Nearly fifteen minutes had passed when Eugene finally emerged. His expression hadn’t changed. He was calm and unreadable, just as it had been when he went in. There was no hint of whether the deal had gone through or not. Everyone around was left speculating."I bet it didn’t go through. You know how Mr. Quincy is. He’s easygoing most of the time, but once he sets his mind on something, he doesn’t let go.""Who knows? Maybe it worked out after all.""Ha! Care to place a bet on it?"With no official word from Quincy, the employees could only guess. But Lydia had a different approach. She could just ask.When she entered the office, there was an unopened file on Quincy’s desk, next to a pen that seemed freshly used. Her heart skipped a beat.Had the rumors been true? Did he really agree to work with Eugene?Lydia, feeling a surge of anxiety, took a deep breath and decided to ask directly. There was no point in dwelling on assumptions when she could face the truth head-on. “Quinc
On the other end of the phone, Mrs. Perez continued her tirade. Lydia, who had been leaning into his embrace, suddenly went limp, sliding toward the floor in defeat. Quincy could no longer listen. “That’s enough, Mom. I’m hanging up now.”Without waiting for her reply, he quickly ended the call and pulled Lydia back to her feet.“Lydia, don’t listen to her. She doesn’t know the full story, and she certainly doesn’t know you.”“But she’s your mother, Quincy,” Lydia whispered, her eyes filled with uncertainty. “Can you really go against her?”Quincy was silent for a moment, his eyes steady as they met hers. Then, his voice came, low but firm. “I can.”Lydia froze. It was an answer she hadn’t expected.Quincy drew her back into his arms, pressing a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Don’t worry. I won’t let anyone get in the way of us. Right now, the most important thing to me is you and our baby.”His gaze softened as it drifted to her still-flat belly, his deep eyes filled with te
Mrs. Perez shot a sharp look at her husband, clearly annoyed, and jabbed him with her elbow. "Really? You’re acting like you’ve never seen whiskey before. Didn’t one of your old classmates send you a bottle just last year?" She wanted to imply that the liquor wasn't anything special and to stop behaving as though he had been bought off. Mr. Perez paused for a moment, then corrected her seriously, "This is aged, top-tier whiskey. It's different."Mrs. Perez’s face darkened, but after seeing his reaction, he finally clammed up, though somewhat reluctantly.After this brief exchange, Mrs. Perez couldn’t exactly demand that Lydia take her gifts back. She coughed lightly, trying to regain her composure. “Well, we’ll accept these, but only because he doesn’t have many hobbies besides this,” she said, casting Lydia a pointed glance, her lips curling into a faint, sarcastic smile. “You really did your homework.”Lydia’s expression stiffened, feeling the sting of her kindness being tw
"Miss Lydia, why aren’t you going in?" Lydia jumped, startled by the voice of her colleague, Layla, who had appeared behind her. Forcing a smile, she said, "It's nothing… Oh, actually, can you hand this in for me? Something just came up." She handed the documents to Layla and, before she could respond, Lydia hurried away.Feeling overwhelmed, Lydia rushed out of the building, her emotions tangled and heavy. She wandered aimlessly down the busy street, unsure of where to go. The steady flow of cars and rushing business professionals only deepened her sense of disconnection. Nowhere felt right, and the world seemed to spin around her without a place for her to belong. Lost in thought, she felt utterly out of place.Just then, her phone rang.Without thinking, she answered, and to her surprise, it was Mrs. Perez."Miss Lydia, do you have a moment?" Mrs. Perez's voice was calm, almost too casual. "If you're free, I'd like to meet you somewhere."......Fifteen minutes later,
"Is Miss Lydia home?" Mrs. Perez asked, glancing past the housekeeper into the foyer.Mrs. Lucy froze for a moment, hastily wiping her hands, clearly taken aback. Mrs. Perez had never visited before, making her appearance all the more surprising.Lydia, who hadn’t gone to the office that day, overheard and hurried to the front door. Seeing Mrs. Perez there in person, she was just as startled. "Mrs. Perez? Oh, wait… Mrs. Lucy, please, let her in."Lydia rushed to tidy up, feeling slightly flustered. The house wasn’t often used for entertaining guests, and she even had trouble finding tea. Despite her best efforts, she didn’t have much experience making tea and fumbled through it, struggling to figure out what she was doing.In the end, the tea didn’t quite turn out as it should have."Here you go, Mrs. Perez," Lydia offered, handing her the cup carefully.Mrs. Perez glanced at it briefly, hiding her disdain. Both she and Mr. Perez were long-time educators, and he had a particular
The next day, Mrs. Perez visited Lydia again, this time carrying a thermos. Handing it to her with a serious expression, she said, "Lydia, take this. It’s really good for you.""I got it from an old friend," she explained. "It’s a special herbal tea that’s supposed to be great for your health. My friend said it’s especially beneficial for pregnant women.""Herbal tea?" Lydia frowned slightly.She had heard of it but didn’t recall anything about it being particularly helpful during pregnancy. Still, Mrs. Perez was persistent, urging her to drink it. Reluctantly, Lydia took a few sips and ended up finishing the whole bottle. Only then did Mrs. Perez seem content, staying for a little while longer to chat.Since Lydia had been more tired than usual during her pregnancy and often needed an afternoon nap around 3 or 4 p.m., Mrs. Perez didn’t stay long. After she left, Lydia went to her bedroom for her nap, as usual.She was sleeping soundly when, halfway through her rest, a sudden, s
Lydia fell silent and closed her eyes. "I just want to be alone for a while."Quincy respected her need for space and quietly stepped back.......Meanwhile, over at Nash's place, Nash had decided to leave work early today, something he rarely did. With Lydia and Quincy now running their own operation, he had been single-handedly managing everything at York Corporation, which kept him busy beyond belief.His wife, Nina, had been holding down the fort at home, handling all the household tasks with grace. Their two kids, Gemma and Orion, had been nothing but sweet and helpful. Little Gemma was always calm, and Orion eagerly helped with whatever he could. But Nash didn't want this hectic lifestyle to become permanent. While work was important, spending time with his family was what truly mattered to him. So today, he seized the rare opportunity to sneak away early and surprise them at home with gifts.As he pulled up in the driveway, he stepped out of the car with his arms full o
Cooking together made things go much faster. Nina chopped the vegetables while Nash took care of the stir-frying, and before long, the four dishes and a soup were ready.As Nina was about to carry the food out, Nash suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. "Nina, you've been working so hard lately. I feel bad. I've been so focused on the company, and you've had to handle everything at home by yourself."“Don’t say that,” she replied, turning to face him. “We’re married, we’re partners. There’s no need to feel like you owe me anything.” With a soft smile, she added, “Besides, you’re working hard to provide for us, not off doing something shady. As your wife, it’s my job to support you. We’re a team, and I would never give you a hard time for it.”Nina understood the pressure Nash was under, managing the company and shouldering so much responsibility. The last thing she wanted was to add more stress by asking too much of him at home. Looking into her eyes, Nash felt
“There’s a surveillance camera overhead, just so you know,” Ben said coldly, his gaze sharp as a blade. “I get it that you’re here to stick up for Summer. But let me be clear: whatever happened between the Lucas family and the Larson family is none of your business.”He held up the empty glass, his tone unwavering. “That drink was a warning. Don’t even think about testing my limits.”Jamie was his limit—his bottom line. He wouldn’t allow anyone to harm or disrespect her.Lila’s voice rang out, dripping with mockery as she addressed the gathering crowd. “Did everyone hear that? He’s threatening me with a drink as a ‘warning.’ Anyone here would agree this behavior is out of line. And all because I said a few words?“Ben Lucas, someone like you will get what’s coming to you!” Lila snapped, her voice sharp and bitter. “Doesn’t anyone wonder why someone who was doing so well as a lawyer suddenly gave it all up to become a CEO? Doesn’t everyone know lawyers aren’t supposed to engage in b
Jamie and Ben didn’t care about anyone else’s opinions.“You really think you and Ben can last?” The woman’s tone dripped with disdain. “Don’t forget, your statuses are worlds apart. If Ben didn’t care, why would he keep bringing you to events like these? Clearly, he does care.”Jamie noticed the woman’s provocative glare. Her elegance and poise were unmistakable, but her words revealed a heart filled with malice.With a calm but cutting tone, Jamie responded, “Even if Ben does care, that’s his business, not yours. And let’s be honest, you’d never have the courage to say this in front of him, would you? So, what’s the point of saying it to me?”Jamie didn’t even bother to take the woman seriously. Her relationship with Ben was her own, and she knew better than anyone how much he valued her.The woman sneered. “Oh, trust me, I’d say it to his face. But I assumed you had some self-awareness. Clearly, I was mistaken. You’re pathetic, Jamie.”With that, she spun on her heels and walk
“I was with Nash and the others today,” Ben said as he leaned back into the couch. “Jamie, tomorrow I want to take you to an exclusive high-society gala. If there’s anything you want or need for the occasion, just let me know.”For Jamie, the idea of attending such events held little appeal. What truly mattered to her was simply being by Ben’s side. Yet, Ben seemed determined to introduce her to this world, using his connections and influence to elevate her standing and help her thrive.But Jamie’s heart leaned toward a simpler life, one focused on family and the small joys within their home.“You’ve already given me everything I could ever want—friends, a safe life, love. I don’t feel drawn to these events. Can I skip this one?” she asked gently. Spending time with Charlie and bringing him over to play with Orion sounded like a better plan.Ben’s gaze softened. “If you really don’t want to go, I’ll respect your choice. But skipping out might not look great. There will be more occa
As soon as Ben spoke, Caleb and Hunter gave him exaggerated thumbs-up. “Married with a kid, and you’re still feeling lost? You’re a real genius,” Caleb teased.Nash patted Ben on the shoulder, his tone reassuring. “You’ve got a kid now, no need to overthink it. Just do your best for her. Besides, wasn’t Jamie doing great last time she was with Nina?”Ben paused, reflecting on Jamie’s recent state. Ever since she had started focusing on what she truly wanted, stepping back from exhausting tasks, she seemed much more at ease and full of life.Caleb said, “I’m heading out of town next month for a conference. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t even be here today.”“I’m flying abroad tomorrow,” Hunter added quickly.Clearly, this meetup was a rare opportunity to gather before everyone got busy again.Nash glanced at the two of them with a smirk. “And you two have the nerve to tease Ben? What about you guys? When are you settling down and having kids?“Don’t tell me, by the time our k
The senior judge on the panel smiled warmly and said, “Attorney Lewis, your defense was exceptional. Your understanding and application of legal principles left a lasting impression. Your arguments were clear, your logic airtight, and you provided a fresh perspective on this case.”Other judges nodded in agreement, offering Jamie high praise for her performance. As the competition concluded, Jamie stepped off the stage to the sound of applause from the audience. Her confidence had carried her through, but the moment was disrupted by an unexpected outburst. Attorney Gray, the female lawyer she had just defeated, clenched her fists and blurted, “This is unfair!”Her microphone was still live, and her voice echoed throughout the venue, silencing the room. “This case was obviously easier for you to argue,” Attorney Gray continued. “You have connections—this is favoritism! Why hasn’t the competition been stopped despite all the online rumors?” The remark caused a ripple of mur
Jamie took a deep breath and said firmly, “The competition is about to start. I’ll rely on my expertise to make it to the end. Even if I don’t succeed, I’ll have no regrets.”With those words, she turned and walked away, her determination unwavering.As the match began, whispers rippled through the crowd, and judgmental stares followed her every move. The rumors surrounding her had painted her in an unfavorable light, and the disdain from the audience was palpable.Jamie, however, paid no mind to the negativity. With legal codes in hand and confidence in her knowledge, she stepped onto the stage and began her defense, her voice calm and commanding as she addressed the mock case.“During the altercation,” Jamie started, “evidence shows that the aggressor retained mobility and the ability to continue the attack. Miss Russell’s actions to neutralize the threat were necessary and should not be classified as excessive self-defense.” Her delivery was poised, her argument well-structure
It was obvious that someone was deliberately stirring the pot, with influencers and media outlets amplifying the negativity. Jamie stared at the barrage of critical comments online, her heart growing heavier with each passing moment.She knew the best course of action was to ignore baseless accusations and focus on the task at hand—her next competition round. With the match scheduled for the next day, she resolved to give it her all. Jamie refused to let the rumors distract her. The next day, she arrived at the competition venue with her confidence intact, ready to tackle the challenges ahead. The preliminary rounds were grueling, with one debate following another, testing her endurance and resolve.Just as she was catching her breath, Attorney Freeman sauntered over, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Well, well, looks like we’ve got someone who used connections to get in. Makes you wonder why the rest of us even bother trying, doesn’t it?”His words immediately drew the atten
After his shower, Ben stepped out wearing only a towel wrapped around his waist. As he searched the house, it didn’t take long for him to guess where Jamie might be. Sure enough, the soft glow of light beneath the study door confirmed it. Pushing the door open, Ben strolled in confidently, his toned body glistening with droplets of water trailing from his hair down to his chest and well-defined abs. He looked like a proud peacock showing off its plumage. Jamie, however, didn’t even glance up. “You should go to bed. I’m still reviewing cases,” she said, her eyes glued to the stack of papers in front of her. “You’ve already gone through these cases several times,” Ben said, standing right in front of her. “It’s still not enough!” Jamie sighed, flipping another page. “What I lack compared to others is practical experience. That’s not something you can make up overnight.” Ben leaned closer, his gaze steady. “There’re still a few days before the next round. Take a break! You’
“Then I'll bring Charlie over more often,” Jamie said with a warm smile. “Thank you, but let’s wait until after your competition is done,” Nina replied graciously. She appreciated Jamie's kindness but was thoughtful enough to acknowledge Jamie’s current commitments. By the time they left, the sun had set. Charlie was bursting with excitement on the ride home, chattering non-stop about everything that had happened that day. “It sounds like you and Orion really hit it off. Should we come back more often?” Jamie asked, her tone lighthearted. “Of course! Orion’s my friend now, and friends should meet often,” Charlie said seriously, his face full of determination. Jamie ruffled his hair affectionately, her heart full of warmth. “I’m glad you’ve found a good friend. I’ll make sure we visit more often.” She hoped Charlie’s companionship would help Orion heal from his loss. When they arrived home, Ben was already waiting at the door. “You’re back late. I’ve been waiting fo