Abigail smiled slightly before Nathan could respond. "I know we're past the point of no return. I was just curious, don't worry about it."Their divorce was final, and she knew some things could not be fixed once broken.To her surprise, she heard Nathan's deep, serious voice. "Would you still accept me? A man who's disabled and not in good health."Abigail looked at him sharply. "How do you see me? As someone who chases wealth and shuns poverty? Or do you think I was with you just for your looks?"Then she watched Nathan awkwardly remove his coat with his right hand. He was wearing his usual white shirt underneath.Struggling a bit, he began to unbutton his shirt, revealing his oddly shaped left arm. His skin was scarred and uneven, almost as if it had been bitten by insects or had caterpillars crawling over it.Abigail felt a chill. "You..."Seeing her shocked reaction, Nathan chuckled and quickly buttoned his shirt again. "It's not just my arm; part of my chest is the same. I
When Abigail looked at the newborn, her heart sank a bit."Is this really my baby?"Nathan was handsome, and she was pretty too, so naturally, their baby should be adorable. But the baby's face was wrinkled, like a tiny, unopened flower, not resembling her or Nathan at all. Abigail was puzzled."Susanna, could there have been a mix-up with the baby?"Susanna was taken aback by her question. "I've been with the baby since he was born. I haven't taken my eyes off him for even a second. There's absolutely no chance of a mix-up. You can be completely confident about that."Then she turned to Nathan. "And it's not just me, Nathan. Paxton has also been with the baby constantly. There's no possibility of a mistake."Nathan tried to calm Susanna. "Don't worry, Abigail is just not used to how the baby looks yet.""I'm not doubting you, Susanna, but is there a chance that this baby is mine, but not Nathan's?" Abigail struggled to accept the idea that Nathan's genes could have resulted in
Abigail reached up and gently grasped the hand hovering above her. "Do you want to touch the baby, Nathan?""Can I?"Abigail smiled. "You're the father. If you can't, then who can?"With Abigail's nod, Nathan carefully reached out and softly touched the baby's tiny cheek. The baby was incredibly small, barely the size of his palm. Yet, this was undeniably his and Abigail's child. Even after all the pain he had caused Abigail, pushing her away, she never once considered not keeping the baby.Watching them together now, he felt an overwhelming sense of happiness, like he had the whole world in his hands. "Aren't babies supposed to cry a lot? How come Pax doesn't?"Susanna chimed in, "Every baby is different. Some are really easy to care for, only fussing a bit when they're hungry and mostly sleeping. Nathan was just like that as a baby, very easy. He'd sleep right after eating, wake up for more, and then back to sleep. He never gave us any trouble. Pax seems to be just like Nathan,
Abigail was happy with Nathan's decision about their baby's name, showing how much he cared for her feelings. She believed that if all husbands were as understanding as Nathan, there would be fewer divorces.Smiling, she agreed, "Alright, let's name our baby Hart Renee."Nathan was concerned about her health. "You've just had a C-section. To get better quickly, it's important to rest. Try to sleep a little."Abigail shook her head. "I'm not sleepy."It was not just lack of sleepiness; she was scared. Scared that she might wake up to find Nathan gone, fearing all this might be just a dream.To keep him near, she kept the conversation going. "When Zane Corporation faced problems, there were many rumors about you. Why didn't you clear them up?""Because those rumors were true. Xander Zane is dead."Abigail quickly interrupted, "Stop saying such things.""By 'dead', I mean he's erased from records, as if he never existed in this world."Hearing Nathan's explanation, Abigail's hear
Nathan had never fully realized how much he meant to Abigail. This was why Nathan, thinking he was protecting her, was so set on keeping her at a distance. If he had any idea about the depth of her love for him, he would not have believed pushing her away was the right thing to do.Abigail knew she had to make him understand the extent of her feelings. "Nathan, I love you."Nathan was taken aback by her abrupt confession, like a sudden splash in a calm pond, stirring emotions and surprise. "I-I know," he stammered, recalling her previous admissions of affection."No, you don't really get it. You're aware that I love you, but you don't grasp the depth of it."Abigail embraced him so tightly they could sense each other's heartbeats. Her voice, gentle yet resolute, filled the air again."My love for you is far greater than I ever imagined. That's the reason why, when I was deceived by the false reality you crafted, I chose to end our marriage without hesitation. If your presence in m
Johann frowned. "The whole time you were pregnant, that guy wasn't there for you, but the baby gets his genes. That's just not fair.""Grandpa."Johann went on, "He wasn't with you, and now I can't even say what I think?"Abigail looked serious. "He's my husband, the one I adore, the one I've always dreamed of being with forever. He's now my child's father too. I don't want my family saying bad stuff about him."Johann had seen Abigail stand up for her husband more than once. The more she stood by Nathan, the more Johann worried. "Did you hear that, Xander? Abigail is really standing up for you. You've got to stay healthy from now on. Don't make them worry anymore.""I will."Nathan shifted slightly, his eyes moving from Johann to Abigail, witnessing her strong defense of him. Abigail was still healing from a recent cesarean section, her body frail, but her voice was clear and firm, defending him like a fierce heroine. He took in every detail, imprinting it in his heart.Abigail
Abigail opened her eyes abruptly and saw Nathan sitting beside her hospital bed, rocking Pax gently in his arms.Seeing her awake, Nathan brought Pax closer. "Pax just opened his eyes; it seemed like he was searching for you."Abigail looked and noticed Pax's eyes were shut."I'm not kidding, he really did open his eyes, and it was adorable.""I believe you. Newborns don't keep their eyes open all the time." Abigail smiled.'This is real! Nathan is truly back!' In that moment, all her anxieties disappeared. She smiled at him. "I'm feeling hungry, is there something to eat?""Absolutely! Susanna has whipped up a bunch of tasty things. I'll ask her to bring some in.""Sounds good."Abigail, forgetting her injury, abruptly sat up and accidentally strained her abdominal wound, causing her to wince in pain.Nathan was eager to assist but encumbered by holding Pax and his limited use of his left hand. "Be careful." He gently placed Pax next to Abigail, then pressed the button to ele
"Susanna!""I get it, I'll be quiet now." Susanna passed baby Pax to Nathan. "You two take care of him. I'll whip up something for Abigail to munch on."Nathan, holding Pax, walked over to Abigail. "I'll hold him, and you can feed him."Abigail's cheeks turned pink. "Turn around, Nathan. You can't watch."Nathan cleared his throat, trying to keep a straight face. "I mean, I've seen it before. I even kissed you, and just now I was—"But before he could finish, Abigail shot him a sharp look. "Nathan, stop!"Nathan quickly turned his head away, not daring to tease her further. Meanwhile, Pax, now contentedly fed, dozed off peacefully beside Abigail. Susanna came back with a variety of tasty dishes for Abigail to choose from.As soon as they were done eating, Stella rushed in. She had been nearby in Hayshiport, so she made it there fast. Nathan politely excused himself to give the women some privacy."How's Mr. Zane? Are you and he back together now?"Abigail, understanding Stella
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