She quit her job to be a stay-at-home mother and took care of her baby. Even though it was a tough job, many people did not give it the respect it deserved. Some people even thought stay-at-home mothers were just lazy and did not do any work. But really, everyone should be able to make their own money. That way, you could live the way you wanted without anyone else telling you what to do.Melody thought about Mrs. Burton and her own mother came to mind. She felt uneasy. Turning to Jodie, she gave her a tight hug. "Thanks for staying with me, Mom," she said.Jodie patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, sweetie. I would never do that. Life is so valuable, and we should make the most of every day."Abigail asked, "Jodie, Clara, do you remember what my mom looked like? Can you tell me?"Clara and Jodie both remembered Abigail's mother clearly. Jodie said, "I sure do remember." Clara added, "Your mom was really beautiful and had a special elegance. I see a lot of her in you."Abigail asked
"If you don't want to look for her, it's okay. Whatever you decide, we support you," Jodie and Clara said, understanding Abigail's feelings. If Abigail's mother wanted to find her, she could have easily asked around in North Florivera. But she left and had not contacted Abigail for years, so it was clear she did not want to acknowledge Abigail as her daughter. Jodie and Clara did not want Abigail to get hurt again by trying to connect with her mother.Melody spoke directly, getting right to the heart of Abigail's concerns, "You need to be strong, Caterpie. It doesn't matter that she's your mom. If she doesn't want you, why should you want her?""Melody, it's okay to be quiet sometimes," Jodie whispered, giving Melody a little pinch to get her to stop talking about things that might hurt Abigail's feelings.Melody always spoke her mind and did not like to see Abigail hurt by someone who did not deserve her. "I'm just saying, why should Caterpie even think about someone like that?"A
Xander: [Hey, why aren't you asleep yet?]Abigail: [I'll be asleep soon.]Xander: [If you can't sleep, wanna chat for a bit?]Abigail: [What do you wanna talk about?]Xander: [The July 13th video has gotten really popular. Lots of people have seen it. And guess what? Some women, who went through the same thing, are speaking up because of your video.]Abigail: [Yep, that's why I posted the video. I want to help all women be brave. And I want women to know that blaming the victim is wrong. People who hurt others should be the ones feeling ashamed.]Xander: [You've done something really great. A lot of women will see it, and you've already helped so many who needed it. You mentioned starting a support group for women at Zane Corporation last time we talked. You should get started on that soon.]Abigail: [Okay. Once I finish dealing with my grandma's stuff, I'll start working on it.]In the living room, Xander and Felix sat at opposite ends of the couch. They both sat in silence, c
Felix kept talking, "Do you realize how tough it is for Caterpie, losing her grandma out of the blue?""I get it," Xander answered."You don't get it!" Felix yelled, not giving Xander a chance to speak. "Caterpie has only shown sadness since her grandma died. You think she's okay because she's acting normal? No way! I've known her for over twenty years, and I know her better than you do. I'm sure Caterpie is really hurting inside. She could be hiding in her room, crying her eyes out right now."After Felix's rant, Xander calmly asked, "Is it possible I'm just texting with Abigail?"Felix's worries were the same as Xander's. That was why he was texting Abigail to take her mind off things. More than anyone, he did not want Abigail to be sad. He could not take away her pain, so all he could do was help with her problems and make sure she was not feeling bad all by herself.Felix paused and then asked with a hint of doubt in his voice, "You're texting Caterpie? Why don't I believe tha
Xander said, "Since you didn't eat much last night, you must be hungry. What would you like to eat? I'll cook something for you."Ever since Cassandra's passing, Abigail had barely eaten, but she did not feel hungry. "I'm not in the mood for food," she said, "but everyone will want breakfast. I'll go wash up, and then I'll help make breakfast."Xander offered, "I'll come with you.""Okay," Abigail agreed.The apartment had three rooms, a living room, and a spacious washroom where two people could easily get ready at the same time. Abigail started brushing her teeth, and she noticed Xander's gaze in the mirror. A bit embarrassed, she asked, "Why are you staring at me like that?"Suddenly, Xander hugged her. "Abigail, if you're sad, it's okay to say so." He saw that she never looked sad around other people and always hid how she really felt. This made him worry even more.Abigail snuggled into his arms, listening to his strong, steady heartbeat. It felt like his heartbeat was givin
Xander's voice was deep and warm, like a cozy blanket on a chilly night. It made Abigail feel safe and cared for. When he spoke to her like that, she did not know what to say because she was not used to talking about her feelings. "You're really important to me, not just useful," she said.This might have been the first time Abigail was so open about her feelings with Xander. He felt really happy, pulled her into his arms, and gave her a tight hug. "Abigail..." he said."Yes?" she answered."Say my name. I want to hear it," Xander asked."Nathan," Abigail said.Abigail liked to call him Nathan when they were alone because that was the name on their marriage certificate. Before, Xander never thought the name "Nathan" was anything special. But now, when he heard Abigail say it, it sounded like the sweetest thing ever. "Can you say it again, a couple more times?""Nathan, Nathan," Abigail said.Just as everything seemed perfect, a sleepy voice interrupted, "Am I in the wrong room?"
"Your sister always thinks you're being mean to me, Xander. You should think about how you appear in her eyes," said Abigail.Xander replied, "My sister is weird. Don't worry about her."Abigail disagreed, "No, you can't just ignore her. Essy is your sister, and she had a tough time when she was little. You mean the world to her. If you love Essy, show her how much. Let her know she's important to you, too. Don't make my mistake. I regret not telling my grandma I loved her every day, and now I can't."Xander understood Abigail's concerns. He quickly opened the door for Esther. "I care about you and Abigail so much. I'd never hurt her. Don't worry about it."Esther was surprised that her brother was explaining himself to her. "I know you wouldn't hurt Abigail," she said. "I just wanted to let Abigail know that I care about her a lot. If you two argue, I'll always take Abigail's side."Xander ruffled Esther's hair. "That's my girl. Keep taking care of Abigail."Esther said, "I stil
Clara walked away, but feeling worried, she turned back and said, "Esther isn't a good match for you. She's pretty, comes from a better family, and is just more impressive overall. You two aren't a good fit." Clara was being honest, and sometimes honesty could hurt.Felix was upset and responded harshly, "I know what kind of family we have. You don't have to keep reminding me. And did I choose to be born into this family? Did you ask me if I wanted to be born?" As soon as Felix said them, he regretted it. "I didn't mean it like that, Mom."Clara knew her son well. "Son, if you're looking for a girlfriend, I know a few nice girls. I can introduce you to some of them."Felix slumped on the couch, feeling helpless. "I'm not in the mood right now. Let's talk about it later." He was thinking about someone. He knew he had no chance with her, but he still did not want to meet anyone else.Clara kept on talking, "You remember my good friend Lindsey, right? Her daughter is graduating from F
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