Ch. 681..690

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 681-I suddenly froze in place, my heart pounding. I urgently looked up at Atlas and asked, "Is he alive?" Atlas tightened his grip around my waist, subtly signalingto remain calm. He turned his gaze toward Clark, silently urging him to continue.

Clark, noticing our pause, spoke, "Sir, before I tell you, you must promise to release my son. As long as he's safe, I assure you, I will reveal Rory's current hiding place. I-If it's too late, I can't guarantee…" "You have no right to bargain with me," Atlas said, ready to turn away.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt I was nervous, unable to breathe. What would happen if we were too late? He's alive, but what if…

Atlas's hand signaledagain, his expression conveying an air of invincibility.

"Sir… Let Jarvis go. Sir, please…" Clark becanxious, crawling forward.

He stretched out his skinny hands, tugging at Atlas's pants. Atlas glared at him, and Clark froze.

"Back then, did you ever think our families would end like this?" Atlas's voice dripped with menace, as if he spoke through gritted teeth.

"Do you think I let you live until today because of your luck or intelligence? Do you think I couldn't find Rory?" Atlas took a step forward, a chilling aura surrounding him.

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm Clark looked up at Atlas, his eyes filled with conflict and helplessness.

"Dylan!" Dylan stepped forward, taking a tablet from a subordinate. He turned it on and held it up in front of Clark. "I can show you immediately how his Achilles tendons were severed!" I was shocked. Severed Achilles tendons? Atlas's earlier words echoed in my mind. "Let him taste the consequences of what he did to Rory!" I suddenly felt a piercing pain spreading throughout my body. Stepping forward, I looked at.

"What have you done toalet I might be slow, but I could grasp the hidden meaning behind Atlas's words.

"They feared Rory might escape again," Atlas explained. A sharp pain pierced my heart.

I rushed at Clark, lifting my foot with all my strength, and kicked him squarely in the face. He toppled backward.

"Tell me. Where is he?" I shouted, my heart screaming, "My poor dad…" Atlas quickly reached out, pullinginto his arms.

"Chlo, don't agitated. Someone、 will talk," Atlas said coldly, casting a fierce gaze at Clark, who struggled to get up. "Dylan!" to englisht belongs SWK Dylan promptly raised the tablet and issued a command, "Left!" He then directed the tablet toward Clark, and the screen emitted a sound reminiscent of a pig being slaughtered. Clark screamed, "Don't!" Dylan had a sinister look on his face. "It's too late. I don't mind severing the right as well." At first, I didn't understand why it had to go to this extent, but now I could see that the father and son were not innocent. Otherwise, Atlas would not have captured them at all. I believed that he would never harm innocent people. At this moment, there was a fire burning in my chest. I wish I could do it myself. Clark crawled toward Dylan like a madman, pleading, "Don't… I'll tell you! I'll tell you!"

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 682-I held my breath and looked at him. His eyes remained fixed on the tablet screen, where the agonizing screams continued. Clark sat dejectedly on the floor, looking at Atlas in shock, finally revealing an address. Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt Atlas glanced at Dylan, who promptly left the room. Clark, seemingly resigned, lacked any spirit. He muttered, "I deserve this. I'm sorry, Mr. Atlas. I'm sorry for betraying Rory's trust." In a moment of desperation, his gaze focused on Atlas. "None of this is under my control. It was one wrong step after another. She only askedto switch that bag, but I didn't expect her to force me..." His eyes looked helplessly at Atlas. "She coerced me..." "If you hadn't been greedy, reaching out for things you shouldn't have, how could the Pierce and White families end up like this? How dare you pretend to be innocent?" Atlas's tone was intimidating. "Sir, I was wrong! She caught my mother and threatened me. I dared not refuse... But I didn't expect her to later..." He trailed off. "Why did you kill my mother?" My eyes burned, flames of anger swirling withinas I glared at Clark. "How did you poison her?" Images of my mother, beautiful and affectionate, flashed through my mind. She embracedand Atlas with love, a memory now painfully haunting me. "She shouldn't have spoken about what she saw. I didn't want to kill her, Stella. I didn't want to, but she was too clever. She found out I switched the briefcase..." Clark, in hysterics, said, "It was her insistence! She forced me!" Atlas pulledaway and said, "Chlo, don't dirty your hands. He deserves a fate worse than death." Just then, Dylan briskly entered, nodding to Atlas. Atlas cast an indifferent glance at Clark. "Dying is easy. Remember, you will only take your last breath when your son loses his limbs. So, I hope you live a long life." "Atlas!" Clark suddenly lunged at Our bold swiftly kicked him et away, and he crashed into the wall, coughing up blood. SW Atlas turnedaway and spoke softly, "It's too late. Let's go!" He heldas he led us out. Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm Behind us, Clark yelled hoarsely, "Sir, please don't harm my son! I beg you!" Atlas glanced back coldly. "You don't have to beg me. It all depends on you." "Sir..." As we left the room, the door was closed, drowning out his pleas. The corridor revealed many closed. doors, and I wondered who was lthem. The tight! sent shivers down spine. I looked up at him doubtfully. "Atlas..." He lowered his gaze, meeting mine. Understanding my thoughts, he tightened his grip on my arm. Although his face still looked cold, his tone softened. "Rest assured, I won't wrongly capture an innocent person. All I do to him are things he deserves. He must be punished!" I held my breath, uncertain why, but the chill lingered in my spine.

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 683-The echoing footsteps reverberated through the tunnel-like corridor, each step pounding on my heart. Anxiously, I replayed the address Clark had mentioned, sensing it wasn't a location within our borders.

I couldn't discern whether it was the cave-like environment, the doors we encountered, or perhaps everything we had experienced. There were still many questions I wanted to ask the man we just encountered, but those were now facts of the past. There was no way to change everything.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt After we emerged, Atlas gave Dylan sinstructions. I had lost the excitement I felt coming in.

My mind was filled with the news that Rory was still alive. My emotions were in an exhilarated state, bordering on impatience.

On the way back, I asked Atlas, "Atlas, do you think the address he provided is real? Can we really find my father?" While saying this, my hands clenched tightly.

Atlas reached over, holding my hand. "It's a small town on the border of a small country. The place is quite complicated. It's at the intersection of three countries and is currently the most dangerous place in the world." Finally hearing what I least wanted to hear, I knew from the address that it must be a rough place.

"All the industries there are shady dealings, not places normal people can casually enter. So, we must develop a meticulous plan to enter that place and save him." Atlas's words left no room for doubt. It seemed like he was not hiding anything from me.

"Rest assured, I'll set out tomorrow and personally go to get him." "You're going by yourself?" I asked in surprise, as it was unexpected.

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm Earlier, I had seen him instruct Dylan on sdetails, and I thought he was arranging for Dylan to go.

Atlas nodded decisively. "Yes, I'm going. Moreover, the organizations in Jitador are also searching for him. If they get there first, they won't leave anyone alive." "In that case, we must be quick." I felt unsettled.

Atlas's expression was extremely grave. "All his later hardships resulted from the father and son's sinister actions. They wanted to use Rory as a hostage to ensure their safety." "But now, both of them are in our hands, right? Aren't they unattended?" I looked at Atlas, seeking clarification.

"However, we suspect Jarvis has allied with the criminal forces in the triangular area, intending to use Rory as a bigger bargaining chip. So, even though they are minor players in this whole event, they deserve severe punishment. "There might be deeper secrets behind them that we don't know about. Dylan just sent someone into that area to gather information so we can smoothly get him out." Hearing his words, I breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that Atlas was well-prepared.

The car sped through the dark passage, and Atlas glanced at me, squeezing my hand. He spoke softly, "Chlo, I've been waiting for this day for a long time.

"Over these years, I've been working on multiple fronts. We have many people on the outside! Bringing you to see Clark today shatters any hope he might have. His defenses would completely collapse upon seeing you." swn I looked at him, somewhat puzzled, and asked in a hushed voice, "Why?" "Because he has consistently refused to admit everything, especially the fact that he took you away-after you were injured. He refuses to acknowledge that he took you away and later lost you on the way. "He harbored a slim hope that as long as you vanished without a trace, I wouldn't have any evidence against him, and he could continue denying it." "He took away the injured me?" I asked Atlas, finding it hard to believe.

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 684-The news left me utterly flabbergasted. How did he take me away?

"Yes, we finally located the only eyewitness, an elderly man gathering herbs on that mountain back then. Fate played its part, taking so many years to trace the one witness who saw the entire tragic incident." "Did he really witness the whole thing?" I found it hard to believe.

Atlas and his team must have put in tremendous effort to find the needle in a haystack after so many years.

"According to the old man, he was descending the mountain at the time, taking a break on a flat terrace. Then, he witnessed the scene on the road below. You should know that, abroad, very few people engage in herb picking."

Atlas sounded proud. "Our brothers worked tirelessly, year after year, investigating the incident site. They left no trace unexplored."

I nodded, acknowledging the challenging nature of their work.

"The old man said the situation was dangerous back then. The crashed car was on the verge of tumbling down, then it exploded. After our car exploded, he distinctly saw a tall, thin man getting out of that car, running down the slope on the side of the road, searching for something."

Atlas vividly described the scene, and as I strained to imagine it, a stabbing pain shot through my head. I dared not speak, fearing Atlas would stop narrating.

The events of that year held an immense fascination for me, and I longed to piece together the scattered fragments of information to form a complete picture. What exactly happened back then? "What then?" I asked, "How did he confirm it was a girl?"

"Not long after, that man was seen carrying a child. The child wore a pink dress, so he suspected it was a little girl. The child's limbs hung limply, indicating serious injuries."

My heart ached intensely.

"He took a photo from a distance using his phone. As the photo resolution back then was poor, it couldn't clearly capture the face," Atlas explained.

"But at that time, we didn't suspect it was Clark. Clark was Rory's classmate, and Rory had even helped him in the past, introducing him to ATL Empire. Then he became Rory's assistant, handling various tasks."

"How sneaky and despicable!" I spat out, gritting my teeth.

Seeing my indignant reaction, Atlas squeezed my hand. The car silently moved forward, and my heart was racing.

"We didn't suspect him because he stayed at AT Empire, working hard without a complaint for years. It wasn't until we found this eyewitness, and from the elder net man's description and the few preserved images, we identified Clark."

"He couldn't run away forever," I said through gritted teeth.

"Fate is inevitable. Just when we found you, we also found Grandma. We discovered the day Lucille died, who visited the Pierce home, and the video of him poisoning her. The entire thing was documented."

Atlas's words immediately reminded me of the grandmother who had preseryed the lchildhood photos of Atlas and me.

"Are you talking about Chelsea?" I looked at Atlas and asked.

When Grayson showed me the childhood photo of us, he mentioned Chelsea before.

I gazed at Atlas with a questioning look. "Grayson says that she hadn already left the Piercè residence long ago?"

"No, she left after Lucille's death!" Atlas corrected me.

I frowned slightly. Could I have misheard?

"Grayson said that to you because, at that time, he couldn't reveal too much to you. He was afraid you would get trapped and face danger,"

Atlas explained apologetically. "So, you mean Chelsea provided the video of him poisoning Lucille?"

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 685-will update soon

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 686-I looked at Atlas's expression with some concern.

He frowned and continued, "Later, when we found the elderly witness and investigated Clark in detail, we discovered that Clark left ATL Empire after all these events took place. As you know, ATL Empire was still under Celine's control at that time."

"Are you suggesting that he might have had a fallout with Celine, and no one got what they wanted in the end?" I speculated.

"We found some strange clues during our investigation. At one point, Celine was actively looking for him and even issued a killing order against him. That was

strange. Why would Celine want Clark killed? "Clark must have known something or been involved in something," I replied.

Atlas nodded. "There must be some kind of secret here. It's just like when lan was killed. Our people followed these clues and discovered that Clark was acting suspiciously. His son, Jarvis, also escaped with him."

"It seems there's another factor at play here," I said, sinking into thought.

"That led us to think that Clark is connected to this. During their escape, it became evident that father and son were not in the same place from how often they communicated with each other.

"And when Clark was on the run, his mother and sister inexplicably disappeared. Now, it's likely they're no longer alive, which made Clark flee like a startled bird. That explains his current condition. He wasn't like this before."

As I listened to Atlas, I couldn't help but think of the Clark I had just seen. He must be tormented by extreme fear, or found no other ways to support his mental state. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so emaciated.

"Also, Jarvis has been spotted around Cirencester. His strange appearances indicate that he must have support there. Your father, who disappeared at that time, is probably unable to act for some reason or is being held captive."

The car had reached its destination, and I knew we were back in the underground garage of Pleca Park.

Atlas didn't rush to open the door. He sat silently in the car then said, "When I interrogated them today, it was clear that he had fallen into Jarvis's hands. But he must still be alive. If he were dead, Jarvis would have left that area."

As I heard Atlas's speculation, I felt like there was a huge hole in my heart. It felt painful and empty.

Atlas turned and tried to reassure me. "Don't be sad. We still have hope as long as he's alive. Once we bring him back I'll do everything I can to treat him. He will get better. I've already started contacting the best experts."

His words comforted me a little.

Without Atlas, I might never get, the chance to gee may father again. He was my only blood relation left in this world.

"Thank you, Atlas." I looked at his sharply defined, handsome fage. in didn't think he would never give up, evén if we were worlds apart.

"You silly girl, we're family." He gazed affectionately at me, then suddenly cupped the back of my head and pilled me toward him. Then be kissed me greedily for a while.

After our passionate moment, I asked him, "Wasn't anyone suspicious when Chelsea left the Pierce family residence?"

His recounting of events was thrilling, but the justice system worked meticulously, leaving no room for escape.

I did not expect Chelsea to have escaped their watchful eye alive with such crucial evidence.

"How did she manage to escape from the devil's lair?"

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 687-"She managed to escape that ordeal thanks to a major illness she had at the time. I think she probably faked half of it. After resigning voluntarily, she cleverly didn't rush to leave Nocturnia." "Oh?" I was surprised.

Atlas nodded. "She stayed there for a long time and observed the Pierce family until the bizarre rumors about them completely disappeared. Only then did she quietly leave Nocturnia."

"I was not in a good situation at that time. She was alone and powerless, and could not find out where I was. So, she kept her secret. When my people found her, she still continued to act confused and senile," Atlas chuckled helplessly.

"She did not take those things out until she saw me herself."

I couldn't help but admire Chelsea.

Atlas glanced at me. He looked exhausted as he opened the door.

We drove back to Pleca Park following the same route. It was midnight when we arrived. After parking the car, we took the elevator to the top floor and returned to our room.

I could not believe what had happened tonight. How could a conniving villain have shattered the happiness of two families?

After a quick shower, I sat on the bed with a heavy heart. I felt an inexplicable tension as I didn't know if the father I had never met was safe.

After all, Clark and Jarvis had been captured. What about my father? How was he doing?

If they just wanted to use my father as a bargaining chip to ensure their safety, why did Atlas say the situation was complicated?

It wasn't hard to imagine that someone else wanted to use my father as bait. But who did they want to lure? Atlas, or Celine?

The more I thought about it, the more nervous I became.

My father had already faced many hardships in his life. He had fallen in love with my mother, only to be rejected by her family. They had depended on each other their whole lives but ended up facing this tragedy. I didn't even know if he was aware that my mother was no longer alive.

He had been dedicated to his career, assisting Louis like a true friend. But due to his mistakes, we had ended up separated by life and death. Both families had been destroyed, and we had wandered alone for more than a decade.

If he was really being controlled by someone else, could his life be in danger? If he was still in there, what kind of situation was he in?

There must be a problem. Why would Clark say those things otherwise?

While I was lost in my chaotic thoughts, Atlas returned to the room after his shower.

His hair was still damp. I got out of bed and picked up a clean towel, gently saying to him, "Bend down. I'll dry your hair for you. It'll be faster that way."

"Sure." Atlas obediently bent down, and I dried his hair.

"When are you leaving? Tomorrow? Can I go with you?" I asked, "I want to go pick up my father.

After a moment of silence, Atlas straightened up, grabbed my hand, and looked at me seriously. "I can't take you with me this time, Chlo. It's too dangerous. I don't want you to take any risks."

He held my hand and said, "Besides, you being there would distract me.

Every extra minute I spend at that place would mean more danger. you have to understand me and listen, okay? Trust me, I'll bring you father back."

I looked into his eyes and found no reason to continue talking. He sensed the frustration lingering in my gaze. He set aside the towel in his hands and carried me back to bed, where he held me close.

"Don't worry, Chlo. We'll definitely see each other again. Just trust me and wait for my return," he reassured me with his arms wrapped around me.

I was a bit displeased, but deep down, I understood his reasoning.

My presence would distract him.

That was something I couldn't deny.

But this was my biologioal father we were talking about. How could possibly just sit here and wait? Every minute that passed without knowing how he was felt like torture.

With my mother no longer alive, I couldn't bear the thought of not seeing my father again.

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 688-When Atlas saw my melancholy expression, he spoke again. "Besides, we can't abandon business at the company and the final struggle for Avalon Hills while I'm away. And there's also the situation with Ardora. Oh, and you should watch out for Liora's comeback. See, those are all important too."

"Nothing is as important as my father! He's been hunted for so many years. He must be experiencing so much pain and guilt. Nobody knows how he's doing now. I'm his daughter… I should…" I expressed my inner turmoil.

Atlas lay me down on the bed, embraced me tightly, and tried to compromise, "Let's wait for the updates tomorrow. We'll see what information Dylan finds, then we'll decide what to do."

He patted my shoulder with his large hand. "Go to sleep now. You should finish your business and get ready to leave tomorrow. If the situation permits, I'll take you with me. I know how you're feeling right now."

I knew he was accommodating my request as he could not stand to see me unhappy. I felt relieved. I snuggled closer to him and closed my eyes, thinking about the tasks I needed to handle the next day. But suddenly, I opened my eyes and looked at Atlas, who was still awake.

"Atlas… will you let me see the surveillance footage that Chelsea saved?" I really wanted to see that video, to understand how my mother…

"Sure, but go to sleep now," he said, patting my shoulder. It was clear that he was trying to divert my attention. I knew he didn't want me to see that footage.

It was getting late. Rain started to fall softly. I lay in his arms and gradually drifted off to sleep.

The following day, the weather remained gloomy, and Atlas was no longer by my side. I touched the spot where he had slept beside me, which had already cooled. It seemed like he had gotten up some time ago.

Was there any news from Dylan?

I hastily got out of bed and went downstairs. My mother and Grandma Rose were chatting and enjoying breakfast.

When she saw me hurry downstairs, my mom asked, "Why didn't you sleep a little longer?"

"I have some things to do today. Did you sleep okay, Grandma?" I asked as I sat down beside her.

"It's quiet here, so I slept well. The air here is much better than in the city," she replied gracefully, her eyes shining with wisdom. I knew she was keenly observing everything. Nothing escaped her notice.

But since my mom was there, there were some things we couldn't discuss.

I didn't want my mom to sense that I had a lot on my plate right now. After all, I was afraid it might hurt her.

She had always been my closest relative, even though she did not give birth to me. Anyone facing a situation like this would definitely feel a burden.

I was not sure who they were and how I had become their child. These were all questions I desperately wanted answers to, but could never ask.

I wanted to keep this secret forever. I wanted to continue being their daughter until they grew old.

"Where's Dad, Mom? Isn't he up yet?" I tried to hide my internal struggle.

My mom chuckled. "You know that's not going to happen. He's been working since early in the morning. Since we moved here, he's been so busy that he doesn't even have time for a nap. Atlas brought him a friend, Jay They've been working together seamlessly, and they're futt of anap energy."

I laughed. "Let him work then, but he shouldn't overwork himself. Remind him to take a nap. You need a healthy body to be productive."

"You're right. I tell him that. He always had his nose in books and now he's reading again, studying landscape design. Atlas has transformed him from a PhD bol.net in chemistry into a landscape designer," Mom teased with a smile.

I was skeptical about my mother's words because I did not know that my dad was a PhD holder in chémistry.

"Dad has a PhD in chemistry? Why didn't I know about this?" only knew that my dag was d teacher at the Ideal college. How did he become a PhD holder?

As soon as I asked, my mom's smile froze, then she quickly recovered and explained, "He used to teach chemistry, and his students gave him the nickname 'Dr. Chemistry. He's not a real PhD holder." "Oh," I responded, but I could sense a momentary slyness in my mom's eyes.

I felt like my mom had just told me a lie.

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 689-The spontaneous remark from earlier might actually be the truth.

It seemed like my mom was hiding something from me.

I finished my meal calmly, spoke briefly to Grandma Rose, and went upstairs to change. I planned to check on Lauren and examine my arm later.

I tried calling Atlas on the way, but he didn't answer. I was puzzled. What could he be doing so early in the morning? I was worried that there might be news from Dylan. But it was unlikely, since only a short time had passed.

When I arrived at the hospital, I saw Lauren losing her temper. Only Lauren and Oliver were present in the ward. As I entered, I sensed an uncomfortable tension in the air.

A thermos was on the bedside table. Oliver had probably brought it here for Lauren.

Oliver stood by the bed, and Lauren seemed distant and cold. When she saw me, she seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

I walked over, said hello to Oliver, and turned to Lauren. "How are you feeling today?"

"Not great," she replied coldly. "Help me see my guest out, Chlo."

I felt a little awkward. She was clearly giving Oliver the boot, and I was caught in the middle.

I gave him an apologetic look, but he ignored me and said, "Do you really have to be like this, Lauren?"

"Yes. Oliver, I've made things clear to you. I don't want to repeat myself."

I chuckled, trying to ease the tension. "Don't be mad, Lauren. I know you're anxious, but it'll get better with time. Talk to Mr. Oliver properly while I'll go check on my arm."

I wanted to make an excuse to leave and allow them to talk things out again.

"You don't need to make excuses, Chlo. You should stay here today. Don't go anywhere." Lauren called me back, not giving me any leeway. I knew her personality. Once she made a decision, no one could sway her.

It was just like when she wanted to stay by Oliver's side back then. Even though it meant facing criticism from the entire city, she never once wavered.

She turned to Oliver and declared, "We can't go back to what we used to be.

Please don't waste any more time on me. I've done what I needed to do. From now on, I won't follow you on your journey anymore. I felt a little awkward and gulped nervously, avoiding eye contact with Oliver.

The atmosphere in the ward was oppressive, and I could feel Oliver's embarrassment and regret.

"I know I messed up, Lauren. Please give me another chance. Let me take care of you from now on. I owe it to you," Oliver pleaded, his tone humble and his voice hoarse.

"Just let it go! The past is in the past.

I don't want to think about it, and I certainly don't want anyone bringing it up.

Nobody owes anyone anything. I chose to spend that time together, but now I want a different life I'm tired and I don't want to walk the same old path!"

Her breath was weak, but her determination was evident.

"I don't need anyone to look after me, especially not you, because you can't.

You know that I was the one taking care of you before this. You weren't born to care for others You're up there, asserting your dominance… Let me go. That would be the best way for you to care for me! Please respect my wishes."

Her words were firm, creating an awkward situation for me as I was caught between them.

"Don't do this, Lauren. I made mistakes, but…"

You weren't wrong, Oliver. You're a man, and you should fulfill your promises. I believe you said what you were really feeling. You don't need to go back on your word, especially since it was a promise to the dead! I totally understand."

As soon as Lauren finished, I saw Oliver's face turn deathly pale, and I felt a shiver go down my spine.

It seemed Lauren would never get over what Oliver had done.

Oliver's wife was brilliant. She set up a dead end for both of them before she passed away. Unfortunately, Oliver was playing along.

I couldn't understand Oliver's emotions and thoughts at that moment. Did he feel guilty toward his wife? Was that what had led him to sacrifice the feelings of a woman who was still living to keep his promise? He had said such hurtful Words and broke Lauren's heart.

The atmosphere in the room grew heavy. Lauren was breathing weakly, but her resolve was firm. Oliver clenched his hands at his sides, and he seemed to be undergoing a painful internal struggle as he looked at her.

How could Lauren endure such torment?

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 690Lauren did not give him a chance to speak and continued in a weak voice, "You don't need to feel guilty or anything. You don't have to take a woman like me to heart."

Her words were self-deprecating.

"Lauren…"

"Even if you do want to break your promise to your wife, you can easily find someone more suitable for you since you're an important man. I'm sure it won't be me. In the eyes of you and your wife, I'm just a shameless, lowly socialite.

I'm not good enough to step into your home, let alone be your wife."

"It's not like that. Please don't misunderstand me," Oliver seemed anxious, and took a step forward to explain.

Lauren raised her hand to stop him, "You don't need to explain anything. Your words and actions have already said it all. I'm sure that I'm still smart enough to figure out what you want. Your wife is formidable. She triumphed over me even in death. She's looking down on me from beyond the grave. I have to admit defeat."

As Lauren spoke, a sad smile appeared on her lips. It was heartbreaking to watch.

"I was driven by vanity in the past, but I've grown up. I knew I had no value to you back then. I was just a tool, just an accessory, but I have no complaints."

She took a breath and her face grew even paler. "But now, I want to live for myself. I want to live with dignity, and I don't want to depend on anyone else. I used to be just trash, but now I want to change."

Oliver watched as Lauren's face turned colder and more desolate. "I've never looked down on you, Lauren. I just thought you would understand me no matter what I did."

Lauren suddenly burst into laughter. "Understand you? No matter what you say or do? You overestimate me! I don't understand you, and I don't want to understand your game with your wife." "Chlo, please escort Mr. Oliver out. I need some rest," she said, looking at me.

"Give me a chance to take care of you. You've always been the one who took care of me. Don't treat me like this. You might hate me, but give me a chance."

Oliver looked at Lauren determinedly. He seemed concerned, but his eyes also held a hint of self-pity. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

It was hard to imagine that Oliver, who was a prominent figure that many people admired, would be so humble at this moment.

The Oliver I knew had always been aloof and would look down on everyone else with cold detachment. In the business world, everyone saw him as a chance to increase their wealth. He rarely spoke and merely observed those who fawned over him in disdain.

"Don't put me on the spot. Why would I possibly give you a chance? You've taken back everything I could ever have. Why are you here now, asking me this?" Lauren's tone was resolute.

Lauren put away her sorrowful smile and looked up at the ceiling. She said softly, "I hope I'll have my own home, a loving partner, and children.

Even if have to scrape by, I'm willing to accept my fate as long as no one controls my life."

It sounded like she was making a wish for herself.

She turned to face Oliver. "I don't want to be haunted by curses until I die, Oliver. I want to live my own life. I want true independence."

Oliver's jaw tightened, but still he said nothing and listened to Lauren's accusations.

"I won't live without dignity. I won't be a puppet under your control. I refuse to live watching your every move and be gowed by your moods. l used to be cheap, but I want to live with pride for the rest of my life. Can you just let me go?"

"Lauren, I know I haven't been good to you in the past, but when you left, it really made me think about my behavior I was Selfish, so i don't blame you for anything that.

happened." Oliver's words surprised me. I couldn't believe what he just said.