"Okay."By the time they reached the oxcart, Finn was the first to climb aboard. He then extended his hand to Wyneth. "Come on up."Expressionless, Wyneth placed her hand in his, allowing him to help her up. They settled next to each other, their actions as natural as breathing. Finn did not seem to see himself as a top-tier celebrity, and even more startling was Wyneth's placid demeanor. It was as though Finn, the one helping her aboard, was just another ordinary Joe.'What on earth?' thought Giada, 'What happened yesterday that I don't know about before I joined this team?'Lost in her thoughts, she barely noticed Derek leap onto the cart, offering her his hand. "Up you go."Giada bit back her disappointment. She had hoped Finn would be the one to lend her a hand. But he was already seated, so she resigned herself to giving her hand to Derek, taking her place on the oxcart. Since Finn and Wyneth had already claimed the other side, she had no choice but to sit with Derek.Wyneth
Giada was taken aback. "Cook?""Yeah." Finn nodded. "The girls in our group don't have to do the heavy lifting, so you can rest. But you need to help with cooking."Giada was left somewhat bewildered. 'I can't cook. If I could, I wouldn't have been dizzy with hunger yesterday.'Seeing the embarrassment cross Giada's face, Finn asked straightforwardly, "By the look on your face, you can't cook?" Giada instinctively turned to look at Wyneth, about to point out that she was not the only girl in the group. But before she could, Finn said, "Well, if you can't cook, then you should join us in the heavy tasks."Giada was left speechless. She looked at Wyneth, who sat there with her eyes closed. 'So what if I can't cook? Can she? And what's the deal with these two? Why is Finn so good to Wyneth? Is it because she's pretty? Is that why he's so kind to her?' For a moment, Giada felt a touch of disappointment toward Finn. She did not expect a top-tier celebrity to be so superficial.Their ta
"We're just going into the fields to plant, that's all," Wyneth said nonchalantly. "I've read about it, found it intriguing. Just never had the chance.""Really?" Finn asked, taken aback. "You've read about it?""Yeah, I saw some documentaries and was intrigued. Wanted to try it myself." She was already removing her shoes to replace them with the rain boots the crew had provided.Finn looked at her for a long moment, finally capitulating after a few seconds. "Okay, but stay close. Don't fall.""Okay."From a distance, Derek watched Finn standing in the mud, carefully assisting the pretty, delicate girl down. He only let go when he was sure she was stable, yet he continued to caution her with a string of instructions. 'He's a superstar, yet he's going to such lengths for a girl. If this isn't deep affection, I don't know what is. But there's something strange. There's no hint of romance in their eyes or gestures.'Guides were instructing some people nearby. Wyneth listened attenti
In the elegant, quiet visitor's area of StarCrest Entertainment's headquarters, Dexter had just bid farewell to a guest when a handsome man appeared before him."Dexter, long time no see.""Mr. Silva? What brings you here all of a sudden?"Rio, a good friend of Hayden and Jake, was a frequent visitor during Hayden's sickness."I'm here to call in a favor." Rio beamed, his cheerfulness palpable.'A favor?' Dexter thought, perplexed, 'Since when does Mr. Hamilton owe Rio a favor?'"Where's Hayden?" Rio asked, his eyes already spotting Hayden lounging on a couch inside. With long strides, Rio quickly made his way in.Curious about what favor Rio might need, Dexter decided to stick around.Hayden drained the remaining coffee from his cup. As he glanced up, he saw Rio making himself comfortable on the couch and reaching for the untouched snacks on the table. Given their years of friendship, Hayden was no stranger to Rio's casual demeanor."What brings you here?"Rio smirked, his g
As Rio rose to leave, he threw a flirtatious glance Hayden's way. "Thanks, man."Once he had left, Hayden discreetly pulled out his phone to search for Farm Face-off. After perusing some information, he understood what this Farm Face-off was all about. It was a small variety show that had a few seasons under its belt but had always been just another show. Its popularity, however, had recently spiked due to the involvement of top-tier singer, Finn. The list of other participants had not been officially released yet; they were likely waiting until after filming was completed to reveal the lineup gradually.'Wasn't she filming Le Palais? Why did she join this variety show?' Ever since he had bought that protective charm and had it delivered to her, Hayden had not heard a peep from her. Their interaction had been calm and collected yet left them with nothing more to say. 'I wonder if she feels any better after receiving the charm?'On their way to find the person in charge, Dexter could
At the variety show, Derek's team had hustled all morning, the trio managing to wrap up their tasks ahead of schedule. As they emerged from the fields, they were all disheveled, covered in sweat and dirt. Despite wearing hats, Wyneth's fair cheeks were sunburned to a rosy hue, and droplets of perspiration traced glistening paths down her temples.Seeing this, Derek fumbled in his pocket to offer her a tissue. Unfortunately, when he pulled it out, it was sodden and grimy.Wyneth's lips twitched at the sight. "You better keep that for yourself."After a silent moment, Derek tucked the grubby tissue back into his pocket. "We've finished our task. Let's head back."During their return, the two men walked in silence, flanking Wyneth on either side. Though inwardly full of reflections, Wyneth waved at the camera. The cameraman quickly stepped forward, shifting to the solo shooting mode they had used earlier. Wyneth showed the camera her dirty hands and pointed out the traces of the day's
His lips curled into a smile. 'This variety show trip has been quite worthwhile.'They returned to their resting place in good spirits. But as soon as they stepped inside, a pungent and offensive smell of something burned assaulted their nostrils. Wyneth's face turned a shade paler. Finn crinkled his nose instinctively, asking, "What's that smell? Is the place on fire?" Derek was speechless. 'Seems like our lunch is off the table today.' While he was contemplating, a sudden clamor erupted from the direction of the kitchen. Quickly, they rushed over, only to encounter Giada screaming and rushing out of the kitchen, almost crashing into Finn's open arms. Finn managed to sidestep just in time."Y-You're back." Giada's face reddened upon seeing the trio. "Lunch isn't ready yet. You might have to wait a little longer."They all turned to look at the kitchen. Or rather, what was left of it. The ingredients and crockery the production team had prepared were largely wasted; burned, chopped
Finn stepped in to start the clean-up, with Wyneth following suit to get a cloth, only to have Derek snatch it up before she could lay a hand on it. The two men wasted no time diving into the kitchen's disarray.Giada stood off to the side, a shocked look plastered across her face. 'Is it my imagination or are these two guys competing to do Wyneth's chores?' she grumbled silently, resentment building. 'Why, though?'Despite the kitchen being attended to, Wyneth was not just standing around idle. She waited until Finn cleared a bit of space, then ventured in to assess the surviving ingredients. 'Due to the weather, we don't store much food, and fresh ingredients are usually just enough for the day. Giada has wasted so much... What's left...' Wyneth mulled over it for a moment before turning to the others. "Ever had aglio e olio? How about we have that for lunch?" The remaining ingredients were hardly enough for a full meal. If they attempted to cook, the resulting portions would be pi
"I heard," Hayden sighed, thinking she might tell him not to touch her."What do you think?" Wyneth asked."Me?" A small smile formed on Hayden's lips as he gently kissed her. "It's whatever you want."Wyneth's eyes sparkled. "So, you'll listen to me?"Hayden hesitated. "Except...""What?" Wyneth's tone shifted to annoyance. "You aren't backing out, right? You just said it's up to me.""It's not that I'm backing out," Hayden said, "I just have one condition. I'll listen to you any other time, but there's one thing I can't do.""What thing?" Wyneth asked.Hayden leaned in and whispered in her ear. Wyneth's face turned a shade of pink, and she pushed him away, gasping."You're such a creep!" she exclaimed.Hayden took her wrist, drawing her close and kissed her earlobe. "What's the matter? Isn't this okay for us? Don't you think so?" As he kissed her, he began to unbutton her collar. His voice was low and smooth. "Just listen to me this one time. For everything else, whatever y
On the ride home from the hotel, tears rolled down Wyneth's cheeks nonstop. This time, though, she was not alone by the car window. She was nestled in Hayden's arms. He wiped away each tear, comforting her all the way."Don't cry. It's just a mix-up, okay? He said he's fine and will be around for a long time," Hayden whispered.Despite his soothing words, Wyneth's tears did not cease. Seeing this, Hayden, filled with concern, gently asked, "Is this not what you wanted?"Confused, Wyneth looked up. "What are you talking about? I'm beyond happy he's alive."Hayden smiled, gently wiping her eyes. "Then why are you still crying?""I'm crying because..." Wyneth bit her lower lip, with Hector's words echoing in her mind.She had always been upset, believing her father had not wanted her years ago. But just as she was about to leave, Cindy pulled her aside. "Wyneth," her mother said gently, "your dad did want you. When I divorced him, I had just one demand.""What was it?""I wanted o
Everyone was silent. Just before entering the private dining room, Wyneth blurted out, "Is he really dying?" Hearing this, Andrew's steps halted. Before he could answer, she added, "How long does he have? Why didn't anyone say anything before?"Andrew sighed and turned around. "Is that why you're here?" Wyneth pursed her lips. A wave of uncertainty washed over Andrew. 'This mom and daughter,' he thought, 'they're here because they got it all wrong. Mom is acting differently toward Dad, too. She was all tough before, but now she's gone soft, probably thinks Dad is dying. And Dad? He's just laughing, like he's having a good time with all this mess.' Andrew hesitated, then said, "Let's talk inside." He chose to hold his words for now.Hayden and Wyneth walked into the private dining room. Cindy was passing dishes to Hector. As they entered, every pair of eyes turned their way. A divorced couple and six sons stared at Hayden. Used to the predictable world of leadership, Hayden now ventur
In the end, Wyneth decided to stay. She could see the honesty in Matilda's words and knew she was sincere. Recognizing Matilda as not her birth mother made Wyneth realize she should not hold her to the same expectations. With acceptance, she focused on building her future with Hayden, freeing herself from doubts and reservations.With Wyneth's decision to stay, Matilda's heart swelled with joy and immense honor. Realizing Wyneth's sincere intentions, not merely chasing the Hamilton family's wealth, transformed their relationship. Matilda's newfound warmth toward her was evident. Gifts, once withheld, now freely flowed into Wyneth's room. At auctions, Matilda eagerly bid on items for Wyneth. During jewelry store visits, Matilda generously bought her gifts, swiping her credit card without hesitation, and welcoming her nearly as a daughter.Wyneth received a call from her mother. Even after so many years, her mom, Cindy, was still bossy. "Your father isn't doing well. You should come to
Just at that moment, a knock sounded from outside."Sir, your mother is back," someone said.Hayden could feel the person in his arms stiffen, her body tensed. "Don't worry, I'm right here," he reassured her softly."Your mother heard that Ms. Walford is here. She wants to see her," the voice from outside continued.'Meet me?' Wyneth bit her lower lip lightly. 'Why does she want to see me? To insult me again?'"She hasn't eaten yet. She can meet her after eating," Hayden said, gently turning down the request for Wyneth. Outside, everything fell silent."Won't this offend your mom?" Wyneth's voice filled with concern as she asked.Hayden looked at Wyneth, pausing for a moment before speaking. "I know she's been mean to you," he said. Wyneth's eyes widened in surprise. "I'm sorry." He bent down and lightly kissed her forehead. "You've been treated unfairly." Seeing her blink, he added, "Let's eat first. After that, I'll go with you."Wyneth was a bit nervous, but not as anxious a
Hector was speechless as Cindy mistakenly thought he was ill. Seeing her worried face, he felt the misunderstanding might not be so terrible. He shared a look with Andrew. His eldest son caught on immediately, giving a subtle head shake. Understanding the signal not to mislead Cindy any further, Hector hesitated before gently asking, "Can I see her? Even just a glance?" It had been many years since he last saw his daughter up close, and she had not called him "Dad" in all that time.Cindy, lost in thought, stared at Hector before finally nodding as if admitting defeat. "Fine, I'll call her."Later, Wyneth fell asleep. Upon waking, she found herself on the large bed in Hayden's bedroom. She saw Hayden sitting at the sofa, busy with a computer.Hearing her movement, Hayden immediately got up and walked toward her. "Awake? Thirsty or hungry? Want something to eat first?"Having slept through lunch, Wyneth was hungry, so she nodded. "Sure."After Hayden left to give some instructions,
'He shifts moods so fast,' Wyneth thought as she stared at her unattended ringing phone.Observing her delay, Hayden asked, "What's going on?"In his mind, a thought flickered, 'She seems reluctant to take the call. Perhaps there's tension with her eldest brother?'"He's calling now; must be about him," Wyneth whispered."About your dad?"They had decided to be together, and Wyneth did not hide anything from him. "Yeah, my dad."Hayden did not utter a single word."I don't like him," Wyneth softly said, staring at her ringing phone. "Answer it for me and say I'm asleep," she whispered to Hayden as she cozied up to him. Without a word, Hayden picked up the phone and conveyed the message before ending the call.After ending the call, a curious Hector asked, "Well? Where is she?"Understanding the situation, Andrew said, "She didn't answer the phone; she's asleep."Despite hearing the words, Hector felt something was off. He sighed, "She really doesn't like me.""Don't worry, D
"Trouble recognizing faces? What do you mean?" Hector Spencer asked.Andrew sighed. "Dad, he's Wyneth's ex-husband."Hector's eyes widened in surprise. "He is? No wonder I didn't recognize him. I must've barely seen him before.""Is that what's bothering you?" Andrew asked."What else would it be?" Hector replied, still taken aback.Andrew sighed. His dad, Hector, was good at many things and never stayed mad at people. But there was one funny thing about him: he could never remember faces of people outside their family. "You don't mind?" Andrew asked.Smiling, Hector replied, "Mind what? She's told everyone, so she must be ready. I've never been the dad she favored. If I object now, won't she dislike me even more?"Andrew was left speechless by this. He had not expected Hector to have no objections. "Seems like someone doesn't need your approval."Changing the topic, Hector asked, "What about your mom? Is she back?" He had been living alone for many years.Andrew exhaled. "I t
Everyone rushed to check out Wyneth's Facebook and, sure enough, they saw her admitting to the relationship, along with a freshly taken selfie.At first, Wyneth only wanted to write a post. But after Hayden tasted the joy of going public with their relationship, he suggested taking a wefie for the official announcement. Feeling his excitement, Wyneth agreed. They posted the wefie on Facebook, captioned "Officially Together". Yet, Hayden was not done. He captured another photo, this time holding her hand, eager to share their love with the world.Since Hayden was not a celebrity or idol, he had no fan feelings to fret over. Eager to declare his love, he did not hold back. His photo captured his sharp features and dark, gem-like eyes that shone under the camera lights. The image showcased his palm holding Wyneth's fair, slender hand. Their contrasting hands highlighted his affection, radiating warmly from the photo.After the photo came out, everyone was shocked. This included fans, p