"Mine is also from Mommy."

Jimmy Horne was also somewhat surprised. What was his mother calling him for at this time?

Both of them picked up their phones.

After finishing the calls, they almost said in unison, "Billy (Camila), Mommy asked us to come back to the Horne Family for dinner." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

As the words fell, both of them couldn't help but laugh. It was only after laughing that they noticed the problem.

"Back to the Horne Family? My mommy is back?" Camila Ruiz was even more surprised.

Judging by their father's possessive nature towards their mother, it usually wouldn't be a second honeymoon without at least a year and a half away. It's only been a few days; why are they back?

Did something happen in their parents' second honeymoon that made them return early?

Thinking of this, Camila became a bit anxious and hurriedly told Jimmy Horne, "Billy, let's return to the Horne Family immediately."

Jimmy Horne nodded and instructed the bodyguards: "Golden Kirin Garden, Horne Family villa."

The bodyguards acknowledged, then turned the car at an intersection and headed towards Golden Kirin Garden.

Very soon, the two of them returned to the Horne Family.

Seeing them return together, Adele Horne laughed with joy. This proved that her son had succeeded in pursuing Camila. Look, her son appeared so intimate, holding Camila's hand, his eyes constantly exuding affection for her.

Hehe, she won, she took back her big sister-in-law's favorite, Camila, as her daughter-in-law!

Adele Horne was immensely pleased.

"Dad, Mommy, are you okay?" Camila Ruiz saw the welcoming Adele Horne and greeted her but didn't realize much. She quickly walked into the hall, seeing her parents sitting intact on the sofa, chatting with her godparents. Only then did she feel relieved.

"Mommy, why did you come back so soon? You gave me such a fright. I thought you encountered some trouble." Camila Ruiz sat down beside Rachel Bailey and Julia Bluen, held Rachel's arm, and teased.

"We came back because we were worried about you." Rachel smiled.

"I've grown up; what is there to worry about?"

"In the eyes of parents, children are always children." Rachel laughed, gently pulling her daughter's hand down from her arm. "Camila, haven't you noticed who has returned?"

"Who? Oh, Aunt Adele!" Only then did Camila Ruiz come to her senses, immediately standing up with a smile to greet the just-returned Adele Horne. Adele intentionally put on a stern face, playfully scolding, "Camila girl, only now do you remember Auntie."

Camila playfully stuck out her tongue.

She did greet earlier, just didn't really realize it.

Jimmy Horne greeted his parents steadily without many words.

Now that both are back, Ivan Horne also returned, so everyone headed to the dining room for dinner.

The elders didn't tell Jimmy Horne and Camila Ruiz that they were preparing for their wedding.

In the afternoon.

The Grand Garden.

Crystal Sanders woke up.

But she wished she hadn't.

Because upon waking, she would have to face the cold-hearted Joseph Colson.

She'd rather be dead.

She lay in a large, lavishly decorated room, the head wound bandaged by doctors. Two nurses stood by her bedside, visibly relieved to see her awake.

An IV drip attached to one hand.

It was evident that after she had fainted, Joseph had called other doctors to save her.

But he wouldn't send her to a hospital, probably afraid of gossip exposing his cold-hearted side.

Crystal weakly closed her eyes, her head in pain, her world spinning.

The consequence of not dying was living a fate worse than death.

Her other hand, free from the IV, gently touched her belly, and a nearby nurse immediately reassured her, "Don't worry, the child is still there."

Only then did Crystal's heart slightly settle; she had feared Joseph would heartlessly remove the child while she was unconscious.

Resting with her eyes closed for a while, Crystal realized the room was silent, without a trace of the nurses.

She slightly opened her eyes to find Joseph seated by her bed, looking at her with a pained gaze.

"Crystal." Joseph saw her awake, softly called out, and tenderly caressed her face, saying hoarsely, "Why are you so foolish? If anything happens to you, what should I do?"

Crystal pushed away his hand, turned her face away, unwilling to acknowledge him. At this moment, did he still have the face to say such words? If she truly mattered to him, why would he treat her this way? Knowing the child was his, why force her to abort it? If he truly valued her, she'd already pleaded with him not to persist, as Charles was also innocent. When Joseph's mother caused the death of Mrs. Colson, Charles hadn't even been born. Charles wasn't involved in any of those events; Joseph had no need to continue hating this way.

Would Joseph genuinely be happy if Charles died?

No, having stayed by his side all these years, she had seen his unhappiness. Even if he managed to destroy Charles, he wouldn't truly be happy.

"Crystal, I'm sorry."

Joseph spoke hoarsely, the words tinged with sincerity.

Crystal still ignored him.

He watched Crystal, silent for a while, then finally spoke with a pained voice, "Crystal, you grew up in an orphanage. You must understand the feeling of losing a mother at seven, a father remarrying, and the stepmother appearing kind but being vicious behind the scenes. My mother died that day—I called for her, but she didn't respond. When I pushed the door open, she was already dead. While she died, my father was still enjoying himself in that woman's embrace… I don't know how to describe coming to my senses at that time, the confusion I felt…"

Joseph's low voice, mixed with pain, inadvertently tugged at Crystal's heart.

She could understand the pain of losing a mother's love.

Her own life had been unhappy as well. Before meeting Joseph, she had starved, struggled for warmth, and avoided predatory men. Carelessly, she'd become prey. Those days made her feel life was meaningless.

After meeting Joseph, he provided a stable life, with good food, shelter, clothing, letting her experience what a princess's life was like. Despite his ruthless behavior this once, Joseph usually treated her well. Her gratitude deepened into love. She feared him, but she loved him more. She felt Joseph was her life; without him, she couldn't survive.

She wasn't a strong woman; she was weak and helpless, knowing only to escape or cry when challenged.