"I don't think what I said was malicious in any way, right?" Otto immediately grabbed Elvin by the shoulder when he saw that the boy was about to leave. He bent down. "I don't think I've ever offended you, right? Or did I do something to make you unhappy?"Elvin was already upset and annoyed, and now he had to deal with a relentless adult. His expression was extremely ugly.Otto immediately thought of Stephen. They looked really alike."You're still a child. You can't run around." Otto coaxed gently, "I don't care whether you like me or not; I have to take you back.""I don't want to go back.""Why?""No reason." Elvin tried to shrug Otto's hand off, but Otto was way too strong for him. He glared at Otto. "I'm not a child. I can look after myself."Otto didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "How old are you?"Then, he pulled Elvin along. "If I let you go now and if anything were to happen to you, your mother would never forgive me.""Will Mommy get well?"Otto stopped in h
Late at night, the infirmary of Hope Health Services was quiet.Otto put on the medical coveralls and entered the ICU. He walked over to Yvonne. Although he was mentally prepared, his chest tightened when he saw her wrapped in bandages. The floodgates of guilt opened. "Ms. Miller, I'm sorry. If I had realized how strange the truck had been earlier, you wouldn't have—"Yvonne shook her head, stopping Otto from apologizing. She didn't blame him.Otto was heartbroken. "Why did you ask for me? Tell me. I'll do the best I can."Yvonne smiled a little upon hearing his words. She had been in a coma for the past few days due to a high fever. She looked exhausted even when she smiled, but this was the best she could look."I … want … to … leave." She forced each word out of her throat with determination.Otto was stunned. "You should be staying in Hope to recover. Why—""Take … me … away." Yvonne seemed a little flustered. She raised her hoarse voice a little.Then, she coughed viol
Seeing how conflicted the nurse looked, Stephen pressed on. "Did something happen to Yvonne?""Ms. Miller …" The nurse hesitated. Stephen lost all his patience. "If you're not going to tell me, I'll go and have a look for myself!"Seeing Stephen about to enter the elevator, the nurse braced herself and yelled, "Ms. Miller is no longer at Hope Health Services.""What do you mean?" Stephen looked at the nurse before walking up to her. His gaze was extremely dark, as if he were out for blood. The nurse was so frightened that she shuddered. "Ms. Miller went missing two nights ago. Everyone has been searching for her for a day and night, yet no one knows where she went."The nurse gulped. "We don't know where she could have gone in her state. Jim is so worried that he almost had a heart attack."Hearing that, Stephen decided to turn and leave. Soon, he found Jim at the office. Calbert and Otto were there too.When Calbert saw Stephen barge in, he immediately went up to him. "What
Stephen had been unconscious for an entire week in bed. He had become much more emaciated.The children hadn't left his side since the day he had passed out. At first, Britney had cried for Stephen, asking him to wake up. After Elvin had yelled at her a few times, she had slowly come to accept reality.On the surface, Elvin seemed like he was much calmer than Britney, but he had secretly shed tears too. He had also talked to Stephen late at night when he couldn't fall asleep.Even though Elvin ignored Stephen most of the time, he had already long accepted the fact that Stephen was his father.He just wasn't willing to say it out loud. He didn't think it would be too late to properly address Stephen as his father once Stephen and Yvonne got remarried. Yet, Yvonne was missing. All that was left was the evil man, who lay unconscious in bed.Elvin couldn't handle all these changes. But as an older brother, he thought he had to put on a strong act in front of Britney.At that mome
That night, Elvin excitedly called the doctor over, but after a check-up, they realized that Stephen hadn't woken up.Everyone assumed that Elvin had probably imagined it, especially since he was still young. But Elvin strongly believed that Stephen was about to come around. He also thought that Stephen must have heard what he said. The deal between them would soon be fulfilled.…Calbert's search for Yvonne didn't yield any results. He felt a little dejected."Yvonne has been hurt so badly. Where could she have run off to? Why has she vanished from the face of the earth without leaving any trails? This is really strange."Calbert had been complaining on the couch for a long time. When he saw that Otto was busy on his phone, he was instantly displeased.He reached his leg out and kicked Otto. "What are you busy with? Is there anything else more important than searching for Yvonne?"At that point, Calbert finally realized that Otto had been really busy recently. He wasn't focus
Otto was a little bewildered. He turned around to see Stephen holding himself up against the wall, glaring at him.The corridors were dead silent.Stephen pressed on. "Where is she?"Otto said nothing.Stephen stumbled forward, step by step, until he was right in front of Otto. He used his remaining strength to grab Otto by the collar."Where is she? Tell me. Where is she …" Stephen started to choke up. He sounded extremely helpless."Otto, I won't blame you for secretly sending her away, but I beg you, tell me where she is."Stephen was as flustered as a little child who had lost their precious doll. As long as he could find Yvonne, even if he had to sacrifice his life to Otto, he would do it without any hesitation.Otto had never thought that the high and mighty Mr. Anderson would become so lowly for a woman.He thought about what Yvonne had instructed him. He was once more determined."Mr. Anderson, I'm sorry. I can't tell you."Stephen's heart sank. He tightened his grip
Time passed by in a blink of an eye.Astertown was filled with greenery in the summer. The hot wind smelled of dried leaves.In the hot city, the only cool place was up in the mountains.A mansion lay quietly halfway up the mountains among the woods. It was paradise. The breeze blew by, creating a symphony of leaves rustling. A woman was sleeping soundly in the rocking chair.She was in a long, sleeveless dress. The burn scars on her hand and body were visible, making the harmonious scene look a little scary.At that moment, the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog lying by her side, who had been sleeping, suddenly perked its head up. It looked at the living room with caution.Soon, a man entered.The dog immediately wagged its tail and barked at the man.The man couldn't stop the dog in time. The woman sat up. They looked at each other and smiled."Ms. Miller, I'm sorry for disturbing you.""I've been sleeping for a long time. It's good that you came. If not, I won't be able to sleep a
"She still insists that I marry Ella."Otto's gaze darkened. "Ever since she found out that the child might not be dead, her obsession has grown even more. No matter how well I do, I won't be able to persuade her.""She sure is stubborn." Yvonne shook her head helplessly. "Even if the child isn't dead, how do we know what he looks like right now? What if he is just a good-for-nothing? Is she still going to make him the heir?"Otto replied, "Which is why she wants me around. She wants me to help him out in the future."Yvonne couldn't help but say, "How absurd."Otto chuckled nonchalantly. "It's fine. I know her intentions. It seems she hasn't changed, even though it's been so many years.""Are you really going to marry Ms. Ferguson?" Yvonne asked.Otto looked into her eyes seriously. "Are you curious about it?"Yvonne felt somewhat awkward under his scrutinizing gaze. "No, I was just asking. After all, Ms. Ferguson has liked you for such a long time. If it hadn't been for her