Lydia didn’t hesitate before refusing. “Mom, I just separated from Quincy and came here to clear my head for a few days. How can you expect me to jump into another marriage already? I’m not ready.”Even if she were considering moving on, it would take time, and right now, she had no intention of starting something new. She didn’t have feelings for Eugene and didn’t want to remarry.“Lydia, I understand where you’re coming from, but you’re staying alone in a hotel, eating takeout. How can we be at ease knowing that?” Mrs. Fay tried to reason with her daughter. She would rather see Lydia supported by Eugene than dealing with her heartbreak alone. At least then, Lydia would have someone to lean on.Mr. Fay added, “Eugene truly cares about you. You just can’t see who genuinely has your best interests at heart. If you push him away now, what will you do if you lose that chance?”The Fays certainly had the means to support Lydia for the rest of her life, and they wouldn’t mind doing so
Lydia knew this was exactly the kind of thing her parents would do. She didn’t ask Eugene to leave, but she also didn’t engage with him. Instead, she walked to the window and stared out at the busy streets below, ignoring his constant chatter behind her.It wasn’t until he brought up her parents again that she finally listened. “Lydia, even though you’re married, you’re still their daughter. Do you really think they’d ignore what’s happening with you? They know everything about you and Quincy, including that you’re staying at this hotel, which actually has shares owned by your family.”Lydia blinked, surprised. She quickly checked her phone and, sure enough, found that her family held a one percent stake in the hotel chain. It wasn’t enough to influence management, but it would certainly allow them to access the guest list easily.So she had misjudged Eugene after all. Lydia turned around and apologized, “I’m sorry. I jumped to conclusions. But there’s no future for us, and I just
If it weren’t for Nash’s help behind the scenes, Quincy wouldn’t have had what it took to start a company, much less achieve his current success. In the past, Lydia had been so devoted to him that no matter how much Eugene wanted to intervene, he had no chance. But now that Quincy’s own actions had created a crack in that love, Eugene was confident he could widen that crack until it finally shattered completely.---At the embassy, Hope had cried the entire drive, but it hadn’t swayed Nina or Nash in the slightest. When the car came to a stop, Nina stepped out and turned back to take Hope from the car.“No, I don’t want to get out!” Hope clung tightly to the seatbelt, her small hands marked with red welts from the effort. Her wide eyes overflowed with tears, which slid down her cheeks and soaked into her clothes. “Please, take me home. You said I was part of the family, so why are you abandoning me so quickly?”Nina almost laughed at the absurdity of it. Even now, Hope was tr
Hope struggled with all her might, but being so small, she was held firmly by the staff. No matter how much she kicked, her feet didn’t reach the ground. She could only watch as Nina and Nash walked away with Orion, leaving her behind.Though they had finally sent Hope away, Nina and Nash still felt a lingering unease.“It’s over now. Try not to dwell on it. How about some music to help us relax?” Nash suggested, breaking the silence.Nina nodded. “Play anything.”As Nash inserted the car key, the dashboard screen flickered to life. Instead of music, an image of a masked man dressed in black appeared, his face fully covered except for his eyes, which stared at Nash with a defiant gleam.“Who are you?” Nash’s expression turned icy.It was clear this man was somehow tied to Hope.The masked man didn’t respond right away. Instead, he laughed for a moment before speaking. “Nash, I thought you had two kids. So why is there only one in the car? Is it that you didn’t want to bring the
"A trivial person. You don't need to worry about him. Your dad and I will handle it," Nina assured, determined to keep Orion out of it. He was just a child, deserving a happy and carefree childhood, free from adult complications.But Orion didn't see it that way. "Mom, Dad, we’re a family. Is there anything I can do to help? I want to do whatever I can.""Taking care of yourself is the biggest help you can give us," Nina replied, giving his cheek a gentle squeeze. "Your dad and I will make sure you’re safe."She would protect both of her children, and as for the masked man, Nash would figure out his identity. Now, it was time for them to go home.“I know you can do it, Mom and Dad!” Orion said with a big smile. Once he was buckled in, Nash began driving home.……Back at the Fay residence.Since her parents had shown up at the hotel, Lydia had officially moved back in with them. Mrs. Fay was now constantly reminding the housekeeper, “Make extra nutritious dishes and ensure Lydia
But as parents, they all want their daughter to find someone with better prospects. Quincy’s startup may be showing some promise, but that was largely due to Nash’s support. If Nash ever decided to withdraw his help, or if Quincy succeeded and then decided to discard Lydia after using her, Lydia would be left devastated. This fear had been lingering in Mrs. Fay’s mind for a while, but the bond between Lydia and Quincy was so strong that, despite her concerns, she hadn’t intervened. But after seeing them fight, she felt more convinced than ever that Quincy wasn’t the right man for her daughter.“There’s no way I’d go back to him. I saw him with another woman. If I reconciled with him now, I’d be making a fool of myself,” Lydia said, shaking her head.Mrs. Fay had initially thought it was just a simple fight, but now, hearing this, her expression darkened. “Oh, he’s got some nerve, doesn’t he? If he’s already running around with other women, who’s to say he won’t do worse once he’s
As they descended the stairs, they spotted Mrs. Fay seated on the couch, watching TV.“Good morning, Mrs. Fay,” Eugene greeted her politely.She looked up, and the more she observed her prospective son-in-law, the more she approved of him. But when her gaze shifted to Lydia, concern immediately clouded her face. “Lydia, yesterday you didn’t have dark circles, and now they’re so noticeable. Did you not sleep at all last night?”It made sense, she thought. Lydia and Quincy had been deeply in love. Divorce wouldn’t be easy, and while she felt her daughter’s pain, Mrs. Fay knew it was better to get it over with now rather than prolong the hurt. She couldn’t let a moment of sympathy pull Lydia back into that painful situation.“No, Mom, I slept fine. I just forgot to close the window, got a bit cold, and had trouble falling back asleep,” Lydia fibbed, hoping to put her mom at ease.But a mother knows her daughter best. Mrs. Fay saw through the excuse but chose not to call her out. “It’
Lydia didn’t say a word, merely lowering her head in silence. She had always loved children. When she first found out she was pregnant, she had been so excited. But now, the child was gone, her beloved husband was gone, and the happiness she once felt seemed like an illusion. Just one touch and it shattered, leaving nothing but broken pieces.“I’m sorry, Lydia. I shouldn’t have brought that up. Sometimes I just don’t think. I can’t believe I said something so thoughtless…” Eugene’s voice grew increasingly panicked, and before Lydia could react, he raised his hand to slap himself.As he prepared for a second slap, Lydia quickly grabbed his hand, shaking her head. “Don’t do that. I’m not blaming you. It’s not your fault.”After all, it wasn’t Eugene who had caused her to lose the baby. And he hadn’t said anything that terrible. She knew she couldn’t expect everyone to avoid mentioning children around her just because of what she had gone through.“But I worry you’re bottling it all