"Why are you all jumpy? I'm not going to bad-mouth Abigail," Margaret said."What are you trying to say then?" asked Xander.Margaret replied, "Sit down first. You're so tall; it's tiring for me to look up at you."Xander pulled a chair and sat down next to Margaret. "Go ahead, Grandma.""I've already run out of words praising Abigail," said Margaret. "What I want to know is, aside from being responsible for your marriage, do you have any other feelings for Abigail?""Is it wrong to be responsible for the marriage?" Xander asked.Margaret paused, then said, "Nothing wrong with that. But seeing you two so perfect together, I hope you both can have feelings for each other, and that you're together not just out of responsibility but because you love each other."Her words pierced Xander's heart as his thoughts aligned with his grandmother's. He had started developing feelings for Abigail beyond the duty, and he hoped she felt the same. Known for his controlled expressions, he only
Abigail said, "I want to stop working, live easy, and stay in the beachfront villa Grandma gave me. I want to face the ocean every day, enjoy the sea breeze, and the beautiful view. I don't want to follow the nine-to-five routine, get stuck in traffic during peak hours, fly around with my boss, or work day and night."Melody replied, "I agree! Stinky Caterpie, quit your job quickly. When you do, I'll be your nanny, cook for you, do your laundry, and take care of your big garden. Just pay me a little bit, but make sure to save a room with a good view for me. I want to see the ocean just by opening the curtains."Felix chimed in, "Ladies, are you daydreaming again?"Melody countered, "Stinky Caterpie is a multimillionaire now. This is no daydream."Abigail reassured Felix, "Fee, don't be jealous. If there's a room for Mel in my villa, there's definitely one for you too. I've already planned everything. Us three and Grandma, we'll all live there together. We'll walk around the house,
Xander was unaware of Abigail's fear. All this time, he was afraid that she would not accept him as her husband, that she would not admit he and Nathan were the same person. He never thought about it from her perspective, not realizing she might be even more scared about handling their relationship. Hearing her admit it now, Xander felt very guilty."Abigail, I'm sorry. I didn't consider your point of view. Tell me about your worries, and we'll sort them out together."Abigail said, "Our status and wealth are too different. Many couples with a big difference in wealth end up unhappy, and lots of them get divorced. I don't want that kind of messy marriage, so when I found out you were Nathan, I thought about divorcing you, about backing away. But you gave me strength, made me want to move forward, to give it a try. Even though I know I'll never make more money than you in my lifetime, I still want to earn more, to be a bit closer to you in terms of wealth. I think if I try, maybe I ca
He held her close, buried his nose in her neck, and said, "We're really going to sleep now."Abigail wondered, 'Why does he always know what I'm thinking? Can he guess what's in my head?'Xander gently patted her back. "Sleep tight."'He teases me and then tells me to sleep; how can I sleep now?' she thought.Just as Abigail was lost in her thoughts, Xander's breathing became slow and steady. 'He must have fallen asleep,' she thought. She tried to close her eyes and sleep too, but their sleeping position was a bit uncomfortable. When she tried to move a little, he held her even tighter. It made her wonder if Xander was only pretending to sleep. So she gently poked him on his waist. He did not react, so she confirmed that he was indeed asleep.When she was sure he was asleep, Abigail got a little braver. Since he was holding her so tightly that she could not move away, she leaned a little forward and her nose touched his. This tiny act made her feel really close to him. So, she kep
And just like that, she tried something new. His whole body was solid, but his lips were soft, just like the gummy bears she loved to snack on when she felt sad—squishy, chewy, yummy.As Abigail was enjoying her "gummy bear", Xander slowly opened his eyes. She was so caught up in her joy, she did not notice his watchful gaze. It was only when he gently pulled her into a hug that she heard his calm voice."Abigail, I'm a regular guy, like anyone else."Xander had not been close to a woman in over 20 years— not because he could not or did not want to; he had always lived a clean and honorable life, refusing to play games with love. Now, next to him was his wife, Abigail, who he loved both in his heart and with his actions. Abigail probably did not know that her glances and movements made him want to hug her even more.'He's awake! When did he wake up?' She was so focused on her "gummy bear" joy that she missed it."Time for bed," he said, gently holding her, stopping her from moving
Abigail stared at Xander, who was deeply focused on his book, not noticing her.Perhaps sensing her gaze, Xander finally looked up from his reading. "What's up?"Abigail asked, "What are you reading?" She wondered if he found the book more interesting than her.Xander replied, "The Red and the Black."Abigail asked, "Is it your first time reading it? Are you really into it?" She thought, 'He was so nice to me last night, but this morning he's not. If he likes his book so much, he can spend time with it instead.'Xander responded, "I've read it many times. It always feels fresh."Abigail thought, 'He seems to prefer reading his book again instead of spending time with me. If he's already treating me like this so soon into our marriage, I can only imagine what he'd be like later on.' The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. She pouted at him. "Hmph!"Xander could not stop himself from laughing at her cute reaction. He set his book aside and approached her. "What's wrong
Breakfast was quite a feast, full of all the things Abigail loved to eat.At breakfast, Susanna was insistent on serving Abigail. "Abigail, we weren't sure what you felt like eating today, so we made a bit of everything you usually enjoy. Eat what you like and leave the rest."With only two people at the table, a lot of food would go to waste. Abigail did not like this at all. "Susanna, I don't eat much in the morning. You really don't have to go through all this trouble.""Alright, if you say so," Susanna replied.The two grandmothers, Margaret and Cassandra, had already had their breakfast early in the morning. Now, they joined Abigail and Xander at the table. They kept glancing at the young couple. Add in Susanna, and there were three pairs of eyes fixated on Abigail, making her feel awkward."Grandmas, Susanna, it's kind of hard for me to eat with you all watching me like this," Abigail said."Okay, we won't look. Eat at your own pace," they agreed.They pretended not to wat
The issue started at the breakfast table when Abigail received a new message on her WhatsApp from Felix in their group chat.Felix: [Caterpie, Mel and I are going to the supermarket to buy groceries. Mel's boyfriend is coming at 10. Make sure to come early to help us cook. Don't forget to bring your guy.]Every year, regardless of whose birthday it was, the trio would celebrate at a nice restaurant and then find other fun activities. Abigail knew that this year Felix was cooking at home to take a closer look at Xander and see if he was husband material.Abigail: [Okay, we'll head over after breakfast. Just a heads-up: don't make things hard for him.]Felix: [Not even a little bit?]Abigail: [No! Promise me, or I won't bring him.]Felix: [You keep spoiling him and doing everything for him. You're gonna wear yourself out.]Abigail: [He wouldn't let me do that.]Melody: [If Mr. Zane were my man, I'd not only spoil him like Caterpie but I'd also treat him like a king and use him wh
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