Holly woke up at two in the morning. The hotel suite was dimly lit, with only the blue glow of a computer screen on the couch. Ignacio had had sex with her for the better part of the night, but he was sitting there now. His eyes were fixed on the screen, likely watching some indices.The blue light cast shadows on his face and made his jawline appear sharper and his expression more stern.Ignacio looked different from how he was in bed. He was considerate and gentle, yet still wild in bed. He was even a bit rough in moments of passion but in a charming way. Occasionally, he whispered some sweet words, too. Holly could sense his restraint and reservation. It was understandable since it was their first time together.Holly watched him for a long time. They had had sex, which made everything feel natural. She might be a bit shy, but she continued to gaze at him intently."Did I wake you?" Ignacio asked when he noticed her stare. Ignacio raised his eyes and closed the laptop. Then,
After a night of indulgence, Holly woke up well past sunrise. She found a fresh bouquet of pink roses on the pillow beside her, along with a delicate card. To her surprise, there was a fine diamond bracelet resting on top of it. She recognized it as an exclusive piece by a renowned jeweler. It was the Milky Way bracelet, the only one of its kind in the world.Holly was filled with joy. She picked up the bracelet and wore it on her wrist. She held the roses to her nose and inhaled their fragrance. Finally, she picked up the card. It bore Ignacio's handwriting."Anna bought you some clothes, they’re on the bed. I'll come back tonight to be with you."…Holly read the two short lines over and over again. She felt sweetness in her heart, but she snorted lightly, “Who wants him to accompany me anyway?”She freshened up and got changed. A lavish breakfast had been prepared in the dining room, ready for her.After eating, Holly planned to return to her small apartment to work on h
"No one will wait for you forever in Silvercrest, Lorian."These words were etched into Lorian's mind. For the rest of his life, he would still recall these memories in the dead of night. He might've had a happy family, but he would still reminisce about the youthful days of vigor and the pure, innocent love of that time.…Back in the Sanders Group Conference Room, Lorian had spaced out for the second time. Kris quietly reminded him, "Do you have any comments on Mr. Ignacio's proposal?"Lorian snapped back to reality. He looked across the table at Ignacio, who was gazing at him. Despite the latter's impeccable appearance, Lorian could imagine just how passionate Ignacio had been when he was sleeping with Holly last night.Absence makes the heart grow fonder, indeed!Lorian's lips curled into a cold grin. Now, he was certain that Holly's return to Brookesville was orchestrated by Ignacio. Ignacio must've wanted Holly to settle things between her and Lorian so she could be wit
Lorian tasted a tinge of blood in his mouth. Then, a mouthful of blood splattered against the transparent glass.Kris entered just in time to witness this. Her face turned pale with shock as she rushed over. "What's wrong, Mr. Lorian?"Lorian clutched his abdomen as sweat covered his forehead. He waved gently. "I'm fine."Kris had been with him for many years. She had witnessed Lorian working himself to the brink, and couldn't help but feel distressed.Her voice choked with emotion when she spoke. "You're not fine. Dr. Yanni already said you can't keep pushing yourself like this! "If you keep going at this rate, you're going to..."Kris didn't finish her sentence, but Lorian understood.No matter how hard he worked, he had still lost Holly. Indeed, why was he doing this to himself?Both of them headed downstairs and got into the car. Kris instructed the driver to go to Knight Hospital.Lorian clutched his abdomen in the back seat. His face was pale. The car swayed gently
Lorian stood at the door and dialed Kris's number. She sounded hesitant and evasive on the phone.Lorian guessed that she had gone to find Holly. So, he headed downstairs and got into the car. Then, he instructed the driver to go to Holly's apartment. Lorian knew that Holly painted during the day and would definitely return to her apartment for that.…Yanni instructed a nurse to tidy up the examination room before walking out with her hands in her white coat's pockets. She headed towards the inpatient building, intending to visit a critically ill child she had attended to a couple of days ago. Now that Yanni had some time, she wanted to check on the child. The pediatric ward of the hospital was chocked full of worried adults and frightened children. The scent of medication filled the air. Being sick was never pleasant. So, the atmosphere was often somber and filled with concerns.As Yanni passed by, doctors and nurses greeted her respectfully. "Dr. Yanni."She nodded fain
Yanni couldn't be bothered with him. She kept her hands in her white coat's pockets and kept a blank face. "I am first and foremost your wife, Gael. I'm just a doctor. Stop acting like a jerk and use my medical ethics to restrain me."Gael was displeased and was about to speak, but a nurse ran over. "We have an emergency with one of the patients, Dr. Yanni."Yanni immediately followed her and left Gael and Emilia behind. They were two old lovers.Emilia cautiously suggested, "Since Dr. Yanni is in the hospital, maybe you could stay here with Ansley, Gael. When Dr. Yanni finishes, you could explain things to her. "I'm sure she has misunderstood us."Gael didn't agree to it. He glanced at his watch. "I have matters to attend to at the company. I have to go."Emilia tried to persuade him. "Gael."However, he left anyway.…Holly was in a corner coffee shop. She looked down and stirred her coffee gently. Her voice was slightly husky. "I didn't expect you would ask me out, Kri
Lorian sat in the car. He spaced out for a while before reaching for the cigarette pack on the center console.Then, he lit a cigarette with trembling fingers. The pale blue smoke blurred his vision.Lorian kept thinking about his past with Holly, as well as the fact that she was married. He also thought about the words she said."I'm married, Lorian."That was right. Holly was married!Lorian had already lowered himself to such a degree. He could even look past the fact that she was married.All he wanted was for her to get back to his side, but she didn't want to do it.If she didn't want to do it, then why would Lorian make her stay? He should have a little dignity for himself!After Lorian finished his cigarette, Lorian dialed Poppy's number and informed her of the villa's location. It was his private property, but he rarely lived in it.…A man was at the Walwell Villa an hour later. A wine glass lay tilted on the carpet In the master bedroom on the second floor.Deep
Holly was blushing slightly when the door opened. Ignacio took off his coat and hung it casually on the coat hook at the entrance.Then, he pulled Holly into his arms and lowered his head to kiss her tenderly. She tilted her head back and tried to speak, but he seized the moment to slip his tongue in."Mmm... Ignacio."Holly's broken voice was halted by his tongue. He kissed her intensely. The subtle sounds of their kiss were so sensual that it turned them on effortlessly.Ignacio pressed Holly against the cabinet as he caressed her slender waist. Everywhere he touched her, he gave her goosebumps.She was sensitive and trembled slightly in his grasp. Ignacio paused to gaze into her eyes and gulped sexily, "Feels good, huh?"Holly felt embarrassed and didn't want to respond. She lightly flicked a strand of hair from her cheek."I haven't finished getting ready. Let me make you a cup of coffee first, and then we can go out for dinner."Ignacio pressed her waist gently. His touch
In the presidential suite, the newlywed night was fiery, filled with affection and intimacy. The wedding banquet was still bustling with excitement.There was a special guest, who quietly arrived and hoped to leave just as quietly. He was afraid to disturb her mood and feared that if she saw him, she might not be pleased. However, despite his best efforts, they still crossed paths in the hallway.Gael stood quietly, watching Yanni. She had just taken Ella to the restroom, as she wasn’t comfortable leaving her alone. Besides Ella, there was another small girl with her, probably one of the twins she had with Keaton. The other twin was her brother.The twins were named Shay Bright and Drew Bright. Ella adored her younger siblings. Whenever she came home from school, she would always spend some time playing with them first. At night, she would sneak her little sister into her room and cuddle her to sleep, treating her like a little doll.At first, Yanni was quite worried, but she lat
In the early morning, the first rays of sunlight bathed the earth, signaling a joyous occasion at the Sanders family home. The youngest daughter of Noah and Gwynn was finally getting married. Even more delightful, she was marrying her childhood love. Dressed in a headpiece and red bridal gown, she was as beautiful as could be, the most stunning woman Zion had ever seen.The Quarto family was busy with preparations. Although they were not extremely wealthy, Jordyn was a capable family head with a good reputation. He handled both inside and outside affairs with finesse and charm. To everyone’s surprise, he got along very well with Mason.However, Noah had some reservations. “Don't you have any relatives of your own, Mason?”Mason didn’t engage with his criticism. Together with Zoe, they helped with the wedding arrangements. A traditional Chinese wedding was far more elaborate than a Western one, but thankfully, the families had enough help to avoid any chaotic moments.During the d
That night, Jamie and Paityn returned home with their daughter Carol. As soon as they arrived, Carol went to do her homework, while Paityn went to check on their youngest son, Colten Lockwood. The housekeeper was taking care of him and, upon hearing footsteps, turned her head and softly said, "Madam, you're back? He hasn't woken up at all, he's such a good boy."Paityn smiled lightly and signaled for the housekeeper to go downstairs and rest.When the door closed, she looked down at the sleeping Colten. The little one, only eight months old, resembled his father completely; almost like a miniature copy of Jamie. Even Carol, at times, would look at her brother’s face and marvel: "It’s really a masterpiece from God!"Jamie replied, "You even know what a masterpiece is?"Carol teased, "A husband’s looks are the wife’s glory!"Paityn quietly said to Jamie, “She must have seen a supermodel runway show."Jamie immediately asked, "Did she like it?"Paityn didn't answer, just smiled.
On the second floor, Gwen was trying on her wedding dress for tomorrow. Just as Zion had wished, it was a traditional Zutriysteinian wedding.The red wedding gown was crafted by the top artisans from Zutriystein, elegant and dignified. The headpiece she wore was adorned with wild pearls; each gem was carefully embedded, and the headpiece alone cost tens of millions. A substantial amount of money had been spent.The woman in the mirror was stunningly beautiful. Gwen gently touched her headpiece and muttered to herself, "Zion really doesn’t mind spending money on this little hobby of his."Gwynn, as a mother, patted her head. "This little girl really doesn’t know when to keep quiet, but luckily, she’s married well and is right here beside me..."She had given a generous wedding gift, exactly the same as when Holly got married. Like Holly, Gwen didn’t want any shares of the Sanders Group. The money that Zion earned was enough to support both of them and his small hobbies.Meanwhile
Ignacio said, "We can’t take care of both of you."Holly was at a loss for words.Lucius was at that lively age, but he was raised by his father and had good manners. When he saw Ocelotte, he respectfully greeted him, saying, "Second Uncle."Ocelotte patted his little head, thinking that the boy seemed sturdier than his own children, possibly because Molly was too fragile. He made a mental note to make sure Yeager got some extra nutrients when he went back.The black Rolls-Royce Phantom sped down the highway, getting them back to the Qiao family mansion before evening.The Sanders family’s sons had all moved out, leaving only Gwen still living at home. Holly, who rarely came back, was also staying at the house. She didn’t refuse, planning to stay for a few days before heading to Silvercrest to visit her biological parents and pay respects.The car pulled into the Sanders Residence, and the house was lit up brightly.In the courtyard parking area, luxury cars were parked everywhe
In the evening, Gwen was preparing to leave work.In the parking lot, she spotted Zion’s car, but it was empty. Just then, a school leader passed by and said to her, “Zion came to school. There’s a donation ceremony happening in the auditorium. You should go check it out. "Then, you two can head home together afterward. On a cold day like this, a nice dinner would be perfect. What a cozy idea!”Gwen playfully replied, “You really know how to enjoy life.”The leader, holding a bag of groceries, laughed, “See? Your teacher’s wife has been nagging me since morning to go home and cook while babysitting the grandkids.”Gwen smiled softly, watching him leave.In the sky, clouds glowed orange and yellow, their edges tinged with gold.She carried a thermos as she walked toward the auditorium. Along the way, a few students noticed her and started chirping excitedly, cheekily calling her “Ms. Gwen.”Gwen corrected them, “It’s Ms. Gwen.”The students laughed and teased, “Ms. Gwen! Mr. Z
Gwen stared dazedly at the man.Zion, dressed in a black coat, stood tall in the study, exuding an oppressive aura. He walked toward her and pulled the teary-eyed girl, her face streaked like a little tabby cat, into his arms. One hand gently smoothed her hair as his voice softened to the extreme, "Still saying you didn’t cry."Gwen leaned against his shoulder, mumbling, "You did it on purpose.""Are you at least a little touched?"She pounded on him twice more in response.Zion chuckled lowly, letting the girl vent while his heart ached silently.These past five years had been filled with fear and uncertainty for him. He had been afraid that before he could make a name for himself, Gwen would fall for someone else. If that happened, what could he possibly use to ask her to come back to him?The love story of a poor boy and a rich girl might've existed in novels, but the reality was often harsh.Gwen didn’t care, but he couldn’t bear to let her endure hardship.Now, as they
Zion and Gwen's marriage seemed inevitable, with no one putting up any resistance. Occasionally, Gwen even had a strange illusion.It all went so smoothly that the years of separation seemed like they had never happened, as if she and Zion had always been together. After their reunion, he didn’t even ask her about her life abroad and treated her just as he did before.She was no longer as youthful and tender, but Zion still saw her as if she were a 20-year-old girl. Gwen felt a bit dejected, thinking to herself, he must just like girls around 18-year-old.But unfortunately, the spring river flows eastward and cannot return!Zion only smiled.In winter, the days grew shorter. After work, Gwen arrived at Zion's villa, but he had not yet come home. The two housekeepers had already started preparing dinner.When Gwen got out of the car, she received a call from Zion. Her voice was soft and tender.“When will you be back?”On the other end, Zion checked the time and said, “I’ll be
Zion noticed Gwen gazing at him with those wide, expectant eyes again. With a chuckle, he reached into the pocket of his trench coat, pulled out a sleek wallet, and carefully extracted a platinum card. He placed it in her outstretched hand and said with a smile, “This is my secondary card. There’s no credit limit.” Gwen gasped softly, then teased, “Wow, aren’t you generous? Thank you, Teacher Qin.” Zion gave her a light tap on the head. Not missing a beat, Gwen wrapped her arms around his neck and grinned mischievously, “Thank you, my sugar daddy.” Zion’s response was to pull her close, cupping her cheeks as he kissed her fiercely. Though he once carried himself as an educator and now as a refined businessman, he found himself utterly smitten by her playful antics. After the kiss, Zion leaned close to Gwen's ear and murmured something uncharacteristically crude that sent a shiver down her spine. He playfully nipped her nose. “Turns out you’ve got a thing for bad boy