Jerick cast a glance at Shawn, who first sought Xander's eyes before daring to meet Abigail's. "Ms. Renee, is there anything else you need?" he asked.Abigail spoke up, "Atty. Cooper, could you please convey a message to Nathan for me? I need to see him, regardless of whether or not we're getting a divorce.""What? Sitting right in front of you..." Shawn began but then abruptly stopped, catching Xander's warning glance. If it was not for the setting, he would have relished a good tease at Xander's expense. Today, he simply responded obediently, "Yes, I'll let him know right away.""Thank you!"As the Cooper father and son left, Abigail seemed poised to say something else. But before she could, Xander was the one to break the silence."Feeling reassured now?""Are the Coopers really not going to intervene with David?" Abigail asked, still finding it hard to believe despite hearing it directly from Jerick. She feared that the Coopers were merely throwing up a smoke screen to lull t
"Mr. Zane, if I'm reassigned, what about you?" For the first time, Paxton questioned Xander's work arrangement. Not for his own sake, but out of concern for Xander."And since when do I have to explain my decisions to you?" Xander shot back.Paxton wanted to argue, but he could only mutter, "Yes" because he knew once Xander had made up his mind, he was powerless to change it.Perhaps detecting Paxton's reluctance, Xander added, "If she gets so much as a scratch, you know what to do.""Yes, sir. I understand," Paxton replied.Xander had always treated him with respect, but this was the first time he had been so harsh. At that moment, Paxton seemed to understand Dr. Sander's worries from the previous night. He had been by Xander's side for years, handling many problems and dangers for him. Now, he was being reassigned to protect Abigail, a mere assistant, their enemies would not even consider her a target. There was no need for him to be reassigned for such a task. Paxton did not un
Spotting Abigail's clear desire to avoid spending even a second more in his presence, Xander's eyebrows knitted together, a spark of irritation igniting within him. With a whirl, he stormed off, leaving Abigail to breathe a sigh of relief as she hailed a cab to the home decor mall. En route, her phone chimed with a message from Nathan.[Abigail...]'Just saying my name and not saying anything else? What's wrong with this man?' Abigail thought, her fingers flying across the screen as she typed out a flurry of words.[You saved me last night, why didn't you wait for me to wake up before leaving? Why did you leave me in the care of another man?]The message was delivered but no response came, adding to her frustration. She typed out another message, her impatience evident.[Nathan, answer me. Stop avoiding the questions.]Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Nathan responded: [Isn't it good to have your boss take care of you?]Irritation flashed in her eyes as she read his me
'So, he's making a fool out of me, huh?'Nathan: [Abigail...]Abigail: [Hmm?]Nathan: [Can we not get divorced?]Until last night, Abigail had been steadfast in her decision to divorce Nathan. But when she was cornered and he burst through the door to rescue her, she had felt a peace she could not explain. As if his presence was a shield, protecting her from harm. From that moment, her resolve to divorce wavered. Theirs had been a whirlwind marriage, they had not really lived together after that, and he had mistakenly thought she had been unfaithful, wanting a divorce. None of it was wrong. If she were in his shoes and thought he had cheated, she too would have asked for a divorce.With this realization, she replied: [It's not out of the question, but we'd need to talk in person.]Xander, seeing this message from Abigail, felt a weight lift from his heart. 'If Abigail's attitude toward Nathan is changing, then I should be able to tell her soon that Nathan and Xander are the same
As Abigail was contemplating whether to place a deposit, Melody suddenly pointed out a crucial issue. "Hey, Caterpie, wait a minute. We haven't even had our cabinets made yet. Shouldn't we hold off on the ready-made sofa?""You're right. Shouldn't we learn about the renovation process first?" Abigail had an "Aha" moment. The two of them were newbies when it came to remodeling. They barely understood the basics, let alone the details."Let's do some online research about renovation first," Melody suggested. "I've heard that renovation is a minefield. One wrong step and you're in over your head."Abigail agreed, "Then let's go home and do some research."Melody added, "The salesperson said that the banks are quick to disburse loans at the beginning of the year. If we're lucky, we could get our loan in a day or two. Once we get the loan, we can take possession of the apartment, start the renovation, and stop paying rent."The thought of owning her own cozy little nest in Florivera br
Melody was quick-tempered and found it hard to control her emotions when frustrated. "What utter nonsense! Who are you framing here?""Mel, take it easy. Let me handle this." Abigail held Melody back, remaining calm in the face of the domineering security guard. "We've stopped. What seems to be the problem?"The guard glanced at Mallory, and upon receiving a nod from her, he said, "We suspect you of stealing from a customer in the mall. We need to search you."Abigail chuckled lightly. "Search us? Who gave you that right?"The guard, oblivious to the legalities, was keen on pleasing Mallory, unaware he had no real authority to conduct a search. "Since you're not cooperating, we'll have to ask you to accompany us to the office."Melody, whom Abigail had been shielding, burst in front of her, agitated. "I'd like to see you try!"At this point, Mallory strolled over, certain of her victory. "Your refusal to be searched only proves your guilt.""And if you falsely accuse me of eatin
"Dispute or not, you have no right to accuse Abigail of theft." Xander's voice, cold as ice, resounded through the phone. "Max, keep your Guzman clan in check. If any of you dare lay a finger on Abigail again, I won't let it slide." Without another word, Xander hung up.Max listened to the unending beep of the disconnected call, his face darkening by the second, anger coursing through him as he hurled his phone across the room.He and Xander were born in the same year, with Max being a few months older. They both were successors of the Big Four Families. But, because of Zane Corporation's growing success under Xander's leadership, Max had been overshadowed at every turn. It was a bitter pill to swallow. He yearned for the day when Xander would kneel before him. Despite his many attempts to change the status quo, he had had no success. Instead, he found himself and the Guzman Corporation gradually being pushed toward an irrecoverable downfall.A surge of pent-up frustration welled wi
She grumbled under her breath, "He's the one who took the initiative to ask if there's anything interesting, yet showed an indifferent attitude when I told him so. Does he even want to have a proper conversation?"Unbeknownst to Abigail, the Xander right now was at a loss about the reason she never mentioned him in her private life. He felt he had been a good superior to Abigail all along, but was bewildered by Abigail's disgust toward him. Still confused, he called Malcolm for help, expecting him to be more experienced with romantic relationships. "What should I do when I angered my wife during our conversation?"Malcolm sent him a recorded message. "Xander, I'm getting more and more interested in this wife of yours. I wonder what's so special about her that you would place so much attention on her.""Because she's the wife," said Xander with a simple yet powerful answer. She was his wife, so he must protect her for life.A playboy like Malcolm naturally would not know Xander's st
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