Margaret initially provided them with jobs and projects, but the Yank family members were incapable of making anything work no matter what they attempted. Later, she started to give them a monthly allowance directly.The thing Margaret had in abundance was money. Regardless of how extravagant the Yank family's demands were, she could always satisfy their needs. She often ignored their greedy expressions and continued treating them as friends.Whenever the Yank family members came to Margaret and asked for money or something else, she always gave it to them. However, she never expected them to visit her this time to smear her beloved granddaughter-in-law. Putting on a pleasant expression would be nothing short of a miracle."Ms. Hart, what are you...?" Gemma saw Margaret's firm attitude and suddenly realized she probably should not have listened to her son and come here today.This visit not only yielded no benefits but also upset Margaret. Gemma wondered, 'Will she still give us th
After leaving the Zane residence's yard and getting into the car, Gemma looked at Ben, who was driving, with a worried expression. "Ben, was what we did today more trouble than it's worth?"Ben sneered, "Hmph, it's hard to tell whether it was worth it or just plain trouble now. Maybe Ms. Hart was just putting on a tough front saying she didn't believe it. However, she might have some doubts deep down. As long as we managed to instill skepticism in her mind, who knows what might happen in the future?"Gemma was still worried. "Ms. Hart has always shown respect to our family. I've been in contact with her for over twenty years. Every time I visit her, she always welcomes me with a smile. No matter how expensive the things are, she gives me anything I want as long as I ask. However, she gave us the order to leave this time. I'm afraid she won't give money to our family anymore."Ben complained, "She only gives us two to three hundred thousand dollars each month. That amount of money is
Abigail grasped the keyword "become beside herself with anger" and asked, "Grandma, don't be anxious. This matter has nothing to do with you. Can you tell me what happened that made my grandma so agitated?"Margaret recounted the events that took place at the Zane residence today. After listening, Abigail fell silent for a few minutes. Then, she stood up suddenly. "Xander, let me use Paxton for a moment."What Abigail called him was not Mr. Zane or Nathan but Xander. It proved she was so angry now."What do you want to do?" Xander asked.Abigail said, "Just let me use Paxton, and don't ask anymore. Also, stay here and take good care of my grandma for me. I'll be back later."Xander had already instructed people to collect evidence, expose the rumor spreaders, and deal with those who intended to hurt Abigail. There would be a result before 8:00 p.m. tonight. He had arranged everything well. There was no need for Abigail to take action anymore. However, he still supported her as alw
The Yank family lived in Noblebrook. It was the residential area allocated by the Florivera government to the relocated households. Each household had a small independent villa, providing a comfortable living environment.The relocated households here could receive annual dividends of several tens of millions. Their daily lives consisted of traveling around the cities and various countries. Throughout the year of having fun, it was time to receive dividends again before they had spent all the money. Therefore, Noblebrook was jokingly referred to as the wealthiest village without having to work.The Yank family was one of the families residing here. Their home was at the entrance of the village. After walking for about a thousand feet to the right upon entering Noblebrook, a small independent villa would show up.Paxton rang the doorbell, and it happened to be Ben who opened the door. As soon as the door opened, he lunged at Ben with his fists, as if throwing punches on a sandbag. Th
Gemma was a bit on the large side, and she rushed forward swiftly. She was determined to knock Abigail down. However, Gemma never expected Paxton to quickly stand before Abigail and block her plump body. So, she did not even get to touch the corner of Abigail's clothes.Paxton did nothing except step forward to shield Abigail. Gemma rushed over and collided into Paxton with her nose. Her tears streamed down from the pain. She covered her nose and cursed, "It's you! You're the foxy woman called Abigail! You're the one who bewitched my son, making him lovesick and affecting his appetite!""Your son thinks about someone else's wife all the time! It's your son who has no shame! How dare you blame others for seducing your son!" Abigail could not be bothered with such a person. "Paxton, let's go!""You hit someone, and you still want to leave? Do you think this is a place where you can come and go as you please?" Gemma walked to the entrance gate and pressed the alarm button forcefully. T
Abigail did not refuse. "Thank you, Mr. Morgan!"Noblebrook was a special place in Florivera. Many things here were beyond the control of the law. It was far more frightening than what meets the eye. Upon reflection now, Abigail realized how reckless her actions had been. She thought that with the help of Paxton, they would be invincible. However, she underestimated what kind of place this village really was.'If it weren't for Xander stepping in to help in time, it's likely that both Paxton and I would have had a hard time leaving the village safely.'In the village, Harry arranged for a car to take Ben to the hospital. However, Gemma stood before Ben and did not allow anyone to touch her son. "Mr. Morgan, you've humiliated Noblebrook's reputation today."Harry looked at Gemma coldly. "I've humiliated? Or has your family humiliated us? No abilities at all, yet still trying to compete with Xander for a woman? Can your son size up his worth before he tries to compete?"Gemma was so
Xander was in charge of the vast Zane Corporation. Even during his rest time, he still had a lot of work to handle, making him stretched thin with responsibilities. So, Abigail did not want to burden him further and avoided letting him take time out of his busy schedule to help her.After Abigail said that, Paxton did not ask further on that matter. "Should we go back to the hospital now?"Abigail nodded. After Paxton drove awhile, Abigail asked, "Paxton, can I trouble you to do me a favor?""Please go ahead," said Paxton.Abigail said, "I can confirm the photos from this afternoon were sent by Daisy, but I'm not sure where she got that information from. Can you investigate who's helping her behind the scenes?""Yes," Paxton answered.Abigail worried that Paxton might not have any ideas and could not uncover any clues. So, she pointed a direction out for him, "About that incident, it did cause quite a stir in North Florivera back then. Everyone there knew about it."However, Flo
Xander's deep and powerful voice reached Abigail's ears, acting like a potent tranquilizer that instantly eased her anxiety. She unconsciously leaned against him as if trying to draw some energy from him. "You knew I would cause trouble by going out. Why didn't you stop me?"Abigail asked without coherence, but Xander understood what she meant. "Why should I stop you? Just go for it without any concerns, no matter what you want to do."'As long as it doesn't threaten your safety, I'll let you do whatever you want. I'll always handle it for you, no matter how much trouble you cause.'Abigail asked, "How much money did you have people bring to Noblebrook to settle the fight?"Xander said, "We just brought the mid-year dividends to distribute to them in advance. There were no losses beyond what was necessary.""Really?" Abigail doubted.Xander said firmly, "Yes."Abigail revealed, "Do you know I felt like a knife to the heart when I heard that you had people bring a truckload of mo
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