Ch. 1821..1830

Chapter 1821

Chapter 1821

Maisie's expression shifted, but Daniel held her hand tightly, sporting a calm smile.

"I suppose it has nothing to do with maintenance but one's charisma," he enunciated. "Who doesn't age? When Maisie reaches your age, I believe she'll be an elegant and beautiful lady. Time will only make her more composed, not mean and petty."

He glanced at Maisie with love after uttering those words.

Everyone around heard what he said. Those who were gloating started to whisper among themselves.

Wilfred felt humiliated. Just as he was about to change the topic, Delilah, who was next to him, struck again.

"I can't believe I made Mr. Quimby say something so romantic from my joke! Seems like you really love Ms. Squire. But I heard that... she hasn't agreed to your proposal? I wonder if you'll be with her until she's old."

Maisie looked up at her, meeting her arrogant gaze.

"Time's up, Ms. Squire. Get married. Seize that you're at your peak! Don't wait until your hair turns white..."

"If I really waited until that day came, wouldn't I already be growing older with him?" Maisie finally struck back with a smile.

Daniel was taken aback. His heart skipped a beat, but he didn't show it.

Her voice was soft yet powerful. "Marriage is just one form of love. It's not everything. Also, I haven't agreed to his proposal just yet. Meanwhile, someone is married, but... she seems unhappy." Delilah's eyes sank. She looked at Maisie coldly.

"Daniel and I are different." Maisie chuckled. "Even though we're not married, we only love each other. Even if I didn't marry for the rest of my life, I'd stay with him forever. When my hair turns white, then it'll be my veil. I think it's quite romantic. What do you think, Mrs. Newhouse?"

Just then, some whispers came among the guests.

"Hey, that sounds pretty romantic!"

"Was she talking about Ms. Delilah, who is unhappy with her marriage?"

"I think so... They say scholars tend to scorn each other. It's quite interesting to see two authors argue. Haha!"

Maisie held Daniel's arm, leaning on him coquettishly. She smiled at him sweetly.

Delilah's eyes turned grim as she had dug her own grave. She turned around and left.

Wilfred kept apologizing and continued the conversation. He wore a plastic smile while complimenting Maisie's talent.

"Ms. Squire said that a full head of white hair is a veil... That's fresh. Hahaha!"

The people around couldn't help but laugh when they heard how awkward his laugh was.

"Umm... I'm sorry, Mr. Quimby and Ms. Squire." Wilfred was embarrassed. "My wife is used to getting her way. She's doing whatever she wants just because of her little status among the authors. I hope that you won't mind her!"

Daniel smirked. "Mr. Newhouse, I don't think I'm a gentleman. On the contrary, I'm vengeful!"

"Please, Mr. Quimby!" Wilfred's facial expression changed. "I guarantee that I'll recommend Maisie to some screenwriters when the opportunity arises. Maybe we can work together..."

"Are you sure the screenwriters you're recommending are better than those from the entertainment company under the Hamertons of Centrolis?"

"I..."

"Sol Entertainment's founder, Nicholas Thompson, is my brother-in-law. Imperial Media's director, Zephyr Hamerton, is a good friend of theirs. If Maisie really needs help, she doesn't need you or your wife's." "Yes, you're right." Wilfred nodded and bowed. A drop of sweat glided on his face.

"But I hope you'll open your eyes wide to look at the people around you. Don't let the wrong people stay in the right place!"

Wilfred was stunned. Just as he was about to speak, Daniel took Maisie away.

Chapter 1822

Chapter 1822

Wilfred immersed himself in deep thought as he observed their departing figures, particularly when his gaze lingered on Maisie. Daniel guided her to a secluded lounge.

The sight of blisters on her feet from the high heels pained him. Promptly, he instructed his assistant to send over a pair of comfortable flats. Retreating from the crowd, he embraced her naturally. A gasp escaped her lips as she gazed into his alluring eyes.

She returned the smile, seized his neck, and leaned coquettishly into his chest, allowing his embrace.

Her words echoed in his ears.

He was over the moon but dared not show too much of his feelings. He was wary that her declaration might be impulsive.

Daniel hesitated as he was concerned she might perceive him as overly eager, drowning in a sea of worries.

Maisie sensed his distress and asked, "What's wrong?"

"N-Nothing."

"Are you pondering what I said?"

He was stunned, almost pushing her away.

A bright smile adorned her face, her dimples seemingly holding all the goodness in the world. She urged him to release her, stood on tiptoes, and whispered in his ear, "I meant what I said." He attempted to suppress his emotions, but a smirk broke through.

"But... Not too fast, okay?" She held his hand and continued. "Whether it's love or marriage, I want it to endure. That's something I've never wavered on."

Daniel lifted his hand, gently caressing her cheek.

How was that the only thing that had never changed about her? She had remained unchanged from the beginning.

Her love for him remained strong. He believed he had lost the most precious thing in life. Never had he imagined that God loved him enough for her to come back to him after taking some detours.

He was teary as he suddenly embraced her and whispered into her ear, "I'm relieved to hear that."

"I want to be with you forever." She blushed. "I'm also willing to work hard to have a child with you."

Daniel gave her a peck on the forehead. Just as he was about to kiss her lips, a voice interrupted from the corner.

"Hey, can you not block the light?"

They were shocked!

The lounge was secluded, with only a dimmed light in the room. Standing by the window, they hadn't noticed a person in the corner since coming in...

The man removed his cap at that moment, revealing a mischievous smirk.

Maisie exclaimed, "Harvey?!"

Harvey was drawing. His pencil moved swiftly as if magic was cast on the sketchbook. There was a rustling noise from the friction of the pencil and paper. "Mm-hmm, stay still!" He lifted his hand and squinted, using the pencil to measure. "That's it, stay still!"

Daniel and Maisie looked at each other. They found it amusing, but at the same time, they felt a bit lost.

Chapter 1824

Chapter 1824

Chris orchestrated the collision with a person using a food trolley!

"Look out! The trolley is malfunctioning!" The attendant rushed toward Delilah with the trolley, appearing to be out of control.

The onlookers gasped.

Delilah was stunned, her mind going blank. Just then, Lena grabbed her and swiftly pushed her aside.

Fortunately, no one was harmed.

Lena held onto her while the runaway trolley was halted by a security guard who arrived just in time.

After they managed to come to a stop, Lena asked with concern, "Are you alright, Mrs. Newhouse?"

Panting, Delilah managed to force a smile after a long moment. If Lena hadn't acted swiftly to pull her out of harm's way, the trolley would have struck her!

Lena assisted her with her shawl and hair. They only parted ways after a brief chat.

Lena smiled when her back was turned. She deftly tucked the hair sample she had acquired into a small plastic bag.

The following day, Chris and Lena met with Daniel.

"This is Delilah's, and this is Jodie's." Lena handed him the samples.

Daniel smiled and gave them a thumbs-up.

Unexpectedly, he produced another sample and said, "This is Maisie's."

"Huh?"

"Test them together." He looked at both of them. "I'm even more convinced that Maisie is the real Jodie!"

Chris and Lena exchanged glances, agreeing with the speculation.

"I'm on it, Uncle Daniel," Chris affirmed. "Given our suspicions about Jodie, I'm sure she's on high alert.

"Lena mentioned two days ago that Jodie wouldn't let her get close. Even her female bodyguard has to maintain a distance... I speculate she might have realized something." Daniel frowned. "What do you think we should do?"

"I'll take the samples to the military hospital for testing," Chris confidently proposed. "If Jodie is genuinely guarding against us, she might try her best to destroy the test report. "Meanwhile, the military hospital has high security. I have my old comrades working there. She can't tamper with the samples!"

Daniel smiled and nodded. "Thank you."

"Let's go!" Chris scratched his head and shyly smiled. "Actually, I'm doing this as a favor."

"What favor?"

"I'd like to use your theme park for our anniversary. Can we do that?"

Daniel laughed and readily agreed.

Just then, Toph rushed over and quickly finished the drink they had ordered for him.

"What's up with you?" Chris teased, "You look so worn out. Tell me, where did you go last night without Arya?"

"I..." Toph attempted to resist, but he couldn't match the special forces. He was swiftly defeated.

"You're so clueless, Chris! How would a simple man like you know how tormented an artist is?"

"Wow! Are you seeking sympathy?"

Toph yawned. "It's true. My inspiration only comes in the middle of the night... Apart from working on Maisie's illustration, I need to deal with the Newhouses' family portrait..." "How did it go? Did you find anything?"

"Yes, I did!" Toph's eyes lit up. He took out his phone and displayed a picture of the painting.

Chapter 1825

Chapter 1825

The four individuals in the painting were captured during a recent cultural banquet, all dressed up for the occasion.

"Look!" Toph frowned. "Do you think they look like a family? They weren't smiling, and it seemed like they had something up their sleeves. You can't even tell they're related!" Chris pointed out, "Well, didn't Jodie stand close to Wilfred?"

"Hmm, they're the only ones who were smiling. Just a little bit, not much." Toph looked at him. "Chris, think about our family dinner. Even though we have irritating relatives, everyone just pretends when we take group pictures, right?

"Look at this family. They didn't even bother to pretend! Did you know that Delilah and Wilfred stood far away from each other at first? As if they didn't want to be together!"

"They've been married for a long time. Perhaps there's no longer love between them."

Toph pouted. "My parents aren't like that!"

Chris felt helpless. "Your family is something else. Don't always compare your parents with others, okay? Of course, my parents are quite loving, too."

"That's right!" Toph slapped his thigh. "Also, I was exhausted painting this picture! The four of them have different faces. There's almost zero resemblance between them! It's just Delilah who has a little similarity with... her son."

Upon closer inspection, they realized he was right-the four of them looked like strangers.

Daniel smirked, locking eyes with Chris and Lena.

It seemed the day the truth would be exposed was near.

Maisie's new book was progressing quickly. The announcement went well, thanks to Lily's pre-promotional efforts to gain more fans while the first book was still popular.

The draft of the comic was complete, and they were counting down to the announcement.

With the new authors achieving success and experienced writers winning awards, SL Publishing's reputation had spread globally.

Lily was over the moon, waking up with a smile from her sweet dreams.

She called Maisie to the office. "Isn't it amazing to have two books published at the same time?"

Maisie smiled. Indeed, her work gave her a sense of achievement.

"You'll be very busy soon!" Lily reminded her, "Your schedule will be filled with signing events. You might go on live streams to sell your books as well. This is a friendly reminder that you might not get off work early for a period. Tell Daniel that he'll be sleeping alone!"

Maisie blushed. "What are you talking about, Lily..."

"Oh yes, this is for you!" Lily handed her a contract. "This is the contract for the change of script. Your first book will be shown on the big screen!"

She was stunned. The surprise came too suddenly, leaving her momentarily speechless.

Although Lily had mentioned screenwriting before, she was not ready. Opportunities were given to those who were prepared, and she needed to push herself harder now.

"It's Wilfred Newhouse who is investing in the drama." Lily looked at her. "He's Delilah's husband. I'm sure you met him at the banquet."

Maisie nodded.

"He's investing, and he appointed you as the screenwriter..." Lily thought about it before continuing. "Unlike some men who cheat on their wives after gaining some success, he's considered a good man after being in the industry for years!

"Moreover, you're Daniel's girlfriend. He wouldn't dare to offend you. I guess he's buttering you up to kiss Daniel's ass!"

"Oh..."

"No matter what, this is a great opportunity!" Lily remarked. "Give your best in writing the script. I'll take a look at it when you're done!"

Maisie nodded. "Okay. Thanks, Lily!"

Someone texted her just then.

Chapter 1826

Chapter 1826

Maisie glanced at her phone upon leaving the office. A message from Wilfred awaited her. Despite his friendly tone, she sensed his respect. He proposed a meeting in the message, leaving the time and place to her discretion.

Contemplating for a prolonged moment, Maisie eventually decided to share this with Daniel.

"Can I meet with him?" she asked.

Daniel was taken aback. He had been assisting her in organizing book and comic drafts, and the request caught him off guard.

He raised his gaze, meeting her clear eyes that revealed a certain dependence on him.

Initially surprised and pained by this shift, Daniel recalled a time when Maisie relied on him entirely. She used to seek his guidance on every decision, from what to wear to what to eat, and even if she could go out. Careful not to offend, she was meticulous in her dealings with him.

Daniel was puzzled by her current demeanor as she approached. "What's wrong, Maisie?"

Only then did he snap back to reality.

"Can I meet with him?" she repeated, concern etched on her face. "Our conversation didn't end well at the banquet, so I'm worried that if I meet with him, you will..."

"It's different," he reassured her with a gentle smile. "I suppose he wants to discuss the script. That's business. Treat it as work. It's a good opportunity to delve into investment details. Just be cautious not to let him exploit you financially."

"Okay!" Maisie was relieved.

"Also..." Daniel hesitated, considering whether Wilfred would find Maisie familiar this time.

Recalling Wilfred's reaction at the banquet, Daniel noted, "The moment he saw you, he didn't look mesmerized, but shocked."

The expression on his face suggested that he had glimpsed someone familiar after a long time...

Was the bond between a father and daughter stronger than that between a mother and daughter?

"What?" Maisie teased, "What's wrong with you today? You're stammering, and you keep zoning out!"

Daniel looked at her and laughed at himself. "I'm old."

"You're not old at all!"

"Okay, I'm not old." He held her hands. "I'll grow old with you, so how would I dare to age first? Oh yes, do you want my attorney to go with you to work out the contract together?"

She paused for a moment before asking, "Can you... come with me?"

Her dependence on him made it feel like they had traveled back in time.

He chuckled and caressed her head, hugging her. "You'll need to learn to grow up, little girl."

"Daniel..."

"Okay. Since you'll be deciding the location, let's meet him at the Quimby Hotel."

Maisie looked at him coquettishly. She had full confidence when she was in his territory.

Chapter 1827

Chapter 1827

Delilah received a message from Wilfred asking to meet. The reason behind this rendezvous was a scheduled interview with a journalist.

To create a facade of trust, they disabled the passcodes on their phones, projecting an image of a devoted couple with no secrets. Even going as far as exchanging glances at each other's phones. However, when Wilfred handed his phone to Delilah, he never anticipated Maisie sending a message, instructing him on where and when to meet. This left Delilah looking distraught.

After the journalist departed, Wilfred coldly snatched his phone back, glaring at Delilah.

"You..." Delilah's voice trembled. "You're meeting with her?"

"That's none of your business. Don't interfere with my life!" Wilfred snapped.

This exchange had been repeated for 20 years, marking a marriage devoid of love and filled with resentment.

"I'm your wife!" Delilah stared at him intensely. "Of course, I want to know why my husband is meeting with another woman!"

She smirked, the sarcasm cutting deep. "It's been so many years... Even though I agreed to turn a blind eye to you having a mistress, you've never done that!

"I thought you liked the young and beautiful ones, but you never batted an eye on any of them! Ha! So, you've been saving yourself for that woman all these years. Why were you charmed as soon as Maisie showed up?

"Is it because she looks... like that woman?"

"Shut up!" he bellowed. "You'd better not spew nonsense. You know the consequences!"

"Consequences?" Delilah forced a smile and looked at him vengefully. "Haven't you been blackmailing me with my son? You're an animal, Wilfred!"

"I'm more humane than you." He scoffed ferociously. "Do you dare say that you have nothing to do with Anya's death? I don't know the details of the horrible things you've done, but I'm sure you're the mastermind behind all that!"

"Wilfred!" Delilah shrieked, "No matter how horrible I am, I brought up the daughter you have with that woman. How dare you—"

"That's what you owe Anya!" He roared, "If not for you, Anya, Jojo, and I would be the happiest family in the world!

"You brought up my daughter for me?" He sneered. "I brought up your son for you as well! You know very well whether he's a Newhouse!"

Delilah's face turned pale, shaking uncontrollably.

In his eyes, there was no love for a wife-only cold brutality, a thirst for vengeance that wished her dead.

After a long pause, he said, "We're similar, Delilah, so please stop kidding yourself. You'll take care of your son, and I'll take care of my daughter. It'll be enough for us to pretend we're a happy family to the world!

"There's just too much interest intertwined in our families. We can't get a divorce... Since we can't do that, let's torture each other until we die!"

Having lost his lover, being alive felt no different to him.

He turned to glance at her. "However, I'm happy that Jojo is close to you. That's the only thing I'm happy about regarding you!" He left.

Delilah looked at him viciously and crushed a vase on the chest.

Wilfred halted at the noise. "Are you out of your mind?!" He growled, "What are you trying to do?"

"Mom? Dad?" A voice suddenly came from outside the door.

Jodie knocked and walked in after realizing the door was unlocked, shocked to see the mess.

Chapter 1828

Chapter 1828

"D-Did you guys fight?" Jodie asked.

Wilfred's facial expression changed instantly. His eyes brimmed with love for his daughter, and his voice softened. "Ah, no! I'm discussing work with your mother, and we have a disagreement. She accidentally broke the vase. I-I'm looking for a band-aid for her!"

Jodie nodded obediently.

"Alright, Jojo," Wilfred said with a smile. "I'm going to the office. Can you take care of her?"

"Sure."

As he left, he turned his head to give Delilah a warning glance.

The smirk on her face bordered on a scoff.

What a touching father-daughter moment!

If he discovered that Jojo, whom he had pampered since childhood, was not his biological daughter with that woman, would he lose his mind?

Jodie's heart raced as she approached Delilah, concerned about the situation. She asked carefully, "Mom, what did—"

"Who are you calling mom?!" Delilah slapped her immediately.

Jodie hadn't seen it coming, and her head spun from the force of the slap. She staggered, almost falling to the floor.

Her cheek burned, and she tasted blood at the corner of her lips.

"Mom-"

"I've told you to stop calling me that!" Delilah vented her rage on Jodie, slapping her, pulling her hair, grabbing her collar, and throwing her against the wall. "You little, ungrateful! Do you think you deserve to call me that when you're a piece of shit?"

Jodie couldn't fight back or dare to cry out loud. She knew from a young age that the louder she cried after being hit, the more cruel the torture she would endure later.

She bit her lip hard and remained silent, wrapping her arms around her head and enduring the onslaught until Delilah tired herself out.

"Mom, p-please calm down," Jodie said. She was secretly angry but did not show it, forcing a smile. "I was wrong. I deserve this, so please don't be mad!"

Delilah panted as she calmed down and frowned when she saw Jodie's swollen lips.

Jodie quickly added, "I did this to myself. It has nothing to do with you!"

Delilah scoffed before saying, "Not bad."

Jodie forced another fake smile.

Living in Delilah's shadow for years, she knew she wasn't their biological child, while Wilfred remained unaware of the truth and continued to spoil her. That was Delilah's leverage. If Jodie went against her, she would reveal her real identity to the world.

Jodie coveted the status of the Newhouse heiress, along with Wilfred's fortune. She was willing to be Delilah's puppet to maintain the luxury and glory. Meanwhile, Wilfred believed Delilah treated Jodie well, fostering a newfound affection for Harvey and treating him like a precious son.

Chapter 1829

Chapter 1829

The moment Delilah settled on the couch, Jodie's gaze toward her underwent a transformation. A cold stare replaced the previous warmth.

Jodie had been subjected to her cruelty since childhood.

Before discovering her true identity, Jodie naively believed her mother harbored no love for her. In pursuit of that elusive affection, she went to great lengths.

It wasn't until she crossed paths with Cindy, Owen, and Nicole that the revelation about her true parentage unfolded. Delilah was not her mother.

From that point on, Jodie's character took a dark turn. She became willing to do anything to secure Wilfred's love and the coveted status of being the cherished Newhouse heiress. Jodie would go so far as to take a life if Delilah commanded it. She was ready to obey every whim.

Her existence felt like a precarious balancing act on a knife's edge. Each step brought agony.

To cope, she redirected her frustrations onto Harvey whenever she felt upset. A model child in her parents' presence, she transformed into a demon around Harvey.

She knew Harvey held the least significance in the family-he wasn't Wilfred's biological son. The Newhouses extended their generosity by making him one of their own.

Despite Delilah being his birth mother, he felt like a mistake to her. Wilfred's constant use of Harvey as a threat resulted in fluctuating treatment from Delilah, who occasionally found herself feeling disgusted by him.

Jodie exploited this situation to torment him.

"Why are you standing there?" Delilah looked at Jodie in disgust. "Make me tea!"

Jodie promptly served her tea and moved behind the couch to massage Delilah's shoulders. Only then did Delilah soften her frown.

She asked softly, "Mom, is dad really meeting Maisie?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Aren't you going to stop them?"

"Stop them?" Delilah scoffed. "Why should I? How is it bad for them to meet?"

Jodie hesitated before whispering, "I'm worried-"

"What are you worried about?!" Delilah interrupted her. "Your status?"

Jodie's hands froze.

Delilah turned her head, her sharp eyes piercing through Jodie's thoughts.

"Useless! The status of the Newhouse heiress doesn't belong to you! God has been generous to let you be the little bitch's substitute for over 20 years!" "Mom!" Jodie panicked.

Delilah scoffed, "To that old man, Maisie is Anya's substitute! So I won't stop them from meeting... Isn't it better for him to fall for her?"

"W-What are you talking about?" Jodie widened her eyes in shock.

She was indeed useless, only fixated on securing her status.

Meanwhile, Delilah was plotting something else...

"Haha! Hahaha!" Delilah suddenly burst into hysterical laughter, sending chills down Jodie's spine.

"Yes. I wonder if the amazing author Maisie can write such a plot herself. Hahaha!" She clenched her teeth. "I should've thought of this earlier! I should've brought Maisie to Wilfred instead of sending her Daniel's way!"

Jodie paled from the scare, continuously backing off until she hit the wall.

Chapter 1830

Chapter 1830

Jodie reminisced about the two decades she had spent living. Each step felt like a precarious tightrope walk, where any misstep could plunge her into a bottomless abyss. Cindy had informed her that her biological father served as the driver for the Ropers.

Back then.

Delilah caused a fatal car accident, resulting in Anya's death. Surprisingly, Jodie's biological father took the blame for Delilah.

During that time, Jodie was just a baby.

Cindy, fueled by a quest for justice, confronted Delilah, who callously remarked, "I've already transferred money to your husband's account. Don't be too greedy!"

However, Cindy wasn't easily deceived. She possessed evidence, a recorded conversation with her husband, showcasing Delilah's manipulation and his complicity in covering for her.

To pacify Cindy, Delilah suggested adopting Jodie, yet as a sinister act of revenge against Wilfred and Anya, she covertly swapped two children...

"This is that woman's daughter!" Delilah handed a girl roughly the same age as Jodie to Cindy. "Just don't let her suffer. You can scold or hit her. Up to you!"

Jodie inhaled deeply, sensing an unsettling chill creeping up her spine.

The wealthy life of over 20 years and the unconditional love from Wilfred-all belonged to Maisie. The hatred in her heart, ignited by this realization, coursed through her veins like a poisonous needle, causing a pervasive ache.

"Jojo? Jojo!"

"Huh?"

"What's bothering you?"

Jodie snapped back, meeting Cindy's concerned gaze.

Jodie forced herself to relax as she observed her trembling hands gripping the utensils.

"When you invited me for a meal, I sensed something amiss in your voice." Cindy placed sliced beef onto Jodie's plate. "Is it because of that woman again?"

"I..." Jodie felt aggrieved but struggled to express her feelings, remaining silent.

"Jojo, sometimes we have to swallow our pride." Cindy sighed. "Just endure it..."

"Endure it? How much more must I endure?" Jodie threw her utensils on the table, creating a sharp noise. "Don't you have the recording of dad taking the blame for her? Why not use it to protect me?" "Shh!" Cindy hushed her, glancing around in panic before lowering her voice. "Let me tell you the truth... Um, that recording isn't really your dad's..."

"What did you say?"

"Back then, I had no choice. I wanted to extort more money from her... So, I got someone with a voice similar to your dad's to make the recording. Maybe Delilah was panicking and didn't recognize it... But with today's technology, if I produce that recording again, Delilah might have it tested for authenticity! Then, everything we want to keep will be exposed!"

Jodie was taken aback. A deafening buzz echoed in her head.

"Jojo, I can't produce that recording again." Cindy looked troubled. "I used it to secure your future and keep you in the Newhouses. Look, you've surpassed your siblings now!

"You must stay in the Newhouses!" Cindy held Jodie's hand tightly. "No matter the obstacles, I'll clear them for you!"

"Really?" Jodie forced a smile. "And you can... eliminate Maisie too?"