Ch. 861..870

Chapter 861

Charlotte then questioned Genevieve once more, "Does Johanna really have no feelings for him? I'll kill you if I end up being the third party."

"Couldn't you tell? You flirted with him multiple times, but she didn't even spare the two of you a glance, merely eating her fill."

Charlotte patted her chest, relief suffusing her at long last.

If it weren't for her having spouted nonsense while intoxicated that day and her father's interference, leading to her indirectly causing the fragmentation of Timothy and Johanna's relationship, she wouldn't have agreed when Genevieve texted her to ask for her help in testing Hector out.

After all, she had always been the one picking her prey. Besides, she had zero interest in someone like Hector.

All of a sudden, she smelled a faint scent of perfume. Sniffing, she leaned close to Genevieve. "Hey, I seem to have smelled the perfume on you someplace, Genevieve."

Genevieve's heart skipped a beat, but her expression remained calm and unruffled. "It's Rose of No Man's Land, a public favorite.

As such, it isn't surprising that you've scented it before."

"Really?" Charlotte's brows knitted together.

But the girls in my circle love using seductive perfumes with heady fragrances. Hardly anyone uses this type of perfume.

"For the sake of your hard work today, I'll foot the bill for the clothes and handbags you choose." Genevieve forcibly changed the subject.

As someone was offering to pay for her, Charlotte naturally agreed in delight.

Meanwhile, Yuvan asked urgently upon arriving at the doctor's office in Baykeep, "What are the test results, Dr. Lawson?"

Following Sylvie's deception, he was exceedingly careful this time. He sought out his art professor's husband-Kaden Lawson-a doctor at General Hospital of Baykeep, and had him furtively ask a friend to help perform a DNAtest.

Kaden took out a folder from his drawer. "This was delivered an hour ago. See for yourself."

The folder was sealed, so Yuvan hurriedly tore off the seal after taking it. Drawing a few sheets of paper out, he flipped right to the end to look at the test results.

The line "it's concluded that the two parties are not related by blood" had his heart sinking.

How could this be? If Genevieve weren't Grandpa's granddaughter, why would I have such a strange feeling toward her? And why is she the only one who can make him happy among his many grandchildren despite being an outsider? Also, why would he have such a favorable impression of her?

Nonetheless, Kaden was his art professor's husband and had worked at General Hospital for decades, so he believed the DNA test couldn't have gone wrong.

Noticing the grim expression on Yuvan's face, Kaden queried, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Yuvan put the papers back into the folder and flashed him a forced smile. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

When Yuvan had left, Kaden quickly shut his office door and made a call. "He looked at the test results in front of me and also took the report with him." Chuckling, the person on the other end of the phone replied, "Don't worry, for your wife will be fine. Oh yes, remember to keep your mouth shut. Otherwise..." At the threat, Kaden broke out in cold sweat. "I know."

After accompanying Charlotte shopping, Genevieve headed to Johanna's place to pick her two children up. They all then went back to Swallow Garden.

Steven returned at a little over seven o'clock at night. Apart from a sumptuous dinner, he also brought back a bouquet of white tulips.

Unlike the delight she felt upon receiving pink roses the previous time, Genevieve was already numb to it all.

"I've already found Lucian and Amanda a school, Mrs. Faulkner. After getting them ID cards, they'll be able to enroll in September." Steven handed a copy of the school's information to Genevieve. Genevieve gave birth to Lucian and Amanda in Dartan, so their citizenship followed suit.

Alas, Chanaea didn't allow dual citizenship. If they wanted to study in the country, they had to apply for a Chanaean ID card and become Chanaeans.

Back when she gave birth to them both, Jack was the one who handled everything. He was also their guardian. Therefore, his signature might be required to transmit their citizenship then.

Chapter 862

After dinner, Genevieve gave Jack a call while standing before the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room to inform him about that matter.

"Hello, Genevieve. He's busy." It was Lilian who answered the phone.

Casting her gaze at the scenery outside the window, Genevieve pursed her lips and declared, "I'd like to transmit Lucian and Mandy's citizenship. At that time, I'll send the documents over to Dartan. Have Jack sign them."

When she had finished talking, Lilian went silent for a long time on the other end of the phone. Hence, she couldn't help calling out, "Lilian?"

A long moment later, Lilian ventured, "I've got something to discuss with you, Genevieve. Lucian and Mandy are considered Jack's children in name. Can you allow Mandy to retain her Dartan citizenship and be my daughter?"

Before Genevieve could respond to that, Lilian added, "The miscarriage back then caused me great harm. The doctor said it'd be almost impossible for me to get pregnant again. The Helt family is one of the oldest families in Dartan and has been handed down through the generations. I don't want the family to fall apart at my hands."

"Isn't Jack by your side? With him there, Helt Corporation will be fine," Genevieve asserted.

Lilian's breathing deepened. A long while later, she gave a bitter chuckle and lamented, "But he's still human and will grow old. Instead of having him nurture someone else to be his successor, I'd rather hand the family over to Mandy in the future."

Both Armand and Genevieve had excellent genes.

As such, their son, Lucian, had been calm and shrewd since he was young. In the face of danger, he turned things around multiple times. The same went for Amanda. With just some nurturing, both of them would grow up to be outstanding individuals.

Genevieve lowered her eyes in contemplation.

Considering Armand's current attitude, she felt pretty disheartened. On top of that, Sally, who had an influential family background, was targeting her.

If Amanda were to become Lilian's daughter, it would be equivalent to having the entire Helt family backing her up. If something happens to me, Lucian and Amanda can go to Lilian. Thus, this deal is wholly beneficial to them both.

For the sake of her two children, Genevieve agreed in the end.

The next morning, she went to the police station. After filling the documents and signing them, she packed everything and couriered them to Dartan.

It turned out that Sally was far more ruthless than Genevieve imagined.

After seeing her in the restroom at the barbeque place previously, Sally said nothing, but she used her connections to make a move against the production company again upon returning home.

The celebrities with Genevieve Orsi Productions who had made a name for themselves in the entertainment industry received calls telling them that the company offended someone they couldn't afford to offend. Besides, other companies offered them an olive branch and were willing to pay the liquidated damages for them. As such, they all terminated their contracts with Genevieve Orsi and posted a statement on Twitter in the next second.

In a mere few days, all the top and medium-ranked celebrities with Genevieve Orsi Productions had terminated their contracts with the company, leaving only three or four ordinary celebrities who couldn't even obtain a few supporting roles in a year.

Even the managers Genevieve Orsi enticed over from other entertainment companies with high pay a few years ago terminated their contracts with the company.

The television shows and endorsements Genevieve Orsi accepted on behalf of their celebrities led to massive losses on the advertisers' side as the celebrities couldn't fulfill the contractual obligations after terminating their contracts. All liquidated damages were to be borne by Genevieve Orsi.

The colossal loss of celebrities and managers, coupled with the sky-high compensation paralyzed the company.

All the netizens were stunned.

After all, Genevieve had just hosted a press conference a few days ago and clarified to the public that Rachel's suicide stemmed from her money-grubbing mother. Her efforts to turn the tide had restored the company's reputation.

Unexpectedly, things took a turn for the worse a few days later. Genevieve Orsi's celebrities left in droves, putting the company on the brink of ruination this time.

Cooper phoned Genevieve and asked whether she needed any help. Afraid that Sally would turn her wrath on Specter Corporation, Genevieve declined.

Chapter 863

Genevieve had been so busy in the past few days that she was physically and mentally exhausted.

Genevieve contacted the celebrities who had made a name for themselves in the entertainment industry regardless of whether their contract had ended, but it was evident that someone on Sally's side had warned them beforehand.

Celebrities were also ordinary people, so they didn't dare go against the authorities, especially one with Sally's family background. Consequently, they all turned her down.

Even Paula's husband's company had severed all business ties with Genevieve Orsi Productions.

"Genevieve, it's not that I don't want to help you. But you know the might of the Loake family." With just a single word from Sally, all the movies Marlon's company invested in might never have the opportunity to be screened.

"It's okay." Genevieve then chatted casually with Paula for a while before hanging up the phone.

Argh! Sally is really a rabid dog! I've told her that it was Armand who went to the restroom to pester me, but instead of teaching him a lesson, she's secretly making a move against me. What a sicko! With her oppressing me in such a manner, I might never be able to find a chance to turn the tables. Perhaps I can only watch as the company goes bankrupt.

As she was brooding, her phone on the table rang again.

Assuming it was a celebrity or manager she contacted previously, she swiped the answer button. "Hello."

"Hello, Ms. Rachford. I'm Daniella from Linking Destiny. I talked to you on WhatsApp before this," the woman on the other end of the phone greeted. "Oh, hi."

Genevieve suddenly remembered that she obtained the WhatsApp contact of the person in charge of planning the high-end blind date event from Charlotte when they went for barbeque back then.

"I'm calling to notify you that the high-end blind date this time will be on a cruise ship. Remember to come to the harbor at eight o'clock tomorrow morning to board the cruise ship. The cruise ship will depart from the harbor at half past eight."

"Okay, got it. Thank you for the reminder," Genevieve murmured with a smile.

She was really seething the other day when she sent her information to the person in charge. But in truth, she hadn't planned on going. Unexpectedly, she received a call from the person that day. She abruptly remembered the person in charge saying that there would be a number of executives from entertainment companies attending the blind date. Perhaps I can make their acquaintance and have them lend me a hand for a bit.

The following morning, Steven had just come to Swallow Garden with breakfast when he saw that Genevieve had already awakened.

"Good morning, Mrs. Faulkner."

Sweeping a gaze over her, he noticed that she was wearing a dark green knitted dress that rendered her skin all the fairer. Coupled with her long and slender legs, she was incredibly seductive. Usually, she either wore a shirt and long pants or a long nude dress, appearing like a career woman. But her outfit that day was very much enticing.

Steven took out the breakfast from the food jar and asked in curiosity, "Do you have a date with someone today, Mrs. Faulkner?"

Genevieve pulled out a chair and sat down. "Yeah. I'm going to attend a high-end blind date event on a cruise ship. I'll probably only be back quite late." Hearing that, Steven was promptly taken aback. "How about I go with you?"

"No, it's okay. Stay at home and keep Lucian and Amanda company instead." As Genevieve took the oatmeal the man handed her, she elaborated, "I heard from the matchmaker that there's a total of sixty people attending the blind date this time. They're all elites in their respective industries. There'll even be foreign executives from major companies. So, I'm going over for a look."

Just as Steven was going to respond to that, she added, "Don't deliver breakfast and flowers over anymore. I'm worried that Sally's men are tailing him. I don't want to provoke that terrifying rabid dog again." After eating a bowl of oatmeal, Genevieve wiped her hands with a piece of tissue before leaving casually with her bag in hand.

Sighing, Steven went to the pantry and gave Armand a call.

Genevieve hailed a taxi. Fifteen minutes later, she arrived at the harbor.

There was specialized staff to receive the guests at the harbor. After they had ascertained Genevieve's identity, they brought her aboard the cruise ship.

Chapter 864

The organizers of the high-end blind date event held it on an ultra-luxurious cruise ship with lots of recreational facilities inside.

Genevieve was brought to the second-floor dance hall by a member of the staff. The decorations there were beautiful, and there were already plenty of men and women in formal attire inside.

Her gaze swept past those people, who all looked stunning. She recognized two of the men there. Both were famous tycoons in Jadeborough.

Another person she recognized was a high-ranking official of an entertainment company. Just as she was about to greet them, the blind date activity had already begun.

The female host standing in front of the microphone said that everyone's information was kept inside a bunch of letters. The men would be in a group, and the women another. When the activity started, members of both groups would pick a letter from the opposite group. After that, the women would be given a chance to talk to the men they picked. After fifteen minutes, the men would do the same. Genevieve approached the host and grabbed a letter from the men's group, which was sitting on the left side of the table.

A table number was also written on the letter.

She had no interest in the activity, so she only glanced at the table number and didn't open the letter. Then, she turned to the tables on the right side of the dance hall and saw a man sitting at table number ten. When Genevieve arrived at the table, she saw the man had black hair and black eyes. His facial features were quite pronounced. Based on the visual information she gathered, she deduced he was of mixed blood. His lips faintly formed a smile when he saw her.

Hiding under his elegant appearance, however, was a thick stench of blood.

She was a little confused because she thought a person with mixed blood should have an eye color that wasn't black. For example. Jack had green eyes. However, the man in front of her had black eyes.

"I remember you." Genevieve pulled a chair opposite the man out and sat down. "I came across you back at Westlake Park."

The moment she smelled the stench of blood on him, she recognized him.

The man stared at her for a few seconds before smiling. 'Would you say this is a coincidence, or are you here because you know you'll find me here?"

I've never met a man this narcissistic before. Since there was nothing for Genevieve to do, she decided to be patient and chatted with him.

His name was Zephyr Juksford, and he was a citizen of Lostaria. His family ran a tobacco and alcohol business. He came to Jadeborough because he wanted to check up on his company. While he was there, he decided to stroll around the city. When he heard about the blind date event from his friends, he came to see if he could find his true love.

She asked curiously, "You're a mixed-blood, so why are your eyes black?"

"Because I'm wearing colored contacts." Zephyr propped his chin up with his hand and stared intensely at Genevieve. With a deep voice, he uttered, "I'm afraid you won't be able to resist falling in love with me after you see my dazzling eyes."

"I think you're a little too overconfident..." The edge of her lips twitched.

Fifteen minutes passed by quickly, and it was time for the women to leave.

After the staff tidied up the tables, Genevieve sat at table number five, waiting for the man who had picked up her information to arrive.

After she took a sip of water and put the cup down, she saw Zephyr standing in front of the table.

He smiled. "There are sixty people here, yet both of us just so happened to pick up each other's information. I think calling this a 'coincidence' at this point is underselling the idea." Genevieve replied calmly, "You're handsome and rich. I'm not worthy of you."

"I'm not as good as you, even if I have more money, Ms. Genevieve." Zephyr lazed on a chair with a raised eyebrow. "Why don't you give me a chance to be a kept man?" That rendered her speechless.

After the activity had concluded, it was already noon, so everyone went to the dining room for lunch.

Elite women in the business world and other industries could tell Zephyr was hot and rich. So, after lunch was over, a few of them came over to converse with him.

He didn't reject their attempts as he chatted happily with them.

In the afternoon, the host organized a few small activities in the dance hall. However, Genevieve wasn't interested. She just wanted to find a chance to talk with the high-ranking official of an entertainment company.

While that company was a foreign-owned enterprise, it was still based in Jadeborough.

That particular high-ranking official knew about news regarding Genevieve Orsi. Thus, he refused to help her because he also didn't want to offend the powerful Loake family and have his company sanctioned.

Chapter 865

After Genevieve chatted with the high-ranking official, her heart sank.

If even a foreign-owned entertainment company in Jadeborough had to obey Sally's family, then it was possible that she wouldn't be getting help from any other company.

The cruise ship started its return trip at a little over five in the afternoon.

The staff took away the tables and chairs, closed the curtains, and set up a vintage ball. Men and women who had found a partner they liked danced as the music played. It was quite a lively sight.

Genevieve didn't get anything much out of her trip, and when she thought about the precarious situation her production company was in, she went to the deck for a breeze. I thought I was very rich, but apparently being rich is nothing in the face of overwhelming power and influence. Even though Sally didn't do much of anything else, she was still able to mess up Specter Corporation's branch company and my production company badly. If Sally decides to utilize more violent tactics, I bet it's easy for her to get rid of me without leaving a trace...

The sun gradually vanished into the horizon, darkening the sky. The cruise ship was still traveling on the shimmering sea. There were two hours left before it would arrive at the port.

After Zephyr stepped out of the dance hall, he stood in front of the railing, letting the sea breeze blow his hair.

A waiter in a uniform slowly sneaked to his location, bowed, and informed in a small voice, "The surveillance cameras on the cruise ship had been turned off. Genevieve is still on the deck."

Zephyr pulled out a cigarette box from his pocket and bit a cigarette with his lips.

Without delay, the waiter pulled out a lighter and lit the cigarette.

The puff of smoke that left Zephyr's mouth was instantly blown away by the sea breeze. He uttered casually, "General Loake's daughter seems to have a grudge against Genevieve. Now that Genevieve's production company has been boycotted, it's time to throw her into the sea and frame the crime on Sally."

"Roger," the waiter replied before leaving quietly.

Genevieve found the view of the sea to be beautiful, and since she wasn't interested in dancing, she stayed on the deck.

Occasionally, servers would approach her, and she would ask them to grab food from the dining hall for her to eat.

After a while, a waiter stepped onto the deck along the staircase and straight toward her. "Do you need anything, Ms. Rachford?"

A frown appeared on her face.

Based on the waiter's uniform, she assumed he was a staff on the cruise ship. However, her name should only be known by the people who attended the blind date event.

Thus, she paid closer attention to the waiter and realized he was wearing a pair of white gloves.

Genevieve's hand casually lay on the table as she spoke. "No need."

However, the waiter didn't seem to have any intentions of leaving. In fact, he was getting closer and closer to her.

The moment he leaned toward her, she grabbed the champagne bottle on the table and smashed it on his head. Then she escaped toward the staircase when the waiter was still stunned by the attack. When he returned to his senses, he immediately started chasing after her. The moment he caught up to her, he grabbed her neck and squeezed as he pulled her backward.

Genevieve's hands scratched his arms wildly and desperately as she struggled to breathe.

Soon, she passed out and collapsed to the ground due to a lack of oxygen. The waiter pulled out nylon ropes from his pocket and tied her limbs.

After he carried her to the railings, he casually threw her into the violent sea.

Zephyr was standing right below the waiter's position, his arms lazily resting on the railing. As he smoked, a slender figure rapidly fell past his vision.

He lowered his head and saw the woman was falling like a bird with a broken wing. Her long hair was blown violently by the wind.

When Genevieve made eye contact with him, her eyes widened as though she was begging him to help her. Sadly, that look of hers only stayed in his eyes for one second before she was engulfed by the dark

sea.

"I don't want to hurt a pretty woman like you either..." A sigh escaped Zephyr's mouth as he stared in the direction she fell. "If you want to blame someone, blame it on your arse luck."

Chapter 866

The moment Genevieve fell into the sea, the impact of the fall and the coldness of the sea made her feel dizzy for a moment. Her limbs were tied together, so there was no way for her to struggle as she slowly sunk to the bottom. Was it Sally? Just not long ago, I thought about how Sally could kill me without leaving a trace. I can't believe I jinxed it.

As she continued to drown, she felt her head swelling due to lack of oxygen. Her lungs felt as though they were burning. Soon, her consciousness gradually faded away, and she almost couldn't see anything in front of her anymore. Thank goodness I called Lilian a few days ago. I'm glad that my children will be taken care of by her, but that doesn't make me happy. Why does Armand keep saying he loves me while ignoring me? After we met each other again, we only stayed together for less than a month; then, he wasn't mine anymore. After I die, will he be able to marry Sally with peace of mind?

Through her blurred vision, Genevieve saw a vague figure swimming toward her rapidly.

However, it was too dark for her to recognize who the person was. The scene came across as a hallucination to her because her brain wasn't getting the oxygen it needed. Moments later, she passed out.

When Armand saw her lowering her head and falling deeper into the sea unconsciously, his panic intensified. Finally, he arrived by her side and pulled her into his embrace. The moment Armand resurfaced with her body, the person staring from a boat immediately stretched his hands and pulled the unconscious Genevieve onto a speedboat.

After Armand was pulled up, he immediately took out a small knife to cut the ropes on her limbs. After that, he gave her first aid by performing hard and fast chest compressions followed by rescue breathing. Seeing how Genevieve's face was still pale, the uneasiness in his heart grew. Despite that, his movements were focused and steady.

Twenty-odd minutes later, she spat out a mouthful of seawater and started breathing.

Armand felt as though his heart was resuscitated too as he leaned down and hugged her tightly. His head was buried on her shoulder, his fingers trembling. It was apparent how much the thought of her not waking up scared him.

As she stared at the dark sky, she realized she wasn't dead and pushed him away.

He immediately let go of her and carefully raised her. Upon wrapping her body with a towel, he pushed away the wet hair on her face.

"Are you feeling unwell somewhere, Darling?" he asked in a small voice.

After shooting a glance at him, Genevieve abruptly slapped him before hugging her knees and crying.

Just thinking about the sensations of drowning in the sea earlier terrified her.

Knowing that the experience had traumatized her, he felt as though someone had stabbed him in the heart. It made him feel very awful.

Thus, he hugged her again, silently.

Soon, the boat arrived at the port. Steven was already waiting there. When he saw Armand carrying her to shore, he quickly opened the door and took them to the hospital.

After Genevieve was sent to the emergency room, the doctor gave her a checkup and said she had a bit of a fever.

Since she was shocked and tired, she fell asleep shortly after she was hooked up to an IV drip.

Armand silently stared at her as she slept and placed her hand next to his lips before he kissed it.

After staying in the ward for half an hour, he called Steven in. "If I don't give you a call tomorrow morning, send them to Dartan."

Knowing what Armand was going to do, Steven's face paled. "But Mr. Faulkner, you had worked so hard to get the chance to live..." Without saying another word, Armand turned and left.

He drove all the way to Sally's condominium. It was one in the morning, so Sally was pretty pissed off when she was woken up by the housekeeper.

Her expression softened when she arrived in the living room in her pajamas and saw Armand standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. "Why are you looking for me so late at night, Armand?"

Armand turned around, stared at Sally with a sullen look, and spoke coldly. "Genevieve's not only my ex-wife, but she's also the only woman I love in my life."

"So?" She already knew how much he loved Genevieve. "Do you want me to bless you two or something?"

Chapter 867

Armand uttered, "I promised Ethan that, as long as you don't marry anyone, I'll have to take care of you and protect you. However, I didn't promise him that I'll marry you. I won't marry anyone else in my life again, except for remarrying Genevieve. Additionally, there is a limit to my tolerance. I've already kept quiet when you attacked Specter Corporation and her company. It's not a mystery to me what kind of temperament you possess, so I'll stay far away from her as possible in the future."

Then, he stepped closer to her. "However, Genevieve is my bottom line and my life."

"I don't like what you're saying, Armand!" Sally's expression darkened. "You took his heart, so now you're mine! I don't have the habit of sharing my man with other women!"

He snorted. "I'm me, and Ethan is Ethan. On what grounds am I yours? I live for my wife and my children. If I can't even protect them and can only watch you bully them, then I'm not a man or a husband! I rather pull the heart keeping me alive out and throw it away!"

After picking up the army knife on the table, he slashed his shirt open and coldly stabbed the tip toward his chest to carve his heart out.

Sally panicked when she saw how crazy he was acting.

In the blink of an eye, she approached him and grabbed the blade with her hands, preventing it from stabbing deeper into his chest. The blade cut her palms, causing blood to drip on the floor. "Let go," Armand demanded coldly.

"No..." Sally knew he was a man of his word.

As her arrogance vanished without a trace, she stared at him pleadingly. "Please don't destroy his heart..."

Ethan didn't leave anything for her except for the heart beating in Armand's chest. As long as Armand was alive, it made her feel as though Ethan was still alive.

Ignoring her pleading, Armand grabbed Sally's hand and attempted to pull the blade out of her palms.

When she saw half the blade had stabbed deep into his chest, she realized if she pulled it out then and there, he would die from massive blood loss.

She was a skilled fighter, so her strength was more significant than Armand's. When she found the opening she was looking for, she dislocated Armand's right hand, which was holding the knife. Then she rapidly tore parts of her pajamas and wrapped the cloth around the blade outside his heart.

Her eyes reddened as she sobbed. "I don't know why you're so angry, but I didn't do anything to Genevieve. I only asked people to contact the actors working under her production company to break their contracts and make her worry. She has a lot of money. It's not like she'll care if she loses a production company."

Armand replied coldly, "She was bound and thrown into the sea from a cruise ship tonight. If I wasn't there, she would have been dead already."

Since Sally had been targeting Specter Corporation and Genevieve, he didn't find it impossible that she would try to kill Genevieve, considering how ruthless she was.

"So you came here because you think I did it?" she asked. "I just didn't like Genevieve. I never hated her so much that I want her to die nor did I send anyone to the cruise ship." Fearing that he wouldn't believe her, she uttered one word at a time, "If I really did that, then I, Sally Loake, will go to hell!"

Armand remained unconvinced, even after she swore on her life with a determined look. Aside from Sally, who else hates Genevieve?

After she cuffed both of Armand's hands, she gave a private doctor a call before bandaging her palm wounds. "I won't attack Genevieve's company again, but you can't meet her."

"I can't do that. I rather you kill me and take my heart away." He couldn't bear the thought of not staying by Genevieve's side and becoming the reason she cried.

Then he glanced at Sally. "Do you know why Ethan didn't want to see you before he died? It's because he said he didn't have the guts to do that."

That halted her bandage-wrapping movements.

Chapter 868

Armand uttered slowly, "He didn't have the guts to meet you because he felt guilty that he couldn't provide you with a stable life. He said when you saw him, you would cry, and he didn't want to see you cry. Lastly, he hoped that you could marry someone who could stay by your side for the rest of your life."

Ethan's fear was something he understood well.

Back then, when he knew he only had a few months left to live, he didn't want to meet with Genevieve because he was afraid of seeing her cry.

Even though Armand spoke calmly, Sally felt as though her heart was smashed by a rock.

Her head hung low unmovingly, but her warm tears dripped onto the bandages, soaking them entirely and rapidly.

"How can he say such a thing..." She sobbed. I've loved him for twenty-odd years, yet he refused to let me see him when he was about to die and even told me not to love him. Why is he so selfish? "He said it because he loved you and that he hopes you'll be able to move on instead of living in the past," he explained.

It was then two knocks were heard on the door.

Sally assumed the private doctor had arrived, so she wiped her tears away and opened the door to let the doctor in. Then she pointed at the cuffed man sitting on the couch.

The private doctor in his fifties was once a military doctor for seven or eight years.

When he saw a military knife lodged in Armand's chest, he calmly approached his patient and put his medical kit down. Then he put on a pair of sterilized gloves, pulled out the knife, and sewed the wound shut.

The heart was the most fragile part of the human body, and the knife almost punctured it.

When the doctor pulled out the knife without anesthetic, Armand's eyebrows didn't even furrow slightly. He continued to speak to Sally in a calm voice. "You love Ethan, not me. Even if my heart belongs to him, I'm still me, and I still have a family I love. If you don't want to get married, I can take care of you for the rest of your life. I can also become his father's son in his place and work for his family because that's what I owe him. However, if you want me to sacrifice my love and become your puppet, 'd rather die."

He raised his head and stared at Sally calmly. His words, however, were vicious. "If Genevieve had really died last night, I would've made the entire Loake family pay the price for her death. If the woman I love is dead, then I'll find no reason to play by the rules any longer."

When the doctor heard that, his hand trembled for a moment.

He had no idea why Armand had the guts to say something like that, but Armand's collected attitude made him believe that Armand was a man capable of doing that.

No words left Sally's mouth as she stood with her arms crossed in front of her chest.

Half an hour later, the doctor finally patched up Armand's wound, applied medicine to it, and bandaged it.

After wiping the sweat on his forehead away, he noticed the bandages on Sally's hands had been soaked in blood. He couldn't help but suggest, "Let me help you take care of that wound of yours, Ms. Loake." "It's alright." The pain coming from her hands was quelling her anxiousness.

As she stared at the doctor packing his medical kit, she uttered, "You didn't hear anything when you came here to treat Mr. Faulkner's wound today. Got it?"

"I understand." Even if Gerald asked him about it, he wouldn't dare to say a word about what happened.

He believed the man in front of him was far more terrifying.

After Sally unlocked the cuffs, she tried to fix Armand's right hand. However, he used his left hand to feel where his right hand was injured and fixed his right hand himself. A cracking sound was heard as he did.

She had no choice but to withdraw her hand. "I'll send you back..."

"No need. Just rest." Upon finishing his sentence, he turned around and left.

When she also turned around, she only saw a closed door.

Chapter 869

Sally stepped backward until she fell onto the couch behind her. Then she pulled out a cigarette from the coffee table, smoked it, and leaned back. Her absentminded gaze swept past every inch of her condominium.

The condominium was bought by Ethan three years ago when he returned during his holiday. He picked all the furniture in the condominium.

Even though he had passed on, she felt as though she could still see his figure from the kitchen to the bedroom.

When her eyes landed on the kitchen, she could see him feeding her a piece of braised pork. When her line of sight arrived in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, she saw him talking to someone on the phone. Then, she saw herself suddenly hugging him from behind and stretching her hands into his clothes. With no other choice, he hung up the call, turned around to hug her, and kissed her passionately...

All those scenes cut through her heart like a knife. It made her feel awful and sad as tears welled in her eyes again.

Over time, his figure slowly disappeared from her sight.

When Genevieve woke up, she stared at the ceiling for a long while.

As scenes of her being thrown from the cruise ship flashed before her eyes, she could still feel the pain in her chest caused by lack of oxygen.

After lying on the bed for a while, she got off and poured herself a cup of water before drinking it.

Steven saw that when he brought breakfast into her room. He placed the breakfast on the dining table and stared at her. "How are you feeling, Mrs. Faulkner?"

"No." After she finished drinking the water, she approached the dining table. "Did Lucian ask you why I didn't go back last night?"

"I was keeping an eye on you last night. So, I called Mr. Sutton to go to Swallow Garden and tell your children you're so busy that you can't make it back home," he replied as he took out the breakfast from the bags.

When the smell of oatmeal entered Genevieve's nose, she knew Steven wasn't the one who bought it.

She picked up a spoon to scoop up the oatmeal, but her hand began to shake uncontrollably. It got so bad that she couldn't hold it tightly, causing the oatmeal to fall on the back of her hand. Steven quickly handed her a piece of tissue paper.

Her head lowered after she wiped away the oatmeal on the back of her hand. "I don't want to eat this anymore. I'm not feeling hungry."

Instead of forcing her, he picked up an orange from the fruit plate, cut the fruit into smaller pieces, and removed half of its peel before giving it to her.

Then he began to speak. "A few months ago, Mr. Faulkner wasn't feeling well during a particular night. I sent him to the hospital, and the doctor said his heart could only keep him alive for three more months at most."

She stared at him, stunned.

"We were afraid it was a mistake, so I accompanied him to all the big hospitals in the country. Even the most skilled doctors said the same thing, which was that he needed a heart transplant. He didn't disappear on purpose, Mrs. Faulkner. He was looking for a heart. However, no matter who we contacted, we just couldn't find a suitable one..." Steven felt awful as he continued the story. "In the end, he gave up hope of recovering and wrapped up his matters quickly. He was going to hand you and the children to Jack before spending the rest of his time in a place far away from you. Then, we saw a ray of hope unexpectedly. Mr. Zane's son, Ethan, had an accident. His heart was ninety-six percent compatible with Mr. Faulkner. Knowing that he didn't have much time left without a suitable heart, Ethan was willing to give his heart to Mr. Faulkner. However, because he was the only son in his family, he proposed an exchange with Mr. Faulkner. He wants Mr. Faulkner to become his father's godson and eventually take over his father's position. He also wants Mr. Faulkner to take care of the Loake family as well as Sally until she marries someone. Ethan's conditions were far too demanding. It basically meant Mr. Faulkner had to sell his soul to Ethan's family and Sally. However, Mr. Faulkner had no choice but to agree to the conditions."

It never occurred to Genevieve that something like that had happened to Armand in just a few short months. She couldn't help but wonder what else she didn't know about.

Chapter 870

Genevieve asked, "Why didn't he tell me?"

"Mr. Faulkner would rather let you think he abandoned his family than let you see him die," Steven answered. "He didn't want to tell you because Sally was Ethan's girlfriend. She loved Ethan, and she was very ruthless. Mr. Faulkner was afraid that she would hurt you after she learned that he loves you."

It was a valid concern because Sally was ruthless. She got mad just because she saw Armand and Genevieve kiss at the airport. It was what prompted her to attack Specter Corporation.

Steven continued, "Mr. Faulkner truly loves you, Mrs. Faulkner. He wants to live very badly so he can be with you. That's why he agreed to Ethan's proposal. However, that meant he couldn't stay with you. Last night, when you fell into the sea, he almost went mad. If anything happened to you, he probably would've wrung the life out of Sally himself."

When Genevieve thought about how Armand became someone else's tool and still tried to take care of her, she buried her face in her palms.

Then, as she thought about how she misunderstood him, argued with him, and even slapped him, she wept. "He should've told me. How can he hide such an important thing from me? Does he think I won't fee sad or heartbroken after I learn the news of his death?"

"Mr. Faulkner didn't tell you anything because he was worried you would do something extreme. Lucian and Mandy are only five years old. If they lose their father, they can't lose their mother too." Steven then scooped a spoonful of oatmeal for her. "Have some oatmeal. It won't taste as good if it goes cold."

After wiping her tears away, Genevieve grabbed the spoon and started eating.

The more she ate, the more tears welled in her eyes and dropped into the oatmeal.

Seeing how she was crying, he sighed and rubbed his eyebrows. "I should've let Mr. Faulkner tell you this himself. Watching you cry makes me very uncomfortable."

The reason he told her all that was because he was worried Genevieve was going to misunderstand Armand again.

She continued to wipe her tears away with tissue papers as she ate. "Where is he?"

"He was going to visit, but he suddenly got an emergency call. After he prepared your breakfast, he rushed toward Feston with a bunch of government officials," Steven answered. After she finished her meal, he handed her a brand new phone. "I've already gotten you a new SIM card."

"Okay." She took the phone and login to her account before transferring all her data.

Then he said, "The person who attacked you on the cruise ship last night wasn't hired by Sally. Whoever it was, they were cunning. The surveillance cameras on the cruise ship were all turned off. No traces were found."

When Genevieve heard that, she recalled she saw a man smoking at the railings when she fell into the sea last night. It was Zephyr. I remember giving him a pleading look, but he didn't move at all as he watched me plunge into the sea. The look in his eyes seems pretty strange...

Just as she tried to remember the man's odd look, the phone, which had completed the data transfer, rang.

It shocked her before she quickly answered the call. "Hello?"

"It's Jerry." The man spoke in a deep, alluring voice. "I have a matter I want to talk to you about. Where should we meet?"

She knew who he was, but she had never seen him before.

The only time she "met" him was back in Baykeep when Armand was pretending to be him. She wasn't at all familiar with Jerry, which was why she was confused about why he called her. "You're a celebrity though. You'll be spotted easily no matter where you go..."

"Let's chat in my minivan, then." He decided for her. "Where are you right now? I'll come and meet you."

"At the General Hospital."

"Okay. I'll be there in ten minutes."