"But will he still be willing as time goes on?" Abigail asked."Always," Xander affirmed. He wished Abigail would spend more of Nathan's money; it seemed the best way he could please her."You're not him. You can't possibly know what's going on in his mind," Abigail retorted, leaving Xander not knowing how to respond.Having seen her fair share of failed relationships, Abigail had little room for idealistic notions. To her, blissful love stories belonged to novels and films. "Mr. Zane, I don't mean to dampen your spirits, but a marital relationship is the closest, yet most fragile, bond. Look around, couples are deeply in love one day and filing for divorce the next. And if financial squabbles land them in court, they spill each other's secrets, making an enemy out of their once intimate partner. I can't bear the thought of Nathan and I reaching such a bitter end."Abigail held onto hope that if they ever had to part ways, it would be amicable, without a trace of bitterness. And sh
Abigail calmly said, "I want to spend the rest of my life with Nathan too. But no one knows what'll happen in the future. What if Nathan falls for another woman before I return to the country?"Perhaps because she experienced too many bad things, Abigail unconsciously allowed herself to have options. No matter what may happen to her marriage with Nathan in the future, she could also continue to live her life according to her own ideas."He won't fall for another woman. He'll be loyal to your marriage to him forever. Please believe him." Xander's voice was low and deep. He sounded sweet and particularly serious. It seemed like he was making her a promise.Abigail did not know why Xander insisted on making a promise on behalf of Nathan. She thought Nathan might not even be as sure as Xander. She said, "Mr. Zane, I've told you, you're you. You aren't him. What you say on his behalf doesn't count."Xander responded, "Every word I say counts."Abigail did not want to continue talking t
While she was wiping it, Esther came to the kitchen doorway. She was shocked by their intimate act. She said, "Xander, Abigail, are you going to play kissy-kissy? Sigh, I came at the wrong time. You two continue. Please continue. Just pretend that I wasn't here.""There's flour on Mr. Zane's eyelashes. He couldn't see. So, I helped him to wipe it off. It's not what you think." After Abigail explained, she then said to Esther again, "Essy, come and make ravioli together."Esther smiled cunningly as she asked, "Are you two sure you guys want me to join? Are you not afraid of me being the third wheel disturbing your lovey-dovey time?"Abigail frowned slightly as she seriously said, "Essy, others can talk nonsense. But you can't. Your sister-in-law is so good to you. She'll be very sad if she knows you make fun of your brother with another woman like this."Esther noticed Abigail got angry. She immediately stopped being playful. She then joined them to make ravioli. She said, "Abigail,
Xander coldly glanced at Esther. His gloomy gaze was filled with warnings.In the past, Esther would definitely surrender. But now she had Abigail, her massive backer. She was not afraid of anything. She said, "Abigail, look at my brother, he's staring at me again. Can you handle him?"Abigail was speechless.She thought, 'Esther overestimated me. I won't ever dare to control anything my boss does even if someone gives me enormous courage.'Xander said, "Leave if you don't want to make ravioli. Don't disturb Abigail making the ravioli here."Esther knew her brother wanted her to leave. But she could not leave. 'He doesn't have much experience in relationships. I must help him,' she thought before saying, "Who says I'm not making it? Am I not learning from Abigail now?""Essy, take the ravioli wrappers that your brother made. Let's make the ravioli on the dining table." The brother and sister fought whenever they saw each other. Abigail did not want to side with any of them. So, t
Abigail thought, 'I wouldn't dare to think that.'Xander said, "Esther, try to say another word."Esther was speechless.'Why is my brother so stupid? I'm thinking of ways to help him win over his wife. Couldn't he tell?'Ring...A phone ringing sound came from the living room. Xander stopped what he was doing and went to the living room to pick up the call.As soon as he left, Esther became brazen. She said, "Abigail, if you don't want to talk about my brother, let's talk about your husband, Nathan, okay?""Let's chat about something else." Abigail knew too little about Nathan. They had been married for almost two years. But she still did not know what he did for a living. So, it seemed to her there was nothing they could talk about.But there were a lot of topics about Nathan that Esther wanted to discuss with Abigail. She said, "Abigail, you asked me today if I know Nathan. Let me tell you now, not only do I know him, but I'm also quite close to him. Do you want to hear my c
"What hardships had he been through when he was young?" Abigail only knew Nathan had a grandmother. He had never mentioned his parents to her. She did not ask him about it either.Just like her, she had never mentioned anyone in her family to Nathan other than her grandmother.Nathan did not talk about his family. So, Abigail thought his parents might not be around anymore, just like her. She thought that was the reason why he was raised by Margaret."Shortly after his mother gave birth to him, his father had another child with his mistress. After that, his mother started to fool around too. Not long after, she had another child with another man. Nathan has a sister from the same parents. She was conceived when their parents were drunk in their hometown. Their parents didn't love her as she was an unwanted child. So, Nathan took care of her instead. When he was slightly older, he took on all the responsibilities of the family when he was a teenager." Esther was sad when she talked a
"Xander," Jane pleaded, "I know I neglected yours and Essy's feelings in the past. I was wrong, and now I want to make up for my mistakes. Please, give me one more chance."A cold chuckle escaped Xander. "Do you really think you deserve another chance?""Even if you don't want to forgive me," Jane persisted, "you should at least let Abigail meet her mother-in-law. You two have been legally married for nearly two years and she hasn't officially met your family. Are you still leaving room for doubt by not formally introducing her to our kin?""Jane, don't even think about messing with Abigail. She's not someone you can handle." Xander's voice darkened, his grip on the phone tightening. "Don't forget, there are people you care about.""I sought out Abigail last time because I heard rumors she was cheating. I wanted to defend your honor," Jane admitted. "I now see my error. I promise to treat her well in the future.""My wife, I'll look after her just fine. I don't need your false sen
Abigail texted back swiftly.Abigail: [Of course, when we meet, I'll let you hold me.]Staring at the reply, Xander was not sure how to respond. Given his current relationship with Abigail as Xander, there was no chance she would let him hold her. As for when he could face her as Nathan, he did not know how much longer that would take. The wait for an open, honest embrace seemed indefinite. Maybe a month, maybe a year, maybe even longer. But he did not want to wait another moment. He yearned to hold her now.His fingers tapped the screen swiftly, and he sent another message.Xander: [Abigail, I want to hold you right now.]Abigail promptly sent back a few "hug" emojis.Xander: [What I want is a real hug, not emoji hugs.]Abigail: [Ah, we're thousands of miles apart, how can we hug?]Xander: [Right now, we can't. But remember, you owe me a hug. When we meet, I'll claim it back twofold.]Standing at the entrance to the kitchen, Xander looked at Abigail's slender figure. He knew