"Indeed. If Mr. Reynolds hadn't arrived in time, I would have become the adulteress in Mrs. Chancer's story. These days, it seems slander is effortless, all it takes is a loose tongue.”Sarah cast a cool glance at Mrs. Chancer. This mother and daughter pair seemed to have nothing better to do than take turns trying to destroy her reputation, stopping at nothing to spread rumors.Their relentless efforts were certainly eye-opening.Zachary moved closer, his tall frame beside Sarah. The subtle cedar wood scent of his cologne helped calm her nerves.His deep, resonant voice continued: "If I remember correctly, it was your son's lover who returned, after which he asked Sarah for a divorce. Our Sarah, being kindhearted, agreed to step aside so he could be with his old flame."Sarah glanced at him in surprise before composing herself. Given Zachary's position, getting such information would be simple. He must have investigated her background when seeking her help with Mia's treatment.
News spread quickly across campus...The legendary Zachary Reynolds had appeared at Adams University, and apparently was friends with Miss Sanders. Word was he'd come specifically to defend her reputation.Students couldn’t help but speculate. If their relationship was merely that of casual friends, would someone as busy as Mr. Reynolds personally show up? Wouldn’t sending an assistant have been enough to handle it?Clearly, their relationship must be special. And seeing them walk together, they made a striking pair. Imagine how gorgeous their children would be!The slanderous forum posts were completely deleted, replaced by photos of Sarah and Zachary walking together, looking like something out of a romance novel.Comments had already started shipping them as a couple, though the subjects remained oblivious.Meanwhile in class, as news spread about Mrs. Chancer's false accusations, students began giving Lucy hostile looks."Can you believe it? Her son cheats, but they accuse t
Sarah snapped out of her thoughts when he spoke."No need for thanks. Just remember you owe me one,” he said causally.Sarah stopped walking, knowing that owing Zachary a favor wasn't simple, but she would definitely repay it.Sarah paused mid-step, realizing that a favor owed to someone like Zachary wouldn’t be easy to repay. Still, she nodded firmly. “Mr. Reynolds, don’t worry. I always repay my debts. I don’t know what I can do for you, but as long as you ask, I’ll give it my all.”Zachary's lips curved up, his eyes twinkling mischievously like a fox's, both charming and dangerous.Looking at his expression, Sarah felt a ripple of unease.She had a feeling she'd walked right into his trap.Unable to figure it out, she pushed the thought aside and walked him out. After such a huge favor, it would be rude to just leave him there.Back at the Chancer house, Lucy stormed in after school, throwing her things at the maid, her face sour as if she'd swallowed something bitter."Mom
”Mrs. Chancer, Lucy, what happened?" Charlotte asked. Though unsure of the details, she guessed it involved Sarah - only Sarah could upset them this much.Mrs. Chancer set down her jewelry, her face dark with anger, looking no different from a common market gossip.Charlotte raised an eyebrow but said nothing."It's all that wretched Sarah's fault. She made me lose face in front of everyone..." Mrs. Chancer recounted the day's events, seeing no fault in her own actions.Charlotte understood - they'd tried to scheme against Sarah but got publicly humiliated instead.Lucy quickly sat beside Charlotte, linking arms affectionately. “Charlotte, you're so much smarter than us. Can't you help us figure something out?"Mrs. Chancer glanced at her daughter, her mind still fixated on the property and money, growing more resentful by the minute."Charlotte, Sarah was married to James for three years without producing a child. After the divorce, James inexplicably gave her $8 million and se
What?Give it to Lucy?!Charlotte froze momentarily, internally cursing their shamelessness. But having already expressed her indifference to the money, she couldn't backtrack now. Though seething inside, she had to swallow her anger, only her slightly stiff smile hinting at her true feelings."Whatever Mrs. Chancer thinks is best." Charlotte maintained her composure, turning to Lucy with a smile. “Lucy, since you’re the one who interacts with Sarah the most at school, you probably have the best insight into how people perceive her. Perhaps you could focus on that angle. After all, university students haven’t experienced the real world yet and can be easily swayed. Maybe you can use that to shift their opinions.”She'd said enough - whether Lucy understood was her problem. Whatever happened afterward wouldn't be Charlotte's responsibility.After all, she'd merely made a suggestion, not told her to do anything extreme.Lucy's eyes lit up with understanding. “Charlotte, you're so cl
"Sarah, I've apologized - what more do you want? My mother really didn't mean to..." Lucy forced herself to follow, rambling on to convince Sarah of her sincerity.Sarah shot her a cold glance. “If you and your mother genuinely don’t want to cause me trouble or truly want to apologize, the best thing you can do is stay far, far away from me. The farther, the better.”Lucy was already angry, and this response nearly made her explode.She could only watch Sarah walk away, her eyes sharp with hatred. You ungrateful bitch, throwing my apology back in my face. Just wait and see!News of Lucy's apology quickly spread on the university forum, complete with photos, lending it credibility.As a result, Lucy's reputation at school gradually improved."Who knew the spoiled Lucy was capable of apologizing? Why blame her for her mother's mistake?""The fact that she can apologize shows character. She's our classmate after all - maybe we should be kinder.""As a socialite, she must have good
Sarah looked up puzzled as an invitation appeared before her, finding Mia's sweet, delicate face. She smiled helplessly."Sarah, we're hosting a big gala tomorrow. Please come with me? I get nervous with too many people around."Sarah glanced at the invitation lying on her desk, her expression tinged with complexity. She knew exactly what a Reynolds family invitation meant. Lately, too much attention had been focused on her at school, with endless rumors and debates swirling around. It was a chaotic time.Since handing over her company to her cousin, most people saw her as a fallen heiress with no backing.Attending the Reynolds gala now might spark unnecessary drama."Mia, I have other commitments tomorrow, so I can't attend. If you're feeling anxious, find a quiet corner to stay in. You can always call me if you need anything."Disappointment was evident on Mia's face. She knew Sarah wasn't someone who could be pressured, nor was she after their family's wealth."Sarah, you re
Sarah froze in surprise. His elegant fingers held the cigarette, its ember pulsing in the dark, while an unconscious smile played on her lips."Mr. Reynolds, what brings you here?"Zachary exhaled his final smoke ring and crushed out the cigarette. "I came to see you.""Me?" Sarah felt momentarily dazed.Zachary nodded, offering her the same invitation she'd refused from Mia."I'm here to personally invite you to the Reynolds gala. You said you owed me a favor - I thought perhaps you could be my date. No pressure if you'd rather not."His voice was slightly husky, his deep eyes twinkling with amusement.Sarah took the invitation, her fingertips tingling.She'd already regretted refusing Mia. Since when did she care so much about others' opinions?Besides, there was nothing shameful about attending - no reason to hide."Miss Sanders?" His warm breath brushed her cheek. She looked up instinctively, finding his face inches from hers, his eyes drowning her in their gentle warmth.
Mrs. Chancer remained silent, unsure of how to respond. Lucy continued, her voice breaking with desperation. “Mom, you have to tell James to do something! If nothing else, have someone create a psychological evaluation report like last time. As long as they can prove I have mental health issues, I can be bailed out!” Her sobs grew louder. “Mom, I can’t stay here a single day longer!” Mrs. Chancer sighed deeply, feeling helpless. She had spent the past few days trying to convince James to get Lucy out, but her son had grown unyielding. He hadn’t even come home, let alone answered her calls. She understood that James had made up his mind this time. “I think your brother is determined not to help you this time. And it’s not just him—your grandfather even called specifically to tell us to leave you be.” Lucy stared at her mother in disbelief, clinging to her arm as tears streamed down her face. “Mom! Even if James and Grandpa don’t believe me, you have to! They’ve all been t
“Are you threatening me?” Vivian glared angrily at the man in front of her.The man remained calm and composed. “Not at all. I’m merely reminding you, Miss Wilson, that we’re in this together. If certain things were to come to light, I imagine your reaction would be quite dramatic.”Though furious, Vivian knew this was something Zachary must never find out about.“This is the last time,” she said coolly. “Go back and wait for my instructions.”Zachary had heard enough. He quietly left, not wanting to hear more. But the words stuck in his mind. The last time for what? Waiting for what instructions?Before their conversation ended, he had already slipped away, leaving the rest unanswered.---At the Misty Island Hotel, the morning session of the symposium had just concluded. Sarah was sitting in the restaurant, quietly eating her lunch, when a woman stormed in through the doors, her face twisted with anger. “Sarah! It’s me,” Charlotte said, glaring at her with venom.Sa
“How could he?” Charlotte silently questioned, her heart heavy with resentment. How could James treat her like this?---Adams University.Sarah was in the middle of a meeting when Dean Larson informed her she would be attending a symposium in the northern part of the city. To ensure she wouldn’t have to return late at night, the school had even reserved a room for her at the Misty Island Hotel. This news quickly reached Zachary. That evening, Sarah checked into the Misty Island Hotel, unaware of the unexpected turn her night would take. Late at night, Zachary found himself at the hotel, almost as if drawn there by an unseen force. Standing outside her room, he noticed the window was slightly ajar. He hesitated for only a moment before pushing it open and slipping inside, moving like a thief in the night. As he approached the bed, Sarah’s eyes suddenly opened, her deep brown pupils glinting in the dim light as they locked onto him. “You…” Sarah gasped, her mouth falli
Had her actions already been exposed? Did James know? Charlotte’s heart raced wildly, panic creeping in. What would she do if he had found out? James stared down at her with sharp, cold eyes. His voice was detached as he said, “If you claim you don’t understand, then I’ll take your word for it. Just focus on being Mrs. Chancer.”With that, he gave her a symbolic pat on the back before brushing past her and walking away. Charlotte felt a chill run through her entire body. What did he mean by that? Was he warning her? The thought sent a wave of anger through her. She wanted to sweep everything off the desk in frustration, but this was James’s study—she didn’t dare. Forcing herself to calm down, she reminded herself that her previous actions had already made James weary of her. She needed to rebuild the trust she once had. ---As James entered the bedroom, Charlotte’s voice called out from behind him. “Are you leaving again?” He turned to see her standing there in a
At that moment, a sharp pain hit Zachary’s chest. He realized something had changed—something fundamental—but even so, he wasn’t ready to give up on Sarah. “Sasa, yesterday Vivian said she was in a car accident…” “Zachary, do you know that what happened at the stables was her doing?” Sarah’s eyes widened as she waited for his answer. Zachary hesitated before nodding slowly. “I know.” “You knew and said nothing? She tried to hurt me, Zachary. You’ve let me down.” Sarah’s voice was icy. “Tell Vivian, my patience has its limits.” With that, she shoved Zachary out of the counseling room, handing the gift back to him. “We’re done, Zachary. Since we’ve broken up, there’s no need to stay in touch.” She slammed the door shut and pulled the curtains closed. ---Zachary walked back to his office, looking utterly lost. His assistant quickly approached him. “Mr. Reynolds, Miss Wilson is here.” He entered the office immediately and found Vivian sitting in his chair, a playf
Sarah drank the rest of her wine in one gulp, placed the glass back on the table, and said, “I’m going to rest.” “Alright,” Melvin replied, clinking his glass before sitting back down. His gaze lingered on his phone, his expression complicated. Sarah returned to her room, tidied up the gifts she’d received, and went to freshen up. By the time she sat on the edge of her bed, it was already 11:30 p.m. She held the bracelet Zachary had given her, lost in thought. Why hadn’t he come? What could have held him up? In just thirty minutes, her birthday would be over. She had received so many heartfelt wishes, but not his. While she was deep in thought, her phone chimed with a message. Picking it up, she saw a multimedia message containing text and a photo. The photo showed Zachary fast asleep. Her heart skipped a beat. Below the image was a message from Vivian: “Miss Sanders, this is Vivian. First, happy birthday! Zachary really wanted to attend your party, but he could
Watching them goof around, Sarah couldn’t help but laugh. As she laughed, she suddenly felt something cold on her face. She looked over to see Mia grinning mischievously—there was cream on her face. “Mia, you’ve turned naughty!” Sarah exclaimed, standing up from her seat and grabbing a plate of cream. She chased after Mia with playful determination. Melvin sipped his red wine and smiled as he watched them. His gaze drifted toward the front door, and he frowned slightly. Was Zachary really not coming? Earlier, before the cake was brought out, Melvin had noticed the disappointment in Sarah’s eyes. Though she hadn’t said anything outright, Melvin, who had watched her grow up, could read her emotions like an open book. Still, at least she seemed happy now. Lost in thought, Melvin suddenly felt a gust of wind behind him. Turning around, he saw Sarah. Her hand was already reaching for his cheek. Before he could react, Sarah smeared cream across his face with a triumph
During dinner, Scarlett and Steven sat together at the table, which was loaded with skewers and desserts. Steven picked up an egg tart, took one bite, and immediately put it down with a look of disdain. “This egg tart is awful. The crust is way too greasy, and the filling tastes weird—like it’s gone bad.” Scarlett rolled her eyes and tried a bite herself. “I think it’s fine.” Ignoring her, Steven kept eating while complaining. “This grilled meat is terrible! The chef didn’t even bother to do a good job—it tastes gamey and smells bad.” “And this fried pork chop? My God, it’s dripping with oil!” … As he kept eating and grumbling, Scarlett couldn’t take it anymore. She grabbed the food out of his hands. “If you’re going to complain so much, then stop eating! These dishes were made by the chefs Melvin hired. If you don’t like it, why don’t you cook something yourself?” Steven looked at her, stunned. “Are you kidding? My cooking is way too expensive for this!” Scarle
“If it’s nothing, then why won’t you show me?” James took a deep breath and handed the photo album to Charlotte. “Satisfied now?” Charlotte took the album and flipped through it, photo by photo, noticing that most of them were pictures of James alone. “This belongs to Sarah? Why is her stuff here?” Charlotte frowned. She didn’t want Sarah to have any connection to them. James let out a cold, mocking laugh. “She probably forgot about it.” Charlotte didn’t press further, but she couldn’t shake the image of James’s expression while looking at the photo earlier—his eyes had been heavy with emotion, complicated and full of longing. Sensing James’s growing impatience, Charlotte quickly tried to explain. “James, I just feel insecure sometimes. I’m afraid you don’t care about me anymore. It’s only because I care so much about you.” “I know,” James said, his voice laced with exhaustion. ---That day was Sarah’s birthday. The venue was set at Melvin’s villa. The outdoor