Xander said, "Don't talk about that with him. It's off-limits."Abigail asked, "So, are the rumors true?"Xander replied, "Johann really loved his wife and kid. After they died, he was sad for a long time. For decades, he's been by himself. People told him to get married again, especially for the Blau family's sake, but he never wanted to. He felt he only ever loved one person and that wouldn't change.""How did he lose his wife and kid?"Xander replied, "I'm not sure. He never talks about it, and I never asked.""Nathan, if something happens to me, don't be alone. You should find someone who gets you."Xander's face changed quickly. "Stop saying that."Abigail sighed, "Why is life so tough on good and loyal people? Why not on the ones who can't decide or are just plain mean?"Xander said, "Rest for a bit. We might be late tonight.""Alright."After chatting, Abigail leaned back in her seat and was soon fast asleep. Xander glanced at her. Behind his glasses, his eyes were fil
Xander said, "Don't worry. They won't notice."But Alfred proved Xander wrong right away. As soon as Abigail walked in, he saw her. "Xander," Alfred chuckled, "Look at Abigail's lips – all red and puffy. Was that your fault? You're not a kid; you should be more careful."Abigail felt so embarrassed she wanted to disappear.Nearby, Johann cleared his throat. "Alfred, before you tease, maybe Xander can introduce me to his wife?"Alfred retorted, "I'm just looking out for Abigail."Johann countered, "That's your way of looking out? Sounds like gossip to me. You're too old for this, teasing a young lady like that. Isn't it beneath you?"When they were younger, the two had been close friends. But with age, their meetings always turned into hours of bickering. Not wanting the whole evening to turn into another argument, Xander stepped in."Abigail, come over. I want you to meet Johann Blau."Abigail stepped forward, saying warmly, "Hi Johann, great to meet you."Johann studied Abiga
Xander did not play peacemaker. Instead, he served Abigail a bowl of crab chowder. "Alfred ordered this just for you. Give it a taste. Do you like it?"Abigail took a small sip. "This tastes like real crab. So rich and delicious."Xander raised an eyebrow. "There's such a thing as fake crab in chowder?"Abigail explained, "A lot of places use imitation crab. It doesn't have the same taste as the real deal, but it's less expensive."Xander smiled, adding more to her bowl. "Well, make sure to savor the genuine stuff today."Abigail glanced at the arguing pair. "How long are they going to keep this up?"Xander shrugged. "It's their way of showing they care. Just let them be."Johann turned to the couple, clearly exasperated. "Really? We're in the middle of a disagreement, and you two are just enjoying your meal?"Xander chuckled. "You two have this routine every time you meet. And when you're apart, you can't stop talking about each other. It's nothing new to me."Alfred chimed i
Johann murmured, "If not for society's harsh judgments and that gossip back then, maybe my family wouldn't have..." He paused, lost in thought. 'The real person to blame is me. If I had been there for them, they wouldn't have taken that tragic turn.' For a brief moment, Johann's eyes took on a distant, aged look.Alfred, sensing the mood, quickly changed the subject. "How's Xander been to you, Abigail?""He's great to me," Abigail said, glancing at Xander. "His kindness must have come from both of you."Both elder men chimed in together, "Absolutely. We've always told him, a guy doesn't have to be a big shot, but he should always treat his wife right. That's the real key to success."Abigail replied, "Sounds like solid advice."Johann said, "Xander, you've got a keeper in Abigail. Don't mess it up."Xander replied, "I won't."Johann stared hard at Xander. "Cross her, and even if it's the last thing I do, you'll answer to me."Johann had a reputation for keeping to himself, even
Xander did not appreciate Johann's remark. "She's my wife, Johann. She's mine, always.""You're quite confident for such a young guy," Johann said with a smirk. "Abigail, I feel a connection with you. Let's exchange numbers. If you ever need anything, just give me a call.""Sure," Abigail replied.Alfred jumped in, "Abigail, let's exchange numbers too. I wish I'd gotten yours last time. If you ever have problems, even if it's with Xander, you can tell me. I've got your back."Abigail grinned. "With both of you watching out for me, can I confidently go anywhere in the country without a worry?"Alfred said, "Absolutely. Especially with Johann's backing. With his family's huge influence, not even Xander would think about hurting you." While Johann had the powerful Blau family behind him, they usually stayed out of the spotlight and were not talked about much in public.Abigail said, "Johann, Alfred, Xander is my husband. He's always been good to me. If you guys care about me, could
He quickly hopped out of the car and headed straight to the convenience store. Seeing his confident walk, Abigail felt warm inside. As Melody used to say, Abigail must have done something great before to meet someone like Xander and marry him. She felt thankful for whatever she did back then.Soon, Xander came out of the store with a big bag.'What did he buy?' Abigail wondered.Approaching Abigail, Xander opened the bag, saying, "I had no idea there were so many pad brands and types, like ones for day and night. Unsure of what you'd need, I bought one of each."Abigail selected her usual brand. "These are perfect. Can you return the others? It's too much, and we shouldn't let them go to waste."She expected Xander to find the returns bothersome, maybe even suggesting they toss them. To her surprise, he simply headed to the store without a word of complaint. Meanwhile, Abigail used a nearby restroom to freshen up. Once she felt better, she came back to the car just as Xander retur
Abigail lay on the couch, feeling completely drained. "I don't want to get up.""If you don't want to, just stay put." After sliding a pillow behind Abigail, Xander fetched a cup of chamomile tea. He brought it to her lips and said, "Open up."She took a sip, looked up at him, and asked, "How did you know chamomile tea helps during that time of the month? Have you made it for other women before?"Xander's expression turned serious. "I've only ever been with you; there's been no one else."Abigail just wanted to tease him, but seeing his serious face, she dropped the act. She finished her tea in quick gulps. Xander then took away the pillow and hugged her, his hand gently rubbing her belly. His touch was so light that it tickled."It tickles!" Abigail laughed."Do you want me to stop?" Xander asked.Even without moving, the warmth from Xander's hand was comforting. It could have been the chamomile tea or just his touch, but soon, Abigail felt better."I think I feel better," she
"Tell me about it," Abigail prompted.Seeing her interest, Xander explained, "The Blau family was involved in the tragic deaths of his wife and child."Abigail sat up abruptly. "His own family was involved in his wife's and child's deaths? How could they?"Xander urged her to lie back on the couch, comforting her, "Calm down. Let me finish."She took a deep breath. "Go on."Xander went on, "The Blau family from Valtara had their traditions. Johann's marriage was set from the day he was born. But he didn't want the match. He tried to call it off many times, but both sides were against it."Abigail let out a sigh. "It seems like wealthy families are more about making good matches than about what their kids feel. It's like the young ones are just pieces in a game, there to boost the family name. Doesn't seem like anyone cares about real happiness." After speaking her mind, Abigail realized she might have upset Xander. "I wasn't talking about your family, Nathan."Xander ruffled her
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