Ch. 1661..1670

Chapter 1661

Chapter 1661

In the early morning, Sophia woke up slowly. She gently placed her hand on the man's bare chest beside her and kissed his lips.

Graham responded to her kiss with a smile. The night's pleasure had left them both a bit tired.

"Is James still asleep?" Sophia asked with a seductive smile, her fingers tracing his chest.

"He won't be awake at this time," Graham replied. He held her hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss. He was genuinely tired and couldn't fathom how a woman could have so much energy, wanting him endlessly every night.

She was nothing like Maisie, who always remained quiet, only revealing a pure smile when he saw her.

Graham froze. Why was he thinking of Maisie at that moment? He shook his head, feeling like he was going crazy.

"My dear, what's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing." Graham forced a smile.

"By the way, I want to discuss something with you," Sophia said, turning his face to her. "James is growing up, and I think... always having private tutors at home won't work in the long run. He should go to school and interact with kids his age. After all, he's the one who will inherit the Bayers' business in the future, right?"

Graham thought it over and looked a bit hesitant. "Well... we can't say for sure about the future. Haven't my parents entrusted all the family's business to Arya?"

Sophia smiled, secretly pleased. Arya stood no chance against her. She had already arranged for Arya to be knocked out and left at Fat Lawler's casino. Once Fat Lawler took her in, everyone would pin the crime of Arya's abduction on him and Daniel.

If Fat Lawler happened to be a womanizer, that would be even better... Sophia could use it as an opportunity to ruin the girl, making sure she'd never rise again. She could be the good guy in this matter. To Graham, she was the one who curried favors with Fat Lawler to save Arya. Graham would be indebted to her! However, she hadn't told Graham she had acquired all the documents Arya had been carrying. After all, she still hadn't obtained the company seal.

Sophia chuckled softly and said, "Your sister only likes painting. With her gentle nature, how could she possibly inherit the Bayers' assets? In the future, the Bayers' business will surely belong to you. As long as it's yours, I trust that you won't treat us unfairly."

"That's for sure!" Graham looked deeply into her eyes. "I've long considered James my own son, and I'll definitely nurture him well. As long as he works hard, he will be the next heir of the Bayers!"

"Mm!" Sophia kissed his face and grinned. "Graham, your parents entrusted the family's assets to your sister because they weren't happy with me! But now we have two mines and will make a fortune when their prices rise. They won't look down on me anymore!"

Graham felt his heart swell with joy as if all the goodness in the world was right within reach. When the two of them locked eyes, sparks of desire flickered. Graham sensed Sophia's eagerness. Despite some reluctance, he pushed himself to pin her beneath him. Hearing her moans brought him gratification. Just as they were about to take things further, his phone suddenly rang.

Reluctantly, Sophia released him, and he got up to answer the call. It didn't take long for his face to turn pale.

"What did you say? The prices of those two mines are dropping?!"

Sophia also had a bad feeling about it. She quickly threw on some clothes and turned on her computer.

Chapter 1662

Chapter 1662

The data they received was a mess. Both of them stared at it, wide-eyed, as if a lightning bolt had struck, leaving their minds blank.

"What's happening?" Graham asked Sophia, his voice trembling.

Equally bewildered, Sophia struggled to form a coherent response.

"We bought those two mines for 750,000,000 dollars! 750,000,000 dollars!" Graham shouted. "Weren't they supposed to increase in value? How did they plummet to 240,000,000 dollars now?"

"I... I don't know." Sophia's face turned pale. "This is impossible! I've been tracking mineral prices, and these two mines in Cumulus City were on an upward trend. They were supposed to be a safe investment!" "But look at it now!" Graham's lips quivered, sweat beads forming on his forehead. "Sophia, I took a 750,000,000-dollar loan from the bank for this! I owe the bank hundreds of millions now, not to mention the interest!"

"Graham, don't panic!" Sophia tried to reassure him. "Fat Lawler got us into this. I'll talk to him... We'll figure it out."

Before the scheduled time, Graham and Sophia waited in the restaurant suite. Graham had the hotel manager arrange a feast featuring the hotel's signature dishes for their meeting with Fat Lawler. The moment Fat Lawler arrived, Graham noticed the chilling look in his eyes. Fat Lawler's gaze was akin to a cat toying with a mouse, and Graham and Sophia were the helpless mice in his grasp. "You're being too kind," Fat Lawler said as he sat down, eyeing the spread of dishes. "No need to prepare so much for me. I'm getting older and can't handle alcohol. Drinking can make one forget their business, after all."

"Fat Lawler, I-"

Before Graham could finish, Fat Lawler waved him off to stop him from speaking. "I know. This is about your little sister, right? Don't worry. She's on her way here and will arrive shortly."

"Graham, what did I say?" Sophia got up and assisted Fat Lawler with food, trying to win his favor. "I've asked Fat Lawler for a favor, and he won't let anything happen to Arya. Everything that has happened is because of Daniel's schemes.

"However, Fat Lawler, we also came today with another matter in mind."

Fat Lawler feigned ignorance. "Well, go ahead and tell me."

Graham and Sophia exchanged glances and hesitated for a moment. Finally, Graham spoke up. "It's about those two mines... You must be aware that they've plummeted from 750,000,000 dollars to 240,000,000 dollars. This is unacceptable!"

"Unacceptable?" Fat Lawler smirked, his gaze darkening as it settled on Graham. "Mr. Bayer, you're in the investment game, aren't you? Heh, do you need a lesson in market risks from me?"

"But-"

"Luck plays a role, and mineral prices fluctuate. It's the market that dictates. What good is it for you to come to me?"

"Fat Lawler!" Graham was agitated and desperate. "You introduced us to this business. It's your recommendation that made me trust it. I even borrowed 750,000,000 dollars from the bank. What's the meaning of this now?"

Fat Lawler raised an eyebrow. "Oh, Mr. Bayer, you have quite the temper, don't you? How about this? Shall I find a buyer for you? These two mines are practically worthless now. I'll find you a buyer at the price of 240,000,000 dollars. What do you think?"

Graham was dumbfounded. Buy for 750,000,000 dollars and sell for 240,000,000 dollars? Did Fat Lawler think he was a fool?

Despite that, he was genuinely curious about this potential buyer Fat Lawler mentioned. Why did it seem that every time a critical moment arose, Fat Lawler could either provide him with bank loans or find a buyer?

Chapter 1663

Chapter 1663

"Fat Lawler, this is unacceptable," Sophia objected. "We invested a lot in these mines, hoping for significant profits. Selling them at such a low price now will lead to substantial losses. Moreover, the critical issue is... we still owe money to the bank!"

"What can you do about it?" Fat Lawler flicked his used cigarette butt into the ashtray, his smile carrying a hint of mockery. "By the way, wasn't this your idea from the beginning? I remember Mr. Bayer wasn't very interested in these two mines, was he?"

"You..."

Fat Lawler's expression became a bit more serious. "Mr. Bayer, you doubt your own judgment and instead believe in a woman who climbed her way up through shameless means. You brought upon yourself the losses you're facing."

"What are you saying?!" Sophia stood up suddenly, her eyes blazing with anger.

Fat Lawler looked at her sharply, and his subordinates in the room moved closer. Sophia's fiery temper was quickly extinguished.

"Mr. Bayer, would you like to know who this buyer is?"

Graham remained silent.

Fat Lawler signaled his men to escort the buyer into the room, and Graham was surprised to see that it was Daniel and... Maisie?!

He jumped to his feet, accidentally knocking over dishes and cutlery on the table.

Daniel held Maisie's hand and gave her a gentle smile. He pulled out a chair for her and then sat down beside her.

"Do you not know them, Mr. Bayer?" Fat Lawler asked with a smirk. "Do I need to make introductions?"

Graham and Sophia stood frozen like statues.

Daniel said with a touch of seriousness in his voice, "Mr. Bayer, I heard you have two mines worth 240,000,000 dollars now, and I'm willing to offer 250,000,000 dollars to help you out of this predicament. What do you say?"

"You... You..." Graham pointed at him, his hand trembling violently, unable to form a complete sentence.

He glanced at Maisie. She stared back expressionlessly, but a hint of pity flickered in her eyes. Perhaps he was nothing more than a clown to her now.

Daniel removed his coat and draped it gently over Maisie's shoulders. "It seems like the heating in this room isn't quite warm. Don't catch a cold."

Maisie turned to look at him and smiled sweetly. The once sparkling light in her eyes, which had belonged to Graham, now seemed to shine solely for the man sitting beside her.

Graham took in a deep breath, and cold beads of sweat trickled down his back.

"Mr. Bayer," Fat Lawler said, lighting another cigarette. "I kindly introduced a buyer to you. Why aren't you saying anything? Don't embarrass me here."

"The price... I can't accept it," Graham managed to say with great difficulty.

Daniel added with a grin, "Oh, by the way, you can take your time repaying the bank. I'm in no rush."

"What are you talking about?"

"I said, the bank belongs to me," Daniel stated. "The bank you borrowed from is the most well-known private bank in Cumulus City, and that bank... is owned by the Quimbys!" Graham felt a sharp pain in his chest as if his heart was about to stop beating. He turned to look at Sophia, who was equally pale and holding onto the table for support.

Chapter 1664

Chapter 1664

Daniel presented the loan documents, bearing Graham's unmistakable signatures, which seemed to taunt his ignorance.

"I believe we can resolve this matter in the following manner," proposed Fat Lawler. "Daniel, promptly transfer the funds to Mr. Bayer's account and repurchase the two mines.

"As for Mr. Bayer, it's only fair to settle your debts. Daniel has shown considerable generosity, and we trust you won't resort to dishonesty. After all, dishonesty doesn't align with the Bayer family's values, does it?"

Graham remained speechless, overwhelmed by regret and frustration.

"Speaking of the Bayers," Daniel began with a faint smile. "I've brought someone today that you may wish to see, Mr. Bayer."

With a clap of his hands, the private room's door swung open, revealing Arya's entrance.

Graham's initial surprise quickly turned into worry and anxiety. He rushed forward, urgently asking, "Arya, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Arya replied, her eyes slightly red. Although only a few days had passed since she last saw her family, it felt like an eternity.

Upon noticing Sophia, Arya's eyes filled with hatred as she pointed at her, teeth clenched. "Graham! It's this woman who had someone harm me!"

"What?!" Graham exclaimed, taken aback.

Sophia snapped out of her shock and rushed to Graham's side to defend herself. "I didn't do anything! It wasn't me!

"Arya, speak the truth! In these past few days, I've been searching tirelessly for news of you... I—"

"Stop lying!" Arya cried, her voice strained. "It was clearly you who had someone knock me out, and it was you who took everything from me! Are you still going to deny it, Sophia? Right now, your main goal is to get your hands on the company seals of the Bayer and Tanner Groups, isn't it?"

"You..."

"Unfortunately, I was prepared. I didn't carry the seals with me! So it's useless, even with those documents!"

Sophia gnashed her teeth and glared at Arya venomously.

Graham felt dazed, struggling to believe what he was hearing.

Daniel asserted sternly, "Mr. Bayer, I have evidence if you have doubts."

A screen descended slowly from the opposite wall, and with a simple nod from Daniel, his men played surveillance footage from that night. It revealed a dark alley, Arya's cries, and the menacing faces of those who had taken her backpack.

Sophia panicked, her legs giving way beneath her.

Daniel sneered. "And if the evidence isn't enough, I also have a witness."

He clapped his hands, summoning a man from outside who bowed respectfully to Daniel before placing a stack of money on the table. It was the money Sophia had given him to erase the video.

Daniel said coldly, looking at her, "Unfortunately, the street's surveillance cameras didn't fail as you hoped, and the person you hired was actually working for me!"

A heavy silence filled the room, and the tension hung in the air.

Graham remained stunned for a long while. When he finally comprehended the situation, he leered at Sophia.

"It was you? You kidnapped my sister and had people harm her? So everything was because of you?!" he roared, his incompetence fueling his anger.

Suddenly, he seized Sophia by the throat, veins bulging on his forehead. "I've treated you so well! How could you do this? Why did you do this?!"

Chapter 1665

Chapter 1665

"Graham, listen to me!" Sophia panicked, her words a jumbled mess. "I did this for our future! Your parents handed everything over to your sister, but what about us? What about James and me? Didn't you say you'd treat him like your own son? But we have nothing! How are we going to support him?"

"Shut up!" At that moment, Graham suddenly snapped out of his stupor. It had become clear that Sophia was always talking about how to support her son. What she didn't understand was that he was willing to treat James like his own son because he loved her, not because he owed her.

"Graham..." Sophia was in tears. "I know what I did was wrong, but I did it for our future. I hoped your parents would think highly of me, that we could get married smoothly, and that we—"

"That you could take over my family's assets in the future?"

"You-"

Graham roared, "Arya is my own sister! How could you do such a thing behind my back?!"

Sophia stood there, stunned. After a while, she screamed, "Graham! Are you spending your life with your sister or with me?"

Graham had had enough and finally slapped Sophia, venting all his regret and anger.

Sophia screamed and went wild, trying to scratch and claw him. They ended up in a brawl, with Graham's face bearing bloody scratches.

The police rushed in, first separating the two, then handcuffing Sophia.

Graham was dumbfounded. When the police took away Sophia, he couldn't explain the emotions he was feeling. He felt as if his soul had been extracted, as if he had shattered into pieces, and he could no longer piece together his true self.

After some time, the room fell silent.

Fat Lawler softly said, "This drama has finally come to an end... My dear friend, I've done what I came here for. The task is complete, so I'll take my leave."

Daniel nodded appreciatively and got up to see him off.

As they left, Maisie looked at Graham weakly. She instinctively moved closer to Daniel, taking his arm and saying softly in his ear, "Let's go, I... I want to leave this place."

"Alright." Daniel smiled indulgently and held her close in his arms.

Unexpectedly, as they brushed past Graham, the latter suddenly turned around and grabbed Maisie's hand!

Maisie was startled, and her face turned pale.

"Maisie..." Graham clung to her as if clutching a lifeline. "I... I know I was wrong before! Now, I finally understand that you are the best thing in the world! Maisie, please come back... I can't be without you! I truly can't be without you..."

Maisie was shaken by his fervent plea, almost losing her balance. Before Graham could finish, Daniel punched his face!

Graham let out a miserable cry as he fell to the floor.

Arya quickly ran over to support him. "Graham, are you okay?"

Graham still wouldn't give up. Arya could only hold him down desperately. "Graham, please stop! You were the one who wronged Maisie first. How can you say such shameless things now?"

"Yeah," Daniel added, shielding Maisie behind him and looking coldly at Graham. "Even your own sister shows more maturity."

Chapter 1666

Chapter 1666

Graham looked at Daniel with a mix of fear and resentment in his eyes.

"You didn't value what you had when you had the chance. It's too late now!" Daniel pointed at him, saying coldly, "If you dare to bother my woman again, you'll end up in prison with Sophia!" He then left with Maisie, leaving only the two siblings in the now-empty room.

Graham sat there, stunned and motionless. Arya watched her brother in anguish and couldn't help but shed tears.

"Graham..." She struggled to help him up. "You should have realized who Sophia really was a long time ago. If it weren't for her, our family wouldn't be in this situation today."

Graham sat there in pain, his eyes closed as he leaned against the wall, repeatedly banging the back of his head against it.

Arya reassured him, "I think Daniel probably just wanted to teach you a lesson and didn't intend to do anything extreme. Since the debt you owe is from his bank, we can try to appeal to him and ask for some time to repay it."

"Heh! Appeal?" Graham laughed bitterly. "I've lost everything now... Everything."

"You still have me and our parents!" Arya choked up. "We're still a family. If you apologize to them when you go home, they'll surely find a way to help you clear your debt."

"The debt I owe to the bank is hundreds of millions!" Graham laughed weakly. "Besides, Daniel is the mastermind behind all of this! He won't let me off. He won't!" "Graham..." Arya wanted to say more, but Graham staggered to the door. Each step felt like he was walking on cotton, unsteady and on the verge of collapsing.

Arya worried about his dazed state but was also afraid that saying too much would have the opposite effect. All she could do was let him have some quiet time to himself. Perhaps he would grow stronger by enduring this ordeal.

"Heh, he won't let me off," Graham mumbled to himself as he walked. "He won't let me off. He's taken everything from me... He didn't allow me to live a good life, so I won't let him live one either. We'll see..."

Kelly safely passed the critical phase, and her health gradually improved under Josiah's attentive care. Despite the considerable reduction of the Bayers' assets due to recent events, Josiah and Kelly reluctantly turned a blind eye when Arya used the company's assets to help Graham pay off his debts. They couldn't let their son suffer.

Fortunately, there was no Sophia in the family anymore.

Graham continued to be lost in his thoughts, spending his days locked in his room or pacing back and forth in the yard. He muttered to himself, and the household staff began to suspect he might have been bewitched.

Upon closer listening, they realized that he was saying things related to seeking revenge.

Graham couldn't understand why Maisie could quickly get together with Daniel after breaking up with him and why Daniel could manipulate him so thoroughly. If Daniel could do it, so could he!

Not only did he want to win back Maisie, but he also intended to make Daniel experience the same suffering he had endured.

Chapter 1667

Chapter 1667

Daniel reentered Maisie's world and often stayed in her apartment, claiming to watch over and protect her. Despite her attempts to refuse, she eventually relented.

While he had to settle for the sofa, he was content with it, believing he could sleep beside her one day. Daniel spent most of his time with Maisie, taking care of household chores and cooking her meals. Now, he truly understood how challenging it had been for her to do these tasks for him before and how much she had loved doing them every day.

Sometimes, Maisie watched him bustling around the house, puzzled by inexplicable dreams that haunted her. However, she admitted to feeling more at ease with Daniel around. He provided a different kind of comfort compared to what Graham had offered.

In the past, Graham often deferred things, saying, "wait until later", "when there's an opportunity", or "in the future".

In contrast, Daniel frequently assured her, saying, "I'm here", "leave it to me", and "don't be afraid". His words lacked overt expressions of love but were filled with care.

One day, Maisie had the day off, and Daniel was in the kitchen, carefully stewing carrot and beef brisket. It was a dish he had recently learned to cook, and he treated each ingredient and seasoning like a precise chemical experiment.

The aroma soon filled the apartment, and he smiled in satisfaction, covering the pot and lowering the heat. Just then, the doorbell rang.

Daniel was surprised to find Linda at the door. "Linda? How did you find me here?"

Linda teased, "I have some foresight. I knew I'd find you here. Your brother-in-law even suggested I go to Liz-Inn, but I told him you wouldn't be there."

Daniel invited her in, but Linda declined, handing over a bag of his clothes and some documents. "I brought these from my place for you." "Thank you," Daniel said.

Noticing Maisie wasn't around, Linda asked, "Is Maisie still sleeping?"

Daniel smiled softly. "She took the day off, and I wanted her to rest. She works hard during the week."

Linda expressed her surprise at Daniel's consideration, "I never expected you to be so considerate. Do you plan to keep living like this with Maisie?"

"Of course not," Daniel replied. "Continuing like this isn't a solution. I'll find the right moment to propose to her and make amends for everything I owe her." "But if she remembers the past..."

Daniel remained composed. "That's okay, too. Even if she hates me for the rest of her life, I won't let go of her hand again."

Linda sighed. "If you love her, you must take responsibility. Money, power, status-these aren't the criteria for evaluating a man. The most important thing is a man's sense of responsibility." "I understand, Linda."

Linda hesitated before adding, "Graham hasn't been in the best mental state lately. Nicholas and I have visited the Bayers twice, but there's still some distance between us due to what happened with you. It seems the relationship between our two families won't be the same as before."

Chapter 1668

Chapter 1668

Daniel lowered his head. "I've caused trouble for you and Nicholas."

"Don't think of it that way," Linda said gently. "The connections and separations between people are destined. If we trace it back, I'm the main culprit in this matter. I shouldn't have introduced Maisie to Graham in the first place."

"This time, I've caused you inconvenience," Daniel admitted earnestly. "I confess that what I did was pretty underhanded, using some unsavory methods. Don't worry. I won't do anything to the Bayers. As for the debts that Graham owes the bank-"

Before he could finish his sentence, Linda said, "Josiah and Kelly are both reasonable people. It's only right to repay debts. They'll transfer the money he owes to your bank account in installments." "In that case, I won't ask for interest," Daniel said.

Linda smiled, her expression a mix of approval and a touch of helplessness.

"As for Graham..." Daniel continued. "I'll never forgive him! He should have thought about this day when he was mistreating Maisie. Even if he's really suffering from a mental breakdown now, it's what he deserves!"

"Alright, you can save a bit of virtue for yourself! You're not a saint either..."

Daniel looked up at Linda. In that brief moment when the siblings locked eyes, they both laughed.

"What's this smell?" Suddenly, Maisie's voice came from inside the house.

Daniel was taken aback and quickly turned around, only to find Maisie, clad in pajamas and slippers, hurrying into the kitchen.

Daniel had also noticed the unusual smell.

"Oh, it's burnt!" Maisie exclaimed, frantically turning off the stove and using a rag to lift the lid of the pot.

"What's this?"

"I made carrot and beef brisket..." Daniel was anxious and frustrated. He had finally decided to show off his cooking skills in front of her, and now...

"You forgot to add water, didn't you?" Maisie wrinkled her nose. "The carrots are all roasted!"

"Water?" Daniel was momentarily stunned and quickly pulled out his phone to check the recipe.

All the other ingredients were there, but he had really forgotten to add water!

Seeing how he was sweating, Maisie chuckled. "Mr. Quimby, you were simmering on low heat the whole time without adding water or keeping an eye on it. Of course, it's going to burn!"

"Oh..."

"Alright, alright, get out of here!" Maisie playfully pushed him out. "I'll take care of this. You're not great in the kitchen."

"I can do it, I-"

"Get out!" Maisie pushed him out with a chuckle and began cleaning up the aftermath easily.

Daniel, though not very helpful, still busied himself by handing her a cloth or a wet towel here and there.

Linda watched from a distance with a smile, closed the apartment's door, and left quietly.

She had already seen that Daniel was now living a very happy life and believed he wouldn't repeat the same mistakes as in the past.

Linda walked downstairs and remembered that Lina's prenatal check-up was today. She called Lina but heard a slightly anxious tone on the other end of the line. "Mom, things are a bit chaotic on my end... Car I call you back in a bit?"

"What's happened?" Linda frowned. "Pammy, what's going on over there? Don't scare me!"

"It's not me!" Lina sighed. "Zuko accompanied me to the prenatal check-up today, but we ran into Toph and Arya at the hospital. We thought something had happened to them, but it's... It's Graham." "Huh? What's wrong with Graham?"

"Graham got beaten up," Lina said, sounding worried. "Mom, I can't explain it all right now. Graham's still in the emergency room. I'll call you once things get better!"

Chapter 1669

Chapter 1669

Graham's sense of leaving his body overwhelmed him. He felt weightless, suspended in the emergency room, watching the frantic doctors and his lifeless body below. He sighed, sensing a pending release. His mind remained clear, but he lacked the will to fight for his life.

The conflict with Wesley had triggered this predicament.

A few hours earlier.

Wesley was already a mess following his divorce from Nicole and had sunk even lower. It was that fateful day that Graham accidentally crossed paths with Wesley while the former was drowning his sorrows in a small bar.

A heated argument escalated into a physical brawl.

Wesley was sharp-eyed. He swiftly recognized Graham as the heir of the Bayers and used Maisie's situation to taunt him.

Enraged, Graham threw a punch. Despite initiating the fight, he was no match for the larger, stronger Wesley, who sent him to the emergency room.

Graham couldn't shake the memory of Wesley's hurtful words.

"The Bayer heir is nothing special-can't even keep a woman! Did Daniel steal her from you, huh? Hahaha!

"Graham, have you ever considered you've been duped? Daniel's closeness to Maisie was deliberate!

"You're worthless. Even your fiancee can be stolen by another. You can't even be called a man!"

Suddenly, as if by an invisible force, Graham's soul was yanked back into his body. The nearby electrocardiogram monitor started beeping, and the nearly flat line turned erratic.

The doctor put away the defibrillator and wiped his brow. "The patient's heart rate has returned. Administer the medication."

Graham's tightly shut eyes quivered slightly.

How did Wesley possess such knowledge about Daniel and Maisie's relationship? Could there be a hidden history, a past no one knew?

He had to find out. He couldn't die-he couldn't let Daniel manipulate him in vain. He had to reclaim everything from Daniel!

The temperature had dropped significantly in recent days. Although the house was well-heated, the living room couch was hardly a comfortable place to sleep. Watching Daniel endure chilly nights under a thin blanket on the couch tugged at Maisie's heart.

One night, after Daniel sneezed multiple times, Maisie stood at the bedroom door, her voice soft as she asked, "Don't we have a guest room? Why don't you sleep there?"

Daniel chuckled softly, revealing his reason for staying in the living room. It was the closest room to her, and he wanted to be near her at all times. Besides, sleeping in the guest room wouldn't be the same. "It's fine." He continued casually while arranging the blanket. "I'm tough. I won't catch a cold. Plus, I want to be close to you."

Maisie's heart skipped a beat, and she blushed discreetly.

She turned back into the bedroom but left the door slightly ajar. The warm glow from her room bathed Daniel's world.

He smiled, lying on the couch, unable to sleep.

Inside the room, another person remained wide awake.

The night was dark, and snowflakes fell outside. The warm light persisted.

Maisie was curled under her blanket, and her world was nothing but the quiet rhythm of her heartbeat.

Daniel's deep voice suddenly broke the silence. "Maisie, if you're still awake, can I make you a warm glass of milk?"

"Um, it's not necessary," Maisie replied softly. "Mr. Quimby, are you... cold?"

"You're still calling me 'Mr. Quimby' at this point?"

Maisie didn't respond. Her small face was buried in the blankets while her eyes betrayed a hint of shyness and affection. She had grown fond of him.

Chapter 1670

Chapter 1670

This feeling of affection for her had started when they first met.

After a while, Maisie's soft voice pierced the night's silence. "Daniel..."

Daniel was surprised, and his heart began to race. "What did you say?"

Maisie bit her lip, her cheeks flushing as if she had a fever. She was about to speak when a sharp pain gripped her lower abdomen. She gasped and curled up in bed.

Daniel sensed something was wrong and rushed into the bedroom. "Maisie, what's wrong?"

He gently turned her and saw her pale face. "Maisie?"

"I... I'm fine." Maisie forced a smile. "It's just a stomachache. I'll be okay if I rest for a while."

Daniel's initial thought was that it was her time of the month. He reached for her hand, speaking softly. "I'll go make you some hot chocolate."

"No need." Maisie stopped him. "It's not that..."

"What is it?"

"It's an old problem," she said weakly with a smile. She had been like that for the past two years, experiencing sporadic pains on both sides of her stomach. There was no regularity, but it would pass on its own without needing any medicine.

Daniel frowned as he suddenly remembered what the doctor had told him years ago. After losing their child, the doctor had regretfully informed him that she might never conceive again.

He held her hand firmly. "Maisie, let me take you to the hospital."

"Really, it's not necessary!" Maisie laughed. "I just need to rest."

"I'm taking you to see a doctor!" he spoke with determination.

Maisie hesitated for a moment, seeing the seriousness in his gaze but not detecting the regret and tenderness hidden within his low, husky voice. She smiled gently, closed her eyes, and buried her face in his palm. "Alright. We'll do as you say."

Daniel stayed by her side until she fell asleep, gently stroking her hair and recalling the torment she had endured. His heart twisted with pain.

The next day, Maisie couldn't resist his persistence and went to the hospital with him. Daniel knew a doctor there and took care of all the arrangements. His assistant brought him the documents that needed attention that day.

"You should handle your work first," Maisie said. "The doctor won't be here for a while, and I'll wait here. Besides, I'm seeing a gynecologist, so you can't come in with me."

"Alright." Daniel hesitated for a moment before agreeing. Before leaving, he gently kissed her forehead, and they exchanged smiles before parting.

A nurse led Maisie to a VIP lounge on the upper floor. Just as she turned the corner, she was surprised to come face to face with a familiar face.

Maisie was startled and instinctively wanted to avoid the meeting, but it was too late.

"Maisie?" Graham broke free from the two nurses assisting him and hobbled toward her. "Maisie, it's really you!"

"You..." Maisie looked at his severely injured appearance with surprise. "How did you end up like this?"

"I ended up like this all because of you..." Graham's eyes were filled with resentment, and his speech was disjointed. "Maisie, I really regret it... so I went out for drinks, and then I got into a fight with someone... I ended up like this, all because of you!"

"What are you talking about?" Maisie instinctively took a few steps back to put some distance between them.

Graham stepped in front of her. "Maisie, do I still have a chance? Can you not be with Daniel? Come back to me, please."