As if afraid I would misunderstand, Julian quickly added, "Of course, I'll pay you a salary."But I was not divorced yet. If I were to leave Shayne and Zach abruptly to take care of a stranger's child, it might negatively affect Julian.I wasn't sure how to respond."I understand your situation..." Julian mentioned as he handed me a sleek, black business card embossed in gold. "And I know you'll need time to think it over, so there's no need to rush to give me an answer."After I absentmindedly took the card, Julian got to his feet."I'll take my leave now," he said.As I watched him as he turned to leave, I bit my lip.I didn't have money or a place to stay. After the divorce, I might end up homeless.But now, this incredible opportunity had landed in my lap.I had to seize it. "One week," I suddenly announced, prompting Julian to pause and look back at me in confusion.I quickly explained, "I just need one week to finalize the divorce. After that, I'll come to your house
Luna thanked everyone as she accepted the gifts. In the end, she was so overwhelmed that tears of joy began to fall. Her voice trembled as she spoke, "I never thought my dream would come true. I've actually become a real family with all of you. I'm so happy.""Don't say that," Shayne clumsily comforted her, seemingly couldn't bear to see her tears. "Let's eat first. The food will get cold otherwise."In high spirits, everyone was about to head to the dining room when Shayne suddenly stopped. He turned around, and that was when he saw me standing at the door. The smile on his face froze instantly. When he stopped, the others also turned to look. Their faces turned sour when they realized that I had come home.I looked at them, a fire of uncontrollable anger igniting within me. It hadn't even been seven days since I lost my child… The very people who caused my miscarriage weren't feeling any guilt at all. Instead, they were gathered here, enjoying themselves as if nothing had happen
Tired of compromising, I countered coldly, "I don't think I've done anything wrong."Hearing this, Shayne immediately stood up.I ignored him and turned to head back to the bedroom."Aralyn!" Luna suddenly called out to me at that moment.I turned to look at her.Luna was a beautiful woman. Even with just light makeup and her hair casually tied up, she was still stunning.Seeing that I didn't answer her, she hurriedly informed me, "I only made breakfast for four today… Sorry. They used to go to my house for breakfast in the mornings. I forgot that this isn't my house…"Luna's eyes were downcast as she spoke, her tear-filled gaze making her look pitiful and lovable."You didn't do anything wrong!" Shayne couldn't stand to see Luna cry. "There's no need to apologize to her."Tears as big as pearls began to fall, and Luna lamented, "But Aralyn doesn't like me. If I don't seek her forgiveness, I'm afraid she'll blame me. She already took my room last night. Today…She shot a quic
Luna smiled at me. "We're coming home for dinner tonight, though. Please prepare food for us then, Aralyn."She was blatantly taunting me, thinking that she could crush me by doing this. Yet, I ignored them and strode toward the living room.Shayne explained on my behalf, "She's probably still a little upset, but don't worry. She'll come around by the time we come back."Zach chimed in, "That's right. She may be an annoying person, but her cooking skills are excellent. You'll get to enjoy a feast tonight!"Luna asked delightedly, "Really? I'm so excited!"These people seemed to think that I was still in love with Shayne. They assumed I would prepare a huge spread for dinner despite being in a weakened condition just to earn Shayne's forgiveness.Yet, none of them noticed how I was staring at Shayne as though I was looking at a stranger who obviously had something wrong with his head.After they left, I went to the storeroom and found my suitcase. I brought it to my bedroom and o
I got up and headed for the bedroom while responding coldly, "Report it to the authorities, then. Why are you telling me?"Shayne moved to block my way. "It's Luna's ex-husband who's kidnapped Zach."I took one step to the side and moved past him. My voice hardened. "Then, you should be talking to Luna."Shayne caught up with me again and completely blocked my path. "He's very angry because he thinks Luna and I have slept together. He said that he would only let Zach go if you spend a night with him."Shayne sounded torn and helpless. "Honey…"He had not finished what he wanted to say, but I could tell what Shayne was getting at. I was shaking with rage as I slapped him hard across the face."Shayne Pearce! Do you really consider yourself a man?""Honey, Zach is your son! You can't possibly turn your back against him when he's in danger!"He swiftly produced a spray bottle, which he had kept hidden by holding it against his back, and sprayed something onto my face several times
"It was because my son told him that Luna would become his mother if he just stayed with me for a while."Indeed, it sounded like what that ungrateful child would do. I replied indifferently since I was not surprised at all, "Okay."Rowan got to his feet. "Do you know why I'm setting up this equipment? It's for recording the process of me raping you."I'll send it to Shayne tomorrow. Once he's seen us together, he'll give you up entirely!"After saying that, he strode toward me.Judging by his actions so far, I swiftly processed the information I had of him and what I had seen up to this point. In an instant, I thought of the solution.I stared at Rowan straight in the eye. "So, you and Luna are divorced. Yet, you're still listening to her demands and helping her with these things?"Rowan gave me a push. I could not help but fall backward and landed heavily on the hard mattress. Then, Rowan pressed himself against me.Someone who used to live a dignified and privileged life lik
Shayne turned his head toward my voice. He stared at me with a conflicted look in his eyes."Aralyn… you… you're back. He didn't… hurt you, right?"I scoffed inwardly at how pretentious he was. He stopped calling me "honey" like a loving husband would since he thought I had slept with another man."Oh. He didn't do anything to me. We just sat and spoke for a while." I told them the truth nonchalantly."I'm sorry… Aralyn, I didn't have a choice." It was obvious Shayne did not believe what I said. He went on apologizing as though he was truly sorry.I gave a shrug. I knew he would not believe me. I had expected that much.Besides, Rowan might serve as the key witness who could help me expose Luna's plots and secrets soon. Naturally, I saw no need to explain further to Shayne.I ignored him and fetched my suitcase from the storeroom. "Let's go."I would continue to gather more evidence after the divorce. When Shayne and Zach had fallen completely for the illusions of their newfoun
Her bedroom was huge. It was nicely and exquisitely decorated to resemble how a princess' room would look like in an animated film.Willow wore a fluffy, tiered dress. With a bunny doll in her arms, Willow had her back to the door as she sat silently on the carpet.Julian desperately wanted to cheer her up. "Willow, look who's here?"Willow turned her face further away from the door. She would not look at Julian or speak to him. Julian looked to me for help.This was supposed to be just a part of my job. However, I had always wished to have a daughter of my own…Willow looked just like a little princess in my eyes. She was so cute, and I could not help but grow fond of her. I tried to sound as if I was troubled. "I see that a little Willow doesn't welcome me here."Willow turned her head the second she heard my voice. When she saw it was me, Willow leaped to her feet and dashed toward me. She shook her head.I crouched down and met her gaze. "Why won't you talk to me? Do you hat
Mark didn't even think before replying, "Well, the company has a rule—if you complete three days' work in one day, the remaining two days are vacation."I found it a bit hard to believe. "Does such a great company really exist?"Mark teased with a smile, "Well, you've seen one now. The average price for these peripheral products is ten dollars, and your royalty margin is still 15%. The company just decided to spend a large sum of money to boost traffic."If all goes as planned, the sales of these peripheral products should break records day by day. We're worried that when the demand surges, production might not keep up."So, we're planning to stock up in advance to avoid running out of inventory when the comic goes viral. You just sit back and wait for the royalty money to roll in."When I heard that, I couldn't help but anticipate it. "Thank you.""You're welcome."With that, he left, not daring to glance at Julian.Julian followed him. "Help me print out the bank transfer rec
"If you had even a shred of sense and thought about everything you did to me, you couldn't possibly think I still have the slightest attachment to you."Shayne slammed the table and stood up. "Is this about me making you sleep with Rowan?"I leaned back on the couch and looked up at him. "Is that the only thing?"Shayne acted as if he couldn't hear me. "But I don't care about it anymore!""Heh." I realized I shouldn't have come to talk to him at all.Seeing me get up, Shayne hurriedly ran in front of me. "Aralyn…"I ignored him and walked straight past. Glancing back at his dejected figure, I calmly said, "I've always been thankful that I chose to leave you."…Back in the office, Julian, who had been focused on work, set his tasks aside and approached me. "Are you okay?"I nodded. "I'm fine. I just don't know what got into him. He suddenly said he regrets the divorce as if it would make any difference had he refused back then."I didn't bother to hide the disdain in my eyes.
"Strictly speaking, she's not an employee of Hughes Group," Mark said in a friendly manner.Shayne frowned. Seeing that this approach wasn't working, he simply stated his reason for coming, "I want to see her."Mark smiled politely. "You can call her and ask if she's willing to meet you."Mr. Pearce, I'm just an employee. Please don't make things difficult for me."Shayne stared at Mark. "She blocked me.""Then I'm sorry. I can't help you," Mark uttered in a professional tone.Shayne tried to bypass Mark to go find Aralyn, but Mark stepped forward to block him.Just then, the office door opened.…I stood at the door, looking at Shayne.Shayne looked at me. "Aralyn.""Don't say my name as if we're close," I said coldly, staring at him in disdain. "We're nothing more than strangers."For once, Shayne's expression showed sadness.But I didn't feel the slightest bit of sympathy. Instead, I found him pretentious and turned my gaze away.Mark stepped up to me and whispered, "D
Julian then noticed that, in addition to the commonly seen merchandise on the market, the applicants had also created some everyday products that hadn't been made into merchandise before. "Very professional," he commented, quite satisfied."Yes. Now that we've hired people for both the merchandise and comic departments, if all goes smoothly, we'll be able to produce the rest of the merchandise within the next couple of days. I think the comic's followers aren't growing fast enough."So, I'm suggesting the finance department allocate more funds to the promotions team. After all, early-stage promotion mainly relies on spending money," Mark voiced his opinions.Julian, who never lacked money, replied, "Approved."It was because of Aralyn that Mark learned just how many ways there were to make money in the comic industry.And the prospects looked so promising."There are very few applicants for the translation department, which handles international promotions, but I'll keep an eye
In the office, I started working seriously.…Julian walked out of the office and went to a secluded corner, dialing Amber's number."Yes? What's the matter?" Amber asked."Didn't I tell you not to contact Aralyn unless there was a reason? Looks like you still haven't learned your lesson. Do I really have to cut off all of the family's living expenses?"Each word from Julian was colder than the last."I'm your mother! I'm not happy with Aralyn as my daughter-in-law. Can't I say something about it?" Amber asked sharply, sounding as if she were perfectly justified.But Julian wasn't buying it at all. "No, you can't."Amber was almost choked speechless by Julian's words, but she knew Julian meant what he said."You don't even have the right to cut off our living expenses. Don't forget that we're the ones who handed the company to you. You're enjoying the results of our hard work, and yet you don't want to support us? How do you think that's fair?"Julian sneered, "Mom, I guess y
Willow lifted her chin. "It's a secret."Lilia and Gabriel immediately clapped. "You're amazing, Willow. You're able to keep a secret at such a young age."Willow smiled shyly.After exercising and taking a bath, the whole family sat at the dining table for breakfast.Now that Willow could talk to her grandparents, she couldn't wait to tell them everything as she talked non-stop. "Grandpa, Grandma, the chef we hired makes really delicious food. You can ask him to make anything, and he'll make it for you. Don't be shy!"Lilia still felt as if she was dreaming. Just yesterday, they had only suggested something to Willow, and she had already improved now."Alright," said Gabriel.Lilia suddenly thought of something and quickly said, "To celebrate you finally being able to chat with us, why don't we take you out to have some fun after school?""I think I can't," Willow uttered immediately. Lilia looked at Willow in confusion. "Why not?""I have to go home and train with my coa
Willow lay in bed, with Lilia sitting beside her.Willow's eyes shimmered. "Grandpa, Grandma, are you still sad now?"Afraid she hadn't expressed herself clearly enough, she quickly added, "Mom's been gone for so many years...""We're still a bit sad. But it's getting better now that it has been so long," Lilia replied emotionally.Willow looked a little downcast. "I feel the same. Mom was so kind and gentle to me. I really loved her, so I could never understand why she left me."And her father as well. The two people she loved deeply left her suddenly.Just thinking about it made Willow so upset that tears welled up."It's okay, Willow. You have a new mom now," Gabriel said, not wanting Willow to cry.Though Willow still felt sad, her emotions started to improve after she heard Gabriel's words. "Yes, this mom also treats me really well."…In the morning, Willow woke up and found her grandparents gone.She panicked so much that she didn't even change her clothes as she slip
"Kind of. I just suddenly feel a lot of pressure." Julian took out a can of beer and went to sit on the balcony.The view here was nice, unlike the view from the living room. People wouldn't be passing through all the time, disrupting the atmosphere.Julian decided to test what Gabriel and Lilia said as he lowered his head. I looked at Julian, who seemed down. "What's wrong?" I asked, sitting next to him."I used to think that as long as I worked hard, I could solve most problems."Julian gazed at the distant stars. His cold voice carried a trace of loneliness. "But now that I look at it, the number of employees under me keeps growing. It's as if their lives are resting on my shoulders. I can't afford to make even the smallest mistake because who would pay them otherwise?"Julian raised the can of beer and took a sip.I was just an ordinary employee. Most of the time, it was enough for me to take care of myself. But when I heard him and put myself in his shoes, I could feel t
Putting down the walkie-talkie, she held the big dolls and ran to the stairs, huffing and puffing.Seeing this, Gabriel and Lilia rushed to help Willow. They took the dolls from her, afraid she might fall.Willow stood next to the couch, placing the doll that looked like Gabriel next to him. After that, she placed the doll that looked like Lilia next to her.She sat next to Gabriel and Lilia, pretending that the ones next to her were the dolls instead of her grandparents."Grandpa?" Willow asked cautiously.Gabriel was emotional, as he didn't expect that he would actually get to hear Willow call him "Grandpa" in the flesh.When he didn't answer right away, Lilia quickly reached out and patted him."I'm here!" Gabriel finally replied.Willow blinked, suddenly feeling strange—talking to others wasn't as difficult as she had imagined."Grandma?""I'm here, my darling," Lilia answered hurriedly. She was worried that if she was a little slower, Willow might think Lilia didn't love