Maureen watched their retreating figures, a sudden longing to experience romance washing

    over her.

    Ever since falling for Geoffrey, she’d rejected every other suitor. She’d married without ever dating, never knowing love’s sweetness.

    Tilting her face toward the inky darkness, tears welled up in Maureen’s eyes. Silently, she whispered, “Dad… I regret it.”

    Regretted marrying Geoffrey. Regretted choosing a man who didn’t love her with such certainty.

    8:30 PM. The fireworks ended.

    The crowd dispersed.

    When Wayne drove up to fetch Maureen, he found her standing alone by the riverbank–a solitary figure against the water.

    His fiancee’s words from two days ago echoed: If you love someone, give them security. How could another woman threaten what you share?

    For a moment, genuine pity stirred within him.

    Pulling over, he approached her.

    “Ms. Ramirez, I’m here to take you home.”

    Maureen slowly turned. The sorrow in her eyes vanished, reced by polite detachment. “Thank you.”

    She slid into the car.

    Wayne deliberately turned up the car’s heater.

    Though Maureen’s health had improved abroad these years, she remained too thinpared to others. Especially after cold winds, her face turned rmingly pale, as if she might copse at any gust.

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    Wayne watched her in the rearview mirror while driving, exining on Geoffrey’s behalf:

    “Miss Andrea almost died tonight because of a die–hard fan. She’s still in critical care at the hospital. She says she wants to see Mr. Sutton onest time.”

    Die–hard fan…

    Maureen couldn’t help a bitter smile. If Geoffrey investigated just a little, he’d know that was no die–hard fan.

    And with Andrea’s tactics, Maureen didn’t believe she could be harmed.

    Besides, Frank was still held by Gareth–where would he get the chance to hurt her?

    This was likely her own staged drama.

    “Hmm.”

    Maureen paused. “I know. He told me.”

    Wayne breathed a sigh of relief.

    After working with Geoffrey so long, he’d truly noticed his boss had fallen for Maureen. Why else search for her years, drop work for her, or pull strings to buy her father Juan’s

    belongings…

    But Geoffrey never showed it. If he loved someone eight parts, he’d only show one.

    Dappled streetlights flickered as Maureen stared nkly out the car window.

    They finally reached Pearl.

    Maureeny in bed after washing up, since Geoffrey hadn’t returned yet. Perfect timing to call Katherine and Jacob.

    “How’ve you been these days?”

    Katherine answered the phone.

    They hadn’t connectedtely, as Maureen had been tied up with Geoffrey.

    Maureen gave a brief update, omitting how Geoffrey abandoned her by the river because of Andrea. Then she asked where Jacob was

    “The little guy’s been heading to bed early these nights. Want me to wake him?”

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    “Don’t disturb him if he’s asleep.”

    “Alright.”

    Unbeknownst to Katherine, Jacob next door wasn’t sleeping at all. After eavesdropping on their conversation, he started working online to earn money.

    “That lousy dad isn’tpletely terrible–at least he recovered Grandpa’s keepsake. Still, I need to hustle harder so Mommy won’t ever worry about money again.

    Though exceptionally skilled withputers, scraping together billions remained daunting for the young self–starter.

    Jacob frowned at the lengthy string of digits on his screen. Just a few million? How could he ever earn enough for Mom’s dowry?

    Suddenly a thought struck him: All the real money–making schemes were written in thew

    books.

    His fingers flew across the keyboard.

    If I take money from my own dad’s ount, it shouldn’t be illegal, right?

    I’m just getting child support.

    Pearl

    Maureen had barely hung up when Gareth called

    She answered hastily, hearing his voice: “I had Frank visit Andrea again today

    Maureen’s heart bsank/b. Had Andrea truly been hurt by Frank?

    “You know what?

    That woman tried to kill him. If not for my men, he’d be dead”

    Gareth exined he’d arranged for Frank to witness Andrea’s true nature these past days

    But the fool refused to believe it. Today he went to Andrea’s home himselt

    Andrea pretended tofort him at first, then shipped him sleeping pills. Once he was out, she turned on the gas to make it look like an ident

    My men caught her, dragged him out just in time

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    Panicked, Andrea started harming herself. ying the victim, she imed some die–hard fan broke in and attacked her…

    Maureen stared in shock.

    She couldn’t believe Andrea could be this vicious!

    Her suspicion was right–those “injuries” were staged all along!

    Silence lingered until Gareth worried: “Reenie? You okay?”

    “I’m fine.”

    this far.” Maureen snapped back to reality. “Just never imagined she’d go

    “An orphan who’s made it this far must have some tricks up their sleeve.”

    A strange emotion flickered in Gareth’s eyes as he said this: “You need to be very careful with people like that.”

    He paused, then cautiously probed: “Did you handle the pregnancy matter?”

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