Keith was at a loss for words.'How did Abigail and Emma know each other?' Keith wondered. He had just spoken about Emma's affairs in front of Abigail. If Abigail told Emma about it, he would never see anyone ever again.He then sent Abigail a message: [Abigail, please don't tell Emma about the things I told you just now.]Abigail had already put on her jacket and was walking downstairs before she said, "You can rest assured, Mr. Jackman. I don't have a loud mouth like yours. Let's go, Emma."Emma nodded, and they walked out the door together, hand in hand.After that, Keith cried out, "Aaah... what sin have I committed?""What did you do again?" Xander had just walked to the second-floor stairs when he saw Keith throwing a fit. However, even when speaking to Keith, his gaze would subconsciously search for Abigail. Sadly, he did not see her. He then asked, "Where's Abigail?"Keith replied, "Abigail was picked up by Mrs. Hagrid."Ron's expression darkened when Keith mentioned Em
Emma smiled and asked, "You done with your work?""I'm done. Where are we going to have fun?" Abigail subconsciously held her hand and tried to quietly pass on her strength to Emma. Emma craved the warmth Abigail gave. She grabbed hold of Abigail and then said softly, "The Hagrid family has a private estate at North Hill. Their estate has a natural hot spring. Since I saw it snowed today, we can soak in the hot spring while enjoying the snowy scene. Stella, Susie, and you are all at Valtara, so I thought about inviting all of you to have fun together. They both lied to their husbands to come to Valtara, so we can't let Mr. Zane know. Hence, I didn't talk about it just now. I don't have many friends in Valtara, and I don't have anyone to accompany me when I usually want to go. That's why..."Emma said all those words so gently and tenderly. Almost no emotion could be heard from the first listen, but Abigail felt terrible for her when she was listening to it. She held Emma's hand and s
However, she did not expect that Stella and Lucas' married life, which looked the most harmonious, also had some issues. It seemed that being single was better, and you would not have problems in that regard.As the topic of the discussion had risen, they could not let Abigail off the hook. "Abigail, what about you? How did you and your husband know each other?"Everyone asked so Abigail could not refuse to answer. "You could say we knew each other through matchmaking."The three of them continued their questioning. "Could say? Matchmaking?"Since she was preparing to get a divorce, Abigail did not want to mention anything about Nathan. However, there were three pairs of eyes still staring at her. Hence, she had no choice but to speak of it. "Both of our grandmothers were old acquaintances. Both the elders hoped we would be together, so we registered for marriage."Stella said, "It's not important how you knew each other; what's important is whether he treats you well sincerely. D
Stella had mingled among the messy entertainment business year-round, hence she was naturally more open-minded. "Abigail, you shouldn't just keep meditating with your head down. First, tell us about your man."Susie was usually supervised by Alwyn, so she normally could not do much. She had finally escaped from it, hence she would go where the fun was. "Tell us quickly. I want to know if all men are just as bossy as Alwyn and the others." Only Emma was staring at Abigail silently, not rushing nor asking anything.The spring pool was getting too hot, and Abigail's face burned from the steam. She could not say that she did not know Nathan at all, so she said, "He should, should be quite domineering..."The three of them exclaimed at the same time, "Should be?"The gaze of the three girls landed on Abigail again. They did not open their mouths to ask, but their expressions already said everything. If she did not speak, they would never let her go."I-I..." Abigail stuttered. Abigail
"Domestic violence? Domestic violence isn't a family affair. It's illegal..." Abigail was distraught and wanted to chase after Susie to take her back. Thankfully, Stella pulled her back.Stella was amused by her look at playing the white knight. "You shouldn't meddle too much. Even if every man under the sun does domestic violence, it wouldn't be Alwyn. He protects his wife like a hen protects its chicks.""Mhm, indeed, my wife has the clearest mindset of all and could see that the couple was just playing their flirtatious game." As Stella expected, Lucas, the bootlicker, also did come to Valtara and followed her here.Stella honestly did not want to be bothered by him, not even the slightest. "Lucas, could you please leave. I want to chat with my best friends.""What you and your best friends will be chatting about are just us, men. I'm now here to accompany you in your chat. Whatever you all want to know, you can ask me directly. " As the saying goes, you cannot lose too badly if
"Mr. Hagrid, Mr. Zane, you should have some very important stuff to discuss. We won't be disturbing you." Just thinking about soaking in a hot spring with Xander made Abigail uneasy. Especially after she saw his brilliant naked physique.That man was lying nonchalantly at the edge of the pool. His arms were spread open, showing his firm and beautiful muscle definitions. It was as if seeing a high and mighty king embracing his kingdom. It also looked slightly like he was opening his arms to welcome his beloved...Abigail merely took an accidental glance, and those nice-looking muscle contours were etched into her mind and continued to linger. She wondered deep down in silence, 'Under such laborious work conditions, how much discipline does it require to train and possess such beautiful muscles?'"We don't have anything important to discuss. "Xander was the one who said those words. He raised his gaze slightly and looked at Abigail. He saw her being wrapped in a bathrobe while standin
Ron suddenly said with a serious expression, "I've been preparing for a pregnancy recently. We might have already conceived a child, so many other matters should be easier to handle now."Xander asked curiously, "Child?"Though, he had not thought of such a long-term affair yet and did not expect to have kids of his own. In the past, he did not want one because his parents had left too large a trauma for him. He did not want them to be the same as him, born yet not raised by them. However, he thought it would be acceptable if it was with Abigail.Ron then said, "You can use children to tie her down."Xander rebutted, "Firstly, she's an independent person. Besides that, she's also my wife, not an item. I'll respect her and love her. I would never force her to do something she didn't want to do.""Mhm, I hope you can walk the talk and not let it hit you in the face in the future." Ron immediately turned around. "Emma, come with me for a moment. I have something to say to you."Just
Abigail was stunned for a moment. After a long while, she managed to digest the words that he had said and asked, "Why did you do this?""To find a reason to make you have a conversation with me," was what he would have said. But he definitely would not have told Abigail about the actual situation, so Xander coughed lightly once and said, "To test your response toward an emergency."To test her response toward an emergency, which means if she did not find the breach, she would have probably been fired by him. She had been by his side for these few months, and Abigail considered herself to have performed every task wholeheartedly. Yet her ability was yet to be approved by him. This perception of him made Abigail slightly upset. She lowered her gaze and replied with an "Oh."Xander did not notice her abnormal behavior. He raised his hands to put the tablet back before asking, "What do you want to eat tonight?"Abigail did not want to bottle herself up and did not want to always be wo
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