Lorian’s fingers paused. Under the brilliant light of the crystal chandelier, his handsome face looked unusually grim. He held the bathrobe with his long, slender fingers and stood quietly at the door of the walk-in closet, gazing at his wife.Tegan had already sat up. They locked eyes in the dim light. She repeated, “I want a divorce, Lorian.”“Why?”Lorian looked intently at his wife, his dignified face showing a trace of barely perceptible fatigue. “Is it because of what happened that day? I admit my attitude was harsh, and I am sorry to you and the child. However, I can make it up to you, Tegan.”Tegan gently shook her head. “I don’t want you to make it up to me. I’ve thought it through, Lorian. This marriage is not what I want. In fact, you haven’t wronged me. You just don’t love me. I expected too much out of you.”…However, was it really too much?Tegan had endured a loveless marriage. As a wife, however, she needed basic concern from her husband, not just a response of
Tegan trembled all over. Lorian kissed the corner of her mouth. He gradually conquered her. He held her slender body and kissed her deeply. Whether she cooperated or not didn’t matter to him. He only wanted to test her obedience.After a long while, Lorian finally released her. Tegan couldn’t help but lightly touch her lips. In the past, their kisses had stirred her heart. The sensation of her heartbeat quickening was so delightful that it made her lose herself in it. Now, however, Tegan felt nothing of the sort. Lorian gently stroked her face and said, “I’m going to take a shower.”Tegan sat to the side and watched her husband open the bathroom door before going inside. His figure was long and perfect. Tegan knew that Lorian was considered charming by many women, and there were plenty willing to engage in an affair with him. What many didn’t know was that he had no conscience. He had abandoned it for a long time. Tegan smiled faintly.When Lorian emerged ten minutes later, Te
Was Dustin not supposed to know that Tegan had rejected his approach?Dustin’s affection was profound. He was unwilling to force an already married woman into a difficult situation or subject Tegan to societal scrutiny. He refrained from continuing his confession and simply watched her leave the office and step into the bright sunlight.Dustin thought to himself that such a wonderful woman deserved to live in the sunshine. However, he couldn't help but be concerned for Tegan.Every day, Nayeli would bring supplements. Although Nayeli didn't have the means to buy expensive ingredients regularly, it was Dustin who purchased it and had her prepare it. Naturally, Tegan couldn’t let Nayeli spend her own money. So, she quietly reimbursed the latter.Time passed swiftly, and Dustin continued to show his concern for Tegan in his own way. Occasionally, he would run into Tegan on campus and exchange a few words. Tegan was unaware of this, maintaining a respectful distance as a married woman.
Lorian looked down at the high-end fashion bag in his hands as his thoughts drifted.After ending the call, he reflected on the few dates he and Tegan had shared. Despite the formality and pretense, he quite liked spending time with her. In fact, she had a certain quality that made their interactions pleasant. Lorian had also made time to be with Tegan after her miscarriage, trying to offer support. However, it was evident she no longer cared. Each time he kissed her in bed, her response was noticeably perfunctory. Lorian suspected that if they were to make love, Tegan might even fall asleep beneath him. More to the point, she didn’t shy away from showing her disinterest.Such a marriage felt undeniably cold and unfulfilling.…At six in the evening, Lorian returned home from work.The Rolls-Royce Cullinan stopped in front of the main residence. As the driver's door opened, a long leg emerged, followed by Lorian’s strikingly handsome face. His black hair shimmered in the sunse
In the moonlit night, Lorian’s striking face was partially obscured by shadows, making it hard to discern his true emotions. He grasped Tegan's arm once more and said his farewells to Dustin.Dustin looked at Tegan. Despite his deep affection for her, he knew he couldn’t show any sign of it in front of Lorian. His voice held a touch of bitterness as he said, “Goodbye, Ms. Tegan.”Dustin stood under the tree and was bathed in intermittent moonlight and shadow. He seemed to be a figure caught between two worlds.Tegan’s lips moved slightly as she replied, “Goodnight.”As they sat in the car, Lorian casually fastened his seatbelt and asked, “Are you unhappy that he’s being transferred?”Tegan sat in the front passenger seat and stared at the boundless darkness outside with a blank expression. “What do you mean, Lorian? Was it your decision to transfer him?”“Yes,” Lorian did not deny. “It was my decision. I'm your husband and a prestigious man. I can’t tolerate another man’s undue a
Tegan remained still. Lorian turned to look at her, then leaned over to open her side of the car door. He said, “Get out.”Tegan unfastened her seatbelt and slowly walked toward the foyer. Lorian smoked and watched her retreating figure. He saw how her back was upright, but it also carried a hint of loneliness under the night’s shadows.Lorian's gaze grew contemplative. He was overwhelmed by a sense of confusion. He found himself at a loss about how to handle and arrange things with Tegan.It seemed there was no love between Lorian and Tegan. Separation was something he didn’t want, either.Lorian rarely felt so torn. He stayed in the car, smoking a couple of cigarettes before finally stepping out. When he entered the villa’s grand hall, Tegan was not there. Two servants were clearing the table in the dining room. They saw Lorian and reported softly, “Ms. Tegan seemed upset. She only ate a couple of bites before going upstairs.”Lorian looked up toward the second floor. Moments
It was a call from Noah.Lorian pressed one hand against Tegan’s side while answering the phone with the other. His gaze was fixed intently on her. On the phone, Noah's tone was quite urgent. He asked them to come back because Gwen was in trouble. As for what had happened, Noah didn’t clarify. After hanging up, Lorian turned to the side and sighed lightly. “We need to go back.”Tegan was eager to comply. She didn’t want to share a bed with Lorian. They might not be having sex, but she didn’t even want him to touch or hold her. She stared at the ceiling quietly and murmured, "Okay."Lorian turned his head to look at Tegan profoundly.…Half an hour later, Lorian and Tegan arrived back at the Sanders Villa. The villa was brightly lit in the middle of the night. As soon as they reached the foyer, they heard Noah screaming.“Break up with him immediately!”Lorian’s handsome face darkened. He glanced at his wife before quickly walking into the villa’s main hall. Noah and Gwynn sat
It was spring night. It suddenly started pouring rain outside, and the downpour was heavy. Tegan was comforting Gwen in the living room. Lorian was dressed in a black shirt. He stood on the terrace smoking while looking at an SUV parked at the villa’s gate.After a while, a man got out of the car. From his stature, it seemed to be Oakley.Oakley stood in the torrential rain for about ten minutes. Suddenly, he wiped his face and took out his phone from his pocket to answer a call.Lorian watched quietly.He saw Oakley hang up the phone and stand in the rain for only a minute or two before getting back into the car and leaving. Lorian thought that Oakley must have had something urgent that forced him to leave.Oakley was yet another professor. Lorian couldn’t help but think of Dustin, the man who admired Tegan.Lorian held the cigarette with his distinctly knuckled fingers and took slow drags. His handsome face showed no emotion. Only when the SUV was out of sight did he turn to lo
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