Sarah looked up to find a handsome man with bright, playful eyes. Though striking, his manner was gentle, with a boyish charm when he smiled.Sarah didn't recognize him, and Scarlett looked equally puzzled.Steven Miller made himself right at home, setting down the prepared goose with a friendly smile. "I'm Steven, Mr. Reynolds' chef. He asked me to prepare your goose specially for you ladies. Please, try some."Chef? Sarah raised an eyebrow. What chef wears a watch worth hundreds of thousands?"Steven," Scarlett blurted out, "do all of Mr. Reynolds' chefs wear such expensive things?"Steven grinned as he served them the goose. "Let's just say Mr. Reynolds pays well."Both women couldn't help but laugh.Their laughter carried over to where James sat, stirring something dark in his chest. From his angle, he could see Sarah delicately picking at her food, smiling as she listened intently to the handsome man beside her, her eyes sparkling.Suddenly, his own food turned tasteless i
The barbecue lasted well into the afternoon, with drinks flowing and laughter filling the air, creating the kind of warmth that makes strangers feel like old friends.Sarah slipped away during the festivities to claim her prize, accompanied by a staff member. As the winner, she had her choice of either the horse she'd ridden or any other animal from the estate's collection. Though drawn to the horses, she chose a young deer instead, believing horses weren't meant to be kept as pets.As she finished making her choice, a security guard approached. "Miss Sanders? Mr. Reynolds would like a word."There was only one Reynolds who commanded that kind of respect - Zachary Reynolds.Upstairs, she found him lounging by the window while Steven mixed drinks, purple liquid catching the light as ice clinked against crystal.Steven's eyes sparkled with mischief when he saw her. “You must be special - boss never shares his private collection with anyone."He wasn't even trying to hide what he wa
Though Steven had worked for Zachary for years, his mysterious role as private chef kept him out of James's social circle. He greeted Sarah and Scarlett warmly before brushing past the others. "It's getting cold out here. Let me give you ladies a ride home."Scarlett brightened immediately. Any chance to spite James and Charlotte was worth taking. "That's so sweet of you!" she gushed.Sarah couldn't help but smile, knowing that easy-going Steven wouldn't have offered without Zachary's instructions.As she followed Scarlett into the car, her gaze lingered on the shadowy building, remembering Zachary's request."Professor Wells tells me you're quite accomplished in psychology," he had said. "I have a patient I'd like you to help with."She'd refused immediately. Maybe if she hadn't married James, she would have become a successful therapist. But now, treating patients felt beyond her reach."I'm sorry, but I can't help. You should find someone more qualified."In the sunset light,
The house was part of James's divorce settlement, with the paperwork still in process. Even if he wanted to play the dutiful son by housing his in-laws, he should have asked for her consent first.Besides, this was the only home they'd shared before marriage.But it all came down to one simple truth: James had never seen her as a person worth considering.Not a person. Just a... pet.As the group excitedly discussed wedding plans, Mrs. Chancer spotted Sarah and her face darkened.The others turned to look.“Geez,” Lucy sneered. "What's she doing here?"Charlotte stepped forward smoothly, masking her discomfort. "What a surprise, Sarah. What brings you here?""Not a surprise at all," Sarah replied coolly, taking in their hostile faces. "I'm moving in."Mrs. Chancer stared at her like she'd lost her mind. "Have you gone crazy? James divorced you! This is Chancer property - you have no right to be here."“How shameless,” Lucy spat. "Still hanging around after the divorce."Thei
"Mum,” Charlotte quickly intervened, "Sarah was James's wife after all. We shouldn't treat her like this. We have spare rooms - she could stay if needed."The security guards looked at Sarah's modest outfit with barely concealed disdain. Just another gold-digger, they probably thought, clinging to a wealthy family."No need," Sarah said firmly, ignoring their looks.As she wheeled her suitcase away, the sky opened up without warning. Perfect timing, Sarah thought wryly, glancing at her phone's dying battery. Just her luck.With nothing but trees around and no shelter in sight, she was quickly soaked to the bone, standing helpless in the downpour.A Porsche Cayenne pulled up quietly beside her. Zachary stepped out, black umbrella in hand, every bit the knight in shining armor. "We meet again, Miss Sanders."In a moment like this - caught in the rain, rescued by a handsome man with an umbrella - most women's hearts would skip a beat.Sarah's did, but only briefly. "Since it's such
Zachary was quiet for a long moment. When Sarah thought he wouldn't answer, he finally said softly, “A friend."Something in his tone made her change the subject quickly. "If you don't mind, could you tell me more about your sister's condition?""She has severe reactions to blood. Episodes of memory loss. Panic attacks around unfamiliar men - severe enough to cause physical symptoms. In certain situations, she completely breaks down."His professional demeanor returned as he spoke, creating distance.Sarah considered this carefully. Classic signs of severe trauma. Whatever happened must have left deep psychological scars.Before she could respond, Mrs. Maggie returned with clothes. "The shower's ready, dear. These should fit - they're Mia's."Sarah thanked her, but after showering and changing, she realized she'd caught more than just rain. Her face was flushed, her eyes glassy with fever.Zachary noticed immediately, touching her forehead with a frown. "You're burning up."Thr
James's face tightened with irritation. "I'm in a meet-""Another meeting, right?" Sarah cut him off, her voice turning cold. "Mr. Chancer, I can’t be waiting for you forever. If we're getting divorced, stop dragging it out while planning your wedding. Playing the devoted groom while keeping me hanging - it's getting pathetic."Sarah was done with Charlotte's little power plays, done with this pointless connection to James.She'd always been decisive - when she loved, she gave everything, and when it was over, she walked away clean.She wasn't deluded enough to think James's hesitation meant he cared. She simply ranked last in everything that mattered to him.James gripped his phone, jaw clenched. Thinking of the man who'd driven her home, anger flared. "Drop the act, Sarah. You're only in such a rush because you've found someone else."Sarah almost laughed at his absurdity."Think what you want," she said coolly. "It's none of your business anymore. Besides, no one moved on fas
"Man, you've got some nerve," Scarlett finished with disgust.Sarah, amused by her friend's outburst, couldn't help but smile.James frowned. "My mother threw you out? You were sick?"Playing concerned now?Sarah glanced at the courthouse doors, finding the whole thing ironically funny."Yes," she said flatly. "So, Mr. Chancer, if you care at all, handle the paperwork quickly. Let's avoid any more... misunderstandings."She pulled Scarlett away before James could respond.As soon as she left, James called Charlotte about yesterday's events."I wanted to let her stay," Charlotte said, sounding apologetic. "But your mother... well, you know how she feels about Sarah. She called the security before I could do anything else."James felt oddly uncomfortable. "Charlotte, that house was meant to be hers."Meanwhile, Sarah opened her phone to find a flood of messages from Steven,"We could do $3,000?""Even $2,500 works!!!""Hello???""You there?""Price is totally negotiable!!!"S
"I don't want to go to the hospital. Some painkillers will do," Sarah protested.Zachary's knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. "Has it always been this severe?""No, it usually doesn't hurt this much. I just skipped lunch and had too much coffee today," Sarah admitted sheepishly."You should have known better." His voice carried gentle reproach.She paused. "I did. I just got caught up in work and forgot to eat."The hospital's emergency entrance was quiet at this hour - no lines, just the on-call staff. Luckily, the gynecologist was available and quickly prescribed pain medication."Take these after meals, and don't skip any doses," the doctor instructed.Sarah nodded obediently. She wanted to explain that it wasn't usually this bad - skipping meals had just been a mistake.During the drive to her apartment, Zachary remained silent, his expression taut. Once they arrived, he grabbed the medication bag and strode toward the elevator.Sarah stared for a moment before hurry
The day before the competition, Sarah was busy at school all day.She worked with the events and planning teams to decorate the auditorium, even Professor Wells stayed late out of concern."Are the competition questions secure?" Professor Wells asked.Sarah nodded. "They're locked in the counseling room's safe, and I’m the only one with the key."Professor Wells looked relieved. "Good."After he left, Sarah double-checked all the auditorium equipment.By the time everything was ready, it was already 11:30 p.m. She let out a tired sigh. No matter how exhausting, as long as tomorrow's competition went smoothly, it would all be worth it.Back at the counseling room, she was gathering her things when her phone rang. "Mia?"Mia's concerned voice came through. "Sarah, why aren’t you home yet?""Don’t worry, I’m just wrapping up and heading back now. It’s late—go to sleep. You need to be ready for the competition tomorrow," Sarah said, her voice hoarse from fatigue.Mia yawned sleep
“Who said I wouldn’t participate in your university’s psychology competition?” A familiar voice rang out.Sarah’s eyes widened in shock as she turned around.The office door swung open, and Jane walked in with her assistant.Lucy Chancer stared in disbelief. “Jane… Jane Lawrence!”Jane ignored the stunned faces and walked up to the dean, shaking his hand. “Hello, I’m Jane Lawrence.”“Ma’am, what brings you here?” Sarah asked, still frozen in place.“We’ll discuss this later,” Jane replied, her attention shifting to Mrs. Chancer. “Madam, I’ve now confirmed that I will be attending the competition as a judge. This should no longer be considered an oversight, correct?”Mrs. Chancer’s face darkened. She exchanged a baffled look with Lucy. How had Jane Lawrence been convinced? Could it have been Mr. Reynolds pulling strings again?“Ms. Lawrence, you’re really agreeing to be a judge for the competition?” The dean asked, barely hiding his surprise.Jane nodded. “Yes, it’s confirmed.”
The documents on Jane’s bedside table, which she reviewed more thoroughly this time, included a detailed outline of the upcoming psychological knowledge competition, complete with proposed discussion topics. Her curiosity was piqued—perhaps engaging with this new generation of students could offer unexpected surprises.Meanwhile, back home, Sarah stared out her window, lost in thought. Jane’s words replayed in her mind. She had to admit, Jane was right. After years of studying abroad and participating in cutting-edge psychological research, Jane had become a trailblazer in the field. Her return to host forums in East Coast wasn’t just about solving academic problems; it also focused on analyzing and dissecting unique psychological cases, making her time exceptionally valuable.To persuade Jane to participate, Sarah would need to offer something even more valuable than Jane’s current priorities—something she didn’t have. With that realization, she knew she had to let it go.The next
Jane Lawrence gave a helpless smile. "Miss Sanders, I thought I made it very clear—I don’t have the time and won’t be attending the competition."Her assistant stepped in, blocking Sarah. "Miss, Professor Lawrence’s time in the country is limited. All her activities are pre-scheduled, and there’s no way to change her commitments to accommodate your competition.""Did you get a chance to review the files I gave you?" Sarah asked hopefully.Jane hadn’t expected her persistence. She nodded. "Yes, I’ve reviewed them. I must admit, the work from Adams University’s students is impressive. There are some very interesting ideas."Sarah’s eyes lit up, but Jane quickly tempered her expectations. "However, Miss Sanders, those files alone aren’t enough to justify altering my schedule. I returned to the country to participate in a symposium with East Coast’s psychology experts. Every issue we address there could provide crucial solutions for patients struggling with similar mental health challe
"Miss Sanders, this is a serious matter. Perhaps you should try to gather more information first. After all, there are still a few days before the competition," Dean said hesitantly. Although he was the dean of the universityl, the board of directors held the ultimate authority."I understand, Sir,” Sarah replied, her expression heavy with concern. The Chancer family had really pushed her into a corner this time.After leaving the principal’s office, she headed to the psychology consultation room, where Mia was waiting for her."Sarah, I’ve already heard everything. What should we do now?" Mia asked, worry written all over her face.Sarah gave a bitter smile. "The only thing I can do is try contacting Jane Lawrence again."She had included one of her own research papers with the materials she’d submitted to Jane, aligning with Jane’s latest research direction. But what if Jane hadn’t seen it?At 3 p.m., Lucy sat smugly in front of her computer, pleased with the heated discussions
“You—!” Lucy raised her hand in anger, ready to strike.Sarah took a step back, her tone calm but firm. “I’d think twice if I were you. Last time, I let you off the hook and didn’t call the police. If you dare lay a hand on me now, I’ll settle both old and new scores with you.”Lucy hesitated, her hand hovering mid-air, before finally lowering it. “The Chancer family does not welcome you!”Bang!The door slammed shut in Sarah’s face. She glanced at it briefly before turning to leave.Her next stop was to replace her lost phone. After getting a new SIM card and purchasing a new device, she immediately checked the school forum. The chaos sparked by that phone call was evident. The psychology students, practically fans of Jane Lawrence, were already planning to print banners to welcome her.Sarah tried calling Jane’s assistant again, only to receive the same response: “She doesn’t have time.”Even the academic papers she had submitted to Jane seemed to have vanished into thin air,
Sarah had a few suspects in mind. Lucy and Mrs. Chancer hated her the most, and while James seemed unlikely to stoop to such levels, she couldn’t rule him out completely. He had proven capable of shattering her past impressions of him.After the chaos at the party, Lucy had taken the day off and stayed home. Without hesitation, Sarah decided to head to the Chancer house.The maid who opened the door looked startled to see her, likely because Lucy and Mrs. Chancer had been bad-mouthing Sarah nonstop at home.“Miss Sanders, what brings you here?” the maid asked.“I’m here to see James,” Sarah replied directly.“Mr. Chancer isn’t home. Perhaps you can come back another day,” the maid suggested.A soft voice floated out from inside. “Who is it?”Charlotte appeared and froze for a moment when she saw Sarah. Unsure of how to react, she let out an awkward laugh. “Oh, it’s you. What brings you here?”“I don’t have time for small talk,” Sarah said bluntly. “I lost my phone at the party
"Alright," Sarah said, walking over immediately.Scarlett tossed her a carefully selected outfit and grumbled, “That scumbag! You’d better never see him again. The nerve to accuse you of cheating during your marriage!”“I feel like I’m finally seeing him for who he really is,” Sarah replied, her gaze hardening.Sure enough, Sarah's hunch was correct. The next day’s news didn’t mention anything about the birthday party. Instead, it only briefly touched on Lucy’s harassment incident, conveniently skipping over the rest.When Sarah arrived at school, she couldn’t find her phone anywhere.Just as she was about to go searching for it, Professor Wells appeared. “Sarah! I can’t believe you really managed to invite Jane Lawrence! Did you meet her already?”“What?” Sarah was baffled. “Professor, I saw her yesterday, but I didn’t get a definite answer!”Professor Wells frowned deeply. “How can that be? I called you this morning, and you told me yourself!”Impossible. Her phone had been m