When old Miss Langston saw the murderous expression Micheal wore at that moment, she coughed slightly to break everyone out of their stupor.Before the elders could start berating Jack for his rude comment, she spoke first. “Said like a true leader. A man should follow rules and etiquette. I'm proud of you, Jack. Everyone can have this conversation after dining.”Those who were about to voice their displeasure quickly shut their mouths.They weren’t pleased that out of the six eligible men in the family around Micheal’s age, he was chosen as the family head. The most annoying part was that Micheal had not been involved in their line of profession. He could have just been appointed as the head of the technical team of their empire, but the old patriarch dumped him into the role everyone had their eyes on.They couldn’t wait for the old woman to die so they could fight for the position with everything they had, but with Micheal being so young and already having two brilliant heirs, the
At the same time, a heated argument broke out between the old patriarch and Micheal.Micheal had tried to overlook the situation, knowing full well that his next visit to his family home might not be for another eight months or even a year. If Yvonne turned out to be a reliable ally in his quest to see his children live happy childhoods, Micheal wouldn't have a reason to come back. But to his shock, his grandmother actually suggested he allow her to raise Jack. It seemed she wanted to mold him into a puppet, just like they had done to Micheal.That same day, Micheal decided he had to return to his home with his kids. However, the old woman feigned a headache and dramatically collapsed. Micheal could only sigh as he listened to her rant about her pure intentions, claiming she just wanted to see the children more often, with nothing else attached.Grandma Langston had initially planned to focus on Lilian, given how close she felt to the little girl. But after Jack boldly commented duri
A few days passed, and Sammy only grew more anxious. David still hadn't shown up at their new home, and the man she hired to keep an eye on Yvonne’s home claimed he hadn’t gone there either.Sammy wanted David to realize his errors and beg her for forgiveness, but he was still feeling guilty for hurting her and thought that staying away would solve the situation.At work, he stuck to his department, and since she made no attempt to approach him either, they managed to stay out of each other’s line of sight. Many of their colleagues had asked both parties if everything was fine, and they both replied that they just needed some space. Nothing too serious.Sammy's mood, however, took a turn when she was notified that Yvonne hadn’t been to her apartment for over two days. Her first thought was that David and Yvonne had created a secret meeting place, but after further investigation, she found out that he had still been sleeping at the office.Unable to shake the feeling that she was givi
Yvonne stayed for quite a while at Amy's house, and during that time, she discovered the profound sense of peace she felt away from the home where all her trauma had originated. After expressing her desire to move out from her former house to secure the peace her heart needed, Amy discussed it with her fiancé. He eagerly asked Amy to move in with him, allowing Yvonne to remain at Amy's apartment.Amy suggested that Yvonne should consider settling the paperwork of ownership with the building management after Amy's lease ended. Yvonne insisted she would only stay if she was allowed to pay Amy back, and finally, a decision was made after Amy reluctantly agreed.Yvonne now had a new apartment. Amy came regularly to take her personal belongings until the house was ready to be rearranged to Yvonne's liking. Aside from work, Yvonne procrastinated on decorating her new home and eagerly anticipated the day Lily and Jack would return. The nightly video chats with Lily made her evenings, affecti
Micheal coughed in embarrassment. The lengths his children would go to use him to impress their new friend were immeasurable.“I am very useful,” he echoed his son's words, and Yvonne couldn’t help but burst into laughter.Micheal grew confused. “My usefulness is funny to you, Miss Yvonne? Ha, I’m glad,” he said sarcastically.“You should see your expression, Mr. Langston. You look horrified,” Yvonne replied.She was sure Micheal would never help her unpack, and his expression confirmed her thoughts. Micheal looked as if he had swallowed an abomination. His lips twitched in obvious irritation but morphed into a forced smile when his kids turned around.It was simply hilarious.“He looks grumpy, right?” Lily asked.Yvonne nodded, still smiling.“Don’t worry. He’ll do it anyway,” Jack added, and with that, both kids dragged Yvonne toward the table set for their dining in the private room of the restaurant.Yvonne's and Lily's plates were packed full of food. Jack kept filling Yvonne’s
In the end, Yvonne found herself browsing a few interior decor magazines with Lily, who sat comfortably between her legs. The little darling looked extremely pleased where she was, and the same could be said about Yvonne. As Lily gave her suggestions like an adult, Yvonne subconsciously brushed her fingers through Lily's hair. Yvonne had initially hoped to paint the walls in her preferred colors and maybe set up a small office in a corner of the room that faced the balcony, providing a serene view of the sky. But with Lily acting so enthusiastically over the designs, she immediately changed her mind. She thought about Micheal being a driver, assuming he lived a modest life. The thought of bringing the little girl's fantasy to life made her heart swell with joy. Spending on that felt more fulfilling than dressing up and booking expensive restaurants to rebuild a relationship. She knew David still felt something for her, but after how he treated her that night, Yvonne regretted puttin
Finally, Micheal was done with his task. He looked around the room with a sense of pride. He had never bothered with such mundane tasks in his life. With enough money at his disposal, he had always had helpers to take care of these aspects. However, after spending over three years taking care of his children, it didn't feel as distant as it once had, and he was proud of the outcome.With his hands on his hips, Micheal glanced around the room with his lips pursed. Jack knew that was his father's pleased expression. He jumped down from his inspection stage and raised his hand to give his father a high five. Micheal bent his tall frame and lightly pressed his large palm to Jack's small one. Jack was proud of his father; he had done a good job impressing the woman he still strongly believed would be his mommy.“Do you want to go call her to have a look?” Micheal asked Jack, who eagerly nodded his head and ran outside the bedroom. Micheal took a quick glance around and quickly smoothed the
Yvonne had no idea how to respond and merely smiled to cover up the awkwardness. She understood that Micheal was doing everything he could for his children, but how did he feel personally? It was admirable that he did so much for his children's sake, but what about his own integrity? Was he upset that he had to touch a stranger's belongings?Yvonne wondered what thoughts roamed through his mind as he helped her unpack while she sat in the living room, scrolling through magazines. “Thank you very much, Mr. Langston. Would you like a cup of water? Juice?” she asked.“Water will be fine. Daddy doesn't like juice,” Lily replied on Micheal's behalf. “They are in charge,” Micheal gestured helplessly, which made Yvonne smile softly."Water it is, then,” Yvonne said, and they all walked back into the living room.Out of excitement, the kids suggested they watch a cartoon. Micheal was used to this routine, but it was a trigger for Yvonne, who had once purchased so many different types of car