Elijah's mother's picture was on the grave. In it, she had a bright, graceful face. Her dark eyes shone like stars in the night. A gentle smile played on her lips, and her eyes curved as if they were speaking to her. "Come meet your future mother-in-law." Elijah teased with a grin.Liesel's eyes widened in shock. "Are you crazy!"Liesel wanted to turn and leave, but she glared at him, placed the flowers he brought on the grave, and bowed quickly before hurrying off.Watching her flee, Elijah's smile didn't waver. He knelt on the cold ground, and the overcast sky seemed to brighten slightly at that moment."Ms. Zucker, I brought a young lady you might like and I'm pursuing her. You always told me to live freely and boldly when I was young, and she's exactly like that. Even though people try to control her, she still lives her own way. I think you'd appreciate her."Ms. Zucker, if you're watching me, maybe you could tell Ms. Mallone that I really like her daughter. I hope to look
Liesel had already gotten into the car before Elijah could continue rambling.As it was Elijah, even the color of his car was striking. It was a pink sports car, a shade that even Liesel wouldn't have chosen.However, his choice of car somewhat suited him perfectly."I just told Ms. Zucker that I really like you and am pursuing you. So, I've got her blessing," Elijah said with a cheeky smile.Liesel didn't even want to look at him and felt an urge to call him insane.Elijah suddenly asked, "It's your father's birthday today. How about I join you? I'm the new CEO of Hardin Group, I won't embarrass you."The Hardins might not be able to be as influential as the Ford family, but they weren't far behind. He firmly believed he was no less capable than Jacob. At least in understanding women, he thought he had Jacob beat.When they hit a red light, Elijah followed the rules and stopped the car on the roadside. He chuckled and said, "Look at us, me in all black and you in all white. We'
They didn't really shop around the mall. In the end, Liesel successfully picked out a few nearly-expired health supplements with Elijah's help. All the health supplements they picked up were set to expire in a week and were items no one wanted.Liesel didn't spend a penny and got these items for free.Meanwhile, Elijah managed to wander off somewhere and found two small flowers, one black and one white. As she was wearing a white dress, Liesel wore the black flower, while Elijah, who was dressed in black, wore the white flower. Dressed like this, they hardly looked like they were on their way to a birthday celebration with Liesel's eyes still red from crying at the cemetery.However, Elijah was particularly pleased with her outfit.Even Elijah was slightly taken aback when they drove to the Sharp residence. Calling it a villa hardly did it justice because it looked more like a modern garden estate. Anyone unaware would truly think the Sharp family was loaded."Your house looks p
"No more jokes. Let's go in." Elijah extended his hand to Liesel, and she looked down at it. This time, she finally didn't refuse his offer.Now divorced from Jacob, she truly needed a new source of support. Though often talkative and fond of joking, Elijah was still a gentleman with boundaries. Moreover, the Hardin family was powerful enough to rival the Ford family.With Elijah by her side, Jeffrey should understand that she was still not to be trifled with. She could rely on someone else even without Jacob. Until she became strong enough on her own, she couldn't allow Jeffrey to have any ridiculous ideas.Jeffrey's birthday celebration was bustling with activities as people laughed and mingled in small groups. Some were praising Jeffrey to his face, while others were trying to think of ways to hover close to Jacob. Many wanted to cooperate professionally with Jacob.Suddenly, the main door opened. The sound wasn't particularly loud, but the security was impossible to miss. About
Elijah didn't mind the pain. In fact, he just smiled and led Liesel into the venue.Knowing who Elijah was, the guests eagerly greeted him.After handing the gift to the Sharp family's butler, Elijah then guided Liesel step by step toward Jacob. He was clearly beaming. "Mr. Ford, we meet again."Jacob's gaze lightly swept over Liesel, who met his eyes with a cold expression and held onto Elijah's arm a little tighter.Elijah chuckled and said, "Lili, don't be nervous. You've been working with Mr. Ford for three years now; surely you're still not intimidated by him. Oh, right, not everyone is as approachable as I am."The remark seemed aimed at Jacob as a jab. However, Jacob didn't focus on that and only noticed Elijah calling her "Lili."Even he had never called her that.Jacob's gaze turned ice cold as he said, "It appears you two have a close relationship.""Very close indeed. We've even met each other's family members," Elijah replied cheerfully while making sure not to miss
Liesel couldn't stay calm anymore. Though young at the time, she remembered Heather's elegance and beauty. She recalled her exquisite face that shone so brightly.Heather loved fashion dearly. Even before she passed, she made this gown just so she could leave with dignity.This was the last thing her mother made with her own hands. Something so precious wasn't meant to be sullied by someone like Natalie, a bug who should be living in the shadows!"Take it off." Liesel's hand tightened around Natalie's neck. She was using all her strength."Take it off!" She gritted her teeth as she enunciated each word.Liesel's eyes were red and misty. They were filled with hatred as she stared at the woman before her."Even if you're stupid, you must know what this dress means to me. I don't care about other things like Jeffrey's love, Jacob's affection, or even the title of Mrs. Ford. I can give it all to you! But you must take this dress off!"Liesel's vision blurred, and she could almost se
Jacob had never loved Liesel. He could lend Liesel his coat to save her from embarrassment in a moment of disgrace, but that coat was always ready for Natalie, and he could always solve any of Natalie's troubles.Jacob Ford. She silently repeated his name in her heart, wondering how much more he could disappoint her.Liesel lowered her head while letting out a soft laugh. Yet, tears streamed uncontrollably. Each teardrop hit the floor with a soft plop.Suddenly, her gaze locked onto something. She saw a broken photo frame not far away.Liesel froze, completely losing her grace and composure. She was no longer the refined young lady praised by others. She crawled over, and her slender fingers reached for the cracked glass of the photo.She vividly remembered this was the last picture her mother took with her before she passed away. Back then, her mother had told her, "Lili, you must live a happy and fulfilling life. Never, ever compromise yourself for anyone. I'm watching you from
Liesel stood up, clutching her abdomen, and slowly approached Natalie.Blood continued trickling down her hand, forming small red pools on the floor with each drip."Take off the dress now." She wiped away the tears on her face, but blood smeared across her cheeks, giving her an unsettling, almost sinister look.However, her face was pale, and the fragile, exhausted woman somehow still projected this eerie sense of strength.Lowering her gaze, she looked at Natalie again and spoke once more. "Take off the dress."Natalie tried to run, but Liesel looked down and grabbed Natalie's wrist with her uninjured hand. "Don't covet it if it's not yours."Then, she sneered. "Go snatch Jacob if you want to snatch something from me!"Jacob was right next to her, and his body seemed to tense for a moment.He looked into Liesel's eyes and noticed the unmistakable chill. It was as if she really had no feelings left for him. It was like Liesel had truly let go of the three years of relationship
Yvonne's chest ached, making it hard for her to breathe. The words Ophelia once said had left her feeling extremely miserable. Yvonne sat at the table and sobbed."Chelsea became what others have always dreamed to be because she didn't need any persona. She always shone the brightest on stage. Chelsea can lead her fans into a brighter future, and you'll only lead us into darkness and nightmares."Those were Ophelia's last words before leaving. Until now, her words haunted Yvonne like a relentless nightmare. It was like a projector that couldn't be switched off, replaying over and over that she was nothing compared to Chelsea.How did that happen? Ophelia was Yvonne's fan, and Yvonne believed Ophelia, the daughter of the Fords, should always be her fan. Yvonne wiped her tears away. As soon as she turned around, she saw the cat doll Ophelia had given her as a final gift. These days, Yvonne took the cat doll with her everywhere. She still kept it with her even while filming a self-
At Ashthorne Studios, the director announced, "Alright, cut! That's a wrap, everyone. Great work today! You can all head off to the hotel and get some rest." Crew members chuckled and began filing out. They were chatting as they made their way to their rooms.But Yvonne, who was still on set, was fuming as she clutched her phone. She had seen Ophelia's reply, and it only made her angrier.One of her assistants, who was trailing behind with genuine concern, asked, "Yvonne, are you alright? Feeling unwell?""Get lost!" Yvonne snapped, glaring. "You're an eyesore!"The assistant shrank back, clearly frightened and hurt by her harsh tone.Yvonne hurried off to her hotel room with her phone clutched tightly as she replayed a particular video over and over. There was no mistaking that the person in the video was one of her biggest fans from back in the day, the same fan who had once waited for her at the airport in Huntaria.A seething mix of jealousy, anger, and bitter resentment chur
Ophelia was done with Yvonne. Unable to hold back her emotions any longer, she took to Twitter to attack her."Did you really think that every gift I painstakingly made was worthless? After years of devotion, the person I once adored has become completely unrecognizable. When I confronted her, she acted as if nothing was wrong."She even claimed that because I was her fan, I had no right to criticize her. I find that utterly absurd."I once asked her what a fan meant to her, and she dismissed us as shallow, saying our love was something that could be discarded. I always believed an idol should be the pillar of her fans' dreams, a beacon of hope. "But the Yvonne I loved—the one who shone so brightly in pursuit of her dreams—was gone."So, from that day on, I severed all ties. The doll I once gave her on Twitter was my final farewell gift. It was a proper goodbye, not a sign of regret. I stopped logging into that account because I wanted to leave with dignity."And don't say Chels
Ophelia was utterly disgusted. She felt that any shred of loyalty she once had for Yvonne had completely vanished.She retweeted Yvonne's latest Twitter post and attached a formal statement of her own."I hereby solemnly declare that I was once a die-hard fan of Yvonne. I never betrayed her—I simply grew tired of the endless fan duties. I refuse to support an idol who is self-absorbed, caring only about herself while dismissing her fans. Today, I proudly stand as a fan of Chelsea because she is truly worth it."Honestly, when I first stopped being a fan, I never intended to expose all this. At the time, I just wanted to part ways amicably. Publicly trashing someone you once adored is downright disgusting, and I didn't want her remaining fans to follow suit. So, I swallowed my disgust."But it seems she saw me trending and thinks she can win back a fan with some influence. She even brought Chelsea into the mess and hinted that her fans should attack my current favorite idol. I simpl
Back in the day, when Ophelia first visited Huntaria, she had seen Yvonne performing at a local event and instantly became a fan. Coming from a wealthy family herself, Ophelia never hesitated to shower Yvonne with lavish gifts and even rallied her few devoted fans to support her idol.Later, when she learned that Yvonne had returned home to compete in a training camp, Ophelia was among the very first to cheer her on. But things took a bitter turn when Ophelia overheard Yvonne berating reporters backstage.Yvonne claimed that her fans were useless and couldn't secure her a center spot. She even mentioned Ophelia's name. According to Yvonne, Ophelia only sent gifts that she didn't want, and she'd be better off using her connections to get a debut instead.Ophelia finally realized what kind of person she had been supporting.Furious and heartbroken, Ophelia stormed into the backstage area and declared that she was done being a fan.Up close, she realized that Yvonne was pretty averag
Joseph immediately took a jab at Jeremy in the group chat. "Jasper was right. This mess is all on you, Jeremy."Jeremy was stunned. In his mind, he fumed, "I was the first one to change my avatar—and back then, I never even egged you shameless bastards on to do it together! Now you're all blaming me? Have you lost your minds?"Everyone was trying to avoid the barrage of marriage talks from their parents."This whole situation can be taken one way or another. I promise I'll set Damian straight so he stops stirring up scandals, but let's be clear, if it weren't for Jeremy changing his profile picture, the media wouldn't have run wild with rumors. And if you're going to call my grandfather, don't mention my name.""What? Jasper shoved this mess onto me, but now you're the one egging me on so I end up taking the fall?""I only shared the comments, headlines, and videos in the group. The one who kicked off this whole avatar fiasco was you," Joseph rebutted.Jeremy gritted his teeth an
Jimmy scrolled through the chat logs on his phone. His eyes grew wider with every message. He noticed that the group's avatar change had even hit trending topics. "Man, these guys are totally off their rocker," he thought—but then he grinned. "Maybe I should jump in!"He quickly typed. "They all switched their avatars and went completely nuts. Why not add one more crazy guy? Tobey can't get me over the phone!"So what if we change our avatars? It's all in good fun. Look on the bright side. If Chelsea ends up divorcing Tobey, being with Damian might not be so bad. As they say, 'good stuff stays in the family,' right?"The group was speechless. Everyone else had changed their avatars on a sudden whim. But Jimmy was different. His wild mind was always a few steps ahead and constantly fired off impulsive ideas.Even Elijah was stunned silent.After a beat, Jeremy couldn't hold back any longer and added, "Tobey's going to log in after a long day and see his world crumble!"At that ver
Headlines such as "Covering Up Only Makes It More Obvious!" and "Top Execs Switching Avatars to Hype the DamSea Pairing! If DamSea Isn't real, Then Who Is?!" started appearing.The group fell silent.Justin practically pounced on Joseph. His tone was seething with anger. "What the hell, Joseph? I told you to change your avatar! What kind of nonsense is this? You're shipping this couple, aren't you? Stop it, now!"Joseph immediately realized that Justin had turned into a hardcore hater of Damian and a rabid Chelsian. He clicked on Justin's profile and saw that his status read "Fake, fake, fake!" He had even posted on his Twitter saying, "It's all fake!"Meanwhile, Justin genuinely adored Chelsea and, at the same time, despised Damian with every fiber of his being.As chaos ensued among the top execs, Jeremy kept the group chat buzzing."No way—we've all switched to the water droplet avatar. Tobey, you need to change yours too! @Tobey You can't sit out the fun, man! @Tobey"Everyo
Jeremy was the first to speak."I was just trying to change my profile picture for a little fun! If the system's gonna go down for maintenance, it might as well be now. I'm about to party so hard my legs give out!"If Tobey finds out the truth, he'll probably try to assassinate me! And how am I supposed to flirt with the ladies? A water droplet? That basically tells them I'm a total player!""I'm the one who should be worried here," Joseph replied.Joseph's phone was buzzing non-stop as his WhatsApp notifications were blowing up.Unlike the others, who only had a couple of reporter contacts in their circles, Joseph had acquired an entertainment company for Damian and invested heavily in showbiz ventures. His WhatsApp was loaded with gossip accounts, celebrity insiders, and directors with a penchant for scandal.Since many stars and celebrities were still out late shooting scenes or rushing between gigs, most hadn't gone to bed yet. They were all catching wind of Damian's latest s