C5 At Most, They Would Just Have to Fight to the Death.

Reece's smile was the epitome of elegance and charm, yet Lydia's scalp prickled with unease.

It appeared he had offered her a choice, but in truth, there was none.

Her only option was to compromise.

Lydia's fists tightened at her side, a silent testament to her reluctance. Despite her resistance, she knew her current capabilities left her no choice but to resign herself to her fate.

For if she so much as broached the topic of divorce in front of Old Mr. Tillman, given Reece's notorious cunning and ruthless tactics, she'd likely hear news of her parents, cornered by the Ellis family, in dire straits almost immediately.

Moreover...

In her last life, her parents were cast out by the Ellis family due to her actions, left to endure the disdain of her uncle's household.

This time around, she was determined not to let her parents suffer on her account.

The matter of divorce could wait.

Once she had amassed enough strength to support herself and her parents, then she could consider leaving Reece.

However...

If divorce was off the table, she needed to negotiate some advantages from this man.

That would only be fair!

She eyed him, a sly smile playing on her lips. "I won't bring up divorce in front of Grandfather, but... I want that plot of land in Blue Bay, on the city's west side."

Reece's lips curled in satisfaction at her initial words, but as she continued, his smile straightened into a tight line, his gaze chilling by several degrees.

"Woman, what makes you think you have the audacity to set terms with me? Hmm?"

He eyed Lydia, his voice dripping with sarcasm on the last word, mocking her presumptuousness.

Lydia scoffed. "I may not have the means, but there's one thing I firmly believe in—if it comes down to it, I'm ready for a fight to the finish. Who's afraid of whom?"

Reece's grip tightened around her neck, his eyes narrowing into cold slits, as the room's atmosphere plummeted into a sharp chill.

She had the gall to threaten him.

That was a death wish!

At the very moment the tension was about to explode, the butler, Gideon, hurriedly entered the living room, his expression grave as he clutched several documents. "Mr. Tillman..."

His eyes met the dark scowl on the man's face, and his steps halted abruptly.

He had walked into a storm.

"Should I leave now? Is it too late?"

Frozen in place, Gideon was torn, awkwardly swallowing his discomfort.

"Keep talking!" Reece demanded icily, his gaze and grip on Lydia unyielding, tightening even more.

Lydia struggled for breath, her face etched with pain.

"Old man..."

Though Lydia couldn't make out Gideon's whisper, she felt a chill deepen in Reece's stare, a flicker of emotion crossing his dark eyes.

What could possibly touch such a stoic man?

Her eyes covertly darted to the papers in Gideon's hand, catching sight of medical records and Old Mr. Tillman's name.

A memory flashed through her mind, and her heart lurched.

If her memory served her right, Old Mr. Tillman had been critically ill with heart issues in her past life.

Did Reece know about Old Mr. Tillman's health?

Questions swirled in Lydia's mind when suddenly, she was released abruptly.

"The Blue Bay property is yours," Reece declared from above, leaving Lydia staring at him in astonishment.

He had agreed to give her the land with such ease!

Her hunch was right; Reece must have learned of Old Mr. Tillman's condition and agreed to her terms to avoid upsetting him.

In this world, Old Mr. Tillman was one of the few who could stir warmth in Reece.

With the knowledge of her grandfather's impending crisis, Lydia felt a weight settle on her heart.

But death was inescapable, and she resolved to cherish the time left with her beloved grandfather.

...

Wary of relying on a verbal promise, Lydia insisted that Reece sign a written land transfer agreement.

"Thanks."

Contract in hand, a triumphant glint shone in her eyes, her lips curving into an uncontrollable smile.

Yet, her victorious grin only served to agitate Reece further. His expression grew stormy, a dark cloud casting a shadow over his features.

He slumped into the sofa—

Eyes closed, seeking solace in solitude, unwilling to spare another glance at the woman beside him...

That day, Lydia spent hours talking with Old Mr. Tillman, whose laughter rang out heartily during their conversation.

On that day, Lydia spent a long time chatting with Old Mr. Tillman, much to his delight, as she coaxed laughter from him again and again. It wasn't until after he had finished his dinner in the evening that he finally left.

After seeing Old Mr. Tillman off, Lydia paid no mind to Reece and made her way back to her room with a slow, limping gait. Lying in bed, she examined the land transfer contract in her hands, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Securing this from you is worth the temporary discomfort. After all, it's a treasure to me and my parents."

The next morning, Lydia woke up at nine o'clock, relishing the rare luxury of sleeping in. In her past life, she had lived by the adage, "To win a man's heart, one must first win over his stomach," rising early to prepare breakfast whenever Reece was home. Back then, the simple act of him enjoying her cooking would brighten her entire day. Now, she realized how foolish she had been. No matter how exquisite the meal, it couldn't make a man love you if his heart wasn't in it.

Freshly washed and ready for the day, Lydia headed downstairs for breakfast. As she approached the staircase, a sweet voice reached her ears. "Reece, I made this yam and pork rib soup especially for you. Would you like to try it?" The voice belonged to Viola, her cousin, who was clearly trying to ingratiate herself with Reece.

"Elder sister, you're awake?" Viola approached her with feigned affection.

Lydia's hand was gently taken by Viola, but as she looked down at her cousin's seemingly loving expression, a wave of revulsion washed over her. In her previous life, she had cherished Viola like a sister, protecting her at all costs. Yet, this 'dear sister' had been plotting behind her back, scheming to ruin her and strip her of everything, including her right to inherit the Ellis family legacy.

"Sis," Viola whispered conspiratorially, seizing a moment when Reece was distracted, "this is the medicine I mentioned before. With it, you'll be able to conceive Reece's child in no time. Once you have his child, your place as Mrs. Tillman will be secured." She pressed a white pill into Lydia's hand with a sly urgency.

"Sis," Viola whispered, slipping a white pill into her hand while Reece wasn't looking. "This is the medicine I told you about last time. With this, having Reece's baby will be just around the corner. Once you have the child, your position as Mrs. Tillman will be secured."

Heh!

The scenario was playing out just like her previous life; Viola was setting her up once again. Lydia couldn't forget the agony she endured at Reece's hands after following Viola's advice in that past life.

Moreover, Reece, in a fit of rage, had pulled his investment from the Ellis Group, causing their stock to nosedive and nearly bankrupt the company. As a result, she was branded the Ellis family's traitor and scorned by them all.

Somehow, Viola managed to steady the ship and won the Ellis family's approval, though no one knew quite how she did it.

"Sister?"

Viola's voice pulled Lydia back to the present. She feigned delight as she pocketed the pill, "Mmm, okay... Thank you, Viola. You're always looking out for me."

If the green tea bitch wanted to play games, Lydia was ready to play along this time. If she didn't match Viola's moves, she'd be the one to lose.

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