"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
With that thought in mind, Orion spoke up. "Dad, maybe we shouldn't go on the trip. You could use the time to rest instead. I'd rather you get some extra sleep."Nash smiled even more, ruffling his son’s hair. "Don't worry, buddy. I’ve got plenty of time to rest, and we can still go on the trip. It’s not one or the other."He turned to both Nina and Orion. "After Quincy and Lydia started their own business, I had HR hire a new assistant to help me out. She started today, and now I can hand off some of my tasks to her. Things will be much easier for me.""That’s wonderful," Nina said, relieved.Nina never complained about Nash’s busy work schedule because she knew he was working hard to provide for their family. However, deep down, like any wife, she wished they could spend more time together as a family. Now, with things feeling more balanced, it finally seemed just right."Alright, then after dinner, I’ll pack our things, and we’ll head out first thing tomorrow morning." Nina t
As they exited the highway, it was already noon. Nash first took the family to the city's largest shopping mall, where they strolled around for a while before heading up to the rooftop restaurant for lunch.Suddenly, a sharp fire alarm blared through the mall.“There’s a fire. We need to get out, now,” Nash quickly said as he scooped Orion into his arms and grabbed Nina’s hand tightly. The three of them hurried toward the emergency exit. When they arrived, it was already packed with people, all pushing and shoving, desperate to get out. No one wanted to be the last.Nash tightened his grip on Orion, holding him even closer. The thought of getting separated sent a surge of anxiety through him, especially with Orion being so small. There was no way he could push through the crowd of adults on his own. If he got knocked down, a stampede could have disastrous consequences.Orion seemed to sense the seriousness of the situation, wrapping his arms tightly around Nash’s neck as they p
There was no way Nina could let the little girl go off on her own. Such a young child, if she were to encounter danger or be taken by traffickers, her fate could be tragic. She gently picked the girl up again, wiping the tears from her small face. “Tell me, sweetheart, what’s really going on at home? Why did you say you don’t have a mom and dad?”The little girl’s voice trembled as she spoke, “My dad’s gone. Everyone says he’s never coming back. Then my mom left me, too. I don’t know where she went. No one takes care of me anymore. I almost starved to death at home.” With every word, Nina’s heart sank deeper. By the end, she understood. The girl’s father had passed away, and her mother, seeing her as a burden, had abandoned her. The child couldn’t recall her address or phone number, and she didn’t even know her own name.“They just called me ‘Little One.’ My parents never used my real name,” she said, her eyes red and swollen from crying. “Am I stupid? Maybe if I were smarter,
Nina nodded, “Alright, let’s do that.”"You really want to take me home? I'm not dreaming, right?" The little girl pinched her arm hard in disbelief.With a sharp yelp, a bruise instantly formed on her small arm.Nina quickly bent down to stop her, “Sweetheart, don’t hurt yourself.”"I wasn’t trying to hurt myself. I just... I was scared this was a dream, and that once I woke up, I’d be back on the streets. But now I know it’s real. You’re really here, and I finally have a home." The little girl happily threw herself into Nina's arms, crying again. But this time, her tears were not from sadness, but from joy. "I really have a family now—an uncle, an aunt, and a brother.""That's right. We'll take good care of you from now on," Nina said gently, stroking the girl's back.In that moment, she thought of her own daughter, Gemma, back at home. How could this little girl’s mother have been so heartless? Abandoning her child in a foreign country, leaving her with no hope, was unthinka
But instead of feeling touched, Vera’s first reaction was nausea. A wave of discomfort surged up from her stomach, and Vera’s face paled. She bolted for the bathroom. Caleb followed quickly. “Are you feeling sick?” “I don’t think so. I’ve been eating normally—nothing too heavy or weird lately.” Vera clutched her stomach, just as confused as he was. Then, a possibility flashed through her mind. Caleb clearly had the same thought. Without a word, he turned and walked into their bedroom, returning moments later with a pregnancy test. Vera looked at him, stunned. “When did you buy that?” He responded matter-of-factly, “Better safe than sorry.” Vera was momentarily speechless. Five minutes later, she stepped out of the bathroom, her hand instinctively resting on her stomach, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief. It was positive. They had only been married for three months. How did this happen so fast?Caleb, on the other hand, remained composed—at le
Of course, Vera wasn’t about to dump all her responsibilities on her assistant. That would be exploitation. She called her assistant into her office. “You’re twenty-five this year, right?” Her assistant blinked, confused. Wasn’t her age common knowledge? Why was Vera suddenly bringing it up? A thought struck her. Was this an arranged marriage situation? Her face immediately filled with silent refusal. “Miss Vera, I’m still young. I’m not thinking about marriage anytime soon.” Vera tapped her pen against the desk. “I’m not telling you to get married.” “Oh.” “I just want to offload some of the smaller daily tasks to you. You don’t have to run every minor document by me.”Her assistant instantly understood. A raise. After confirming she was on board, Vera gave her a salary bump and had her hire a few more assistants to distribute the workload. “If I don’t have time to handle everything, you guys will take care of it. If something’s too complicated, jus
Vera could sense danger the moment the conversation turned in this direction. Her father had never questioned her about married life, and she was lucky enough to avoid nosy relatives. But just because she hadn’t experienced it firsthand didn’t mean she hadn’t seen it happen to others. Without hesitation, she abandoned the half-folded pastry in her hands. “I... uh, need to use the restroom.” Before she could escape, Mrs. Smith caught her wrist. “You and Caleb aren’t getting any younger,” she said matter-of-factly. “You should start thinking about kids—make sure you’re putting in the effort, hmm?” Vera left the kitchen visibly drained. Mrs. Smith was a wonderful mother-in-law, the kind who treated Vera like her own daughter. Despite knowing Vera came from a well-off family, she had still gifted them a house as a wedding present. Of course, Caleb already owned a place, but his mother had insisted. “That’s your house. This is the home I’m giving you as a weddi
That undeniable possessiveness flickered in Caleb’s gaze—subtle yet impossible to ignore. It was the kind of look a powerful man might give his beloved in an old Hollywood film. And right now, the photographer felt like the unlucky bystander who had accidentally stumbled upon an intimate scene. His voice wavered slightly, caught up in his own imagination. “Mr. Smith, lift your eyes toward the camera.” Caleb’s sharp gaze flickered over, intense and commanding. The photographer instinctively pressed the shutter. They continued with several more poses, reviewing the shots as they went. Vera loved them all, but her favorite was still the vintage-inspired one. “How long until we get the final prints?” she asked. “Two to three days at most,” the photographer replied. “I’ll have them shipped directly to you.” Then, after a slight pause, he hesitated before making a request. “I actually have a personal favor to ask—would you both be open to letting us displa
Vera was tempted. They had already taken plenty of wedding photos—several sets at the island, more at the wedding itself. But this wasn’t just any photo studio. It was privately booked and known for being one of the most prestigious studios in the city. Appointments here were nearly impossible to get. The fact that Caleb had managed to secure a session meant he had gone to great lengths to make it happen. If they were just going to take ordinary wedding pictures, it would be a waste of an opportunity. Still, she wasn’t sure what kind of shoot she wanted. The photographer, understanding her hesitation, pulled out a sample album. “You can take a look at our past work. These are some of the styles we’ve done.” Flipping through the pages, Vera saw an array of stunning concepts—each picture more breathtaking than the last. Then, one particular set caught her eye. A Golden Age Hollywood theme.It was classic, nostalgic, and beautifully atmospheric. “Ca
After the wedding, Vera considered taking some time off for a honeymoon. But the thought quickly faded when she realized Caleb had been practically living at the hospital. With a sigh, she dismissed the idea. She was used to it, but to say she wasn’t disappointed would be a lie. Her assistant picked up on it. “Mrs. Smith, don’t you want to go on a honeymoon?” she asked one day. “One of my friends just got married, and she’s been obsessively researching destinations. “She even said a marriage without a honeymoon is already half a failure.” Vera froze mid-page, suddenly losing interest in the documents she had been reviewing. Her assistant hesitated, then offered a suggestion. “Why don’t you go visit Dr. Smith at work?“You seem… distracted. Maybe seeing him will help.” Vera snapped out of her daze, suddenly aware of how preoccupied she had been lately. It was embarrassing to admit, but she had been zoning out far too often—especially after coming hom
Whenever they did this in the past, Caleb always maintained some restraint. But tonight—he didn’t hold back at all. He took her from the bedroom to the bathroom, then back to the bed, his searing kisses trailing every inch of her skin. The next morning, even as she woke up, Vera could still feel the lingering traces of last night’s intoxicating pleasure. As expected, she ended up taking the day off. It wasn’t until two days later that she finally returned to work. *Everyone at the company had already prepared for this. The moment Vera walked into the office, she was greeted with knowing smiles and teasing remarks. “Congratulations, Mrs. Smith!” “Newlywed bliss, huh?” “Three whole days off? Someone had a good time.” It didn’t take a genius to figure out what she had been up to. Obviously, her married life was going exceptionally well—so well that she had completely abandoned work for it. Under the weight of their mischievous stares, Vera barely k
Yelena still hadn’t accepted Hunter, but he wasn’t giving up either and was relentlessly closing in on her. Knowing Yelena’s soft heart, Vera figured it was only a matter of time before she gave in. She let out a sigh. Her friend’s love life wasn’t something she could interfere with. Besides, Caleb had already given her a little inside scoop. “She came to the hospital for a follow-up a few days ago,” he had mentioned casually. “Hunter was the one who brought her.” Vera had clicked her tongue at the news. Yelena always seemed quiet and reserved, but apparently, she was full of surprises.*Time flew by in the blink of an eye.By mid-month, Caleb had rented out an entire vineyard and spent several days transforming it into the perfect wedding venue.When the day arrived, the celebration took place right there.The vineyard was sprawling and elegant, every bit as grand as any luxury hotel—if not better. Even the wine cellar remained untouched, stocked with years-
“Did you plan this from the start?” Vera narrowed her eyes, feeling like she had just walked into a carefully laid trap. “Mm.” Caleb smiled, then leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. Because yes—he had always been planning this. The biggest change in Vera’s life after the island proposal was the ring now sitting on her finger. It wasn’t just any ring. It was custom-made, something Caleb had specially ordered. She only found out by accident when she glanced at his phone one day and saw the purchase record. It had been ordered two months ago. Vera did the math and was stunned. He had been preparing for this long before she even started getting impatient. Her heart swelled with emotion. And as soon as Caleb’s parents heard that their son had finally proposed, they wasted no time pushing them to get the marriage license. *One day, Vera overheard Caleb’s mother lecturing him. “Your dad and I weren’t expecting much from you. With how much ti