Only Carmen knew how truly masculine Jayden Montgomery was; some might even call him the quintessential alpha male. Last night's experience had been more thrilling than a roller coaster!

"Maybe... it's just that my allure isn't quite enough yet," Carmen pondered thoughtfully. "But that's okay, I'll win him over eventually."

"Do you want me to trace his digital footprint, find out where he is, and maybe arrange a chance meeting?" suggested Lorelei Bell, one of the top three hackers in the computer science department at Midlands University, eager to help out.

Carmen's expression darkened slightly. "It's rumored that before Jayden returned to the Montgomery family, there was a mysterious gap in his history. I suspect he intentionally erased this. Lorelei, I need you to look into something for me first..."

On the other end of the line, Lorelei assured her, "Carmen, don't worry, I've got this covered!"

After hanging up, Carmen's sharp eyes grew introspective. If Jayden wasn't paying her any attention, she would have to take the initiative. Winning over this man was just a matter of time.

An hour later, Carmen stood at the door of her sister’s hospital room, holding a pot of homemade chicken soup. Suddenly, she heard a man's accusing voice from inside: "Nancy, why didn't you tell me you had a miscarriage? If Dr. Green hadn't called, how long were you planning on keeping it from me? Do I even matter to you?"

Carmen froze, her expression going cold.

Inside the room, Nancy lifted her swollen eyes to look at the imposing figure of North Fletcher standing by her bedside. Her eyes were devoid of emotion. "North, did you remember you were my husband when you were with another woman?"

There was a flicker of panic in North's eyes, but it quickly vanished as he replied with self-righteous indignation, "Nancy, your family might be bankrupt, but out of old affection, I still let you have the title of Mrs. Fletcher. What more could you ask for?"

As North spoke, he maintained an air of superiority. Nancy saw not a hint of guilt or remorse in his eyes. Her heart ached as if a swarm of ants were gnawing at it, already riddled with wounds.

Was this the man she had been so determined to marry, against all odds?

Suppressing her emotions, Nancy spoke calmly, "North, let's get a divorce."

North merely smirked. "Nancy, you'd better think this through. If we divorce, you’ll have nothing."

In his view, the Pierce family was already bankrupt. If Nancy left him, she'd be nothing more than a discarded woman. Even with her beauty, no one in high society would dare to marry her!

So he was certain Nancy would never divorce him.

"I have thought it through," Nancy said, her expression eerily calm. "Three days after being discharged, we'll handle the divorce proceedings."

The smile on North's face slowly darkened. He never imagined that Nancy, who had clung so desperately to their marriage, would be so determined to end it.

To be honest, Nancy was only twenty-three, with a youthful glow, her features delicate and beautiful, more captivating than any other woman he had been with. More importantly, she was poised, elegant, and dignified, the perfect candidate for a wife.

But isn't it true that the unattainable is always the most desirable? He preferred women with a wild streak!

In his mind, a man's infidelity was normal, and he saw no issue with having fun with other women. But Nancy wanting a divorce? How could that be?

North was inexplicably frustrated, "Nancy, don't forget, we have a prenup. If you divorce me, you won’t get a single cent!"

He thought this would deter Nancy. After all, the Pierce family was bankrupt, and she could no longer live the high life she once knew.

Nancy looked at the man she had once shared a bed with, now a stranger. How blind had she been to believe a man like this could offer her a lifetime of happiness?

Suddenly, a sharp voice came from the door: "North Fletcher, don't forget that your family’s first successful business deal was made with my sister's dowry and that it was our Pierce family’s connections that helped you get into high society. Where do you get the nerve to act so superior? Is it false bravado?"

North turned to see Carmen entering the room, carrying a thermos. Despite the summer heat, like Nancy, Carmen wore only a strap dress. Her hair cascaded down her back like seaweed, her beauty fresh and unique.

Both daughters of the Pierce family were exceptionally beautiful, standout figures in the upper echelons of society.

If Nancy was the kind of beauty that seemed delicate and melancholic, then Carmen was a beauty with a fierce edge.

And this was the kind of beauty North preferred!

After a moment, North asked, "Carmen, what do you mean by this?"

Carmen set the thermos on the bedside table, her smile sly and mysterious. "My sister won’t take a dime from you, but you will return the billion-dollar dowry to her, with interest!"

North retorted, "You just said it yourself, it was a dowry."

Carmen’s lips curled into a mocking smile. "North Fletcher, I recall a clause in your prenup with my sister prohibiting infidelity. You've broken this agreement, giving my sister the right to demand the return of her dowry, or, upon divorce, half your assets. Which will it be?"

North’s face turned dark with rage. He had always known Carmen wasn’t easy to deal with but never expected she had been strategizing all along.

But quickly, he sneered, "That would only work if you can afford a good lawyer."

With those words, North stormed out, slamming the door.

Carmen’s gaze darkened. North's implication was clear: even if he was at a disadvantage, he had the money to hire a top lawyer and win the case.

People only cared about outcomes; no one cared about the truth!

That’s how her father had been wrongfully accused and imprisoned!

Thinking of this, Carmen tightened her grip.

This time, she wouldn’t let her sister be bullied by this scumbag North Fletcher!

Hiding her true intentions, Carmen feigned calm as she opened the thermos with a smile. "Nancy, I just went to a restaurant and cooked some chicken soup for you. Have a taste."

She picked up a spoonful of soup and brought it to Nancy's lips, but Nancy looked at her with worry etched on her face. "Carmen, we can't win against North Fletcher..."

Over the past year, Nancy had come to understand the ways of the Fletchers and North.

Getting that billion-dollar dowry back from the Fletchers would be nearly impossible.

She wanted no further entanglements with North Fletcher, just to escape him and the Fletcher family...

Carmen set the thermos aside, her expression earnest as she looked at Nancy. "Sis, I know what you’re worried about, but the Fletchers swindled you out of that billion. We have to get it back!"

Nancy lowered her eyes. "But Carmen, we don't have the money to hire a good lawyer..."

"Sis!" Carmen immediately grasped Nancy's hand, her voice unwaveringly firm. "The Pierce family may have fallen, but we sisters can’t. Constant retreat and concessions will only invite more bullying. Don’t you understand this yet?"

The sleek Bentley glided smoothly into the Alpine hillside villa district, home to the Montgomery family estate. It was the most serene and revitalizing area in the region, a preferred enclave for the city's retired elite.

The car came to a halt in front of a villa that resembled an old English manor. Leo Reed, the ever-efficient assistant, quickly exited the vehicle and opened the door for Jayden Montgomery with respect. "Mr. Montgomery, we've arrived at the estate," he announced.

Jayden, a man of striking presence with an air of quiet confidence, stepped out with an effortless grace. His appearance was like that of a celestial being descending to earth. The household staff immediately lined up in two orderly rows, well aware that any sign of dissatisfaction could lead to severe repercussions—rumors still circulated about a former servant who had been sent to a remote village in Africa.

Inside the living room, two elderly gentlemen were leisurely engaged in a chess match. "Montgomery, in my opinion, Jayden and Lilly make a great pair," one of them suggested.

Montgomery senior waved dismissively. "Let's not push Jayden into anything without his agreement."

"I'm his father. His marriage is my prerogative," declared the elder Montgomery with authority.

Lilly Hicks, sitting beside her grandfather, blushed at the implication of an upcoming engagement, her expression a blend of playfulness and feigned reluctance.

As Jayden entered, he caught the tail end of their conversation. His expression darkened, casting a shadow over the room. An intimidating aura emanated from him, reminding Montgomery senior of the power and poise that matched any in the family history.

"Jayden, perfect timing," Montgomery senior called out, trying to regain control. "I'd like to introduce you to—"

Jayden's gaze was cold as he cut in, "Not interested," making it clear he had no desire to engage with the guests.

Lilly, eager to make her presence known, quickly chimed in, "Jayden, remember me? Lilly Hicks, from last night at the Skyline Club..."

The overpowering scent of her perfume made him grimace; he cast a cool, indifferent glance her way—a look so piercing it made Lilly's heart skip a beat.

Montgomery senior, unhappy with his son's lack of courtesy, maintained his composure. "Jayden, this is Mr. Hicks, an old friend of mine, and his granddaughter Lilly, who just returned from her studies abroad..."

Jayden, unfazed, interrupted again, "I said I'm not interested in meeting your friends."

Tension thickened the air, and Lilly's face fell as she wondered why Jayden showed more interest in someone like Carmen Pierce and dismissed her so easily. She harbored a growing resentment towards Carmen.

Montgomery senior could no longer contain his temper, slamming his hand on the table in anger. "Then why did you return, if not for this?"

Jayden remained unemotional, coolly replying, "I simply came back for a watch I left in the study. And let me remind you: stay out of my personal affairs, or face the consequences."

Though casually delivered, his words carried the weight of authority and warning.

Montgomery senior's face turned a deep shade of crimson. In all his years, who dared speak to him this way? Jayden's actions in front of his old friend were a direct affront.

As Jayden ascended the stairs, his presence still echoing in the silent house, Mr. Hicks furrowed his brow. He had heard the tales of Jayden—a man who respected no one.

"I just remembered something I need to attend to at home," Mr. Hicks said diplomatically. "Come, Lilly, let's leave." Despite her desire to stay, Lilly followed, casting one last determined glance, resolved not to give up.

Moments later, watch in hand, Jayden descended the stairs as Montgomery senior returned from seeing his guests out. Their eyes met, the tension still palpable.

"Stay right there!" Montgomery senior commanded.

Jayden turned nonchalantly. "What is it now?"

"You're twenty-five; it's time you settled down. The Hicks family is a good match for us. I've arranged for you to get engaged to Lilly," Montgomery senior declared with the finality of a patriarch.

Jayden let out a dry laugh, his tall frame leaning slightly as he regarded his father. "I recall saying something when I first returned to this family that should be fresh in your mind: don't push my boundaries, or I can dismantle the Montgomery Corporation as easily as I built it. Understood?"

His voice, though calm, held a clear threat. Montgomery senior felt a sharp pang in his chest. Since Jayden's return, he had never warmed to the family. He was a maverick, yet only he could navigate the Montgomery Corporation through its crises.

Watching Jayden's retreating figure, Montgomery senior stood rooted in place, his authority challenged in his own home.

Outside the estate, Leo waited patiently, holding the car door open. "Mr. Montgomery, where to?" he asked.

Jayden settled into the car, thoughtfully tracing the edge of his watch. "To Fresh Meadows," he replied simply.

Hospital.

In the hallway, Carmen Pierce took a call from her close friend, Lorelei Bell. "Carmen, I've got the information you wanted, but..."

"But what?" Carmen asked, curiosity piqued.

Lorelei's voice was cautious. "It's just that this past is something I think Jayden Montgomery would prefer others didn't know..."

Twenty-six years ago, Mr. Montgomery Sr., on a business trip to Europe, was tricked by a competitor and ended up in bed with a waitress after drinking spiked wine. The result was a baby boy, Jayden Montgomery. However, Mr. Montgomery Sr. did not recognize the child as his.

Back then, being an unwed mother was socially stigmatized. Under pressure from her family, the waitress left the baby in a nearby village and moved away.

The infant, wrapped in blankets, was taken in by Adalynn Sanders, a kind-hearted woman from the village. Despite modest means, she raised Jayden with love and dedication.

Jayden lived up to her hopes. He excelled academically, earned scholarships through college, and went on to co-found the tech company Titan Group with Reece Morrison.

Two years ago, Titan Group resolved a high-profile international hacking incident. Though Jayden rarely appeared in public, a photo of him went viral on social media.

Coincidentally, Montgomery Industries faced an unprecedented financial crisis, leaving his family in a bind. Upon seeing the viral photo of a face remarkably similar to his own at a younger age, Mr. Montgomery Sr. quietly gathered more information and obtained a hair sample for a DNA test, confirming Jayden was his abandoned son from 25 years prior.

After discovering Jayden's expertise in finance and his rapid growth of Titan Group into a tech giant, Mr. Montgomery Sr. approached Jayden, hoping he would come back to the family business. Jayden, however, declined.

But somehow, Mr. Montgomery Sr. convinced Adalynn Sanders to persuade Jayden, who was very devoted, and eventually, he agreed to reconnect with the family—but that was as far as it went.

The relationship between Jayden and his father remained strained, to say the least.

Carmen was taken aback to learn that the sophisticated and poised Jayden Montgomery had such humble beginnings. A mix of emotions stirred inside her.

"Carmen, while Jayden is known for being ruthless and cold-hearted to outsiders, he is exceptionally kind to the woman who raised him, Adalynn Sanders," Lorelei added.

"And it seems Adalynn has taken in another boy named Musa Montgomery, now 18 years old. He's Jayden's brother, but the social elite knows nothing about this."

After a moment's thought, Carmen spoke softly, "Lorelei, can you find out where Adalynn Sanders lives now?"

Lorelei was surprised. "You're not thinking of approaching through Adalynn Sanders, are you?"

Carmen didn't hide her plan. "That's right."

Perhaps by getting close to the person Jayden cares about most, she could find a way to connect with him.

Lorelei chuckled mischievously. "Three years ago, Jayden bought a plot of land in the suburbs of West City and built a house called Tranquil Gardens for Adalynn's retirement."

After confirming her sister's health was stable, Carmen went home, changed into something suitable, and picked up a gift fit for an elder before catching a cab to Tranquil Gardens.

Unlike the grand estate she had imagined, Tranquil Gardens was expansive yet quaint, with each house just two stories high, surrounded by lush greenery and gardens full of fruits and vegetables. The breeze carried a subtle scent of fruit. The air was fresh, an ideal place for retirement.

Standing at the entrance with her gift box, Carmen quickly caught the attention of passersby. In her white dress, hair in a bun, and delicate face touched with light makeup, she exuded an elegant charm that was hard to ignore.

Without hesitation, Carmen rang the doorbell.