Hearing what he said, Abigail straightforwardly asked, "Then could I trouble you to take a few pictures, Mr. Zane?"Xander agreed, "Sure."Abigail took out her phone and passed it to him, having a lot of requests, but dared not to ask, so she said, "Please make sure the Paridale Tower is in the picture, Mr. Zane."Xander replied, "Alright."Abigail was not normally a photophilic person, and added with the fact that Xander, the CEO, was taking her picture; she could not relax her embarrassed expression. Xander could not help but laugh when he noticed she was embarrassed enough to almost start bursting into tears. "Abigail, everyone will mistake me for a bad guy if you keep that expression while I take your picture."She tried her best to maintain her usual smile, but her smile was diminished by the thought of having Xander see her every move through the camera. Coincidentally, a couple suddenly leaned closer to her, oblivious to their surroundings, and started hugging and passionat
"We should leave professional matters to professionals. That's understandable. However, how many people have the extra money and time to hire a professional photographer when it's just to take a few photos in daily life?" After Abigail vented her frustration, she suddenly realized that Xander's words might have a different meaning. She asked, "Mr. Zane, did you happen to study photography too?"Xander nodded. "Well, I bought a bunch of photography equipment during school time and played around with it for a few days."'With just a few days of playing, he can take photos that look even better than many professional photographers just by using the smartphone camera.'Abigail could not help but exclaim, "Mr. Zane, are you still a normal human being?"Xander smiled. "I'm just like you, with two eyes, two ears, and a mouth. How am I not a normal human being?"Abigail said, "I'm not talking about your appearance. I mean, you know too many things. Even if there's something you don't know
Xander took the phone and quickly sent the photos to Abigail.Upon receiving the photos, Abigail immediately forwarded them to the group chat along with the message: [Guys, take a look at my stunning photos. Did they blind you with their radiance?]It was already past 8:00 p.m. in Paridale, which meant it was past 2:00 a.m. in Chrysalis. Supposedly, Felix and Melody would be asleep, but surprisingly, they both replied immediately.Felix replied: [Caterpie, you went out to take photos instead of hiding in the warm bed on a snowy day like this. Are you out of your mind?]Melody replied: [Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful! When my dear Caterpie is here, even the Paridale Tower pales in comparison.]Abigail felt hurt by Felix's reply. She responded to his message: [You lousy Fee, you're such a typical macho man. No wonder you can't find a girlfriend.]Melody agreed: [Exactly, you deserve to be single forever!]Abigail replied to Melody's message: [My dear Mel is the best! Kisses and h
Abigail had a proper conversation with Felix and asked him not to hold such strong animosity toward Xander. After all, Xander was her immediate superior. She still had to work under him and meet him every day. However, Felix, who usually listened to her, remained stubborn on this matter and was not receptive.Abigail felt a headache coming on. She texted: [Fee, let's not discuss this matter anymore. Both of you have to be mindful of the time. Don't get carried away like last year, or you might miss your flight.]Melody responded: [Stinky Caterpie, no matter what, you have to take care of yourself while you're alone in a foreign country. The security in Paridale isn't good at night. Stay indoors unless it's necessary, okay?]The conversation shifted to safety again. Abigail replied with a simple [Okay] and hastily ended the chat with them.Just as Abigail finished the conversation and put away her phone, she saw Xander stretching out a hand toward her when she looked up. Instinctive
Xander carefully observed Abigail's expression. "It seems like you don't really like it?"If the top Paridale chef who personally prepared the foie gras heard that the evaluation he received was just "not bad," he would probably be so upset that he could not sleep all night."I like it," said Abigail. She looked at the plate of foie gras on the table. Its presentation was more appealing than the actual food. She asked, "Mr. Zane, can my camera eat first?"Xander did not enjoy browsing the internet and was without the habit of taking photos during meals. So he naturally did not understand what Abigail meant. "What did you mean?"Abigail smiled awkwardly. "I mean, can I take photos before eating?"Xander spoke gently, "You can do whatever you want. Let go and do it. You don't need my permission for everything.""Mr. Zane, you're really kind to your subordinates!" Abigail immediately picked up her phone, found a good angle, and took two photos. She even remembered to apply some filt
There was always a third person meddling in the couple's relationship, and another man had come between them. Even though Abigail was lacking perceptiveness in matters of love, she felt that this situation was rather unusual.Xander placed a piece of sliced foie gras into Abigail's plate again. However, she quickly stopped him and said, "Mr. Zane, I can do it myself."'I hadn't eaten it before and was worried about embarrassing myself with the Francovian dining etiquette. It was fine for him to help me earlier, but continuously assisting me like this was unnecessary. He was taking care of his buddy's wife in this way! Did his buddy and his wife know?'Abigail refused his help, and Xander did not insist. It was important for a husband to respect his wife's opinion. "The style of a Francovian meal is slow-paced. Let's take our time to eat and enjoy the night view," he said."Okay," Abigail responded. She had more interest in grilled food rather than foie gras. She considered herself
Xander's heart was melting when looking at Abigail's sweet smile. "Do you like it?"Whether it was due to the alcohol or the high indoor temperature, Abigail's face tinged with a faint blush. She nodded and smiled. "I like it! Being able to enjoy such a beautiful light show for free from the best viewing spot, how can I not like it?"The word "free" made Xander pause. He asked cautiously, "If Nathan prepared this light show for you, would you like it?"Abigail, who had just praised the light show, shook her head vigorously. "This is just burning money. Only a fool would like it if their husband spent money on these flashy things. Why not invest the money or keep it in the bank for emergencies? Why waste it on these flashy things?"Xander was left speechless. It seemed that not only could he not tell Abigail that he had prepared the light show in advance for her, but he could also not tell her either in the future, even if she found out about his identity as Nathan. Otherwise, she w
"Thank you!" Xander accepted all the compliments to Abigail from the passersby and responded with a sincere smile.As time passed, most of the sightseers dispersed. Then, a snowball hit Xander heavily, followed by Abigail's playful voice. "Mr. Zane? What are you doing here too?"'This girl can always come up with something new when she gets drunk.' Xander smiled helplessly. Behind his silver-rimmed glasses, his eyes were gentle and indulgent. "It's too cold. Let's go home now, and we'll play again tomorrow, okay?""Okay, let's go home." Abigail was also tired of playing. She threw the last handful of snow and walked into the snow-covered ground unsteadily.Xander pulled her back promptly. "Little fool, this way!"Abigail did not like being called a "little fool." So, she angrily retorted, "You're a fool! Your whole family is a fool!"Xander chuckled. "Okay, we're all fools.""It's your family, not mine!" Abigail shook off his hand and walked ahead quickly. The snowy road was sli
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