Hannah gently grabbed onto Stellie. "Stellie, I may not know your father well, but as for your brother... I may very well know him a little better than you. I know how good he is to you, how loving he is to you, and I know that he'll not allow you to be wronged."Stellie looked at the hand holding her as a hint of disgust appeared in her eyes. She pulled her arm back hard and gently massaged it which was still hurting.Thinking of how vicious Lucas was earlier, she was still a little frightened. "No matter how much my brother loved me, he could only look on when Lucas disappointed me. He could only look on as Lucas found a cheap wench to take my place to ridicule me. He could only watch as I was wronged. He couldn't do anything at all."'You brought this humiliation upon yourself. Who's there to blame?' Hannah thought to herself.However, Hannah had to side with Stellie. "That wench is nothing like you, be it in temperament or looks. She's just a nobody."Forget how our circle per
"Okay! I'll definitely ask him." Hannah opened the car door and stepped out. With mesmerizing elegance in her towering eight-inch heels, she approached the man, each step like a dance.As she neared the man, Hannah faked a stumble, pretending to fall while reaching out to grab him. However, the man, as if he had predicted her move, sidestepped her outstretched hand.That attempt was a failure. The man had effortlessly passed her first challenge.Undeterred, Hannah flashed a charming smile at him. "Hey there, waiting for someone special? Who might that be?"The man, unfazed, did not even give her a side glance.Hannah, a striking figure herself, was not accustomed to being overlooked like this. However, his indifference only fueled her determination to catch his attention. "Is the kid with you yours? Are you married?"His continued lack of response only spiked Hannah's curiosity. She mused that she might have discovered an intriguing prospect for Stellie.It is a common trait amo
Hannah was so sure of herself, thinking that even the most attractive and respectable guys would fall for money. But when she tried to sway this one guy, he just said "Get lost!" in a deep, firm voice.She was taken aback. "What did you just say?"The man casually adjusted his silver-framed glasses, his eyes sharp and fierce. "Get lost!" he said again.Now Hannah knew she had not heard wrong. She was really annoyed and mad that he did not appreciate her offer."Don't you get what I'm saying? Do you have any idea who that lady in the car is? She's Stellie Sandow from the Sandow family. If you were with her, you'd be swimming in wealth and luxury."While she was talking, the man's icy look disappeared so fast that Hannah thought she might have been seeing things. She believed nobody could say no to money. But suddenly, she saw him quickly pushing his stroller toward the hospital entrance.Hannah's eyes followed him and saw him warmly meeting a pretty woman who had just come out of
With Stellie's approval, Hannah cautiously started the car.She liked to think she was Stellie's buddy, but really, she felt more like a tag-along. When they were in school, Hannah did some not-so-nice things to hang out with Stellie's group.Things had not changed much since they had grown up. Hannah was always involved in the not-so-good stuff Stellie did.Her dedication to Stellie, always ready to take the blame or harsh words, earned her a place in Stellie's inner circle. That was how she got to be close to Stellie's brother, hoping it would help her move up in the world.But she quickly realized it was tough to fit into the world of the super-rich. The more she tried, the more she saw that an ordinary woman like her would not really get ahead with them. In fact, she might end up being used and discarded.Hannah was not the only one in this boat. Lots of women dreamed of climbing the social ladder but ended up with nothing. Some even lost more than they bargained for.In thei
The couple whom Hannah was really worried about was Nathan and Abigail.Nathan had not seen Abigail for just a few hours, but to him, it felt like forever. He decided to take Pax to the hospital to get Abigail.At first, Nathan thought about leaving Pax at home asleep. But he figured Pax would cry if he woke up and his parents were both gone. So, he brought Pax with him.Right when they got out of the car at the hospital, a lady with a lot of makeup came up to him and started chatting him up. Nathan used to be the kind of guy who would just walk away from someone like that. But Abigail had been telling him to be nicer to people they did not know.Abigail would say, "You know, there's a saying, 'It's nice to be nice'. When you smile, things seem easier. Don't be mean to people who are just trying to be friendly."Thinking of what Abigail said, Nathan listened to the lady for a little while, even though he was really just waiting for Abigail. He did not really care about what the la
Abigail and Nathan looked different but somehow right together. Everyone who walked by had to look at them.Abigail, feeling brave, gently tapped Nathan's cheek. "Just messing with my hubby. Can't you feel it?"Nathan, who was always calm at work, turned a little red. Feeling awkward, he changed the subject. "What's going on with Stella?"Still teasing, Abigail asked, "Why's your face all red, hubby?"Nathan grabbed her fidgeting hand. "Let's talk about something important.""You mean how much I miss you?" Abigail joked.Nathan, worried about Abigail acting too daring in the open, cleared his throat. "We should talk about Stella."They both were getting better. Nathan was not feeling great, and Abigail had just had a baby. So, they knew to be careful about getting intimate.Abigail got serious. "With Lucas taking care of things, it's less worrying. But Stella doesn't really trust him. Looks like it's going to be tough for Lucas to make her feel different."Thinking it over, Na
Abigail: [Thanks a bunch, Dr. Watson!]Kane: [We're like family. It's no problem]Abigail: [Got an idea! Making some cool snacks tonight, maybe with drinks. Do you want to join us for dinner?]Kane: [No thanks. I'll skip being the third wheel at your romantic dinner.]Since Abigail and Nathan had reconciled, she was fully in the loop about his health. She and Kane kept each other updated on Nathan's condition. Kane found it easier and more efficient to contact Abigail about Nathan's medical stuff.Abigail blushed. She texted: [It's not what you think.]Kane: [Hey, important stuff. Need to take Xander for a big checkup tomorrow PM. You've got to be there.]Abigail: [What checkup?]Kane: [Will explain tomorrow. Just super important. Don't miss it.]Abigail: [Okay, I'll be there.] Abigail sensed some unease in Kane's words, but she did not ask further. She was ready to face whatever was coming, alongside Nathan.After texting, Abigail pocketed her phone and noticed Nathan lookin
The Zanes no longer owned the business empire. It was a present from him to her, now belonging to the Harts and Renees."Why so quiet, Nathan? What are you thinking about?""Just imagining us as old grandparents one day--"Abigail cut in. "I'm just twenty-six, you know!""Of course, I know."He thought about their three years of marriage and how he had not celebrated her birthday with her. This year, he planned to change that."You don't really get it," Abigail said."What do you mean?""I want to stay young with you, like, forever."Nathan softly played with her hair. "Alright, we'll stay young forever then."All of a sudden, their baby Pax, feeling ignored in his stroller, started to cry out loud."Pax is awake!" Abigail quickly scooped up their son. "It's okay, Pax. Mommy and Daddy are here. No crying, alright?"When Pax saw his mother, he stopped crying and cuddled into Abigail's arms, ready to eat."I think Pax is hungry," Abigail said.Nathan scanned the area. "Hey,
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