"Feel free to do as you please; I won't be partaking in this flavorless fare today," Alice declared firmly before turning away.Andrew delivered Alice's lunch, only for her to grimace at the sight of the egg porridge once again.Ignoring her refusal, he ladled a portion of porridge into a bowl and extended a spoonful toward her."I told you, I'm..."Alice was in the midst of speaking when Andrew abruptly stuffed a spoonful of porridge in her mouth."Ahh, ouch. Sunny....." Alice gulped the saliva and yelled."Have it, silently." Andrew said it with a stern look.Alice positioned herself with crossed arms and averted her gaze."Do you believe your tantrums will work on me?" Andrew remarked, delivering another spoonful to her mouth."I doubt that." Alice mumbled and ate it grumpily."You need to rest and recuperate, but you seemed to wander around the entire floor. From now on, you'll not even step out of bed." Andrew reprimanded her."What the heck..." Alice's incredulous words were dro
Benjamin punched in Skylar's number, only to be met with a vexed voice on the other end."Now what?" "Let's breakup." Benjamin said it much more rudely than her."What?" Skylar was taken aback.Even though she'd been insisting on a breakup for days, she knew he'd never willingly let her go. When he finally conceded to separate, she felt like the ground had been yanked from beneath her."What's the matter? Are you shaken?" Benjamin asked, stationed in the second-floor corridor, and shot Skylar a concerned look at the first-floor lobby."Of course not. Why would I be shaken? I've been wanting this for a long time. It's clear now that parting ways is the best choice for both of us," Skylar said, her eyes welling up with tears.'Wow, what an adorably awful liar,' Benjamin mused, casting a smirk her way as he casually slipped his left hand into his pocket.Every action of hers was under his keen observation and enjoyment. The moment he brought up the breakup, her brisk steps suddenly halt
Alice was released from the hospital and received a warm welcome from her family at home. The entire Kingston clan assembled at the dining table in compliance with John's instructions. "How are you doing? Have you made a full recovery?" John asked Alice. "Yes, grandpa I am absolutely fine." "Bella, how's your leg? Are you able to walk now?" "Yes, it healed. I don't limp anymore." Bella answered "Fantastic! With both Alice and Bella in good health, I'm thrilled to declare that I'll be throwing the eagerly anticipated party for Andrew and Alice the day after tomorrow."John shared with enthusiasm. "Nobody's personal problem will be enough to put off the party." Marie said this while glaring at Sophie and Bella. "Hey Martin, fancy a shopping spree? A bunch of designers have recently launched their new lines. I'm in pursuit of the crème de la crème!" Sophie expressed excitement, giving her nose a playful twitch. They all laughed at her craziness for shopping. "Sure, honey," Martin
Andrew drove Alice to a designer's studio on the outskirts."I'm curious, who is this designer? I'm well-acquainted with most of the renowned designers, and none of them have a studio nearby," Alice remarked upon exiting the car."This designer might not be on your radar," Andrew stated, his arm gently draped around her waist as they strolled.They were guided to a generous waiting lounge, and the designer appeared after a short 5-minute wait."Hey Andrew, long time no see..." A man in his late fifties walked in and greeted Andrew cheerfully.Andrew got up and hugged him. "Hey Mandy, how are you doing?"Seeing Andrew genuinely friendly and beaming with a wholehearted smile surprised Alice. She was accustomed to seeing him with a stern expression, always surrounded by business associates and subordinates.She held the designer in her gaze for a few minutes, then leaped with joy when she recognized him."Designer Mandy Kaiser?"Andrew and Mandy spotted Alice's gleeful face in surprise.
'Darn it, why does Sunny have to go through my contact list only? How to make him understand: this is how I remember the person by their impression of me.' Alice thought with dismay."Exploring your contacts was amazing fun to kill time. Each name boosted my interest, and I couldn't refrain from going through the entire list," Andrew said with a wide grin on his lips."Angry bird must be dad, and Paris Hilton 2.0 was Sophie mom, right?"Alice's eyes widen in shock. 'Could he really have guessed that easily? Oh gosh, did he discover his number is saved as 'Mr. Money' in my phone?'"Wow, your expressions tell quite the story. But who's the Cute Adonis, and why does Vicky wear a Superman cape in your world?" Andrew's tone was tinged with envy.Alice beat her head for being exposed to Andrew, and now he's grilling her with a lengthy list of questions. She couldn't stop grumbling about it."What? Answer me......" Andrew tilted his head to catch a glimpse of Alice's furrowed expression and
"Andrew, I never realized you held such orthodox views on gender distinctions." Alice was brutally honest, which wavered Andrew. "I'm disappointed in myself for getting married to a man like you, who is so conservatively dyed-in-the-wool." Alice said, snorting sulkily. After venting her anger, she turned on her heels to head out, but Andrew got up fast and held her hand. "Alice, what are you talking about?" He beseeched. Alice's outburst was okay, but her last phrase jolted him. Alice shoved his hand away and said, "Why does it matter, Andrew? I mean, Which era are you living in to decide whom your sister should date, judging on his social status?" "Fine, Alice, I got your point." Andrew reluctantly accepted that he was wrong and Alice was right, which was written on his face. Alice drove further sulky. "Wow, look at you. You were all cool to get married to a random girl, but your sister can't date a good guy just because they both are on a socially different level. What a hyp
The entire family had gathered in the dining hall, prepared to dine. Mia was leisurely sipping warm water when Andrew came up to her. "Mia, I apologize for being rude earlier. It was uncalled for," he said with sincerity. "Cough, cough......." Mia coughed hard and sprinkled water on Andrew's face. The room was filled with shocked faces, all eyes fixed on Mia and then Andrew, their expressions a mix of horror and disbelief. Alice quickly got some tissues and carefully wiped Andrew's face. "It looks like you gave her quite a shock." She tried to defuse the situation, worried about Andrew's possible anger. "Even we are taken by shock." John commented. "Oh, I am sorry. I don't mean to startle you." "Marie, I am certain he is possessed by a good spirit who's forcing him to keep apologizing," John said dramatically, provoking laughter from the group. "Shut up, John..." Marie scolded John, but she couldn't suppress her laughter. "Andrew, what's brought on this sudden wave of apologie
The next morning, Alice woke up late, all dizzy after throwing up a few times at night.Andrew was already gone, and she found a glass of lemonade with a memo under it.'Crystal citrus will help, or I'm a call away.'"Awe, so sweet of him," Alice exclaimed, taking in the fresh aroma of lemon in her lime juice."The smell of lemon is truly revitalizing. After a night of sickness and keeping Andrew up, I feel completely drained. I even ended up disturbing Mia and Benjamin for no good reason."Alice was feeling blue for making Andrew awake all night while nursing her."Ahh, speaking of which, what did Mia get me in this packet?"Alice opened the side drawer and fetched the small packet Mia got her last night, asking her to use it in the morning.As she unwrapped the package, a pregnancy test kit slipped onto her lap, leaving her astonished."The pregnancy test kit?" A shy smile appeared on Alice's lips. Looking at it, she held it near her chest."Though I'm not sure, there is no harm in
Listening to lawyer Jones's argument, Alice and Vicky held their heads. They were at a dead end when a sudden voice made them jump in surprise."Pardon the interruption, but I have evidence that exposes Mason Rex not only as a bad father but as a genuinely awful person," Andrew declared with a sense of outrage upon entering the courtroom.Alice and Vicky exchanged surprised glances before turning their attention to Andrew, whose expression was stern and his eyes blazed a fierce red. Even Mason and Jones were visibly shaken, captivated by the intensity emanating from his fiery gaze.The judge glared at him and massaged his temples. "What's going on here? Mr. Kingston, maintain order in the court or face removal. Defense counsel, enlighten us on this new development." His irritation heightened with the persistent interruptions.Vicky was completely in the dark about what Andrew was talking about, rendering him dumbfounded. He looked at Andrew and the judge with a zipped mouth, like a de
"I may not have singled out your name, but to the plaintiff's lawyer, your statement carried significant weight."Vicky's remark triggered laughter in the courtroom, leaving Jones feeling offended."Excuse me, we don't need to play a cheap trick when truth is our ally. Mr. Rex is Emma's biological father, and a parent needs no justification to reclaim their daughter.""Your honor, I earnestly implore the court to weigh Mr. Rex's blood relation to the child and render a decision in his favor. Allow an anguished father to reunite with his daughter."Jones, at this moment, had no recourse but to go to court, relying on Mason's biological fatherhood as the sole influential factor in tilting the case in their favor.Vicky sighed and shook his head, accustomed to Jones's theatrical displays and feigned emotions aimed at swaying the court."What if there's a legitimate reason?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow."What?""What if I propose that even a father like Mason may have a rationale fo
In the courtroom, Paul Rex brought to light a new revelation, a piece of knowledge shared among Alice, Andrew, and Vicky. Yet, their challenge lay in the absence of concrete proof to back up the information they possessed."Point duly noted, Your Honor. Mr. Mason Rex professed a profound love for his ex-wife and conveyed regret for the child. However, this revelation unveils a contradiction—indicating he was never genuinely inclined towards marriage or assuming responsibility for the child but was compelled to do so."Vicky's words stirred a reaction from Mason, who hastily stood up to defend himself. In response, Jones gestured for him to exercise caution and avoid actions that could prove unfavorable in the proceedings."What unfolded next, Mr. Rex?" Vicky shifted his focus back to Paul, encouraging him to pick up where he left off."I deeply regret coercing this troublemaker and hoping he would reform for the well-being of his wife and child. Sadly, my choice subjected the poor wom
Vicky vented his simmering rage over Mason's intricate web of lies about his relationship, a revelation that outpaced even the awareness of his legal representative."Your Honor, the accused asserts a lack of recollection regarding the breakup with Miss Cooper. Nonetheless, the truth emerges: he terminated the relationship upon her refusal to endorse his company as a brand ambassador. This is what he is not in a position to accept. Subsequent revelations exposed his infidelity during the course of their relationship.""Miss Cooper, left with no recourse, exposed his misconduct, resulting in the loss of his company. In retaliation, he targeted Miss Monica after their marriage, subjecting her to a tumultuous and distressing life."Vicky's statement was left incomplete as Jones abruptly rose and began applauding. Departing from his usual objections, he introduced a surprising and unconventional method of interruption that caught everyone off guard."Lawyer Jones, can you please put words
"Your honor, before we commence today's proceedings, Miss Cooper would like to make a request to the court," Vicky stated after bowing to the judge.Mason and his lawyer exchanged glances, and Jones threw them a look that said they were pulling the same stunt, but he made it clear it's not going to fly in court—different day, same old song.The judge gave a nod of approval, granting permission for the request.Alice sauntered up, taking her spot in front of the judge after shooting a quick nod. Feeling the weight of onlookers' stares, she nervously licked her lips, sensing the heat in the room.The seasoned stage and on-camera pro, unafraid in the limelight, is now grappling with stage fright for the first time. However, driven by her love for her daughter, she pushes through.Alice let out a deep breath, mustered her courage, and started speaking. "Your honor, during the previous session, Attorney Jones claimed I'm unfit as a mother for Emma, and even...""Your honor, objection. What
Alice and Andrew stepped out of the elevator onto the 52nd floor of the Royman Hotel that evening, ready to meet Mason. Thanks to Vicky's setup, the ball was in Mason's court."Sunny, any hunch on why Mason opted for our hotel meet-up instead of his office digs?" Alice queried as they strolled in."The thief thinks everybody steals. I reckon Mason Rex's a bit wary, fearing we might have some tricks up our sleeves for this meeting. So, he's strategically set it in our territory to clear his name if anything fishy happens," Andrew mused with a touch of suspicion.He read Mason's cunning mind like an open book."Hmm, you are right.""Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Kingston."Mason awaited them in Andrew's exclusive waiting lounge; spotting their entry, he rose, extending his hand for a shake. Andrew, a bit iffy, eventually gave it the nod."So spill it, Alice, what's the rush for this impromptu meeting? Worried that the verdict tomorrow will swing my way and your little angel, oops, I mean my darli
"Your honor, it's crucial to acknowledge that Miss Cooper opted to prioritize her public image over the well-being of the infant.""That's wrong......" Alice attempted to protest, but Jones kept firing questions with a booming voice. "Why'd you stroll out with the baby solo without giving a heads-up to your folks or security?""I went with Emma to the restroom, but she bolted unexpectedly while I was washing my hands. Despite my quick commands, being small and flickering, the little baby wouldn't listen, so I had to dash after her urgently, without alerting anyone to the sudden twist of events." Alice spilled the beans without holding back."Your honor, it's worth emphasizing that the defendant isn't just self-centered but also an inattentive mother, incapable of looking after a one-year-old child," Jones remarked, a broader smirk evident on his face.Once again, he slyly targeted Alice, preventing her from defending herself. "Miss Cooper, in the interview, did you really discuss a o
Alice and Andrew were stunned to see the director of Sunshine Orphanage appear as Mason's witness."Your honor, I'd like to point out that this woman is Mrs. Green, the director of Sunshine Orphanage—the entity the defendant manipulated to falsely assert her adoption of baby Emma. Yet, Director Green's statement provides a stark contrast," Mr. Jones explained.The judge peered over his glasses at the individuals before him and declared,
"I'm the poor man whose daughter you've absconded with, masquerading your adoption as a virtuous act. You're the very definition of an opportunist," Mason hissed, an insidious smirk creeping across his face."Your words hold no weight. She's my child, and you're nothing but a loathsome fraud and betrayer. I'll ensure the truth prevails in court."Alice couldn't contain herself when he claimed Emma as his own, but when she tried to object, Mason's unscrupulous grin remained unshaken.