Ch. 1221..1230

Chapter 1221

A group of people suddenly rushed in from outside and surrounded Cecilia and Blake.Cecilia calmly pulled Blake behind her to protect her. When Grant tried to get back up, Cecilia stepped on his chest, ” Mr. Patterson, it’s best to behave yourself in the future. If there’s a next time, I can’t guarantee you can keep your hands intact.”She then removed her foot from Grant’s chest before smiling, “It’s getting late. I’ll take my sister back to get some rest. Enjoy your time, everyone.”The people who were present were those from four major families in charge of Northern Myanmar. When they saw Grant being treated that way, they just coldly watched him and did nothing.In their eyes, Cecilia was formidable and different from other women.When Cecilia and Blake walked to the gate of the guarded compound, Cecilia stopped and said, “I still have some matters to attend to. You go back to the room and rest. If you need anything, tell the bodyguards.”She paused before continuing, “I’m very happy you stood up for me.”Blake felt a surge of anger when she saw Cecilia being unbothered. She said, “What did you do to gain power? Look at those people; they’re clearly not good people. How can you associate yourself with them?“Did you gain this so-called power and wealth by trading your body? Don’t you feel disgusted?”Cecilia chuckled, “Am I not allowed to do that? Since ancient times, there hasn’t been a man who doesn’t seek the company of women. Men desire women’s youth and beauty. Why can’t 1?“I don’t just be with any man. Now, don’t ask about these things again, okay? I’ll be unhappy.”Cecilia then instructed the bodyguards behind her, “Escort her back safely.”Blake said, “You said you’d take me to see Kevin.”Cecilia replied, “I’ll arrange for you to meet him in a couple of days.”Blake then watched Cecilia get into a black car, and there seemed to be a man inside. It was pitch-black outside the guarded compound, so she could not see the man’s face clearly.After the car drove away, Blake returned to her room. She looked at the view outside the guarded compound and could not believe Kevin was actually in such a place.She could not sleep. She did not like quiet environments, so she turned on the television. However, there was no signal, and the only thing visible on the screen was static.Unable to resist, Blake grabbed her phone and sent Kevin a photo.Meanwhile, in a secluded place with dim lighting that did not reach every corner of the room, Kevin was bandaging the wound on his arm.He heard the vibration of his phone, picked it up, and saw a message from Blake. His eyes darkened, and his expression was unpleasant.In just ten minutes, Blake received a reply from Kevin: [Where are you now?]She was on the verge of tearing up when she saw his reply.She thought, ‘Kevin, you jerk. If you truly don’t care about me, you wouldn’t have replied to my message so quickly because of a photo.’Blake intentionally did not reply to Kevin’s message, as if she wanted to punish him.However, he quickly sent another message.Chapter 1222Kevin texted Blake: [This isn’t a place you should come. Whoever you came with, go back to Ventropolis with that person immediately.]Blake took a shower and walked out of the bathroom. She then expressionlessly looked at the messages on her phone, which was on the table.She thought, ‘So now you’re worried about me. I’ve sent you so many messages before; why have you never replied?’However, as usual, Kevin managed to make Blake feel he cared about her with just his brief messages.Kevin texted her again: [I’m coming to find you.]That was the last message he sent her.Blake immediately picked up her phone and cursed, “Jerk! You finally decided to come looking for me now. Where were you before this?”She looked at her bare-faced reflection in the mirror and quickly took out her makeup from her bag; she planned to apply a simple makeup look. As she applied lipstick, she smiled, feeling satisfied that her appearance was decent enough to meet Kevin.After changing her clothes, her phone vibrated again.It was a bit cold at night in Northern Myanmar. So, Blake wrapped a scarf around her neck.She opened the door, but a bodyguard stopped her, “Ms. Dion, it’s not safe here at night. If you need anything, we can get it for you. You can only stay in your room; you’re not allowed to go anywhere.”Blake glanced around and casually said, “I see! Help me buy some oranges and bring them over. I feel like eating oranges.”The bodyguard responded, “Okay.”She also managed to get rid of other bodyguards.She looked at the empty corridor and ran out. On the first floor, two guards with guns were at the entrance. Blake cautiously walked out, and the two guards did not stop her.Blake ran to the riverside that Kevin mentioned with her phone in her hand, taking about five minutes.She panted as she looked at the reflection of light on the river’s surface. The place was completely empty and dark. When she heard gurgling sounds from the river, Blake had an irrational thought and actually considered checking the river for Kevin.At that moment, someone suddenly walked out from the darkness and grabbed Blake’s arm, pulling her. She was startled. Once she stood steadily and could see the silhouette of a man standing in front of her, she could sense that it was Kevin, even though it was dark.“What are you doing here?” Kevin’s chilly voice carried a hint of displeasure.Blake smiled as she pointed toward the river, “I came here and didn’t see you, so I thought I’d check if you were in the river.”She lifted her head in the darkness and looked into Kevin’s eyes, “It’s been a while. Did you miss me?”Kevin responded, “Who told you to come here? I’ll have someone take you back to Ventropolis.”He grabbed her hand, intending to take her away. But she shook off his hand and said, “Are you coming with me?“Or I can stay here with you.”Kevin frowned, “Didn’t I tell you to wait for me in Ventropolis?!”Blake replied, “What about you? I told you to text me, but did you do it? And now you’re telling me to go back to Ventropolis?”Kevin suddenly covered Blake’s mouth with his hand and led her to a secluded thicket. Shortly after, two patrolling individuals passed by the location where they had just been.Once they left, Kevin let go of Blake. Their postures were intimate, with Blake leaning against his chest. She hugged him as soon as he put his hand down and said, “I know you won’t tell me anything. But I miss you so much, I really do…”Kevin’s body stiffened for a moment. He raised his hand but decided not to hit her to make her unconscious.He believed he had countless ways to take Blake away without her realizing.Chapter 1223The night was windy. Blake, feeling cold, hugged herself. Kevin then took her to a car parked at a secluded place by the river. The car had the heating on.Suddenly, Blake leaned in and kissed him. She sat on his lap and continued kissing him. After that, she cupped his face and pressed her forehead against his, “Kevin, I’ll give you three years. I’ll wait for you to return to Ventropolis. During this period, I don’t care what you do, but after three years… You must give me a call or a message.“If you want to marry me, I’m willing to marry you.“I’ll look after the position of the CEO’s assistant for you. When Mr. Jardin wakes up, I’ll be there and wait for you to return, okay?“If you don’t speak, I’ll take it as you agree to it.”For Kevin, everything was too uncertain. He thought, ‘Three years… Who knows how many three years a person has?’He replied, “Leave this place, and I’ll agree with what you said.”Blake grabbed his collar, “I’m already here. I won’t just leave now. And you can’t leave until dawn.”She then started unbuttoning his shirt.The atmosphere in the swaying car was romantic, with Blake’s muffled sounds and pants.After a while, when she finally could not bear it anymore, she fell into a deep sleep on Kevin’s chest.It was almost daybreak when she woke up. She gently touched Kevin’s eyes as if she wanted to memorize his features clearly. Kevin, feeling ticklish from her touch, opened his eyes and met her gaze.Blake said, “Cecilia is also here. I might have to leave soon. I wish I could stay with you a little longer.”Kevin glanced at the window and noticed it was almost dawn. Blake continued, “If I tell you I’m Cecilia’s younger sister, will you hate me?”Kevin replied, “I already know that.”Blake responded, “I knew it. You know everything, but you just won’t tell me.”She then lay down on his chest again to rest for a while. His steady heartbeat gave her a sense of security.Blake asked, “So, what do you think? Should I acknowledge her as my sister?Actually, I can only recall pieces of memories. I just can’t accept that my sister turned out to be this kind of person. From what I remember, she was never like this. I don’t know why she’d turn into what she is now.”Kevin responded, “People change. Cecilia is too ambitious; if she continues to be like this, she’ll face consequences. Blake, Cecilia isn’t as simple as you think.”He paused before continuing, “Do you know Agustin Bond?”Blake replied, “I don’t. What’s going on between him and Cecilia?”But suddenly, Blake thought of something. She lifted her head and said, “Last night, I saw her getting into a car. There was a man inside it. I don’t know if he’s the Agustin you mentioned.”Kevin pondered, ‘Blake shouldn’t get involved in this matter.’He said, “Get down; my legs are numb.”Blake hummed twice and said, “I don’t care. I won’t get down. I want to hug you now because I know I won’t be able to do this for a long time.”Kevin lowered his head to look but did not respond to her reply. He then said, ” I’ll give you another ten minutes. We should leave soon.“I’ll text you after you get back.”Chapter 1224Kevin dropped Blake off near the guarded compound and drove away.When she returned to her room, she found that Cecilia had not come back yet since last night.Blake did not care where she had gone. She tiredly walked to the bathroom, wanting to take a shower. But as soon as she entered the bathroom, she thought of something and decided to walk back into the bedroom. She then lay on the bed with a pillow under her waist.She thought, ‘This is a foolish idea, but I have no other choice.’When Cecilia returned, she saw Blake sleeping soundly and a pillow on the floor. When she walked closer to Blake, she noticed some marks under her collar and could guess what happened..Cecilia looked serious as she pondered, ‘ Why is she so wrong-headed?‘Liam isn’t any worse than Kevin. Why must Blake fall for a man with no background and status?’Cecilia did not rest the entire night. She went to take a shower before getting into bed and lay beside Blake.When Blake woke up in the afternoon and saw Cecilia lying beside her, she was startled and immediately sat up. Her eyes were filled with disgust.Blake’s movement woke up Cecilia.Blake said, “There are two rooms. Why do you have to share a bed with me?”Cecilia smiled as she looked at Blake, ” Didn’t you used to love sleeping with me?”Blake ignored Cecilia and lifted the blanket. She then grabbed the clothes nearby and walked straight into the bathroom for a shower.After she closed the bathroom door, she looked at the full-length mirror and touched her lower abdomen. She thought, ‘Whether there’s a child or not, I’ll wait for you to come back.”After she showered and walked out of the bathroom, she asked Cecilia, who had already gotten out of bed, “When are we going back?”Cecilia responded, “Did you meet Kevin last night? It seems he has some feelings for you.“Have you asked all the questions that you want to know?”Blake replied, “I didn’t ask.”Sitting at the dressing table, Cecilia glanced at Blake and put on some heavy earrings, “Is Kevin really worth your unconditional devotion? You chose him without any hesitation. Have you ever thought about Liam? He returned to the Xander family, a place he never wanted to be, all for you.” As she said this, she got up and walked to Blake.“You’re my sister. There are things that I’m not afraid to share with you. Liam will leave StartReading one day and eventually pursue a political career. In the future, Liam and Kevin will become enemies. You do know that Kevin works for Zach. If Liam finds something out, Kevin will be the one to take the blame. What are the chances you think he can survive?“If you insist on being with Kevin, you’ll only get into trouble because of him.”Chapter 1225Cecilia continued, “When that happens, your family and even I will face trouble because of Kevin.”Cecilia was very good at reading people’s minds and attacking their vulnerabilities. Her words made Blake completely panic.Blake responded, “T-That won’t happen! Kevin hasn’t done anything. As for Liam, he’s even less likely to treat Kevin the way you describe. I don’t believe a single word you’re saying.”Cecilia moved even closer to her, ”Blake, I’ve long told you that the Jent family had a huge influence in Ventropolis. Do you know what their underground organization did? They were involved in everything. Do you know how many people wanted Hayson dead back then? If it weren’t for Zach, Madelyn would’ve been dead.“Did you think the Jent family and Azure Corporation had been doing nothing all those years?“The Jent family relied on Zach and Kevin. Madelyn is just a useless person who relies on other people. Did you think she could sustain the Jent family?“The Jent family has long been gone. Kevin is just helping to clean up their mess now.“If the evidence related to the Jent family’s wrongdoing is collected, even the death penalty won’t be enough to punish them for their actions adequately.”Blake could not bear listening to Cecilia any longer. She covered her ears and said, “Enough! Stop talking. You’re belittling Madelyn, but she knows nothing about what you’re saying. How could you judge her based on these things? In my eyes, Madelyn is better than you. At least she hasn’t hurt anyone. But what about you?!“If I weren’t your sister, what would you plan to deal with me? You almost ruined me last time!”Cecilia angrily frowned, “Are you saying she’s kind? She’s been living comfortably growing up. She’s the enviable lady from a wealthy family. She can afford to be kind. But Blake, kindness is the most useless thing for us. If I were like Madelyn, I would’ve died long ago, and you wouldn’t be able to see the person I am now. I know you don’t like what I’m doing. I can promise you that I’ll stop doing these things, okay?“If you give up on Kevin and marry Liam, I promise I won’t think about hurting Madelyn. I’ll live a peaceful life with you.”Blake sneered, “Cecilia, stop lying. You won’t change. Do you think I don’t know what you’ve been doing? You’ve been secretly looking for Madelyn’s whereabouts and plotting to kill her! That’s who you are. If Madelyn is really dead, if anything happens to her, I won’t let you off.“Not only me, but when Mr. Jardin wakes up, he’ll make you suffer.”“Shut up!” Cecilia, furious, raised her hand. However, Blake just stood still without flinching. Cecilia hesitated to lay her hand on her.Blake was not afraid of Cecilia even though she was not close to her.Cecilia could not bear to hit her. She just could not stand listening to Blake, the sister she had been looking for all these years, siding with an outsider against her. She cherished her relationship with Blake and decided not to hit her. She put her hand down vigorously and said, “All right, I promise I won’t hurt Madelyn. But the condition is that you must marry Liam.Blake immediately rejected, ” Impossible. He and I are just friends. Kevin and I were intimate. Even if Liam doesn’t mind, his family won’t allow us to get married.”Cecilia replied, “You’re underestimating Liam’s importance to Julian. Julian can no longer reproduce, and Liam is his only son. With Julian’s political influence, authority, and support, Liam’s political career can progress smoothly.“Blake, think about it. I have countless ways to kill Madelyn. Now that Zach is unconscious, no one can stop me from doing what I want.”Chapter 1226The light in Blake’s eyes seemed to fade as she struggled to find her voice, “Was this your plan or Liam’s?”Cecilia responded with a soft laugh, shaking her head, “You’d break Liam’s heart if he heard you now. You always say he’s different from me, but think about it, what’s your opinion of him now? Remember what I told you? Liam returned to his family for your sake!” Cecilia’s voice was emphatic, “He’s always acted with your best interests in mind. Why don’t you check your phone? See how many messages he’s sent you?”Since disembarking from the private jet, Blake had kept her phone silenced. Apart from messages from Kevin, she had yet to check any others.Cecilia left the room, advising,” Freshen up and join me for dinner. We’re heading back to Ventropolis tonight.”Blake was about to check her phone when she realized it was out of battery. After charging it, she saw that Cecilia was right. Liam had sent her a barrage of messages, nearly forty or fifty, all expressing his concern for her. His constant attention only added to her sense of obligation toward him.Later, Blake and Cecilia, after having a late lunch at 3 p.m. and gathering their belongings, reboarded the private jet, the bodyguards handling their luggage. As the jet ascended, Blake looked out the window. Cecilia, sitting beside her with eyes closed, commented, “Don’t bother looking. Kevin won’t leave with you. He’s a product of his environment. No amount of gazing will change his nature.”“And what about you?” Blake retorted. “You’re no saint. Remember, you’ve been in equally harsh places.”Cecilia spoke nonchalantly, “Life has its classes. If not for Zach, Kevin might still be here, scraping by. Did you know his father was a drug dealer and his mother a hostess? He probably doesn’t even know his real father.”As Cecilia divulged, Blake’s empathy for Kevin deepened. She thought, ‘So this is his past. The words he couldn’t bring himself to say to me. No wonder he never spoke of his family. But he should know that I’ve never cared about that.’In a fit of frustration, Blake threw a pillow at Cecilia, “His parents are none of your concern. Worry about yourself instead.”“What did you just say?” Cecilia’s eyes flashed with anger. “Do you think you can say anything just because you’re my sister?”Blake scoffed, “Your sister? I’ve never acknowledged you as such. I don’t want a sister as shameless as you.”With a disdainful glance at Cecilia, Blake moved to another seat. The rest of the flight was smooth. Upon landing, Blake used a private exit to reach the lobby, where she unexpectedly encountered Liam. His worried expression caught her off guard. Approaching her, Liam asked, “Where have you been? Why didn’t you tell anyone? Why didn’t you respond to my messages?”Cecilia, smiling, joined them briefly, ” Mr. Xander, I didn’t expect such concern for Blake. I’ll leave you two; there’s work waiting for me at the company.”Once Cecilia and her bodyguards departed, only Blake and Liam remained. Blake, gazing at Liam, pondered Cecilia’s words, a whirl of emotions evident in her expression.Chapter 1227A thought lingered in Blake’s mind as she pondered deeply, ‘As long as I’m married to Liam, Cecilia has promised not to harm anyone.’Liam, noticing something amiss in her demeanor, asked, “What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?”Blake maintained a few steps behind Liam as they walked, creating a physical and emotional distance. She replied, “I’m just a bit dizzy. Let’s head back.”Liam offered to drive her home, but she declined, “No, thank you. My place is in the opposite direction of the company’s. You have work, and I don’t want to cause any delays.”Despite her words, Blake felt an increasing emotional distance from him, which seemed to grow with each passing moment.Sensing her unease and looking slightly disappointed, Liam pressed her for answers, “Blake, what is going on? Is Cecilia using Kevin to threaten you again? Please, tell me what’s going on. I’m here to help.”Blake was torn. Liam’s kindness overwhelmed her. It was more than what she expected from a friend. It felt deeper, more personal.“Can we talk in your car?” Blake suggested, desiring a more private setting.“Of course, let’s go. I’ll take your luggage,” Liam replied, always ready to assist.Once in the car, he prompted, “What did you want to talk about?”Blake, wrestling with her thoughts, asked, “Liam, we’re friends, right? You won’t turn into someone like Cecilia, would you?”Liam looked surprised at first, then offered a gentle smile. He said, “Blake, I’ll never harm you. I made a promise to myself. Do you really think I could become like that?”However, Blake’s trust was wavering. Cecilia had hinted that Liam would become a political threat to Kevin. She almost revealed this to Liam but then remembered Kevin’s warning.“Don’t trust anyone’s words once you’re back in Ventropolis,” Kevin had warned her.“What about Liam? He seems to be the only one who can help me at the company,” Blake had argued.Kevin’s warning was clear, “Human minds are a lot more terrifying than monsters’. Trust Liam if you feel he’s trustworthy, but never fully.”Blake asked, “Can I trust you?”Kevin teased, “Haven’t I deceived you enough?”Lying in his arms, Blake playfully complained, “You tell me not to trust anyone. What if I trust him?”Kevin advised, “Then grow stronger in the next three years and change yourself if you truly want to help me.”Blake felt confused, unsure of what Kevin wanted from her. She expressed her frustration, “Why can’t you just tell me directly? All this indirect talk is making my head spin.”Kevin cryptically replied, “One day, you’ll understand. But remember, don’t trust anyone…”‘Indeed, everyone changes. Kevin, Liam, even myself…’As she returned home to an empty house as Grace and Simon were at the hospital, Blake entered her room and stood before the mirror. She gazed at the marks on her chest, a vivid reminder of the surreal and tumultuous events of Northern Myanmar.Chapter 1228Blake gazed at her phone resting on the bathroom sink. It vibrated with a new message from Liam, reading: [You’ve just returned. Take a few days to rest at home. I can manage things at the office for now.]As she read the message, Blake’s thoughts drifted to Cecilia’s suggestion of marrying Liam to prevent further crimes. She recalled learning about the dark history of Madelyn’s family from Simon. The Jent family had been a prominent force in Ventropolis, respected by high-ranking officials. Yet, their behind-the-scenes actions were far from honorable.Lost in these thoughts, Blake suddenly felt dizzy. Her hand reached out to brace herself against the sink. Flashbacks of a dark basement flooded her mind, echoing with the cries of a young girl no older than six or seven devouring a bun given by a shadowy figure.The cacophony of the memories overwhelmed Blake. She clutched her head as a piercing pain surged through her. She endured the excruciating sensation, which eventually ebbed away after half a minute.‘What was that place? Why am I only remembering it now? Who was that man, and why can’t I recall more?’ Blake wondered, bewildered.A maid entered with freshly laundered clothes and expressed concern when she noticed Blake’s pale complexion, ” Ms. Dion, are you alright? Is it your headache again? Let me get you some medicine.”Blake had suffered severe headaches in the past, but they had been dormant for years. The maid returned promptly with two white pills, which Blake swallowed with water. Gradually, her headache began to ease.The maid offered, “Ms. Dion, if it gets worse, we should go to the hospital.”Blake dismissed the suggestion with a shake of her head, “I’ll be okay soon.”The maid informed her, “Mr. and Mrs. Harper are getting a check-up right now. Just let me know if you need to go to the hospital.”Once alone, Blake touched the cold sweat on her forehead, feeling as if that brief moment of pain had drained her. She decided to lie down and rest.Downstairs, the maid saw a black car pull up. Simon, looking unwell, emerged with Grace supporting him.Grace commented, “Don’t worry about Mya. She’s safe and doing well now, better than before. Fred seems decent enough to be taking care of her.”Simon, clearly troubled, replied, “Of all people, why Fred? Why someone from the Turner family?”His voice was filled with agitation. He started coughing violently, clutching at his chest.Grace tried to soothe him, patting his back, “What’s done is done. Mya is safe, and that’s what matters. Remember what the fortuneteller said about her being blessed? Perhaps she’ll find a good man who’ll treat her right.”Simon grumbled, “Just thinking about that man makes my blood boil! He’s no good!”Grace quickly escorted Simon upstairs, then hurried down to ask the maid to bring the medicine.The maid approached Grace tentatively, “Mrs. Harper…”Sensing the maid’s hesitation, Grace urged, “Go on, speak up. Don’t hesitate.Chapter 1229The maid, hesitating slightly, informed Grace, “Ms. Dion has returned, but she appeared to be suffering from a severe headache when I checked on her in her room.”Grace’s expression turned to one of concern, “Where is Blake now? Did you talk to her?”The maid responded, “I only gave her some medicine. She seemed quite pale, but I didn’t say much.”Worried, Grace decided, “I’ll go see how she’s doing. And please prepare some of Blake’s favorite dishes for dinner tonight.”“Yes, Ma’am,” the maid responded.Grace had always shown maternal affection toward Blake, treating her as if she were her own daughter. Both Mya and Blake received equal love in the Harper household. Despite Mya being the elder, Blake often took on the role of her protector. Aware of Blake’s sensitive nature, Grace always tried to show her extra care and affection.Entering Blake’s room quietly, Grace saw her asleep on the bed, seemingly caught in a nightmare. She was murmuring and crying in her sleep, Don’t take me away… Don’t come near… Cece… where are you, Cece?”Grace, with a gentle touch, wiped the sweat from Blake’s forehead with a handkerchief. Whispering softly, she comforted, “It’s okay, it’s okay… I’m here. Nothing’s wrong.”Sitting beside the bed, Grace stroked the blanket in a soothing rhythm, reminiscent of how she comforted Blake when she first arrived at the Harper home. Blake’s sobs gradually quieted, and Grace carefully brushed the damp hair from her forehead.Grace’s expression was one of deep sadness. She recalled Blake’s arrival at their home. Blake was bruised, malnourished, and barely clinging to life, yet miraculously surviving against all odds.Blake, who had lost her memory of her past, grew up to be a bright, somewhat mischievous child, excelling in her studies. In contrast to Mya, who faced academic struggles and bullying, Blake was always her fierce protector. She had been on the verge of death when the Harper family took her in, having been rescued from traffickers at the age of eight.Grace wished Blake would forget those harrowing memories and live a happy life. But hearing Blake’s cries for “Cece “in her sleep, Grace knew that the past was resurfacing.Watching Blake in distress, tears formed in Grace’s eyes. She whispered, “Blake, you’ll always be my child. We wish you could forget the past and live a joyful life.”Though not wealthy, the Harper family had always ensured that their daughters were treated right. The family’s future was invariably linked to the well-being of both sisters.As Blake’s emotions stabilized, the foggy memories crystallized, most prominently involving Cecilia. Then, the maid entered the room, phone in hand, speaking softly to Grace, ” Ma’am, Ms. Samford is on the line for you.” Chapter 1230Grace quietly left the room with the maid after making sure Blake was soundly asleep. Grace answered the call with a cool tone as she descended the stairs, “Ms. Samford?”“Mrs. Harper,” came Cecilia’s response.With a stern expression, Grace replied, “Ms. Samford, I’ve made it clear before; if Blake chooses to acknowledge you, we won’t interfere. But any further attempts to manipulate our family will not be tolerated. Do not call again, or we will consider it harassment.”With a decisive click, Grace ended the call.In her office, Cecilia stared at her phone, her eyes seething with anger. She realized that as long as the Harper family was in Ventropolis, Blake would never accept her. She was determined to remove the Harpers from the city.‘I’ve worked tirelessly to provide Blake a better life, Cecilia thought. ‘Whether she likes it or not, I’m determined to see her as Mrs. Xander. Madelyn, your life was spared because of her. Stay hidden, or else…’Cecilia then sent a message to Liam. Meanwhile, he was driving back to his apartment when he checked his vibrating phone. Seeing the message, his face grew tense. Upon entering his apartment, he was greeted by an unexpected sight. Ixia, cheerful in an apron, exclaimed, “Liam, you’re back!”Liam’s frown deepened. He looked at her and then at the table set with food, “How did you get in here?”Ixia smiled, “Cheer up, Liam. I came to surprise you. Look, I prepared all this food for you. Why don’t you try some? Last time at The Deli, you promised to dine with me, so consider this me making up for it.”Liam’s gaze was icy. He said, “Ixia, I am not your brother. This is inappropriate. I have a girlfriend. Clean this up and leave.”But Ixia persisted, “It doesn’t bother me, Liam. We’re not blood-related, after all. And I know your relationship with Blake isn’t real. It’s just for Dad, right? She doesn’t deserve you.”Liam, visibly upset, demanded, “What do you want, Ixia?”Ixia moved closer, “I like you, Liam. Dad said the Secretary-General position is yours when you return. With our family’s backing, you won’t just be an editor. Think about it.”Liam’s patience snapped, “Give me the key, now!”Ixia avoided his gaze, “What key? I don’t know what you’re talking about, Liam.”His voice grew firmer, “Hand over the key and leave.”Ixia defiantly responded, “Why does Blake have all the privileges? I am your sister, and maybe even more in the future. You can’t treat me like this!”