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
At this moment, Gwynn came in and took Gwen away, leaving only Lorian and Tegan in the spacious master bedroom.Tegan remained standing there, while Lorian took a bath in his robe, By the time he came out, she was already lying on the bed. She was probably avoiding him because she had curled up tightly in the covers, facing away from him.Lorian lay down beside her. He reached out and turned off the bedside lamp, plunging the bedroom into darkness. The dark made sensations feel amplified. Tegan could clearly feel Lorian’s warm breath on the back of her neck. The gentle touch caused her sensitive skin to prickle with tiny goosebumps. After a while, his voice came from behind."What do you think about Gwen’s situation? Do you think they should be given a chance if they love each other?"…Tegan remained silent for a long time before responding, "What exactly do you want to ask?"Lorian did not answer. After a moment, the warm breath on her neck shifted. He lay on his back, starin
Oakley was an exceptional young man. He was handsome and well-spoken. Lorian's sister had good taste. However, the family behind Oakley meant that this relationship was destined to be rejected by the Sanders family. Although Gwen was deeply cherished at home, Noah had still cruelly locked her in her bedroom and confiscated her phone, leaving her with no way to contact Oakley.Lorian was dressed in a pristine white shirt. He stood there with an air of refined elegance. A slender cigarette was held between his long fingers, and the pale blue smoke curled around him, adding to the cold expressionless mask he wore. He had never held professors in high regard.Lorian spoke calmly, “I won’t beat around the bush, Mr. Oakley. My father doesn’t approve of your relationship. Gwen has already gone abroad, and she won’t be back for two or three years. You probably won’t even have the chance to buy a plane ticket to see her.“I don’t oppose your relationship, but you and Gwen really aren’t sui
After Tegan finished packing, Lorian walked over to her. He closed the suitcase and then looked down at her with a deep, contemplative gaze. "I'll pick you up when you arrive at the airport," He said. It was a rare moment of warmth between them in recent times.Tegan's slender and pale fingers lightly brushed the surface of the suitcase, as if lingering over it or lost in thought. Lorian didn’t interrupt her. After a moment, she gave a faint smile and simply said, "Okay."Lorian continued to watch her. For more than half a year, they had kept their distance and grew cold toward each other. Now, with Holly having given birth and everything else settled, Lorian felt inclined to repair their relationship. As a businessman, Lorian didn't want to divorce. Managing a marriage was full of uncertainties. To him, staying with Tegan seemed a more stable option.Under the dazzling light of the crystal chandelier, Lorian's features appeared even more chiseled and sensual. Sitting on a sin
Suddenly, Lorian's eyes grew teary as he thought of Tegan. He imagined that if Tegan had become a mother, she would have been just as gentle and loving. It was unfortunate that their first child miscarried.Everyone else left the room while Holly was feeding the baby, leaving only Ignacio to accompany her. Holly unbuttoned her clothes to nurse little Lucius in the comfortably warm bedroom. Lucius was strong and had a healthy appetite. He stared intently at Holly. He was so focused even though he couldn’t see clearly.Ignacio leaned against the bedside. He wore a crisp white shirt, just as handsome and upright as always. However, there was a trace of fatigue in his expression. He gently teased Lucius, and his voice was full of a man’s tenderness as he spoke to Holly.“How has Gwen been lately?”“She’s doing well,” Holly murmured, leaning against Ignacio's shoulder. “With that said, I can tell she hasn’t forgotten Oakley. I don't try to persuade her, Ignacio. Matters of the heart c
A day later, Paityn came to pick up Tegan at the Brookesville detention center. As she walked out of those high walls, Tegan stood beside a black car. An indescribable weariness was etched on her face.Tegan immediately stepped forward, asking, “How’s Mom, Tegan?”Paityn gently brushed Tegan's hair. After a moment of silence, the former spoke softly, “I consulted with a lawyer. In this case, your actions are considered self-defense. However, Mom’s actions are considered excessive defense and delayed self-defense.”Tegan stood there, stunned for a while. Paityn’s voice grew hoarse. “I’ve hired the best lawyer in the country, Lucy Dudley, to defend Mom. However, you need to be mentally prepared, Tegan. She may be sentenced to at least four years.”Four years, she said…Jennifer was no longer young. What would life be like after four years in prison? Tegan dared not think about it. She clutched Paityn’s arm and said, “I can go to prison instead of Mom.”Paityn shook her head gentl