Abigail asked Esther to change her initial choice to another dish. Esther replied: [Up to you!]Usually, people who said "up to you" were the most difficult to please. Esther was born into a wealthy family and had eaten all kinds of delicacies. It was probably not easy to satisfy her.Abigail did not want Esther to be disappointed during the Easter Eve dinner. So, she took out her phone to search for alternatives to roast suckling pig. After a while, she found out that only slow-roasted crispy pork belly tasted somewhat similar to roast suckling pig. Abigail decided to make this dish for Esther.For the fifth dish, Abigail decided to prepare it for Keith.Keith was from the central region. She had been working with him for a long time. So, she had some understanding of what he liked. Yesterday, he was just talking about his craving for his hometown dish, baked tilapia. Abigail decided to make this dish for him to give him a surprise.The last person was Xander, the big shot who ga
Abigail was quite confident about her cooking skills. "Then, you guys can be my assistants. I'll be the main cook today."Dr. Sander was excellent at treating patients, but she could not really cook. She responded, "Sure."Abigail then asked Dr. Sander and Paxton to help her with the preparation for what they were going to cook.It would take a longer time to cook the bone broth that was needed for the lamb stew. So, Abigail started with that. She rinsed the lamb to remove any odor before putting it into the pot to stew it. She then slowly simmered the bones in the casserole.Three of them worked together, cleaning and cutting the vegetables. It did not take them long to finish preparing the vegetables.Abigail thought, 'The time in Chrysalis is six hours ahead of Paridale. The TV show will start at 8 o'clock at night. So, that'll be 2 o'clock in the afternoon in Paridale.'It's almost twelve at noon now. When Xander and the others are back from work later, it'll be just in time.
Abigail was a soft touch, especially when faced with such an endearing beauty like Esther. She drew the girl into her arms, mustering her courage to confront Xander. "Mr. Zane, Essy is a grown woman. She has her own social life, her freedom to make friends. Most importantly, she has her dignity. You can't keep treating her like a child—""Take her upstairs to wash off that paint from her face."Abigail's mentally rehearsed pleas, not even a third of the way through, were abruptly cut off by Xander's sharp interjection. There was no anger in his voice, no threat of further punishment for Esther. But this only heightened Esther's fear. She shrank behind Abigail, peeking out from her side. "Are you thinking up another way to punish me?""Mr. Zane, I'll take Essy to wash up right away, make sure she's squeaky clean," Abigail said, tugging Esther away. When they were back in Esther's room, safe from Xander's line of sight and hearing, Abigail said, "Silly girl, he hasn't mentioned punish
Abigail tapped her gently on the forehead. "Little missy, what on earth is going on in that pretty head of yours? What could possibly happen between your brother and me? Worst case scenario, he fires me, or takes away my salary. Would I dislike you for such petty matters?""Just remember what we said today; our bond won't change because of my brother." Esther was not worried about the scenario Abigail proposed; what she feared was Abigail learning the truth about Xander and deciding to divorce him, eventually hating her as well for being a part of the deception.When someone repeatedly emphasizes something, it shows insecurity. Abigail did not want to pry into Esther's fears but she could not let the girl continue to dwell on her worries. "Essy, are you scared of your brother, or are you scared of being confined?" Esther froze for a moment, then shook her head vigorously. Abigail asked while looking into Esther's eyes and caught a flicker of panic that passed through them. Esther's r
Esther was in an absolute fury, giving Jane not an ounce of the respect due to a mother, but Jane did not appear bothered. She smiled, saying, "Essy, it's cold outside. Open the door first. If you have any grievances, we can talk about them once I'm inside."Esther barked, "My brother said, you're not welcome in this home. You can leave now, the farther the better. Don't disrupt our family reunion."Jane kept smiling. "You're grown up now. Why are you still as disrespectful as when you were a child? It seems I made a mistake by leaving you in your brother's care—look how he raised you. And how can you consider it a complete family without me?"This set Esther off, and she pounded the wall. "Jane, don't you dare speak about my brother! What right do you have?"Jane's demeanor shifted, her voice suddenly harsh. "Open the door, or have your brother speak to me.""Don't bother my brother, he doesn't even want to deal with you." Just as Esther finished speaking, Xander's deep voice ech
Abigail would have liked to sneak away as well, but Xander did not give her a chance."Remember when Jane humiliated you last time? Don't you want to exact some revenge?" Xander asked.Abigail did, of course, but despite the gap between Jane and Xander, they were still mother and son, bound by blood. She, Abigail, was the outsider here. Unless she was a fool, she would not admit to her boss that she harbored thoughts of revenge against his mother.Silence."You're not saying anything?" Xander prodded."What do you want me to say?" Abigail replied.Xander looked at her reddened nose. "Does it still hurt?"Abigail, taken aback by the sudden question, quickly shook her head. "No, it doesn't hurt anymore.""If you truly don't want to be in the same space as Jane, you can leave after she apologizes," Xander added.Abigail did not believe that Jane, with her superior airs, would ever lower herself to apologize to a mere assistant. She did not want to put Xander in a tough spot. "Mr.
'So many years have passed, and this woman remains the same as always, with not a word of truth escaping her lips.' Xander's brows arched slightly, his voice deep and steady. "Save your lies for yourself. Don't try to fool me.""Oh, Xander," Jane began, always skilled at steering the conversation. "I'm your mother. When have I ever deceived you? If you don't want to discuss your wife, let's talk about Essy. That girl is all grown up and still doesn't know how to behave herself. You need to guide her. She can't rely on you forever, can she?"Xander did not have the patience to engage in petty squabbles with her. 'She had no interest in Esther's wellbeing before, and now that Esther has grown, she suddenly wants to intervene. What right does she have?' Without mincing his words, he fired back, "Enough. What's your true purpose for coming here?"Jane laughed. "Today is Easter Eve. Naturally, I came to spend time with you and Essy. In the past, you were always too busy and not in Pleasi
"Anything you've touched..." Xander paused, his words hanging in the silent air before he uttered a single word, "Filthy."Jane's face blanched, and she roared, torn apart by his accusation. "Filthy? You call me filthy? It was the Zanes who betrayed me first, their treachery predated mine! Don't you dare call them clean. Or do all men share the same mindset, that men engaging in a reckless and hedonistic lifestyle are charming, but women who do the same are despicable?""He was even filthier!" Xander's voice seethed with a quiet fury. To him, gender did not matter—marriage demanded responsibility, commitment to one's spouse. That was the least one should expect. And it was because of this belief, when he mistakenly thought his wife had cheated, he had proposed divorce with unshakable resolve."Your callousness toward me... it's as if you were cut from the same cloth as him," Jane huffed, taking a deep breath before continuing. "You share his blood. It's only a matter of time before
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