“Lydia, do you really not feel anything for me? Not even a little?” Eugene asked, still clinging to a thread of hope. “Just a little, that's all I’m asking.”He had tried so hard, done everything he could, and still, it was as if he couldn’t melt Lydia’s heart.“And we've already been involved. I want to take responsibility for that. I'm not trying to play around. Lydia, please think this over carefully. We slept together!”“Do you hear yourself right now?” Lydia sighed, her patience running thin. The more he clung to her, the more determined she felt. It was clear they couldn't even remain friends.With a final attempt at patience, she said, “That night is behind us, Eugene. Stop bringing it up. According to your logic, since I have a child with Quincy, he and I should be bound together forever. But that's just not how things work.”Eugene clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. “Lydia, don’t say things just to push my buttons.”The thought of Lydia and Quincy reconciling made E
Eugene and Lydia had hardly even held hands, let alone discussed something as specific as her wrist size.“Do you have any adjustable bracelets?” he asked.“We do, but the options are limited. The more popular designs are sized,” the associate replied, eyeing him thoughtfully. It seemed odd. On one hand, he was picking out the most extravagant pieces, but on the other, he didn’t know basic details about his fiancée. By this point, most couples would have had a bit more familiarity, right?“No problem. I’ll take this one,” Eugene said, picking out the most expensive bracelet available. “And add a necklace, too.”Money wasn’t a concern for him. He wanted Lydia’s parents to see just how serious he was, so he chose the priciest pieces he could. By the time he finished, the associate’s smile was almost frozen in place. He had singlehandedly hit her monthly sales quota in one go.Next, Eugene bought a selection of fine cigars and spirits before heading over to Lydia’s parents' house,
Marriage was no trivial matter, and Mrs. Fay couldn’t make such a decision for her daughter so casually. She exchanged a glance with Mr. Fay, who quickly poured Eugene a cup of tea. “Eugene, you’ve been talking since you arrived. Take a moment to relax and have some tea,” he said.“Mr. and Mrs. Fay, I genuinely want to marry Lydia. Our families are well-matched, and I assure you she would be well taken care of. My parents would treat her as their own daughter. Please, just give me your blessing.” Eugene took the tea but didn’t drink it, his eyes fixed on them with hope.Mr. Fay hesitated. “Eugene, I still think this is all a bit rushed. Before any talk of marriage, we should meet with your parents and discuss the details thoroughly. So, take these gifts back for now, and let’s set up a time to visit.”Eugene could sense the hesitancy in Mr. Fay’s tone. He had pushed as hard as he could. Short of dragging Lydia down to the courthouse to get a marriage license, he had run out of opt
Mrs. Fay also felt Eugene had acted inappropriately, though she didn’t see it as a character flaw. “Eugene likely just got anxious and ended up making some mistakes.”“It doesn’t matter how rushed he feels. I’m not going to be with him,” Lydia responded firmly. “I was drinking that night, and something was added to my drink. Otherwise, things never would have gone as they did. I don’t intend to throw away my future over one night.” She was resolute. No matter how much pressure her parents put on her, she wasn’t about to fall into that trap. Getting into this was easy, but getting out would be nearly impossible. In addition, Eugene’s habit of running to others with every issue, was just too immature. “Lydia, it’s your choice whether to marry him or not,” Mrs. Fay assured her. “We wanted you to get to know him, but that doesn’t mean you’re bound to marry him.”To Lydia’s surprise, her mother was firmly on her side. Her father, after finishing two cigarettes, echoed her mother’s sen
But why had Lydia returned to her cold, distant self, shutting him out completely after that morning?“Hit me, yell at me, make me kneel on nails outside your door if that’s what it takes. I’ll take it without a word. Just please, Lydia, don’t ignore me,” Quincy pleaded, desperation clear in his voice.He had never lowered himself like this for anyone. Even the toughest clients hadn’t driven him to this point. But for Lydia, he was willing to lose everything except her.Lydia wanted to walk away without looking back, but his voice stopped her, making her eyes sting as her feet felt glued to the ground. She shook her head, unable to turn and face him. She knew that if she did, she might never find the strength to leave.“Quincy, we’re over. Even if we have to meet again, it shouldn’t be here,” she said, her voice steady but final.Their last meeting should be at the courthouse, signing divorce papers. Then they would part ways for good.“We may be over, but we can start again. I k
The elderly lady's expression turned serious. “Oh, dear, it looks like you've been out here for quite a while, and she still won’t see you? Young man, I’ve lived a long time, and I’ve got some advice if you’re willing to hear it.”Quincy assumed she was going to advise him to give up. If he were in someone else’s shoes, he might say the same thing. But only those in love knew that true feelings would not just vanish like dust in the wind.To his surprise, the elderly woman took a different approach. “When I was young, I went after my husband even though he didn’t like me at first. And his family? They thought I was just a country girl, plain and uncultured. But so what? I knew what I wanted. I was set on him, so I kept at it until I won him over.”She chuckled, her eyes twinkling with pride.Quincy instinctively asked, “And after you got together, did his family still treat you the same way?”“Of course not. Parents just want their kids to find a good partner. They’re not trying t
"Yes, we have one! The next tour leaves tomorrow morning. It's a seven-day trip to the grasslands with horseback riding, milk wine tastings, and all expenses covered!" The college girl was so thrilled she could barely get the words out. It was her first day at this part-time job, and she had already made a sale! With this paycheck, she could finally send money for her grandmother’s medical expenses."Then I’ll book that one," Lydia replied, not caring much about the destination. As long as it took her far from Quincy and Eugene, it was enough. After paying, she added the guide as a contact. Rather than going back home, Lydia booked a hotel close to the departure point and settled in for the night. Once in her room, she video-called her parents, "I’m joining a tour group and heading out tomorrow. I’ll be back next week.""Sounds good! This is the perfect time for you to explore," her mom encouraged. "Travel broadens the mind. Did you pack everything you need?"Lydia shook her hea
“Is there really any difference between him and a desperate fool right now? Is Lydia really worth all this?” Tiffany thought.Quincy ignored Tiffany entirely, his back turned, treating her as if she wasn’t even there. Tiffany knew her words had no effect, so she resorted to calling for backup. Less than half an hour later, Mrs. Perez showed up.Seeing her, Quincy almost lost it. “Mom, you’re not in good health. You just had surgery. What are you doing out of the hospital?”“Good thing I came. Who knows how long you would’ve stood out here acting like an idiot if I hadn’t shown up?” She tapped his forehead hard, her voice sharp with frustration. “Quincy, I’m practically on my deathbed. Can’t you just let me have a little peace?”If Lydia’s background had been ordinary, Mrs. Perez would have gladly paid her to leave. But Lydia wasn’t just anyone. She was the daughter of the influential Fay family.Mrs. Perez couldn’t interfere directly with them, so she had no choice but to pressure
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