The world seemed to stand still.The beam of light from the crystal chandelier above enveloped them the same way their memories did. It was the memories of their six years together.Pain wasn't the only thing in those six years. In fact, there were good times too."All you have to do is stay with me, Holly. You don't need to know anything else. No matter how good the other women are, it has nothing to do with me."Wait here for me, I will be back soon."…The past washed over Holly like a tidal wave. It overwhelmed her.She looked into Lorian's eyes, which were filled with pain. This was the first time he had told her that he loved her. Lorian had originally planned to tell Holly that when they got married. When he finally did, however, she was already married to someone else.Holly was Ignacio's wife now.Lorian hadn't forgotten, and Holly couldn't possibly forget either. She looked down at his hand, her voice was very soft."It's too late, Lorian.""Actually, love isn't
Noah sat on the opposite sofa and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He shook out two cigarettes and tossed one to Lorian. "Don't tell your mother. She doesn't allow us to smoke."Lorian remained silent. Noah lit his cigarette and took a few deep drags. The light blue smoke enveloped them quickly, making everything seem surreal.In the haze, Noah spoke bitterly, "I know you’re not willing to give up, Lorian."However, what can you do? Holly has already brought him home. They are legally married. "No matter how much you love her or refuse to let go, you can't break up their marriage. Besides, he’s not just anyone. He’s Ignacio."Let go of the past, Lorian! Moving on from Holly will set you free as well!"If you don’t like Poppy, we'll keep an eye out for someone else. Actually, I've taken a liking to the eldest daughter of the Mckinney family. "Her name is Paityn Mckinney. She’s smart, capable, and beautiful. "The second daughter, Tegan Mckinney, is a bit less sharp but has
Ignacio's palm felt dry and warm. He was always so considerate and gentle. It was easy for him to make any woman fall for him.What was more, Holly was his wife. She had no reason to resist his charm.Holly turned her head and stared at him in a daze. He remained focused on driving as if he had just said the most ordinary thing. It was anything but ordinary for Holly. She kept staring at him until they reached the hotel parking lot.As the car stopped, Holly finally snapped out of it. “Are we here?”She turned to open the car door without a second thought. As soon as her hand touched the door handle, however, Ignacio stopped her. He held her hand and stared at her profoundly. “You’ve been looking at me the whole way. What makes you think you could just leave now?”Holly was puzzled. “Ignacio?”He didn’t explain. Instead, he directly lifted her slender waist and placed her on his lap. With a slight click, the seat reclined backward into a shameful position.Holly's trench coa
At that moment, Ignacio froze for a split second.Caitlin Gray was a name that had vanished from his world for a long time. It had been so long that he believed they would never reconnect in this lifetime. However, her name was right there on his phone. Ignacio stopped, but he didn’t answer the call.Holly opened her hazy eyes and looked at Ignacio. Her red lips parted slightly. Her voice was husky from their passion, “What’s wrong, Ignacio?”“It's nothing.”Ignacio reached out and rejected the call. Then, he lowered his head and kissed Holly deeply.His kiss was so intense that Holly could barely breathe. Her delicate arms caressed his back weakly as she moaned his name softly, “Ignacio.”Only then did he relax a bit. Ignacio's gaze was deep. His dark eyes were locked onto hers, and neither of them spoke. He looked incredibly sexy. Holly felt a stirring in her heart and took the initiative to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him passionately. Beside the pillow, the p
Caitlin sensed his gaze and looked over. Upon seeing Ignacio, her eyes flashed with a mix of nostalgia and surprise. Caitlin masked her emotions quickly and greeted in a cheerful tone, "Long time no see, Ignacio."It was late at night. Ignacio wore a black trench coat. It was worn by Holly.When he took it off and placed it on the chair's back, Caitlin caught the scent. She brushed her long curls lightly and said with a charming demeanor, "I hope I'm not interrupting you, Ignacio."He sat down and said to the bartender. "A martini, please."The bartender recognized him. The hotel staff had long spread the news among themselves that the famous Ignacio was staying here with his wife. He looked respectfully at Ignacio and said, "Please wait for a moment, Mr. Ignacio."Ignacio nodded slightly. He took out a lighter and a cigarette from the trench coat pocket. Then, he lit it and took a slow drag.Ignacio looked back at Caitlin with a distant gaze. "Isn't it too late to say you'
Holly's face turned pale. She looked at Ignacio and the woman hugging him. She wasn't dull enough not to figure things out. The woman in front of her was clearly the same woman who called Ignacio throughout the night.He hadn't answered her calls. Instead, he chose to meet up with her afterward. Are they lovers?Holly felt deeply embarrassed. At a time like this, no woman could remain composed. She pressed the button that'd close the elevator door, not waiting for Ignacio to explain himself.Holly didn't want to see him now, nor did she want to see his lover. The elevator doors closed in front of them slowly."Holly."Ignacio forcefully pushed Caitlin away and wedged his hand into the closing elevator doors. He tried to grasp Holly's hand to explain.However, Holly flung his hand away. She stood in the corner of the elevator. Her body was trembling slightly.She had married the wrong man. That was what she was thinking now."Let me explain, Holly." Ignacio stepped forward.
Ignacio had slept with her again and again tonight.Holly was already at her weakest. She had no strength left to deal with a man who had abstained for two years. She could barely endure it, let alone utter a word."Be good. Call me 'darling' and I'll let you go."Ignacio stared intensely at her delicate face. Her long black hair trembled against her fair skin, creating a captivating visual.Holly appeared innocent yet alluring. How was he supposed to stop?Eventually, she cried in his arms. Her long lashes were wet with tears while they rested against his shoulder blades. Holly whispered in a blurry voice, "Darling."After that, she felt ashamed and buried herself in the crook of his neck, not willing to come out.Ignacio held her close. He didn't continue. Instead, he just held her in his arms and let their skins touch. It was as if their hearts beat as one and that they were alone in this vast world.Ignacio called out her name with a touch of tender affection. He wasn
Meeting the parents?Holly was a bit surprised. She was about to say something when she heard a female voice which was both familiar and unfamiliar."What a coincidence, Ignacio!"Ignacio and Holly looked up. It was Caitlin. She was standing there with a coy smile.Caitlin wore a black silk slip dress, and her long black curls cascaded over her slender waist, exuding charm and sensuality. However, dressing like this early in the morning gave her a slightly worldly air.Ignacio didn't linger his gaze on her. Instead, he merely gave her a slight smile and remained distant.Caitlin wasn't deterred by that. She asked politely, "May I join you guys, Ignacio?"Holly nibbled on her sandwich, looking like she was waiting for the drama to unfold. Ignacio handed her a ham sandwich to eat before turning to Caitlin with a gallant demeanor. "Of course, you can join us. We'll be leaving shortly after all."Caitlin sat down and placed her purse on the table. She expected Ignacio to serve
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