The crowd began whispering among themselves, and Odgen's face darkened as if deep in thought. Lydia, too, looked at Lambert with surprise. She had thought Lambert was merely speaking out of frustration. After all, they had known each other for a long time, and there was nothing about him she hadn't already uncovered. No one understood Lambert's dedication to Universal Conglomerate better than she did.Yet now, Lambert had transferred his shares without hesitation, meaning that all his years of hard work would be for nothing. Lydia wasn't the only one shocked; several others, especially those who had once hoped to win Lambert's favor, abandoned their plans after hearing the news.Lambert stepped toward Lydia, looking deeply into her eyes with utter seriousness. "Lydia, if I truly have nothing left, would you still be with me?"Lydia's expression was complicated, her emotions a mix of bitterness and sweetness. "Lambert, there's no need for this. You know very well... there's no future f
Everyone was stunned as they looked in Lambert's direction. His expression wasn't pleasant either. He had no intention of revealing his identity, but Andy, with his big mouth, had spilled the beans.Sensing the strange atmosphere, Andy cautiously asked, "What's wrong, Boss? Don't they already know?"Lambert gritted his teeth. "Do you think they knew?"Only then did Andy realize the gravity of what he had just revealed. Odgen, on the other hand, was completely floored. He stood frozen, staring at Lambert, suddenly realizing he knew nothing about his son, despite Lambert being his own flesh and blood.Lydia, too, was in shock as she looked at Lambert. After knowing him for so long, she had no idea that he was hiding such a massive secret. The owner of the SA Consortium? Such a powerful and influential position! No wonder when Odgen had cut him off from the family fortune, Lambert had been so unfazed—he had nothing to fear!Lydia suddenly felt ridiculous. She had married him and divorced
"Shit!" Lambert cursed under his breath as he quickly jumped out of the car and ran after Lydia.A Bentley suddenly pulled up next to her, and as Andrew saw Lydia running straight ahead, he slammed on the brakes. The sharp screeching sound made his heart clench in fear.Lydia froze in place, trembling, her face as pale as a sheet of paper.Andrew hurriedly opened the door and pulled her into his arms, his heart pounding in relief. Cold sweat trickled down his back as he realized how close he had come to hitting her if he'd been going any faster."Lydia, are you okay? Weren't you supposed to be leaving with Thera's car? What happened—"Before he could finish, someone rushed up behind them. Looking up, Andrew saw Lambert, his face filled with regret.Lydia clung to Andrew's shirt as if holding on to her last hope. Her voice was panicked and desperate. "Andrew, please take me away, I beg you!"Andrew didn't know exactly what had happened between Lydia and Lambert, but he could never refu
Lydia stared in shock as Andrew and Thera bantered back and forth, the lively exchange so natural, the atmosphere so harmonious. For a moment, she wondered if perhaps these two were truly meant for each other."Mom, are they like those ‘frenemies' they talk about on TV? Do they like each other?"Wythe's sudden question made both Andrew and Thera pause. They glanced at each other, then spoke at the same time."I like him!" "No way I'd like her!"After their simultaneous responses, both froze again. Thera's expression faltered slightly. Although she had been the one to pursue this relationship, she couldn't deny the sting of his indifference. It hurt to like someone who was in love with her best friend. She had never imagined she would end up in such a strange and dramatic situation.This love was both humiliating and painful. If she could, she would have chosen not to feel this way at all. But no matter how hard she tried, Andrew's image always lingered in her mind.Her face slowly gre
Lydia and Thera chatted and laughed together, and eventually, Lydia suggested that Thera stay in her room for the night so they could share some private conversations. This way, Andrew wouldn't have to sleep on the couch.However, that night was destined to be a sleepless one. Neither Lydia nor Lambert could get any rest. The same was true for Andrew and Thera—except for Wythe, the adults were all deep in thought.Early the next morning, before Lydia was even out of bed, she was drawn by the smell of something delicious coming from the kitchen, making her stomach growl. In the kitchen, Andrew was wearing an apron, busy cooking, while Thera stood awkwardly at the door, staring at him in a daze."Thera, good morning! Why are you both up so early?" Lydia asked.Thera's eyes remained fixed on Andrew, her emotions complicated."He's a good, homely man," she thought to herself. "I like him.""Well, it's all Andrew's fault," Thera responded. "He insisted on getting up to make breakfast, and
"Wythe? You called suddenly. Is something wrong?" Lambert's voice was warm and affectionate.Wythe, with a pitiful tone, asked, "Dad, in a few days, the school is holding a parent-child sports event. Can you come?"There was a brief hesitation on the other end of the line. Lambert didn't immediately agree, instead asking, "Is your mom going?"Wythe nodded slightly, "She's going. The teacher said they hope both parents can attend."Lambert's heart skipped a beat. Instinctively, he replied, "I understand, Wythe. I really want to be there, but I'm afraid I won't be able to make it. I have a business trip to Wall Street coming up, so..."Wythe's expression shifted from joy to disappointment. He pressed his lips together, trying to hide his feelings. "You really can't come? Dad, you promised me before!"His heart sank. All he wanted was for his parents to be together with him. Was it really that difficult?There was a long silence on the other end before Lambert softly apologized, "I'm sor
Lambert hung up the phone without waiting for Lydia's response. He feared that if the conversation continued, he might soften and end up attending the event. Meanwhile, Lydia sat alone on the sofa for a long time, already understanding that Lambert's intentions were directed at her, even without his words. Yet, she felt powerless to refuse.With a sigh, she resolved to compromise for the sake of her son's happiness, though she couldn't decipher Lambert's thoughts. Did he want her to ask him, intending to humiliate her? Regardless of his motives, Lydia understood it this way and took the initiative to call him for a meeting.Lambert had been waiting for her to reach out, so he readily accepted the invitation. The next day at noon, in a Korean restaurant on the main street of Nova City, Lambert arrived as planned. When he walked in, he found Lydia devouring her meal, her lips reddened from the spicy kimchi, making her look particularly enticing. The strong aroma of spice made Lambert fr
Lambert watched Lydia's retreating figure, licking his lips as the sweet taste lingered, leaving him with a sense of longing. It seemed that going to their son's sports day together wouldn't be so bad after all. He had intended to accompany her; he just wanted her to ask him.He was awkward like that—rejected too many times, his courage drained, leaving him to test the waters indirectly.Lydia stumbled back to the villa, feeling flustered. It wasn't until she reached her room that she began to calm down. Leaning against the door, she felt a bit dazed, her fingers unconsciously brushing over her lips. This was the second time Lambert had kissed her so passionately, and she sensed that if she hadn't escaped, he might not have let her go so easily.But she couldn't fathom it. Was Lambert unsatisfied? Why did he get so aroused every time they met, barely managing to exchange a few words?Shaking her head, Lydia wondered why she was overthinking it. Regardless, she didn't want to get entan
"Lambert, at this rate, you could almost switch careers to become a nanny!" Horace teased, noticing how expertly Lambert cradled the baby.Unfazed by his friend's jest, Lambert beamed with happiness. "You wouldn't understand if you don't have kids. Once you get married, you'll know. This is my legacy, and I didn't get to care for Wythe when he was a baby, so I'm determined to be hands-on with Candice."No one could truly grasp this sense of compensation!Horace rolled his eyes, clearly at a loss for words. It was pointless to engage with someone so enamored with fatherhood.While the men gathered to chat, Thera leaned closer to Lydia and whispered, "So, Lydia, are you really back together with Lambert?"Lydia nodded. "Yeah. After everything that happened, I realized I need to cherish every single day. And Lambert is sincere—I can feel it.""That's great!" Thera sighed in relief, finally putting her worries to rest."What about you, Thera? I see you and Andrew getting along quite well!
At this moment, Lambert felt completely at ease. It seemed that Lydia's earlier words were not just talk; she was genuinely ready to give them a chance!A smile crept onto Lambert's lips, but there was no time to think of anything else; he needed to take care of their baby, Wythe. Thanks to the maternal training classes he had attended with Lydia, he had learned a lot about caring for newborns. Gently, he picked up his daughter and quickly checked her diaper, only to find that she had wet it.With nimble hands, he changed her diaper, and the little one fell back asleep. Looking at her innocent face, Lambert's heart melted. This was his child, the result of his and Lydia's love.The baby slept soundly, and Wythe had been temporarily taken away by Bob, who had come to deliver some items. Now, only Lambert and Lydia remained in the room, but Lydia, having slept quite a bit earlier, was no longer drowsy."Are you still feeling unwell?" Seeing Lydia frown slightly, Lambert asked with conce
Lambert glanced at his son's disapproving expression and was momentarily at a loss. "Wythe, you might've looked even more wrinkled than her when you were born, yet look at you now—a handsome young man," he teased, smiling at his daughter. Though wrinkly, he found her to be the most beautiful and precious little girl.Wythe huffed proudly, his lips in a slight pout. "I wasn't this ugly! Besides, you didn't see me when I was a baby." A hint of sadness crossed his face; he hadn't been as lucky as his sister—he hadn't had his dad by his side when he was born.Hearing the touch of bitterness in his son's voice, Lambert immediately understood. Wythe was jealous, understandably so. For all his maturity, Wythe was still just a child. For his first five or six years, he had only his mother and no father. He often envied kids with both parents, and when Lydia finally returned home, her on-again, off-again relationship with Lambert had left Wythe hurt and forced him to grow up faster than other
Lambert paced restlessly in the hallway, nearly losing his mind. Every moment was agonizing, with Lydia's screams from the delivery room piercing his heart. He prided himself on being strong, yet in that instant, he felt an overwhelming urge to flee, especially as her cries of pain echoed through. Angry at himself, he slapped his own face—Lydia was suffering because of him, and he'd never realized how terrifying childbirth could be."Calm down. This is what childbirth is like," a woman nearby said kindly. She was the mother of a little girl, and both she and her husband couldn't help but notice how visibly nervous Lambert was. "You've been through this once before, so you should be able to handle it," she added."Why isn't it over yet? Is she in danger?" Lambert's mind was in turmoil, fighting the urge to rush inside and see Lydia himself.The little girl's father stepped in, attempting to reassure him. "You and your family will be just fine," he said. The man recalled his own frantic
At that moment, Lydia was on the verge of total collapse, as if her entire world had crumbled in an instant, and sorrow overwhelmed her.What had she done? What had she been doing these past days?She had been recklessly indulging in Lambert's affection, without any sense of gratitude or restraint. Now, she regretted her actions deeply. If only she had known this day would come, she would never have argued with Lambert or dismissed his love and efforts out of a misguided sense of pride.All she wanted was for him to be safe, to live happily with her and their children, never to be apart.Lydia's vision blurred as she stood in shock, unable to step closer to the crowd to confirm what had happened. But through a gap, she caught sight of a blood-red stain spreading across the ground. The sight was so jarring that it felt as though her heart had been ripped out of her chest."Mom, are you okay?"Wythe ran over, panting, to see Lydia sitting dazed on the ground, staring at the red stain in
Lambert's words made Wythe roll his eyes, secretly exasperated. What was going on with his dad? Wasn't everything decided? Why was he suddenly backing out at the last moment?Men! Their thoughts are just impossible to figure out!Lambert had indeed changed his mind unexpectedly. He didn't want to deceive Lydia, even if it was just a harmless joke. Something about it felt wrong. Even if it was to bring them closer, lying to her didn't seem right.Wythe's plan had been simple he wanted Lambert to stage an accident, making it seem like he'd been hit by a car. He was certain his mom would show her true feelings; if she still cared for him, there was no way she'd just stand by. It was a good plan, but now that the moment had come, Lambert didn't want to test Lydia this way.People's feelings shouldn't be tested.Wythe grew increasingly anxious. They'd prepared everything, but now his dad was retreating? That wasn't like him at all! Taking advantage of n
Half a month had passed since Lydia's last check-up. Lambert continued caring for Lydia with the same attentiveness, unbothered by her cold attitude towards him. Although her indifference saddened him, he was undeterred; his determination grew in the face of difficulty, a testament to his personality.But little Wythe had had enough. He felt it was time to give his parents a nudge towards reconciliation. Yes, it was his turn to step up!So, one morning, when Lambert went out early to buy groceries as usual, Wythe found an excuse to tag along. Lydia didn't think much of it; over time, she had noticed Lambert's earnest efforts and couldn't deny feeling somewhat touched, even if her heart remained conflicted. Deep down, she feared reopening herself to love, only to be hurt again.After all, "Once bitten, twice shy," as they say. Lydia never saw herself as particularly brave—in fact, in love, she was timid and afraid. She longed for a peaceful, uncomplicated l
Once, Lydia believed she and Lambert would grow old together, inseparable and loyal. But her genuine love had only brought repeated hurt and disappointment. That's why she had fled Nova City, leaving behind everyone she knew, so this time, she refused to open her heart again.Lambert sighed, his tone gentle. He knew Lydia wouldn't easily open up to him again, but he didn't mind; he was willing to wait. Determined, he led her to the prenatal clinic, aware of the many tests ahead—ultrasounds, blood tests, monitoring the baby's heartbeat—a series of over ten examinations. Each department was exceptionally busy, requiring an immense amount of patience.Throughout, Lambert remained unwaveringly attentive, showing no sign of impatience. He stayed by Lydia's side with the eager anticipation of any expectant father, his heart fully in it.Before the ultrasound, Lydia needed to drink water, but Lambert, inexperienced in these matters, hadn't prepared any. She didn't feel inclined to remind him
Happiness, it seems, makes people wish the same for those around them. Like the husband in the next hospital bed—he had the sense to keep quiet the moment he sensed the tension between Lydia and Lambert.Lambert didn't seem to mind Lydia's sudden outburst. He simply took off his suit jacket, now stained with soup, and said regretfully, "The soup spilled, Lydia. I'm afraid you'll have to wait a little longer. I'll have someone bring a new one right away! Why not have a piece of cake to tide you over?"Lambert's calm demeanor only made Lydia feel as if her anger was landing on nothing but soft cotton, frustrating her even more. What was Lambert up to? Was he mocking her on purpose?It was infuriating!Lydia knew her emotions were out of sorts lately. Ever since Lambert left, she hadn't had much of an appetite. When she found out his trip was delayed, everything around her began to irritate her. It was as though a cloud of anger clogged her heart, but she couldn't find a way to let it ou