《Mysterious Little Wife》 Chapter 1: The Substitutes Errand. Chapter 1: The Substitute''s Errand. "Ugh, it hurts!" It was the beginning of winter. At this very moment, a young girl was being eroded by humiliation as she struggled to bear the extreme agony in her lower half. "Lillianna, be good. Rx, it''ll be over soon." The man''s lips were close to her ear, and his voice was as gentle as it could be. Gritting her teeth, Lacey Carter had no choice but to rx andply with the man''s demands. It wasn''t untilte at night that the man finally fell asleep, exhausted after all the tossing and turning. Lacey, on the other hand, did not dare to rest even for a moment. She fought through the pain and difort in her body and dressed herself with trembling hands. Before propping herself up against the wall and walking out of the doorway, she took onest look back at the man lying on the bed. His face was elegantly sculpted, and his eyes, which moments before had seemed to hold a sea of stars, were now gently closed. It was as if he had fallen into a beautiful dream. Sadly, such a perfect man was never hers, to begin with. Although reluctant to leave, Lacey eventually withdrew her gaze, opened the door, and walked out. Meanwhile, outside the door stood a girl wearing a cap, huge sunsses, and a mask covering her face. "Is it done yet?" she asked. Lacey nodded expressionlessly. The girl was delighted to hear the news. However, when she looked at Lacey, her eyes were full of contempt. "I guess you''re not entirely useless. Now get lost." Lacey remained still. "Where''s the money?" she asked coldly of the girl. "You think I''d scam you? It''s at Dad''s. You can ask him for it yourself!" In a grumpy tone, the girl replied as she removed her cover and entered the room. With her face fully exposed, the girl turned out to look exactly like Lacey. The only difference was that this girl had an innate sense of superiority, like a swan. Lacey, on the other hand, was a petty and lowly ugly duckling. The girl was her older sister, Lillianna Carter, and they were born identical twins. However, since their parents divorced, Lillianna went to live with her father, while Lacey stayed with her mother. Lacey had lost track of how long it had been since she had contacted Lillianna. If it hadn''t been for their reach, she might never have anything to do with Lillianna again. Still, they were as likely as ever to be strangers again after this encounter. Lacey didn''t linger long after getting her answer. She walked out of the building and booked a taxi. As the car was slow to arrive in the snow, Lacey froze in the cold for a while. Shortly after, the taxi arrived. "To the Chapel vi district." She reported the location as she got into the car. It was the upscale New York neighborhood where her father, Mr. Carter, and Lillianna lived, but it was a ce she would never return to after this. On her way to the vi district, Lacey received a call from the hospital. "Ms. Carter, do you think the hospital is a charity? If you don''t pay up today, we''ll have no choice but to" "Don''t worry! I''ll pay it off by today!" Lacey said firmly, interrupting the conversation. The person on the other end of the line paused for a moment before urging, "Better hurry! Life waits for no one!" Lacey remained quiet. Only after the other side hung up did she grip the phone more tightly. "Just a little longer, Mom, and I''ll be there to save you!" She made a silent vow.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Chapter 2: Differentiation. Chapter 2: Differentiation. "Please give me a few minutes. It''ll be quick." The car soon arrived in the Chapel vi district. As it was difficult to get a taxi here, Lacey requested the driver to wait for her. "Sure do." After receiving the driver''s yes, Lacey sprinted to the vi. She had to collect the money and get to the hospital as soon as possible. "Ms. Carter!" The maid who opened the door called out excitedly when she saw Lacey''s face. However, her face fell at the sight of what Lacey was wearing. It turned out that she had mistaken Lacey for someone else. "Oh, it''s you. Are you here to see Mr. Carter?" What a change of attitude. Still, Lacey nodded as if she didn''t care. The maid began to put on airs. "Mr. Carter has a lot on his te. I had to report your arrival in advance " "I''ve already called him." Lacey cut the maid off in the middle of her sentence. The maid was a little displeased by the interruption. "Come in, then," she said sourly. With that, Lacey rushed inside. The vi was huge. It was opulent and tastefully decorated in a European style. Amid the prosperity, Mr. Carter sat on the sofa reading a newspaper. When he saw Lacey walk in, he nced at her but said nothing. It was the woman next to him, on the contrary, who was anxious. "Is everything done yet?" Lacey nodded. "Have you been found out?" The woman went on to ask. Lacey shook her head. Relieved to hear this, the woman smiled as she grasped Mr. Carter''s arm. "Darling, this is wonderful news! Lillianna is finally going to be Mrs. Garrison!" The woman was exceptionally well-maintained. Even with her wide, unfurled smile, there were few wrinkles around her eyes. Mr. Carter put down the paper and patted the woman on the back of her hand, saying, "Good things are sure toe. I knew Lillianna would never let us down." "Yes! Now that Lillianna is about to marry into the Garrison family, we don''t have to worry about our son''s future!" Mr. Carter''s grin grew even wider. "You''re right! The Garrison family will soon be ours!" "Where''s my money?" Just then Lacey, who was standing off to the side, asked. She didn''t have time to listen in on their celebration. This was the reason why Mr. Carter and her mother divorced back then. Another woman! The mistress eventually gave Mr. Carter a son, whom a man as patriarchal as Mr. Carter prized as a gem. Liliana, on the other hand, grew up with them and considered them family but despised Lacey and her mother. Interrupted in his joy, Mr. Carter looked at Lacey with displeasure. "Look at you, you poor sod. All you talk about is money." Lacey clenched her fists as she battled her rage. "Why are you so angry with this bumpkin, dear? She was brought up in a rural environment, after all. How can she be as decent and thoughtful as Lilliana?" "Ha" Lacey couldn''t help but erupt into a sneer. "Who was it that pleaded with a bumpkin like me the other day? What''s the matter? Are you too old to remember? Do I need to remind you?" She unclenched her fist. It wasn''t worth getting angry at such people. "Is that what your mother taught you?" Mr. Carter sprang to his feet. His eyes were wide with anger. "Do you even think of me as a father!" Lacey gave him a cold look, indicating a no. How did he have the nerve to ask such a question? She hadn''t had a father a long time ago. "Lacey, you ungrateful child!" Annoyed, Mr. Carter took a few steps forward and raised his hand, about to p her. Instead of ducking, Lacey stood up straight and lifted her chin. She looked at him tenaciously and challenged, "Go ahead, do it. You don''t see me as a daughter anyway." Mr. Carter''s hand paused in mid-air after hearing that, unable to continue his action. "All right, all right, take it and go. Stop bothering us and ruining your father''s mood!" The woman said in disgust, dragging Mr. Carter away after tossing Lacey a cheque. Lacey looked down at the cheque and saw a figure of $200,000 written on it. That was the price of her virginity, two hundred thousand dors. Even she wasn''t sure that was a fair price. That said, this was the first money the Carters had ever given her. Probably thest one, too. She grinned coldly, expressing sarcasm and self-deprecation. Without further ado, Lacey stuffed the cheque into her pocket and turned to leave. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. "That''s right, grab your money and leave New York! Don''t ever show yourself again!" Mr. Carter''s warning came from behind her just then. The mistress added her two cents, "Yeah! The Carters only need one daughter! Go back to where you came from!" Lacey jolted, fist clenched once more. Were they pushing her to leave so much because they feared she''d spoil things for the Carter family? What a wicked pair! Chapter 3: Getting Engaged. Chapter 3: Getting Engaged. After getting the money, Lacey rushed back to the hospital to have the charges renewed. And as soon as she returned to the ward, Maria struggled to sit up. "Lacey." "Mom." Lacey hurried over and held Maria with a worried look on her face. "What''s keeping you awake? Are you hungry? I''ll go downstairs and get you something to eat." "Silly child, you already have someone to bring me food." Maria grabbed Lacey''s hand and chided her with a smile. Her eyes, however, were riddled with guilt. "Did your father not insist on your staying?" Lacey shook her head. "He did, but I refused. I wanted toe back and see you." She had no choice but to lie. Otherwise, her mother would have worried. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Maria seemed to calm down right after Lacey had said that. She then took Lacey''s hand in hers and tucked it beneath the covers to keep it warm. When she looked up, she caught a glimpse of Lacey''s hair color. "Did you get your hair dyed?" Her natural hair color was ck. It was only to impersonate Lillianna that she had her hair bleached blonde. "Yeah, I ran into Lillianna when I went to borrow money from dad. It was her treat." Lacey ruffled her hair and asked, "Does it look weird on me? If so, I can dye it back." "It suits you." Maria nodded. Then, cautiously, she asked, "What did your sister tell you?" Lacey knew what her mother was trying to ask. She turned to avoid Maria''s gaze, then replied, "Lillianna said she was busy and would visit youter when she had time." Maria''s eyes grew dim at this point, and she didn''t say another word. She felt lost and hopeless. Lacey was aware of it but dared not say it explicitly. Lillianna refused to acknowledge them, something that was clear not only to her but also to her mother. "Alright, Mom, rest well and don''t think about anything else." Lacey took a deep breath and shifted the subject. Maria eventually said, with a bitter smile on her face, "Lacey, I understand that you want me to live well, but I can''t be cured, so stop asking your father for money. He has a family of his own now. We must not disturb him." "Mom! What are you talking about! You''ll be fine!" Lacey got worried. "More importantly, dad said he''d lend us money if we needed it. So don''t worry about it. I''ll gather as much money as it takes to cure you!" Maria''s eyes flushed scarlet, and her grip on Lacey''s hand tightened slightly. Lacey tried to hold back her tears but couldn''t. She eventually copsed on the edge of the bed and whimpered. There was probably nothing more helpless in life than being unable to protect your loved ones. With swollen eyes the next day, Lacey went down to the canteen and ordered breakfast for Maria. The two sat in the ward and ate together. "What a handsome young man! It''s the first time I''ve seen someone so good-looking!" Just then, someone eximed. "Take a look at the girl next to him! She''s stunning! What a perfect couple!" Another person chimed in. Some in the ward watched TV and marveled at how gorgeous the people on the screen were. The focus of the crowd drew Lacey and Maria in. And as soon as Maria saw the lovely couple clinging to each other on TV, she dropped the spoon in her hand. It was Lillianna. Lacey was also engrossing on the screen. "Mr. Garrison, are you engaged to Ms. Carter, the daughter of the Carter family?" A flock of reporters rushed up and asked. The man remained silent. He stood tall and proud with a dignified demeanor. Next to him was Lillianna, who was feeling a little nervous and apprehensive. Of a sudden, the man was all smiles as he put his arm around Lillianna''s waist and announced, "I, Sam Garrison, will be engaged to Lillianna Carter, the daughter of the Carter family, next Saturday." After the announcement, Lillianna shed tears in Sam''s arms while camera shes shed all around her. The following headline then appeared on TV, "GH President, Sam Garrison, personally announces engagement date to the daughter of Carter family!" "GH? Isn''t that the wealthiest corporation in New York? I never thought its president was so good- looking!" As the news ended, so did thest exmations from the ward. Lacey''s heart skipped a beat as she nced over at Maria. "Mom? " "I''m going to take a nap." Maria put down her te. She theny down and turned her back, leaving no room for Lacey tofort her. Lacey sighed and didn''t say another word. She gathered up the cutlery and left the ward. Chapter 4: Where Did It Go Wrong Again? Chapter 4: Where Did It Go Wrong Again? The night sky was aglow with bright city lights. Inside the office of a high-rise, Lillianna was nervously ncing at Sam. "I''m sure you''re exhausted," Sam said, taking her in his arms with one hand. His voice was soft and deep enough to lose one''s mind. Lillianna shook her head gently. "It was you who worked so hard to prepare such a big surprise for me," she said, with a joyful tone in her voice. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. She was more thrilled than exhausted. She was finally the fiance of the man she had had a crush on since kindergarten. Sam lifted a faint grin. As he brushed his fingers over her face, he added in a gentle tone, "I''ll take care of the engagement. You focus on your studies at school, okay?" Lillianna nodded before looking up at Sam with a face as red as an apple. Sam was a tall guy, standing around 63 feet tall. Even when he was half-seated on his office chair, he was still towering. It was hard to put into words how attractive and ssy he was. With just a smile, he could drive her insane. Lillianna had given a lot to get this man. Not only did she have her eye on Sam, but so did plenty of other upper-ss women. She tried to keep her true self hidden and only present him what he liked. Though she had far too manypetitors, God was merciful and noticed her give. She eventually moved Sam. It was already chilly outside in New York, where the snow was scarce and falling heavily. Lillianna, however, was swelteringly hot. She could feel the ambiguity flowing wild as she leaned against Sam''s chest. Was it finally going to happen? She didn''t mind that she wasn''t his first woman, for it was more than enough to be hisst. Besides, doing it in the office was a different kind of excitement. It was something Lillianna was looking forward to. Just then, she was suddenly anchored to Sam''s body as his palms explored her waist. The brush of his breath made her feel weak, not to mention the seductive way he called out to her. Lillianna had lost her mind at this point. "Sam," she whispered. She yearned for Sam''s kisses as much as he yearned for hers. He slowly lifted her chin, and in between leaning in, the two had grown closer to each other''s lips. Lillianna dare not to even breathe. It seemed as if her heart was straining to stop beating. However, she didn''t get what she was hoping for. Sam came to a halt just a few millimeters from her lips. "Sam?" Lillianna slowly opened her eyes and asked cautiously, "What happened?" "What''s that smell on you?" Sam asked with a frown. His voice, which had been gentle just then, became distant. Lillianna panicked. She sniffed at herself and replied, "It''s MB''s limited edition perfume. What''s wrong with it?" Sam drew his brows together and lowered his gaze. As his face was hidden in the darkness, Lillianna became even more terrified. She couldn''t see his face, nor could she read his emotions. "Sam?" "It''s gettingte." Sam gently pushed her out of the way and moved the stool to the back. Then he stood up straight and walked towards the french window, leaving Lillianna with nothing but his back. "I''ll have someone to send you back." "Sam, what''s the matter? Did I do something wrong?" Lillianna grew anxious. She couldn''t understand why Sam''s attitude had shifted so suddenly. "Tell me what I''ve done wrong, and I''ll change!" She pleaded, taking a few steps forward and clutching Sam''s sleeve. "You''ve done nothing wrong. You should go home now. You have school tomorrow," Sam said with a faint smile, but his tone was strangely distant. He gently pulled Lillianna''s hand away and withdrew his sleeve. Then he raised his voice and summoned the secretary. Lillianna dared not dwell on it, despite the doubts in her mind. Sam was the premier emperor of their city. Though he might seem gentle, Lillianna was well aware that no one could stop him once he had set his mind to something. Hence, she had no choice but to nod and reluctantly leave the office. Still, what was the problem? Why had the man who left a kiss on her forehead when he picked her up earlier suddenly be so cold? Where did it go wrong? Chapter 5: Luckily She Had Made It. Chapter 5: Luckily She Had Made It. After Lillianna left, Sam yanked irritably at his tie and undid a button. He then lit a cigarette and stared out of the window without a word. The snow had stopped falling. On the spotless window reflected his frowning, pensive face. How could this be? It was clear that he couldn''t get enough of her that night. Yet, as soon as he smelled the pungent perfume, all his desire vanished. Such a pungent scent had not been present that night. Instead, it was a lovely creamy one. What was happening here? Sam rubbed between his brows in annoyance. Never mind, he was probably too tired and began to imagine things. Putting out his cigar, he tossed the matter aside and made a phone call. "Get ready. I''m heading to the hospital." ...... Lacey, on the other hand, went to wash the cutleries after Maria had fallen asleep. "Lacey, why do you always have a mask on?" When Lacey returned to put the cutleries away, the old Lacey tugged at her mask and replied with a slightly evasive look, "I''m quite frail and could get infected while in the hospital. The doctor advised me to wear a mask." As if it had dawned on her, the olddy nodded. Lacey smiled awkwardly and turned to go back to her packing. The truth was, the Carters forbade Lacey and her mother to stay in New York, yet this ce was her mother''s only hope of getting treatment. Therefore, her only option was to hide. As Lacey put the cutleries away, she realized they had run out of their daily supplies. She requested the olddy in the next bed to keep an eye on Maria, then hurriedly packed her bags and rushed downstairs to the supermarket. The supermarket was very close by. Not long after Lacey ran past, a Maserati slowed to a halt in front of the hospital. A bald man who had been waiting at the entrance raced to the car. Just as he was about to pull open the door, Asa Green got out of the car and did so before him. A long, slender leg stretched out, and it was Sam getting out of the car. "Mr. Garrison, why did you bother toe here personally? I''ve arranged for the best doctors to treat him." When the bald man saw his fortune God arrive, he rushed to give him a fawning smile and was ready to approach him. Sam took a step back. He lifted his face mask slightly then looked to Asa, who was next to him. Immediately, Asa got a grip on the situation. He blocked the bald man and warned, "Mr. Fisher, you''d better keep your mouth shut for safety''s sake." Mr. Fisher instantly went quiet. This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Who in New York didn''t know that Asa was Sam''s spokesman when he refused to speak? "Lead the way." Sam''s voice, as chilling as ever, came through his facemask. Mr. Fisher quivered in terror. "Mr. Garrison, please follow me." He said, trembling on two legs as he led the way for Sam. New York was a densely popted city, and its hospitals were even more crowded. Sam hadn''t informed the hospital''s director of his arrival. As such, he had no special ess. His 6''3" height stood out in the crowd, and his cold demeanor kept people away from him. It didn''t take long for the lift to arrive. Despite the fear of those around him, the lift was in short supply. Therefore, they had no choice but to hurry in with their heads down. Asa and Mr. Fisher rushed to form a barrier between Sam and the crowd. Just as the lift was about to close, they came to a halt and then reopened. It was Lacey who struggled to squeeze into the crowded lift while holding the heavy bag in both her hands. When she finally managed to get in, she let out a sigh of relief. Luckily she had made it. Otherwise, the next lift would have been a long wait. "What a lucky day," thought Lacey. However, she would soon be proven wrong. Instead, this was just the beginning of her bad luck. Chapter 6 Stuck. Chapter 6 Stuck. Never would Lacey ever imagine that the lift would get stuck that day. Of a sudden, the tiny space went pitch ck. "What''s going on here!" "I''m scared!" "What are you all yelling about? Turn on your mobile shlight and ring the bell!" Amidst the screams, some kept their cool. A man turned on his phone''s torch and made his way to the emergency bell. Soon after, aforting voice came from the other side. "Calm down, everyone. We''re currently arranging for repairs. Please be patient as you await the rescue." Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Despite the crowd''s slight relief, the inner panic they felt from the darkness remained. There was even a constant whisper of discontent. Feeling concerned, Asa asked, "Mr. Garrison, are you all right?" Sam shook his head and replied, "It''s no big deal." Lacey, on the other hand, was looking a little worse for wear. There was no telling how long the lift would take to fix. What if her mother suddenly woke up and couldn''t find her? While Lacey was in the middle of her worry, someone gave her a push. "What are you doing in the way? Move aside! I''m about to collide with the door!" A man yelled. Before Lacey could retort, the man pushed her so hard that she shed with the person next to her. At once, she lowered her head and apologized. She then turned around and shouted at the man who had pushed her. "Why did you push me? Are you liable if someone gets hurt?" However, there was a lot of grumbling around the lift. Her voice was muffled, and her questions went unanswered. It was at this moment a silvery voice rang out above her head. "Miss, you''re stepping on my foot." The man sounded pleasant, yet at the same time, cold. Startled, Lacey hastily withdrew her foot. No wonder she felt like she''d stepped on something. "My bad, I''ll wipe it for you." No sooner had Lacey said this than she realized the lift was so cramped inside that she couldn''t bend down at all. "It doesn''t matter. I''m fine." Despite the darkness in the lift, she sensed the man was avoiding her. Lacey came to aplete stop. And just after she apologized once more, she frowned. Though the man didn''t speak much, his voice sounded familiar. It was like she had heard it somewhere before. She even seemed to like the sound of it. "Look out!" A hand wrapped around her waist just as she was pondering. Before she had time to dodge, a loud "clunk" came from the lift. The giant box, made of steel, trembled. Fortunately, Lacey managed to keep her pace by relying on the hand around her waist. It was that man again. Lacey recognized the voice. "Everyone, please stay calm. We are currently undergoing maintenance." Amidst the horrific screams Lacey''s tension eased as a result. "Thanks." She said to Sam after regaining her footing. Sam nodded and lowered his head slightly. However, just as he was about to release his hand, he frowned. His hand stalled once more. "Sir? You can let go of me now." Lacey reminded. As grateful as she was that he''d helped her, being held by a stranger didn''t feelfortable. "Don''t move!" Though Sam sounded calm, his tone carried a slight ripple and a strongmand. Frightened, Lacey didn''t dare to move. "What''s going on? Is the lift about to" Before she could finish her sentence with a shudder, a warm touch had burrowed its way down her neck and into her shirt. "You smell familiar." Sam spoke in the darkness. Lacey could feel him brushing up against her cheek. The two were so close that it was as if he''d kiss her if he lowered his head any further. Lacey took a step back and tried to break free of his arms. "I don''t understand what you''re talking about!" She eximed as she struggled to free herself. What a strange man! "You smell nice. It''s creamy and one-of-a-kind." Instead of letting go of Lacey, Sam clung to her even tighter. The force he used on her was familiar, and so was the conversation. It was then that Lacey suddenly recalled the whisper in her ear that night. "You smell nice. It''s creamy and one-of-a-kind," were the same lines spoken by the man she''d slept with. What a minute Lacey''s eyes widened in astonishment. It was him! Chapter 7 Smell That? Chapter 7 Smell That? Nothing Lacey ever experienced had been as terrifying as this man. He was her worst nightmare, a shady deal she couldn''t look back on. Whenever she thought of this man, she would remember the pain and agony she felt all over that night. She would recall the conniption of the Carter family telling her that they only had one daughter. Lacey felt her head buzzing and jumbled at this point. Would the Carters do anything to her mother if they found out she was still in New York? "Who are you?" Sam asked, but this time, his tone no longer icy. Lacey didn''t dare answer. Cold sweat oozed slightly from her hands as she carried the bags. Her back was already soaking wet. Despite the grumbles of discontent all around, Sam remained unmoved. Not getting the response he sought, he eximed, "Speak up!" He forced her to speak, by bending down close to her and speaking over her ear. As if he would tear her apart if she didn''t speak. What to do? What should she do? How on earth was she going to escape? "Ring" At that very moment, her phone rang. Lacey picked up the call and answered it right away. "Honey, are you here already? I''m terribly sorry, please give me just one more moment. The lift is stuck, and I can''t get out right now." No sooner had she said this than Lacey felt the hand around her waist gradually loosen and the heat on her ear fade away. Thank God! She felt a sense of relief. "Lacey, what are you talking about?" The person on the other end of the line was puzzled. Still, Lacey was insistent on finishing the act. "Honey, don''t worry, I''ll be there soon." She said, despite the dense sweat on her forehead. After then, she hung up the phone. "Ding" Just then, the lift opened. Lacey covered her face tightly with her mask and hurried out against the blinding brightness, unconcerned if her eyes adjusted to the sudden light. By the time Sam followed the crowd out, the masked woman was already nowhere to be found. He frowned and looked around in search of Lacey. "Mr. Garrison, what are you looking for?" Asa asked as he stepped forward. Sam remained quiet. Mr. Fisher, on the other hand, was terrified and on the edge of tears. "Mr. Garrison, I have no idea why the lift has suddenly broken down!" He was genuinely horrified. Not only had he identally trapped a tycoon in a lift, but it was packed! How could he ever make up for it? "It''s all right." Sam said as he withdrew his gaze, his tone softening slightly. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Mr. Fisher couldn''t believe his ears. Was this the same Mr. Garrison who had just walked through the door? Why had he be so tolerant all of a sudden? Still, he dared not ask, for Asa had just issued him a warning. "Which floor are we heading to?" As Sam came to a halt in his hunt for Lacey''s figure, he turned to ask. "The fifteenth floor." Mr. Fisher stammered in reply. Before they knew it, the entry to the lift was already jammed with another group of people. Sam frowned and lifted his feet towards the stairway. "We''ll take the stairs." "What?" Mr. Fisher was taken aback. They were on the fifth floor, with ten more to climb, for crying out loud! However, what more could he say when such a powerful figure had already made up his mind? He''d better keep his lips shut and obey orders for safety''s sake. On the other side of the coin, Lacey felt a little deted by the time she reached the fourteenth floor. She was literally running for her life, afraid to take the lift for fear that Sam would catch up with her. Thank God she managed to escape. Just as Lacey let out a sigh of relief, a figure popped up before her. "Lacey, what was that you said about me being your husband?" Asked Alina Saunders, a petite youngdy with a slight chubbiness. She was adorable with a round face and a mushroom hairdo. Alina was a good friend of Lacey''s and would oftene to the hospital to help look after Lacey''s mother. "You scared the hell out of me!" Lacey patted Alina gently after calming down. With a smile, she went on to exin, "It was nothing. I took you out as a shield after running into a weirdo in the lift." "Did someone hit on you again?" Alina shed a cheeky grin. Although Lacey dressed inly, there was no denying that she had a pretty face. She was quite attractive even without make-up. If Alina had been a guy, she would have pursued Lacey until she had her hands on her. s, too bad Lacey had no interest in men. Of course, she wasn''t interested in women either. All Lacey cared about now was her bedridden mother. "Oh, stop making fun of me." Lacey lowered her head sheepishly and gently pushed Alina. It was then that another thing urred to her. She lifted her arm and approached Alina, asking, "Alina, do you smell anything on me?" Sam had imed she smelled of cream for the second time. However, she was unable to detect it at all. "I can smell it." Alina took a deep breath and grinned. "It''s the smell of a virgin." Chapter 8 She Could Never Understand Why. Chapter 8 She Could Never Understand Why. "Ouch, that hurts!" Alina''s babblings caused Lacey to knock her on the head rather unmercifully. "Stop talking nonsense then!" Lacey gave her a cold re before pushing the ward door open. Maria was still sound asleep. Meanwhile, there were fruits scattered on the table. "Why did you bring so much fruit again? We haven''t even finished thest one you brought!" Lacey went to bag the fruit after putting her purchases away. Alina took a stool and sat down. She then said casually, "My family owns a fruit shop. Just take them. It''s free anyway." "These are your parents'' hard-earned money. You can''t just give them away like that. I''ll transfer you the moneyter." Lacey insisted on paying Alina for the fruit. Alina stood up and asked disgruntledly, "Lacey, what do you mean by that? Are you looking down on me?" In a trice, Lacey stepped forward and covered Alina''s mouth. "Keep your voice down. Can''t you see my mother is sleeping?" Alina pouted glumly. Lacey hurried to reassure her, saying, "You know that''s not what I meant. It''s just that it''s not easy to earn money these days. Not to mention, you''ve been helping me out all these years." "Pause! Do you have any idea what you''re talking about?" Lacey''s sensational words was stopped by Alina, who rolled her eyes. Lacey was at a loss for words. It seemed she would have to visit Alina''s parents with some gifts. "Hey, let''s head outside. I have something to tell you." Alina looked around the ward and noticed the other patients. It wasn''t the ideal ce for them to talk. Lacey was perplexed as she looked at Alina. "Just follow me outside." After that, she took Lacey''s hand and walked out the door. "What''s the matter?" Lacey was confused. Alina drew Lacey to the window and asked, "Did you know she was engaged?" "Yeah." Lacey nodded. "You knew?" Lacey couldn''t help but be amused when she saw Alina''s surprised look. "It''s hard not to know when the richest man in South City is engaged, isn''t it?" "That''s true." Alina frowned. She then went on to ask, "Are they going to invite you to the wedding?" Lacey shrugged and asked in reply, "What do you think?" Alina pursed her lips and muttered, "Why should she have a good life, and you have a bad one" "Alina!" Lacey cut Alina off in the middle of her sentence. "You don''t have to feel injustice for me. I don''t consider myself to be living a bad life!" Alina bit her lower lip and looked away. She knew that as long as Maria was well, nothing else mattered to Lacey. "By the way, I''ve juste back from the office, and they said you''d already paid your fees. Where did you get the money?" "I borrowed money from him yesterday." Lacey said calmly after a brief pause. "Huh? Didn''t you say he banned you from visiting?" Alina got worried at this point. "Did he give you a hard time?" Lacey''s heart skipped a beat. Bad memories shed through her mind at that precise moment. "Never, ever, ever set foot here again! I don''t want to see that face of yours!" Mr. Carter warned with a disdainful look. "What does her situation have to do with me now that we''re divorced?" He scoffed. "I heard your mother is ill, and you''re running low on money. I''ll give you 200,000 dors if you can help me out just once." Lillianna offered with a stic smile. "Take your money and get the hell back to Klosa!" The mistress yelled. Through all these shbacks, Lacey couldn''t help but clench her fists. She could never understand why her so-called father was so hostile towards her. "Lacey! Lacey!" Alina couldn''t help but call out as she noticed a huge change in Lacey''s facial expression. Eventually, Lacey came to her senses. She looked at Alina and asked, "What''s wrong?" "Are you alright?" Alina asked softly with a frown. "I''m all right." Lacey reassured her with a big smile. "Well, talk to me if you''re in trouble. I''ll do what I can to help. Oh, by the way, Aunt Maria''s having surgery next week, isn''t she?" Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Lacey nodded. "Yes, I''ve been looking forward to this moment for a long time!" Alina took Lacey''s hand and said reassuringly, "Aunt Maria will get through this. Don''t worry. I''ll be there for you on the day she has her surgery!" "Okay!" Lacey put her arms around Alina, burying her face in her shoulder. She was genuinely exhausted. Chapter 9 It Was Him! Chapter 9 It Was Him! Two dayster, in the Sandalwood Institute. ...... "Sophia! Sophia!" Lillianna kept her eyes peeled from afar and finally spotted the youngdy. She trotted over right away. The youngdy was no other than the daughter of the Garrison family, Sophia Garrison, the apple of their eyes. The two went to the same school but in different sses. "Lillianna?" Sophia raised her eyebrows slightly in surprise. "What do you want from me?" Lillianna chuckled as she handed Sophia what was in her hand. "This is a new LV bag that was released recently. I thought it would suit you, so I bought it." Sophia threw Lillianna a sidelong nce. She then squinted at the bag and peered inside with her fingers. "Sophia, what''s your brother been doing these past two days?" When Sophia heard the question, the corner of her lips quirked up slightly in contempt. "You''re both about to get engaged, don''t you know what he''s been up to?" Lillianna felt a little awkward. Hastily, she smiled and exined, "Sam seems to be very busy these days, and I dare not disturb him." "He''s busy for sure. Sam''s busy negotiating hundreds of millions of dors in contracts every day. I have to warn you, Lillianna, that even if you marry Sam, you must not bother him in the future. After all, GH is arge organization that relies on him alone. Day after day, he''s drained of energy. If you don''t do as you''re told, your title of Mrs. Garrison won''tst long!" Sophia gave Lillianna a smug grin. "Ofof course. By the way, Sophia, didn''t you say the other day that you liked the clothes Carl designed? Well, here''s his business card. I''ve scheduled an appointment with him to have him design an outfit for you whenever you''re avable." Sophia was a little taken aback. She asked in astonishment, "How did you get an appointment with Carl? He only designs eight outfits per year, all of which are for celebrities!" Lillianna shook her head. With a sincere look on her face, she said, "It''s nothing. To me, you''re precious than celebrities. Besides, it''s an honor for Carl to design you clothes!" Sophia giggled as she heard those words. "Thank you, then," she said, putting the business card away. "By the way, Sam seems to have been at Griffin Hospital for the past two days." "Why did he go to the hospital? Is he sick?" Lillianna got nervous suddenly. "That''s not it. My mum told me that a senior employee had been admitted to the hospital, and Sam had gone visiting him." Lilliannapsed into silence. How had she not heard about this? "Lillianna, I''ve got an appointment. I have to go now." Sophia said as she carefully tucked the business card away. "Oh, okay." Without hesitation, Lillianna handed over the LV bag in her hand. Sophia took her things and was about to leave when she ground to a standstill after only two steps. "Oh, and by the way" "What''s the matter?" Lillianna asked nervously as she approached. "Lillianna, if you''re going to give me something, don''t make it a new release. I''m only interested in limited editions. After all, wouldn''t it be embarrassing to discover that someone else owns the same stuff as you?" Sophia guffawed as she arrogantly walked away. Lillianna clenched her hands. So what if Sophia had been born into a wealthy family? She''d continue to take advantage of others. "Sophia, once I married into the Garrison family and became your sister-inw, you''re doomed!" Lillianna made a silent vow. Nheless, what was it with the senior employee and Griffin Hospital? Why hadn''t she heard about this story at all? It seemed she''d have to pay a visit! Meanwhile, back at the hospital. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. "Mum, let''s head back. It''s freezing outside!" Lacey helped Maria in going downstairs for a stroll. The chemotherapy had worked well, and Maria looked much better. She had been downstairs and walking around a little longer in the past two days. "Okay!" Maria beamed and obediently followed Lacey back. There weren''t many people around at this hour. There was no overcrowding, and the lift entrances were clear. "Oh, I almost forgot. Lacey, go get a carton of red bean milk." Maria instructed. Lacey raised her eyebrows and asked, "Mum, since when do you like red bean milk?" Maria shook her head and exined, "It''s for Alina. She likes red bean milk. This time, she brought a lot of fruit over again. You should buy a carton of red bean milk and pass it to her the next time she "I''lle back down and buy it after I send you to your ward." While they conversed, the lift opened. "You go ahead. I''ll go back on my own. I''ll wait for you as I walk down the aisle." Maria indicated that she was alright by waving her hand. Lacey didn''t insist. For the past two days, Maria had enjoyed walking alone in the aisles to get her muscles moving when she had nothing else to do. "I''ll be right back. Return to the ward if you''re tired." Lacey was concerned. "Okay!" Maria replied, then proceeded slowly into the lift. Only after watching the lift close did Lacey turn around and walk into the supermarket with a sense of relief. And just as she walked into the supermarket, two tall figures came outside. "Mr. Garrison, I''ve made the call. Mr. Barry''s children are arriving tomorrow. They will be looking after him the whole time." Asa reported. Sam remained silent. He still wore his mask and looked unapproachable. Mr. Barry was, in fact, merely an elderly former employee to him. It was enough for him toe and visit once. But, for some reason, he had been here for the third day in a row. What on earth was he doing? Sam frowned slightly. His demeanor grew icier. "Mr. Garrison, I''m going to buy a carton of milk." Asa couldn''t help it as he watched the peopleing and going with bags in their hands. Sam nodded, still immobile. At sight, Asa dared not waste time and rushed into the supermarket. ...... A few momentster, two figures emerged from the supermarket. "Thank you so much for your help! I usually pay by mobile phone and rarely carry cash with me. Unluckily, I left my phone in the car today. I''ll transfer the money to youter!" Asa thanked Lacey as he carried his carton of milk. Lacey lifted a smile under her mask. "You''re wee! It''s nothing, really!" "Well, here''s my card. You can add me on Whatsapp through my mobile number. I''ll transfer the money to youter." Asa pulled out his business card and handed it over. "Okay." Without even looking at it, Lacey put the card away. Of a sudden, Asa yelled, "Hey, look! The lift has arrived! Hurry up and run!" He had keen eyes and noticed right away that the lift was on the ground floor. Like the wind, Lacey ran past as fast as she could. They both knew that using the lift in a hospital was rare. However, the moment she was about to approach the lift, the slender and reserved figure standing next to it suddenly turned his head. ...... What a pair of abyssal eyes. Wait a minute. It was him! Her legs instantly felt like they weighed a thousand pounds, and she couldn''t move them. Chapter 10 Who Allowed You to Touch Me? Chapter 10 Who Allowed You to Touch Me? True, people were constantly changing. Their eyes, however, were invariable. Sam''s eyes had been imprinted on her mind ever since that night. Thus, despite the mask he now wore, she recognized him right away. "Hurry up!" Asa yelled to Lacey as he blocked the lift from closing. Meanwhile, a slender figure had already taken the lead in walking in. His tall stature and cold demeanor deterred anyone from approaching him. As a result, the lift looked quite empty. Lacey quickly snapped back to her senses. Then she coughed to muffle her panicked voice. "Oh, I almost forgot. I''ve got something to do. I" "Hurry up! The lift will be closing soon!" Asa didn''t hear her. Noticing her daze, he stormed over to Lacey and dragged her in by the wrist. The lift shut off in an instant. Lacey''s breathing seemed to have stopped at that point. What was going on? Why was she in the lift? She was just about to make an excuse to leave! Despite her grumblings, the lift closed as she looked on in bewilderment and confusion. There were only a few people in the lift. Even so, she felt so overwhelmed that she couldn''t even breathe. In contrast to her panic, Sam stood motionless, not moving a muscle. Worst still, the spot where Asa had dragged her in happened to be just next to Sam. As her gaze went to the quiet man, she took a deep inhale. Her cotton jacket was touching his shirt! Inexplicably, she shivered and her feet shifted slightly. "Lacey, calm down! He won''t recognize you!" Lacey thought, trying to pull herself together. As she peered at the lift doors, she bit her lower lip. Why hadn''t anyone gotten on or off the lift yet? Forget it! She''d hurry out of the lift regardless of which floor it stopped! "Ding," just then, the lift opened on the fifth floor. Lacey was ready to sprint out without much thought. One thing she didn''t expect, however, was that so many people would flood into the lift at once. As she was about to exit the lift, she was squeezed back in. "Hey, I haven''t got off the lift" The lift closed before she couldplete her sentence. Lacey bit her lower lip and thought, "What an unlucky day." "Waa!" Suddenly, a wailing cry arose from the lift. Everyone froze. Only then did Lacey realize that a child of about three was behind her, crying as he reached out to pull his mother''s hair. "Reed, stop it." The woman frowned and tried to stop the little boy. "Waa! I don''t want a shot! Waaa!" The sound of the child''s wailing was deafening. "We can''t help it now, can we? You''re sick!" Seemingly outraged, the woman grabbed Reed by the hand, not wanting him to make a scene. As he yelled, Reed unexpectedly leaned back and was about to fall over. Lacey was taken aback. Subconsciously, she reached out to grab the boy''s head. "Thank you." Reed''s mother expressed her gratitude. "Don''t mention it." Lacey waved her hand. "Don''t touch me!" Reed shrieked as he gazed at Lacey. "Ugly duckling, who allowed you to touch me?" "Reed, how can you be so rude?" Reed''s mother got real angry at this point. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. "Anyone who wears a mask is an ugly duckling!" Reed eximed as he reached for Lacey''s mask. "It''s payback time!" Lacey froze. Before she knew it, her mask was already in the boy''s hands. Hastily, she covered her face and attempted to reach for her mask. Reed, however, was too mischievous and refused to return the mask. "Be a good boy and give it back." Reed''s mother also helped in retrieving the mask. "No!" The devilish brat got angry and shoved the mask into his arms. Lacey had no desire to argue. Instead, she hastily lowered her head and arched to nearly 90 degrees, avoiding drawing attention to herself. Come on, open the lift! As if hearing her prayers, the lift opened with a "ding." One by one, the people before her got off. Lacey stood firm and covered her face as she pushed her way to the front. Much to everyone''s surprise, Reed suddenly reached out his hand and pulled Lacey by the ponytail. "Ah!" Lacey fell headlong to the ground before she could react. The crowd couldn''t help but close their eyes. That must be painful! Yet, secondster, they still hadn''t heard any screams. Lacey had her eyes closed as well. She was perplexed as the expected pain did not happen. Huh? What happened? Lacey gradually opened her eyes. She was indeed on the ground. However, what was with the ck trousers and brown jacket in her line of sight? Wait a minute. Why did this colorbination seem so familiar? As she lifted her gaze, she was struck by a piercing stare from a pair of deep eyes. Her eyes widened in astonishment, and she couldn''t help but tremble. "Lillianna?" A low, seductive voice, tinged with a hint of suspicion, whispered in her ear. Chapter 11 She鈥檇 Been Trapped! Chapter 11 Shed Been Trapped! Lillianna? The way his low, seductive voice called out the name melted the hearts of all women. ...... Yet it struck her with dread, like the whisper of death, "It''s time." Subconsciously, Lacey reached out and pushed Sam away. "Thud." She then fell to the ground. At that precise moment, the lift opened with a ding. Instead of crying out in pain, she instinctively stood up and rushed out. She had to run as far as she could! "Ah" Just as Lacey got out of the lift, her world took a 180-degree turn. "Thud." She was stered against the wall. After that, a tall figure appeared in her line of sight. Lacey was startled. She tried to escape as best she could. However, Sam''s hand was already leaning against the wall, one step ahead. Then he leaned on her more. Lacey was awestruck. She''d been trapped! Sam''s obsidian eyes gazed deeply into her face. Leaning close to her ears, he asked, "Who are you?" Lacey''s breath caught in her throat. Her hand, ready to push him away, stopped in mid-air. Did he just ask her who she was? Lacey lifted her gaze in shock and looked into Sam''s soulless eyes. She was in a panic at this point. Why did he ask who she was instead of calling her Lillianna? Did he see through her? No, it couldn''t be! She and Lillianna were one of a million rare identical twins. In other words, looking at their faces alone would not be enough to tell them apart. Lacey''s mind whirled nonstop In just a short period of time. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Just then, Sam lifted her chin. In a chilly and low voice that only the two of them could hear, he demanded, "Answer me!" "There was no way he could distinguish me from Lillianna!" Lacey thought, sweating profusely. Besides, she couldn''t let Lillianna know she was here! At this point, Lacey didn''t have much choice. She took a deep breath as if she''d made up her mind. With a faint smile, her expression grew flirtatious. Even her voice turned coquettish as she said, "Sam, who else would it be if not for me? Oh, you stop it!" The atmosphere fell into silence. Sweat dripped from Lacey''s palms. What was with all the quiet? Did she address him incorrectly? Was it not Sam but Sammy instead? Meanwhile, Sam lifted a grin tinged with deep, terrifying scorn that sent shivers down the spine. "Are you Lillianna?" He asked. "Yup, that''s me." Her smile was obviously off. What was the matter with this guy? Why did he have to give such a chilly smile? "What are you doing here?" Sam asked, eyes skimmed over what she was wearing. "II''m here to visit a friend!" She stood up straight, imitating Lillianna''s stance. "II didn''t want to be recognized, so I dressed inly. After all, you have to respect people when youe to the hospital, right?" Sam nced down at her and expressionlessly took her by the waist. "Why are you avoiding me?" He went on to ask. Lacey took a deep breath. Her body tensed up. Was it necessary for him to hold her when he spoke? A cold sneer surfaced on Sam''s lips as he put his arm around her. However, it was immediately masked by a gentle smile. "What''s with you being so stiff? I remember you enjoying my embrace, didn''t you?" Lacey''s knuckles turned white as her hands clenched into fists. She gripped them as hard as her tense nerves. "Are you" As if sensing something, Sam asked. "Sam!" Smiling, Lacey cut off his words. All of a sudden, she stood on her tiptoes and hooked her arms around his neck. In a pouty tone, she