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
The timing of Mrs. Perez’s illness seemed almost too convenient. Could she be faking it? The thought struck Quincy, and he decided he needed to investigate further without raising suspicion.Not long after he left, Mrs. Perez got up, unaware that her actions had aroused her son’s suspicions. She was busy consulting with the doctor about her plan. “When you’re with my son, make sure to play up the seriousness of my condition. Otherwise, he’ll keep leaning toward that little troublemaker.”“Don’t worry, we go way back. I won’t let you down.” The doctor thumped his chest in reassurance. “But actually, I could use a hand myself. My son’s studying abroad, and we’re a bit short on funds. Do you think you could lend a little? I’ll pay you back after I get my bonus this year.”Mrs. Perez brushed off his concern with ease, agreeing right away. After all, she had money to spare. When Quincy had worked as an assistant, he had sent her a portion of his paycheck each month. Now that he had his
Winnie reacted strongly, refusing to believe any of it. “We’ve known each other for so long. He’s always been so good to me, and he’s incredibly dedicated to his work. He’s an exceptional lawyer. How could he possibly do something like this? You have to investigate thoroughly and clear his name,” she said, her voice trembling. The captain waited until she finished before asking, “Miss Lewis, just now you called him ‘Jack.’ Is that right?” “Yes, that’s his name, Jack Green. We’re engaged, and we’re getting married soon. Is there a problem with me calling him that?” Winnie responded, momentarily stunned. Her first thought was that the captain was being unnecessarily nosy. Was it wrong for an engaged couple to call each other by their first names?The captain shook his head. “This has nothing to do with your upcoming marriage, but the name you’re using doesn’t match the one on his ID. Were you aware of that?” “You’re joking, right? That’s not funny,” Winnie said, her face
While Nash spent time with his daughter, Gemma, every day, Nina and Pharaoh had missed out on so much together. Now that the doctors had given Pharaoh only five years to live, it was clear they needed to make the most of the time they had left and create as many good memories as possible.Lydia completely understood.She waved goodbye to Nash, then linked her arm through Quincy’s as the two walked toward their parked car.“I was thinking that, since work has been slow, we could take a short trip to a nearby city,” Quincy said, glancing at her with a warm expression. “But it looks like we’ll have to postpone it.”With her by his side, life felt perfect.Lydia smiled. “If not this week, then next week or the one after. We’ve got all the time in the world.”They were still young, with plenty of time to do everything they wanted.……Meanwhile, Winnie was left alone at home since Jamie went out to work. With nothing else to do, she decided to tidy up. The villa was large, and clea
Nash was the first to speak. “Mrs. Lucas, what exactly happened to Ben? Can you tell us everything? Let’s see if there’s a way we can help.”“Alright. Thank goodness he has friends like you. Otherwise, I’d have no idea what to do right now.” Mrs. Lucas recounted the situation in detail but carefully omitted her own involvement.The living room fell silent, and everyone’s expressions darkened.“I raised Ben. I know my son. He would never do something like this. It must be a setup,” Mrs. Lucas said, her voice trembling with emotion. The more she spoke, the more heartbroken she felt. All she could think about now were her Ben’s virtues. Apart from refusing to listen to her about marriage and career plans, Ben had always been a good son.“Don’t worry, Mrs. Lucas. We’ll figure something out,” Lydia offered as she stood and gently guided Mrs. Lucas to the nearby study. “You should rest for a bit. Don’t wear yourself out.”Quincy watched Lydia closely as she left the room. Only when sh
Mrs. Lucas deeply regretted her decision. If she had known it would come to this, she would never have sought out this man for help. “You hide behind a mask and won’t even show your face. How can you call yourself a man?”“Mrs. Lucas, do you really think throwing insults will make me take off the mask and obediently do your bidding like a dog?” The masked man remained calm, his tone even laced with amusement, which only added to Mrs. Lucas’s frustration.She was on the verge of breaking down. “Just name your price. How much will it take to get my son out of there?”As long as Ben could walk out safely and unharmed, no amount of money was too much.But the masked man shook his head. “This isn’t about money. If it were that simple, you wouldn’t be here begging me for help.”The truth was, Mrs. Lucas had come to him because she had run out of options. He was her last hope. Yet, he shrugged nonchalantly, as if to show her just how powerless he really was.“I don’t make the laws, an
Why would Caden do this?“And then there’s that recent case you handled. The client is suspected of laundering money for an international corporation, and these are the ‘evidences’ you submitted.” The captain’s brows furrowed as he pulled a file from the side, placing it in front of Ben. “Take a look at what you turned in.”The documents were full of evasive arguments, but the worst part was that a check had somehow been slipped between the pages. With all this evidence piled up against him, even as a lawyer, Ben had no way to prove his innocence.He had no idea how things had come to this. He had personally organized and submitted these files to the court, but the ones on record were completely different. Someone had swapped them out.But who?Ben handled everything himself, except for having his assistant print the documents. Could it be…?“Mr. Lucas, the evidence is overwhelming. You’d better think about how to clear your name,” the captain said, standing up and looking at Ben
“Please come with us,” one of the officers stepped up, holding a pair of silver handcuffs.Ben was even more puzzled. He hadn’t done anything illegal. Why were these officers showing up at his office? And why the cuffs?His first reaction was to step back. “You must have the wrong person.”“Your name is Ben Lucas, right? We’ve already matched your photo. I suggest you don’t resist and just come along quietly,” the officer barked.They wouldn’t be here without solid evidence. There was no mistake.“If you’re taking me in, I’d like to know the reason,” Ben replied, still trying to make sense of what was happening.To the officers, his reaction came across as defiant, making him look even more suspicious.“Don’t tell me you’re unaware of your own wrongdoing? You’re supposed to be a lawyer, familiar with the law. How convenient to play ignorant when it applies to you!“Think carefully! Confess, and things might go easier for you. Resist, and you’ll only make it worse. Don’t interfe
How could Jamie feel right about taking the money? In just a few days, Winnie had already lent her so much. She couldn’t keep taking advantage of her.“Jamie, if I were living alone, I wouldn’t care so much. But now, with Jack and the baby on the way, it’s unrealistic for us to keep living together forever. Take this money. It’s enough to cover at least half a month’s rent,” Winnie said firmly.Jamie could hear the underlying message. Winnie was trying to hint, as gently as possible, that it might be time for Jamie to find her own place. It made sense. Winnie was building her own family and naturally wanted privacy. Having a relative around wasn’t exactly ideal, especially with everything Ben had been doing lately. While he hadn’t openly revealed anything about their past, it was clear enough that Winnie had noticed something.Jamie truly wanted to move out, but the moment she started looking for a place, Ben would make her life difficult. She didn’t mind for herself, but with
The next morning, Ben opened his eyes. He immediately noticed the blanket covering him. Could Jamie have been the one taking care of him last night?He sat up, only to see Winnie sleeping on a makeshift bed on the floor.“You’re awake? You were so drunk last night that you passed out on the way home. It was a struggle just getting you here. I even tried to wake you up for some tea to help sober you up, but you were completely out,” Winnie said as she woke up, too.After straightening up the living room a bit, she went to the kitchen and came back with a mug of warm herbal tea. “I’m guessing the hangover’s mostly gone, so you probably don’t need anything strong. But this will soothe your throat.”“You don’t have to go through all this trouble,” Ben replied, placing the mug on the coffee table without drinking it.Ben looked around the room. It was just the two of them. Where had Jamie gone?The thought nagged at him, so he asked directly.“Jack, I’m not sure if I should say this…
“He… likes my sister?” The shocking thought had barely surfaced before it jolted Winnie. “You’ve got the wrong person. I’m not Winnie,” Jamie quickly pushed Ben toward Winnie’s side.A look of irritation crossed Ben’s face. It was Jamie he wanted to hold. What did Winnie have to do with him?Annoyed, he grumbled, “Why do you keep pushing me away?”“Jack, you’re mistaken. I’m your fiancée!” Winnie finally couldn’t hold back anymore. She strode over, took Ben’s hand, and placed it around her waist. “I get that my sister and I look a bit alike, but you can’t keep confusing us like this!”She had brushed it off the first couple of times, but this was going too far.Ben still seemed inclined to push her away.Just then, the taxi arrived, and Jamie opened the front passenger door, slipping inside. Seeing this, Ben staggered in her direction, while Winnie hurried to open the back door for him.Once inside, Ben leaned back in the seat and fell asleep almost immediately.Not wanti