Children?Tegan was stunned for a moment. She recalled that they hadn't used protection in the two times they had sex. It was clear that Lorian wanted a child.Lorian didn't deny it. He spoke calmly as he paid, "Two kids, probably. Preferably a brother and sister."For a while, Tegan didn't respond. He turned to look at her, lowering his head slightly. "What's wrong?"Tegan lowered her gaze, her long eyelashes trembling slightly. It took her a while to muster the courage to look up at him. "What if I can't have a son, Lorian?"Tegan's mother had given birth to two daughters and had become infertile after a difficult delivery. Her mother hadn't been able to have a son and had lived a hard and tragic life. Tegan was afraid of following in her mother's footsteps. She was afraid of being rejected by Lorian.Lorian looked at her quietly with his dark eyes and smiled faintly. "A daughter is also wonderful! The Sanders family still has Ocelotte, after all."Tegan sighed in relief
The sound of the water in the bathroom stopped.Then, Lorian opened the bathroom door and stepped out, revealing his tall and slender body. His bathrobe hung loosely and exposed his wet, dark hair. A bead of water rolled down from his sharply defined jawline. It traced along his chest and firm abs, finally disappearing into his seductive abdomen.Lorian dried his hair as he fixed his dark eyes on Tegan, who was lying on the bed.She wasn't used to bright light, so she had dimmed the bedside lamp. The soft glow cast a delicate sheen on her fair skin, making her appear fragile and beautiful.From a man's perspective, their marital life was harmonious.Although Tegan wasn't stunningly beautiful, her body was alluring. Lorian enjoyed her reactions and expressions during their intimate moments. For a man, sexual harmony could make a marriage less monotonous.Moreover, Tegan had a gentle temperament and a routine. There was nothing to complain about.Lorian finished drying his hair
A son, Jennifer said. Tegan felt a twinge of sadness in her heart. She didn't want to upset her mother, so she said nothing. She merely responded softly, "Mm-hmm."Since Tegan planned to stay overnight at the McKinney Villa, she made a point of calling Lorian at four in the afternoon to inform him of her plans. Tegan added, "There's no need to trouble Philip in the morning. I'll have the driver from home take me to school."Lorian was at the Sanders Group, sitting in the CEO's office. He held the phone while talking to Tegan, reviewing the documents on his desk. After he ensured everything was in order, he signed them and handed them to Kris. "Make copies and distribute them."Kris didn't leave immediately. She quietly asked, "Would you like to invite Ms. Tegan to tonight's year-end company banquet?"Lorian had already hung up the phone. He smiled faintly. "Tegan is at her parents' house. Maybe next time."Kris said nothing further and left the office with the documents in h
Tegan watched quietly.It turned out that last night was the Sanders Group's year-end banquet, but Lorian hadn't mentioned it to her over the phone. He must not have intended to invite her.Tegan recalled a line from a television show."I suppose I’m just not worthy!"Tegan felt a pang of discomfort. Their marriage might've been devoid of love, but she still felt slighted and disrespected when she saw a movie star publicly kiss her husband and get featured in the newspaper.Otherwise, how could such a thing be made public? The Sanders Group’s public relations team was competent, after all.With that said, it was only a bit of discomfort. Tegan didn't dare to have high expectations when it came to their marriage. So, It was just a tiny bit of disappointment.That was right. Just a little bit.Tegan folded the newspaper. She heard her colleagues' hushed voices around her. They were gossiping carefully, and a few snippets reached her ears.“It's not easy to have a life in a wealt
The married couple ate in surprising silence.The household servants tried to lighten the mood with a few jokes, but the young married couple didn't smile. Soon, the servants fell silent.As they neared the end of the meal, Lorian put down his utensils and looked at Tegan. He spoke softly, "The photo was taken by a reporter. Nothing happened last night. I won't be inviting the female celebrity's company again."Tegan understood that this was his attempt at an explanation.She believed Lorian's words, as someone in his position would have little reason to lie to his wife. However, this emotionless explanation felt more like it was meant for his wife, whoever it may be, instead of because he cared about her.Tegan was clear about her own priorities. She gave a soft hum in response, choosing not to mention her exclusion or ask any questions. Tegan's discretion pleased Lorian. In his mind, the incident was over. He lightly patted her arm and said, “I’m going to the study to handle s
Lorian and Tegan finished having sex. In the dim light of the bedroom, the air was still tinged with the lingering, intimate scent of their lovemaking. Lorian lay back. His muscular chest glistened with sweat. It was evidence of his exertion. After catching his breath, he turned to Tegan and asked her a private question softly, “It’s been a while. Why haven’t we conceived yet?”Lorian gently stroked Tegan's flat abdomen. Clearly, he was yearning for a child.Tegan was still softly catching her breath. Hearing her husband's question, she stared up at the dark ceiling. She suppressed the ache in her eyes as she responded, “Maybe it’s just not meant to be yet.”“Perhaps,” Lorian agreed with her explanation. He suggested they shower together to save time, but Tegan declined. She said that she wasn’t accustomed to sharing a bath.Lorian didn’t insist. They each took their showers separately, in the master bedroom and guest bathroom, respectively. Then, they went to bed.Lorian fe
Lorian squinted slightly as he observed Tegan conversing with the tall, well-dressed man beneath the Maple tree. She was relaxed, which was a stark contrast to the tension she often displayed with him. The man’s refined aura and his lingering gaze on Tegan spoke volumes. There was an unmistakable trace of admiration and affection in his eyes.In the depths of winter, a man willing to stand outside with a woman could only be after either her affection or something more, Lorian mused. He had little patience for such displays, so he approached them directly."Tegan."Lorian was just a step away from Tegan when he called out to her. She looked up in surprise. Clearly, she was not expecting him to be there to pick her up. After a moment’s hesitation, Lorian extended his hand toward the man."I'm Lorian. I'm Tegan's husband," Lorian introduced himself. His tone was polite and firm.Dustin was indeed surprised. He was familiar with Lorian, who was the president of the Sanders Group. Ho
"What do you mean by that?"Lorian stroked the steering wheel with an almost leisurely demeanor. His handsome face revealed no emotions. He continued to stare at his wife and asked, "Do you mean divorce? Are you going to be with that Dustin after that?"Lorian's words were harsh. Tegan opened the car door. She intended to get out, but her slender wrist was grabbed firmly. She looked at him and saw the redness in his eyes from the frustration. It contrasted sharply with his calm demeanor."Are you angry?" Lorian asked. His tone was unusually sharp. They had always maintained a respectful distance in their marriage. Now, however, a female celebrity, vice-principal, and a box of pills had ripped apart the facade of peace between them. They were arguing, feeling jealousy and anger like any ordinary couple. However, it was more about being possessive of each other because of their marital roles.Tegan was Lorian's wife, and he wouldn’t tolerate any other man vying for her.Her eyes w