Bride To Be Not Me (Janice and Simon)

"So, from now on, make sure you always have bodyguards with you when you go out. You can't afford to be careless," Edward warned Janice.

"I'm going to visit the cemetery tomorrow," Janice said. "If I don't go now, I won't have time later."

"Do you want me to go with you?"

"It's fine. You have too much on your plate. Just focus on your work."

Janice left early the next morning with Jacob to visit the cemetery.

"Mr. Jovarek, that car belongs to Mr. Moore from Prosper Stitch Group," Santiago remarked as a Rolls-Royce Cullinan exited the highway.

Louis glanced back. "Are you referring to Edward?"

"No, that Cullinan is always driven by Ms. Smith," Santiago clarified.

He continued, "Celine is arriving in Cruznia tomorrow. We've confirmed she's here to meet Shirley."

"Shirley?" Louis' expression darkened. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. Celine's secretary confirmed it," Santiago replied. "Should we follow them tomorrow?"

"Of course."

Louis was deeply curious about who Shirley really was and what she had become. Back then, her sharp tongue had nearly driven him to the brink of madness. After that scathing tirade, she disappeared without a trace.

Suddenly, Louis' phone buzzed with a call from an unfamiliar domestic number. He paused before answering. "Who is this?"

"It's Simon!" His voice was frantic, almost pleading. "Mr. Jovarek, I swear I'll find a way to bring Janice to Onley Group! Please help me! I don't have the money to pay back Zedrick, and now, I'm sick... I don't know what to do! Please, give me a way out!"

Yesterday, Simon had rushed to the CDC for tests, but the results would take time.

Meanwhile, Zedrick was demanding repayment, and Simon felt completely trapped. Desperate, he swallowed his pride and reached out to Louis.

"I see." Louis chuckled coldly. "And how exactly do you plan to bring Janice to Onley Group? You've got nothing left."

"I can do it! Trust me! I know her-she's soft-hearted. If I play the sympathy card, she'll drop her guard!"

Simon sat in the office of Legacy Twine, his entire demeanor heavy with defeat. The terrifying thought that he might have contracted AIDS consumed him. If that were true, everything was over for him. He was desperate for help. At this point, he would do anything.

Louis considered it for a moment before responding, "Come to my house tonight." "Yes! Of course!"

Simon, however, couldn't wait until evening. Well before that, he found himself lurking outside Louis and Zedrick's villa.

Dressed like a fugitive, he was concealed in a cap, mask, and hooded jacket. He had covered every inch of himself.

When Louis arrived, he spotted Simon hanging by the entrance.

"Come in."

Without a word, Simon followed him inside.

Zedrick was just about to begin his meal. He glanced up at Simon trailing behind Louis but said nothing.

"From now on, you'll be my lackey,

Louis said. "You know Greenfield City's business circles inside and

out, and more importantly, you know the connections between everyone."

Simon had no choice. Swallowing his pride, he nodded. "Alright."

He knew all too well what being a lackey meant. Simply put, he was there to

handle the unpleasant tasks, the ones others would rather avoid.

A year ago, he had been the

chairman of a publicly listed company. Now, he was reduced to running errands for someone else. Any remnants of his self-respect had long been shattered.

Nonetheless, he wasn't alone in his fall from grace.

Heidi had suffered the same fate.

...

The training institute opened without fanfare, offering a quiet, orderly welcome to

the seamstresses who had signed up.

Like Simon, Heidi was in disguise, opting for ordinary glasses instead of sunglasses to keep a low profile.

At the registration desk, staff members were distributing student badges.noveldrama

"What's your name?" a staff member asked.

Heidi deliberately lowered her voice and said, "H-Heidi Ryan."

The staff member handed her the badge without a second thought. Heidi quickly grabbed it and hurried away.

But as soon as she entered her assigned classroom, she froze. Turning back to the staff at the door, she asked, "Are the classes supposed to be divided differently?"

The only reason she had signed up was because she believed Janice had ties to Shirley. If she wanted to get close to Janice, this was her opportunity.

"Of course," the staff member replied. "Placement is based on the crochet piece you submitted during the interview."

So... she had been placed in the beginner's class?

The beginner's class?

For over 20 years, Heidi had never been associated with the word "beginner".

She took a deep breath.

It didn't matter. As long as she put in the effort, she was confident she could complete the training, secure a spot at Prosper Stitch Group, and get closer to Janice.

Her instructor had been handpicked by Yvonne, who had specifically ordered her to "give Heidi special attention".

"Your stitching is..." The instructor

glanced at Heidi's work, ready to offer her critique. But as she studied it more closely, she paused. No criticism was needed as the piece spoke for itself. "Tell me honestly... Did you really learn crochet before this?"

Heidi gritted her teeth. "My arm is injured, but I'll work hard!"

Her arm wasn't just injured; it was ruined.

She could barely hold the hook, and her fingers trembled with every stitch,

resulting in uneven and shaky work.

The piece looked rough, falling far short of the standard even a student would be

expected to meet.