Ex-husband's Regret Free Preview

"Joseph, one billion. You can only save one."

In a daze, Myla Rutherford heard the kidnappers negotiating over the phone.

The warehouse was dark, with no light at all, except for a ventilation window that was only five centimeters wide. Outside, faint shadows of overgrown weeds swayed in the wind.

Three days of captivity had brought her to the brink. No food, no water, only despair.

Myla’s wrists, bound tightly behind her, throbbed with pain as she desperately widened her eyes.

Three days ago, she was abducted. Along with her, Livia Wyndham—the woman Joseph Kensington had adored for a decade—was also kidnapped.

The ransom demanded was exorbitant, but the terms cruel. Only one of them could survive: either she or Livia.

For some reason, even as Joseph's lawful wife and the mother of his unborn child, Myla felt no confidence against Livia.

Why would she?

In the year since their wedding, Joseph’s eyes never lingered on her. Perhaps because she was naturally unattractive with the saucer-sized birthmark on her left cheek, which made her the target of disdain within the Kensington family.

Their marriage was born not of love but obligation—an aftermath of a tragic accident.

A year ago, their cars collided.

In that accident, Joseph shielded Livia, sustaining injuries so severe he slipped into a coma.

Myla, too, had suffered, awakening with no memory of her past—not even her own name.

For three months, Joseph lay motionless.

Desperate, the Madam Kensington turned to a feng shui master, who said that Myla’s presence could dispel misfortune.. The calamities were caused by her and could only be resolved by her.

Under the guidance of the master, the Madam Kensington renamed her "Myla Rutherford" after her own lineage. Then, she arranged a wedding for Myla and Joseph.

On the wedding night, Joseph miraculously woke.

The first thing after waking was a demand for divorce. But soon after, Myla discovered her pregnancy. The child, the future heir of the Kensington dynasty, became her lifeline. The Madam Kensington threatened her life and even uttered harsh words, saying that as long as she was alive, Livia could never set foot in the Kensington family.

But now? This kidnapping could change everything.

If Myla died, Livia could finally take her place in Joseph’s life.

The bandit suddenly moved toward Livia, tore off the tape from her mouth, and handed the phone to her.

Livia cried out in panic, "Joseph, I'm scared... so scared. Please save me!"

On the other end, Joseph’s sharp intake of breath was audible. His voice, always commanding, softened in reassurance. "Livia, don’t worry. I’m here."

Myla's lips trembled heavily. She also wanted to speak to Joseph, even if it was just a word.

She was afraid that he would abandon her.

Minutes passed in agonizing silence.

Then Joseph’s voice returned, low and deliberate.

"Myla... I’m sorry."

The apology struck her like a blade.

Her trembling grew violent as the reality set in.

He had made his choice.

Livia.

What about her?

Was he truly so heartless that he could let her die?

Her wide, tear-filled eyes fixated on the phone in the kidnapper’s hand. She wanted to scream, to beg him to save her. But her mouth was gagged and she couldn't make a sound no matter how hard she tried. Silent tears became her only answer.

The bandit snatched the phone back, his voice icy "Alright, Joseph. Give me your answer."

The air hung thick with silence, an agonizing void that stretched endlessly.

Myla clenched her lips tightly, her heart gripped tightly.

The tension was unbearable, each second dragging her closer to breaking.

Finally, Joseph's voice shattered the quiet. "I agree to all your demands, but if you dare to harm a single hair on Livia's head, I will end your life!"

Myla's eyes widened, shock paralyzing her body, and then the light in her eyes dimmed.

Her strength gave out, and she slumped in the chair, her tears flowing silently. It was as though her very soul had been stolen.

He didn’t choose her. He didn’t want her.

Even their unborn child meant nothing to him.

"Joseph, this is the choice you made!" the bandit let out a cruel chuckle. Ending the call, the man yanked the tape from Myla's mouth.

She gasped for air, and she despairingly opened her mouth. In the end, she could only weakly utter a question, "Why..." Her voice cracked, raw with pain and disbelief.

She was still having his child!

The bandit moved to Livia, slicing the ropes that bound her with exaggerated courtesy. "Ms. Wyndham, please."

Livia stood, a strange, knowing smile played at her lips before she turned and walked away.

Myla sat frozen, her tears falling without restraint. She was nothing to Joseph now—just discarded shoes left behind.

The doctor had told her she was carrying twins.

Two lives.

Would Joseph condemn them to death too? Were they not even worth being born?

Could he be so heartless?

"I can’t die! Let me go!"

The maternal instinct kicked in, and she struggled fiercely. The chair toppled to the ground, and she was tightly bound by ropes, unable to move. She only felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen, as if it was a sign of giving birth!

Her heart seized with terror. A sharp, relentless pain wracked her lower body. She was going into premature labor.

The bandit turned and saw that she was still struggling desperately. He stormed over and struck the back of her neck with a brutal chop.

Pain exploded in her neck, and darkness swallowed her whole.

When she woke again, the warehouse was ablaze. Raging flames consumed the warehouse.

The fire’s searing heat licked at her skin.

As the flames flickered, the burnt beams kept falling down.

Myla slowly opened her eyes and looked up at the endless fire, clutching her abdomen which was occasionally wracked with pain, causing her whole body to convulse.

Cold sweat mingled with tears as flashes of memory blazed through her mind like a reel of her life.

And then, she remembered.

She wasn’t Myla Rutherford.

She was Elianna Carrington.

The beloved daughter of the Carrington family in Bryston, a woman who had once been cherished and adored.

Now, she remembered everything.

The burnt ruins kept falling down. Death loomed closer, but her heart burned with a hatred fiercer than the flames around her.

She crawled to a corner, leaving a trail of blood behind her, but she didn't care about that at all. She clawed her way toward the phone the kidnappers had confiscated earlier, its faint glint barely visible through the smoke. She looked at the collapsing ruins, still clutching her severely painful abdomen with both hands. "Baby, don't be afraid... Mommy's here. Mommy will protect you. Always."

Her fingers trembled as she picked up the phone. There was only one bar of signal.

Praying for a miracle, Elianna dialed a number.

Meanwhile.

A skyscraper located in the heart of the CBD.

In the Vice President's Office, Tyson Carrington answered the phone.

"Hello?"

A familiar yet unfamiliar voice came from the other end. "Tyson... it's me."

The man suddenly stood up, his voice trembling with overwhelming surprise: "Elianna? You're still alive! Where have you been all this time? The entire Carrington Group has been going crazy looking for you! We haven't heard a word from you in a year, and Grandfather has fallen ill and been bedridden for six months!"

Elianna's feeble voice came through again, filled with grievance and despair, tugging at one's heart: "Tyson... I was in danger. Please, come and save me quickly!"

"Elianna, don't be afraid. I'll come and take you home right away!"

After the call ended, Elianna collapsed weakly to the ground as sharp pain tore through her lower abdomen. Her amniotic fluid broke, staining her skirt with fresh blood. Just before losing consciousness again, she faintly heard the sound of a baby's cry echoing in her ears.

Five years later.

Aetheria, Nightfall private club—a luWellingtonrious establishment combining dining, hotel accommodations, conference facilities, a bar, and various entertainment options.

Inside one of the private rooms, a group of idle young men lounged, toasting and chatting aimlessly. The smoky air mixed with the chaotic noise reflected their lack of purpose or skill.

In the smoky and chaotic atmosphere, a man sitting in the middle held a glass of wine, flanked by two young models. At this moment, he became intoxicated, his face flushing an alarming shade of red, and his expression increasingly grim as the alcohol took effect.

"Mr. Spencer, that girl, Elianna—she really doesn't know her place! Who does she think she is? Sure, the Carrington Group is powerful in Bryston. But this is Aetheria—Vale family territory! The Vale family is also a force to be reckoned with in Aetheria. And yet she dared to publicly break off her engagement to Master Vale during the family banquet!"

"Exactly! She’s the fifth Ms. Carrington, and she had four elder brothers. She was born with a birthmark on her face. But being the only granddaughter, she was spoiled rotten by her grandfather and became a bit wild in temperament."

"Six years ago, she suddenly disappeared mysteriously, without a trace. After a year, she was found again, and her birthmark on her face was unexpectedly gone! She looked completely different, like a goddess, becoming one of the most beautiful women in Bryston! Can you believe that she is still the same Ms. Carrington? The last time I saw her, she looked like a superstar!"

"Even if she was look like a goddess—but what does it matter? Five years ago, when she was brought back by the Carrington family, they even brought back a child of unknown origin. A wild seed! The Carrington Group still dare not disclose the background of this wild seed, not even show their face, afraid that there is some unspeakable secret! I heard from a gossip that the place where she disappeared after the car accident had many construction sites, could it be that she was defiled by some migrant worker?"

Spencer Vale glanced displeasingly at everyone and slammed the glass heavily on the table.

The room fell silent immediately.

Spencer grumbled, "As if I care about that woman. If it weren't for my Master saying that whoever marries her, the Vale family's two sons, will inherit the Vale Group, I wouldn’t give her the time of day. But once I marry her, not only will the Vale Group be mine, but so will the Carrington fortune!"

Just then, the door opened, and

a man whispered something into Spencer's ear. "Mr. Spencer, I've got it covered."

Spencer smirked coldly, waved his hand, and the man handed him the room key before stepping back.

He adjusted his tie, stood up, and surprisingly had a touch of elegance.

"Oh, Mr. Spencer, did you finally manage to charm Ms. Carrington?" someone teased, prompting a round of laughter.

"It seems that Mr. Spencer was not happy when he was dumped face-to-face. He wanted to use force directly, and once you’ve done that, Ms. Carrington would be his possession!

Spencer sneered. "She refused the toast and will now face the consequences. If it weren't for her somewhat attractive appearance, I wouldn't even want to touch this piece of junk!"

As he pushed open the door to leave,

a dart flew through the air, piercing his hand.

Spencer howled in pain, dropping the room key.

At the same time, a childish voice angrily came, "Who did you just call junk?"

Spencer angrily exclaimed, "Who did this good deed?"

He searched around with his eyes, and finally, slowly descended. Two meters away, there stood only a delicately carved little milk bun.

Spencer’s face twisted with fury as he recognized the boy. "Elianna's wild child!"

The boy, Owen Carrington, strode forward, picked up the room key, and declared, "With me here, you won't lay a finger on my mommy!"

Then, without another word, he dashed toward the elevator.

Spencer angrily shouted, "Get him!"

Several subordinates immediately chased after the boy!

Elevator entrance.

There came a thunderous sound of footsteps from behind.

Owen slipped inside just as the doors began to close. Before disappearing, he stuck out his tongue and taunted, "Come and catch me if you dare, big dummy!"

Spencer couldn't bear it anymore and kicked the closed elevator door: "How did this brat get in here? He ruined everything!"

His subordinates quickly appeased his temper: "Mr. Spencer, don't worry. Let's see which floor his elevator stopped at and take another elevator to catch up!"

The elevator indicator showed it had stopped at the 25th floor.

Another elevator descended, and Spencer, determined to intercept, stepped inside.

Spencer stopped the elevator, and the elevator door popped open. He was about to rush in, but couldn't help but be startled!

Inside stood another boy who looked exactly like Owen, but dressed differently.

He had on a white shirt, a pair of trousers with suspenders, and under his soft, black hair. There was a fair and delicate little face, but his expression was calm, mature beyond his years.

His cold gaze swept over the group outside the elevator. He had a pair of cold eyes. Finally, the boy asked, his tone composed, "Who are you?"

Spencer grabbed his collar, yanking him up. "Little wild! When did you change your clothes? Where’s the room key? Hand it over!"

The little boy's hands were always in his pockets, even when Spencer was being rough and lifting him off the ground. His expression remained indifferent, despite his childish voice sounding lower and more mature than other children his age. He spoke slowly and coldly, saying, "I have no idea what you're talking about. And don’t call me a wild child. And..."

He narrowed his eyes. "Now take your filthy hands off me."

Spencer clenched his fist, wishing he could punch him.

His subordinates immediately intervened. "Mr. Spencer, this is the young master of the Carrington family. Master Carrington doted on this great-grandson the most. We can’t harm him!"

Frustrated, Spencer threw the boy into a subordinate’s arms. "Fine! Take this little brat back to the Carrington family!"

25th floor,

Banquet Hall

Joseph Kensington sat at the head of the table, his icy demeanor silencing the room. He felt a sense of annoyance inexplicably in his heart.

Unconsciously, the sky had already turned dark.

After finishing his drink, Joseph rose, his imposing 6'2" frame casting a shadow over the room.

The air grew heavy as the others scrambled to their feet, bowing and offering flattery.

As the President of Oceanic Group, in the face of this global financial storm, his words carried the power to determine the fate of those seated before him.

The protagonist at the dinner table tonight was him, and now that he is leaving, it also marks the end of this banquet.

One person tentatively asked in a low voice, "Mr. Kensington, are you going to leave?"

The man respectfully handed over the suit jacket, Joseph glanced at him and took it, then someone nodded and bowed to open the door.

Joseph walked out gracefully, followed closely by a group of well-dressed men who bowed their heads in submission, giving off a sense of admiration.

A person ran ahead and pressed the elevator button at the elevator entrance.

"Ding."

The elevator went up until it stopped at the 25th floor, and the doors slowly opened.

"Mr. Kensington, please!"

Joseph had just arrived at the elevator door when he suddenly noticed a little kid standing in the corner of the elevator, vigilantly observing the people outside the door.

Elvis Montclair, Joseph’s assistant, stepped forward in shock. "Young master? What are you doing here?"

He saw the boy have changed his clothes, and his expression and behavior were slightly different from before, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly what was different. The boy's expression shifted subtly, and for a fleeting moment, a glimmer of warmth replaced his usual aloofness.

Speaking of the young master’s background, the sensational kidnapping case in Sylphora five years ago remains a topic of discussion to this day.

When the rescue team arrived at the scene, the warehouse was already engulfed in flames and on the verge of collapsing.

No one dared to charge into the fire recklessly.

But Joseph, like a madman, rushed straight into the inferno. Ten minutes later, he emerged carrying a newborn baby boy, while Myla’s fate remained unknown.

From that moment, the Kensington family welcomed a little prince into their lives.

Later, news emerged that Madam Kensington's granddaughter-in-law, who she had eagerly married off, was pregnant with twins. Unfortunately, a tragic accident caused a miscarriage, resulting in the loss of one child, while the other was barely saved.

From then on, Joseph showered all his love and affection on his only son.

Joseph reprimanded, "Zack Kensington, go back to your room!"

Owen stared back, while also feeling bewildered for no apparent reason!

Who is Zack Kensington?

Why did this strange uncle call him this name?

Looking at the stern-faced man before him, Owen pouted, crossed his arms, and retorted unhappily, "Who are you? Why are you being so mean to me!"

Everyone present was stunned.

The Kensington’s young master even recognize his own father!

Joseph's expression darkened, but in front of everyone, he couldn't lose his temper. He just coldly said, "Elvis, take the young master back to his room."

Elvis: "Yes, sir!"

He rushed into the elevator and embraced Owen in his arms.

Owen's round, shiny eyes widened as he angrily stomped his legs: "Who are you? Let go of me! Put me down! Do you know who I am?"

In the struggle, a room key card fell from his pocket to the floor.

Joseph bent down and picked it up, glancing at it briefly.

Owen widened his eyes and grabbed at Joseph's hand, saying, "Give me my room key!"

Who are these people? Are they like Spencer, bad guys trying to take his mommy away?

Elvis humbly pleaded, "Young master, please stop struggling. I’ll take you back to your room right away."

With that, he lifted Owen firmly and carried him off, heading towards the room.

The commotion gradually faded away.

Joseph held the key card, his gaze narrowing slightly with suspicion.

During this business trip to Aetheria, he had only booked one suite. Yet the room number on this card was different. How did it end up in his son’s possession?

—

Room 3109

Joseph stood at the door of the suite and swiped the key card.

With a soft beep, the lock clicked open.

He pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The room was pitch dark, save for the faint sound of labored breathing coming from the bedroom.

He walked toward the sound with quick strides, turning on the smart panel as he went.

The wall lamp lit up.

A disheveled woman, weakly leaning against the edge of the bed.

Her jet-black hair framed a porcelain-white oval face. Delicate brows arched over hazy eyes, which seemed unfocused as she gasped for air, as though struggling to stay conscious.

Joseph stepped closer and grabbed her wrist. "Who are you?"

In the next instant,

the woman’s pale hands wrapped tightly around his waist. "Help me... help me please..."

Her soft body nestled into his arms, causing the man's muscles to tense up instantly.

Sensing something unusual, he reached out and gently tilted her chin upward.

On such a meticulously carved face, there was a strange red glow, and the porcelain-white complexion also revealed a sickly shade of red. And those beautiful eyes, too, were tainted with a hazy mist, devoid of focus.

And it was also a face that made him freeze in shock!

Her face, clearly unfamiliar, yet it gave him an indescribable sense of familiarity.

Myla...

He suddenly remembered this name.

But that was impossible—Myla was already dead.

While he was momentarily lost in thought, the woman’s trembling fingers gripped his shoulders, and she leaned closer.

Joseph unconsciously dodged, but she, without any hesitation, instinctively pinned him down on the large bed behind him!

The woman shamelessly took advantage of him, her small hands cupping his handsome yet tense face as she kissed his thin lips. "Help me... I’ll repay you…"

She kissed his cold thin lips while speaking, the warm touch instantly ignited his heartbeat. At the same time, her trembling body blossomed in his arms like a flower.

—

Early morning

The first ray of sunlight streamed through the window.

Elianna opened her eyes slowly, her mind struggling to piece together the events of the previous night.

Three days ago, she came to Aetheria for attendeding the Vale family banquet and formally proposed a divorce to the Vale family.

Who knew that Spencer would play underhanded tricks on her, tampering with her drink. After drinking that glass of alcohol, she started feeling feverish and disoriented. She vaguely recalled being carried into a room, but the details were a blur.

The sound of someone flipping through a newspaper brought her back to reality.

She sat up slowly, rubbing her temples. The sheet slipped down, revealing faint marks on her bare skin—a stark reminder of the chaos from the night before.

"You’re awake."

A man's chilling voice came from beside the bed.

Elianna turned her head toward the voice and froze.

The man had just finished showering, wearing a bathrobe with a loosely tied knot around his waist. His damp hair was not blow-dried, and water droplets dripped from the ends of his hair, following the contours of his well-defined muscles.

And his calm and elegance at this moment only highlighted her current disheveled state even more.

However, when her gaze fell upon his handsome and unparalleled face, she was instantly struck as if by lightning!

The man had sharp sideburns, a high and straight nose bridge, and thin lips that resembled a knife cut. At first glance, it was evident that he was a naturally cold-hearted person.

How could it be him?

Elianna could never forget that face.

The man who had once pushed her into hell with his own hands.

She still couldn't forget that night when she was trapped in an endless sea of fire, desperately chanting the name.

Joseph.

This bone-deep hatred, like a nightmare, haunted her for a whole five years, leaving an indelible mark on her heart.

Joseph lazily folded up the newspaper and put it back on the bedside table. He looked at her and caught a glimpse of the overwhelming hatred in her eyes.

However, his gaze towards her was unfamiliar.

At a single glance, Elianna confirmed that he had forgotten about her, or perhaps her appearance had drastically changed, how could he recognize her?

Could it be that the man from last night was him...

Elianna's mind was in turmoil when the doorbell suddenly rang.

Joseph stood up, his towering 1.92-meter frame casting an imposing presence that dominated her view.

He walked to the door, opened it, reached through the gap, and retrieved a handbag before closing it again.

Elianna's gaze locked onto him like a dagger. Her eyes tracked his every move as he returned to the bedside. He stood by the bed, slender fingers holding a glass of warm water, along with a box of contraceptives, placed on the bedside table. A brand new set of women's clothing, on the other hand, was placed on the footstool.

But Elianna made no move. She continued to stare at him.

Her eyes blazing with an intensity that could pierce through steel.

The man's cold and distant voice rang out above her head, "Do I have to feed you personally?"

Ignoring her piercing gaze, he casually sat down by the bed, crossing his legs. "No matter who you are or what happened last night, you’ll take the medicine, get dressed, walk out that door, and forget everything. None of this ever happened."

Elianna's eyes widened further, her red-rimmed eyelids betraying her suppressed fury as tears threatened to spill.

After a long silence, she arrogantly lifted her chin and said coldly, "I will never forget your face."

Joseph's cold gaze snapped back to her, sharper than ever.

His eyes were cold, his face was cold, cold to the bone, as he asked, "How much money?"

Elianna smirked, "What?"

Joseph's voice was cold and merciless. "How much will it take to shut your mouth?"

Elianna’s lips curled into a mocking smirk before she raised her hand and slapped him across the face with all the strength she could muster.

The sharp crack echoed through the room.

She almost exhausted all her strength!

So much so that she even felt like her finger joints were going to dislocate.

However, just this slap was not enough to alleviate the deep resentment in her heart.

Joseph’s head jerked to the side, and a thin line of blood appeared at the corner of his lips..

His jaw tightened, his tongue brushing against the inside of his mouth, tasting the tang of blood.

Yet, he remained silent, wiping the corner of his mouth with his long fingers. The veins on the back of his hand bulged ominously.

But Elianna wasn’t done. She flung off the blanket and grabbed the packaged clothes from the footstool.

Without sparing him another glance, she began dressing.

The white blouse and fitted trousers slid on smoothly as she buttoned the shirt with deliberate precision.

Behind her, the man suddenly stood up and grabbed her shoulder, pressing her tightly against the wall.

Elianna lifted her face and met his angry gaze, saying, "What, is one slap not enough for you? Want another?"

Joseph narrowed his eyes, his cold gaze cutting into her face like a knife, and asked, "Who exactly are you?"

Until now, this was the first time someone dared to slap his face.

Did she know who she slapped?

Elianna showed a disgusted expression, delicately grasped his wrist with her slender jade-like fingers, slowly pulled away, and coldly said, "Don't touch me. You disgust me."

Joseph heard the words, but it was as if he had heard a ridiculous joke. He lowered his head and whispered in her ear like a devilish whisper, "Don’t forget—it was you who begged me last night."

Elianna stared coldly at him and suddenly sneered, "If I’d known your skills were so pathetic, I would have found someone else. There are plenty of men at the club who could’ve done a better job."

Joseph's facial muscles stiffened again, and he spoke slowly, "What did you say?"

Elianna said coldly, "Since you didn’t hear me the first time, I’ll repeat it. At your level, you’re worth a hundred dollars at most. I’ve seen better men, Joseph. You’re nothing special."

She impatiently pushed him away and picked up the wallet from the floor. Opening the wallet, among the stack of cards, there happened to be only two hundred dollars. She casually picked them up and threw them at his face, saying, "Here’s your pay. Now get out of my sight."

Joseph was about to lose his temper when suddenly he heard Elvis's voice outside the door. "Mr. Kensington... The young master woke up. He’s in a bad mood and talking nonsense."

He immediately calmed down and slightly turned to the side, saying, "Calm him down. I’ll be there shortly."

Elianna’s heart skipped a beat.

The young master?

Was that his son?

He had a son? When? And with whom?

A sudden, unwelcome thought crossed her mind—Could it be... Livia’s child?

Elianna suddenly thought of Owen.

Five years ago, she was trapped in a raging fire with no way to escape.

If it hadn't been for her third brother, Jayson Carrington, coincidentally being on a mission in Sylphora and arriving in time, she would have died in that big fire long before the Carrington family could come to her rescue.

When she was taken to the hospital, she was on the verge of death.

The doctor and nurses performed an emergency cesarean section. In the operating room, it was a close call, but Owen was born prematurely, and thankfully both the mother and child were safe.

When Elianna woke up, the nurse handed her a baby boy, and she asked about the other child, but the doctor and nurse shook their heads repeatedly.

She dared not ask again.

It is expected that, with such a big change, the other child probably died, but I dare not say it for fear of hurting her.

She couldn't bear to mention it again.

And from the doctor's mouth, she learned that she had a birthmark on her face, which was actually a toxic spot formed by the accumulation of poisoned blood. Due to excessive bleeding during childbirth, almost all of her blood was replaced. So she also had a stroke of luck, as the toxic blood accumulated on her face was also expelled from her body, along with the toxic spot, which disappeared completely.

But this could not offset her grief of losing her child!

All of this, it was all thanks to this man!

Elianna broke free from his grasp and coldly said, "Remember my name. Elianna."

Because this name would become his nightmare!

Joseph turned to her, his eyes deep and mysterious.

If he didn't remember wrongly, Elianna, this was the name of Ms. Carrington from Carrington family in Bryston.

Elianna crossed over him and left the room.

Elianna brushed past Elvis in the hallway.

In a flash, he turned, startled. "Ms. Rutherford?"

Elianna turned around, a look of astonishment flickering in her eyes.

She recognized the man, who was Joseph's assistant. After she got pregnant, he would accompany her to the hospital for every prenatal check-up.

Did he recognize her?

After she turned around, Elvis didn't snap out of it until he carefully saw her face and realized his mistake. Feeling embarrassed, he said, "Sorry, I must’ve mistaken you for someone else..."

Just now, when he saw her figure and silhouette, he thought that Ms. Rutherford had come back!

Since five years ago, Ms. Rutherford disappeared in that kidnapping case and has since vanished without a trace. Then, Mr. Kensington has been relentlessly searching for her whereabouts, but to no avail.

Everyone agreed that Myla was already dead, but Joseph stubbornly believed that she must still be alive!

Elianna’s suspicion eased, and she walked into the elevator without looking back. At the same time, she took out her phone and dialed a number.

"Fubo, send a car to pick me up at Nightfall."

—

Bryston is adjacent to Aetheria, with a straight-line distance of 30 kilometers and a half-hour drive.

The Carrington Manor was situated in the auspicious location of Bryston, covering an area of over twenty acres. It was a building resembling a Chinese-style garden.

The car stopped at the door.

Edwin stood at the door to welcome.

As soon as Elianna got off the car, Edwin rushed towards her as if he had seen a savior. "Ms. Elianna, something’s not right... Last night, the young master sneaked out, and when the Vale family brought him back, he seemed like a completely different person. He refused to eat or drink, locked himself in his room, and won’t speak to anyone. It’s as if he’s been... possessed!"

In the room

The boy held a photo album and had just flipped through a few pages.

In the photo album, there were many pictures, with elegant captions written beside them.

"Owen’s Full Moon Celebration", "Owen’s First Birthday", "Owen Turns Two"...

The entire photo album was used by Elianna to record every little detail since her son's birth.

He stared absentmindedly, his fingers gliding over each photo, until his gaze landed on the last photo on the final page.

"Owen is five years old now."

The photograph showed a woman with soft makeup holding a boy in her arms. The boy wore a thick winter coat, his rosy cheeks giving him a doll-like appearance—porcelain-perfect and fragile.

Zack’s breath hitched.

The boy in the photo had his face.

He stared at the photo, looking at it again and again, hardly able to believe it.

"Owen!"

Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed outside the door, followed by a woman’s soft, affectionate call.

Zack was startled and suddenly stood up, his hand involuntarily loosened, and the photo album accidentally fell onto the floor.

The door flew open.

Elianna rushed in, her worried gaze darting around the room before settling on Zack.

"Owen?"

She walked over, cupped his face, and kissed his chubby cheek.

Zack's shoulders shrank for a moment, instinctively wanting to break free.

He has always been somewhat introverted since he was a child, and besides his father, Zack does not like anyone touching him.

However, when the woman's warm fingertips touched his cheek, his hand froze, unable to move, especially when he saw the woman's eyes filled with affection, he couldn't resist, and inexplicably yearned for this warmth.

He looked at Elianna, gazing at such a strange yet delicate face, and couldn't help but feel a sense of closeness, without any rejection.

Elianna exclaimed with concern, "Owen, Edwin said you weren’t eating properly. What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

She pressed a hand to his forehead, checking for a fever. Finding none, she sighed in relief. Her heart eased slightly.

Zack remained in a daze.

Last night, Spencer brought him to this unfamiliar place. He went missing for a whole day and night, yet the Kensington family still hasn't noticed or come to look for him.

What puzzled him the most was that in such a large estate, everyone, from top to bottom, called him "young master," but he didn't know any of them and he was not the "young master Owen" they referred to. However, they didn't even realize that they had mistaken him for someone else.

And now, this beautiful woman—Owen’s supposed mother—looked at him with the same mistaken conviction.

Was she really his mother?

So, she also mistook him for her own son?

Edwin walked in and asked, "Ms. Elianna, shall I prepare dinner?"

Elianna said, "Yes, please. I’m starving."

After finishing speaking, she turned to Zack and said, "Sweetie, let’s eat together, okay?"

Zack found himself nodding before he could think it through.

An hour later,

Elianna brought Zack to the restaurant.

Albert, Master Carrington went downstairs and as soon as he saw his precious grandson, he reached out his hand to pick him up and said, "Ah, Owen! My good boy. Come to me!"

Zack's face turned cold as he shrunk into Elianna's arms.

Albert was shocked: "What’s this? My little Owen doesn’t want old papa anymore?"

Elianna felt a little sorry and said, "He had a fright last night. He’s probably still shaken."

Albert: "A fright? What happened?"

Elianna said, "I heard the servant say that he snuck out of the house and was brought back by someone from the Vale family."

Regarding the unpleasantness with the Vale family last night, Elianna didn't mention a word, only coldly saying, "What a small world, I never expected to go to Aetheria to celebrate Master Vale's birthday, only to encounter that person!"

Albert paused for a moment and immediately realized, "Joseph?"

In his arms, Zack heard the name and looked up with a puzzled expression, raising his head in confusion.

His father? How did this woman know Joseph?

Albert slammed the table in anger and exclaimed, "That bastard dares show his face in Bryston? If he so much as breathes near my family, I’ll—"

Elianna said, "Grandfather, I don’t need you to intervene. But I do need your promise—keep Owen safe. Joseph must never learn of his existence."

She instinctively held the little dumpling in her arms tightly, saying, "I can’t lose Owen."

If, back then, that baby hadn't died, Owen would have had a brother to grow up with, and wouldn't have been so lonely.

Zack lifted his head and suddenly noticed a tear sliding down the woman's face, landing right on his forehead. He seemed to sense her sadness and couldn't help but reach out his hand, gently embracing her shoulder.

—

The Executive suite

Joseph had just reached the door when he heard a sharp crash coming from the room, as if something porcelain had broken.

He pushed open the door and walked in, while Livia was bending over, tidying up the debris on the floor.

Owen stood still and said angrily, "I do not eat! I want to go home! I want my mommy!"

As soon as Owen saw the door open, his eyes lit up and he immediately ran towards the entrance.

However, as he barely reached the door, he suddenly saw a man standing at the door like a solid wall. Owen immediately recognized him—he was the same guy from yesterday who had been mean to him and had ordered his henchmen to "kidnap" him!

Owen pushed him, but the man remained completely motionless.

The next second, Joseph grabbed the back of his collar and lifted him up.

In an instant, Owen froze like a kitten held by the back of its neck, not daring to move, but still defiantly saying, "You big bully! Let me go!"

Elvis, closely following behind, was startled when he saw the small bundle of fur that looked like it was about to explode: "What happened to the young master?"

In my memory, the young master was brought up with strict etiquette since childhood. Although he may not have regarded others highly, he never dared to show disrespect towards Joseph.

For Zack, Joseph had an absolute intimidating power.

Livia tidied up the broken pieces of the bowl, walked over, and anxiously said, "He’s been acting strange ever since yesterday—rambling about his mother and claiming he doesn’t know any of us."

Elvis sighed, feeling somewhat reluctant.

The young master had asked about his mother's matter more than once, but no one in the Kensington family dared to tell him the truth. Over time, he stopped asking.

Joseph squatted down in front of him, took his little hand, pulled him into his arms, and interrogated, "Who am I?"

Owen froze, looking at the man's gloomy expression, and simply shook his head.

Joseph squinted his eyes and asked again, "Who am I?"

Owen instinctively took a step back as the man tightly gripped his hand, the veins on the back of his hand bulging, indicating that he was somewhat angry!

Elvis reminded, "Young master, he’s your father!"

Owen’s lower lip quivered. "I don’t have a dad, my mommy said my daddy died a long time ago!"