However, there were many ways for others to manipulate the paternity test that Violet had ordered, reflecting on the entire situation."Ruby deceived me! I won't let her get away with this!" Violet's face turned red with anger."Enough!" Anthony grabbed her hand and sternly rebuked her, "That's not the most important thing now." He turned his gaze toward Kevan and continued, "Even though Bethany isn't your biological daughter, she's still a human life. Not to mention we have formed a bond with her through the time we spent together. We just can't stand there and do nothing, especially considering the fact that she was kidnapped because of you.""I'll take care of this matter. You both don't need to worry," Kevan assured them.His father had always trusted him. Besides, he couldn't control his adult son anymore. "Alright then, we won't have much to worry about."Anthony turned and glanced at his wife, who was still in a state of shock and anger. He removed his glasses from the bridge of

Dylan hadn't contacted Larissa ever since the kidnapping incident. She found it strange and decided to check the guest room, only to find out that he had already checked out. Without his proactive contact, she had lost the opportunity to inquire about the progress of the case.She had been diligently following the news for a few days but hadn't come across any relevant information. Perhaps this was the best outcome she could hope for, looking at it from a different perspective.…She was supposed to go to the airport to pick someone up at noon, but her meeting had been delayed, causing her to be nearly half an hour late. She hurriedly sent a message to the person, explaining her situation, and rushed off.As she reached the lobby, she nearly bumped into Gary, who had just returned from outside.He was dressed in a formal dark suit. She apologized and asked, "Were you out for business?"He nodded in response. "I had a meeting with Mr. Leon from Soaring Corporation this morning, but we h

"Oh." Lewis nodded subtly.Rena quickly changed the subject, asking, "Larissa, are you thinking of letting me handle the marketing strategies for your hotel?"Larissa shook her head in response. "It's a bit complicated. I'll explain in detail when we reach the hotel."Rena didn't press further.When they got out of the car, Lewis asked Rena for her business card, providing a valid reason. "I'll reach out to you in case our company requires any marketing assistance."…Larissa personally covered the expenses for a luxurious suite for Rena and ordered a variety of dishes for her. After a satisfying meal, Rena slumped onto the couch, rubbing her belly."Tell me what you want me to do. I'll make it happen if it's within my capabilities." She waved her hand confidently.Larissa smiled faintly. "I have a big scoop for you."Half an hour later, Rena's eyes widened, her mouth agape as she stared in disbelief."A-Are you sure you want me to break this news?" She looked at Larissa with a complic

"Ms. Seymour, someone's here to see you." Larissa's assistant intercepted her at the elevator lobby just as she returned from a meeting with a client. The assistant's expression held a hint of unease, one that Larissa had never seen on his face before."Who is it?" Larissa's steps halted as a wave of apprehension washed over her, causing her to cautiously glance behind him. A trace of disdain flashed across his eyes as he replied, "It's that female celebrity, Yvette, who has been caught up in a bunch of scandals recently." He paused for a moment and asked curiously, "Are you acquainted with her?"She didn't answer his question. Instead, she remained still as she inquired, "What does she want from me?""I don't know." He shook his head. "She seemed quite angry and had a pretty nasty expression on her face."Although Yvette spoke softly, and her attitude toward him was cordial, he was not her fan nor a greenhorn in the workplace. He could somewhat discern her underlying emotions beneath

"You will pay for this!" she muttered angrily as she passed by Larissa.Larissa smirked in amusement. "Ms. Xander, your payback hasn't arrived yet. So, I'm afraid you'll have to wait a little longer for mine." Yvette was left speechless and unable to respond.…As soon as Yvette left, Larissa's assistant hurriedly rushed in. "Ms. Seymour, are you okay?" He looked at her with concern, scanning her up and down."Yeah, I'm fine. Have the security guards escort Yvette out directly when she shows up next time," she ordered with a slight smile.He nodded in response. "Sure, I'll take care of it."…Meantime, Yvette seethed with frustration after being humiliated by Larissa. She could only vent her anger by pressing the hotel elevator's buttons vigorously."Slut! She's just as worthless as the useless wimp! I should have never given birth to her!" she muttered under her breath. As she cursed, the elevator reached the top floor. The doors slowly opened with a ding.She entered the elevator wi

Just as Larissa opened the report, her assistant rushed in anxiously to say, "There's an argument going on between Yvette and someone at the elevator!"She knew well how difficult and unpleasant Yvette could be, and how harsh her words could sound. Things never turned out well whenever she got into an argument with someone.She immediately dropped her mouse and hurriedly made her way toward the elevator. Little did she know that even from a distance, she could hear the words Yvette shouted.She froze in her tracks. She could clearly see the man standing alongside Yvette. The father she had thought about and longed for all these years had appeared before her in this manner. Despite being familiar enough with Gary to confide in him, she felt timid and couldn't bring herself to take another step closer at this moment.The three individuals standing at the elevator entrance hadn't noticed her yet. Even though Gary was slightly shorter than Yvette in high heels, he still exuded an intimidat

Should she let him in? Larissa questioned herself as well. She didn't want to see him—or rather, she didn't want to see anyone. All she wanted was some peace and solitude. However, she couldn't turn Gary away. Among his various roles, the one that mattered to her the most was his status as a valued guest at the Winston Hotel."Sure." She nodded.After her assistant left, she picked up the mouse from the ground. The battery, along with the cover, had been knocked off, and there was even a crack on its surface. Frustrated, she muttered under her breath and threw everything she was holding into the trash bin.The door was opened once again. Gary and Lewis entered her office, one after another. She wasn't prepared mentally when she caught sight of Gary. So, her body froze, and her heartbeat involuntarily quickened. She lowered her head intentionally, avoiding eye contact with Gary. After taking a deep breath, she mustered a faint smile and asked, "Is there anything I can help you with, Mr.

As if under a petrifying spell, Gary's eyes widened, and he stood frozen in place, completely motionless. He couldn't quite describe his current state of mind—there was embarrassment, anxiety, and a hint of joy and anticipation. Finally, he managed to compose himself, even though his smile still appeared somewhat rigid."You can think of me as your father," he said, his intense gaze fixed on Larissa.She disliked this kind of probing—either he acknowledged her or he didn't. These covert hints made her feel repulsed. As a result, her previous favorable impression of him had also dwindled."No need." She averted her gaze, giving him a casual smile. "But thank you for your advice."He felt a bit disappointed at being rejected so bluntly, but he couldn't show it too obviously, so he simply laughed it off. "I have to leave. I have a conference call later." He intentionally checked his wristwatch.She licked her lips and stood up with him. "I'll walk you out.""It's fine." He stopped her. A

Larissa walked with her back facing the car. So, by the time she heard the sound of the engine and turned to look, it was already too late.A sharp pain struck her lower back, and both her feet left the ground. After a brief half-minute, she fell to the ground in a prone position. The pain was so intense that her limbs became numb, and it felt as if her internal organs had shifted.Screams echoed in her eyes, and she could feel a warm liquid sliding down her cheek. Her vision darkened, and she lost consciousness completely.She didn't know how long she had been unconscious, but when she woke up, everything around her was pitch black without a trace of light. For a moment, she thought she lost her sight.Luckily, her eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness, and she could vaguely make out the outline of the ceiling above her. The strong scent of disinfectant filled her nostrils, reminding her that she was still in the hospital. She tried to move her neck to look at her surroundin

"Then, why …" Larissa felt as if a foreign object was dislodged in her throat, making it difficult for her to even gulp, let alone speak.She had to increase the rate of her breathing to cope with the suffocating feeling in her chest. "I … " Gary dared not meet her gaze as he spoke in a voice that was barely audible, "I'm afraid that you'll hate me."He had a despondent expression on his face and his words carried a trace of uncertainty. Larissa stared at him intently. Gary did not seem to be lying and his emotions felt genuine. The realization of his sincerity made Larissa calm down gradually. Her tears stopped and her breathing slowed down to a steady pace. "I don't hate you." Her voice was gentle and soft, but the words she said lifted up the immense burden that was weighing down heavily on Gary's heart. Gary's hand that was holding on to Larissa shook with emotion, as if his body was jolted by electricity. "Lari …" Tears welled up in his eyes and his lips trem