"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
After hearing Stella's story, Abigail felt a connection to her own past struggles.She had also grappled with feelings of betrayal in her marriage to Nathan, secretly hoping it was all a misunderstanding."Stella, are you still in love with Lucas?"Stella gave a small, bittersweet smile. "I loved him once, but those feelings are gone now."Yet, Abigail sensed that Stella's feelings for Lucas were not just remnants of the past.Stella noticed Abigail's intense gaze. "Why do you look so doubtful, Abigail? Don't you believe me?"Reaching out, Abigail held Stella's hand gently. "I just want you to be happy and free, Stella, to follow what your heart truly desires."Stella appreciated her concern. "Thank you. I'll strive to live the life that I truly want.""Remember, you're not alone. You've got friends like me and Susie, and your family. We're all here to support you, like a safe haven."Stella laughed lightly. "You're being unusually emotional today."Abigail's thoughts drifted
Stella, fully aware of her family's limitations and her humble background, knew that getting signed by a decent talent agency, let alone scoring a lead movie role, was nearly impossible.She gazed at the man with black glasses. "Who are you, exactly?"The man's voice was cold. "Just tell me if you want to be the lead actress, to have someone else take your place as a stunt double, enduring countless dives into the water like you did today."Stella let out a small laugh. "Absolutely. I mean, what actor wouldn't want the lead role?"The man presented her with an offer. "Right now, there's a chance for you to be a lead actress. Will you grab it?"Despite knowing that miracles did not just fall from the sky and suspecting a potential trap, the temptation to be a lead actress was too great for Stella to ignore.Without much thought, she asked, "What's the opportunity?""Do you want it or not?""Yes, I want it."She was fed up with being replaced after all her hard work and tired of
'No, I'm not afraid,' Stella silently reassured herself. She was surprised to encounter Lucas in such a situation. She wondered if he even remembered her, though it was unlikely.Stella was so nervous she could not utter a word, just cautiously observing him, secretly hoping he had not recognized her.He looked at her with a warm smile. "If you're feeling scared and regret coming, the door is right there, not far behind you. You're free to leave at any time."He was offering her an escape, a choice. That was what she initially thought. But she later realized he had no intention of letting her leave that day. Lucas, when he set his sights on someone, knew exactly how to get them.She glanced at the firmly shut door. She could leave, but she chose not to. Walking away meant losing a chance forever, not just for the money she sought but also to see him again.As she hesitated, Lucas spoke again, "If you want to achieve your desires, you know what you need to do."She knew exactly. S
Seeking wealth and a better future, Stella made a choice that cost her both physically and emotionally.As she was lost in her thoughts, Lucas's strong embrace suddenly brought her back to the moment. His deep voice whispered near her ear.'Jenny or gentle?' She was not sure. His words jolted her back to reality, but their meaning was unclear. 'Was he calling another girl's name, or was it something else he said?'She opened her eyes, looking for answers from him, but he softly covered her eyes with his hand. Unable to see his face, she only felt his grip tighten, as though he wanted to merge with her completely.The night seemed to last an eternity.She kept drifting in and out of sleep, finally waking up in the late afternoon the next day. As her eyes opened, she saw Lucas, all tidied up, sitting on a sofa near the window, not looking her way."Take a look at the contract, and if you're okay with it, sign it."Her attention then shifted to the bedside table where a contract la
At that time, she had already been with Lucas for more than half a year.In that half years' time, no matter where she was filming, he would fly over as long as he was not busy with work.And when she was done filming, they would do what they loved in the room without any reservations.She thought that after being together for so long, he would have grown some feelings for her and thus kept being around her.Yet, he did not even know what her name was.It was October and Hayshiport welcomed autumn's embrace.Hayshiport was very beautiful in autumn, shrouded in gold everywhere.When she told him that the maple leaves in Pinegrove were a beautiful sight and wanted him to go there with her, he said yes, but he did not even remember her name...He did not even remember her own name!!!She hid away the dismay in her eyes and gave him a bright smile. "Mr. White, we've been together for so long now and you don't even remember my name. It really does make me sad..."She leaned on his
Previously, knowing that she could give birth at any moment, Abigail had already made proper arrangements for her work, but she could not rule out a need for a script change during the shooting.The matter of a script change could either be a minor or a major one, so she needed to keep a tight leash on the matter, or else some threads left in the story might not be resolved due to late changes to the script."Just relax during your confinement period. Don't worry about the production. I'll handle things for you," Stella said."Alright." Abigail said."I've taken almost your entire afternoon, Mr. Zane must be quite miffed at me," Stella then added."He doesn't like that identity of Xander Zane, and from now on he'll be going by as Nathan Hart, so just call him Nathan," Abigail said."Hmm, Nathan and Abigail, sounds like an even better pair of names if you ask me," Stella quipped.Abigail then said, "Names aren't important, what's more important is him. He's a treasure I lost and
"Fee, don't get so worked up. I'll tell you the ins and outs of the whole thing." Abigail knew that the two of them would definitely blow their fuses if they learnt that she had made up with Nathan.She originally wanted to send the two of them a message to explain things clearly but Stella arrived when she was about to send the message and she had forgotten about it as she chatted with the latter."Go on then, I want to see how you try to cover up for that scum!" Felix hissed."Nathan had never betrayed me. He was terminally ill back then and thought that he wouldn't survive, so he got Lucia to play along and get me to leave him," Abigail said."So, he assumed he could hurt you like that just because he thought he was going to die? Does he not know how important he is to you? Does he not know who you care about the most?!" Felix fumed."What he did wasn't right, but his original intention was to protect me," Abigail explained."He said he was going to protect you, but he ended u
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