua¡¯s body was burning hot. Two years on, he was more and more addicted to Shermaine. His body craved her, and now it was thrilled by her initiative. Just then, George waved his arms, clearly wanting Joshua to hold him. Seeing how much George worshipped Joshua, Gracie rolled her eyes. Dad was indeed worthy of admiration, but George was being too star¨Cstruck. Joshua was stricter with George, so he didn¡¯t get why his son liked clinging to him. Joshua pulled away from Shermaine¡¯s lips. George had no idea what his parents were up to, but Gracie looked away. The sky was clear blue today, perfect for a walk. George said, ¡°Dad.¡± Joshua said slowly, ¡°Gracie, don¡¯t let George fall in the water.¡± ¡°I get it, Dad,¡± Gracie said. Then she dragged George away. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go y.¡± George still wanted to stay with Joshua, but Gracie pulled him away without mercy. George kept calling out, but he didn¡¯t dare disobey Joshua¡¯s order, so he¡¯d have to pester Dadter. After Gracie took George away, Joshua pulled Shermaine into the pool. Then they sank underwater. Beneath the water, Joshua leaned in to kiss Shermaine. After about a minute or two, they came up for air. Shermaine was soaked, her white T¨Cshirt clinging to her body. She wrapped her arms around Joshua¡¯s neck. 59 Joshua held her waist. Both were breathing a little heavy. Their foreheads touched, and Joshua kissed her lips tenderly, then caressed her body. Shermaine felt something was off. ¡°Are you crazy? This is an outdoor pool.¡± Joshua said in a low voice, ¡°We¡¯re in the water; no one will see us. Besides, the maid won¡¯te over.¡± He went on, ¡°Sheary, you started it.¡± In a corner of the pool, Shermaine bit her lip as he pressed his hand against the wet wall and kissed her wildly. They were used to each other, and their passion for each other burned strong. Scientific studies showed that hormones in the human body onlysted for two years for one person; once they faded, love faded too, and what kept a rtionship going was the bond built over time. But this rule was broken by love. Joshua and Shermaine were both people who would go crazy for love, so Shermaine let Joshua be intimate with her. After a long while, Joshua put on a white shirt and suit pants, looking noble and charming. He came downstairs, with Shermaine following in a change of clothes. Dave was gorging on ice cream. Strawberry and chocte vors were its favorites. Its stomach was like a bottomless pit, and eating a lot never bothered it. Gracie had wanted Joshua¡¯s pancakes today. Though breakfast was a bitte, she finally got them. When Joshua pulled out a chair to sit down, George climbed onto hisp to eat breakfast and wanted to be fed by Dad. Joshua, considering George was still little, agreed. Then his attention turned to Shermaine, He said, ¡°Sheary, eat more.¡± Shermaine nodded. She¡¯d burned a lot of energy that morning and was hungry, so she ate everything Joshua put on her te. Dave said, ¡°Sheary, I want more ice cream.¡± 3/4 18:40 Mon, 03 ¡°You¡¯ve had enough today, no more,¡± Shermaine said. Dave drooped his head in disappointment. Three ice creams weren¡¯t too many at all. Shermaine said, ¡°After breakfast, take me to Xyperia. I need to check on things.¡± Two years had passed, and it was time for those schrs to return from Xyperia. 201 Chapter 609 Chapter 609 Nurse walking 609 201 Chapter 609 Chapter 609 At this moment, Gracie pulled at Shermaine¡¯s hem. ¡°Mom, I want to go too.¡± Gracie liked Xyperia. On hearing that, Shermaine nodded. Henry had been in Summerbank of the Kingdom of Xyperia for two years. He went back to Earth from time to time, but spent most of his time staying here. Joshua had given him a task¨Cto expand the influence of the Eagle Assassins organization, preferably to cover the entire Kingdom of Xyperia. Over the past two years, he had been assisting Damien and improving the system of the entire Eagle Assassins organization to be more standardized. Now, the Eagle Assassins had be the number one organization in the killer world of the Kingdom of Xyperia. The weather was nice today. He turned on the TV to watch financial news reports, but instead saw a report of Shirley, the ruler of the Kingdom of Xyperia, standing on the city tower and giving a speech to a crowd of citizens below. In these two years, Henry had dealt with this woman who ruled the Kingdom of Xyperia at a young age a few times, but they had no deep friendship. Few men could handle this heroic and noble woman. Henry stood in front of the TV screen, looking at the golden soft armor Shirley was wearing. The soft armor outlined her sexy curves, but the crown on her head and her dignity made people dare not stare at her figure openly. Her pair of golden eyes was like an ocean. Henry thought she fit his criteria for a spouse. However, he was not an ambitious person and just wanted to find someone with simr interests to live with. Although Shirley suited his taste, he had no thoughts about her. Moreover, probably no woman could ept his sexual apathy. And the queen in front of the TV was so majestic that she should not allow her man to be sexually apathetic either. This year was the 8000th anniversary of the founding of the Kingdom of Xyperia, which was grand and spectacr. The TV could achieve holographic projection, so Henry closed the curtains, and he felt as if he was suddenly at the grand anniversary scene. He smoked a cigarette and saw that after Shirley finished her speech, she personally led the royal army to stage a mecha show. Shirley controlled the golden mecha to float in the air, and the other mechas surrounded her in an orderly formation, looking both majestic and beautiful. However, over these two years, Shirley had still been trapped by the mutant invasion and the city lords¡® conspiracy for her position. Many men were not convinced that a woman ruled such a powerful country. This phenomenon had always existed. Moreover, the reason why Shirley and Judy broke off their friendship back then was also due to the instigation of some city lords. Henry was not interested in the military parade. He was about to turn off the TV when he found that something abnormal seemed to be happening to Shirley. A ck vortex suddenly appeared in the sky, looking extremely terrifying. Immediately, a huge tentacle attacked Shirley from the ck vortex while she was flying in the sky. Shirley reacted very quickly, firing at the falling tentacle. After a loud noise, the tentacle was blown up, and blood rained down. At the same time, the mutant squeezed out of the ck vortex. Nurse walking 610 Chapter 610 This monster had an awful lot of tentacles, each long and thick. Many of the people living in Summerbank had never seen a mutant before, so they were in a state of panic right then. This monster had countless tentacles, each long and thick. Many citizens living in Summerbank had never seen a mutant before, so they were in a panic at this moment. This mutant was huge. It floated in the sky like a giant dark cloud, blocking out all the sunlight. The mutant breaking into Summerbank at this time boded ill for the queen. The people all started to panic. The army had already activated the aura shield to protect the people¡¯present. After that, the mechas around Shirley began to attack the mutant. Attacks kept hitting the mutant, but its defense seemed strong. It had so many eyes, making people¡¯s scalps tingle just looking. It swung its tentacles wildly. The mechas that couldn¡¯t dodge the tentacle attacks were knocked hundreds of meters away. This mutant¡¯s attack power was pretty fierce, too. Mutants were graded as low¨Ctier, mid¨Ctier, high¨Ctier, super¨Ctier, epic¨Ctier, and supreme¨Ctier. The mutant in front was clearly between thest two tiers. Every time a mutant of this grade appeared, it was bound to cause tens of thousands of casualties. Shirley had been through such invasions. She watched her soldiers fall one by one beside her. They used their deaths to hold back these mutants¡® invasion, keeping them from breaking through the borders. Now, the appearance of this mutant pushed the disgust and killing intent in her heart to the peak. ¡°Soldiers, listen up,¡± Shirley gave the order coldly. The soldiers shouted, ¡°At yourmand, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Pick up your weapons and send our enemy to hell,¡± Shirley said. Her mecha glowed with a faint golden light. She held a golden spear, extremely sharp. Just a moment ago, she had used it to pierce right through one of the mutant¡¯s tentacles. ¡°Yes, Your Highness. We will stand with you,¡± the soldiers said. They were ready to fight to the death for their people and peace, holding nothing back. Generals from all the major units and the soldiers behind them took up their weapons. When golden, beautiful wings lit up behind Shirley¡¯s golden mecha, they charged forward with her. ? Henry saw this scene on TV and found it incredible. The countless/soldiers following closely behind the golden mecha created a sight so beautiful that Henry wanted to pick up his paintbrush and capture it. Still, he was a bit worried whether Shirley and these soldiers could take down that mutant, After all, that mutant was at least epic¨Ctier. After Henry came to this world, he found that the only w in this almost perfect world was these monsters that kept popping out of somewhere. What¡¯s more, from his analysis, these mutants were getting stronger and stronger, and that rift still couldn¡¯t be fixed.. He looked at Shirley, who was fighting fiercely on the screen, wondering if he should go help. He knew Shirley and Shermaine were partners and also friends. The artillery fire became more and more intense. Yet, soldiers kept falling one after another. The mutant¡¯s attack power was too strong. They couldn¡¯t find its weakness for a while, making it hard to kill But the sacrifices couldn¡¯t stop the soldiers from moving forward. If this mutant didn¡¯t die, the whole of Summerbank would suffer. They needed to protect their empire and people, and also protect Shirley, who was at the forefront. She was their faith, their god. The cigarette in Henry¡¯s hand had burned down, but he didn¡¯t notice. After a moment, he threw the butt into the ashtray and contacted the Summerbank branch of the Eagle Assassins organization using Orthish. He had only one order¨Cgo help Shirley. Right after that, Henry changed his clothes and then jumped down from the 30¨Cstory building. A purple light shed across the sky, caught him, and then 18:11 Mo Chapter 610 he vanished. Henry had learned to operate mechas since to the Kingdom of Xyperia. It wasn¡¯t that hard, As someone who loved art, he he wouldn¡¯t back down when it was time to fight. Shirley had figured out that the monster¡¯s weakness was its eyes. It had many eyes, but only one was its fatal spot. 78 didn¡¯t like fighting, but At this moment, her spear stabbed into one eye. The mutant felt the pain and let out a harsh, painful sound. Then it attacked Shirley with several tentacles at once. Shirley maneuvered her mecha to dodge. But more and more tentacles came at her, quickly forming a cage to trap her inside. The next second, the mutant spewed ck liquid from its mouth. This liquid was corrosive, so Shirley immediately activated the protective barrier. The corrosive energy gradually wore down the protective barrier. But at this point, arge amount of ck liquid blocked all her vision. If she hadn¡¯t taken down the protective barrier, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to see what was happening. ¡°Your Highness, be careful,¡± everyone shouted. Shirley removed all threeyers of the protective barrier to restore her vision. Once her vision returned to normal, a huge tentacle came swinging over. She couldn¡¯t dodge it and got knocked flying. Luckily, her defense system had been activated. Her mecha wasn¡¯t damaged at all. After being knocked far away, Shirley activated the slow¨Cdown function. She suddenly felt a bright purple light sh over and catch her. It was a purple mecha she had never seen before. The design of this mecha sort of looked like Shermaine¡¯s style. ¡°Are you okay?¡± a voice came from the purple mecha. It was a polite inquiry without any personal feelings. Shirley recognized the voice. It was Henry, Shermaine¡¯s friend from her world. Shirley said, ¡°I¡¯m fine, thank you.¡± ¡°I owe you, so I¡¯ll help you take it down,¡± Henry said. Shirley didn¡¯t refuse. She had seen many Eagle Assassins operatives piloting mechas in groups toward the monster. At the same time, many fighter jets flew in densely from afar, all firing at that mutant. Shirley took a deep breath and said, ¡°Follow me. The mutant¡¯s weakness is its eyes. If we can find its most fatal eye, we can kill it.¡± Henry said, ¡°No problem.¡± It was their first time fighting together, but they cooperated quite well. With a loud bang, the mutant was hit in one eye by two powerful auras. It crashed down to the ground, crushing many buildings. The empire¡¯s people were cheering their soldiers on. At that time, among a group of city lords not participating in the battle, Martin looked unhappy. He thought, ¡®It¡¯s the Eagle Assassins again. How did they get here so fast?¡® The Eagle Assassins had always been working with Shirley. But if Shirley died, this partnership would end. However, his goal of disrupting the anniversary celebration had been achieved. The Kingdom of Xyperia had been ruled by women for far too long, and he couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. He couldn¡¯t ept men groveling to a woman. Over an hourter, Shirley¡¯s spear stabbed into one of the monster¡¯s eyes. The mutant let out screams and wails. The next second, a purpleser cannon blew its body apart. Blood gushed out of its broken body like a river, with a terrible smell. +38 The people of Summerbank were excited, feeling safe from this mutant. But then a ck vortex suddenly appeared, making them panic again. Everyone was wondering why the ck vortex had suddenly appeared in the city. Shirley got out of her mecha and saw the man she had fought alongside sitting on the mecha¡¯s shoulder, smoking in a very leisurely manner. When Henry saw her looking over, he jumped down from the mecha. He squinted, looking like a fox. ¡°Want a smoke?¡± Shirley shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t smoke,¡± she said calmly. ¡°Thank you for your help.¡± ¡°The Eagle Assassins have always been partners with you. I live in Summerbank, and there are mypatriots here. So it¡¯s only right for me to help. No need to thank me,¡± Henry said. Shirley nodded, then suddenly felt dizzy and started to fall forward. Henry was about to catch her when someone got there first and took her hand. It was a man in a white uniform, Shirley¡¯s personal doctor, who looked clean and refined. Edison asked, ¡°Your Highness, are you all right?¡± ¡°Edison, give me aura water,¡± Shirley said. Edison said, ¡°Here you are, Your Highness.¡± After drinking the aura water, Shirley¡¯s dizziness subsided, but she was still confused about what had happened. She thought, ¡®Is it because I haven¡¯t been in a battle for too long, so my physical strength is not as good as before?¡® ¡°Your Highness, let me help you back,¡± Edison said gently. Shirley declined his help. ¡°I can walk on my own.¡± Then she gestured to Henry that she had things to do and turned to leave. Edison nced at Henry, his gentle eyes turning cold in an instant. Then he said nothing and followed her. Seeing this, Henry let out augh. He thought, ¡®This doctor likes Shirley.¡® But he hadn¡¯t done anything. Henry didn¡¯t understand why Edison was so hostile to him. Henry squinted. This was the first person he had taken a dislike to sinceing to this world. If Edison looked at him like that again next time, he wouldn¡¯t be so indifferent as he was just now. 18:11 Mon, 28 Jul 00 Nurse walking 611 Chapter 611 Shermaine arrived in Summerbank not long after. As soon as she got there, she saw the huge, dark mutant corpse on the ground. This thing was twice as big as a whale. Henry hadn¡¯t left. He was just about to leave when Shermaine came, and she brought Gracie with her. Gracie wasn¡¯t scared by this bloody and terrifying scene. On the contrary, she looked at the corpse in front of her with interest. Henry waved at Shermaine. Shermaine asked, ¡°How did this mutant end up in Summerbank?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, but a ck vortex appeared in the sky during the ceremony just now,¡± Henry said. After the mutant came out of that ck vortex, the ck vortex disappeared. Dave squatted quietly on top of Gracie¡¯s head. He caught a whiff of the residual energy from the ck vortex, but couldn¡¯t track it. At this moment, Shermaine also asked Apocalypse to search for the residual energy of the ck vortex. Apocalypse kept detecting and then found that the ck vortex had been transferred because there was a problem with Summerbank¡¯s maic field. Henry then asked, ¡°Shermaine, I guess this invasion was man¨Cmade.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Shermaine replied. She was sure that the one who summoned this mutant was an enemy of Shirley. There must be people coveting Shirley¡¯s position as queen of the Kingdom of Xyperia. That made everything make sense. Henry narrowed his eyes and didn¡¯t say anything more. He looked at Gracie, then squatted down and said to her, ¡°Gracie, long time no see.¡± Gracie looked up and said, ¡°Hello, Henry.¡± Henry patted her head. ¡°Your mom might be a bit busyter. How about I take you out to y?¡± Gracie didn¡¯t agree right away. Instead, she asked, ¡°Mom, can I?¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± Shermaine said. Henry picked Gracie up and then asked, ¡°Gracie, is there any ce you want to go?¡± Gracie pointed to a science and technology museum in Summerbank and said, ¡°Henry, I want to go there.¡± Henry looked at the ce and thought, ¡®Gracie is totally different from other little girls.¡® At this moment, Shirley didn¡¯t go to rest. Instead, she gathered the tech troops to investigate why the ck vortex had appeared here. After giving these orders, someone informed her of Shermaine¡¯s visit. So Shirley went to meet Shermaine. Then she saw Henry smiling as he held Shermaine¡¯s daughter. This changed his deep and cunning demeanor all of a sudden. His smile became pure. When Henry wasn¡¯t smiling, those eyes always gave people the feeling that he was very scheming. Henry noticed that Shirley wasing over again. Seeing her looking at him, he smiled. But when he saw Edison following behind her, his face turned expressionless. Gracie also called out, ¡°Shirley, hello.¡± Shirley smiled and said, ¡°Gracie, long time no see.¡± 1/2 Gracie nodded. ¡°Shirley, you and my mom can talk slowly. Henry and l¡¯are going to the science and Science museum.¡± ¡°Okay, have fun,¡± Shirley said. Henry took Gracie and left. After they left, Shirley asked Shermaine, ¡°About this ck vortex, can you find out what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Maic field interference. Somebody wants to screw you up,¡± Shermaine replied casually. This result didn¡¯t surprise Shirley, because she thought the same. Over the past two years, she had collected the names of many people who wanted her to step down. Among them, three people drew Shirley¡¯s attention the most. They were all city lords of the main cities, holding great power and military strength. However, it wasn¡¯t easy to find out who was behind this. They had been lying low for years and wouldn¡¯t expose their ws easily. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Even if I¡¯m not around, you can ask Henry for help,¡± Shermaine thought that if he wanted to, no one here would see through Henry¡¯s schemes. Hearing this, Shirley smiled. ¡°He seems pretty good. I also owe it to him that I could kill this monster.¡± Shermaine said, ¡°It seems you have a good impression of him now. How about reconsidering my previous proposal?¡± Shirley was indeed a little wavered. She asked jokingly, ¡°Is he easy to get?¡± Chapter 612 Chapter 612 Nurse walking 612 Chapter 612 Shermaine said, feigning mystery, ¡°You¡¯ll find out if you try.¡± Shirley didn¡¯t answer, seeming to be deep in thought. At this moment, Edison, standing behind her, heard their conversation. A shadow of gloom shed in his eyes. He felt upset that Shirley could talk about pursuing another man right in front of him. He decided to make her his alone, and quickly. Shirley didn¡¯t chat with Shermaine for long. She had a lot on her te that day, and most importantly, she had to find out who was trying to go against her. The people of Summerbank were worried about what had happened. Their internal strife had only ended two years ago, and they didn¡¯t want a new round of it. It was distressing, and this time it seemed worse. That filthy had sent an epic¨Ctier mutant right off the bat to put down the noble queen. What they feared most was a new war spilling over to them. Mutants killed without discrimination. If those viins used mutants to attack Shirley, the whole Kingdom of Xyperia would be reduced to a wastnd. A car was parked by the exquisite, beautifulke at Faraday Academy. Martin was feeding the fish when a man in a hoodie appeared. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say not to meet in private unless it¡¯s something important?¡± Rhys said unhappily. Two years had done much to shape a person¡¯s demeanor; his personality had grown as dark and menacing as a deadly viper. ¡°Mr. Hugh, don¡¯t worry. I came alone. No one knows where I am. You¡¯re amazing. To bring the ck vortex to Summerbank. Today¡¯s celebration was perfectly ruined,¡± Martin said. Rhys asked, ¡°How¡¯s the space bridge I told you to building along?¡± Martin said, ¡°It¡¯s almost ready. We can start the space travel experiment soon.¡± When Judy was alive, she built a time machine, went to the so¨Ccalled Earth, and brought Apocalypse back. But that time machine could only be used once, there and back, then it was done for. Building ¨¤ time machine required a lot of aura stones, manpower, and consumed huge amounts of energy. After Judy died in battle, the data files for making the time machine were destroyed that night. Fortunately, with the Kingdom of Xyperia¡¯s technology, as long as they invested enough manpower in research, they could recreate the time machine. Now it was almost time to see the results. ¡°Hurry up,¡± Rhys said. Two years of study were up, and he was going back to Earth soon. That was Shermaine¡¯s home turf. If he wanted revenge, it might take years. He couldn¡¯t wait. But in Xyperia, he had a chance to stand up to Shermaine. And Martin, a city lord, was the perfect stepping stone. After returning to Earth, he still needed toe back here to continue the n he¡¯d started two years ago. He couldn¡¯t let it fall through halfway. Faye once said he was the smartest man she¡¯d ever met on Earth, and he should have ambition. He would fulfill Faye¡¯s wish, be king in this world.. So he needed great power and backing to stand against Shermaine. Rhys¡® first step in the n was to get rid of Shirley. She couldn¡¯t stay in that position; her existence was getting in the way of his goals. a Sinceing to Xyperia, their every move had been under surveince. After Rhys said those words to Martin, he walked away, then turned off the radio waves from his watch that were jamming the monitors. Shortly after, Rhys received a message from other students. They needed to go to a hall. By then, everyone had arrived. Many were chatting warmly with Shermaine, and Shermaine was patiently talking with them, answering their questions. 18:11 Mon, 28 Jul Chapter 612 Rhys¡® eyes filled with venom when he saw her, but he quickly masked that emotion. A schr asked, ¡°Shermaine, when can we go back to Earth?¡± ¡°In two days,¡± Shermaine said: He asked again, ¡°Will we get a chance toe here again?¡± Hearing that, Shermaine smiled. ¡°Probably not.¡± They didn¡¯t feel sorry. They just thought the Kingdom of Xyperia¡¯s civilization was too advanced, and they wanted to learn more of its technology. But luckily, they could take their Orthish with them. It already had a lot of study files saved, which would be enough. They were more eager to return to their own country, take what they¡¯d learned, and rapidly advance Earth¡¯s technological civilization. It wasn¡¯t until dark that Henry brought Gracie back. They went to the pce where Shirley lived to have dinner. Shirley looked a bit tired from her busy work. Henry nced at her, then focused on eating his meal. At this moment, the noble and majestic queen suddenly held out a gift to him. ¡°This is a thank¨Cyou present.¡± It was a pair of beautiful purple gemstone cufflinks. The two gems were wless, surely worth a fortune. He didn¡¯t expect Shirley to give him such an expensive gift, so he smiled and said, ¡°Your Highness, this thank¨Cyou present is too valuable.¡± Shirley said calmly, ¡°Take it. It¡¯s nothing to me.¡± 31% She had wanted to give something more valuable as a thank¨Cyou, but her secretary said that would seem too intentional. To win Henry¡¯s heart, Shirley decided to take it slow. Hearing her say that, Henry had to ept the gift. ¡°Thank you for your generosity. No need to be so polite in the future.¡± Shirley nodded. She gave this gift not out of politeness, but to leave a good impression on him. Shermaine saw this and smirked. Shirley¡¯s intention was funny, but Henry didn¡¯t seem to have any feelings for Shirley. After dinner, Shirley kept working until the early hours of the morning. She took a shower, then put on her pajamas. Her secretary came in and asked, ¡°Your Highness, do you want to do the physical assessment today?¡± Shirley thought for a moment and said, ¡°No, I want to rest.¡± The secretary said, ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll tell Edison to go back.¡± Shirley nodded. Edison had be her personal doctor a year ago. As queen, her health was important, so she had a health assessment almost every day. But the results were almost the same every time, She thought maybe she didn¡¯t need to do it so often; once a month might be enough. As Shirley thought this, she suddenly felt a strange pain in her body. It was intense, so she said, ¡°Call Edison in.¡± When Edison came in, he saw Shirley sitting on the bed, her face pale. It seemed that even the lofty queen, out of her uniform, was just a woman who needed care. ¡°Your Highness, where do you feel unwell?¡± he asked. 18:11 Mon, 28 Jul O ¡°I suddenly feel a sharp pain. Check me to see if there¡¯s something wrong with my body,¡± Shirley said, enduring the pain. 31% Edison obeyed at once. But after a detailed and careful examination, he found no abnormalities in her body. Seeing this result, she pressed her lips together and said nothing. Edison, with his usual gentle expression, thoughtfully advised her, ¡°Your Highness, you¡¯ve been overworkingtely. You need to rest more.¡± Hearing that, Shirley looked at the doctor she had always trusted. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Edison said softly, ¡°I¡¯m sure, Your Highness.¡± Shirley frowned and said, ¡°You can go out.¡± Edison said, ¡°Sweet dreams, good night.¡± Shirleyy down, took a mtonin pill, and when no more abnormalities urred, she fell asleep with the pill¡¯s help. At dawn, Jasmine and Damien brought Thomas to Summerbank. As soon as Thomas saw Gracie, he shouted, ¡°I missed you so much.¡± Then he hugged her affectionately, but Gracie stayed expressionless. Thomas said, looking wronged, ¡°Don¡¯t you miss me?¡± Gracie said, ¡°Not quite.¡± Jasmine had wanted to have another daughter, but after two years, it hadn¡¯t happened. Strangely, there was nothing wrong with their health. It must mean the time wasn¡¯t right. Jasmine said, ¡°Shermaine, I want to take Thomas to Earth for a while.¡± That was possible. Shermaine said, ¡°Would Damien let you go?¡± ¡°He¡¯sing with us,¡± Jasmine said with a smile. ¡°We¡¯ll have to ask others and Henry to handle the organization¡¯s matters for a while.¡± Damien had never taken a vacation. Most of the time, he was busy with the organization¡¯s great cause. She had even been angry that he didn¡¯t have much time for her and Thomas. 436 H # After she lost her temper, Damien took a long vacation to cheer her up. Shermaine nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll go back the day after tomorrow.¡± *. * 24 * 44 ¡°Yeah!¡± Jasmine was excited. The vacation she¡¯d been looking forward to for so long was finally here. She finally got a chance to visit the world where Shermaine and Joshua now lived. Two days passed quickly. When Shermaine took the family of three back, she asked, ¡°Henry, aren¡¯t you going back?¡± Henry shook his head. ¡°The Kingdom of Xyperia¡¯s most lively festival ising soon. I can¡¯t go back.¡± Shermaine said, ¡°Alright, contact me if something happens.¡± Henry nodded. T R Over the past two years, the two worlds couldn¡¯tmunicate because of the distance. But Dave had given him a bead. If he crushed it, Dave would sense the energy in the bead disappearing and inform Shermaine. Shirley didn¡¯te to see them off. Another mutant had attacked a Grade B city. Now the empire was short of troops and needed reinforcements. And that city was one of the twelve crucial cities defending against mutant invasions. That day, she had set off for Norham City with fifty thousand troops and supplies. After Shermaine left, Henry also left Summerbank. He nned to travel around the Kingdom of Xyperia and wait for Halloween. 3/4 The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Nurse walking 613 Chapter 613 Halloween was on the 15th of next month, exactly a month from now. Henry was traveling while handling matters for the Eagle Assassins. Things weren¡¯t too busy during this period, as the situation had stabilized and no major incidents were likely to ur. The only somewhat unsettling thing was that the border war reports were being updated in real time. The battle situation in Norham City seemed far from ideal. Mutants kept pouring in to attack, and Shirley had been stationed there for nearly half a month. There were three days left until Halloween. At this moment, it was raining in Norham City. The soldiers had just gone through another battle. The ground was covered with mutant corpses, and the logistics soldiers were cleaning up the battlefield. However, as soon as the fighting stopped, the sky seemed to act up again. A ck vortex, evenrger than usual, suddenly appeared in the sky, and a terrifyingly huge mutant, too big to measure, squeezed out of it. In the barracks, Shirley was having a meeting with several generals. ck vortices had been opening far too frequentlytely, and the battles over the past month had left them exhausted. The frequent opening of ck vortices was an anomaly that needed addressing. Just then, the Ministry of Science and Technology finally brought good news¨Cthey seemed to have found a way to suppress the frequent opening of ck vortices. They were overjoyed upon hearing the news from the Minister of Science and Technology. But then, a report came from outside. ¡°Your Highness, the mutants are here again. This time, it¡¯s a supreme¨Ctier one!¡± The generals were shocked upon hearing this. They fell into fear at the mention of the supreme¨Ctier. Mutants had been invading the Kingdom of Xyperia for hundreds of years, The only time a supreme¨Ctier mutant appeared was five hundred years ago. They sacrificed hundreds of thousands of troops and consumed countless resources to kill that supreme¨Ctier mutant. After five hundred years, a supreme¨Ctier mutant had appeared again. Shirley immediately said, ¡°Order all cities to dispatch troops here for support at once. Also, immediately evacuate the elderly, children, and women from Summerbank.¡± A supreme¨Ctier mutant could not onlymand other mutants but also possess far more terrifying power than an epic¨Ctier one. The Kingdom of Xyperia was about to be plunged into a bitter struggle. After giving the order, Shirley walked out and felt the abnormalities in her body bing more pronounced. She felt dizzy again. Yet, other doctors had all diagnosed her as having no physical issues. The severe difort made her face extremely pale, but she still straightened her back and walked outward. She couldn¡¯t fall at a time like this. The tenacity and perseverance in Shirley¡¯s bones were what had supported her through countless hardships to be queen. She was not one to admit defeat easily. Once outside, Shirley piloted her mecha and flew off. Just looking at that supreme¨Ctier mutant gave off an extraordinary sense of oppression. Its huge body crackled with purple lightning. This lightning could shatter protective shields in an instant and destroy buildings. Seeing this, Shirley ordered, ¡°Deploy the restraining weapons, and do it quickly!¡± The arrival of the supreme¨Ctier mutant plunged the entire Kingdom of Xyperia into great panic. On the kingdom¡¯srgest forum,ments on posts about this monster had exceeded one million in a short time.. Henry saw manyments cheering on Shirley and the army. However, he also saw some people spreading that Shirley was a jins. They cursed ber saying that just two years after she took the throne, a supreme tier mutant had invaded. Once these words were out, more and more rumors ndering Shirley emerged. By nightfall, a shocking piece of news spread. Shirley had died in battle. Nurse walking 614 Chapter 614 40% The news of Shirley¡¯s death in battle spread, and people across the entire empire fell into panic. Some thought it was a rumor, so many demanded an official response from the government. The government gave no reply, but the battle in Norham City had indeed caused countless casualties. What¡¯s more, someone posted a video online. It showed Shirley firing the restraining weapon while fighting the supreme¨Ctier mutant. Then they saw the golden mecha shatter, and a person fall from the wreckage. The person who posted the video said, ording to reliable sources, military personnel had found Shirley¡¯s body. When Henry saw the news, he smelled a conspiracy. Still, he had no idea what was going on over there, and the supreme¨Ctier mutant was still atrge. With Shirley gone, the entire empire was supposed to fall into chaos. Henry sent people to Norham City and then also headed there. Upon arriving in Norham City, Henry found the battle situation more troublesome than he¡¯d imagined. The supreme¨Ctier mutant remained unvanquished, and Shirley was reported dead. Her body had been recovered and was currently ced in a military camp. Henry noticed the morale was extremely low upon his arrival. Deep down, he was reluctant to believe the news of Shirley¡¯s death. However, when he saw the body, Henry¡¯s expression turned solemn. The body in the crystal sarcophagus had a paleplexion, with no sign of life. For a moment, Henry almost fell for the appearance of this body. ¡°This is not Her Highness.¡± The soldiers were first stunned, then overjoyed when they heard this. But the body looked exactly like Shirley, making them suspect it was a clone. Yet clones were strictly prohibited in the Kingdom of Xyperia. Henry still figured out that the body wasn¡¯t Shirley. Because in the video he¡¯d seen, when Shirley fell from the mecha, she was injured in the right abdomen. But the wound on this body was elsewhere. Someone had taken Shirley away. After Henry pointed out the w he¡¯d spotted, the soldiers all marveled at his attentiveness. Now their task was to find out who had taken Shirley. A general calmly ordered, ¡°Send people immediately to check if a spy sneaked in and took Her Highness. Also, inform the government to stabilize public opinion, so that despicable people can¡¯t take advantage.¡± A soldier asked, ¡°What should the announcement say?¡± ¡°Just say Her Highness is only seriously injured and not dead,¡± the general said. Since political enemies had used a clone, they could certainly use it to fight back. The general added, ¡°Mr. Jean, those targeting Her Highness are still hiding in the dark. We¡¯ll have to trouble you to help with the government side.¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Henry nodded. The situation in Norham City remained tough. The supreme¨Ctier mutant had killed too many soldiers. Norham City had only one restraining weapon, so they needed to transfer others over. This battle wouldn¡¯t end anytime soon. At this moment, a car drove out of Norham City. Edison was driving, and he smiled sinisterly as he looked at the unconscious woman in the back. He thought, ¡®Your Highness, you finally belong to me alone.¡® Edison had liked Shirley for a long time, but she was too noble. He could only bury those dark, selfish thoughts in his heart ret the more he stayed by her side, the more he wanted to possess her. Finally, the opportunity came. The sleeping Shirley seemed to feel pain, so she frowned deeply in the moonlight streaming in, her body quietly began to change. 1/2 14:13 Tue, 29 July 40% Time passed quickly. A weekter, the supreme¨Ctier mutant still hadn¡¯t been defeated. Military forces from across the country kept arriving to reinforce Norham City. However, generals and others in Shirley¡¯s army felt that the city lordsing to support had impure motives. Since the rumors were controlled, people were still willing to believe that Shirley was just seriously injured and unconscious, not dead. With public opinion under control, the reckless spread of Shirley¡¯s death no longer served any purpose. Martin knew well that Shirley wasn¡¯t dead. The real Shirley had been taken by that pervert Edison. The one lying in the intensive care istion ward was a fake. But he had no way to expose the fake for now. He thought, ¡®Damn it, they found out that the dead one is a fake! But if it weren¡¯t for this, that pervert Edison wouldn¡¯t follow our n. Martin didn¡¯t know when Rhys would return from Earth. He was in dire need of Rhys¡® advice and nning. And after Shirley had been missing for a week, they grew anxious. They also found out that Edison was the one with issues, yet now they couldn¡¯t find any trace of him. Shirley¡¯s secretary was full of regret. She had been the one who recruited Edison. She never thought this man harbored such dirty thoughts about Shirley. But Edison knew he couldn¡¯t win Shirley over, so he colluded with others to kidnap her. When Shirley woke up, she found herself in a house. She opened her eyes, moved a little, and then realized her hands and feet were cuffed. She frowned in great displeasure. Soon after, Edison entered the room. His eyes were infatuated, showing a morbid look. ¡°Your Highness, you¡¯re awake.¡± His voice was still gentle, but his gaze filled Shirley with disgust. This man¡¯s heart was too dirty. After she noticed something was wrong with her body, she started looking for other doctors for a check¨Cup. Later, Shirley began to suspect that Edison had tampered with her body, but found no evidence. Now it seemed she didn¡¯t need to look for evidence anymore. Edison was the one responsible for her deteriorating health. Shirley stared at him fiercely. ¡°What did you do to my body?¡± A mirror not far away reflected Shirley¡¯s changed appearance. Her features were now more profound, and her curvy figure was gone. Now, Shirley looked just like a man. In fact, she now looked like a man. Even if someone saw her now, they wouldn¡¯t think she was Shirley, just a man who bore a resemnce to her. Edison kept a straight face and said, ¡°Your Highness, it¡¯s just some medicine to change your appearance. It won¡¯t do much harm to your body. Once all this chaos is over, I¡¯ll help you return to your original form.¡± Shirley looked at him and said, ¡°You like me?¡± Edison said, ¡°Yes, Your Highness. To get you, I finally resorted to such a despicable method. Now, you belong to me.¡± feet. Oth Shirl i Comment o you? E AD Send Nurse walking 615 Edison didn¡¯t get angry. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t treat you so roughly. But it¡¯s not easy for you to leave here,¡± he said firmly. ¡°I¡¯ve nned for a long time to get you. This is a cage I built to keep you.¡± ¡°You must be hungry now. I¡¯ll go prepare some food for you.¡± Then Edison went out. The chains binding her reached just to the window. Shirley walked over. She pulled back the curtain and felt a sea breeze blowing. This house was backed by the sea and very tall. Jumping from here, the chance of survival was slim. Shirley¡¯s eyes turned colder. It wasn¡¯t that easy for Edison to trap her; he underestimated her. There was nothing extra in the room, but it was easy to find some metal wires. Edison was making Shirley¡¯s favorite food at this time. He would let Shirley know that although it was perverted to keep her by his side this way, he loved her. However, at this moment, the rm went off. In an instant, Edison¡¯s expression turned cold. He thought Shirley was too disobedient, trying to escape just after waking up. This was a cage he specially built for Shirley; she wouldn¡¯t escape so easily. Shirley was fiddling with a copper wire in the keyholes of the handcuffs and foot cuffs. After a few minutes, the chains opened. With her hands and feet free, she didn¡¯t think of escaping in an ordinary way. So Shirley took down the curtain again. Edison came into the room and saw Shirley standing on the windowsill. At first, Edison thought the window offered a beautiful view, so he didn¡¯t install a guardrail. Now he regretted it. ¡°Your Highness, that¡¯s too dangerous,¡± he said. If she jumped from here, she might not survive. He hadn¡¯t thought Shirley¡¯s pride would be so strong. Besides, Shirley¡¯s body was very weak now, and she was injured. Shirley wasn¡¯t sure if she could survive the jump, but she¡¯d rather risk her life than be imprisoned here. She belonged to Xyperia and only wanted to marry a man she waspatible with. Her disgust for Edison drove her to escape every moment. So Shirley jumped without hesitation. Edison¡¯s eyes widened when he saw this. His perverted look was chilling. He thought, ¡®Your Highness, even if you die, I want you to die by my side.¡® However, he thought Shirley¡¯s jump wasn¡¯t so bad. This way, he could find her and seal the entire castle tightly. No trace of light would ever reach her again. He wanted Shirley to see no one but him. But at this moment, it started to rain. The sca was extremely rough due to the storm. When Shirley jumped, she felt the cold rain hitting her face. She thought she was unlucky The curtain was instantly soaked by the rain and became useless halfway down. She fell into the water and lost consciousness again. A fishing boat was moving through the heavy rain. It seemed someone spotted something floating in the sea. The fishermen picked up binocrs and saw it was a person. Then they sent out a lifeboat to rescue that person. The fishing boat docked at dawn. The fishermen pooled some money and sent the rescued person to the town hospital. About three dayster, Shirley woke up. The nurse turned around and was immediately captivated by her handsome eyes. Shirley looked very handsome, but she was a woman. ¡°You¡¯re finally awake,¡± the nurse said. Shirley was still a little dazed when she woke up. Touching the bandage on her head, she asked, ¡°Where is this ce?¡± The nurse replied, ¡°This is Aider¡¯s hospital. You were rescued by some fishermen at sea. Do you remember?¡± Shirley shook her head, frowning. ¡°I don¡¯t remember. 1/2 14.13 Tue, 29 JUI y µÚ40% ¡°You should inform your rtives or friends to pick you up. After all, you don¡¯t look like you¡¯re from here,¡± the nurse said. However, Shirley couldn¡¯t remember anything, not even who she was. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I think I have amnesia. I can¡¯t remember anything.¡± The nurse gasped. But it was possible that this handsome woman had hit her head at sea and lost her memory. She said, ¡°I¡¯ll call the doctor for you again.¡± Shirley thanked her. The nurse said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Rest a bit more.¡± Seeing Shirley¡¯s faint smile, the nurse felt her heart melt. She had never seen a woman more handsome than the queen. But the nurse realized this woman looked like the queen, except the queen¡¯s features weren¡¯t so deep and sharp, and the woman in front of her didn¡¯t have the queen¡¯s curvy figure. The queen¡¯s curvy figure even fascinated women. To this day, no man in the Kingdom of Xyperia had been able to attract the queen. Shirley followed the nurse¡¯s advice and continued to rest. She had been lying down for three days but was still weak. What¡¯s more, she was covered in wounds, and her leg would take at least a month to heal. The doctor soon came, asked Shirley some questions, and examined her brain. He found there was indeed a blood clot pressing on her nerves, causing amnesia. Once the clot dissipated, her memory would gradually return, but it would take some time. During the examination, the fisherman who had rescued her came again. This honest and simple fisherman heard that Shirley had amnesia and paid her medical bills. People in this town weren¡¯t short of money because they fished every day. Now, the Kingdom of Xyperia had sacrificed countless resources because of that supreme¨Ctier mutant, and militarysualties were increasing every day. Even so, the supreme¨Ctier mutant hadn¡¯t been killed. What¡¯s more, other mutants were causing damage in other border cities, so the country was recruiting soldiers everywhere. ¡°Rest well. I¡¯ll pay all your medical bills during this period,¡± the fisherman said. Shirley thanked the fisherman, but she didn¡¯t like owing others. So once she recovered, she would pay him back no matter what. Over the next month, Shirley was recovering. She got better quickly. The first thing she did after being discharged was to start paying back the fisherman. Then she saw a recruitment notice. When she saw the sry was very generous, she signed up without hesitation. #B Nurse walking 616 Shirley couldn¡¯t sign up without an ID card. But the empire was really short of people to defend the country, so after learning that Shirley had no ID card, the Aider government made a fake one for her and then helped her enlist. At this moment, she became a 20¨Cyear¨Cold man named Vivianus Christman. The army didn¡¯t recruit female soldiers, so she signed up as a man, and no one doubted her. As for the age, she felt she was older than that, but she did look very young, so she imed to be 20. Over the past month, Shirley hadn¡¯t remembered anything. Her mind was nk. She only knew she was in heavy debt now. The kind fisherman had even bought her an Orthish to keep her from getting bored during her hospital stay. After signing up, she had to go to the military camp in the affiliated city that night. After two weeks of training there, she was sent to the battlefield. Of course, Shirley didn¡¯t go to a disaster area like Norham City, but to cities invaded by low¨Ctier mutants. They were led by officers familiar with the battlefield, so the danger wasn¡¯t high. But rookies were still scared when they went to the battlefield. Though their hands shook while holding guns, they were brave. And what made them feel moved was that Vivianus would fight alongside them. Vivianus was too handsome. She seemed born for the battlefield. She shot down a mid¨Ctier mutant with a gun, then drew a sword and started killing wildly. That scene was really exciting. Even the sergeant found her brave achievements incredible. Shirley was reused, and the guns and weapons allocated to her became more advanced, with increasing lethality. In just half a month, their team had achieved remarkable results. The frequent mutant invasions in surrounding cit casualties were the smallest among all officer teams sent to the surrounding areas. This was thanks to Vivianus. ad been controlled, and the In the afternoon, Shirley was wearing a military uniform. Her long, flowing golden hair was tied up high with a small hair tie. In the bright sunshine, she was wiping the sword de with a white cloth. She was tall with handsome features. Other men in the army, when seeing her, wondered if they were gay. When she killed mutants cleanly and neatly, many men had to admit they were attracted to her. A soldier said, ¡°Vivianus, do you want some water?¡± Vivianus shook her head. ¡°No, I drank some earlier.¡± The man¨Cnodded and left. Then the soldiers started chatting, ¡°When will that supreme¨Ctier mutant be killed?¡± ¡°Who knows.¡± ¡°That supreme¨Ctier mutant is terrifying, and Her Highness is still in aa.¡± Shirley frowned when she heard their words. She felt a strange sensation, but as soon as she tried to think, her head ached. She thought it would be a nice afternoon, but the assembly whistle suddenly blew. ¡°A group of high¨Ctier mutants ising, Everyone, pick up your weapons and get ready for battle!¡± Henry didn¡¯t return to Summerbank. Under his secret management, the Summerbank government had stabilized the hearts of the Kingdom of Xyperia¡¯s people even without Shirley. 40% He held a cigarette in one hand and rubbed the small bead with the other, wondering if he should call Shermaine over to solve the trouble in the Kingdom of Xyperia. That mutant was a hassle. But that supreme¨Ctier mutant was quite smart. It wouldn¡¯t act aggressively, would retreat when necessary, and would heal its wounds beforeing back to cause trouble. Shermaine was busy building the country on Earth. The Kingdom of Xyperia hadn¡¯t reached the point where it needed Shermaine¡¯s help. With that thought, Henry put the bead away again. Since Damien was away, Henry was quite busy. At this moment, a call came through on the Orthish. A member of the Eagle Assassins said, ¡°Mr. Jean, we¡¯ve located that you¡¯re now close to Navolon City. The military there is sending a distress signal; the city is being invaded by arge number of high¨Ctier mutants. Can you go there to support them?¡± That wasn¡¯t a problem. Henry agreed readily. At this moment, the battle situation in Navolon City was indeed tragic. There were too many high¨Ctier mutants, and they were short of resources and personnel, so the whole city was in a terrible state. Shirley thought killing these mutants without a fighter jet was too slow. She put away her sword and ran over when she saw a fighter jet falling from the sky. The person in the fighter jet wasn¡¯t seriously injured, but couldn¡¯t fly the fighter jet anymore. Shirley checked the damage to the fighter jet and found it could still fly. She operated the fighter jet subconsciously. She didn¡¯t know why she was so skilled; this driving technique seemed engraved in her bones. After the fighter jet took off, Shirley fired at the mutants. Those mutants, sensing the danger she posed, attacked the fighter jet one after another. Others were terrified when they saw such a fierce attack. They kept praying for Shirley, hoping she wouldn¡¯t get hurt. However, all the mutants were attacking her, and the fighter jet wasn¡¯t S¨Clevel, so she really couldn¡¯t withstand so many mutants¡® attacks. Even in such a disadvantageous situation, she still killed many mutants. The mutants roared and sprayed a beam of fire. Her fighter jet was caught in a mass of mes. When the fire died down, the fusge had started to burn. Shirley had to jump out of the fighter jet. In the strong wind halfway up, Shirley was thinking about how tond perfectly on the ground when she suddenly saw a purple light sh. Someone piloted an S¨Clevel mecha and flew over to catch her. Somehow, she suddenly felt very at ease. Henry looked at the man he caught. From a distance just now, he almost thought this person was Shirley, but the one he saved was just a man who looked very much like her. At this moment, on an uninhabited ind in Ustrana, Roy was sitting under a sun umbre watching two beautiful mechaspeting. One of them was his wife, Molly, and the other was Jasmine, who hade from the Kingdom of Xyperia. The mecha Jasmine was driving now was made by Shermaine. Currently, Jasmine was checking its performance, Molly and Jasmine fought fiercely. Damien was also sitting nearby. He was lying on a peach chair with sunsses on, taking a nap. He had waited for a long time, and finally, Molly and Jasmine stopped fighting. At this moment, the sea surface finally calmed down. Molly got out of the mecha and beckoned to him. Roy ran up quickly and hugged Molly into his arms. He said, ¡°Momo, you finally have time today, but you¡¯ve left me hanging for most of the day.¡± ¡°Come on, let¡¯s have fun.¡± Molly then took Roy into the mecha. The mecha flew over the sea surface, stirring up a spray of water, After Jasmine got down from the mecha, she started reporting the mecha¡¯s performance to Shermaine. The mechas made by Shermaine had better 40% performance than those from Xyperia. However, due to limited resources on Earth, it was impossible to mass¨Cproduce such high¨Cperformance mechas. Mechas needed aura stones as energy, and Earth currently had no such minerals. The aura stones used in these few mechas were purchased from the Kingdom of Xyperia. After Molly took Roy into the mecha, they flew towards the seaside. In the deep sea, Molly set the mecha to autopilot. Then she smiled and asked, ¡°Want to go diving a whale loomed, looking particrly spectacr. The breeze was gentle and the sun was bright. Molly put a small boat on the surface. She really couldn¡¯t wait to jump in and enjoy the beauty of the underwater world. Roy looked at Molly in her sexy ck swimsuit and licked his lips. He hugged her and said, ¡°Sure, but before that, you have to satisfy me first.¡± His hand reached behind Molly¡¯s waist, and his fingers pulled the thin string. ¡°Momo, we haven¡¯t tried this before.¡± Molly squinted and pinched Roy¡¯s cheek. ¡°Baby, don¡¯t you think Gracie, George, and Thomas are all very cute?¡± Roy shook his head. ¡°Not really.¡± He pressed Molly down on himself. ¡°Momo, kids are not fun at all. Lot have one now, okay?¡± If it were before, he might have considered their ages and wanted a child early, but now these things weren¡¯t so necessary. The risk of having a child was getting lower and lower now, and Molly could use a recovery shot to recover after the operation. However, they did need a child after all, since Molly¡¯s family needed an heir. The boat jolted with the waves. Molly felt Roy¡¯s touch and then asked, ¡°Are you afraid that the child born will be like you?¡± Roy pinched her waist. ¡°No, that¡¯s not it.¡± He denied it thoroughly. ¡°Momo, I don¡¯t want a child just because I can¡¯t stand you giving so much love to him.¡± Roy just wanted topletely possess all of Molly. He kissed her lips and then said, ¡°Momo, isn¡¯t it good that we childter, okay?¡± Molly had to give up the idea again. She and Roy made love freely on the boundless sea. whatever we want now? Let¡¯s have a Another person who wanted a child was Danielle. She hadn¡¯t gotten pregnant in the past two years. Seeing Jasmine¡¯s son Thomas pestering Gracie and the cute George, her desire to have a child grew stronger and stronger But after trying to get pregnant for so long, she still hadn¡¯t seeded. She didn¡¯t know what was wrong. Danielle called Shermaine in her hospital office and said, ¡°Sheary, why is it so hard for me to have a child?¡± Shermaine said with a smile, ¡°I think you can ask Ross.¡± Danielle¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Could Ross have gotten a vasectomy?¡± In fact, Ross didn¡¯t seem in a hurry to have a child at all. Danielle had clearly stated that she wanted a child, but he wasn¡¯t very enthusiastic, He had cooperated with her, but she just couldn¡¯t get pregnant. ¡°That¡¯s not likely,¡± Shermaine said. Danielle felt an inexplicable anger. She had always wanted a child, but Ross had been secretly thwarting her ns. Danielle said, ¡°Sheary, I¡¯m angry, I¡¯m going home.¡± Shermaine said, ¡°Okay, you haven¡¯t been back for a long time. It¡¯s good to go and apany your parents.¡± When Ross came home from work in the evening, he saw that Danielle¡¯s expensive suitcase was gone from the cloakroom, and many of her clothe shoes were missing. After asking the servants, he found out that Danielle had gone back to her parents¡® house without saying a word to him. Chapter 617 Nurse walking 617 Chapter 617 40% £¤28 Ross couldn¡¯t help butugh when he found out why Danielle had run back to her parents¡® house. He didn¡¯t expect Shermaine to be so unkind as to expose his subtle thoughts. Helpless, he had to drive to find Danielle. Danielle returned to Neclen. Her parents were overjoyed to see here back, and then asked why she had run back without calling them. She was eating strawberries and said casually, ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to get pregnant, but Ross has been taking birth control pills and didn¡¯t tell me.¡± After hearing this, Danielle¡¯s parents breathed a sigh of relief. Danielle had thought her parents would jain in scolding Ross, but instead, they said, ¡°Ross doesn¡¯t want a child for your good.¡± Danielle frowned. Her whole family liked Ross very much. As long as he didn¡¯t make any big mistakes, Danielle¡¯s family would stand by his side. ¡°Grandma must also want to y with my child,¡± said Danielle. Sylvia said, ¡°Your grandma now has many grandchildren and great¨Cgrandchildren.¡± Danielle was speechless. Danielle¡¯s parents knew why Ross didn¡¯t want a child. The problem was actually with Danielle. Before she became a doctor, she hurt her uterus in high school while saving someone. At that time, the doctor told them that although Danielle could get pregnant, the risk was rtively higher than for others. They had been hiding this from Danielle, but when Danielle and Ross got married, they told Ross about it. They didn¡¯t want Danielle¡¯s body to be harmed. When Shermaineunched the recovery shot, Ross told her that Danielle had a previous uterine injury and a such a situation. d if the recovery shot could help with The recovery shot was for postnatal body repair, but Danielle¡¯s was clearly an old injury, so the recovery shot couldn¡¯t work. It wasn¡¯t difficult to repair Danielle¡¯s old uterine injury, after all, Earth now had technology like the recovery shot. However, Ross had been dying giving Danielle the medicine Shermaine had given him. After having a child, the time they spent together would be reduced a lot. That¡¯s how it was in Shermaine¡¯s family. George liked to pester Joshua, but Shermaine didn¡¯t mind this much, and what¡¯s more, Joshua always made time to apany her. Danielle wasn¡¯t actually angry. She happily enjoyed the strawberries. At this moment, a servant came in and said, ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Shelly, Mr. Smith from next door is here.¡± ¡°Invite him in,¡± Sylvia said. Jonathan came in holding some delicious food. He had just graduated from college and brought some gifts to the Shelly family after returning from abroad. He was sunny and handsome, with white teeth showing when he smiled. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Shelly, these are some gifts I brought for you after returning to the country,¡± Jonathan said. Soon after, he spotted Danielle. She was twirling a strawberry between her fingers, holding her phone absent¨Cmindedly. She thought, ¡®Why hasn¡¯t Ross called me?¡® ¡°Danielle, hello,¡± Jonathan said. 1/2 40% +28 Hearing someone call her name, Danielle looked up. She knew Jonathan. He was the kid from next door. He went abroad after high school and seemed to study medicine too. Danielle said, ¡°Long time no see, Jonathan.¡± Jonathan smiled even more. Danielle had always been the one he admired since childhood, and he didn¡¯t expect to meet her. ¡°Danielle, I¡¯m a doctor now, too,¡± he said. Danielle nodded. ¡°Which hospital do you work at?¡± Jonathan said, ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet. Hospitals in Neclen and Basterel have both offered me jobs.¡± The fact that so many hospitals were vying for him was enough to prove how excellent he was in his studies. Jonathan had quite a few medical questions to ask, and Danielle answered them patiently. Jonathan¡¯s heart was beating fast as he looked at Danielle. The beautiful Danielle fascinated him. Ross arrived in Neclen two hourster. At this moment, Danielle and Jonathan were still chatting, with Danielle¡¯s parents asionally chipping in. The servant came again and said, ¡°Ms. Shelly, your husband is here.¡± Ìï The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Nurse walking 618 Chapter 618 When Jonathan heard that Danielle was married, he froze, a sudden ache splitting through his heart. He¡¯d never heard news of her marriage while abroad, only because Danielle¡¯s wedding had been extremely low¨Ckey. A sh of loss flickered in Jonathan¡¯s eyes. Danielle¡¯s face lit up as soon as she heard Ross had arrived. But the next second, she pouted and huffed, ¡°I don¡¯t want to see him.¡± Yet before she could finish, her parents told the servant to let Ross in. They could see through her act¨Cshe was clearly longing for him, but too proud to admit it, even pretending to want him gone. Jonathan was confused. He assumed Danielle was arguing with her husband and refusing to speak to him. If a woman shut out her man, it must be the man¡¯s fault¨Cotherwise, why would she flee to her parents¡® house? Jonathan decided he ought to evoke Ross¡® crisis awareness and to make him realize Danielle was desirable even without him. If Ross didn¡¯t cherish her, plenty of other men would line up to take his ce. When Ross entered, he saw Danielle on the couch, but beside her sat a young man who seemed to radiate hostility. Ross¡® gentle expression instantly hardened into a cold frown. Danielle had meant to scowl at Ross for rushing over, but she couldn¡¯t help snickering and quickly ducked her head to hide it. ¡°Danielle, you¡¯ve spent so much time chatting with me,¡± Jonathan suddenly said. ¡°Have some more strawberries.¡± Danielle looked up to find Jonathan winking at her. It took a few seconds for her to catch on, then she grinned. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Feel free to ask more questions.¡± She popped a sweet grape into her mouth. ¡°Thank you, Danielle,¡± Jonathan replied. Danielle¡¯s parents stifledughs at their daughter¡¯s mischief. They had no intention of mending things between Ross and Danielle just yet¨Cthey wanted to enjoy the show. Jonathan was taken aback by Ross¡® appearance. He carried himself like nobility, elegant and poised. Ross¡® striking, aristocratic air made Jonathan feel inferior, but he refused to back down. Besides, now that he knew Danielle was married, his heart was already broken. He was simply standing up for her, teaching her husband a lesson. If Ross didn¡¯t value her, countless other men would. Danielle deliberately ignored Ross, but when their eyes met, she choked on the grape in her mouth. Jonathan, sitting closest, quickly grabbed a ss of water from the table. ¡°Danielle, have some water.¡± The water soothed her, and she caught her breath. Ross sat down beside her without a word. As soon as he did, Danielle inched two steps away. ¡°Jonathan, don¡¯t you have many questions?¡± she prompted. 1/4 16:56 Wed, 30 Jul G ¡°Danielle, I was wondering what it feels like to be in the operating room,¡± Jonathan said. ¡°I¡¯m starting my internship soon. and I¡¯m a bit nervous.¡± ¡°Your first surgery is intimidating,¡± she admitted, ¡°but we¡¯re professionals¨Chere to save lives. You have to focus harder than ever.¡± ¡°What department are you in?¡± Danielle realized she hadn¡¯t asked. ¡°A surgery, like you,¡± Jonathan said. ¡°Cardiothoracic.¡± Danielle nodded. ¡°If you¡¯re undecided, Yaleview Hospital is excellent.¡± Jonathan¡¯s eyes lit up. He¡¯d considered Yaleview, but its reputation attracted so many top doctors that among new hires was cutthroat¨Che¡¯d hesitated to apply. ¡°Could you refer me, Danielle?¡± he asked. ¡°Of course,¡± she said. They delved into work talk, leaving Ross utterly ignored. After a long silence, he finally said, ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± ¡°My neighbor,¡± Danielle said, smiling over her water. It wasn¡¯t a seductive smile, but a mischievous one. Jonathan offered Ross a smile. ¡°I¡¯m Jonathan Smith.¡± ¡°Ross Jean,¡± Ross replied. Jonathan suddenly ced the name. He¡¯d seen it in recent financial news¨CRoss was the head of Basterel¡¯s prominent Jean family. The Jeans and the Shellys were well¨Cmatched, and even bickering, Ross and Danielle exuded an unspoken intimacy. Ross spoke slowly, ¡°I¡¯m thirsty, Dear.¡± Danielle blushed at the endearment¨Che¡¯d never called her that in front of others. Normally, she¡¯d haveughed and hugged him. Tempted as she was, she held back. He needed to exin why he¡¯d hidden the truth. She wanted a baby with him. So she pouted, ¡°Get it yourself.¡± Ross nodded and poured himself a ss of water. Danielle¡¯s parents barely contained theirughter. She was clearly thrilled but ying hard to get, waiting for Ross to cave. instantly. Ross picked up the kettle and somehow fumbled it, spilling hot water over his hand. His knuckles flush Danielle¡¯s concern spiked. ¡°Ross, what¡¯s gotten into you? So clumsy today.¡± Angry as she was, worry her voice. ¡°I workedte, came home to find you gone, then drove two hours to get here,¡± Ross said. ¡°I¡¯m just¡­ tired.¡± Danielle fell silent, regretting her question. She looked away. ¡°Serves you right. Shouldn¡¯t have rushing over at night.¡± 2/4 7 C ¡°I just wanted to see you sooner,¡± Ross said. Danielle clicked her tongue. ¡°Come with me.¡± She grabbed his hand and pulled him upstairs. Jonathan watched, realizing Danielle clearly loved Ross¨Ceven if they were fighting. He couldn¡¯t fathom what the rift was about. Danielle¡¯s parents shook their heads. ¡°Sorry, Jonathan¨CDanielle and Ross are just having a little misunderstanding,¡± they said. Jonathan nodded. ¡°I see.¡± Disappointed as he was, there was nothing to be done. ¡°It¡¯ste. I should go.¡± Sylvia nodded and saw him out. Upstairs, Ross sat on Danielle¡¯s couch, his gaze fixed on her. He looked calm, but jealousy gnawed at him. Danielle fetched the first¨Caid kit. ¡°Give me your hand.¡± Ross held it out. She winced at the redness, gently blowing on the burn before pricking a blister and dabbing on antiseptic. Ross seemed not to feel the pain, letting her tend to him. When she finished, Danielle said, ¡°Don¡¯t think this means ! forgive you. Why don¡¯t you want a baby?¡± Ross pulled her into his arms. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to have one. Not like this.¡± Danielle pulled back, fuming. ¡°You never objected before! You just lied to me, stringing me along.¡± Ross said nothing, just kissed her hard. ¡°It¡¯s my fault. Forgive me, Dear.¡± Danielle turned her face away. ¡°Not yet. You¡¯re sleeping in the guest room.¡± Upon hearing this, Ross said, ¡°I¡¯m jealous.¡± Danielle smiled, ¡°Who are you jealous of?¡± She yed with his tie as she spoke. ¡°I was just having a normal chat with him.¡± She and Jonathan were indeed just having a normal chat. But Ross could tell that the guy looked up to Danielle a lot. When Jonathan looked at her, there was admiration in his eyes. If they talked a bit more, Jonathan would definitely fall for her. As a man, Ross knew well what other men were thinking. But right now, Danielle was still mad at him couldn¡¯t get her to ease his jealousy. Ross said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to sleep in the guest room.¡± Danielle said, ¡°Then you sleep in my room. I¡¯ll take the guest room.¡± Ross frowned. He itched to fuck her senseless, but forced himself to stay calm. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten.¡± 10:56 Wed, 30 Jul 0 Danielle nodded. ¡°Wait here. I¡¯ll have the servants make you something.¡± She headed downstairs. Her parents looked up as she appeared. ¡°Fixed his hand?¡± Danielle nodded. ¡°He¡¯s hungry. I¡¯m making him something.¡± She¡¯d told Ross she¡¯d ask the servants, but nned to cook herself. Her parents guessed Ross hadn¡¯t fully exined¨Cif he had, she¡¯d have forgiven him by now. If secrecy was sowing strife, maybe Ross shouldn¡¯t hide Danielle¡¯s old injury anymore. With Shermaine¡¯s help, a baby was possible. ¡°I should talk to Ross,¡± Sylvia said. ¡°Go ahead,¡± her husband agreed. ¡°He¡¯s a man of his word¨Che¡¯ll keep our secret unless we tell him otherwise.¡± Downstairs, Danielle tied on an apron, opened the fridge, and started cooking. Her skills were limited¨Cshe only knew how to make pasta. Peeling tomatoes and nching them, she stirred up a sauce. Sylvia stepped into the kitchen. ¡°Still not forgiven him?¡± Danielle pursed her lips. ¡°He lied for so long. I can¡¯t let it go that easily.¡± Sylvia sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not his fault. We asked him not to tell you.¡± AD Nurse walking 619 Chapter 619 After Danielle went downstairs, Ross stayed in her room. He stepped out onto the balcony and lit a cigarette, the smoke curling around him as restlessness gnawed at his nerves. One cigarette turned into two, then three¨Cby the time he stubbed out the third, the faint scent of burning tobo clung to his clothes. When he returned to the ma rich aroma hit him¨Cthe tang of tomato sauce, mixed with the sweet, fruity smell of grapes he¡¯d always found cloying. On the table sat a te of steaming pasta, and Danielle was perched on the couch, her lips pressed into a tight line, avoiding his gaze. Ross sat beside her, peeling off his smoke¨Cstained jacket and loosening his tie with azy tug. The disheveled look suited him, a raw, unguarded sexiness that made Danielle¡¯s breath catch. He¡¯d nned to have dinner, then beg for her forgiveness¨Cbut she leaned in suddenly, her voice soft and wobbly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Ross set down his fork, meeting her eyes. ¡°Your parents told you?¡± Danielle nodded, her throat tight. So this was why. Her parents had hidden her old uterine injury, and Ross had kept it from her to protect her. He asked, ¡°Are you still mad now?¡± Guilt washed over her as she thought of his burned hand. She pressed a kiss to his cheek. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I left Neclen without telling you.¡± She pouted. ¡°But why did you keep it from me? You fool.¡± She couldn¡¯t help resenting Shermaine a little, too. Shermaine must have known, yet she¡¯d egged Danielle on, letting her run home and make Ross drive for hours to chase her. Ross said nothing, just pulled her into a crushing hug. His kiss was hungry, demanding, and Danielle moaned into it, fisting his shirt as her lungs burned for air. Before she knew it, he¡¯did her back on the couch, his restraint snapping. He grabbed her wrists and bound them with his tie, the silk scratchy against her skin. Danielle¡¯s face flushed. It reminded her of the handcuffs that one night¨Cbut this time, Ross¡® intensity was wilder, more unhinged. ¡°Ross¡± He kissed her, his voice rough against her lips. ¡°Why do you let young men fawn over you so easily, love?¡± Danielle froze. ¡°Jonathan isn¡¯t-¡® Her words dissolved into a gasp as he bit her ear, his hot breath making her shiver. ¡°What were you saying?¡± His hand slid up her calf, under her skirt, his tough searing. 16:56 wed, Su Later, the pasta had gone cold. Ross popped a grape into his mouth, then leaned down to feed it to Danielle, their lips brushing as juice dribbled down her chin. He licked it away, his voice low. ¡°Does it taste good?¡± Danielle clung to his neck, her toes curling. Her eyes were hazy. ¡°Husband¡­ Jonathan doesn¡¯t like me. Stop being jealous.¡± ¡°He does,¡± Ross said, nipping her lower lip. ¡°I¡¯ll never talk to him again. Just¡­ calm down.¡± She squirmed, trying to catch her breath. ¡°The pasta¡¯s cold.¡± Ross didn¡¯t stop. He kissed her again, another grape between their lips. ¡°Who cares about pasta?¡± AD Comment Send gift Nurse walking 620 After feeding Danielle the grapes, Ross slipped a finger into her mouth, then slowly traced it downward, between her thighs. Danielle had never seen Ross so brazenly mischievous. She squirmed against him, whimpering softly about the ache building inside her, but when he pressed, asking what she was feeling, she couldn¡¯t find the words. Ross kissed her again, deep and consuming down Danielle¡¯s cheek; Ross caught it with b but it only stoked his hunger, leaving him ravenous for more. A tear slipped tongue, the salt tang mixing with the sweetness of grapes on his lips. The room reeked of their desire, thick and heady, like fermented wine. Late into the night, Danielle¡¯s wrists were finally freed. Ross held her close, tucking a nket around her shivering form. The air still hummed with the aftermath of their passion. Her eyes were red¨Crimmed as she curled into him, her hands now free to cling to his waist before drifting off to sleep. He was no gentleman¨Cjust a man driven wild by jealousy. And yet, that wildness made her beart race. A few extra words with Jonathan, and he¡¯d lost allposure. The next morning, Danielle woke to a room strewn with evidence of their night¨Cthe couch stained, her sheets rumpled. Heat rushed to her cheeks. However, recing the couch would tip off her family. She buried her face in her hands, mortified. Ross¡® tailored suity crumpled on the floor, marked with stubborn stains. Her first instinct was to toss it, but the thought of wasting such an expensive piece made her hesitate. She¡¯d have to wash it herself, and the very idea flustered her. Just then, Ross emerged from the bathroom, freshly showered, his gaze lingering on her with unapologetic hunger. Danielle thrust the suit at him. ¡°You clean it.¡± Ross caught it, no trace of disgust. ¡°But it smells like you.¡± Danielle¡¯s face burned. ¡°Ross, I misjudged you.¡± Heughed, pulling her close. ¡°Then don¡¯t make me jealous again.¡± She pouted. ¡°And you won¡¯t keep secrets from me anymore?¡± He nodded. ¡°What about this?¡± she asked, nodding at the suit. Ross smirked. ¡°We keep it as a souvenir.¡± Danielle gaped, lunging for it¨Cbut he held it out of reach. Annoyed, she nipped his jaw. At breakfast, Ross wore the bite mark like a badge, while Danielle¡¯s neck was dotted with love bites¨CRoss had forbidden 16:56 Wed, 30 Jul D GO her to cover them. Her parents raised eyebrows but said nothing; young love, after all. They were just surprised that their cold daughter actually turned so hot in front of Ross. With the misunderstanding cleared, Danielle and Ross prepared to return to Basterel. Her parents loaded them with gifts, no trace of sadness¨Cif anything, they looked amused. The summer sun zed, so Danielle ducked into the car quickly. ncing over, she caught Jonathan watching from next door. She smiled faintly, and he waved, his expression tight. Gone wasst night¡¯s restlessness. In Ross¡® presence, her cold demeanor melted into softness. Jonathan stared at the sky, a dull ache in his chest. Meanwhile, Jasmine and Damien were packing to leave Ustrana¨CDamien¡¯s vacation was ending. They nned to collect Thomas from Shermaine¡¯s, then head home. Instead of taking Earth¡¯s transportation, they flew back to Wallington in a mecha. Thomas had been staying with Gracie all this time. Even with his parents away, he didn¡¯t seem all that sad. At Shermaine¡¯s house, Thomas was fighting with George. But Thomas couldn¡¯t beat George, so he started wailing loudly. When Jasmine saw Thomas crying his heart out, she couldn¡¯t help butugh. George was stillining about Thomas. Gracie felt so annoyed by her naughty brothers. Thomas said in tears, ¡°Gracie, it hurts so much.¡± Before Gracie could say anything, George cut Thomas off. When Thomas saw that Gracie had no intention offorting him, he cried even louder. Jasmine picked Thomas up. ¡°Babe, don¡¯t cry even if you lose. You have to be strong.¡± George nodded in agreement. After all, this fight had been started by Thomas. Thomas cried bitterly. He didn¡¯t want to be strong; he just ted Gracie tofort him. Seeing that she couldn¡¯t soothe Thomas, Jasmine had to smile bitterly and ask Gracie, ¡°Gracie, could youfort him a little, please?¡± Gracie had no choice but to put down her book and hand Thomas a candy. She said, ¡°Stop crying. You¡¯re disturbing my reading.¡± Jasmine was speechless. She thought thomas would cry even harder, but he stopped instead. After taking the candy, Thomas begged Gracie, ¡°Could you unwrap it for me?¡± Gracie sighed, fishing a candy from her pocket. ¡°Here. Stop yelling.¡± Thomas hurried to nod. Thomas nodded. Gracie gave him one too. She hated sweets, but kept a stash to pacify the boys. Jasmine decided to wait until Thomas napped to leave¨Cotherwise, he¡¯d throw a fit. Shermaine arrived home early, knowing they nned to depart. ¡°Stay for lunch?¡± she offered. Jasmine nodded. ¡°Joshua¡¯s out, so I¡¯ll cook.¡± She hadn¡¯t cooked for a long time. Today was a good chance to brush up on her cooking skills. Dave, perched on Gracie¡¯s head, perked up. ¡°Sheary, ribeye steak!¡± Meanwhile, in that battle, after Henry rescued Shirley, two more hours of fighting passed before the war subsided. At this moment, she was in the army¡¯s infirmary, and the doctor was treating her wound. Shirley had blocked a mutant¡¯s attack to save a soldier. Now, the doctor was stitching up her wound. Shirley had a nk expression, only feeling a little curious why that handsome man was looking at her with such interest. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Henry asked. Shirley said, ¡°Vivianus.¡± Henry said, ¡°You¡¯re very brave.¡± Shirley thanked him. Henry studied her, thinking she looked so much like Shirley. But Vivianus was a man, so he couldn¡¯t be Shirley. He said, ¡°Has anyone told you that you look like the queen?¡± Shirley replied calmly, ¡°Yes. The queen is noble and strong. Do you like her?¡± Henry shook his head. Shirley nodded. She was a bit surprised that Henry didn¡¯t like the sexy and beautiful queen, then asked, ¡°Do you like men?¡± He didn¡¯t like the queen, yet kept staring at her, who now looked like a man. That was why Shirley asked Henry felt a little awkward at her question. ¡°I don¡¯t like men either. Having sex is not my thing.¡± Somehow, he trusted Shirley a lot, so he even blurted out this awkward secret in front of the doctor. Shirley subconsciously nced at his crotch, then teased, ¡°You don¡¯t look that young. Have you never slept with a woman?¡± 16:56 Wed, 30 Jul G. Henry shot her a look. ¡°You must be very experienced, huh?¡± Shirley lost her memory and couldn¡¯t remember if she¡¯d had any men before. These days, she¡¯d been mixing in the military camp, always around men, but hadn¡¯t liked any of them. Still, she put on a brave front. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ve had several women.¡± Henry smiled and said no more. He actually felt a little envious of Shirley. He¡¯d never had sex, so he was always mocked by Joshua, Roy, and Ross. Every time they got together, he was the only one left out. Shirley¡¯s wound had been stitched up. The doctor said, ¡°After it heals, you can have a scar removal surgery. Your skin is so good; it¡¯s a pity to have a scar.¡± Shirley nodded, thanked the doctor, then said to Henry, ¡°You saved my life, so I¡¯ll treat you to a meal.¡± Henry said, ¡°Sure, let¡¯s go.¡± But he didn¡¯t expect that Shirley, who seemed quite well¨Coff, would take him to a hot dog stand. There weren¡¯t many customers at the hot dog stand. Shirley said calmly, ¡°I still owe someone money, so I can only treat you to hot dogs.¡± Henry raised his eyebrows. ¡°Alright, I don¡¯t mind.¡± The soldiers had once been ordinary civilians. They didn¡¯t stay stuck in the sorrow of their destroyed homes; instead, they put on a bonfire party. This was a city of music, and everyone could sing and y an instrument. So when night fell, the whole city was filled with the sweet smell of wine and wonderful songs. Drinks were free, and Shirley drank heartily. She especially loved this atmosphere, as if it had released her pent¨Cup nature. Then Shirley walked onto the stage, took over someone¡¯s spot, and started ying the drums. The lively rhythm and her handsome face instantly heated the entire party¡¯s atmosphere to the maximum. Henry looked at Shirley and couldn¡¯t help but smile, He thought, ¡®Vivianus is interesting.¡® Îå AD Nurse walking 621 Chapter 621 Shirley looked so cool when she yed the drums. And her drumming skills were both polished and exciting. After finishing the drum set, she stepped down from the stage, grabbed a few bottles of wine, and then took Henry up to the roof. They drank while watching the stars in the sky. In the end, they were both drunk, as if they were going to sleep on the roof that night. Henry pushed her a little when he saw that. ¡°Come on, it¡¯s time for bed.¡± Shirley said sleepily, ¡°I can¡¯t walk. Let¡¯s just sleep here.¡± Henry smiled. He had never seen anyone more casual than himself. He did not want to leave either, so he just summoned the mecha right away. He said, ¡°Sleep inside the mecha. It¡¯s easy to catch a cold sleeping outside.¡± Shirley stretched out her hand to him and said, ¡°Help me up.¡± Henry looked into her deep golden eyes. He thought, ¡®This man has a strange kind of sex appeal.¡® What¡¯s more, Shirley ordered him so rudely, but Henry did not mind. He took her hand and pulled her up. Henry had not expected a man to be so light, so he used a bit too much strength. Shirley was pulled by him and fell straight onto him. Then, they crashed into each other and rolled several times on the roof. Luckily, they did not fall off. Shirley sat directly on Henry. With an evil smile, she yfully touched Henry¡¯s face in a rather mischievous way. ¡°Tell me, are you sexually apathetic?¡± Henry asked, ¡°You don¡¯t believe it?¡± ¡°Indeed. I thought you were joking,¡± Shirley said. Henry smiled, but he did not want to exin why he was frigid. ¡°If you can still stand up, let¡¯s go.¡± Shirley plopped down on top of him. ¡°I can¡¯t get up. Take me to rest.¡± Hearing her arrogant order, Henry let out a disdainfulugh. Shirley was cool, but she did look younger than him, so after she stood up, Henry directly carried her into the mecha. Shirley sat there, looking at thebat boots under her feet, and stretched her feet out. Henry pinched her face and said, ¡°I saved your life, not became your servant. You haven¡¯t forgotten that, right?¡± Shirley nced at him. ¡°I already repaid your favor. You help me take off my shoes this time, and next time I¡¯ll return the favor.¡± She was just too tired to move then. It sounded like it made sense, but Henry was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He had never waited on anyone. Shirley seemed to be more pampered than him. 16:56 Wed, 30 Jul DGO Henry thought about it and finally gave in. He treated Shirley as his younger brother in this world, so he helped her take off her shoes. After taking off her shoes, Henry found that Shirley was indeed as pampered as he had thought. Her feet had no calluses at all, and they were much smaller than his, almost like a woman¡¯s feet. However, under her open cor were t breasts. In Henry¡¯s eyes, Shirley was a real man. Then, Henry adjusted her chair to a t position. Seeing that her cor was all messed up, Henry reached out to button it up for her. But Shirley red at him, then rxed when she saw it was Henry who was touching her clothes. She asked casually, ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t like men.¡± Henry pinched her face and said, ¡°If I were gay, I would let you know right now.¡± Shirley licked her lips. ¡°Given that you¡¯re frigid, I¡¯m more likely to be the top.¡± Henry was left speechless by the stubborn Shirley. He quickly buttoned her up and then said, ¡°Just sleep.¡± AD Comment Send gift No Ads Nurse walking 622 hapter 622 A purple mecha was parked on the rooftop, glistening under the moonlight. All was quiet then, and the city had fallen asleep. Henry took his coat and draped it over the sleeping Shirley. Then he walked to the other seat of the mecha and sat down. He ttened the backrest and slept till dawn. When Henry woke up, the sky outside was bright. The coat that had covered Shirley the night before now on him, and the seat next to him was empty. Henry felt a little annoyed that Shirley had left without a word after waking up. Henry thought of going out for a smoke, so he opened the cabin door. A gentle breeze blew towards him, carrying the freshness of all thingsing back to life. Then he found that Shirley had not left. She was standing on the rooftop watching the sunrise. Her blonde hair fluttered in the wind, looking very beautiful. The man looked extremely charming in the sunlight. Though she was quite tall, she was still a head shorter than Henry and a bit thin. Shirley turned around, raised her eyebrows, and smiled at him. ¡°Morning.¡± Henry also said good morning to her, his voice a little hoarse from just waking up. He stood beside her, then lit a cigarette. He asked, ¡°Does your head hurt?¡± Shirley said, ¡°A little.¡± This slight pain was totally bearablepared to when she first woke up earlier. Henry smiled. ¡°How about your arm?¡± Shirley looked up at it. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll go find the doctor to change the dressingter.¡± Henry took a puff of his cigarette, thenzily exhaled a white cloud of smoke. The smoke rose with the wind and gradually dissipated. She asked, ¡°When do you n to leave?¡± ¡°Probably today.¡± There was nothing left for Henry to do here. Learning that he was leaving so soon, Shirley suddenly felt a little down. This man was quite interesting. Once he left this time, there was no telling when they would meet again. She nodded without trying to keep him. She asked, ¡°Is thi cigarette good?¡± Henry looked at the cigarette in his hand, then held out the pack. ¡°You can try it.¡± Shirley had never seen this brand before. It seemed not to exist in her world. She shook her head. She just wanted a sip, not a whole cigarette. So she took the one Henry had smoked and took a puff. Henry froze for a moment. The cigarette tasted okay, but she choked. Watching her cough so hard, Henry couldn¡¯t help but . He had thought 16:56 Wed, 30 Jul GO she was an old smoker. Then he went back into the mecha and got her a bottle of mineral water. Shirley took the water and gulped it down. After that, the ufortable feeling eased. She said to Henry, ¡°It tastes really bad.¡± Her eyes were a little red from coughing which gave her face a seductive look. That handsome face suddenly took on a feminine beauty. Henryughed, ¡°You¡¯re right about that.¡± Shirley seriously advised, ¡°You should smoke less, too. You¡¯re already frigid. If you smoke too much of this stuff, you might not even be able to get an erection.¡± Henry was speechless. He really wanted to prove to her right then that he was not impotent, just to make her stop mocking him. He ruffled her hair and said, ¡°Whether I¡¯m frigid or not has nothing to do Vou. Anyway, I¡¯m not going to fuck you.¡± Faced with such vulgar words, Shirley just raised her eyebrows. They seemed to have bickered about this topicst night. She kept a straight face and said, ¡°Even if you wanted to, you couldn¡¯t.¡± Henry let out a coldugh, annoyed by her. He had no mood to smoke anymore, so he put out the cigarette right away. Shirley narrowed her eyes. ¡°Did you mess up my hair?¡± Henry nced at her. Her smooth, golden, long hair was indeed a bit messy from his rubbing. He said without the slightest guilt, ¡°Why does a guy like you keep such long hair?¡± She was not a guy, but Shirley didn¡¯t want to say that. If she did, Henry might keep his distance from her, so being mistaken for a guy was fine. e Shirley put the ck string on her wrist into his hand. ¡°Tie it up for me.¡± She ordered Henry confidently, without the least bit of embarrassment. Yet her imperiousmand didn¡¯t make him dislike her. ¡°Why?¡± Henry asked with a smile. Shirley said, ¡°I don¡¯t know how.¡± Henry held the small ck rubber band and asked, ¡°Then who tied your hair for you before?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Shirley added, ¡°There was a buddy in the barracks who tied it for me every day.¡± Henry couldn¡¯t believe that Shirley, who was so good at fighting, didn¡¯t know how to tie her hair. He lifted her golden, long hair and studied it for a long time. Then he found that tying hair was indeed a bit tricky. It took him about seven or eight minutes to get it done, and it still looked messy. Shirley didn¡¯t mind much. ¡°Since you¡¯re leaving today, how about treating me to breakfast before you go?¡± Henry knew she had no money, so he said, ¡°You go wash up and brush your teeth first.¡± He walked towards the mecha and said, ¡°Get in.¡± 2/5 *** Damien and Jasmine took Thomas back to Baykeep. When Thomas opened his eyes, he found that Gracie and George were not there. Then he looked around and realized he seemed to be home. He pouted, extremely sad, and started crying again.) Jasmine had expected his tears. It was for Thomas to cry at home after waking up than to start crying on the way back. Jasmine began tofort Thomas. As for Damien, after returning, he went to the Eagle Assassins first to find out about the recent situation in the Kingdom of Xyperia. After going out for a while, he learned that the tier mutant and Shirley were now missing. Damien asked Dave to inform Shermaine of this situation. Dave was not in a hurry to leave. Every time it came back, it needed to replenish some aura stones. It found the mutants from the Kingdom of Xyperia quite annoying, too. The spatial rift connected to another and couldn¡¯t be repaired. As a Neb Beast, Dave nned to let the Kingdom of Xyperia solve this trouble on its own. If they hadn¡¯t researched time travel in the first ce, there wouldn¡¯t be this kind of trouble. After calming Thomas down, Jasmine also went to handle official business. There was a lot of backlogged work on his hands. At this moment, Damien called Henry and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the situation with Her Highness?¡± Henry replied, ¡°I can¡¯t track Edison.¡± That man was so insane that he wanted to imprison Shirley to force her to be with him. Henry thought this method was extremely despicable. However, Shirley had a tough character. Edison would never be able to force her to submit. Henry hoped she could find a way to escape and return to the country. Yet, he had been looking for Shirley for so long with no result. During this time, those old guys who wanted to take power had been causing trouble. Though the political enemies¡® plots had all been suppressed, he couldn¡¯t hold on much longer. On the side, Shirley was having breakfast. When she heard the name Edison, she frowned, then felt extreme disgust, and her head started to ache faintly. Henry noticed her odd expression and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± Shirley shook her head. ¡°I hit my head earlier. It¡¯s a little sore now.¡± Henry said, ¡°You can ask the doctor about it when changing dressing.¡± Shirley nodded. Her voice was rather neutral. Damien asked Henry, ¡°Is the ¡°meone beside you?¡± 137 Wed, 3000+) Henry replied, ¡°Yeah. He¡¯s kind of my brother.¡± Damien chuckled and said, ¡°You don¡¯t look for a girlfriend, but you¡¯ve adopted a brother here with us?¡± Henry said casually, ¡°Whatever. I gotta go. I¡¯m having breakfast.¡± He had stayed here for two years but hadn¡¯t found a woman he liked. Or rather, except for Shirley. She was his type, but he couldn¡¯t pursue her for the time being. After breakfast, Henry apanied Shirley to the infirmary to take care of the wound on her arm. He reminded her, ¡°Do you want to ask the doctor about your headache?¡± Shirley thought about it and said, ¡°No. The doctor said before that there¡¯s nothing serious. I just lost a little memory.¡± Henry raised his eyebrows. ¡°You also lost your memory?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Shirley said. ¡°What happened?¡± Henry asked. Shirley said without hesitation, ¡°I don¡¯t know. I can¡¯t remember.¡± After getting this answer, Henry didn¡¯t ask any more. Henry left in the afternoon, and Shirley saw him off. When she returned to the military camp, the regimentmander called her over. The regimentmander had long wanted to talk to her, but she had been with Henry all the time and didn¡¯te backst night. So when she got back to the camp, he found her right away. Shirley sat down in his office. The regimentmander felt a sense of pressure, as if she were the leader. He cleared his throat. ¡°Vivianus, I¡¯ve seen the video of you piloting the fighterst night. You¡¯re so skilled. Did someone teach you?¡± Shirley thought about it and said, ¡°I lost my memory beforeing to Aider.¡± The regimentmander said, ¡°Here¡¯s the thing. I think it¡¯s a waste for someone with your ability to stay here. There¡¯s an opportunity right now for you to go to Norham City and join the ck Riders. Would you like that?¡± Norham City was where the real war was raging. That supreme¨Ctier mutant was too powerful, and the excellent stationed there had suffered heavy casualties, so they were in need of reinforcements. ers Shirley didn¡¯t mind. Instead, she felt that going to Norham City should be her mission. She was about to agree when she suddenly felt some movement outside. The next second, Henry came in from outside. Shirley froze for a moment and asked, ¡°Why are you back?¡± Henry walked in and said directly, ¡°I¡¯ll exin on the way. Vivianus, you¡¯reing with me to Norham City.¡± Nurse walking 623 Chapter 623 Shirley did not refuse Henry. The main reason Henry wanted to take her to Norham City was that those coveting Shirley¡¯s position had finally made their move. There was a traitor in the government who spread the news that Shirley was unconscious, iming she was now a vegetable, and then started the whole acting president thing. Those city lords said that the government couldn¡¯t function without a leader, and they should take on the responsibility of governing the country. Now, several city lords had conspired to hold an election. The one with the most votes would serve as the so¨Ccalled acting president. Henry would never let the acting president¡¯s scheme seed. It was aplete conspiracy. But once this acting president was elected, he would find out who the real mastermind behind framing Shirley was. After hearing the news from Damien, Henry got an idea and came back directly to find Vivianus. At this moment, Shirley, in Henry¡¯s mecha, had heard all his ns. She asked, ¡°So, you want me to pretend to be Her Highness temporarily until shees back?¡± Henry nodded, then said slyly, ¡°Yes, you¡¯re smart.¡± ¡°On the day the election resultse out, youe back to Summerbank with me. That way, his n will fail again. We¡¯ll find her while you¡¯re recing Her Highness,¡± Henry said, afraid she might disagree, so he added, ¡°I¡¯ll give you a generous reward.¡± Shirley sat on the chair with her legs crossed, looking like a true queen. She said, ¡°I¡¯d agree even without the reward. It¡¯s a tense time for the war, and the mastermind behind it is still fighting for the throne. If we don¡¯t root him out, the Kingdom of Xyperia will only get more chaotic.¡± When they returned to Norham City, it was already night. The residents here had evacuated, leaving only officers stationed. When Henry brought Shirley back, the sergeants were all stunned. Because she looked so much like the queen, except that she was a man. At this moment, they were in a meeting/Henry said, ¡°Starting tomorrow, he¡¯ll be Her Highness¡® stand¨Cin. We can the clone human in the ICU.¡± For them, this was the best expedient. If Shirley didn¡¯t show up soon, her throne would be in grave danger. Shirley had done so much to expand the empire¡¯s territory, and those loyal to her would not let those rats take her kingdom. After the meeting, Henry asked Shirley to put on a mask to cover her face, then took her to the room where Shirley had of stayed before. ¡°You¡¯ll stay here from now on. This is Her Highness¡® room in Norham City. Also, these days, please wear women¡¯s clothes Henry said. For a man, wearing women¡¯s clothes might be embarrassing, but there was no other way. Shirley nodded and opened the wardrobe. Apart from two sets of pajamas and one daily outfit, all the others were military uniforms. Henry handed her a document. ¡°Here¡¯s also a list of Her Highness¡® living habits and preferences. Memorize them, then burn the document after reading.¡± Shirley took the document and studied it carefully. She found that some of the queen¡¯s habits and preferences were surprisingly simr to hers, or even exactly the same. When she saw that the queen was allergic to peanuts, Shirley asked, ¡°If someone uses peanuts to test me, won¡¯t it be easy to expose me?¡± ¡°Just be careful,¡± Henry said. Soon after, Shirley got into character. She looked at Henry and suddenly said, ¡°Kneel.¡± Henry froze for a moment, thenughed. He thought, ¡®This kid gets into character quickly, and even imitates Shirley so well.¡® ¡°Why aren¡¯t you cooperating?¡± she asked. Henry narrowed his eyes. ¡°Alright, stop.¡± She sat on the sofa, hands resting on the armrests, then urged, ¡°Hurry up. Isn¡¯t the etiquette in the Kingdom of Xyperia to kneel when seeing Her Highness?¡± She was right, but Shirley rarely asked people to kneel in the past. It was more like Shirley was ying a prank on him. Meanwhile, Shirley was still staring at him, waiting for him to kneel. Henry thought that since Shirley was the helper he had found and he regarded her as a brother, he knelt on one knee, took her hand, and kissed the back of it. ¡°Your Highness, at yourmand.¡± AD Nurse walking 624 Chapter 624 Chapter 624 The fleeting warmth on the back of her hand and being called ¡°Your Highness¡± by Henry made Shirley¡¯s heart flutter Though there was indeed a custom of kissing the queen¡¯s hand in the Kingdom of Xyperia, Henry¡¯s gesture had nothing to do with etiquette. Instead, it carried a hint of sensuality. She hadn¡¯t expected Henry to y along with this role¨Cying game. Shirley smiled and teased, ¡°You look a bit like you¡¯re proposing to me.¡± Henry¡¯s lips twitched in annoyance. He stood up. ¡°No way. Alright, have you had enough fun?¡± Shirley smiled softly. ¡°This game is quite interesting.¡± But it didn¡¯t seem enough. It felt like she wanted topletely subdue this man, to make him obsessed with her. Henry seemed to see through her thoughts. He narrowed his eyes and said, ¡°I¡¯ve knelt to you on one knee. Aren¡¯t you satisfied?¡± Shirley didn¡¯t feel ufortable when her thoughts wereid bare. She just smiled and said, ¡°This is nothing to you, is it, ¡®brother¡®?¡± Her eyes held undisguised desire. Henry had always hated it when people had ulterior motives towards him, whether for profit or feelings. Once he detected such intentions, he would cut ties with that person. But ever since he met Vivianus, Henry had always felt a fondness for her. This fondness had nothing to do with her looks but simply came from her personality. He suddenly noticed that Vivianus was quite like Shirley in some ways, except that Vivianus lived a freer life. But Henry hadn¡¯t had much contact with Shirley, so he didn¡¯t know what she was like in private. If Shirley were like Vivianus, he might have fallen for her at first sight. The more he thought about it, the more twisted his thoughts became. His earlier musing was indirectly saying that if Vivianus were a woman, he would like her. Yet he didn¡¯t dislike Vivianus¡® ambition, and was even willing to satisfy her demands. Henry said nothing. He didn¡¯t like having his thoughts seen through, so he simply changed the subject. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Get some rest early tonight.¡± Shirley said, ¡°I¡¯m hungry. I want snacks.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have someone prepare snacks for you. What do you want?¡± Henry asked. ¡°Whatever, but you have to eat with me,¡± Shirley said. Henry didn¡¯t refuse her. Shirley took a sexy silk camisole nightgown from the wardrobe and went to take a shower. Henry smiled when he saw it. Usually, a grown man would feel awkward in women¡¯s nightwear, but she didn¡¯t seem the least bit ufortable, with a. 1/4 16:57 Wed 30 Jul + C. Chapter 624 strong ability to adapt. Later, Henry prepared barbecue, red wine, and staple foods like bread for Shirley to choose from. Anyway, he didn¡¯t need to go out of this room now. He just waited in the room for Shirley to finish her shower. About twenty minutester, Shirley finished her shower. She had used the scented body wash that Shirley usually used, so she smelled nice. Henry had thought Shirley would find the fragrance strange, but she didn¡¯t. Vivianus, wearing the camisole nightgown, which looked a bit loose since she had no breasts, let her golden hair fall loose, slipped on her slippers, and sat down beside him: Henry nced at her. After thinking, he asked, ¡°Are you really a man?¡± ¡°Why do you ask?¡± Shirley looked calm. When he had taken off Shirley¡¯s shoes earlier, he had felt her feet were as small as a woman¡¯s. Now it seemed that, except for having no breasts and her features being a bit deeper and sharper than Shirley¡¯s, everything else about her was quite feminine. Henry said casually, ¡°Nothing. I just think it¡¯s hard for you to be a top like this.¡± Hearing this, Vivianus frowned slightly, but quickly rxed. She was just a woman who looked a bit like a man. She teased, ¡°One should have dreams.¡± Henry scoffed, ¡°Your dream can only stay a dream.¡± After sitting down, Shirley started eating barbecue, washing it down with red wine. It was her first time eating like this, and she was amazed by the deliciousness. ¡°There¡¯s also bread. If you need it, I¡¯ll have someone bring it in,¡± Henry said. ¡°No need.¡± Shirley preferred barbecue with red wine. She lifted her ss, wanting to clink it with Henry¡¯s. Henry raised his ss too and said, ¡°Vivianus, happy cooperation.¡± ¡°Happy cooperation,¡± she said. Shirley¡¯s voice, tinged with the aroma of wine, sounded particrly sexy. Henry found it very pleasant. As he drank, he felt something was off. He didn¡¯t know why he thought a man¡¯s voice sounded so nice. Listening closely, he realized her voice was a lower¨Cpitched version of the queen¡¯s. Eating barbecue and drinking red wine made it easy to get drunk. Henry had only intended to have a little, but it seemed he was the one who drank the most that night. 2/4 16:57 Wed 30 When his man came in to clean up, he only saw several empty bottles of red wine on the table, and most of the barbecue had been eaten. The man who looked so much like Shirley was patting Henry¡¯s face. Looking at this man, the officer thought he must be Shirley, but Shirley didn¡¯t have the queen¡¯s sexy figure. Henry¡¯s face and neck were red. He was only wearing a ck T¨Cshirt and had his eyes closed. With his eyes shut, Henry lost the cunning that showed in them when they were open. ¡°Henry, get up,¡± Shirley called to him. Henry mumbled, ¡°Give me a break.¡± Shirley was only slightly tipsy. Henry had drunk the entire bottle of red wine. They had yed a game of rock¨Cpaper- scissors, and Henry kept losing but refused to admit defeat, so he drank the whole bottle. Henry probably felt ufortable lying like that. He opened his eyes, glimpsed the bed, then staggered over and copsed onto it. Shirley said, ¡°This is my bed.¡± Henry closed his eyes. ¡°We¡¯re both men. You can make do for one night.¡± Shirley pressed her lips together. She wasn¡¯t a man, but she didn¡¯t mind much. She was quite sleepy too. It seemed she was going to return the favor for Henry taking off her shoes earlier. She took off his shoes. After the others cleaned up the room and left, shey down on the other side of the bed. But as she slept, she felt a warm body pressing against her. Shirley opened her eyes and found herself in Henry¡¯s arms. She was lying on her side, and Henry had his chin resting in the crook of her shoulder. Probably because he had been drinking, his breathing was heavier than usual. Shirley wanted tough, but felt too hot being held by Henry, so she pushed him away. But within a few minutes, he hugged her again, so she gave up. When the sky was bright, Henry woke up on time. He saw himself holding Shirley and smelled the fragrance on her body. At that moment, he was just holding her waist. He thought, ¡®Can a man¡¯s waist be this thin?¡® Realizing his first reaction upon waking was that holding Shirley felt extremelyfortable, Henry was so startled he almost rolled out of bed. Then he calmed down. Henry¡¯s movements must have woken Shirley. She sat up and yawnedzily; she hadn¡¯t slept well. She wasn¡¯t used to sleeping with someone. Being held by Henry all night had made her very ufortable. It was a miracle she had managed to fall asleep. Shirley asked, ¡°Henry, do you like hugging things when you sleep?¡± Henry shook his head. Shirley yawned again. ¡°You hugged me all night.¡± She slowly used Henry of his misdeed. Henry rubbed his throbbing head. ¡°Sorry, I was drunkst night.¡± 3/4 16:57 Wed, 30 Jure Shirley continued to tease, ¡°So you can be a hooligan when you¡¯re drunk?¡± Henry fell silent, unable to defend himself. He stared at Shirley and noticed that one strap of her camisole had slipped off her shoulder. Seeing this, he became more troubled. He didn¡¯t understand how a man could make women¡¯s nightwear look so sexy. Henry wanted to help her fix her clothes, but the strap was too thin¨Cit broke when he pulled it. Henry was speechless. Shirley looked down at the damaged nightgown. Even though her chest was t, she was still a woman, so she felt a little awkward. But she kept a straight face and said, ¡°Henry, you really do want to get me into bed.¡± Henry was even more at a loss for words. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°I never thought that. It was an ident Shirley took off the nightgown and got out of bed. She said, ¡°Have someone bring in breakfast. I¡¯ll go wash up first. Henry got out of bed, too, and quickly left the room. He thought, ¡®Alcohol is a bad thing. That was so awkward. Why did her clothes have to fall down for no reason?¡± After leaving, Henry went back to his ce and washed his face first. He still remembered that scene, which felt particrly alluring. Shirley and Henry met again half an hourter. They didn¡¯t mention the awkward incident at all. After breakfast, Shirley followed several sergeants to familiarize herself with her own power and the current situation of the entire Kingdom of Xyperia. Shirley sighed at how ridiculously many people were scheming to get the throne. The meetingsted two hours, and her most important task now was to learn to pilot the queen¡¯s exclusive mecha. At this moment, they took Shirley to a golden mecha. Upon seeing it, Shirley suddenly felt a strong desire. She wanted to pilot this mecha. It was as if this mecha had been born to be hers. A sergeant said, ¡°Your Highness, see if you can operate this mecha. If not, we¡¯ll have someone teach you specially.¡± To avoid being discovered by others, they now all addressed Shirley as ¡°Your Highness.¡± Shirley didn¡¯t reply. Instead, she directly boarded the mecha. Just like when she had driven the fighter jetst time, she skillfully piloted the golden mecha and flew away. AD Comment Send gift No Ads The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Nurse walking 625 Chapter 625 The golden mecha quickly streaked across the sky, vanishing in a sh of light. However, it was still spotted by the officers in the military camp. Their spirits had been low recently, given the relentless strength of the king¨Clevel mutant. So many of theirrades had died, and every battle was devastatingly costly. But when they saw that golden sh, a sudden surge of excitement washed over them. They couldn¡¯t help but wonder if it was Shirley. After all, that mecha looked just like hers. Meanwhile, the city lords of the Kingdom of Xyperia were still tangled up in their proxy presidential game, trying to get involved in the internal affairs of the Xyperia government. The citizens had been called to vote, and the candidate leading the polls was Martin, whose wealth was only second to Baykeep. Lately, he had gained significant public support for his disaster relief efforts, which made him even more popr. Time flew, and within a week, the presidential election results were to be announced. Early in the morning, Henry went to wake up Vivianus. But after a few busy days in Norham City, handling official duties, training fighter pilots, and everything else, she had been staying upte and waking up early. She was still sound asleep and had yet to rise. And of course, she was in a bad mood. The secretary Anna who had served Shirley before remarked that Shirley¡¯s morning temperament was a lot like Vivianus¡®, though Shirley was more controlled, while Vivianus wasn¡¯t. Honestly, Anna kind of wished Shirley wasn¡¯t so controlled. After all, they were the ones serving her, and they could easily handle her little grumpiness. Henry sat by her bedside, watching her sleep with her eyes still shut. He spoke slowly, ¡°Vivianus, wake up.¡± Shirley turned over and mumbled, ¡°Five more minutes.¡± ¡°If you stay in bed for five more minutes, I¡¯ll pull you out myself.¡± Shirley didn¡¯t respond, but maybe feeling too hot, she lifted one foot and pressed it down on the nket, revealing the hem of her nightgown. Henry remembered that awkward night and quickly grabbed her leg to shove it back under the nket. Shirley tried to pull it out again, but it was firmly covered. Five minutester, Henry tried again. ¡°Time to get up. We¡¯re heading to Summerbank. Get ready.¡± Shirley finally opened her eyes, let out azy yawn, and gave him a cold, annoyed look. Henry wasn¡¯t bothered. He gently patted her head. ¡°Come on, be good. You¡¯ve been working hardtely. Once all this is over, I¡® take you out to have some fun.¡± Shirley¡¯s expression softened a little. ¡°Fine.¡± Seeing her reluctant look, Henry couldn¡¯t help butugh. She really did act like a spoiled Persian cat, always needing to be pampered. Chapter 625 Shirley got up to wash up, and as she brushed her teeth, someone brought in a beautiful dress, a waist¨Ccinching gown, with high heels. Wanting to avoid revealing her identity as a woman, she instructed, ¡°Put it down, I¡¯ll dress myself.¡± ¡°Of course, Your Highness.¡± After waking her up, Henry waited outside, casually chatting with Damien about official matters. As they talked, Damien suddenly heard Jasmine calling out to him and said, ¡°My wife¡¯s calling. We¡¯ll finish thister.¡± Then, he quickly ended themunication. Henry just stared at the screen, feeling a bit left out. It seemed like he was the only one without a significant other among his friends. Inside the dressing room, Jasmine, with her back to Damien, called sweetly, ¡°Damien, help me zip this up.¡± Damien caught sight of her back, and his gaze darkened. He stepped closer to zip up her dress, his body pressing against hers. ¡°We¡¯re not in a hurry, are we?¡± Jasmine could feel his body against hers. She tried to pull away but couldn¡¯t. Her hands were lifted and pressed against the wall. ¡°Not in a hurry? We need to leave for Summerbank in an hour.¡± Damien smirked and lifted her skirt slightly. ¡°What if you gave me half an hour?¡± AD Comment Nurse walking 626 Chapter 626 Jasmine and Damien had been trying for their second child for two years, but so far, there was no luck. At this point, Jasmine was starting to lose hope, and she just wasn¡¯t interested in anything intimate anymore. She opened her mouth to say something, but before she could, Damien¡¯s lips brushed against her ear. ¡°What if it works this time?¡± Jasmine pouted, clearly unimpressed. ¡°Two years, Damien. If it hasn¡¯t happened by now, why would it happen this time?¡°, Damien wasn¡¯t about to let her off the hook that easily. ¡°You never know,¡± he said, his voice teasing as he pressed a little more. Her hands were pinned under his, her body still unwilling. But Damien was getting better at this, knowing exactly where to touch tease. Before long, she felt her cheeks heat up. Jasmine bit her lip, clearly frustrated. ¡°You¡¯re so annoying,¡± she muttered. Damien just smiled, a soft, affectionate smile, and kissed her on the lips. In Norham City, Shirley stepped out, dressed in a stunning gown. Henry¡¯s eyes immediately locked onto her. Her chest seemed fuller than usual, and her makeup had been done so perfectly that she almost looked like a different person. She looked exactly like the real Shirley but with something extra. He couldn¡¯t help but be curious about what kind of magic made Vivianus suddenly look like he had a chest. Shirley¡¯s waist was cinched with a tight belt, her body slender enough that Henry could almost grab it with one hand. Her golden hair and red lips were nothing short of dazzling, and with each step, her heels clicked sharply against the floor like the sound of the wind itself. She caught him staring. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± she asked, raising an eyebrow. Henry grinned. ¡°That¡¯s some really convincing work.¡± Shirley looked down at herself, noticing her chest. She touched it lightly, feeling the softness of whatever material it was made of, which blended so well with her skin that it was practically impossible to tell it was fake. ¡°It¡¯s soft,¡± she said, almost amused. Henryughed and checked the time. ¡°Alright, enough with the jokes. Let¡¯s go.¡± Shirley said nothing, but the hyper¨Crealism of the material left her deeply impressed. In Summerbank, the election for the proxy/president was underway, and it was a grand event, Hundreds of Summerbank¡¯s citizens had gathered, eagerly waiting for the results. The sun was shining, a gentle breeze brushing through the air, and the hibiscus flowers were in full bloom. There were cheers from supporters, but there were also protests. However, the military quickly intervened, shutting down the protests before they could gain momentum. Chapter 626. There was a traitor within the empire¡¯s government, a man who held great power over internal affairs. With Shirley absent, this man had taken the reins and strongly backed the election. Several candidates for the proxy president took to the stage to speak. The huge screen above them kept shing their vote counts rising steadily as the speeches went on. The final speaker was Martin. He straightened his suit, stepped onto the stage with confidence, and began speaking. In the corner of the crowd, a man intensity. sipping on a soda, wearing a hat. His eyes were locked on Martin with an unreadable Suddenly, someone bumped into him, knocking off his hat. It was Rhys, who had returned to take Malcolm¡¯s ce. His return was quiet and unnoticed by anyone. Rhys calmly picked up his hat and put it back on. This proxy president idea was his, designed to help Martin infiltrate the government and stir things up, causing chaos within the empire. Martin was executing the n perfectly. If all went well, he¡¯d take Shirley¡¯s ce as the proxy president. Once Martin took control of the empire and won the people¡¯s support, it would be easy for Rhys to take over from him because Martin wasn¡¯t exactly known for his finesse. On stage, Martin was giving his usual passionate speech. He was a natural speaker, and when he finished, his vote count soared. The other candidates watched, their faces darkening with frustration. There was little they could do. Next, Warwick Wolfe, the Chief of Internal Affairs, took the stage. He was older, a bit round in the middle, and when he took the microphone, he began speaking in a measured tone. ¡°The election results are in.¡± ¡°With Her Highness Shirley absent, the people have longed for a strong leader to guide us through this crisis. That¡¯s why I organized this proxy president election. ¡°Now, let¡¯s see who you¡¯ve chosen as the strongest leader. Please take a look at the big screen.¡± The countdown began, and when it hit zero, Martin¡¯s face appeared on the screen. He smiled broadly. Warwick, with a knowing smile of his own, spoke into the microphone. ¡°Let¡¯s wee Mr. Perez to say a few words.¡± As Martin walked to the stage to give his victory speech, something unusual happened. Bright golden light shed across the sky, and a golden mecha descended,nding right on the stage. The crowd, initially stunned, erupted into wild cheers. ¡°Is it really Her Highness Shirley?¡± ¡°Could it be?¡± ¡°Oh my God!¡± Warwick and Martin were both frozen in shock. The golden mecha was so unexpected, so unsettling. Everyone knew that Shirley had been imprisoned by Edison, and there was no way she could have appeared here. So, who was behind the controls of the golden mech? As confusion rippled through the crowd, the golden mecha hissed open, and out stepped Shirley. The moment they saw her, their expressions turned grim, almost stricken. She locked eyes with Warwick and Martin, her gaze sharp and unwavering. A suffocating pressure swept over them like a crashing wave, undeniable and familiar. If she were an imposter, there was no way she could carry this kind of presence. But if she were real, she shouldn¡¯t even be here. Shirley strode forward, stopping just three feet from them. Her voice was cold and cutting. ¡°Still haven¡¯t bowed to your princess?¡± Warwick dropped into a bow without thinking, instinct taking over. The others quickly followed suit, voices rising in unison. ¡°Wee home, Your Highness!¡± The sound was thunderous. From inside the mecha, Henry watched it all unfold. He could tell Shirley had earned the hearts of her people. In just two years, she had turned their loyalty into something fierce and unshakable. Martin hesitated, then bowed too, clearly against his will. Warwick risked a nce up at Shirley, anxiety flickering across his face. But the second their eyes met, a chill ran down his spine. That feeling was undeniable. It could only be her. Shirley¡¯s voice cut through the air. ¡°So this is how you¡¯ve been running things while I was gone?¡± ¡°Your Highness, everything I did was for the Empire. We needed leadership in your absence. I simply did what had to be done to move us forward.¡± A sly smile tugged at her lips. ¡°Oh, I know exactly what you did. Don¡¯t bother lying. We¡¯ll settle this in private.¡± Then her gaze shifted to Martin. ¡°Well, well. Still alive, Mr. Perez?¡± Martin¡¯s face twitched. He looked like he was swallowing ss. ¡°Your Highness¡­ I¡¯m genuinely thrilled to see you back.¡± ¡°Really? Could¡¯ve fooled me,¡± Shirley replied smoothly. ¡°You look like I just ruined your perfect little n.¡± ¡°I¡­ That¡¯s not what this is.¡± She stepped closer, a mischievous glint in her eye. ¡°Shame. You were so close.¡± Martin said nothing, and Shirley didn¡¯t press him further.. Instead, she turned to her people. ¡°I know these past weeks have been hard on you. But with me here, the Empire can weather anything. And even if I fall, I¡¯ll rise again. A thousand times, if that¡¯s what it takes.¡± 19.01 ?? 75%0 Her words struck deep. Many were already in tears. The crowd erupted, chanting her name like a battle cry. Those who had opposed the proxy election screamed with joy, flipping Martin off as loud boos echoed across the square. They were Shirley¡¯s loyalists, fierce, unshakable, and ready to burn down anyone who dared challenge her throne. The election copsed before it even began. Martin and the city lords had no choice but to retreat, humiliated. Still, Martin was desperate to know who that woman was. She looked too much like Shirley to be anything else. Back at the hotel, Martin¡¯s face was grim as he snapped at his aide, ¡°Find Edison. I need answers. Now.¡± He was seething as he never imagined the election would blow up like this. C20 Across town, Rhys had just arrived at Martin¡¯s hotel. He took off his hat slowly, expression cold. He didn¡¯t expect that kind of twist either. Martin lookedpletely defeated. ¡°Mr. Ford¡­ I can¡¯t apologize enough. You gave me a solid n. I just¡­ what now?¡± Rhys didn¡¯t mince words. ¡°You told me Shirley was nevering back.¡± ¡°I know. That¡¯s what we all thought,¡± Martin said, rubbing his temples. ¡°But what happened today¡­ I didn¡¯t see iting. I¡¯m working on it. I¡¯ve got people digging.¡± About half an hourter, he finally got Edison on the line. Shirley had escaped. She¡¯d fallen into the ocean and vanished during a storm. Her survival chances had been next to none, Edison had searched everywhere but found nothing. After hearing the report, Rhys said tly, ¡°Then prove this Shirley¡¯s a fake. Expose her. And if that fails¡­ we take her down by force.¡± Martin hesitated. He didn¡¯t like that option. Using force against someone protected by the Eagle Assassins was suicide. Their killers were monsters, deadly and loyal. If he was going to take the throne, he had to do it clean, expose the imposter and take this rightful ce. Meanwhile, in the Summerbank pce, Shirley had finally finished her day¡¯s duties. She was exhausted and didn¡¯t want to move. Henry walked in to find her sprawled on the couch,pletely still. He sighed. ¡°Why is your shirt open like that? Button it up.¡± Shirley cracked one eye open. ¡°Too tired.¡± ¡°Then shower and get to bed.¡± ¡°Still gotta take off my makeup. And my shoes,¡± She groaned, never realizing how high¨Cmaintenance she¡¯d be. ¡°Help me?¡± she added, without even looking at him. Henry said nothing. He just went to grab the makeup remover. With practiced hands, he wiped the lipstick and foundation off her face. Shirley murmured, ¡°It¡¯s itchy. Scratch it ¡°Where?¡± ¡°My chest.¡± Henry hesitated as the fake bust she was wearing looked disturbingly realistic. ¡°Hurry up,¡± she ordered. When a queen gives orders, there¡¯s no room for hesitation. Henry¡¯s lips twitched. He narrowed his eyes. ¡°Vivianus, don¡¯t push it.¡± Nurse walking 627 Chapter 627 When Jasmine walked in, she was immediately greeted by a scene that could easily be taken the wrong way. Shirley was holding Henry¡¯s hand and pressing it right against her chest. Though everyone knew Vivianus as a man. But to Jasmine, the whole situation just looked a little too intimate. She cleared her throat. ¡°Uh¡­ sorry to interrupt. I¡¯ll just step back out. You two go ahead.¡± Henry yanked his hand back. ¡°Scratch it yourself.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Shirley muttered. This fake chest felt stuffy and suffocating. Whoever designed it clearly didn¡¯t considerfort. If she had to wear this thing every day, it¡¯d be the death of her. She casually reached up to scratch it herself, her expression unchanging. Then, as if nothing happened, she asked Henry, ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s like¡­ pretty soft?¡± Henry hesitated for a beat. ¡°Yeah. Kinda.¡± Shirley, unfazed, gave it a good squeeze right in front of him. ¡°Want another feel?¡± She seemed to havepletely forgotten that she was actually a woman. Henry sighed and flicked her on the forehead. ¡°Will you shut up already?¡± Then he got up and went to let Jasmine back in. It was Jasmine¡¯s first time meeting Vivianus in person. She stared at her, a dead ringer for Shirley. But while Shirley carried herself with a sense of control, Vivianus had this carefree, roguish vibe. ¡°You really do look just like her,¡± said Jasmine. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t be the first to say that.¡± Jasmine smiled. ¡°I saw your speech earlier from backstage. For a second, I thought Shirley herself had shown up.¡± The resemnce wasn¡¯t just skin deep, Shirley realized. Even if Vivianus had studied her mannerisms, it felt less like mimicry and more like something natural, as if this was just who she was. That thought lingered in Shirley¡¯s mind. ¡°Martin¡¯s bound to get suspicious about your identity,¡± Jasmine said. ¡°So while you¡¯re in Summerbank, you need to keep a low profile. Henry can¡¯t stick too close. His status makes that tricky. I¡¯ll shadow you instead and assist when needed.¡± Shirley nodded. There was something about Jasmine that felt oddly familiar,forting, even. In fact, this whole ce gave her d¨¦j¨¤ vu. And the longer she stayed, the stronger that feeling became. She replied, ¡°Alright. Works for me.¡± Jasmine rxed a little. She¡¯d been worried Vivianus might be hard to connect with. Word was he was proud, headstrong, type to be pushed around. But it seemed like they were going to get along just fine. 15:51 Switching gears, Jasmine added. ¡°There¡¯s a royal banquet tomorrow night. You¡¯ll need to make an appearance and pick a mant dance with. Try learning the steps during the day.¡± Without thinking, Shirley blurted, ¡°I only want to dance with Henry.¡± Jasmine blinked, then her eyes lit up. ¡°Do you like Henry?¡± There was a spark of excitement in her voice. In the Kingdom of Xyperia, same¨Csex rtionships weren¡¯t umon, and she happened to be a big fan of romance novels, especially the kind with a little spice between men. Shirley tilted her head, thoughtful. ¡°More like¡­ I kinda enjoy messing with him.¡± Jasmine nearly squealed. ¡°That totally counts!¡± Shirley raised a brow. ¡°So, can I choose Henry as my dance partner?¡± A moment ago, Jasmine had said Henry couldn¡¯t show up in public. But now, she was nodding eagerly. ¡°If you insist on Henry, I¡¯ll find a way to make it happen.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Anytime.¡± Just like that, Henry was volunteered. The next day, Henry found out he¡¯d be practicing a couple¡¯s dance with Shirley. By the time he arrived, the music was already ying. She was studying the footwork, nothing too hard. When she saw him, she called out, ¡°Give me your hand. Let¡¯s try it.¡± In just a few steps, their bodies were pressed close together. And then, something strange stirred in Henry. Their fingers intertwined, and a soft, fresh scent drifted from her, subtle but intoxicating. Before he could stop it, his heart started thumping faster. Nurse walking 628 No Ads Chapter 628 Since the night before, Henry had felt something was off. Ever since he¡¯d touched Vivianus¡® artificial chest, something inexplicable had shifted. A man typically indifferent to desire, he¡¯d found himself dreaming of Vivianus as a woman. They had kissed. Nothing more, but even that was unusual for him. Henry was a man of restraint, and Vivianus was, unmistakably, a man. Waking up, he was caught off guard, not just by the dream itself, but by the faint, unfamiliar stirrings it left behind. Now, as he had to face Vivianus again, dance in close contact, bodies aligned, his head throbbed with unease. Worse, his eyes betrayed him. They kept returning to Vivianus, drawn as if by instinct. His heartbeat had begun to race, quietly but undeniably. It wasn¡¯t the first time he¡¯d stepped on Shirley¡¯s foot. He was distracted, restless, and too unfocused to keep rhythm. Mistakes followed, one after another. Shirley gave him a look. ¡°Henry, could you not step on my foot again?¡± He didn¡¯t reply. Instead, he crouched down and said, ¡°Lift your foot.¡°/ Sheplied without protest. The heels she wore, tall, elegant, and unforgiving, had left the top of her foot red and slightly swollen where he¡¯d stepped on it. Yet she hadn¡¯t winced once. He slipped off her shoe to check. It didn¡¯t seem serious. But something caught his attention. Her foot was striking, delicately shaped and soft to the touch, not a blemish in sight. It felt noble, as if it belonged to someone born into privilege. Henry couldn¡¯t help but suspect that before Vivianus lost his memory, he must havee from a wealthy and prominent family, and only lost his memory after being injured during military service. After the banquet, perhaps he could help Vivianus search for their past. He touched her foot lightly. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Shirley tilted her head. ¡°Not really. Just tickles a little.¡± Then with a teasing smile, she added, ¡°As long as you don¡¯t step on it again, we¡¯ll be fine.¡± He thought the swelling warranted ointment. Asking her to wait, he stepped out and returned with a tube of cream. Shirley was now seated in a single armchair, one leg crossed neatly over the other, sipping coffee brewed by her assistant and gazing out the window. Beyond the ssy the training grounds, where officers moved in formation. Henry paused when he saw her. The moment had a quiet beauty to it, enough that he wanted to capture it on canvas. Chapter 628 Lately, he¡¯d been sketching her often. His mecha¡¯s cockpit, even his room, held drawings of her. There weren¡¯t many people who stirred that urge in him. Shirley was one of the rare few. He knelt, removed her shoe, and gently applied the cream. Shirley leaned her chin on her hand. ¡°You¡¯re not nning to step on me againter, are you?¡± Henry gave a faint smile. ¡°Hard to say. Depends how it goes.¡± She considered him a moment. ¡°You know,¡± she said, ¡°with your coordination, I¡¯d expect you to pick up partner dancing easily. Haven¡¯t danced before?¡± Henry had, though not often, and only when circumstance required it. The style of partnered dance in the Kingdom of Xyperia wasn¡¯t so different from what he remembered back on Earth. ¡°Rarely,¡± he admitted. ¡°That so?¡± She nodded, satisfied. ¡°Well, do your best. If you can¡¯t keep up, I¡¯ll have no choice but to find someone else to take your ce.¡± Something sparked in him then, sharp and unspoken. He didn¡¯t want anyone else dancing with Vivianus. Nurse walking 629 Chapter 629 After applying the ointment to her, Henry washed his hands in silence, his expression unreadable. ¡°Get up. We¡¯re going again Shirley raised an eyebrow and offered her hand. He took it and pulled her to her feet. When the music resumed, something had subtly shifted. Henry steadied himself, pushing distracting thoughts aside. There was no denying it. When this man focused, his presence became maic. It was as though he were determined to prove something, exuding a quiet intensity, his energy almost electric. As their bodies moved in sync, Shirley felt the firm pressure of his hand at her waist, steady andmanding. His eyes burned with a fire that seemed to reach through her skin, stirring something deeper within her. Her pulse quickened. This time, their steps were wless. Anna watching from the side couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the chemistry between them. The tension and unspoken attraction were so palpable that it made her want to find someone and dance too. With a graceful spin, Shirley¡¯s skirt red like a flower blooming in the breeze. But then she faltered, as if catching on something, and lost her bnce. Henry saw the danger in an instant. Instinctively, he reached out, catching her mid¨Cfall. They spun again before crashing to the floor, Henry shielding her from the impact. The air between them grew charged, not awkward butced with something unspoken. Something was shifting, unfolding in silence. Shirley looked down at him, propped up by her hands. A strange impulse flickered through her. She wanted to kiss him. The thought filled her mind, vivid and insistent. Her gaze lingered on his lips, like a predator preparing to strike. Henry¡¯s palm was burning hot. He looked up just as her eyes met his. There was a faint amusement in her expression, her interest unmistakable. His throat felt dry. He assumed it was from the dancing, the exertion. ¡°Get up,¡± he said quietly. ¡°You looked pretty worried I¡¯d fall,¡± Shirley teased. ¡°Just a reflex,¡± he replied, brushing it off as if it meant nothing. But Shirley¡¯s mischievous streak was in full swing. ¡°You¡¯re being so sweet. Aren¡¯t you worried I might fall for you and try something?¡± Henry tensed. Deep down, he had the sense Vivianus was testing him. He abruptly pushed her off. ¡°Keep joking like that, al ruin you. I don¡¯t do men.¡± He sounded irritated, maybe even flustered, but Shirley remained calm. 1/4 ¡°Why the dramatic reaction?¡± she asked, amused. Henry hesitated. On another day, he might¡¯veughed it off. ¡°You didn¡¯t really think I was going to try something, did you?¡± Shirley said again. Henry prided himself on reading people, but the look on Vivianus¡® face was clear, wide¨Ceyed innocence. Whatever meaning had been there earlier hadpletely vanished. Shirley wasn¡¯t about to break character. With Henry clearly on edge, thest thing she wanted was to drive him away. She had no time to chase after him. ¡°I was joking. Don¡¯t take it seriously,¡± she said lightly. Henry said nothing. She added, almost casually, ¡°Still, I¡¯m sorry. No hard feelings.¡± Somehow, that made it worse, and he felt foolish. When Vivianus made a joke, he got upset. Then Vivianus apologized, and he was still upset. Henry forced himself to calm down. ¡°Fine,¡± he muttered. But his face betrayed him. He was still irritated. And Vivianus, having offered her apology, didn¡¯t coddle or exin further. She simply sent him on his way. After Henry left, his expression grew darker, and his restlessness only deepened. Vivianus had always been temperamental, a young aristocrat with a sharp tongue and a vtile temper from the day they met. Now, Henry found himself vaguely unsettled, wondering whether the coldness he had shown might be taken to heart. The thought alone was enough to sour his mood further. He could hardly recognize himself anymore. Day after day, he had adjusted to Vivianus¡® moods, given in to his whims, even indulged him withoutint. And now, he was actually concerned about whether Vivianus would speak to him again. It was absurd, and yet, he couldn¡¯t ignore the thought that perhaps, deep within him, there existed something akin to the loyalty of a devoted hound. As soon as the notion crossed his mind, he rejected it with irritation. ¡®Nonsense,¡® he thought to himself. ¡®What reason would I ever have to be loyal to him?¡® The day itself was perfectly clear, the sky vast and cloudless above the capital of Summerbank. Under the careful management of Vivianus and Jasmine, the imperial administration had returned to order. Warwick had quietly resigned in the wake of recent events, taking responsibility for the unrest, and a new chief had already assumed his duties, now focused on investigating and dismantling thework of informants nted by various city lords. Yet none of this brought Henry any peace. The unease lingered well into the evening, right up to the grand banquet. at the Summerbank pce. The event was a spectacle, attended by the lords of several major cities. Martin was present, along with key military and government officials. hat night 214 15:51 Th? 31 Jul A 75%1 The capital¡¯s most influential families were represented by wealthy merchants and their heirs, and the halls were filled with the soft rustle of silk gowns and the quietughter of young nobles and societydies. 200 Amid the splendor, Shirley carried herself with unshakableposure. A ss of wine in hand, she moved through the crowd with practiced ease, responding to inquiries, epting greetings, and deflecting attention with grace. Anna, who had initially worried that Shirley might falter under pressure, now watched with quiet amazement. It became increasingly clear to her that this Vivianus resembled the Shirley she had served for many years in a way that went beyond coincidence. The resemnce settled heavily in her mind, yet it was a thought too strange to share with anyone aloud. Jasmine approached quietly. ¡°How is it going?¡± Anna didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Smoothly. Everything¡¯s going well.¡± Jasmine smiled, unsurprised. Vivianus had always given the impression of being both striking and strong, and such asions only amplified that impression. He knew how to carry a room. Still, her gaze drifted toward Martin. There was something about his expression that made her uneasy. She hoped the evening would pass without trouble. At that moment, a delicate¨Clooking young man stepped into Shirley¡¯s path. ¡°Your Highness,¡± he said, his tone uncertain, ¡°do you remember me?¡± Shirley looked at him, her expression unreadable. Her voice remained even and unhurried. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t recall.¡± The boy¡¯s eyes immediately reddened. Jasmine, observing from nearby, once again felt that the two looked surprisingly well¨Cmatched. She recognized the young man. He had been present at a matchmaking banquet hosted by Shermaine back in Baykeep. Shirley had attended as well. The boy had boldly approached her, seeming sincere and a little nervous. But Shirley, as Jasmine recalled, hadn¡¯t seemed interested. Perhaps she had thought him too young, or perhaps there had been other reasons. In the end, nothing hade of it. Now, the boy had returned. He introduced himself again, his voice lower this time, tinged with tension. ¡°Your Highness¡­ I¡¯m Sean Baxter. I¡¯ve joined the military now. Soon, I¡¯ll be stationed nearby. I hope I can protect you.¡± Shirley gave him a brief nce. His eyes were clear, open, and earnest, filled not with ambition or desire, but with a quiet protectiveness. There was no malice in him. Still, it meant little to her. She had lost her memories and no longer believed herself to be Shirley, and even if she were, she doubted she would have had any affection for someone like him. Not far away, Henry entered the hall just in time to witness the exchange. Though he couldn¡¯t say why, the sight left him inexplicably annoyed. Nurse walking 630 Chapter 630 ¡®What¡¯s with that guy? Staring at Vivianus like he¡¯s in love. Vivianus doesn¡¯t swing that way,¡® Henry thought, He approached and casually rested a hand on Vivianus¡® waist. ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± Shirley felt the hand at her waist, raised a brow, and allowed a faint smile to surface. ¡°An admirer.¡± Henry nced over, eyes narrowing slightly. ¡°Henry Jean,¡± he introduced himself with a polite nod. Sean¡¯s expression shifted the moment he saw Henry¡¯s hand resting so naturally on Shirley. His face paled, and his voice was taut. ¡°Sean Baxter.¡± Henry¡¯s name had gained traction in the Kingdom of Xyperia over the past two years. Now, seeing him in person, Sean immediately sensed the weight behind the name and couldn¡¯t believe Shirley seemed so familiar with him. Then, Shirley gently removed Henry¡¯s hand. ¡°That¡¯s not something friends do. People might get the wrong idea.¡± Henry hadn¡¯t expected the rejection. For a moment, he was at a loss. Sean, however, looked pleased. Evidently, things between Shirley and Henry weren¡¯t quite what he had feared, which meant Henry and he were love rivals. Choosing to ignore Henry, Sean stepped forward with a calm smile. ¡°Your Highness, may I have this dance?¡± Henry¡¯s expression darkened, while Shirley smiled. ¡°You may.¡± Sean¡¯s eyes lit up until she added, ¡°But you¡¯ll have to wait your turn.¡± He gave a shortugh. ¡°I don¡¯t mind waiting.¡± Shirley nodded and said nothing more. Henry, however, seized her wrist and pulled her into a quiet corner. Standing close, he leaned in. ¡°Vivianus, don¡¯t screw this up. I¡¯m not cleaning up after you.¡± It was obvious Sean was smitten, adoration written inly in his eyes. But Vivianus wasn¡¯t Shirley. Unbothered, Shirley replied, ¡°It¡¯s just a dance.¡± Henry¡¯s jaw clenched. He knew was just a dance, but it still irritated him. His gaze sharpened. ¡°You have two options. Me or him. Pick one.¡± Shirley hesitated, giving no imm¨¦diate reply. Henry¡¯s frustration grew. He thought, ¡®Seriously? You need time to think? After everything, we¡¯re not even on equal 1/4 17:08 Fri, 1 Aug 0 footing?¡® Seeing the barely restrained tension in his expression, Shirley finally smiled. ¡°Then I¡¯ll pick you.¡± The storm in Henry¡¯s eyes dissipated instantly, reced by a flicker of contentment. ¡°Smart choice.¡± Shirley reached up and ruffled his hair lightly. ¡°Then don¡¯t stay mad.¡± The gesture caught him off guard. It only deepened his suspicion that Vivianus might actually like him. 75%ÈÕ When the ball officially began, Shirley entered with Henry at her side. Their presence was striking, elegant and Many paused to watch them dance. But Jasmine¡¯s fears were already beginning to unfold. Anna rushed over, breathless. ¡°Martin¡¯s made a move. He brought someone.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Jasmine asked quickly. ¡°We don¡¯t know yet. He¡¯s keeping them hidden.¡± 20 ¡°Find out. We can¡¯t let him interfere.¡± Jasmine¡¯s mind raced. She suspected Martin might¡¯ve brought someone who could expose Vivianus¡® true identity. After all, he had once served in the military and crossed paths with many. It wasn¡¯t impossible someone could recognize him. Meanwhile, Shirley and Henry finished their dance. As the final notes of the music softened, Shirley exhaled lightly, her hands resting on his shoulders as they moved with unhurried grace. When he heard her breath, Henry¡¯s ears twitched slightly. His gaze dropped, lingering on her lips, painted in deep crimson. A stray thought drifted in. ¡®What would it taste like to kiss her?¡® The moment the idea took shape, he caught himself and recoiled internally. His expression darkened, disturbed by his own thoughts. Though Vivianus wore a dress tonight, beneath it all, he was still a man. Henry clenched his jaw, thinking, ¡®There¡¯s something seriously wrong with me.¡® The music halted. From the crowd emerged Martin, apanied by someone. Vivianus immediately recognized the man. It was an officer he had once encountered at the military camp. This officer, openly gay, had tried to flirt with him upon his arrival. Vivianus had responded by beating him up. To see him here now, of all ces, was no trivial coincidence. 17:08 Fri, 1 Aug 0. Their eyes met, and the officer¡¯s gaze wavered. He knew instantly that the person before him wasn¡¯t Shirley. It was Vivianus. The wound on his hand matched perfectly with the one on the impostor¡¯s. Just as Martin was about to speak, he stopped short, watching as Vivianus tilted Henry¡¯s chin and kissed him. Henry froze, startled. He instinctively meant to push away, but Shirley pulled back first and whispered, ¡°That officer with Martin knows who I really am. He¡¯s here to expose me. I had to act before he could.¡± Henry swallowed hard, realizing the kiss had been deliberate, part of the act. ¡°Just follow my lead,¡± she murmured, kissing him again. Her lips parted his, drawing him in with unexpected boldness. Lipstick stained his mouth with a vivid flush, making her appear all the more striking. Henry had, in truth, long wanted to kiss her. Now that it was happening, he wrapped his arm around her waist and responded, unreservedly. She felt soft and sweet, exactly as she had in his dreams. The sensation stirred something unfamiliar but undeniable within him. The onlookers were stunned. Courtiers stared, speechless. The kiss deepened, charged with intensity, while Martin¡¯s expression darkened. The officer beside him had not anticipated such a brazen move from Vivianus. It was shameless but effective. Jasmine nearly let out a scream. Henry, to her shock, wasn¡¯t just ying along. He was fully immersed. He held Shirley tightly, kissing her with fervor, teeth grazing her lip. Were it not for the public setting, he might¡¯ve pinned her against the wall and let go entirely. Only now did he understand why Joshua and Roy always lingered around Shermaine and Molly. Vivianus might have been a man, but that didn¡¯t stop Henry from wanting more. After several moments, he finally let go. His eyes were unreadable, voice roughened by emotion. ¡°Your Highness¡­ did 1 y the part well?¡± Shirley, breathless, ran her tongue along her lips. ¡°Perfectly.¡± Seeing her expression, Henry leaned in again. ¡°You don¡¯t look quite satisfied yet. Shall we keep going?¡± Without waiting for an answer, he kissed her again. Shirley weed it, fingers weaving into his hair, holding him gently. Her kiss was slow, teasing, not forceful but dangerously addictive. Henry was losing himself in it, returning the kiss even more deeply. 17:08 Fri, 1 Aug When they finally parted, Shirley turned, her gazending on Martin not far away. ¡°Mr. Perez,¡± she said calmly, ¡°you¡¯ve been standing there for quite some time. Was there something you wished to say?¡± Nurse walking 631 Chapter 631 Martin looked visibly ufortable. At this point, exposing Vivianus would serve no purpose. No one would believe him. 75%0 20 Shirley and Henry¡¯s kiss had been so intimate, and the evidence he held was weak at best. The officer¡¯s record was far from spotless, yet Martin had still tried to take a bold risk, only to be outmaneuvered. He had to admit Vivianus was shrewd. With Henry¡¯s support and powerful forces behind him, Martin realized he needed to rethink his approach if he hoped to expose him. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Martin said stiffly. ¡°Just wanted a closer look at Your Highness¡® presence.¡± The words came out awkwardly, prompting suppressedughter from the crowd. Shirley tilted her head, amused. ¡°Well then, I¡¯ve been out of practice since the injury. Haven¡¯t handled a mecha in weeks. Why don¡¯t we spar a bit in the training arena? Might give you a clearer view of my ¡®presence.¡°¡± The crowd erupted. No one had expected Shirley toe out so bold andmanding. Despite his ws, Martin was among the more capable city lords. But his ambition had long been an open secret. During the previous conflict between Judy and Shirley, he had wavered constantly, ying both sides. It was clear he had stirred the mes while pretending neutrality. Now, with Shirley challenging him openly, the onlookers were thrilled. Many hoped she¡¯d put Martin in his ce. They were Shirley¡¯s loyal followers. She had fought hard to build her kingdom and brought order to the Kingdom of Xyperia. In contrast, people like Martin were disruptors, eager to incite war and seize power. Martin epted immediately. With Shirley delivering the challenge herself, he had no reason to decline. What caught him off guard was her audacity. He hadn¡¯t expected this fake Shirley to be so bold. ¡°If Your Highness wishes to spar,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯ll dly oblige.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± she replied. ¡°Activate the Sky Training Arena. We meet in twenty minutes.¡± After witnessing Shirley and Henry¡¯s kiss, Sean looked wounded. His eyes, locked on Henry, were filled with envy. Henry, still reeling, wiped his lips with the back of his hand. His heart pounded as he had never experienced such an intense rush. The kiss had stirred something raw and unfamiliar, leaving him unsettled. But when he caught Sean¡¯s jealous stare, he returned the look coolly almost as if to say Vivianus was beyond his reach. Shirley nced at Henry, a yful edge in her tone. ¡°I¡¯m going to get ready. Are you staying here?¡± Her question made Henry¡¯s heart lurch. Now that the adrenaline had worn off, guilt began to settle in. He found it hard to meet Vivianus¡® gaze. The kiss had been too real and involved. It wasn¡¯t acting. He started questioning everything. Had he been wrong about himself all these years? Was that why he had never felt drawn to any woman? Yet he had never once felt anything for his male friends, or any man at all. Only Vivianus stirred this reaction in him. And now, Henry wasn¡¯t sure how to face him. ¡°Depends,¡± Henry muttered. ¡°Okay.¡± Shirley gave him a long look but didn¡¯t press. She turned and jogged off. After she left, Henry quietly exited the banquet hall. The soft night breeze did little to calm his racing heart. He lingered outside, lighting a cigarette in the shadows. He wanted, more than anything, to talk to Joshua, but returning now wasn¡¯t an option. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a spheroid. Then he paused. He didn¡¯t even know what he was feeling. How could he bring this up to Joshua? Besides, if Roy ever found out, he¡¯d never hear the end of it. The thought alone made his frustration worse. Twenty minutes passed. The Sky Training Arena activated, a dome of golden light illuminating its surface. Inside the pce banquet hall, panoramic projectors came to life, disying every angle of the arena in vivid detail. Shirley stood in her golden mecha, facing a second unit shimmering with a cool green glow. The crowd stirred with anticipation. Without warning, the golden mech surged forward. Shirley struck first. Gasps echoed through the hall, followed by a rising wave of cheers. ¡°Go, Your Highness! You¡¯ve got this!¡± Martin responded with force. His counterattacks were swift and aggressive, meant to showcase strength, as if to prove that a man, by nature, would always surpass a woman in both might and will. Though this fake Shirley was a man and might possess some skill, but he couldn¡¯t possibly match Martin. Yet as the bout continued, something shifted. Vivianus moved with an ease that unsettled Martin. His coordination with the mecha was seamless and instinctive. Each maneuver was precise, fluid, and bordering on uncanny. Martin was beginning to feel outmatched. Then, without warning, Shirley caught an opening. A swift kick sent Martin reeling backward. Her spear twirled through the air, handled with effortless control, each strike instinctively ced, as if muscle memory guided her more than thought. Jasmine watched the projection below, her expression tightened. Every move Vivianus made was identical to 17:08 Fri, 1 Aug Shirley¡¯s. It wasn¡¯t just resemnce. It was replication, nearly perfect. 75% The duel intensified. Though Vivianus remained on the defensive, Martin¡¯s rhythm faltered. His strikes grew erratic, hisposure slipping. At that moment, Henry stood and left. To him, it was clear that Vivianus would win. And he did. Ten minutester, Martin was defeated. The match had been riveting, though the oue was bitter for some. The supposed impostor had put on a masterss. Martin exited the arena stone¨Cfaced. He had underestimated Vivianus. Whoever he was, his skill had left him humiliated and deeply curious. Shirley descended from the arena soon after. Jasmine was waiting. Despite the match, Shirley appeared calm, if anything, lightly exhrated. ¡°Where¡¯s Henry?¡± she asked. ¡°He left.¡± Shirley raised an eyebrow, mildly amused. She thought, ¡®One kiss and he bolts? Is he really trying to avoid me now?¡® Jasmine hesitated, then leaned in, lowering her voice. ¡°Vivianus¡­ has anyone ever told you how much you resemble Her Highness Shirley? I don¡¯t just mean in appearance. It¡¯s the way you carry yourself. The way you fight. I¡¯ve studied herbat style. Yours is identical.¡± Shirley paused. After a moment¡¯s thought, she decided it was time to share at least part of the truth. ¡°I¡¯m a woman,¡± she said quietly. ¡°But I¡¯ve lost my memory. I don¡¯t remember who I was before all this. Still, everything here feels¡­ familiar. Deeply familiar. I think I might be the Shirley you¡¯re talking about.¡± Jasmine stared at her, stunned. Of all the possibilities, she had never imagined that the double Henry brought back was the real thing all along. Nurse walking 632 Chapter 632 There was a reliable way to confirm whether the person before her was truly Shirley. Shirley had asked Jasmine to fetch some peanuts for her. Jasmine was aware of Shirley¡¯s peanut allergy, though it wasn¡¯t severe, and upon realizing what Shirley had in mind, she quietly arranged for someone to caramelize peanut candies. This had to be done discreetly, without attracting attention. The royal banquet concluded perfectly after an hour. 75% After Martin¡¯s loss, he returned, enduring whispered mockery about his overestimation of his abilities, and was cautioned to temper his actions and avoid being too reckless. Martin seethed with frustration. After pulling Shirley off the stage, he swore to make those who had mocked him tonight regret it. When Henry left, Shirley couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of emptiness. Sean appeared again, biting his lip and hesitating before speaking, ¡°Your Highness, do you have feelings for Mr. Jean?¡± Shirley, unfazed, responded with a faint smile, ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious enough?¡± Sean was momentarily silenced. ¡°Then why¡­ did you agree to dance with me?¡± Shirley gave him a candid response. ¡°It was just a dance. I didn¡¯t mean anything more by it.¡± Sean lowered his gaze, realizing Shirley indeed held no romantic interest in him. The kiss between Henry and Shirley earlier had clearly shaken him. ¡°I wish you happiness, but I won¡¯t give up. If Henry dares to hurt you, I will continue to pursue you.¡± Shirley offered a polite smile in return. Sean was a genuinely sincere person, but it seemed only Henry had truly caught her attention. After all, Sean had met her two years ago, and at that time, she felt nothing. Even now, there was no change. Soon after, Jasmine found her in the meeting room, offering a piece of peanut candy. Without hesitation, Shirley popped it into her mouth. The familiar taste of peanuts filled her senses, but momentster, the allergic reaction began to take hold. Her skin itched, and red spots appeared across her arms. Seeing this, Jasmine was certain that the woman before her was Shirley. Shirley¡¯s appearance could change, even her chest, but that was due to Edison likely administering something to her. 17.08 FN, I Aug 75% 20 After all, Anna had mentioned that Shirley had been feeling unwell recently, often suffering from pain. It seemed likely that this was a side effect. Once certain, Jasmine breathed a sigh of relief. It was clear that Henry and Shirley were destined for each other. In such a vast world, within the grand Kingdom of Xyperia, it was remarkable that their paths had crossed. ¡°You should tell Shermaine about your condition as soon as possible. Let here and examine you,¡± Jasmine suggested. ¡°Shermaine?¡± Shirley asked. ¡°Boa Hanks.¡± In Xyperia, Shermaine went by Boa, though both Jasmine and the Queen knew her true identity. Upon hearing the name, Shirley felt a faint sense of familiarity and, instinctively, trust. Her mind began to wander, remembering fragments of information about her. However, thinking too much made her head throb. The blood clot pressing on her nerves was slow to dissipate, and the doctors had strongly advised against surgery, deeming it far too dangerous. Since she trusted her, Shirley decided to put her thoughts aside and replied, ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush. Martin has backing. This reckless man couldn¡¯t havee up with the n to pursue the proxy presidency on his own. There must be someone behind him.¡± Jasmine nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve heard Henry and my husband discuss it. They¡¯ll help investigate quietly.¡± Shirley nodded in agreement. This way, she could focus on dealing with the king¨Clevel mutant and the increasing frequency of ck hole appearances. She needed to identify the cause and find a solution. As for the ck hole, no progress had been made yet. The empire¡¯s tech department was still clueless. With the war raging, their first attempt to approach the ck hole had nearly been disastrous. The area was a hotspot for mutants. A slight mistake could lead to irreparable consequences. If they could eliminate the king¨Clevel mutant, things would be much simpler, as it currentlymanded thousands of mutants. Each time it attacked, others followed suit. ¡°Also, regarding my cross¨Cdressing, I¡¯ll speak with Henry personally. Please don¡¯t tell him just yet.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Jasmine agreed readily, sensing that Henry might retreat into himself tonight. After all, what stood before him was Vivianus, not Shirley. He was in love with a man, not Shirley, though in truth, they were the same person. Jasmine hadn¡¯t expected that after Shirley¡¯s memory loss, her personality would be far more rxed. She 215 17:08 Fri, 1 Aug. was no longer as strict with herself as before. After Jasmine left, Shirley called Henry. Henry answered after a brief pause, his tone deliberately neutral. ¡°Is there something you need?¡± ¹«Ë¾74% +20 Shirley raised an eyebrow, her fingers lightly tapping the surface of the table. ¡°Nothing in particr. Just missed you,¡± she said, a teasing smile ying at the corner of her lips. ¡°The kiss earlier¡­ it was quite nice. What did you think, Henry?¡± Henry¡¯s heart skipped a beat at her words, the tension in the air palpable. It felt like Vivianus was testing him. ¡°You really want to get involved with me, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Do you?¡± Shirley¡¯s response was yful, her voice light. ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± Henry replied, his tone more serious. ¡°I was just going along with it. It didn¡¯t mean anything.¡± Shirley let out a softugh, her expression a mixture of amusement and intrigue. ¡°You might want to reconsider. If you¡¯re really interested, you can alwayse find me. I can share a secret with you.¡± Henry didn¡¯t reply immediately, instead muttering, ¡°I¡¯m hanging up now.¡± Shirley noted how quickly the call ended, her mind working through his reaction. She couldn¡¯t quite gauge his feelings. If he were open to it, that would suggest he liked her, but if he wasn¡¯t, it meant his feelings were more superficial. If they were shallow, then she had no interest in pursuing it. And besides, he might not even be attracted to her at all. Men wereplicated that way. Even if they were indifferent, a little provocation could stir something within them. And it was clear to her that Henry had some level of affection for her. The next morning, Shirley set about reorganizing the empire¡¯s government. After giving Jasmine instructions to keep a close eye on things, she returned to Norham City. The war in Norham City red up once again. For an entire week, Henry stayed away from Norham City, retreating to a hotel in Linus City. During this time, he had vivid dreams that felt wild and untamed, as though he were a different person, one unrestrained by anything. When he finally woke up, he was surprised by the intensity of those dreams. Henry got out of bed and drank some water, attempting to steady his mind. 17.00 10 Fil, 1 Aug 199 The feelings were subtle but undeniable, and he knew that if they persisted, they would only grow stronger. 74% +20 What troubled him most, however, was Vivianus¡® identity. He wasn¡¯t sure if he truly wanted to be with him, nor did he understand the consequences of being involved with another man. Henry spent hours online, searching for answers. But as he read through articles about same¨Csex rtionships, he found himself still ufortable. Though he supported discreet rtionships, before meeting Vivianus, he had always considered himself indifferent to sex, believing he was attracted only to women. Yet, when it came to Vivianus, everything changed. A few days ago, the king¨Clevel mutant, along with several epic¨Clevel mutants and hundreds of others, had returned to cause chaos. Henry had been concerned for Vivianus, but the man had stood strong, leading the military to victory. Still, when Henry saw Sean involved in the battle, a knot of frustration formed in his chest. Henry shifted his focus back to Martin. The man was clearly a simpleton,rge and brutish, but the recent stirrings suggested there was someone backing him. He had watched for days, but Martin was careful, as though the person behind was someone he couldn¡¯t reveal easily. Henry squinted, deep in thought. In Wallington, Danielle had followed Shermaine¡¯s method to heal her uterine injury. After a month, she went for a follow¨Cup examination. The gynecologist was surprised by her progress, noting that the injury had healed significantly. ¡°With your current condition, you can now have children.¡± Danielle¡¯s face lit up, overwhelmed with joy. Ross, who had apanied her, heard the doctor¡¯s words as well. His throat tightened, his expression turning serious. After leaving the hospital, Danielle was eager to share the news with Shermaine. She could have a child now. It was a huge milestone in her life. Ross, driving, broke her thoughts. ¡°No need to tell her in person. You can just share it in the group.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Danielle immediately sent her report to the group chat. Janice was the first to respond. [Looks like I¡¯ll be a great- grandmother next year!] The message was followed by a cheerful smiley face. 17:08 Fri, 1 Aug Ruth chimed in. [It¡¯s great to hear that the injury has healed, but do take care of yourself.] [Got it.] Danielle replied. As they conversed, Danielle realized Ross wasn¡¯t taking her home but heading somewhere else. She raised an eyebrow. ¡°Where are we going, honey?¡± ¡°Hotel.¡± Danielle¡¯s face flushed. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit inappropriate, in broad daylight?¡± Ross remained silent, pulling into the hotel entrance. Without a word, he led her inside. In the presidential suite, after swiping the keycard, Ross immediately lifted her up. The room¡¯s curtains were drawn, with only faint beams of light filtering in. He gently ced her on the bed and leaned down to kiss her. ¡°Danielle, do you prefer boys or girls?¡± Danielle wrapped her arms around his neck. ¡°I like both.¡± Ross smirked. ¡°Then it¡¯s a girl.¡± Danielleughed softly. ¡°No, I want a boy. A daughter mightpete with me for you. You are mine alone.¡± Though, a son might try to do the same, like George. Her thoughts drifted, and before she realized it, her mind was empty as Ross took the lead, Nurse walking 633 Chapter 633 Shermaine nced at the headline in the paper, reading aloud, ¡°Headline Daily: Jean Group¡¯s President checked into a hotel with his wife during the day and only left the next day.¡± Danielle choked on her food, her face flushing bright red. Ross remainedposed, grabbing a tissue and gently wiping her mouth. ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, I¡¯ll have someone take it down.¡± ¡°Who would like that?¡± Danielle muttered under her breath, embarrassed. The idea of everyone knowing what they had been doing at the hotel made her want to disappear on the spot. ¡°Please, do it quickly,¡± she whispered. ¡°Alright,¡± Ross replied. Janice chuckled, eager for great¨Cgrandchildren. ¡°Ross, next time, don¡¯t be in such a rush, okay?¡± Ross smiled warmly. ¡°Understood, Grandma.¡± Danielle¡¯s cheeks burned even more, and she looked up, meeting Shermaine¡¯s teasing gaze. But despite her embarrassment, she felt a sense of relief. Now she and Ross could focus on starting a family, something she had longed for. She hoped that their passionate night together would bring her closer to her wish. Trusting Ross, Danielle smiled softly, her eyes sparkling as she winked at him. Ross returned the smile, his eyes twinkling with affection./ Ruth, concerned about Danielle¡¯s health, spoke up, ¡°Danielle, are you sure you¡¯re well enough to join us for the outing? You should rest today.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, Ruth,¡± Danielle replied confidently. ¡°The whole family is going out. How can I stay behind? I can help out with the little ones.¡± Despite the previous night¡¯s excitement, she felt recharged. Toby, still a baby, was as adorable as George had been at that age. He slept most of the time, eating and resting in between. Richard, who had fathered a childter in life, doted on Toby greatly, though his love for Ruth was still unparalleled. Meanwhile, George noticed Joshua feeding his mother. His big eyes widened. ¡°Daddy.¡± Joshua nced at his son, his face calm/¡°Eat it yourself.¡± George pouted, tugging at Joshua¡¯s pants leg. ¡°Daddy, feed me.¡± Joshua didn¡¯t understand why George was so clingy, but he was relieved that his son wasn¡¯t as attached to Shermaine didn¡¯t want to be the jealous type of father. ¡°Let your sister feed you,¡± Joshua suggested. 1/5 11:14 Sun, 3 Aug ¡°No, I want Daddy,¡± George protested. Joshua, ignoring George for the moment, picked up another sushi roll and handed it to Shermaine. ¡°Here, have another one.¡± Shermaine had recently lost some weight, and Joshua was determined to make sure she regained her strength. George, still feeling neglected by his father, turned to his sister, Gracie, looking hurt but not crying. Gracie, sipping her milk, noticed her brother¡¯s gaze. She took a piece of sushi and gently ced it in his mouth. ¡°You¡¯re a big boy now. You don¡¯t need to keep asking Daddy for food.¡± Shermaine watched the interaction, then reached out, softly patting George¡¯s head. At first, George had no interest in eating, but the sushi was too good to resist. Shermaine asked, ¡°Georgie, you don¡¯t want me to feed you?¡± ¡°Mommy also needs care,¡± George replied, his speech still not very clear, but everyone understood. It was a surprising statement from such a young child. Everyone¡¯s attention turned to Joshua, and Shermaine also looked at him, her eyes silently asking for an exnation. Joshua¡¯s expression remained unchanged. ¡°I¡¯ve only said that to George once. He remembered it.¡± This, it seemed, was why George wasn¡¯t clinging to Shermaine. At just about two years old, George, like Gracie, was unusually sharp for his age. Shermaine smiled warmly. ¡°Georgie, you¡¯re still little. You can always be sweet to me.¡± George shook his head stubbornly. ¡°Want Daddy.¡± Shermaine sighed, a mixture of amusement and helplessness in her smile, epting that her son preferred his father¡¯s attention. Joshua couldn¡¯t suppress augh. He reached for Shermaine¡¯s hand, gently squeezing her palm. Shermaine nced up, not upset, but feeling a bittersweet pang. She pulled her hand away, not wanting to be held. Yet Joshua quickly caught up, his fingers intertwining with hers. After breakfast, the family prepared to head out. Owen would also be joining them, though he was leaving directly from York residence. It was a beautiful spring day, the sun shining and the breeze gentle, perfect for a day out Though Shermaine¡¯s work schedule was hectic, Joshua and Janice always made sure she set aside time 1 By now, the family had arrived at their destination, Mount Akoya, It was likely the weekend crowds that made the area so busy 11:14 Sun, 3 Aug The vastwn was filled with people, and the family hadid down a nket with food spread out in the middle. Around them, some were ying badminton, while others flew kites. 85% The garden was equally crowded, with people snapping photos. One could only imagine the crowds at the mountaintop. Thanks to Shermaine¡¯s monthly wellness treatments, Janice and Owen remained in excellent health. They were now happily hiking toward the peak, teaming up together for the climb. Shermaine, apanied by Joshua and the children, found a quieter spot. Theyid out their pic and unpacked the food. Since they had the children with them, Shermaine had also brought along the robotic nanny, which immediately took charge of looking after George and Toby. The robot¡¯s advanced features caught the attention of passersby, and soon people realized that Shermaine¡¯s family was the one with the robot. A few individuals approached, requesting photos and autographs. Shermaine, not considering herself a celebrity, politely declined the autograph requests but agreed to the photos. Meanwhile, George and Toby were having a st crawling on the grass, thoroughly engaged in their y. Gracie had wandered off toward a nearby fish pond, where she began feeding the goldfish. With her doll¨Clike appearance, Gracie quickly attracted the attention of other children, many of whom offered her fish food. She declined politely, choosing to buy a pack for herself instead. Shermaine wasn¡¯t concerned about Gracie wandering off, as Gracie wore a bracelet with a tracker, ensuring Shermaine could always keep tabs on her. Gracie wasn¡¯t the sort of child prone to mischief anyway, so Shermaine¡¯s supervision was never too strict. Besides, Dave had been quietly hidden in her pocket the entire time. He¡¯d been eager toe out and explore, but the crowd was too dense, and Shermaine had firmly insisted he stay put. Now, after being cooped up for so long, he was growing restless. ¡°Gracie,¡± Dave murmured, muffled through the fabric, ¡°I could really use some air.¡± ¡°Hold on a minute,¡± Gracie replied, looking around for a quieter spot. She eventually found a bamboo grove, where the air was peaceful, and the sound of birds could be heard in the distance. A small stream ran through the area, its water shallow and clear. Unable to resist, Dave slipped out of Gracie¡¯s pocket and dove into the water, swimming gracefully like a fish. Gracie, seated on a rock, pulled a book from her small backpack. ¡°Enjoy yourself, but let me know when you¡¯re done, and we¡¯ll head back.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Dave replied cheerfully. 11:14 Sun, 3 Aug The stream was full of fish, and Dave yed with them, enjoying the refreshing water. As Gracie began reading, a faint sound caught her attention, a groan from deeper within the bamboo grove. At first, she didn¡¯t think much of it, but when Dave surfaced from the water, he urged, ¡°Gracie, I think someone¡¯s over there.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Gracie responded, her curiosity piqued. Worried it might be a tourist who had gotten hurt, Gracie decided to investigate. She packed away her book and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go take a look.¡± Impressed by Gracie¡¯s courage, Dave led the way. 85% As they ventured further, they discovered that the sound had indeede from a person, though not a tourist. A young man, lying on the ground, was badly injured and breathing weakly. Though covered in wounds, his delicate, striking features were impossible to ignore. Gracie crouched beside him and gently poked his cheek. The boy stirred, his eyes opening. His gaze was arresting, one eye deep purple, the other a vivid red. Despite the unusual color of his eyes, his beauty was undeniable. His expression hardened with hostility, but when his gazended on Gracie, the hostility seemed to fade. He muttered one word, ¡°Leave.¡± Gracie, undeterred, retrieved a handkerchief from her bag and carefully tied it around his injured palm. The boy nced at her hand, stunned for a moment. Gracie remained calm, taking out her phone to call her mother. Shermaine answered promptly, her voice soft. ¡°What is it, sweetheart?¡± ¡°Mom, can youe here? I found someone who¡¯s hurt.¡± ¡°I¡¯m on my way.¡± After the call, Gracie took a seat beside the boy. Dave studied the teenager, subtly sniffing the air around him. The boy¡¯s gaze met Dave¡¯s, deep, still, unreadable. There was something unsettling in that look, something far removed from the expression of an ordinary youth. When Shermaine arrived, she found a boy, perhaps ten or eleven, lying on the ground. His presence felt unusual, and his injuries were serious, especially the internal ones. Without proper treatment, they could leave damage. ¡°Where¡¯s your family?¡± she asked. ¡°Dead,¡± he replied tly. 11:14 Sun, 3 AuguG Shermaine raised an eyebrow. ¡°Do you have any identification?¡± ¡°No.¡± He spoke with little interest, his tone dull, as if he didn¡¯t care to engage. ¡°Do you want me to help you?¡± she asked. O ¡°No, thank you.¡± There was no defiance in his voice, just calm, polite detachment, far tooposed for a child his age. ¡°I¡¯ll live,¡± he added. Shermaine turned and left. If he would survive, there was nothing more to be done. Gracie followed after her, leaving the bamboo grove in silence once more. The boy stared at the sunlight filtering through the leaves. It stung his eyes. His mismatched pupils darkened, a flicker of resentment crossing them. He hated the sun. It soured his mood. If he could, he would¡¯ve destroyed it. But soon, footsteps returned. Gracie hade back. She opened her backpack and took out some candy. She never ate it herself. It was always George and Toby stuffing her bag with sweets. There were also small packets of biscuits. She set them gently beside him. Dave watched, surprised. He had never seen Gracie act kindly toward strangers. He¡¯d alwa family, she kept her distance. Yearster, Dave would ask why she helped the boy. Without hesitation, Gracie had replied, ¡°He was good¨Clooking.¡± Back in the grove, Gracie ced thest of the snacks and turned to leave. ssumed that, outside of But then, the hem of her shirt was caught. The boy¡¯s voice had softened, no longer indifferent. It was warm, almost coaxing. ¡°I¡¯m hurt. Will you take me home?¡± É« Nurse walking 634 Chapter 634 85%1 When the boy followed Gracie home, Shermaine smiled. She hadn¡¯t expected her daughter to bring him back. ¡°Mom, can we keep him?¡± Gracie asked. Taking someone in was no burden for their family. But the boy¡¯s origins were unclear, and those heterochromatic eyes hinted at something even stranger. Shermaine nced at him, then raised a brow. ¡°Why would we? What could he possibly offer?¡± Gracie looked up, a trace ofpassion in her eyes as she turned to the slender boy. ¡°Tell her yourself.¡± The boy¡¯s gaze held steady, quiet yet firm. His voice carried the weight of something more than just a promise. ¡°One day, I¡¯ll protect your daughter.¡± Shermaine considered him for a moment, then nodded. ¡°Then remember what you¡¯ve said.¡± 7 In Ustrana, Roy had a nightmare. In it, Molly was pregnant, but what she gave birth to were wolf cubs. They yelped and howled, swarming around him. He woke with a start, heart racing, and turned to the woman sleeping beside him. Carefully, he shifted away. The image of pups clung to him. Leaning down, he kissed Molly and silently warn mself to be more careful. Part of him couldn¡¯t help but wonder if the dream was a sign, a cruel hint from God that he was about to be a father to something wild. ¡°No,¡± he muttered to himself. ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous.¡± He rose early, determined to make breakfast for Molly. The house staff exchanged helpless looks. Roy¡¯s efforts in the kitchen had been ongoing for two years now, with little to show for it. Molly woke to find the bed empty. Wrapping herself in a robe, she walked to the bathroom. Spring hade again. For Roy, that meant the start of mating season. She reached for the essential oils, letting a floral scent rise with the bathwater. Just as she began to undress, Roy entered, arms already around her. ¡°Momo, I¡¯m injured,¡± he whispered. He loved to y up his pain with her. ¡°Where?¡± she asked. He held up a finger, red and swollen from a fresh burn. He tried to fry some eggs, and oil sshed. Molly took his hand gently. ¡°Back in the kitchen again?¡± 1/4 He nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± She smiled and blew softly on the burn. ¡°Next time, don¡¯t. If you still can¡¯t cook, don¡¯t force it.¡± Roy¡¯s throat bobbed. He kissed her cheek. ¡°Momo¡­ are you hurting anywhere?¡± ¡°No.¡± Still, he seemed unconvinced. He drew her closer, lifting her and cing her on the bathroom counter. ¡°I¡¯ll clean you up,¡± he said quietly. She thought he was teasing again, but this time, he didn¡¯t make a move. He simply washed her gently, then left. He was holding back. He had made a decision¨Cno matter what, he wouldn¡¯t father a pack of wolf cubs. For now, restraint was his only option. Later that morning, the Loang Morning News featured a grim headline. A local resident walking their dog had stumbled across a body buried in the woods. Time had reduced it to little more than a skeleton, and no identity could be confirmed. But the experts agreed on one thing. It was the work of a calcting, extremely violent offender. The victim¡¯s skull had been shattered so thoroughly, even the braincase was in pieces. In the days that followed, Roy was unusually quiet at night, and Molly began onder if something was wrong. One night, Molly sat in a chair, watching as Roy stepped through the door. ¡°Come here,¡± she said quietly. He walked over and pressed a kiss to her brow. ¡°Momo, I¡¯ll shower first.¡± ¡°Together,¡± she said. Roy paused, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, something unspoken pulling at him. ¡°Just give me a minute. I¡¯ll be quick.¡± But before he could move, Molly tugged the cor of his shirt, pulling him down onto the bed. She straddled his waist, her expression calm but unwavering. ¡°Let¡¯s talk. What¡¯s going on with youtely?¡± Wearing only an oversized white shirt, the top buttons undone, Molly leaned over him. Roy¡¯s gaze dropped, his lips parted slightly as he swallowed. She noticed the change in him, the tension building, and lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Careful,¡± she said, voice low. ¡°Think this through, alright?¡± Roy shifted beneath her, clearly conflicted. ¡°I had a dream a few nights ago,¡± he murmured. ¡°You were pregnant¡­ but what came out was a whole litter of wolf cubs. I think it was a sign. From God.¡± Molly blinked, thenughed softly. She tilted his chin toward her. ¡°Well then. If that¡¯s how you feel¡­ I won¡¯t stop you.¡± 2/4 11:14 Sun, 3 AuguG He hadn¡¯t expected forgiveness toe so easily. Watching her walk away, though, his restraint quickly began to fray. The moment lingered, charged, and he realized he wasn¡¯t going tost much longer. Roy stood up and went after her. ¡°Momo¡­ I was wrong. I¡­ Momo, wait¡­¡± In the Kingdom of Xyperia, Henry had held back for over two weeks before finally traveling to Norham City. At dawn, the city¡¯s rm rang out as mutants hadunched a surprise assault. Amid the chaos, word spread that Vivianus had been injured. Without hesitation, Henry ran toward thebat zone. Inside a medical tent, Shirley sat with her hand to her head. She¡¯d hit it on a rock while shielding Sean. The impact worried her. Memory loss wasn¡¯t something she wanted to experience again. Fortunately, the injury wasn¡¯t serious. Sean sat nearby, guilt etched across his face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Your Highness. It was my fault. I acted without thinking.¡± ¡°Next time,¡± Shirley said calmly, ¡°don¡¯t be reckless.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± She stood, and as Sean reached to help her, another figure stepped in. It was Henry. A faint scent of smoke clung to him. ¡°You¡¯re here,¡± she said, tone cool. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I heard you were hurt,¡± he replied carefully. ¡°So if I wasn¡¯t, you wouldn¡¯t havee?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡± He swallowed, drawing her into his arms. ¡°I¡¯ve just been¡­ sorting things out.¡± ¡°And?¡± ¡°Still working on it.¡± Shirley¡¯s expression remained unreadable. ¡°I see.¡± Henry¡¯s voice softened. ¡°Let me take you back.¡± He brought her to her quarters, and she still looked unsettled. Henry knelt down, unfastening her shoes, then reached to help remove her coat. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯ll sleep better without it.¡± Shirley let out a quietugh. ¡°You undress me like it¡¯s nothing. You sure don¡¯t seem opposed to getting involved.¡± She nudged his knee with her foot. ¡°So? Want to try it with me?¡± 11:14 Sun, 3 Augu Henry hesitated, then took a step back, confused by the rush of heat in his chest. He looked at her, serines, hot sait nothing. His silence made her more annoyed than amused. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯m not interested anymore.¡± She tossed her coat aside andy down. Her head throbbed. Even after the medicine, the pain lingered. Only with her eyes closed did the dizziness begin to fade. What she didn¡¯t know was that, the moment she¡¯d asked, Henry¡¯s first instinct had been to say yes. ? Nurse walking 635 Chapter 635 Chapter 635 Henry felt a sudden unease. He began to wonder whether his recent distance had hurt Vivianus. After all, Vivianus was a man too, voicing such a vulnerable question, asking whether he¡¯d be open to a rtionship, must have taken no small amount of courage. The thought gnawed at Henry. He feared his silence and withdrawal had given Vivianus the wrong impression, perhaps enough to make him reconsider altogether. Yet he hoped Vivianus could understand. He had always been emotionally reserved. Even so, he had long imagined finding someone to share his life with. What he hadn¡¯t expected was to fall so quickly andpletely for a man. The shock of it ran deep. He needed time. Henry wanted to exin. But Vivianus had already fallen asleep. Shirley had dozed off almost as soon as her head hit the pillow. Her sleep was restless, threaded with fragments of old memories. Henry remained by her side, unwilling to leave, waiting for her to wake. She slept until midday. When she finally opened her eyes, her throat was dry, her thoughts cloudy. She rubbed her temple and exhaled slowly. ¡°Your Highness, you¡¯re awake.¡± It was Sean. He had arrived as well. Henry¡¯s expression darkened. He pulled Sean aside, sat at the edge of the bed, and asked, voice low and eyes intent, ¡°Are you feeling alright? Any headache still?¡± Shirley nced at him, saying nothing, then looked past him. ¡°Sean, would you mind bringing me some water?¡± ¡°Of course, Your Highness,¡± Sean replied, clearly pleased to be asked. Henry sat quietly, face tight. It was clear that Vivianus was angry. Sean returned with the water, deliberately stepping around Henry. ¡®That¡¯s what you get for upsetting her,¡® he thought smugly. Shirley drank, then rose from bed. Anna draped a coat over her shoulders. Shirley said, ¡°I¡¯m going to the camp for a round. Sean,e with me.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡± She didn¡¯t call for Henry, but he followed regardless. Reaching her, he gently caught her hand. ¡°Vivianus, I need to talk to you.¡± ¡°Later. I¡¯m busy,¡± Shirley replied, voice calm and distant, leaving Henry even more uncertain. Still, he trailed behind. At the training grounds, soldiers moved through their drills. Shirley led Sean personally, instructing him on how best to engage mutants with efficient and precise methods. Henry stood at the edge of the field, watching in silence, smoke curling from his cigarette. The longer he watched, the more certain he felt Mon 4 Aug OD Chapter 635 Vivianus was punishing him. Dusk fell. Atst, Sean¡¯s stamina gave out and he climbed down from the mecha, exhausted. His admiration for Shirley, however, had only grown. Bui as he stepped out, he met Henry¡¯s gaze, dark and cold, like a storm barely held at bay. Sean held his ground, shoulders square. He thought, ¡®Let him look. This mess is his doing, not mine.¡¯ Shirley climbed down behind him and tossed him a bottle of energy water. ¡°Here. Drink this.¡± Sean caught it with a smile. ¡°Thank you, Your Highness.¡± To Henry, the moment was unbearable. He had spent the entire afternoon in turmoil. But by now, he was clear. He loved Vivianus. Gender meant nothing. And if Vivianus would still speak to him, if he could return to how things were before, Henry would do anything. Henry stubbed out his cigarette. ¡°Are you done?¡± he asked. At the sound of his voice, Shirley looked over. She knew he¡¯d been watching the entire time. Despite herposed expression, there was a flicker of satisfaction inside. This man¡¯s persistence didn¡¯t go unnoticed. ¡°Sean, could you give us a moment?¡± she said. Sean, holding the energy drink, hesitated. He didn¡¯t want to leave. But staying would only deepen the ache he felt. He knew Shirley¡¯s heart belonged to Henry. This was just a rough patch between them. When Sean left, Henry stepped forward, stopping in front of her. His tone was deliberate, his words clear. ¡°I want to be with you. For good.¡± It was a confession, simple and serious. In the quiet expanse of the training hall, his voice lingered in the air. Shirley raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± She tilted her head slightly. ¡°What if I¡¯ve changed my mind? What if I think Sean¡¯s a better fit, handsome, reliable¡­ and I could tak for once.¡± ¡°No.¡± Henry¡¯s voice was firm. ¡°You belong with me. Sean doesn¡¯t love you. He¡¯s in love with the real Shirley.¡± ¡°With a little effort,¡± Shirley said casually, ¡°I could probably change that. He wouldn¡¯t be the first.¡± Henry had heard enough. He leaned in, lifted her chin, and kissed her. The heat of him caught her off guard. She pushed back instinctively. In the scuffle, they stumbled to the ground. :lead TU MON 4 Aug Chapter 635 Henry letting you go Not before I¡¯ve had you.¡± Shirley chuckled, eyes gleaming. ¡°You¡¯re going to have me?¡± Henry hesitated, sensing her shift in tone. He softened, resting his head in the crook of her neck. ¡°Fine. You can take the lead. Just don¡¯t choose Sean.¡± Shirley rolled over, flipping their positions with ease. ¡°So you¡¯d bottom for me?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s what it takes.¡± Henry no longer cared about appearances. What mattered was keeping the person in front of him. As for control, that could be renegotiated Shirley smirked, amused. ¡°Alright then. Not like you¡¯re exactly the passionate type.¡± Henry winced at that. It stung, but he said nothing. Maybe it was time to see Shermaine about that issue after all. Still, he was sure of one thing. Whatever he¡¯dcked with others, he didn¡¯tck with her. He took her hand. ¡°With you,¡± he said quietly, ¡°maybe I¡¯m not like that.¡± He paused, then added, ¡°Want to find out?¡± The idea intrigued her. Henry¡¯s physique was nothing toin about, and now, beneath her, cor slightly askew, there was a quiet intensity that drew her in. She tugged yfully at his cor. ¡°Why not? No one¡¯s around.¡± She was curious to see how far would a man like him go when pushed. Leaning in, she kissed him, soft and slow. Henry responded without hesitation. There was no difort or distance, just a quiet, growing heat as he met her kiss. AD Nurse walking 636 Henry lifted Shirley into the cockpit of the mecha. For the first time, he experienced a desire so fierce it bordered on losing control. His hand slid to her waist, where the once¨Cneat uniform now hung loosely, the neckline slipping to reveal the faint curve of her corbone Earlier that afternoon, Shirley had regained her memory. With it came the return of her former awareness and dissatisfaction with her current figure. Now, as Henry¡¯s hand moved with increasing boldness and intent, she caught his wrist. ¡°Too fast,¡± she said calmly. Henry paused, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing as he looked up. He wanted to respect Vivianus¡® wishes, But restraint was proving difficult. Holding her close, he murmured, ¡°Then help me.¡± His voice was low, almost pleading. ¡°I can help you too.¡± Shirley didn¡¯t refuse. ¡°Fine. But not so close.¡± He shifted back slightly. She reached for his cor with one hand, the other wandering lower. Her lips curved into a teasing smile. ¡°Henry, are you sure you used to be¡­ frigid?¡± Henry stiffened. ¡°I just realized I¡¯m not.¡± But perhaps because it was his first time in such a situation, his body wasn¡¯t fully responsive, overwhelmed by unfamiliar sensations. The moment became slightly awkward. Shirley arched an eyebrow, her grin deepening. ¡°Not a great showing, Henry.¡± A flush crept up his neck. Embarrassed and a bit flustered by her expression, he narrowed his eyes and kissed her again, harder this time. At least, he thought, he could feel something. That alone was a small victory. Still, the speed of it all left him somewhat abashed as a man. Thankfully, after a deep, heated kiss, he seemed to recover. It was, at least, enough to salvage a bit of pride. Inside the mecha, Shirley wiped her hands clean. Henry slid his arms around her from behind, his voice rough with exhaustion. ¡°Sure you don¡¯t want my help?¡± Shirley hesitated. She was debating whether to tell him the truth. If she kept it from him now, it might hurt moreter. After all, she¡¯d already concealed enough. And Henry, after all his inner conflict, had still chosen to stay, even when he thought she was a man. He had confessed his feeling hout reservation. After a moment, Shirley replied, ¡°If it¡¯s the same kind of help as before, probably not.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll just lie back. You can do whatever you want,¡± he offered, half¨Cserious. Shirley had already finished wiping her hands. She smiled. ¡°Still won¡¯t work.¡± 20:10 Mon, 4 Aug 10 D ¡°Why not?¡± Henry asked, genuinely puzzled. She took his hand and guided it downward. Henry¡¯s expression shifted. Something about what he didn¡¯t feel struck him. He thought, ¡®Wait¡­ Vivianus doesn¡¯t have a penis! Did he lose it in an ident?¡® But then Henry said lightly, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯m basically asexual anyway. Kissing¡¯s enough. We can be¡­ tonic.¡± Shirley couldn¡¯t helpughing. ¡°Henry, I¡¯m a woman.¡± Sheid it out inly. ¡°But, I still get to be on top.¡± Henry was stunned. He had just mentally prepared himself for a same¨Csex rtionship and even convinced himself he was ready. And then she dropped that on him. For a moment, his thoughts went nk. And yet, a small part of him was relieved. He looked at her, exasperated and amused. ¡°So you¡¯ve been lying to me all along.¡± He honestly wanted to give her a piece of his mind. But no matter how irritated he was, it wasn¡¯t enough to make him walk away. Now that he knew she was a woman, he felt a little foolish. How had he not noticed all this time? Shirley exined, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to hide it. After I lost my memory, I wasn¡¯t sure who I was anymore. Later, when the person treating me spent a fortune on my recovery, I pretended to be a man, to pay the debt.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve regained your memory now?¡± She nodded. ¡°Yes, most of it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Henry said. He didn¡¯t ask about her past identity, though he had his suspicions. Shirley didn¡¯t offer more. Instead, she asked, ¡°You¡¯re not angry?¡± ¡°Of course I¡¯m angry,¡± he said bluntly. After all, he had wrestled with himself for a long time. Still, he had no intention of holding it against her. There were other ways to get back at her, for example, her im about being on top. He decided he would agree to it. In words, at least. After all, in reality, there was only one person who¡¯d be taking the lead, and that was him. Henry took her hand, giving it a light squeeze. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal. Not something worth fighting over.¡± Shirley studied him for a moment, then said calmly, ¡°Then what if I told you¡­ I¡¯m Shirley. The real one.¡± He didn¡¯t flinch. His expression remained steady, eyes fixed on hers. He had suspected it, perhaps even known it. But hearing her confirm it still carried weight. His hand tightened slightly around hers. I¡¯m sorry. I should¡¯ve been there, when it all happened.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to apologize,¡± Shirley said gently. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for what happened, you might never have fallen for me, as the queen.¡± 20:10 Mon, 4 Aug (16 D Chapter 636 Back then, wearing the crown meant carrying constant restraint. She¡¯d rarely let down her guard, except in front of Shermaine. Only then could she drop the formalities and be herself. Even now, with her memories returned, she found she preferred this version of herself, unburdened and unguarded. And she believed she could stay that way. Henry shook his head. ¡°If I could fall for you when you were in disguise, why wouldn¡¯t I love you as you truly are? Maybe it wouldn¡¯t have happened as fast, but it would¡¯ve happened.¡± From the start, he¡¯d been drawn to her. That part had never changed. He leaned in and brushed her lips with his. ¡°I¡¯m d it was you I met on the battlefield.¡± He liked this version of Shirley, honest, self¨Cassured, and unguarded. And he hoped she¡¯d stay that way with him. Shirley smiled, something soft in her eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d fall for you. But after spending time with you¡­ you got under my skin.¡± Their feelings had always been moving toward the same point. Henry let out a quietugh. ¡°So before the memory loss, you were already nning toe after me?¡± She nodded. ¡°I was.¡± His grin widened. ¡°That¡¯s why you gave me those sapphire cufflinks?¡± She nodded again. The gift hadn¡¯t been casual. They both knew that. Henry kissed her again, this time with more intensity. Normally reserved, he burned with quiet fire once emotion took hold. The night deepened, wind stirring through the edges of the training field. Unseen, a shadow moved in the distance, silent and watchful. It was Edison. He had followed. And now, the truthy before him. The supposed stand¨Cin for Shirley was, in fact, Shirley herself. 1 Comment Send gift No Nurse walking 637 Chapter 637 Chapter 637 He hadn¡¯t anticipated that, by a twist of fate, she would return to her role as Queen in such a way. Shirley and Henry had been inside the training hall for quite some time, long enough to imagine what might have transpired. In Edison¡¯s mind, Shirley had always been a woman of discipline and restraint. He never would have imagined her locked in such intimate moments with a man, let alone in a ce like that. But Henry was different, the man she cared for. With him, she let down her guard, revealing a side no one else had ever seen. Edison¡¯s eyes burned with envy. What he had long desired Was now in the arms of another. Shirley had been merciless toward him. But he had no intention of stepping aside. If he couldn¡¯t have her, he would destroy her. If she wouldn¡¯t be his, she wouldn¡¯t belong to anyone else. His thoughts grew darker, fueled by possessiveness and spite. Back inside, as Shirley began to feel the stirrings of Thunger, the two finally emerged from the training grounds, hand in hand. Henry¡¯s face was radiant with joy. He was eager to share the news, especially with Roy. Roy, ever since getting together with Molly, had been insufferable. At least Joshua showed some restraint. Roy, by contrast, constantly gloated, even mocking Henry for not having a girlfriend. Now, Henry had something to show. He and Shirley nned to celebrate over steak, a small but meaningful gesture to mark the beginning of their rtionship. Henry believed in romance, in ritual, in moments that mattered. As they stepped outside, waiting for their car, moonlight spilled across the pavement. A breeze rustled the leaves overhead. Henry draped his jacket over Shirley¡¯s shoulders and, unable the pull between them, kissed her again beneath the quiet silver light. She teased him yfully, her touch deliberate, sending waves of heat through him. Feeling her hand on his stomach, he pulled back slightly, voice low. ¡°Careful. We might not make it to dinner if you keep that up.¡± Shirleyughed and eased off, though her eyes still sparkled with mischief. Then, her expression shifted. She nced toward the shadowed base of a nearby tree. There was no one, only the dry rustle of leaves, stirred by the wind and tumbling softly across the ground. ¡°Did you see something?¡± Henry asked, noticing the sudden tension in her posture. ¡°I thought someone was watching,¡± she murmured. Henry narrowed his eyes. The danger around her had not disappeared. There were those who coveted her position and those who wanted her heart. 1/2 21:58 Tue 5 Aug. Chapter 637 But things had changed. If anyone dared harm her now or tried to take her from him, he would not stand idly by, especially not Edon Henry had distrusted him from the very start. The man¡¯s gaze had always been wrong. And after the kidnapping incident, Henry knew he would have to stay one step ahead. Perhaps it was time toy a trap, draw him out. ¡°I¡¯ll have someone review the surveince footage,¡± he said. She nodded. ¡°All right.¡± The car arrived, and Henry opened the door for her. ¡°Come on.¡± The restaurant was softly lit, candlelight dancing between them. The atmosphere was warm, intimate. They clinked sses. Henry¡¯s fingersced tightly with hers. He looked at her with quiet resolve. ¡°I want the whole empire to know you¡¯re mine. Would you be all right with that?¡± Shirley gave a calm nod. It would certainly put an end to the ministers¡® endless attempts to match her with suitors or pressure her to produce royal heirs. Beaming, Henry opened Orthish, navigated to the most popr forum in the Kingdom of Xyperia, and posted a photo of the two of them together. The caption read: [Your queen has given her heart away.] AD The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Nurse walking 638 Chapter 638 Chapter 638 The revtion that Shirley had a romantic partner swiftly captivated the attention of the entire empire. Citizens rejoiced at the news. Atst, their queen had found love. Henry, with his striking features andposed demeanor, was quickly embraced by the public. His intellect and discreet support of Shirley over the years only solidified his reputation. After announcing their rtionship to the empire, Henry apanied Shirley back to her quarters at the military base. He seemed uncharacteristically insistent that evening, unable to keep his hands or lips off her. The aloof, reserved man she once knew had given way to someone far more openly affectionate. Shirley¡¯s body, however, was not yet ready, preventing them from taking that final step. Henry ced a hand on her waist. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter to me.¡± Regardless of the circumstances, his desire for her was sincere and unwavering. Shirley, feeling the heat between them, drew back slightly. ¡°It matters to me.¡± As a woman, she took pride in her figure. If they were to be truly intimate, it had to be in the body that belonged to her, fully and unquestionably. Henry nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll speak to Shermaine tomorrow. Have her examine you. We¡¯ll find a way.¡± Though Shirley hadn¡¯t nned to trouble Shermaine after regaining her memory, she had intended to seek medical advice. Previous doctors had found nothing, not even with advanced equipment. So she agreed. A visit from Shermaine was likely unavoidable. To Henry, her well¨Cbeing was paramount. That spheroid could now be brought into y. ¡°Want me to use my hand instead?¡± she offered. He shook his head gently, kissing her fingers. ¡°These hands are meant to protect your people. Let¡¯s try something else.¡± He had already pushed the limits tonight. His words were disarming, especially to Shirley, who couldn¡¯t help but smile. She leaned in, teasing softly, ¡°It¡¯s true I must protect my people. But if my man needs me¡­ I¡¯ll never say no.¡± The flirtation hit him like a spark. He caught her in his arms and eased her onto the bed with a grin. ¡°I¡¯d rather make sure you¡¯re the one who feels good,¡± he murmured against her lips. ¡°Your Highness¡­ shall we?¡± Shirley met his gaze, then gave a small nod. ¡°You may.¡± In a remote, deserted area, a car came to a halt. Martin stepped out first. Inside the vehicle sat Rhys, silent and hidden in the shadows. Nearby, Edison sat slouched in a chair, an empty cigarette pack at his feet. Even after smoking through it, the tightness in his chest remained. The woman he loved was now with someone else publicly, no less. He had never imagined Shirley could love someone so openly and fiercely. Chapter 638 He was hooked and obsessed. All he could think about was having her back. Martin didn¡¯t waste time. ¡°What¡¯s the situation with Shirley?¡± ¡°She escaped,¡± Edison replied tly. Martin¡¯s expression soured. ¡°You let one woman get away? Pathetic.¡± Edison remained indifferent. ¡°That so¨Ccalled double? She¡¯s the real Shirley. Just lost her memory, temporarily.¡± It was only a matter of time before she remembered. Martin¡¯s jaw tightened. The fact that the imposter was actually Shirley herself made things far moreplicated. Thankfully, he hadn¡¯t struck her publicly the other day, or he would¡¯ve made a fool of himself. Now that the real Shirley was in y, their next move would have to be far more careful. Uncertain, Martin turned to Rhys. ¡°Sir, what should we do now?¡± Rhys¡® gaze was steady. ¡°What else? Kill her. Take the throne. Just as she once did. Lead an assault on Summerbank. You can do it.¡± When Martin hesitated, Rhys¡® tone darkened. ¡°What are you afraid of? That woman isn¡¯t around.¡± Martin muttered, ¡°But Henry¡¯s a threat too.¡± ¡°Leave Henry to me,¡± Rhys said coldly. ¡°You focus on Shirley.¡± Edison, watching the tension between them, said nothing. He adjusted his sses, lost in thought. At Jean Vi, George was quietly resentful of the small boy who had suddenly be a constant shadow at his sister¡¯s side. Whenever George reached out for Gracie, he was inevitably stopped in his tracks by the boy¡¯s mismatched, unsettling gaze. The boy¡¯s name was Lucifer Farren, a name Gracie had chosen herself. Shermaine had no objections to the name.. In her view, the child did carry a dangerous air, with a presence eerily reminiscent of a demon. Still, Shermaine wasn¡¯t the type to be frightened by proximity to danger. If anything, she faced it withposure. Besides, it wasn¡¯t her burden to manage him. That task belonged to Gracie. When Gracie awoke the next morning, she found Lucifer standing by her bed, quietly preparing to help her dress. She spoke with the calm authority of someone far older. ¡°I can dress myself.¡± Unbothered, Lucifer continued fastening the buttons. ¡°You brought me home. That makes you my master now.¡±¡± Gracie frowned slightly, her small voice still soft. ¡°You don¡¯t need to do all this.¡± ¡°I want to.¡± Lucifer dressed her without hesitation, then knelt to put on her shoes. He had already prepared a ss of water for her, waiting for her to wake. Chapter 638 Gracie took the ss. The temperature was just right. Once she finished, he lifted her from the bed and set her down gently on the floor. She didn¡¯t think much of it and wandered off to the next room to wake George. George was in the habit of going out in the afternoons. If Janice didn¡¯t take him, either Gracie or one of the household robots did. While in theboratory, Shermaine received a call from Loang. It was Molly. Molly got straight to the point. ¡°Sheary, Loang recently unearthed a body. DNA analysis confirmed his identity. It¡¯s Malcolm, one of the researchers Ustrana had sent to the Kingdom of Xyperia.¡± Shermaine narrowed her eyes slightly but said nothing. ¡°He¡¯s been dead for two years,¡± Molly continued, ¡°which means the Malcolm who went to Xyper¨ªa wasn¡¯t who he imed to be. ¡°We don¡¯t know where he is now, but my mecha picked up traces of an unusual energy signature at the site. I¡¯m not sure what it is. I¡¯ve sent the data to your Orthish. Take a look.¡± Shermaine opened Orthish, received the file, and had Apocalypse run an analysis. The results came back quickly. The residual energy was consistent with spatial transmission. Shermaine looked at the readings. ¡°He¡¯s in Xyperia,¡± she said. She suspected the earlier ck hole event had also been his doing. Molly didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°The Ustrana government wants him dead. When you head to Xyperia, take Roy and me with you.¡± Shermaine nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll wrap things up here and head out as soon as I can.¡± ¡°Alright. We¡¯ll wait for you at Jean Vi.¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!