Sage didn't dare to sign anything recklessly. So as she took the paper to make the two men lower their guard, she reached into her pocket to grab her phone to call the police.But just as her fingers touched her phone, a hand suddenly reached out from behind and forcefully pulled her back."Ah!" Sage screamed in fright, swinging her fists and kicking with her legs blindly in an attempt to fight back"Hey! It's me!" When Sage heard Ian's voice, she stopped struggling.She looked up and saw Ian's face. However, because of how dim the streetlamps were, Sage couldn't make out his expression clearly."How did you get here? Where are they?" Sage asked, her heart still racing.Ian's voice was grave. "They ran away. Why did you come to such a sketchy place for your walk?"Having calmed down, Sage felt her legs go weak. She sat down on a nearby rock. "I just happened to be passing by! Who knew I would encounter them? Call the police, quickly!"Sage took out her phone, but Ian said coldl
Sage wasn't in the mood to bicker with him. If he wanted to carry her, so be it. She wasn't the one getting tired anyway. Having waited on Ian for so many years, she shouldn't feel bad about benefitting from him for once.With this thought in mind, Sage fell silent and placed her hands back onto his shoulders, leaning back slightly to adopt a posture that suggested she was making him her laborer.Ian understood her intentions, and for a moment, he didn't know whether to be angry or amused. The two walked back home without exchanging a word, maintaining this intimate, yet oddly, distant posture. When they arrived, Sage prepared to get down to change her shoes, but Ian continued to carry her."Are you planning to carry me upstairs?" Sage asked.Ian replied, "It's only a few steps away." With that, he carried her upstairs.Wanda heard the commotion and came out. Seeing the affectionate scene, she smiled like a doting aunt before quickly retreating to the kitchen. All the while, Sag
"Benjamin wouldn't dare touch me!" Priscilla declared."I have plenty of dirt on him. But for the sake of our child and the fact that we're married, I haven't gone after him. If he ever dares to lay a finger on you though, I'll fight him with everything I've got, even if it means using everything I've got!"Sage was touched by Priscilla's protectiveness. Despite their age gap, Priscilla was truly someone who dared to love and hate. She was a friend worth having."Priscilla, don't get too worked up. Ian said he would investigate the matter thoroughly. I'll let you know if there are any updates." They chatted for a few more minutes before hanging up. That night, Ian didn't return to the bedroom even after Sage had fallen asleep. He was really upset by her actions.It was quite a shock for someone who had always chased after him and entertained his whims to suddenly stop caring about him. Anyone in his shoes would have felt a sense of loss.Whatever changes that Donald had mentione
Sage didn't expect Donald to buy a gift for Ian as well. But apart from that, he intended to give it to him under her name. The old man had certainly thought it through.Since Donald had set things up, Sage had no choice but to play along in Ian's presence. She took the box from Susan and handed it to Ian. "Here.""What is it?" Ian asked calmly.She responded equally calmly, "You'll know once you check it out.""Alright now, you can have a couple's talk later. For now, take a seat and have something," Susan said to them. The staff at the revolving restaurant were busy helping customers grill the seafood they ordered. Sage took the nearest seat, and Ian sat beside her. Susan, a lover of heavy foods, ordered a mountain of seafood and had the chefs grill them for the party. Not only that, she requested for them to add more spices and garlic seasoning."Aunt Susan, Ian doesn't take spicy foods," Sage blurted out, her mind still on the gift from Donald. She noticed a faint smile on
"Where are you going?" Ian demanded.Sage chuckled and explained, "I'm giving up my seat to Layla. Didn't you hear her earlier?"He commanded, "Sit down." His eyes flashed with a subtle annoyance. It seemed that he wasn't interested in Layla at all.However, Sage wasn't going to shield him. She was about to leave her seat when Susan intervened, "Layla, what are you doing? You're an adult. It's time to stop clinging to Sage and Ian. Come have a seat beside me. I ordered your favorite seafood."Susan and Owen had silently observed the interaction among the three. They picked up on Ian's frustration and did not want to risk humiliating Layla. Susan then added, "Who said Ian and Sage are getting a divorce? They're doing well.""Ian, just ignore Layla's nonsense. She has liked squabbling with Sage from a young age," Owen chimed in with a smile.Ian said nothing in response. When he noticed Sage standing, he reached out to pull her back into her seat.Since it wasn't the right time an
"Layla, what's going on this time? Why have you started rambling again? Sit up and eat your dinner like a lady," Owen intervened angrily."Right, Layla. Don't kick up a fuss. If you're interested in the earrings, I'll just get them for you. Why would you buy a second-hand item? It's not like we can't afford new ones," Susan remarked.Layla couldn't find a way to explain Henry's detestable action to her parents, so she brushed it off. "It's nothing."Sage then said, "Aunt Susan, I sold off the earrings because I thought they were ugly. Layla thought they were unique though, so she bought them for her research and study. She didn't know that I was the seller."Susan seemed convinced by Sage's account and even looked proud of Layla. She said, "Layla might not be the best in academics, but she's talented in design. I'm proud that she's willing to invest her time in it!""I agree," Sage replied. "Aunt Susan, why don't you consider sending Layla to the famous art and design schools in P
"You!" Layla's face flushed with anger. "I heard from Henry that you reached out to him in private. Are you interested in him or something?"Henry had simply mentioned it casually. But even if he hadn't, Layla had seen their chat history with her own eyes. In retrospect, Layla realized that things were a little fishy when Sage readily agreed to Henry's invitation in the parking lot despite holding a grudge against Layla. Sage had even offered to foot the bill. Sage was also present at the sports complex Henry routinely attended. The increasing amount of coincidences made Layla suspicious."Won't you listen to yourself?" Sage jeered. "Use your brain for once. Don't listen blindly to what others say. What would I gain from talking to him in private?"Then, Sage handed her phone to Layla and urged her, "Take a good look at my chat history with Henry."Layla's eyes swept past the screen and noticed that Henry had initiated contact multiple times. Although he acted courteously, anyo
Sage's grin didn't anger Ian in the slightest. It had been a while since she smiled so brightly at him. Usually, she only gave him cold smirks and an occasional gleeful laugh when she pranked him.Sage's smile might have been fake, but it stirred something in him. Her smile, once common, had become rarer lately. He struggled to get used to its absence. "Don't worry. Your card might still be with me, but it's technically still yours," she added in the face of his silence."Sage, don't be childish," he said with a snort. "Didn't I say that you have the freedom to do anything with the gift I gave you? I'm only here to tell you this before I leave: Terry has taken care of the incident last night. It will not happen again." With that, Ian left in great strides, leaving her frozen in shock. Ian's behavior was unusual. Why did he defend her, and why wasn't he angered by her provocation?She decided to put her thoughts behind her. She had never managed to read his mind anyway. Nonethele