Tiffany's eyes filled with tears. “Mrs. Perez, it’s just that I’m not lucky enough to be your daughter-in-law.”“Don’t say that, dear. You’re a sweet, thoughtful girl, and your luck will come in time,” Mrs. Perez consoled her before calling Quincy over.Quincy approached, but he kept a noticeable distance from Tiffany, not wanting any association with her.Mrs. Perez grabbed his hand and placed it in Tiffany’s, saying, “Quincy, this is my only wish. You refuse to fulfill it, so I’ll settle for Tiffany becoming my daughter. She can be your sister instead. That should be acceptable, right?”“Mom, I already have a sister. Mabel is standing right here,” Quincy replied, exasperated. He couldn’t believe his mother’s persistence. She wasn’t even that old, but she was acting like she had lost her mind. If she had really wanted another child, she could have had one back then. Modern medicine had come a long way. She could have gone abroad and had another child through IVF if she wanted to
When the secretary finally explained the situation to Quincy in full detail, his first reaction wasn’t about how badly he was being dragged through the mud. It was concern for Lydia. “Lydia never did anything wrong to me. She doesn’t deserve this kind of treatment. Who’s behind all of this?”Even if Lydia was with someone else now, as long as the man treated her well, Quincy would feel no more than bitter regret. He would never blame Lydia for anything. She was a wonderful person, and it was his failure to be the husband she deserved that had led to their separation.“I’m not sure,” the secretary replied. “A user posted a video online, and suddenly all the major marketing accounts started sharing it. It quickly trended on social media. Then the Fay family retaliated.”Without hesitation, Quincy ordered, “Get a team on it immediately. Issue clarifications and send legal notices to those accounts. If they keep spreading lies, we’ll take legal action.”With that, he hurried out, det
As they walked out the door, Eugene seemed to be trying to calm Mr. Fay down, but every word he spoke only fueled the fire.Just as they reached the entrance, they ran into Quincy.“You’ve got the nerve to show up here? After everything you’ve done to my daughter, what are you doing here now?” Mr. Fay rolled up his sleeves, clenching his fists tightly.Normally a calm and rational man, Mr. Fay wasn’t one to resort to violence. But right now, all he wanted was to land a punch on Quincy’s face to vent his rage for Lydia's sake.“Mr. Fay, I’m so sorry. It’s my fault I couldn’t take better care of Lydia, I—” Quincy began to apologize sincerely, but before he could finish, Eugene cut him off.Panicked, afraid that the truth might come out, Eugene was desperate to get Quincy out of there. “You two are divorced now. You have no right to be here. Get lost! You’ve already hurt Lydia enough, and now you want to come here and harass her parents?”“Eugene, even if you want to swoop in and ta
How much suffering had his daughter endured during her marriage?As Mr. Fay thought back to the online attacks, where so many people blindly insulted Lydia, hurling vicious words at her, his fury reached its peak. He couldn’t hold back any longer. His fists, fueled by rage, landed punch after punch on Quincy.“Mr. Fay, Eugene is a liar. You can’t believe anything he says. I never laid a hand on Lydia, and I would never try to slander her,” Quincy pleaded, trying his best to avoid the blows without fighting back. He didn’t want to hurt Mr. Fay. He dodged and explained, but Mr. Fay, blinded by anger, wasn’t hearing any of it.“I only believe what I’ve seen with my own eyes,” Mr. Fay spat, his voice trembling with fury. “You’re just like your mother, constantly making my daughter’s life miserable. What good could possibly come from you?”Quincy fell silent, unable to respond. As a man, he could understand Mr. Fay’s reaction. If his own daughter had been hurt like that, he wouldn’t
“Of course not! There's nothing between us,” Quincy hurried to explain.Tears welled up in Tiffany's eyes as she looked at Quincy, her expression filled with sorrow. She lowered her head, as if making some big decision. Then, turning to Mr. Fay, she said, “I only see Quincy as an older brother. We have always treated each other as siblings, so please don’t misunderstand our relationship, and definitely don’t say things like that.”That was the last straw for Mr. Fay. He wasn’t stupid. Just looking at Tiffany’s expression made it clear that their relationship was far from innocent. Brother and sister? What a joke.“I’d say you two are more like ‘lovers pretending to be siblings.’ Now that the divorce is final, you can go be as close as you want, but spare me the act! It’s disgusting!” Mr. Fay spat, releasing Quincy’s collar and shaking off the frustration with a sharp clap of his hands.His heart broke for Lydia, who had wasted so much time on a man like this.“It’s not like that
“Get out of my way, stop causing trouble! Tiffany, do you want me to strangle you?” Quincy’s eyes were red with fury. All he wanted was to explain things to Mr. Fay, but every time he tried, someone else jumped in, making everything even more complicated.“If you really want me dead, then go ahead and strangle me. I don’t care,” Tiffany lifted her chin, exposing her neck to his hands as tears streamed down her face. She knew Quincy would never hurt a woman, much less strangle her in front of everyone.Tiffany was gambling on the chaos. Even if it made Quincy hate her, it would be worth it if she could drive a permanent wedge between him and the Fay family.Mr. Fay, however, was convinced it was all just an act. This was his home, not the set of a soap opera.Enraged, Mr. Fay kicked at Quincy again. “Make up for it? Over my dead body!”“Mr. Fay, if you want to hit someone, hit me, but stop hitting Quincy!” Tiffany cried as she rushed to shield him.It was at this moment that Lyd
“Lydia, do we really have to end up as enemies?” Quincy’s voice faltered as he looked into her eyes, seeing nothing but coldness.His heart grew colder with every passing second. How he longed for the past, when Lydia’s gaze was filled with warm, fierce love, like the midday sun that wrapped him in its comforting heat. But now, everything had changed.Lydia gave a mocking smile. “This is the path you chose, Quincy. You made your decision, and now you want to backtrack? It’s pointless. We’re adults. You can’t have it all.”The moment he chose to follow his mother’s wishes and kept meeting with Tiffany, any hope for them was lost. Lydia wasn’t the type to tolerate her husband accepting a ‘sister’ from outside their marriage, and she certainly wouldn’t stand by while her mother-in-law plotted to shove a mistress into her husband’s life. If someone wanted to live that life, they could but she wasn’t going to make herself miserable for it.“But Lydia, I chose you. I’m having the rum
Could she really be so pathetic, constantly throwing herself at someone who clearly didn’t want her, enjoying being insulted every day?“Quincy...” Tiffany watched helplessly as Quincy walked away. She didn’t chase after him but stood up from the ground quietly. Quincy’s disdain for her was obvious, and she wasn’t stupid. She could see it as clear as day. But what Mrs. Perez had promised her was too tempting. As long as they got married and she bore him a child, that child would become the future heir of the Perez family and inherit the entire company! And with Quincy being close to Mr. York, his company would only grow. If she could endure the cold shoulder now, the future held the life of a rich wife waiting for her. Her in-laws would adore her, and even if Quincy didn’t love her, at least he would treat her with respect for the child’s sake. Quincy was a good man, and if she could just win him over, there would be nothing but sweet rewards in the future. Tiffany had calcu
Ben rubbed his tired eyes after reviewing the draft for a while. When he looked back at Jamie, a faint smile curved his lips. “The draft looks good—just a few minor issues.” Jamie immediately perked up, eager to learn, like a diligent student. Playing the role of her temporary teacher, Ben shared everything he knew without holding back. The afternoon flew by. Feeling satisfied, Jamie grabbed the draft with fresh notes and rushed off to make revisions. She became so immersed in her work that she didn’t even notice how much time had passed until evening. Ben, having finished his own tasks, looked over and saw Jamie still glued to her computer. With a sigh, he rubbed his forehead and walked over to pull her up from her chair. Jamie yelped as her upper body suddenly left the ground. “Ben, what are you doing? I’m not done yet!” Ben pointed to his watch. “Take a look at the time.” Jamie glanced at the clock, then jumped up in alarm, nearly bumping into him. “Charlie!”
Ben picked up the project proposal that had been set aside. Realizing she had misunderstood, Lila felt a flicker of embarrassment but quickly composed herself. Glancing at his actions, she said calmly, “This is the project I want your team to handle. So, can you do it or not?” Jamie couldn’t read Ben’s thoughts. She only knew she didn’t want Lila to get her way. This woman had been looking for trouble from the start, clearly acting with bad intentions. Why give her an opportunity to exploit? But Ben glanced at Jamie, the corners of his lips curving into a gentle smile, almost as if to reassure her. “I think it’s doable.” He directed the comment to Jamie, but Lila assumed it was for her. Instantly, her earlier frustration vanished, and she crossed her arms smugly. “Did you hear that, Jamie? Ben is your boss, isn’t he? Now that he’s given the green light, you don’t have anything else to say, do you?”Her self-satisfied demeanor made it seem as if she had already secured her
Lila spoke coolly. “Well, since no one ever mentioned it to you, now you know. Jamie, when you used to work in the service industry, weren’t you well aware of these things? So why is it that now, after being with Ben, you’ve changed so quickly? Forgetting where you came from this fast is something else.”Jamie had insisted on handling this meeting with Lila herself. Even though Ben had dropped her off and wanted to accompany her inside, she had stopped him at the door. And now, it was clear. Lila, seeing Jamie alone, felt free to mock and humiliate her without restraint. Jamie stood abruptly, her presence suddenly intense. “Lila, do you know why I’m here today?” Lila sneered dismissively. “I couldn’t care less about your intentions. But since you’re here, you should remember one thing—I’m your client.” “Client?” Jamie couldn’t help but laugh at that. “Did we finalize a partnership? You seem to have forgotten that just as you can choose not to work with me, I also have the
At the event that day, some people were bold enough to question Ben directly to his face. It was no surprise that, in his absence, they felt free to make unpleasant comments to Jamie instead, leaving her to deal with it alone.Ben held Jamie’s hand, his gaze soft and full of care. “After everything we’ve been through to get here, you should understand how determined I am to protect you,” he said gently, his voice steady and soothing. “If anything happens to you, you have to tell me. If you don’t, how am I supposed to know? I can’t let you suffer in silence.”Jamie nodded. “I know. I promise. But I really just want to use this opportunity to prove myself.” How could she not? If she didn’t prove herself now, when would she? Her goal was to stand alongside Ben for the long haul. “And what exactly will proving yourself through working with her accomplish? Jamie, you need to understand that as long as you’re with me, you don’t need to—” Before Ben could finish, Jamie placed
“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