Unbeknownst to Abigail, the star in her inappropriate thoughts had been following them in a car behind theirs.After they safely returned to their neighborhood, Xander said to Paxton, "To Southcrest Residence.""Yes, sir," said Paxton.Xander asked, "What's a Fog City?""I'll look it up immediately," answered Paxton."There's no need."Xander took out his phone and sent Malcolm a WhatsApp message: [What's a Fog City?]After he sent the message, he quickly got a reply from Malcolm.[Xander, I've never seen you in a relationship over these years. Don't tell me you really are interested in men?]Xander frowned and replied: [Hah...]Malcolm sent another text: [You should be interested in places like Tipsy Belles, not Fog City.]However, Xander also did not know what kind of place "Tipsy Belles" was.He typed a few words: [Explain properly.]Malcolm replied: [To put it nicely, The Fog is a goldmine for the ladies. To put it coarsely, it's Florivera's most famous host club. How
"Thank you, Grandma Cassandra! From now on, stay here and focus on getting better. Don't worry about Abigail; I'll take good care of her." After Xander got Cassandra's affirmation, the weight on his chest was finally lifted.Margaret said, "Cassandra, you can't forgive him this easily."Cassandra laughed."It's not up to you and me to decide. Let the kids sort out their own matters. Why worry so much? We don't have many more years to live anyway.""Alright. The younger generation will do all right on their own; we won't interfere," said Margaret. She turned to Xander and continued, "But if you dare mistreat Abigail the slightest bit again, I'll be the first to kill you.""Don't you two worry. It definitely won't happen in the future."After Xander bade the two old ladies goodbye, he hurried back to Florivera.On the way back, Paxton finally noticed how pale Xander looked."Mr. Zane, you don't look so good."Xander pressed his abdomen as he closed his eyes and leaned back in th
She did not know Xander's gaze remained on her the entire time. When the throw blanket covering her slid off, he gently placed it back onto her.They arrived at Valtara over two hours later and went straight to Parkview. Parkview was an incredibly high-end multi-functional area in Valtara that integrated business, leisure, and pleasure.The Zane Corporation staff occupied five villas. Naturally, Abigail and Keith stayed in the same villa as Xander.Each villa had a total of three floors. Xander stayed on the top floor, while Abigail and Keith each had a room on the second floor.Right after Abigail placed her luggage in her room, she got a call from Xander."Abigail, put your luggage away and come with me to meet someone.""Who are we meeting, Mr. Zane? I need to see if there's anything I need to prepare."Since the conference participants were all leading figures in the field, the meeting between company leaders and leaders were all scheduled. However, Xander was not scheduled
Xander held Abigail's hand and bowed at Alfred."Thank you, Mr. Bianco. This is my wife, Abigail. Abigail, this is Mr. Bianco, my close friend and also my mentor in life."'The two have an over 60-year age gap but can still become close friends. This really is an enviable friendship,' thought Abigail.When faced with such a beautiful friendship, the embarrassment Abigail had from holding Xander's hand disappeared. She said sweetly, "Hello, Mr. Bianco!""Pleased to meet you, kiddo!" Alfred was nearly 100 years old, and Abigail was much younger than his granddaughter. In his eyes, Abigail's age was of a child's. "If you don't mind, you're welcome to frequent my house in the future," said Alfred."Pleased to meet you too, Mr. Bianco!" Abigail took out her hand from Xander's and shook Alfred's hand. Just as she retracted her hand, Xander held it again.Abigail was speechless.'There's no need to constantly hold hands even if we're really husband and wife, right? Wouldn't doing so se
"Alright. Then, I won't be shy." Abigail took off her coat. She rolled up her sleeves and wanted to grill some meat.Unexpectedly, Xander was a step ahead of her and did it first. He grabbed the tongs and placed the cut beef slices on the grill. "You're usually the one taking care of me. Today, you're in charge of eating."Abigail said in a panic, "Mr. Zane, that won't do...""You're my wife. Why wouldn't that do?" Xander cut her off just in time. Abigail thought he promptly cut her off because he was worried she would blow their cover, so she did not think much of it.Alfred laughed and said, "The way you two address each other is so interesting. People who don't know your relationship would think you're his subordinate."Abigail was speechless.'But I really am just Xander's assistant,' she thought.Xander smiled. "Mr. Bianco, she gets embarrassed easily, so please don't tease her.""You're defending her?" Alfred picked up the wine jug. Then, he poured three glasses of wine.
"You're very right. I didn't take good care of her previously and let her get hurt. This won't happen again in the future," Xander said as he turned to look at Abigail. "I'm sorry!"His gaze was deep and bleary.'I'm guessing he's drunk, so his "I'm sorry" must be meant for Mrs. Zane,' thought Abigail.She thought again, 'I want to tell him to not beat himself up too much. The past is the past, so the two of them should just happily live together in the future. But I'm not Mrs. Zane. I've never gone through what Mrs. Zane had, and I don't know what's happened between them. I don't have the right to say anything at all.'Abigail did not speak. Xander smiled momentarily before he raised his glass once more and drank it.Alfred said, "Xander, why are you two so awkward? Did you two have a fight before coming to see me?"Abigail froze when she heard his words. Thankfully, Xander reacted quickly."Yes, we had a fight. If it weren't for your sake, she wouldn't have even spoken to me t
Abigail did not drink much, so she was still relatively sober. She planned to take a shower and sleep earlier tonight so that she would get enough rest to have the energy to deal with the meeting tomorrow.She realized she was still wearing the bracelet Alfred gave Mrs. Zane when she took off her shirt.She immediately removed it and wiped it clean before putting it into the box. Then, she took the box to the third floor to look for Xander.Abigail knocked on the door. "Mr. Zane, I want to give you the gift Mr. Bianco gave Mrs. Zane. Could you come out for a while to take it?"Nobody answered her.'He must be drunk. He had a lot to drink when we were eating. On our way back, he leaned into the back seat of the car as he rested his eyes and didn't speak at all,' thought Abigail.She hurried downstairs and made a bowl of hangover soup. Once the soup was done, she brought it upstairs.Once again, Abigail knocked on Xander's door. However, he still did not answer.'Don't tell me he
"He's got a weak stomach?" Abigail asked worriedly.'This is also something not written in the compulsory special assistant course. Otherwise, I would never have let Xander eat such spicy grilled food last night, no matter what,' she thought.Dr. Sander said, "You don't know how busy he was when he first took over Zane Corporation. During those years, he worked day and night and had an irregular schedule and diet, so his gastric problems were really serious. Around this time last year, he was so busy with the Alvonian branch that he had a gastrointestinal hemorrhage. However, he still insisted on working on the front line."People saw Xander as a shining overlord in the business world who was resolute and ruthless. However, little knew how much he had sacrificed to get to where he was today.When Abigail competed for the position of Xander's special assistant, she read a lot about Xander, causing her to naively think she knew everything about him.However, the longer she stayed by
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