“Alright.” Right now, Quincy didn’t even care what Lydia was saying. Whatever she told him, he would simply follow it. She was always right in his eyes.Seeing him like this, Lydia was momentarily reminded of when they had first fallen in love. Back then, when they had just begun dating, Quincy would look at her with the same silly smile every day. She once asked him what made him so happy, and he would only replied, “As long as you’re by my side, nothing else matters.”But now, they would not be seeing each other anymore. The child in her belly would have her love, her parents’ love, but would never know a father’s love.“Lydia, do you resent me for following you?” Quincy asked, breaking the silence. “I know you don’t want to see me, but I was genuinely afraid something might happen to you, worried he wasn’t a good person, so I followed you.”“No,” Lydia shook her head.“No? You don’t resent me, or…?”“I don’t mind seeing you,” Lydia interrupted him. “We loved each other deepl
Lydia continued to reassure her parents, “I’m really fine. Quincy showed up just in time and saved me. Plus, I had pepper spray in my bag, and it worked like a charm. One spray and he was down.”Eugene was still unconscious.“How’s Quincy doing now?” Mr. Fay asked, wanting to go in and see him.Lydia led them into the hospital room where Quincy was having his wounds treated. When he saw them enter, he quickly stood to greet them.“Sit down and let them finish tending to your injuries,” Mr. Fay said, feeling a mix of emotions. He had never been pleased with Quincy as a son-in-law. Especially during the divorce proceedings, he had wished Quincy would disappear from their lives for good. But after today, seeing how Quincy had risked himself to save Lydia, Mr. Fay found himself warming up to him.Mrs. Fay felt the same way. She approached Quincy, examining his wounds closely, then told the doctor, “Use the best treatment to avoid any scarring.”The doctor nodded.She wanted to say
At the police station, Lydia saw Eugene once more. When he caught sight of her standing with Quincy, his eyes turned red with rage, and he tried to charge at them, only to be stopped by the officers.“Lydia, how could you betray me?” he shouted furiously. “You two are already divorced. Are you really planning to get back together? Why would you hurt me like this?”To anyone unaware of the situation, he might have sounded heartbreakingly sincere, as if Lydia had wronged him.“Let’s be clear,” Lydia replied coldly, “we were just friends, never anything more. And for the record, Quincy and I haven’t finalized our divorce. Even if we did divorce and chose to remarry, that’s none of your business. My life choices are my own.”Just because Eugene had feelings for her didn’t mean she was obligated to reciprocate. What did he expect? That she would stick around just for him until he decided he was done with her?“Lydia, I won’t allow you two to be together,” he said, seething. “He’s not
The only thing Mr. Ford truly cared about was the family’s reputation. As for his son, shipping him off overseas to fend for himself was enough. He intended to keep a close watch to ensure Eugene never found a way back.“That works for me,” Mr. Fay agreed. “But I’ll be keeping an eye on him too. If he shows up here again, this agreement is null and void. I have all the evidence saved.”Even without saying it, Mr. Ford understood. The Fords and Fays were evenly matched in influence, and the Fays had ties with Nash, so he would be crazy to turn this into a conflict.Once the Eugene issue was resolved, Lydia returned to her routine. However, she found herself frequently crossing paths with Quincy now. He never approached her directly or intruded, just silently appeared in her vicinity.After three days, Lydia couldn’t take it anymore. She pulled open his car door and got in. “Let’s go.”“Go where?”“To the courthouse, of course. I left work two hours early today, and it’s still open
“Wishing you both happiness,” the clerk said, swiftly completing the paperwork to cancel their divorce.As they walked out, Quincy held their marriage certificate, feeling the significance of the moment down to his core.“Lydia, let’s go on a second honeymoon,” he said, wrapping his arm around her waist. “How about the Maldives this time?”“And what about a wedding?” Lydia asked, looking up at him with a warm smile.Their eyes met, and both felt a sweetness fill their hearts. Their first wedding had left regrets due to their parents’ disapproval. Although Quincy’s parents still hadn’t come around, Lydia’s were now supportive, and she was carrying their new baby.“Oh, Quincy, I had a dream last night,” Lydia said, a little uncertain. “In it, a little boy called me ‘Mom.’”She didn’t know if the dream held any truth, but seeing such a sweet child felt like a good omen.“He even said he’d bring his little sister along to find me.”“Could it be twins? A boy and a girl?” Quincy’s fa
Mabel hated herself for it now. Why had she been tempted by those small favors from her aunt and gone along with her schemes? Now things had spiraled out of control, and there was no way to fix it.“I understand. I’ll be there as soon as I can,” Quincy said, ending the call. Turning to Lydia, he asked, “Are you coming with me or would you rather take a cab home?”“Let’s go together. No point in wasting time discussing it. Just focus on driving,” Lydia replied, quickly fastening her seatbelt.She wasn’t about to hold grudges against someone critically ill.When they arrived at the hospital, they rushed to the waiting area outside the operating room. Mabel was pacing in the hallway. The moment she saw them, she seemed to find her footing again. “Quincy, thank goodness you’re here! I was terrified you wouldn’t come.”“You should be saying that to Lydia. She’s the one who forgave you all,” Quincy pointed out.Mabel’s face flushed with shame. She bowed deeply to Lydia, apologizing ove
“Dad, don’t get too worked up,” Quincy said, noticing his father’s face turning red with anger. “People your age can easily stress themselves sick. Look at Mom. She’s in the hospital for that very reason.”If she hadn’t been so consumed with pointless meddling, she wouldn’t be on an operating table today.Mr. Perez nearly choked in frustration. “Is that how you talk to your father? Forget it. Let me speak to Lydia.”“She’s busy. Whatever you need to say, just say it to me. If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up,” Quincy replied, blocking the attempt.He wasn’t foolish. He could tell his father wanted to pressure Lydia directly. But there was no way he would let her face any of that alone.“This was all my decision. There’s no one else for you to blame.”“Fine. You’re acting like you’ve grown wings and flown beyond my reach.” Mr. Perez hung up, barely restraining himself from a full-blown rant. That son of his would be the death of him.On the other end, Lydia looked at Quincy wit
Unfortunately, Quincy wasn’t swayed by either her gentler approach or pressure.When Lydia walked in, Mrs. Perez almost thought she was there to confront her. But Lydia’s tone was detached as she spoke, “Mrs. Perez, all your hospital expenses have been paid. Rest and focus on recovering. When you’re discharged, I can help arrange for a good rehabilitation facility if you’d like.”After everything that had happened, Lydia couldn’t bring herself to call her “Mom” anymore. “Mrs. Perez” would have to suffice.Mrs. Perez was stunned. Lydia had actually come to see her?Just as he had done with his father, Quincy briefly informed her of the situation, then left with Lydia, leaving Mrs. Perez lying in bed, lost in thought.Mabel said softly, breaking the silence. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to say. You’ve gone way too far in the past. I know you’re my aunt, and you’ve done me some favors, but I can’t keep ignoring what’s right to blindly take your side.”Mabel feared that if
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