Mobius said, "Go ahead. We'll wait for you."Marlin replied, "I haven't had breakfast either."His three brothers responded, "You haven't had breakfast?"They thought, 'Was the ham sandwich just now fed to the fish?'Marlin responded, "I really haven't eaten."Abigail could tell that Marlin just wanted to be with her. So, she walked toward the dining area with him in her arms. But she got tired after a few steps. "Uncle Marlin, do you know how much you weigh?"Marlin responded, "I weigh forty-four pounds."Abigail replied, "No wonder I can hardly carry you."Johann said, "Abigail, put him down and let him walk by himself. His brothers pamper him so much that they carry him wherever he goes. If this continues, this kid might even forget how to walk."Marlin responded, "I won't forget."Abigail said, "It's not far away. I can still carry you to the dining area."Marlin replied, "Abigail, I've heard that you're married. Are you going to have a little kid too?"Abigail paused f
Mobius did not say a word and just acquiesced.Rowen then said, "Mobius, this doesn't sit right with me.""Why not? I'm just helping Uncle Johann see if this granddaughter of his has any dirt on her," Mobius said."Uncle Johann will be very unhappy if he learns of this. He already doted on her before even knowing that she was his granddaughter, and now that he does, he'll definitely dote on her even more. You think he'll allow her to be bullied?"Mobius did not think too much of that. "I'm just testing her, not like I'm hurting her or something, so what's with the panic?""I just think this whole venture is rotten, you're trampling on her dignity," Rowen replied."I know my limits. You can choose to not help me later, but don't you dare go spoil my plans," Mobius then said.Rowen wanted to add on but a warning glance from Mobius sewed his mouth shut.Although he was only born half an hour later than this punk, Rowen was still the junior and such was the engraved disparity in ra
"Uncle Johann arranged for them to protect you," Marlin said."Protect me? Why?" Abigail was puzzled."It's because everyone now knows that Uncle Johann had accepted you as his granddaughter, so there's a chance his enemies might lay their hands on you. This arrangement is a precaution for your safety," Marlin added."I see!" Abigail exclaimed.Marlin grabbed onto Abigail's arm and said, "Abigail, don't be afraid, we'll protect you!"Abigail grabbed onto his soft arm and felt warm inside. "Thank you then, 'Uncle Marlin'.""We're family, so don't mind that," Marlin said."That's so nice of you!" Abigail exclaimed."What's so nice?" he asked.Abigail pinched his cheeks and said, "It's so nice knowing you, of course!"Marlin was elated and quickly gave Abigail a peck on the cheek.Abigail too pecked him back on the cheek, thinking that her child with Xander would definitely be cuter than Marlin."Ahem..." Mobius let out a cough."You caught a cold, Mobius?" Marlin asked."Mo
Mobius was speechless.'How is she this good at retorting?' he wondered.'No matter, even if I can't beat her with words, there's still so much more exciting stuff awaiting her in a bit.'"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?" Abigail asked."Hah, I'm sure I ain't your match when it comes to words," Mobius spat back.Normally, since Mobius had put a stop to that, Abigail should have no need to further press the matter, but she decided to push his buttons. "Mobius, you should be apologizing to me now!""What did you say?" Mobius reacted as if he had heard the joke of the century."Apologize!" Marlin repeated.Mobius raised his hand and covered Marlin's mouth. "Mar, no one asked you to talk, so shut up already.""I'm asking you to apologize," Abigail said.With her recognizing Johann as her grandfather, that meant she was now a part of the Blau family. With him around, she would definitely be spending time with the Blau brothers in the future.Since they would be dealing with on
At the end of last year, as they had a very important client that happened to like shooting very much, she had accompanied Xander in practicing shooting.Xander was a natural-born genius and even when he had not shot a gun for a good while, he managed to hit bullseye at every shot after fiddling with the gun for a bit.Compared to Xander, Abigail was more of a hard-worker type of shooter.As she never had any experience shooting before, her aim would be off by about a yard when she first started practicing with Xander.She remembered how he looked at her as if she were an idiot. It was very possible he had never seen a shooter that inept before.Being looked down upon for not shooting well got her competitive nature riling to get good at the range.So, she secretly practiced behind Xander's back and whether her efforts bore fruit or not, the surprise in his expression the next time they went practicing said it all.After some consideration, Abigail told them her choice. "Shootin
Mobius smirked. "Let's see how long you can keep that up."Staying confident was important to Abigail, especially with the first round being so crucial. Once everything was set, a voice shouted, "Begin!" After a loud bang sounded, her bullet hit the center of the target.The three Blau brothers watched in surprise, thinking, 'We didn't expect her to be this good. There are ten rounds, and this is only the first. Let's see how she does next.'"Do you really know how to shoot, or did you just get lucky? We'll find out in the next round." With that, Mobius stepped up with confidence, swiftly firing his gun.Soon after, the other brothers cheered, "Wow, Mobius nailed it!" His bullet landed just above Abigail's, right in the center of the target."Abigail," Mobius said, turning to her with a smirk, "how does my shooting stack up to yours? Remember, you can always back out before we're done."Abigail tried hard to ignore Mobius and focus on her shot. But nerves struck, and as she was a
Abigail took a deep breath and hit the center of the target. But just like before, Mobius's bullet landed a tad above hers. They went back and forth, and by the time they reached the last round, they were tied. Even though they seemed cool and collected, the three brothers were super anxious.Skye said, "Why is Abigail being so stubborn? If she backed off, maybe Mobius would go easy on her."Rowen replied, "She's going to be so upset if she loses."Marlin wondered aloud, "Was it right for us to team up with Mobius to test her?"Rowen playfully tugged Marlin's ear. "Having doubts now? Kind of late for that."Marlin shrugged. "I just thought it'd be fun."As the conversation continued outside, the shooting contest inside came to a head. In the final round, Abigail nailed the center of the target. But in a twist, Mobius's bullet did not even hit the right target. He shot Abigail a fierce look, shouting, "Did you cheat?"Abigail just shrugged, replying with a teasing smile, "Who mad
Mobius admitted defeat, "I'm sorry.""Who are you apologizing to?"Mobius hesitated. "Abigail, I'm sorry.""What did you do wrong?""I didn't do anything.""What?""I shouldn't have called you greedy," Mobius confessed.Abigail replied, "Think it over and come back when you're truly sorry."Mobius was speechless. 'Man, even though she's in her early twenties, younger than the three of us, how does she always get one up on me?'Abigail turned to Marlin, who stood tall and unflinching. "I want a hug," he declared.Abigail replied firmly, "No hugs."Marlin's face fell. "Is it because Mobius is mad at me?"She shot back, "You four teamed up to play that trick on me. You played a part."Marlin feigned surprise, blinking. "But I'm only four."Drawing from Xander's words, Abigail retorted, "Your kind of 'four' isn't like most kids."Abigail trusted Xander's take on Marlin: he was way smarter than any four-year-old she knew. She asked, "What's the plan now?"Mobius replied, "We
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