Her Heart Her Terms (Lily and Xavier)

Lily remained silent for a few seconds before nodding. Got it."

The bed exchange ended with both of them harboring different thoughts. Seeing her cold attitude, Xavier didn't linger any longer.

He thought their relationship wouldn't remain so strained once the investigation was over.

He left the wand, and Bobby quickly approached him "Xavier, since you and Lily haven't divorced yet, you must help me. The Thompson family is making trouble for me over this...

"You got yourself into this mess; you deal with it," Kaster said, leaving without a second glance.

Hayden glared at him, his anger and resistance palpable, as though ready to tight

Hapel, pulling him along, said anxioush, "What are we going to do? How can we compete with the Thompson family?"

"What are we going to do?" Bobby's suppressed frustration exploded. "All you ever ask is what to do! Isn't it your fault for raising such adaughter? She won't stop until she destroys the Joyner family!" His voor echoed down the hallway, other patients in nearby wards came out to see what was going on.

"What does this have to do with Lily?" Hayden snapped, upset. "You all caused her trouble, it's not her fault she got dragged into this!"

Hazel pulled him again, whispering, "Hayden, stop talking. Your dad is angry!"

Hayden refused to Use T going to say it! You've all been unfair to her!"

"You ungratefulle bra!" Bobby cursed at his son for the first time. "I raised you, and you're nothing but an ingrate! she caused this mess, and you'll go down with me if I'm ruined

ily into the fire!

"Fine! Let it be! I'd rather beg on the streets than push my family

Even when Bobby was biased, Hayden always felt hope. But ever since he learned they had introduced Lily to Bruce, he had lost all hope, especially after witnessing Bruce's terrible character.

When he saw what kind of man Bruce truly was, he couldn't make excuses for their favoritism anymore.

Bobby slapped Hayden across the lace. The force of the blow made Hayden's head him, leaving five distinct handprints on his tace

"Honey, you can thit him! Hazel immediately began to cry. "He's your only son, and he just recovered from a serious illness. His face hasn't even healed!"

After the slap, Bobby regretted it, but seeing Hayden's unrepentant look, he turned and walked away angrily.

Looking at the handprint on Hayden's face, she quickly turned to follow Bobby but came back, grabbing Hayden. "Hayden, let's go home. Don't make your dad angry!

"I'm not going." Hayden shrugged her off "From today on, you're no longer my parents!"

"It's all Lily's faudr! She's the one who ruined you!" Hazel hit his shoulder lightly but didn't dare to use much strength.

"Your dad is only looking out for you. How can you go against him for bre? she can bring profit to the Joyner family, and the better the Joyner family does, the better for you "Are you stupid? Come home and apologize to your dad!

He stood there motionless, no longer wanting to argue with them about whether it was p

profitable

He simply said, "What will happen to Lily if I leave? Who will take care of her? She has your blood running through her veins too. Mom, how can you be so heartless?" How's throat tightened, her face flushing red with anger. Yet upon hearing his words, her complexion tuned pale, then blush, displaying an array of dramatic emotions.

Their argument was loud enough for Lily to hear. She got out of bed, opened the door, and walked out. "Hayden, go back. I'll hire a caretaker. It's inconvenient for you to take care

of

Hazel looked at her. She looked trail and weak in the oversized hospital gown, her appearance so different from how Hazel remembered her that Hazel barely recognized her.

A surge of guilt rushed through Hazel, and she quickly lowered her head, not daring to look at Lily anymore.

"I'm not leaving" Hayden walked toward her. "You can deacaretaker if inconvenient, but I'll stay and keep you company." "No need I'll take care of her." Maryanne rushed over, followed by Terence, whose eyes showed clear concern for Lily "leally?" This time, Pete was the one who was surprised.

When he find

the women trapped in the bomb shelter had been rescued, he considered many possible culprits. But he hadn't expected it to be Felicia.

"He did she get involved in this? Pete's expression hardened, but he quickly relaxed, taking a sip of the wine at his side. A familiar smirk curled on his lips. "Interesting. No wonder Mi Bussell has his eyes on her. She's certainly different." *forget about being different! My plan is urgent, and we can't afford any more delays! Besides, that woman isn't alone. She has a whole group protecting her. I barely escaped

The hooded man's time was laced with fury. He had always been untouchable. Yet today, he had been forced into such a disgraceful retreat. His eyes gleamed coldly. "We need to

Pete didn't a

tarpur, Instead, he nodded cooperatively. "Understood. I'll have someone ure Felicia out. Once she's within reach, you can use the bronze bell to control her. She'll be Trady to execute new commands when she loses consciousness.

"The soonet, the better. The longer we wait, the greater the risk. The hooded man's anger simmered down, though he still cast Pete a wary glance. Pete was being surprisingly

Was he really going along with the plan or was he scheming something else?

a flickered in the hooded man's eyes as he bluntly asked, "What exactly is your plan?"

ting has wine glass down. "No need to be so tense, sir. Aren't we on the same boat?"

Then, he clapped his hands with a knowing smile. "1 even prepared a little surprise for you. Why don't you take a look?"

At his car, footsteps echoed from behind a decorative screen. A delicate shadow appeared, outlined against the screen's surface.

A moment later, a beautiful young worsan stepped into view. She was undeniably attractive, yet her lips were pressed into a tense line. There was no innocence in her gaze, only barely restrated madness and acold ruthlessness far beyond her years. There was also a te

also a remain sharpness to her presence.

The hooded man spared her a glance before turning back to Pete. "What's this supposed to mean

Pete's top remained light even as his words carried an unmistakable chill "This is my plan. She's Johanna I brought her out of the Russell residence. Once we've gained control over Felicia. I intend to have jolunnatake her place What do you think of the idea, sit?" The hooded Iman narrowed his eyes at Pete suspiciously Then, after a long pause, he finally mattered, "You really think this will work?

"With you involved, it will" Ivte remained

After all, only the hooded man had the power to wild the bronze bell. Their ability to control people was beyond imagination and could turn even the strongest-willed person into a mindinis pagged

And in the hands of the hooded man, the bronze bell had another function-hypnosis.

Having been flattered, the hooded man said nothing further, He walked into a nearby room and shut the door behind him, leaving only a parting remark "Call me when you need "Ofcbatie" Pele nodded.

The door clicked shut, and silence returned to the space

Pete furned to Johanne. He knew she had already made up her mind, but he still felt the need to remind her one last time. "I want you to kill Stephan no matter what it takes,