It's boiling tonight.I don't know if it's because of the hot weather or because there are many things to think about, but Alex feels hot.At seven o'clock in the evening, Alex drove home, and at the same time, he opened the car window to let in the fresh air.On the familiar road back to his house, Alex drove slowly, partly because he didn't want to go home yet, partly because he wanted fresh air. Just then, from the alley in front of him, a voiceless scream suddenly startled him out of his thoughts."Ahhhhhhhh!""You bastard, will you shut up!?"Startled Alex, a girl's scream and a man's menacing voice. He immediately stopped the car; there was no one around. Is it a girl being perverted or even a murderer?Thinking that, he immediately got out of the car.Stepping out of the car, he walked into the alley where the scream came from; in front of him was a group of thugs controlling a girl.That girl was wearing tattered clothes, her hair was messy, and her feet were not wearing sanda
The following day, Alex woke up, and he felt extraordinary inside. In his sleep last night, he opened his eyes and found himself beside a girl.He went downstairs; Betie had long since been up. She was sweeping, and Alex's breakfast was already on the table."Good morning, Alex. Did you sleep well last night? Today I made some of your favorite dishes." Betie looked up at Alex. Alex said nothing; he sat down and ate the breakfast she prepared. These are indeed the things he likes the most. Unexpectedly, she remembered his habits so clearly even though she was very young and many years had passed."Very delicious." Alex gives a compliment to Betie.Alex thoroughly enjoyed his breakfast; today is the day to start his shopping center project. Alex plans to go to the construction site shortly after eating to check on the progress. At this moment, his phone rang, breaking his peaceful breakfast.It was Isabel's call."Something big happened!" As soon as he hung up, Alex heard Isabel's pani
"That's right!" The man in charge said, then this must be true.Alex frowned; he didn't remember any conflict between Anderson Corporation and Kimberlys Corporation, so why were they deliberately setting him up?And the mayor and Kimberly must be in the same league.This is still temporarily unsolvable, Alex thinks; the most straightforward way right now is to delay solving everything temporarily. The conflict between the company and the slum is increasingly tense; the people here are determined not to move, and the commercial center project has ended.Alex was forced to suspend the project; there was no other way. If the people here don't migrate elsewhere, the project will forever stay on paper.In their car, Alex and Isabel are still looking for a solution. They must implement this project because they have called for most of the corporation's capital into their "crazy" idea."Will I use violence to drive them away?" Isabel sighed."Is there no other way? We're not sure we've bea
The following day, Alex came to the company very early and immediately looked for Isabel. Alex has been finding Isabel in the office ever since."It was Kimberly who played tricks on us. They promised the people of the slums something to keep them from leaving.""Kimberly?" Isabel looked puzzled."Were they at the auction with us?""Yes, they did the trick! I went to the slum yesterday and met the chief there alone." Alex sure."You met them alone and returned safely." Isabel was worried."I saved his daughter, and he refused to talk to me.""Now it's time to find out what Kimberly did!" Alex growled to Isabel.Immediately, the subordinates investigated Isabel about the Kimberly Corporation. A series of information about this corporation was sent to Alex and Isabel.From the information collected, the Kimberly corporation controls all areas of this city, from politics and commerce to underground gangs with Kimberly's presence."How to expose them?" Isabel wondered."Looks like they do
Alex put Jessica down on the bed. He looked at her; he hadn't seen her in such a deep sleep for a long time. Her eyes were closed, her familiar face calm. Alex didn't know how often he had watched her sleep soundly before; he could see her peacefully beside him every time he woke up. But this time was different...Alex thought of the men who had prepared to humiliate her, the blood in her throat boiling, anger billowing from the bottom of her heart. He doesn't know what happened to Jessica, someone wants to harm her, but he definitely won't let this happen. As far as he knows, Jessica's life is acceptable now; why?Leaning down, Alex lightly kissed Jessica's forehead and left. He couldn't stay here too long, and he couldn't let her wake up to see him. Alex quickly drove back to the company; he wanted to know who was behind these events.Returning to the company, he went very quickly to his office. Isabel saw his angry expression, she asked him what happened, but he did not answer.As
No doubt Henry helped her pay off her debt. That was the first and only thought that Mrs. Andrew could think of. She silently cursed Jessica for being heartless and not understanding her. She gave herself an excuse to "relieve the pressure" in her heart and then rushed to the casino like a demon.If Jessica were like Henry, how good would it be, rich, generous, and understanding? She doesn't want to lose; it's just that the times are not favorable...She wants to bring back Jessica's money, too; Jessica is such a selfish bitch.Knowing that someone will pay the debt if she loses, Mrs. Andrew is unafraid of anything. She poured all her money into gambling, even borrowing more people around.While she was putting down money, Henry suddenly appeared. He went to Mrs. Andrew's desk and saw her constantly shouting, calling to borrow money, and then grabbing people's clothes; he couldn't help but smile sarcastically. Then he raised his head, and his comrades-who were also in the game with Mr
Jessica seems to understand everything; she also has nothing to say about this mother of hers. She was so disappointed. She did not understand what was in Mrs. Andrew's mind. Was Henry her child after all, or was she her child? Jessica found it ridiculous; someone just showed up and gave her some money that she considered dearer than her daughter was born.Thinking of Henry, the hatred in Jessica's heart doubled; what did he want from her? Does he want her body? Is there a lack of women around him? Why does he keep targeting her?Jessica looked at Mrs. Andrew, still staring at her with wide eyes as if her heart was cold; she turned to leave but suddenly bumped into another man.Jessica raised her head, not one man but many men.The bewilderment could not be hidden in her eyes. She didn't know when, from behind her, a lot of men appeared, they were all guests in the casino, and they all lookterriblebad."Get out of here; I want to get out of here."Jessica said.Yet those people looked
Alex turned the car into the rich Eco City where he lived.When Jessica saw this, she was shocked. No, it must be said that when she saw Alex's car, she was utterly amazed. At that time, Jessica couldn't help but think that when he loved Isabel, did he have so many things? Yes, Isabel is wealthy. These things… were probably what she gave him.Thinking of this, Jessica couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.She sat in the co-drivers seat. Is this where Isabel used to sit? Jessica thought that and felt a little uncomfortable in her heart, but she said nothing. She remained silent from beginning to end.Until Alex turned into a large villa, built in a modern style, with three floors, a swimming pool in front, and a green garden at the top. Finally, she couldn't help but ask:"Is this… your house?""That's right," Alex replied briefly; he did not let the car into the garage but stopped in the yard. Then he got out of the car and opened the door for Jessica to get out.Jessica stepp
After everything was settled, Alex brought immense joy to the hospital where Isabel was resting. From now on, Cherry had become his child, a member of this small family, and now he only needed one more vital piece to have a perfect family. His future wife lay right here.Alex arrived at the hospital in the middle of the night, and Isabel’s room was already empty. Her family had left; they were all exhausted after days of tense waiting at the hospital. That gave him the opportunity to have some private time with Isabel. He approached her bedside, gently caressing her smooth cheek, and his eyes became moist.It was uncertain whether it was because the act of pretending to be a family for these days was too real or if it was the love that had been quietly growing over the years, but Alex felt his emotions surging intensely. It seemed like within his heart, emotions were erupting in waves, encompassing deep longing and painful sorrow. If it weren’t for him, she wouldn’t be here, and the p
The news of Isabel’s injury had spread to the surrounding people. It wasn’t just Isabel’s parents; it included the Locke family, Alex’s relatives, and even the residents of the impoverished neighborhood.Because they couldn’t reach Isabel, they sent flowers, gifts, words of encouragement, and even money to Alex. Alex expressed they didn’t need to send these things; he could easily handle Isabel’s medical bills.However, it wasn’t just about the material support; it was also about the gratitude of all the people he had helped.A few nights later, Alex received a roughly designed invitation card to a party in the slum area.Unwillingly, these people were here to survive, and yet they organized a party to thank him. Alex didn’t really want to go, but after some thought, he realized he was the guest of honor at this party, and he couldn’t disappoint them. Alex dressed neatly for the occasion and tried to boost his spirits before visiting Isabel in the hospital. He sat by her side for a wh
After her encounter with Henry, who had threatened and ridiculed her about the Forest Corporation, Jessica appeared supremely confident on the surface, trusting her beloved Alex implicitly. However, deep down, she was extremely concerned.Since that meeting, Jessica diligently tried to gather information about Alex’s company. Finally, she realized that what Henry had said seemed to be entirely true. Jessica felt an urge to help Alex, as the dream project of his island resort was facing serious problems. Irregularities had halted the construction. With abundant resources at her disposal, Jessica was eager to assist Alex.This was also an opportunity to nurture their relationship.With a heart full of excitement, Jessica visited Alex. She dressed up a bit, as becoming the new heiress and owner of the Locke family had given her an entirely different demeanor than her previous meek self. Jessica now loved herself and exuded confidence, believing she could once again captivate Alex’s heart
After all the exhausting work, Alex and Isabel officially gave up their assumed impoverished identities. Both of them changed into new attire and returned to Alex’s mansion. Isabel stayed with him temporarily for convenience in handling their work, and little Cherry still needed a small family.Initially, they had discussed that after finishing their tasks, they would take Cherry back to the orphanage. After all, they were both busy adults with no capability to fully care for a child. If so, leaving Cherry in the orphanage was the right choice, as she could find a new home there. They would also do their best to find suitable caregivers for her and seek a comfortable family.But after a while of living together, both Alex and Isabel developed feelings for the adorable child. They didn’t want to send Cherry back to the orphanage, but they couldn’t have her around either. In the end, they weren’t adults who could meet all the psychological needs of a child. However, if they sent Cherry
Rihana quickly untied Alex, ignoring Loki’s suffering nearby. Alex thanked her and grabbed a gun that was out of ammunition, directing a disdainful look at Loki. He approached and stomped on Loki’s bleeding wound, as an act of vengeance for what had just happened. Alex wasn’t one to hold back or forgive easily.“Tend to his wound. Don’t let him die,” Alex ordered, looking sternly at Rihana. Under Alex’s firm gaze, Rihana went closer to Loki, ignoring his threats and insults. She efficiently tore a piece of cloth from her own clothing, carefully covering the wound to stop the bleeding. Loki’s face turned even paler, and he could do nothing but mumble in pain.Meanwhile, the sound of approaching police sirens grew louder. Loki looked at Alex with suspicion. He couldn’t find his phone; it was no longer with him. He wondered how the police had been called. Were they in on this from the beginning? When had things spiraled so out of control?Failing to properly investigate Alex was a grave
Loki doesn’t want to say much to this guy. He didn’t care about the reason anymore. All that he had investigated was enough to send this guy back to hell.Loki is sure that even if he pulled out a gun and blew his brains out, this guy wouldn’t say a word.But thinking that in the future the chairman might lose a lot of information because of this, Loki had to patiently ask a few more questions.“What is your real name? Don’t cross me. I have to spend so much time and effort because of you, be a little more reasonable, otherwise I will explode your brains.”“Even if I say it, you still can’t determine what is the truth, right? If I tell the truth, will you let me go?”“Okay, if it’s important, you’ll get out of here alive.”Alex almost burst out laughing for a moment. With that look in his eyes that only has murderous intent, who else is he trying to fool? Let him live. He is not a three-year-old child.Alex kept spinning his brain, thinking about how to get out of this situation. It w
“Could you please total these items?”In the morning, at a convenience store, Alex was waving his hand to pay for some essential items, all of them ingredients for baking. He wanted to bring them home for little Cherry because she had a baking competition coming up at school, and he wanted her to practice at home.While waiting to pay, a few young men behind him were engaged in a heated discussion. He typically wouldn’t have paid much attention to the conversation of strangers, but he overheard the name Locke. Recently, they had been a hot topic of discussion everywhere. Alex waited for the cashier to prepare his bill while quietly eavesdropping.“Oh my God, three more people died at the funeral yesterday. This family is in chaos.”“Have you read those conspiracy theories and rumors online? They all claim that some underground power is involved. It seems this family has offended some terrifying figure, so they’ll be wiped out eventually.”“Say what you will, but the police still haven
The night had fallen, and the members of the Locke family had quietly returned. Only Jack’s parents remained at the funeral home, standing vigil by their son’s casket. Mr. Andrew and Jessica had left early, and by the end of the day, Mr. Andrew finally felt a sense of relief. He didn’t know where his wife was, but her absence was the best outcome for all.Because of the recent pressures, Jack’s father was also exhausted from the events. He wanted to temporarily escape the stifling atmosphere of this place. However, he was reluctant to move too far, fearing that his wife might faint again. Mr. Andrew stepped out to the back of the funeral home, walking along a dark row of trees. It was past 11 o’clock, and he saw no one in this chilly, desolate forest.The unusually quiet woods made his already troubled mind even more restless. This was a resting place for many departed souls, and every rustling sound made Mr. Andrew uneasy.A funeral for two. Was this the punishment meant for the Lock
Henry’s burning gaze swept over Jessica, like a hunter locking onto his prey within shooting range. It was a look that combined both passion and possessiveness, making Jessica unable to shake off the feeling that this man was truly disturbed.Because disgust stemmed from instinct, she retreated heavily from the funeral room of this grandfather and grandson’s household. She felt that what she had told Jack’s mother earlier was indeed accurate.The complete house reeked of an unsettling odor.That room, in particular, had seen countless distant relatives of the family mocking her, each taking their turn to degrade each other for entertainment, only to now act meek and change their attitudes, presenting their most humble appearances to make amends for the past wrongdoings.Outwardly, everyone’s demeanor was, of course, pleasant. Jessica had lived long enough to know who was sincere among those in the upper class. She was wary of the apparent remorse and repentance, as it all reeked stron