"I’m not afraid." Lydia shook her head. She had her own thoughts on the matter.Facing Nina, she started counting on her fingers as she explained, "First, if these people are watching your family, they’ll definitely dig into your connections and find out we’re friends. Second, I could bring a few bodyguards with me. If we live together, our safety might even improve."She truly didn’t want to stay at home. Eugene showed up every day, going out of his way to impress her parents, and it made her genuinely uncomfortable. But seeing the sincere smiles on her parents' faces, Lydia couldn’t bring herself to chase him away. She couldn’t even say a harsh word to him.She had already hurt her parents once before because of her stubbornness. Now that she was back home after her divorce, did she really want to go against them again? That would be so ungrateful.These feelings weighed heavily on her heart. Rather than silently enduring them alone, she figured a change of scenery might do her s
"Lydia, where are you planning to go?" Mrs. Fay quickly stood up and hurried to Lydia’s side.Mr. Fay joined them, reaching for her suitcase. "We’re not against you going out, but it’s late. How about you get some rest?""I’m not going out for a stroll. I’m going to stay at a friend’s place. I’ll be with Nina. You know her," Lydia reassured them, specifically mentioning Nina's name to ease their worries.Mr. and Mrs. Fay did know Nina. They exchanged glances, reluctant to let Lydia leave. After all, Lydia and Quincy had first fallen for each other at the York Corporation. Now that she was finally moving forward with the divorce, the last thing they wanted was for her to end up near Quincy again. If he was over there, he could sweet-talk her during the month-long wait, and she might change her mind. They couldn’t let that happen."Lydia, I really think you shouldn’t go over there. Nina has two kids now, and she’s already so busy taking care of them. You’d only be adding to her loa
Now that Lydia was staying at someone else's home, he didn't want to burden the York family's staff with the task of cooking, but he also couldn’t expect Lydia to cook for herself. Bringing a chef along seemed like the most convenient solution.“Dad, you really think of everything.” Lydia felt a warm glow in her heart, deeply touched. She was truly fortunate to have such wonderful parents.Mr. Fay held her hand. “It’s not about thinking things through. It's because I truly love you. When someone genuinely loves you, they can’t bear to see you suffer. Remember that.”Lydia nodded. “I understand.”After all the pain she had endured, she knew it was time to wake up. It would be foolish not to.As they neared the York family estate, Lydia sent Nina a message. Nina came to the door herself to greet them, giving Mr. Fay a warm nod. “Hello, Mr. Fay. I’m sorry you had to come all this way so late. Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?”“No need. You young folks probably have a lo
Nina opened her arms and gave Lydia a big hug. “Let’s not think about all that right now. Since you’re here, let’s focus on something fun. How about a barbecue in the garden tonight?”“Sounds good. But could I see your two kids first?” Lydia managed a small smile.Nina happily agreed.They walked to the living room, where little Gemma was already awake, her big eyes curiously taking in the world around her.“Gemma!” Orion cheerfully bounded over, holding a toy rattle, which he shook from side to side, producing a light, rhythmic sound.Gemma immediately giggled at the sight.She reached out with her tiny hands to grab the rattle, but Orion held it just out of her reach, raising his arm. “If you want it, you have to come and get it, Gemma.”Gemma stretched her little arms, trying her best to grab it, but she was so small that she couldn’t reach. After a few unsuccessful attempts, she pouted, squeezed her eyes shut, and started to cry.“Don’t cry! I was just teasing you. I’d neve
Her marriage was over, but she still wanted others to enjoy their happiness together.“Have you eaten tonight?” Nina asked, still a bit concerned about her. She had seen how upset Lydia was earlier. Now that Lydia was here as a guest, Nina wanted to make sure she was taken care of.Lydia nodded. “Don’t worry. I ate at home. I’m an adult and I can take care of myself.”“Alright then. But if you get hungry later, just let Mrs. Watson know. She can whip up a snack for you,” Nina said, offering a gentle reminder.She then showed Lydia to the guest room, a suite with a private walk-in closet and bathroom.“Thank you,” Lydia said sincerely.After Nina left, Lydia stayed in the room alone. She opened the window, letting the cold wind brush against her face, until her phone rang. It was her dad.She answered, and before she could speak, her eyes filled with tears.“How’s it going over there? I’ve already arranged for some bodyguards, and they’ll be there tomorrow along with a nutrition
Of course, Mr. Fay had his own reasons for wanting Lydia to stay close. If she moved out, how would he and Eugene ever have a chance to nudge her back together?“Dad, I could come home every day, or have the nutritionist come to my place and handle all my meals. Please, just let me have a little space to clear my head,” Lydia pleaded. Eventually, Mr. Fay gave in with a nod.That night, Lydia hardly slept. The bed was comfortable, but her mind was too cluttered for any real rest.The next morning, Nash and Nina prepared a heartfelt breakfast together, making sure to include a plate for Lydia.“Nina, I’ve been thinking since this morning. I just don’t believe Quincy would cheat. There’s got to be some big misunderstanding causing all this,” Nash said as Nina was about to take the breakfast out.In truth, Nina had the same feeling. Lydia and Quincy had always seemed close, and it was a shame they were going through this, especially so soon after marrying. But she felt hesitant to
“You're so smooth-talking,” Nina teased, shooting him a playful glare before picking up the tray and opening the kitchen door.She set the breakfast on the table and called to Orion, “Breakfast is ready! Go wash your hands first, then you can eat.”“Mom, I already washed them!” Orion proudly held up his hands. “Our teacher taught us the right way to wash. They’re super clean.”“You’re such a big boy now!” Nina praised him, lifting him into his chair and sitting down to peel his egg.Nash didn’t sit idle either. He poured milk for everyone, making sure to include a glass for Lydia.“Thanks, Mr. York,” Lydia said quickly, feeling a bit formal.“No need for that. Let’s just enjoy breakfast,” he replied, steering clear of any mention of Quincy.Throughout the meal, Lydia remained quiet, watching this family of three as they laughed and chatted. The envy in her eyes was almost palpable. Once, she and Quincy had been like this, always with so much to talk about, especially when she
Orion rattled off a list of games, and the boy shook his head the whole time. He had completely forgotten to cry, his big eyes wide with curiosity. “What are those games you’re talking about? I’ve never heard of them.”“Come to preschool with me, and you’ll see. There are lots of other kids there, and we can play all of them together.” Orion kept him guessing, adding a little suspense.The boy was intrigued. He got up, grabbed Orion’s hand, and said, “I want to go to preschool with you. I want to try all those games!”The boy’s parents, relieved, approached Nina to thank her and offered praise for Orion.“They’re classmates now, and I’m sure they’ll be great friends. No need to thank us,” Nina replied, watching her son’s retreating figure with pride. She and Nash had done well raising him.Once the two kids disappeared into the school, Nina got back in the car and instructed the driver to head to the courthouse. As the reality of seeing Quincy again set in, Lydia found herself cle
“Why don’t you stay home and take care of Charlie? With you watching over him, I’d feel completely at ease. Besides, I’m earning enough money now. You don’t need to worry. I can more than provide for the both of you,” Ben said, his tone gentle but firm.The Lucas Corporation was massive, and Ben’s past work as a lawyer brought in astronomical fees, starting in the millions. Financial security was never a concern for their family.Jamie shook her head. “The work I’ve done before was all over the place, but didn’t you support me in doing it? What’s this sudden change, Ben? You’re switching sides faster than flipping a page!”Her decision to return to studying law had been encouraged by Ben himself. But now, hearing him say this, it felt like he was wavering, as though he wanted her to stay at home. Stay at home and do what? Take care of the child? To Jamie, this was an opportunity she couldn’t let slip away. It was her chance to prove herself. “That’s not what I meant,” Be
Lila visited Summer, whose condition had visibly deteriorated. “Looking at you now, do you regret any of it?” Lila asked. If Summer hadn’t been so fixated on Ben, she wouldn’t have ended up this way, consumed by obsession. Summer gave a bitter smile. “With so many twists and turns in life, who even has the right to speak of regret?” She reached out and held Lila’s hand tightly. “Lila, let my experience be a lesson to you. Make sure you see things clearly and never do anything foolish for someone who doesn’t love you.” It was sound advice, and Lila couldn’t help but feel indignant on Summer’s behalf. But her indignation was meaningless. Back then, all she had wanted was to make things difficult for Jamie. In the end, it had backfired, leaving her worse off. “I’m sorry, Summer,” Lila said remorsefully. “I couldn’t even help you get justice. I still carry that guilt.” “You don’t owe me an apology,” Summer replied gently. “You came to see me and cared enough to thin
Jamie sighed, knowing Ben was trying to comfort her. Though she still felt a little wistful, she quickly let it go.What she didn’t expect was that the boys’ whispered conversation would continue from the car all the way to the dinner table. Even while eating, they huddled together, making it clear no one else was welcome to join their secretive chat. Noticing how little food they had touched, Jamie tapped the table with a hint of exasperation. “Alright, you two. Mealtime is for eating, not whispering. Didn’t your teachers teach you that at school?” Charlie immediately recognized that Jamie wasn’t joking this time. She was genuinely a little upset. He quickly straightened up, putting on his most obedient expression as he picked up his utensils. “Got it, Mommy. I’ll eat properly now.” Jamie then turned her gaze to Orion, who, sensing her sternness, also sat upright and promised to focus on his food. With both boys settled and eating obediently, Jamie felt satisfied and
Ben glanced down at Jamie’s hand tightly holding his own. A faint smile flickered in his eyes, but the somber look on his face didn’t fade completely. Jamie noticed and assumed he was still upset. Unsure how to console him, she simply kept holding his hand, refusing to let go. That was precisely what Ben had intended. “It’s about time to pick up Charlie, isn’t it?” Jamie finally finished reading the case file, stretching as she glanced at the clock. It was already 4:00 PM. Preschool ended at 4:30, so if they left now, they would arrive just in time. Ben had already grabbed the car keys. “Yeah, let’s go.” Fortunately, traffic wasn’t bad, and they arrived at the preschool quickly. Jamie was scrolling through her phone when she suddenly said, “Nina messaged me. She’s busy today and can’t pick up Orion. She asked if we could swing by and get him.” They exchanged a look. Ben didn’t seem fazed. Picking up one more child didn’t make a difference to him. Jamie, ho
Most of the people nearby didn’t know what had happened. They simply listened to the man’s loud retorts and, judging by his confidence, began to cast skeptical glances at Jamie.“She looks so young. Why is she acting paranoid? How ridiculous.”“I don’t think it’s paranoia, it’s overconfidence. They say too much confidence is a sickness, and she clearly needs treatment.”“Oh, come on. I think she’s actually really pretty. Why are you all so hostile toward her? Honestly, the guy could’ve been snooping like she said. She did mention it was about her documents.”Hearing at least one voice defending her warmed Jamie’s heart. She turned and gave a smile to the young woman who had spoken up.The young woman froze for a moment, her face unexpectedly turning red. Embarrassed, she quickly looked down, pretending to sip her milk tea.Jamie didn’t linger on the moment. She refocused her attention on the man, her tone calm but firm. “I never said you were staring at me. You were clearly tryin
The girl's death was caused by her being forced to run laps despite being on her period. She had requested to be excused, but the teacher denied her request. Left with no choice, she pushed through, only to suffer a severe hemorrhage. She wasn’t treated in time and tragically passed away.The school defended itself, claiming the blame didn’t rest solely on them. They argued the girl and her family bore significant responsibility. After all, they reasoned, no one else had any issues during the drills. Why was it only her?Jamie’s frustration boiled over as she read through the case materials. “A school this shameless actually exists!”Ben tried to calm her. “Take it easy.”She took a deep breath, then sighed after a long pause. “You’re right. There are too many cases like this.”The idea of valuing a life at a mere $5,000 sounded absurd, but it wasn’t uncommon in reality. Examples of such injustices were everywhere, stemming from the lack of clear legal protections.“And that’s no
“Whose legal documents are these?” one of the investigators asked.“They’re mine,” Jamie replied. “I’ve been using them to prepare for a competition.”After she explained the situation, the investigator handed the documents back to her and issued a warning, emphasizing that such legal materials should not be present within the company. With that, they left.The man, clearly stunned, called after them, his voice rising with disbelief. “Did you even check properly? He’s a lawyer! How can a lawyer run a company as its president? Isn’t that against the rules?” The officials followed the direction of his finger and turned to look at Ben. Their expressions shifted into something between amusement and confusion, as though the man had asked an absurd question. “His law license was revoked a long time ago,” one of them stated plainly. The man froze, then shouted in denial, “That’s impossible!” “Why would it be impossible?” The official frowned, his tone growing stern. “When his l
Ben wouldn’t let Jamie fight his battles for him.He pulled her behind him, shielding her, and addressed the crowd with a cold expression. “If that’s the case, let’s have the authorities investigate.”Jamie stared at him, stunned.She understood the saying, “A clear conscience fears no accusation.” As long as Ben had nothing to hide, there was no reason to be afraid. But these people weren’t here for the truth, they were looking for trouble. It was likely orchestrated by their defeated opponents, timed to create chaos. Even if nothing incriminating was found, the media would seize the opportunity to smear them.Ben was doing this for her, disregarding himself completely.She was touched, but also anxious. She wanted to pull him back.However, Ben wasn’t budging this time. His warm but firm hand enveloped hers, silently telling her not to stop him.“What’s the matter? Afraid?” Ben asked, his hands casually in his pockets, raising an eyebrow with a hint of defiance.The loudest
“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