Xander stood with his back to her, standing tall. He and Nova seemed to be having a conversation, but Abigail could not make out any of the words. She vaguely felt a chill in the air, as if it were almost freezing. The wait was incredibly tense. Trying to distract herself, Abigail attempted to strike up a conversation with Paxton."Paxton."Paxton responded formally, "Yes, ma'am?"Abigail said, "Can you stay by his side? He won't let me stay with him, but he didn't say you couldn't. Please, stay with him."Paxton reassured her, "Mr. Zane is very powerful; Nova won't be a match for him. You can relax."Abigail was not questioning Xander's abilities; she was scared that Nova would emotionally hurt Xander by bringing up family issues. Even though Xander seemed uncaring, he actually cared a lot about others. Facing the truly uncaring Nova, even if Xander won on the outside, he might still feel hurt inside. But she did not know how to share these feelings with Paxton, so all she could
Abigail's cheeks were rosy, and she pressed her lips together. Xander, catching her subtle reactions, tenderly soothed her puffy lips with his thumb.He asked, "Did I hurt you when I kissed you?"Abigail slightly nodded, murmuring, "A bit."Xander asked again, "If it was painful, why didn't you pull away?"Abigail suddenly threw herself at him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. "Because I want you to know that no matter what, I'll always be by your side."Xander cradled her soft body that nestled into his arms and gently rubbed her back with one hand. "Why don't you believe what Nova said?"Abigail replied, "Why should I believe him?"Xander asked, "He said so many things to discredit me; didn't you ever doubt that maybe I really did those terrible things?"Abigail covered his mouth with her hand. "I won't let you talk nonsense."Xander removed her hand from his mouth and kissed it gently. "Abigail, I am Nathan, and Nathan is me. There's never been a twin brother, as
Abigail was speaking with great emotion, so much that she said everything all at once. Yet, out of everything she said, Xander only heard the one sentence that mattered most to him - she said he was the only person she cared about. Relieved, he reached out to pat her head.He asked, "Do you really think I would care whether Raymond betrayed me or not?"Abigail became angrier, turning her head away, refusing to look at him. "I guess I'm just overreacting."Xander gently turned her face back toward him, compelling her to meet his gaze. "You're the only one I care about, Abigail."The unexpected declaration left Abigail at a loss for words. She blushed and averted her gaze, but Xander gently turned her face back toward him again. As he lowered his head, moving closer to her, Abigail assumed he was going to kiss her again and instinctively shut her eyes. Instead of the awaited kiss, however, she heard Xander's deep chuckle. Opening her eyes, Abigail gave him a reproachful look, her che
Mariah looked up, encountering intimidating eyes that made her momentarily forget to breathe, before finally falling silent.Deciding to ignore her words, Abigail pulled Xander along. "Are we going to pick up Lucia from Melody's apartment, or are we going to my place first?"Xander said, "I'll wait here. You go pick her up.""Okay," Abigail replied. "People here love to gossip. Just ignore them."Xander smiled. "Okay."After Abigail left, Xander quickly returned to Mariah's side. He looked at her and said with a mocking smile, "A few families from your neighborhood, the Prescotts, have moved out, haven't you heard?"A few days ago, the Prescott families hastily sold their houses at a low price and left as if they were fleeing. The neighborhood rumor was that because Elliot had done something wrong, the Prescotts felt ashamed and left North Florivera overnight.Mariah had always believed those rumors. However, the way Xander said it made her doubt if that was really the case. She
Abigail immediately realized that Xander must have intervened. It was the only explanation for the sudden change in attitude from someone who had been so hostile toward her."What did my husband say to you?"Mariah shook her head. "He didn't say anything."Abigail gave her a pointed look without saying a word. Feeling the weight of Abigail's silent scrutiny, Mariah began to feel guilty and, ultimately, spilled the beans."He just asked me if I wanted to move," Mariah said.Abigail asked, "Is that all?"Mariah continued, "Do you remember the Prescott families? A few days ago, they sold their houses for less than they're worth and quickly left North Florivera, saying they would never return. At first, like everyone else, I thought they left because Elliot was arrested, and they were too embarrassed to stay in North Florivera. But I just found out from your husband that he likely pulled some strings to force those families to sell their houses and leave North Florivera."At this po
'Two years ago, Nathan and I got married. Around the same time, someone paid to ruin my reputation. Could it be that this person knows Xander? This person might know Xander, wants to ruin him, and can make these evil plans happen. I can't think of anyone else but Nova who could do this.' Abigail then asked, "How did they get in touch with you?"Mariah said, "That person was very careful. They never called us, and each time we met, it was a different person in a place where no one could watch us. I still don't know what he looks like."Abigail asked, "Besides saying bad things about me, did that person ask you to do anything else?""No," Mariah replied.Abigail questioned further, "After Elliot was arrested, did that person contact you again?"Mariah shook her head and said, "No."Abigail said, "Alright. Give me your number. If he gets in touch with you again, you need to tell me."Mariah apologized, "I'm really sorry, Abigail. My husband is the only one who works in our family.
Xander smiled, but did not answer her question. "Let's go home."Abigail asked, "You're not planning to tell me?"Xander said, "I'm hungry. Can you cook something for me when we get back?"Since he was not talking, Abigail did not press further. "Let's go."Meanwhile, Nova's men had located Raymond again, taking him to the place Abigail and Xander had just left. The people who escorted Raymond were the same two who had taken Abigail away earlier, but they were much nicer to Raymond."Mr. Seabrook, Mr. Zane is waiting for you inside. Please follow us."Raymond followed them through a landscape of a fountain surrounded by rocks, eventually arriving at an elegantly arranged room filled with all kinds of delicious food.Nova greeted him with a smile. "I heard you didn't have a good lunch, Mr. Seabrook, so I prepared some dishes for you. I hope you like them."Raymond sat down across from Nova, expressionless. "I did as you asked. Where is Elisabeth?"Raymond was an orphan, raised
Nova said, "That woman is so protective of her man as if she's protecting something priceless. And you expect her to plead with her husband for you? You're probably dreaming."Raymond did not respond. He just lowered his head to take a few bites. He then drank a few glasses of alcohol. "If I were to work with you, what would you want me to do?"Nova replied, "Fight against Xander, of course. You've worked for him for so many years. You must have many things that I want."Raymond took the bottle of alcohol over and took a few sips. "I want to live! My life is valuable too. My life can only be controlled by myself."Nova asked, "What are you trying to say?"Raymond responded, "I'm willing to cooperate with you."Nova expected this answer. He was not surprised. "Okay. I hope we'll work well together."Raymond watched Nova extend his hand toward him. He then stiffly shook Nova's hand and said, "I just want to stay alive."Nova replied, "You can. As long as you want to."With Raym
Emma turned and dashed into the bathroom. She cranked the faucet on and splashed water on her face, aiming to soothe her nerves.Although they were engaged, they were still too young, with countless uncertainties looming over their future. The possibility of actually walking down the aisle was up in the air.Decisions made in a rush of happiness could eventually become sources of regret. And Emma knew all too well that she couldn't afford any regrets.She thought that fortunately, Ron hadn't pushed things further, which gave her time to cool off.After freshening up, Emma stepped out to find Ron on the balcony, a cigarette in hand.She couldn't resist chiding him, "I've told you to cut down on smoking. Why can't you seem to remember?"This time, Ron complied, snuffing out the cigarette. "We should get some sleep. We've got to put our best foot forward when we meet your family tomorrow.""Okay, I'll sleep on the couch. You take the bed," Emma responded.Ron simply replied, "As y
Ron looked at her dawdling pace with disdain. "If you, a lady, can handle it, why can't I, a grown man, stay?"His words sounded noble, but Ron regretted them the moment they arrived at the hotel.Despite now earning a decent income, Emma was still reluctant to spend money.This place was hardly a hotel; it was clearly a budget inn charging only a few dozen bucks a night. The hygiene was questionable at best, and safety seemed like a gamble.Ron turned on his heel, dragging her suitcase behind him. "We're leaving, now.""It's too late, and we can't get a refund for the room.""Are you trying to get us killed?"Emma fell silent, her thoughts a whirlwind of frustration. 'I told him he wouldn't be used to cheap places. He insisted on coming with me, and now he won't even let me stay here alone. Why is he so annoying?'However, considering Ron had rushed over in the middle of the night to help her, Emma decided not to hold it against him.Ron picked the best hotel in the area—the
Rebekah glanced over at Ron; she exchanged a knowing look with him before saying, "I'll have someone tidy up the rooms. Why don't you two stay here tonight and keep me company?"Ron replied simply, "Sure."Emma had purchased a midnight flight back to South Florivera, necessitating a rush to the airport, which made staying over after dinner impossible.Yet, she found herself at a loss for words, struggling to decline Rebekah's kind offer.As she hesitated, Ron stepped in to clear the air. "Mom, I've got something on tonight. After dinner, I'll drive Emma back to her dorm."Rebekah raised an eyebrow. "What's so important?" she wondered aloud, thinking, 'Wasn't he the one insisting Emma stay over? What's he up to now?'Ron kept it mysterious. "Life stuff."Rebekah could not help but chide him lightly, "You, always the joker."Right after dinner, Ron insisted on leaving to take Emma back to her dormitory. But as soon as they were out of the gated community, he asked, "So, you reall
Ron chuckled. "I didn't know you were aware that even a cornered rat will fight."Emma shot him a glare. "Are we going or not?"Ron quickly said, "Of course. When Miss Blue commands, how can I dare not obey?"Fearing another of his notorious driving escapades, Emma hastily buckled her seatbelt as she settled into the car.Thankfully, this time Ron kept it smooth, driving steadily.As they neared their destination, Ron finally spoke up, "You know, that Tucker guy is a married man. Don't let his kindness fool you into being the other woman."Emma's gaze on Ron was fiery, seething with anger. "Do you even hear yourself? Is that what you think of me? For the last time: Tucker and I share nothing more than a mentor-mentee relationship. There's nothing else between us.""I'm just looking out for you, worried you might get deceived," Ron said, witnessing Emma's fury for the first time. Yet, he could not help but find her anger not at all intimidating, but rather endearingly foolish.R
The two sisters had a pact: no cell phones at home to keep their secrets from the prying eyes of the Blue family. Thus, Emma could call only at prearranged times, the sole window for Rihanna to catch up.Rihanna's voice bubbled with excitement over the phone, as she chattered away about her life's minutiae.Knowing Rihanna was doing well eased Emma's mind.Just as Emma was about to end the call, she heard Rihanna's voice, soft and wistful. "You're really not coming home for the holidays? If you don't, I'll be all alone."Emma's heart clenched at those words, and she made up her mind in an instant. "I'll come back the day before New Year's Eve."The Blue family had their hands full with festivities that day, too busy to notice Rihanna's absence. Emma figured slipping back unnoticed then would be her best shot.After hanging up, Emma immediately booked a flight from Valtara to South Florivera. With her ticket secured and her last bit of work finished, Emma prepared to leave her off
Emma had no interest in romance, let alone the audacity to dream that Ron might fancy her.This time, she did not pick up the thread of conversation.After dinner, Ron, as usual, drove Emma back to the university.Before parting, Ron said, "Winter break is almost upon us, and the dorms might be off-limits. Are you sure you don't want to stay at my place for a couple of months?"Emma offered a smile in response. "Thanks for the offer. I've spoken with the dorm supervisor and submitted an application in advance. I'll be able to stay over the holiday period."Ron paused before saying, "Well, if you need anything, just let me know. I'll text you my number in a bit; make sure you save it."Emma nodded. "Sure."Without further ado, Ron drove off.Upon returning to her dorm, Emma saw Evelyn and Cassie, busy packing their bags, surrounded by gifts for their parents bought from Valtara.Evelyn asked Emma, "Are you really not going home for the winter break?"Emma replied, "No, I won't
Emma did not have the guts to risk failure because she did not have a safe haven to fall back on.Lucas kicked Ron in the shin. "Come on, if you fancy her, out with it. No Hagrid heir dithers like this."Ron glared at him. "Mind your own business." In his head, Emma was already his. The thought of losing her was unimaginable.Lucas said, "Without my meddling, she'd never be yours."Ron changed the subject. "I called you here for a serious discussion."Lucas replied, "No matter how serious, it can't outweigh the matter of your lifetime happiness."Ron was exasperated. "Lucas!"Lucas relented. "Alright, alright, you talk, I'm all ears."Ron spelled out Emma's music venture with Tucker. After hearing it all, Lucas could not help but see Emma in a new light."Never pegged Emma as such a dark horse," Lucas said.Silently listening to their conversation, Emma was thrilled to have her work recognized.Lucas said, "But, getting back to it, whether a song makes money, and how much, d
Ron barked, "Lucas!"With a chuckle, Lucas responded, "Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing Emma. I'm starving. Let's grab some food and talk business while we eat."Ron snapped, "Get lost!"Lucas could not help but revel in Ron's frustration. "Ron, have you fallen so quickly? Who was it that told me they would never accept an arranged marriage?"Emma was increasingly confused by their banter. "If it's inconvenient for me to be here, I can just take a cab and leave."Ron said, "Call you dumb and you won't admit it!"Emma thought to herself, 'I didn't want to be a third wheel, cramping their style. Was that really so wrong? No good deed goes unpunished, apparently.'Suddenly, Ron grabbed Emma's hand and led her inside. "It's cold out; let's go inside."Emma had to quicken her pace, practically being dragged along.Seeing them together, Lucas laughed heartily from behind. "Ron, oh Ron, never thought I'd see the day.""Don't laugh too soon. Your day is coming," Ron shot back.Th
Emma said, "Okay."Ron asked, "Have you won over your crush?"Lucas responded, "Secret."Ron replied, "Looks like you haven't won her over."Lucas said, "As long as I make a move, there's no girl I can't win over. But I haven't made a move yet because the timing isn't right."Ron asked, "Is it because of the Sandow family?"Lucas answered, "The Sandow family wants to marry their daughter to me, and my family wants me to marry her too. But I've told them long ago that I'm not willing to do that. Nobody can make me marry a girl I don't like."Emma remained silent. 'I didn't expect that Lucas would also have the same problem as me and Ron.'It seems like the wealthier the family, the more they'll arrange marriages based on social status without considering personal preferences.'Lucas seemed to sense Emma's thoughts. "Emma, my situation with the Sandow girl is different from yours and Ron's. Don't lump us together."Ron looked at Emma and suddenly said, "There isn't any other gi