The loud beep of the ECG machine echoed by the bedside wakes Glenn up. His forehead creased in disturbance as his eyes took in his surroundings.
An old machine, rusty chairs and beds, a ceiling adorned with dangling spider webs, a musty odour filling the roomWhere was he?When he tried to stand, his body was stiff and unresponsive. He tried to move his body, but it felt as if his body was completely paralyzed; he couldn't feel his legs and arms.‘What's happening?''Why can't I move my body?''Where is everyone?''What is more, why am I being treated in such a terrible hospital? I'm one of the most powerful businessmen in Edgartown,’ He tried to analyse it in his mind."Ugh..." he groaned, feeling an excruciating pain in his head when he attempted to uncover the reason why he ended up in that sad and helpless state hospital.That memory comes rushing into his mind. He had been on his way to work in Smith Corp when the steering wheel of his car became unresponsive as he accelerated.Even the brake pedal didn't function. In a panic, he turned the wheel to the left and then…That was his last memory before ending up here."Damn it," he cursed.It's been an hour since he made the first attempt to call for anyone available, but it seems the hospital is uninhabited. No one replied to his desperate calls.Tired of waiting, Glenn grew frustrated and finally exerted all his strength to force his body to rise.Unfortunately, he didn't take into account the force he used. His body twisted and fell off the bed with a loud thud followed by the ear-piercing sound of the ECG machine."Ugh..." he groaned, now lying face down, his position even more pitiful than before.Just as he slipped into endless despair, from the corner of his eyes he saw Amber appeared at the door.Glenn breathed an immense sigh of relief at the sight of his wife. Amber's arrival was like a saviour for him.Her graceful figure leaned against the doorframe, no words came out of her mouth as she looked at Glenn, even though her husband was in an unfavorable position."Mm... Honey, where have you been? Can you help me?" he asked politely.Still attempting to move his body, but there was no response from Amber; she continued to observe him with a cold gaze.Unaware of his wife's change, Glenn asked again, "Do you know what happened to my body? I can't move a single limb," complaining and seeking his wife's attention once more.As Amber remained silent, that was when he noticed her change in demeanor, Amber's cold and unfeeling gaze showed no hint of affection in the way she looked at Glenn, devoid of pity but rather indifferent, he felt a chill down his spine.“Honey…” Glenn persisted in his efforts to regain his wife's attention. He moved his head to get a clearer look at her figure."Don't 'honey' me, Glenn. I'm fed up with all this pretense. Why are you so stubborn? It would have been easier if you died in yesterday's accident..." Amber snapped, glaring at him, visibly frustrated.Glenn's eyes widened upon hearing his wife's words. "W-what do you mean, Amber? You can't possibly mean that, can you? And this... What's happening to me? Why can't I move my body?""Yes, I'm serious with my words, Glenn. Your body is no longer functional,” Amber explained while staring at Glenn with a blank expression.“The nerves in your spine were severed during your accident, so you will never be able to lead a normal life again. Okay, alrighty then, since you won't live until tomorrow, I'd better tell you everything now,”Amber continued, but it seemed she wasn't ready to stop talking yet.“Consider it my gratitude to you before you die. Here, I introduce you to someone you are close to, but you have never seen his true colours before … Jason!"Amber called out a familiar name with an affectionate tone. Hearing the change of attitude his wife made, made Glenn furrows.Once again, Glenn was taken aback as his business partner entered. The man who had been his friend for years smiled arrogantly, far from the innocent and kind appearance he'd always displayed all this time.Then the more surprising thing happened; before Glenn's eyes, his friend boldly embraced his wife so intimately. His arms wrapped around Amber's waist, drawing her close into his embrace. Glenn's eyes are wide in shock.Amber giggled and welcomed Jason's embrace, a sight that instantly ignited rage within Glenn. They even shared a deep kiss shamelessly in front of him, her lawful husband.Seeing his friend and wife in an affectionate demeanour made him furious, their betrayal shattered his entire world.Not stopping there, his rage only intensified when he heard Amber's confession."As you can see... Jason and I have been in a relationship for years behind your back, and even... Ethan isn't your biological son, but Jason's. Haha.”Amber laughed mockingly at Glenn before walking toward him, crouching down, and looking at Glenn with a pitiful gaze.Later, each of Amber's words felt like a sledgehammer striking his heart.“I can't stop laughing thinking about how proud you paraded a child who wasn't even your flesh and blood, taking him everywhere and introducing him as your own. How pathetic, but don't worry... after your death, Ethan will return to his legitimate father," Amber added.She awkwardly stroked Glenn's hair, making him instantly feel repulsed and rejecting any touch from Amber.All this time, his entire life wasn't his own? Ethan... wasn't his son? He, who had waited hours for Ethan in the hospital when it was time for Amber's delivery, cradled him the first moment he came into the world and cared for him every night when Amber refused to wake even for a feeding.Impossible... Ethan was his son! Anger roared within Glenn, unable to accept the betrayal inflicted by both of them."Glenn, everything is ready. All we need is your final signature, and Smith Corp will officially be mine.” Amber said as she stood up from her position, leaving Glenn on the floor.That woman took out a piece of paper from her handbag and gave it to Jason, he retrieved a pen from his suit pocket and walked towards Glenn.Jason brought the paper close to Glenn and asked him to sign it.“Over the past year, I've patiently transferred bit by bit of your assets under my name—even your parents' assets,” Jason directed Glenn's stiff and heavy hand to sign the document."What do you mean?" Glenn asked about Jason's last statement while trying hard to resist, making it difficult for him to control his hand.“Of course, I had to remove them, too, to ensure they didn't hinder my plans. Now it's your turn. Sign here, and I promise to manage Smith Corp for the rest of my life. Rest assured... I'm doing this for Ethan, my son, and Amber, the mother of my child," Jason requested sarcastically.Followed by Amber's satisfied laughter from across the room.Jason then pulled Glenn's hand even harder to coerce him into signing the document.Glenn, determined not to give in, held onto his hand firmly.His hand slipped out of Jason's grip, and with all his strength, Glenn tried to crawl away from both of them."Hmph!""Hmph!"Glenn's attempts to escape, despite being somewhat pitiful, amused Amber and Jason."Where do you think you're going, Glenn? Come on, don't be stubborn. At the last moments of your life, make yourself useful; sign those papers immediately," Amber demanded rudely and shamelessly."Come on! Sign this, Glenn!" Jason snapped at him impatiently, pulling his hand and placing the pen on his fingers."No," Glenn refused firmly."Come on, Glenn, why are you being so stubborn? You have no one else in the world. At least if you do this, I promise to visit your grave for the next two years. I also promise to bring Ethan if that makes you happy; how about that?" Amber mocked with a sneering face."Do it, Glenn. I promise to take care of both of them for you," Jason grinned annoyingly."Do it now, you pathetic man! We've been too patient dealing with your stupidity for ten years! This is for our future guarantee!" Amber yelled. This time, Jason’s hands forced Glenn's fingers to move.Glenn tried to resist with all the remaining strength he had left, while Jason pressured him even harder.Suddenly, Glenn felt a pang in his heart. The sound of the heart monitor beeped loudly, followed by Glenn's fading consciousness, pulling him into darkness.***Suddenly, he woke up in a bustling cafeteria during the students' break time. He caught sight of his reflection in the mirror plastered along the cafeteria wall and realised his face looked much younger.Glenn shot up suddenly, lightly patting his cheeks to verify that this wasn't a dream.He pivoted, scanning the surroundings for any sign confirming his leap back in time.At that moment, another student searching for a seat accidentally collided with his shoulder, while balancing a tray of food."Ouch!" Glenn winced as the hot soup spilled onto his shoulder."Oh! I'm sorry!" the student apologised, and Glenn simply nodded, allowing the student to move on.Feeling the heat of the soup broth seeping through his shirt and touching his skin, he finally realized he had truly gone back in time!What year was it?Glenn headed towards the counter and glanced at the calendar, which showed the year 2011.This time, he was left speechless, realising the reality of it all. He had travelled back 12 years before his wife, and his best friend heartlessly murdered him!"Where on earth have you been all this time?! I've been looking for you, you fool!" reprimanded a woman from behind him. He looked back to see her face scowling as she crossed her arms. Glenn was taken aback, seeing the face of his young wife. She looks astonishingly beautiful with her red hair, milky skin and sexy figure. That face used to captivate him completely. He would go to any lengths to win her affection. Little did he know that behind that stunning facade lay a deceitful and vile witch. ‘When did their dirty game begin?’ ‘Where did they often meet?’ ‘How could their relationship escape my notice?’ These questions swirled in his mind. To enact his revenge, he was determined to follow Amber's game. He wanted to understand how foolish he was back then. This time, when fate gave him a second chance, he vowed to make sure he would give them both what they deserved! "What's wrong, Amber?" he asked. Now that his heart had grown numb to her charm, he could see how
That evening, wearing a shirt and khaki pants, Glenn entered John Steel’s residence carrying a large gift box that he handed to Amber. Of course, Amber's smile upon seeing the large gift he brought caught Glenn's attention; her demeanour changed not because of seeing Glenn, it did not escape his notice. "What's this?" Amber asked curiously. "You can open it later after I've left," replied Glenn. His in-laws had previously greeted him enthusiastically. Now the fake smiles of these money-minded individuals were painfully obvious to Glenn. These two were leeches back when he married Amber, constantly asking for financial support for their failing business. He couldn't refuse because after marrying Amber, they became his family. As Glenn was cutting his steak, the impatient expression on his father-in-law's face was reflected in his wine glass. "Yes, Sir?" Glenn inquired. "Ahem, is it true that you're solely heir of Smith Corp?" he initiated the conversation. "That's correct, Sir. I
‘Damn it, how could this simp man refuse my request?’ ‘What's wrong with him?’‘Did he wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning that his attitude is so different?’‘Ugh, as repulsed I am by that man, if I were to lose him, it would be disastrous.’‘I have no other source of funds besides him,’ Amber concluded in disbelief, attempting to pull Glenn back into her charm. "Are you having problems? You seem so different," she whispered, not wanting other students to hear her submissive tone to Glenn. Seeing Amber's softened demeanour, Glenn smirked condescendingly.'I just threatened you a moment ago, and now you're like a puppy with its tail tucked between its legs,' Glenn assessed. He had never felt so happy in his life before. If Amber had treated him like a doormat all this time, now he didn't want anyone to do the same to him. Amber's feigned sweetness wouldn't sway him. No one should trample on him again. ‘Should I play around with her for now? I guess letting her off
She had just gotten crazy inspiration from Jason, but then Amber remembered that she was upset because she had been embarrassed by Glenn in front of the entire campus that day. How could she embarrass herself further by begging for the acceptance of that foolish man? The word 'foolish' she attributed to Glenn left her stunned. She thought about Glenn's appearance today, his way of speaking, body language, clothes, and strikingly different appearance. "Ugh... I don't know; it seems like that foolish man is now hard for me to control," Amber suddenly complained. Jason approached her and affectionately wrapped his arm around Amber's waist. "How could it be, baby... Isn't he so crazy about you like I do? I think he's acting that way to get your attention. He's playing hard to get," Jason instigated in her ear. After that, he gently blew into Amber's ear, arousing her, which made her immediately smirk mischievously and invite Jason to satisfy their desires. After fulfilling their de
After class, Amber didn't go straight to Ms. Eugene as Glenn had ordered but went home first to see her workmaid, Jason's mother. The woman's body was large, and she smelled awful. Amber tried to hold her breath around her.The woman was surprised to see Amber approaching her, it was a mutual agreement that Amber should not be seen close to her while working in her house. Even though Jason's mother knew that Amber and her son were secretly having a relationship, she knew enough not to report it to Mr and Mrs Steel; she was afraid that her job would be jeopardised."Let's swap," Amber pleaded, her eyes watering as she tried to catch her breath. Amber's unreasonable request left Jason's mother stunned."You, let's swap clothes, I wear yours, and you wear mine," Amber pleaded, forcing Jason's mom to pull her shirt off out of impatience. Jason's mom, of course, panicked, afraid of being caught by Amber's parents. Her eyes grew wide when she saw Mrs. Steel approaching them."Take off y
Glenn grinned at Amber's confusion, convinced she was busy finding excuses to avoid him. He still remembers throughout their past marriage, Amber rarely consented to fulfilling his biological needs. Glenn had to coax her, treating her like a queen for a whole week, just to satisfy his desires for a maximum of twenty minutes. Even then, Amber would do it begrudgingly, almost as a formality. If Glenn took too long, Amber would fake a yawn and pretend to fall asleep. His self-esteem was deeply wounded by Amber's behaviour towards him. However, due to his immense love for her, he didn't make much of an issue out of it. For him, as long as his wife remained faithful, he considered her lack of appreciation because of his inability to make her happy. But the fatal accident that befell him reinstated his lost self-confidence. It revealed that the root of the problem wasn't with him but because his wife secretly had another man in her life.Remembering Amber's betrayal, Glenn's eyes sudde
A nurse greeted them at the entrance, her face showing fatigue in a uniform that seemed worn off for a long time. “Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” she greeted weakly, her smile awkward. She looks at Glenn closely. Glenn glanced at his Mother, wondering if she noticed, too. But his mother seemed unfazed, returning the smile to the nurse and entering the hospital. Even at this moment, the hospital seemed extremely unfit to operate in, with outdated equipment, the squeak of rusty wheels on wheelchairs echoing through the corridors, and walls stained with handprints of those who had once touched them. Glenn approached his Mother and whispered, “Mother, remind me again, whose hospital is this? Do I know the owner?” His Mother whispered back, covering her mouth with her purse, “This is Ingrid Langfield's hospital, the widow of Klaus Langfield.” “Klaus Langfield has passed away?” Glenn asked, a bit surprised. He remembered the old man as someone kind and unassuming, who often engaged hi
"Ah, just leave them be, mate," Darren waved off, noticing Glenn's gaze.Darren then handed a can of beer to Glenn. "Thanks," Glenn said as he accepted it. They bantered before taking a sip."You didn't invite Amber?" Darren asked out of the blue, and Glenn just shook his head. Darren's eyes suddenly lit up."Thank goodness... It would've been chaos if she showed up," Darren sighed in relief.Darren gestured subtly towards Jason, the man still engrossed with the woman nearly twice his age.Seeing Darren's reaction to knowing about Amber and Jason's relationship, Glenn felt foolish. If he hadn't realised quickly, he would have continued displaying himself as Amber's lackey, and no one would have stepped up to inform him of his folly.But beyond that, Glenn also realised something new. Initially thinking that Darren would appreciate him bringing Amber, who seemed popular among guys, Glenn now understood a side of Amber that this particular person didn't favour.‘What else about Amber ha
As time passed, Glenn and Hazel enjoyed peaceful days while awaiting the birth of their baby. In the month of their baby’s due date, Glenn received the surprising news that Yvonne and Victor were getting married. “Glenn, hurry up!” Hazel hurriedly put on her earrings as they were almost late for Victor and Yvonne’s wedding ceremony. Glenn quickly grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair and hugged Hazel from behind. Seeing Hazel with her big belly made him fall in love with her even more. “Not now,” Hazel grumbled, annoyed. The more Hazel was irritable, the more Glenn enjoyed teasing her. They stepped out of the house and got into the car. Glenn drove at a moderate speed, occasionally reaching for Hazel’s hand and kissing it gently. Hazel felt incredibly happy, showered with love from her husband. When they arrived at the church, the doors were almost closing as the ceremony was about to begin. Glenn and Hazel entered, accompanied by the quiet laughter of the attendees. They
“Mei!” Hazel immediately hugged her friend, whom she hadn't seen for months.Mr. Zhang’s daughter had decided to visit Hazel in Eagertown after the situation in Yuhan had stabilized. She brought a lot of gifts for Hazel, thinking Hazel would want to try some unique treats from Yuhan.“Sorry I came so late, I’ve been incredibly busy in Yuhan,” Mei said.“It’s okay. I know you had a lot to take care of.”They walked through the corridor and into the living room. Glenn, who had just come out of his office, joined them. They all sat comfortably on the sofa.“How does it feel to be expecting a baby?” Mei asked with a giggle.Hazel was due in four months. Time had flown by, and her belly was already showing significantly.“I feel ugly,” Hazel complained.“Ugly? You look so beautiful, Hazel. I’m even jealous of you,” Mei replied. “Being a mother is a privilege not every woman gets.”“I don’t know… I feel so emotionally unstable.” Hazel pouted.Glenn reached for Hazel’s shoulder and hugged he
The effects of the COVID-19 virus had completely vanished in Eagertown, and everyone had returned to their normal activities without worry. Glenn’s company had become more renowned, producing vaccines not only for COVID-19 but for other diseases as well. Glenn was very busy, but he always made time for Hazel.Glenn had just left the hospital after accompanying Hazel for a pregnancy checkup, when they happened to run into Beatrice. Apparently, Beatrice had just arrived there.“Mrs. Zimmerman, what are you doing here? Are you sick?” Hazel asked.“Oh, I’m not sick, Hazel. I have a meeting with some doctors here to discuss sending medical aid to remote areas in Latin America.” Beatrice chuckled softly.“You’re really busy,” commented Glenn. “Take care of your health, Mrs. Zimmerman.”Beatrice nodded. “Thank you for your concern, Glenn.”Then she continued, “Since I happened to run into you here, Glenn, there’s something I’d like to talk about. I need your help.”Glenn was momentarily tak
“Where’s Glenn?” Yvonne asked as she and Victor approached Hazel, who was already sitting and waiting at the café where they had arranged to meet.“He’s taking Sean and his grandmother to Ms. Eugene’s place.”Yvonne only nodded briefly, then took a seat. Victor immediately started flipping through the menu, feeling very hungry.“They’re going to stay there? It seems Eagertown isn’t suitable for Sean,” Victor commented.Hazel sighed softly. “It might be too noisy here.”“Some people just don’t feel comfortable living in the city, Hazel. It doesn’t mean they don’t like being with you.”“I know.” Hazel only nodded wearily.Hazel felt dizzy and her stomach was uneasy, but she forced herself to meet Yvonne and Victor because she wanted to discuss the charity. Yvonne was going to provide a report on the funds that had been allocated and where they had been sent, including to Ms. Eugene’s place.However, Hazel didn’t want to talk about that at all; she just wanted to lie down in bed.“Hazel?
The atmosphere there was busy, as everyone was hard at work building the town. Glenn got out of the car along with Sean and Grandma Mari. As Glenn expected, it seemed that Sean and the grandmother were immediately captivated. Both of them looked at Glenn.“This is a very nice place, Glenn,” praised Sean.From the crowd, Ms. Eugene emerged with a wide smile. She immediately greeted Glenn, Sean, and Grandma Mari.“This must be Sean and Grandma Mari,” nodded Ms. Eugene. “Mr. Glenn has called me, and I am really delighted if you want to stay here.”Grandma Mari agreed. “Of course. I feel at home already.”“You can look around if you like,” offered Ms. Eugene.Sean and the grandmother held hands, and they soon mingled with the people busy at work. Meanwhile, Glenn and Ms. Eugene watched over the bustling activity.“You’re very busy here?” asked Glenn.Ms. Eugene chuckled. “We got a lot of help from Mrs. Zimmerman’s charity and Miss Yvonne.”“Oh, really?”It turned out that the charity ment
A week after Mason's funeral, Beatrice visited Glenn's office. According to Mason's mandate, the company acquired by Glenn would still provide Beatrice with the remaining funds. It was no small amount since Glenn had bought Mason’s company at a fair price.Beatrice had signed the documents and handed them to Glenn. She looked very composed, though her heart had been broken twice after losing Mason forever.“It’s all done, Glenn. Thank you for your cooperation,” Beatrice said.“Once again, my deepest condolences, Mrs. Zimmerman.”A faint smile appeared on Beatrice’s lips. “What happened to Mason did break my heart. But in the end, he tried to be a good person, and I am still proud of him.”There was a light in Beatrice’s eyes, indicating she had come to terms with everything. Even when Mason returned, he was the Mason she had once known.“He will be remembered as a good man. I will make sure of that,” Glenn nodded.“Thank you, you are very kind.”“So, what are your plans moving forwa
Eleanor brought a cup of hot coffee, and though she had changed her clothes, her face still looked disheveled. She smiled sweetly as she placed the coffee on the table, then sat next to Mason. She tried to touch him, but Mason gently moved her hand to the sofa.“Once again, I’m sorry, Eleanor. But I can’t continue our relationship,” Mason said.“You’re going back to Beatrice, aren’t you?”“No. But we’ve made peace, and I know she doesn’t want me anymore.”“Then why? Why are you going back to her?” Eleanor asked, her eyes sad. “Stay here with me.”Mason gave a faint smile, his face looking sorrowful. He felt like the most despicable person in the world, having hurt both Beatrice and now Eleanor. They both deserved happiness, something Mason couldn’t offer.When Beatrice decided to keep their relationship as friends for now, Mason accepted it. He felt he had to be fair, which meant Eleanor also needed to find her own happiness.“You need to find your own happiness, Eleanor.” Mason kisse
Mason and Beatrice's arrival at Glenn's office caused quite a stir, as no one expected the former rival to show up there. Beatrice, looking calm, went to see Irina and Hazel, who happened to be in Glenn's office. Meanwhile, Mason headed straight for the elevator.Hazel, Irina, and Beatrice gathered in the meeting room. Irina and Hazel seemed eager to hear what had brought Beatrice and Mason together to Glenn’s office.“Did you make up?” Irina asked.Beatrice nodded. “As friends, I think. I can’t just accept Mason’s feelings, I don’t know… I don’t want to force myself.”“Yes, of course, Mrs. Zimmerman. Even though you're his wife, you have the right to find your own happiness. If it’s better to be friends, then that’s what you should do. But if your feelings say otherwise...” Hazel began, but Irina interrupted her.“No! Don’t go back to him. I can’t imagine it. Just stay friends, Beatrice,” Irina said firmly.Beatrice chuckled. “Yes, I’ll just follow wherever our story leads.”“He cam
The foggy memories slowly became clearer as Mason stepped onto the porch of the house he had long abandoned. Dark thoughts crept into his mind—if he knocked on the door, would he be welcomed? Or would everything be different?Mason took a deep breath and pressed the doorbell of the seemingly deserted house.Several minutes passed, and Mason continued to stand there, waiting. Finally, the front door opened, and Beatrice appeared. Despite looking older, her face was bright. She had found her own peace.However, the arrival of Mason seemed to shatter that peace instantly.“Mason?” Beatrice looked at him in disbelief.“I’d like to talk to you, Bea. May I? That is, if you’re willing.”Beatrice’s eyes remained fixed on Mason’s pitiful figure. Whatever had happened, something terrible must have hit Mason hard. Was this something Beatrice should celebrate?Regardless of Mason’s current troubles, maybe he had fought with Eleanor and decided to come back home.Beatrice’s ego raged inside her. A