"Even the biggest of brands can't last with such salespeople," Melody said."Surely, not all of them are like this," Abigail replied. "Today, we just got unlucky. We stumbled upon a rotten one. Come on, let's switch stores and continue our shopping spree. We can't let one bad apple spoil our day."With that, they ventured into another designer handbag store. Wiser from their previous encounter, Abigail promptly displayed her VIP card. The duo was immediately escorted into an exclusive lounge, where an array of handbags, unavailable to ordinary customers, awaited their discerning eyes. After a detailed perusal, Melody selected a bag worth around ten grand. The salesperson did not exhibit any displeasure; instead, he offered them impeccable service throughout.Next, they visited a clothing store. Melody fell for a knit sweater and bought two without batting an eyelid. Money did not seem to concern her much. As the only child in her family, with well-to-do parents, she rarely had to wo
Once home, Abigail opted for an early night after a soothing bath, planning to rise early the next morning to visit her grandmother at the Southcrest Residence. Before falling asleep, she habitually checked her phone and found a slew of unread messages from Stella.[Abigail, guess what? The author of Chloe Bay messaged me with lots of encouraging words. I'm suddenly feeling more confident.] Stella's message read.Abigail responded with a comforting note: [Who knows? Maybe in the author's mind, you're the ideal person to play Chloe Bay.]Stella replied: [Your perspectives are so similar to the author's. I'm sure she must be as insightful as you. If she wasn't so reserved, I'd definitely want to be her friend.]Abigail playfully hinted: [Maybe you're already friends and you just don't realize it.]Stella's next message chimed in: [Always the comforting voice. Alright, it's getting late. I need to review my script. You should rest, too.][Goodnight.]Abigail reciprocated the farewe
The anger and resentment boiling within Abigail were instantly doused by Nathan's plain and straightforward reply. She understood that any man confronted by his wife would respond similarly. But there was something about Nathan that made her inexplicably believe him. As long as he said he had no other women, she would trust him. While she trusted him in her heart, she also wanted to tease him a bit.[Hmph, so if you say there's no one else, that's that, huh? You're out all day; who knows if you're fooling me.]After sending that message, she waited for a good while before receiving Nathan's response.[Abigail, what do I need to do for you to trust me?]Abigail was just jesting with him, but his serious tone made her feel like a terrible person, leaving her with a sense of guilt.[I trust you.]Nathan replied: [Thank you.]Their conversation seemed to hit a dead end that day. If Abigail wanted to keep the conversation going, she had to work hard to find new topics.[I'm on the h
Abigail hoisted the bags of clothes she had purchased for her grandmothers, joining the departing passengers at the train door. Once the train halted, she alighted, making her way with the crowd to the station exit. Hailing a cab, she headed straight for Southcrest Residence. It was not until she arrived and saw the stately villa towering in front of her that it slowly dawned on Abigail that Nathan's family was likely much wealthier than she had anticipated.Nathan was a local of Florivera, a city known for its extensive redevelopment and subsequent reallocation of homes. A minimum of one house per displaced family was typical, some receiving two or three. Live in one, sell the rest, and the resulting funds would take care of you for life. Rumor had it that residents in prime locations even got a bonus each year, and some of Florivera's locals made quite a handsome profit from it. Many opted to sell their Florivera homes, buying villas in the less expensive Southcrest, and used the le
Both elderly ladies were content with the clothing, and Abigail was delighted. "Grandmas, I'm going to wash these new clothes before you wear them.""Don't trouble yourself, dear." Margaret beckoned her to sit down. "We have someone to take care of the laundry. Nathan has seen to it. You're not here often, so just sit with us and chat."Abigail had come intending to dote on the elderly ladies but soon discovered the caretaker Nathan had hired was doing an exceptional job. From taking care of the elderly ladies to tending to the garden and keeping the house spotless, Abigail found no room for her intended kindness. It dawned on her then that Nathan was far more attentive than she had given him credit for. This realization only served to endear him more to her heart. On a scale of ten, Nathan already held a commendable eight in her book.Margaret, who was keenly hopeful for the young couple's future, switched the topic to Xander as soon as they settled down. "Abigail, you mentioned yo
Cassandra, laughing heartily, chimed in with a twinkle in her eyes, "Alright, alright, we'll leave the toe-sucking stories in the past. Let's discuss when you used to wet the bed as a child."Abigail was mortified, but she let them continue, relishing their joyful chatter. Strangely, neither of them brought up Nathan.Once the raviolis were ready, Abigail cooked up the first batch. Margaret tasted a couple and was genuinely pleased. "Abigail, these are just lovely, the filling is tender and juicy, not dry at all. Could I take a bowl to our neighbor, Mr. Drake?""Sure, Grandma," Abigail agreed quickly. "I'll cook up another batch right now." With that, she prepared another pot of raviolis, then carefully packed them into an insulated container, even adding a small side of marinara sauce. "Grandma, shall I take this over to Mr. Drake?""No need, dear, Mr. Drake is a bit shy with new faces. I'll take it," Margaret decided, cheerily picking up the container and heading out the door.C
"Are you suggesting you're not?" Margaret could not believe he had the nerve to ask such a question. 'Who doesn't know he's a man who would go to any lengths to achieve his goals? In the ten years since he took over Zane Corporation, hasn't he demonstrated that time and time again?'"If Grandma thinks I am, then I guess I must be." Xander unlocked the door, stepped into the room, and promptly locked the door behind him.Margaret was frustrated enough to pound on the door, but upon reflection, she knew her headstrong grandson had his principles and pride, and he would not force himself onto a girl.Xander moved to sit beside Abigail's bed, gently adjusting the covers over her, and then simply watched her in silence. From his viewpoint, the first thing that caught his eye was her long, curling eyelashes, as beautiful as a doll's. Her skin was incredibly smooth and fair, reminiscent of a freshly peeled egg, not a single flaw visible. Xander could not resist and extended his slender fin
The next day, Abigail was up with the lark. As the doctor carried out a routine check-up on Cassandra, she kept vigil at her side without taking a step away. Once the examination was over, she grilled the doctor about every detail, only relaxing slightly when assured her grandmother's condition was stable.Margaret respectfully left the room to the two of them. Alone with Abigail, Cassandra could not help but broach the subject of Nathan. "Abigail, you said over the phone that you want to give things a shot with Nathan. Have you really decided?""Mhm." Abigail nodded. "Don't worry, Grandma, I'm not doing this on a whim. I've given it careful consideration."Cassandra had always trusted Abigail's judgment. "Nathan is a quiet one, not good at sweet talk or coaxing a smile, but for some reason, he just seems like someone you can rely on."Abigail nodded vehemently. "Grandma, I feel the same way. Every time I think about him, I feel... at ease."Cassandra gently ruffled Abigail's hair