Stella said, "I can't see myself being unhappy now. I've made plenty, so I don't need to work anymore, and being under thirty without a husband complaining at me? There's nothing to be unhappy about."Abigail let out a gentle laugh. "I've got a similar story."Stella looked at her in disbelief. "Really?""Yep, I've parted ways with Xander," Abigail said.Stella was taken aback. "You left Mr. Zane? You're not just saying things because you've had a little too much to drink?""No, it's the genuine truth," Abigail said firmly."But why?" Stella asked. "You two seemed perfect, and he seemed to care so much for you."Abigail topped off her glass and took a quick swig. "There's no dramatic story. I just knew I couldn't keep going and didn't want to stay with him."Stella raised an eyebrow. "You might get that past others, but we're closer than that. You usually tell me everything, so out with it."Abigail gave a weak smile. "Out of nowhere, he turned cold, stayed away nights at a ti
Stella said, "I understand you're looking to leverage my influence to empower women to reject abuse. It brings me joy to be a positive force. Yet, I aspire to do more than just lend my name—I'm ready to take concrete actions to support this movement.""For sure. When I need support, you'll be the first person I call," Abigail said."Count on it.""Definitely."They gave their glasses a gentle bump and took a drink. Stella then said, "Oh, and the house Lucas left me—the one we used to share? He was worried that his girlfriend would be jealous if he kept stuff from when we were together.""You two were together for so long; he did the right thing leaving the house to you. Just keep it and don't dwell on things too much," Abigail said.With a half-smile, Stella replied, "He may have moved on, but I'm still here, right? Living there, with every corner reminding me of Lucas, just doesn't feel right anymore. I've decided to sell the house. There's nothing keeping me in Hayshiport—my li
Stella said with a wry smile, "Abigail, this isn't about what I want at this point. His true love has returned, and suddenly, he's pushing for a divorce. He left our shared home quickly, just like that." Stella inhaled sharply, struggling to keep her cool. "There's more you might not know..."Abigail nodded. "Go on."The pain from the past brought tears to Stella's eyes, but she swiftly blinked them away. "We were legally married, yet he claimed I wasn't the right one to have his kids. He insisted that only his first love could be the mother of his children. And he, well, he felt compelled to take drastic measures to ensure we wouldn't have kids — he had an operation the same day we got married."Abigail was speechless. 'Lucas must think he's royalty, deciding who's good enough to have his children. He can't seriously think every woman wants to bear his kids. Ridiculous.'After refilling their glasses, Stella raised hers in a toast. "You know, I was always the one hinting at divorc
Abigail was rambling, "Anyway, we're young, pretty, and rich. If one relationship ends, we can always find a new guy. Like my grandpa used to say, 'Steer clear of the bad apples, and you'll find a good one soon enough.'"Stella, even though she had not known Abigail for very long, felt a deep connection with her. "Are you still not over Mr. Zane?""Don't be ridiculous. Who says I'm not over him? There's no way I'd stick around waiting for a guy who's moved on," Abigail said as she filled her glass again, a little too quickly, and gulped it down, trying to wash away her frustration. "I don't hold on to someone who's lost interest."With a comforting tone, Stella said, "You obviously care about him. Abigail, it's normal to have feelings for someone. It's also normal if it takes time to move on after you've given the relationship your all."Abigail's eyes got teary, and she looked at Stella. "Is it really okay to still miss someone?"Stella held her hand warmly. "You shouldn't be emb
Stella said, "Everyone handles things in their own way."Abigail was pouring her heart out, not paying attention to anyone. "I was head over heels for him, had our whole future with kids and growing old together all planned out, and then he changed." Tears streamed down Abigail's cheeks. "Stella, he's changed. He doesn't love me anymore, has someone else now—he's nothing but a fraud."Stella slid closer to Abigail, soothingly rubbing her back. "Hey, you're strong. You'll make it past this."Abigail was going to speak again when her phone on the table buzzed. Grabbing it, she saw Keith's name on the screen. Still frustrated with Xander, she just was not in the mood to talk to Keith and quickly hung up. Keith did not give up and called back immediately. Abigail hung up once more, but he kept calling. Finally, after a few more calls, Stella took the phone from her and answered. Right away, she heard Keith's urgent voice."Abigail, something really important came up. Please, don't hang
"Even three-year-olds listen when you tell them something, right?" Abigail said, her head feeling a little funny from the drinks. She thought about Xander and shook her head. "No matter how much I nag, he just won't listen. Work, work, work — that's all he cares about, never taking time to eat or rest." The more she said, the more annoyed she got. "I must've told him a million times — he's a person, not a robot. When he gets sick, it's going to hurt, for real."Keith said, "That's exactly right. No matter how successful Mr. Zane is, he can get sick just like the rest of us. He can feel pain, he can—" He cut off abruptly. There was a silence, then Keith's heavy breathing filled the phone, like he was holding back a big secret. Abigail, dizzy from the drinks, did not notice anything was off with Keith's behavior.Still not catching on what Keith was dealing with, Abigail kept talking, "You're aware of Xander's gunshot wound, aren't you? The one that didn't heal properly because he skip
Abigail asked, "What do you want me to say now?"Keith replied, "Anything, really."With a yawn, Abigail said, "Keith, you've been a huge help since my first day. Thanks a bunch for that. But I'm beat and if this is us signing off from working together, then see ya."As she was about to drop the call, Keith's voice grabbed her attention, sounding almost panicky. "Hold up, Abigail, don't hang up. I've got to tell you something else.""Yeah? Spit it out then."Keith stumbled over his words. "I... I just..."Abigail thought, 'He's never at a loss for words. What's up with him now?' She said, "If you're not going to spill it, I'm out.""I like you, Abigail," Keith blurted out, desperate not to let Abigail hang up the phone.Abigail gave a small laugh. "That's sweet. I like you, too.""Then will you stay on and talk a bit longer? I want to hear your voice."Abigail scrunched her forehead. "You're acting kind of strange, you know?"He faltered, "I-I just..."Cutting him off, Abig
Abigail was shaking all over, her face as pale as a ghost, and Stella was freaked out. "Abigail! Abigail! Talk to me. What's wrong?"Crouched in a ball, Abigail let the tears pour down her cheeks. "It's just... really hurting...""Tell me where, I'm calling for help right now," Stella said.Abigail clasped her chest. "My heart... it hurts right here."Stella noticed the look in Abigail's eyes—it was not just physical pain; it was something else, something that a quick medical fix could not reach. She stopped midway through the emergency call, thinking that maybe this was a heartache that Xander needed to hear about directly. With a firm nod, she took Abigail's phone. "You shouldn't have to go through this alone. I'll get Xander on the phone; he should hear about this from you."Abigail shook her head firmly. "No, don't call him. I've already said we're done, and we agreed not to talk anymore. I need to stand strong on this; I don't want to be seen as someone who can't move on."S
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