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
Noah and Gwynn were unaware of Tegan’s situation. It was only when Lorian announced his intention to return to the country that they learned of the severity of the situation. On that day, Noah traveled back with Lorian. By the time Lorian arrived back in Zutriystein, however, it seemed that everything had already become too late.…On the day Lorian returned to the country, Theo had already been buried.As dusk fell, Lorian’s car arrived at the villa. Upon opening the car door, he stepped out and walked toward the entrance. The housekeeper noticed his expression and didn't ask any questions. However, she did say something."Ms. Tegan just got back home. She's upstairs embroidering. She’s been so busy with family matters that she hardly rested for the past few days. "All she did was embroider day and night. I’m really worried that she’ll overwork herself. You should comfort her well when you see her, Mr. Lorian."Lorian murmured, "Okay."Lorian carried his luggage upstairs. To
In the aftermath, Lorian intervened in the McKinney family affairs, but the outcome was already settled and unchangeable. Lorian arranged a dinner with Lucy, the most prestigious lawyer in Brookesville. Lucy was known for her exceptional skills. She agreed to only an hour of her time.This dinner was a private affair between Lorian and Lucy. That year, Darius Berry had not yet returned to Zutriystein, and Lucy remained the charming and capable lawyer she was known to be. In the Dudley and Lockwood families, only Jamie had managed to develop a romantic relationship, though it was far from smooth.The dinner was held in the most luxurious private room of the club.Lorian and Lucy sat on opposite sides of the table. He held his wine glass and observed the competent lawyer before him. Lucy was endowed with striking beauty and a brilliant mind, thanks to Harrison and her mom, Veronica Wells.Lucy made a significant name for herself in the legal field. In both the legal and entertain
Tegan didn't look up. "I'm not really hungry.""You still need to eat something." Lorian walked over to her. He reached out and pulled the book from her hands. His voice was softer than before. "I'll have the servant bring it here. Eat at least a little."Tegan asked him if he had eaten. Lorian took off his coat and sat down on the sofa across from her. He didn't mention that he'd already eaten outside, nor did he say anything about meeting with a lawyer. At this moment, Lorian just wanted to spend more time with Tegan. Perhaps their marriage was finally coming to an end, and he still wanted to struggle a little.However, Lorian knew deep down that this attempt at making amends had nothing to do with love. It was simply because he felt guilty toward Tegan.Neither of them had any objections.Lorian went downstairs. When he returned to the master bedroom on the second floor, Tegan was reading again. This time, he didn't take the book from her hands. Instead, Lorian said softl
Tegan didn’t indulge him.Their marriage had come to an end, and so had her feelings for him. That one sentence he’d said over the phone."Don't be afraid, I'm here."It had been nothing more than a fleeting illusion. The truth had proven that it was all just her wishful thinking.Lorian had never loved her.Not ever!…Tegan still insisted on sleeping in the guest room. She left the master bedroom for Lorian. Neither of them was in a good mood, and they didn’t sleep at all that night.The next day, Lorian and Tegan shared their last breakfast. That morning was no different from usual. He sat at the head of the table and was dressed impeccably. Every gesture he made exuded the elegance of an aristocrat. She had applied a light touch of makeup.After a moment of silence, Lorian looked at Tegan. "The company needs time for public relations. We'll separate for a month first. As for the divorce settlement I’m offering you…"Tegan interrupted him. "I'll move out this evening. As f
Tegan had always been reserved. She had never spoken about her feelings of affection and disappointment out loud.However, Lorian remembered how captivating Tegan had been when she was in love. He asked himself if he had truly never felt anything genuine amidst all the pretenses and games.A servant knocked at the door. "Would you like to have dinner, Lorian?"Lorian responded dryly. "Just some sandwiches."The servant was aware of the impending divorce and her master's poor mood. She hesitated to intrude. As she turned to leave, Lorian called out, "Did Ms. Tegan say anything when she left?"The servant thought for a moment before gently shaking her head. "Ms. Tegan didn’t say anything."Lorian gestured for her to leave. Once the bedroom door was closed, he collapsed onto the soft bed. The sheets were changed after last night’s intimate encounter. They smelled of fresh laundry detergent, leaving no trace of Tegan’s scent.Lorian turned his head and stared blankly at the moon out
Lorian was engaged in conversation with two senior lawyers in the director’s office of the Sanders Group. His demeanor exuded the confidence and sophistication of a top business executive. The lawyers spoke with great respect. Their tones were formal and polite.Kris softly announced, “Ms. Tegan has arrived, Mr. Lorian.”At the sound of the announcement, Lorian looked up. He and Tegan locked eyes. After not seeing her for a month, he took a moment to observe her closely. Lorian noticed her appearance had noticeably deteriorated. She looked much thinner and more worn out. His tone softened as he asked, “Have you not been sleeping well lately?”“It's okay,” Tegan replied quietly. Her gaze settled on the coffee table in front of Lorian, which was stacked with thick documents. It was the divorce agreement.Lorian continued to watch her. After a moment, he signaled to Kris to bring Tegan a cup of coffee. He specifically requested the Earl Grey blend. Tegan promptly declined, “No need.
Lorian couldn’t help but wonder. If he had insisted on staying married despite Tegan’s refusal, would she have stayed?Lorian didn’t know. Amid the silence, his phone, which lay on the desk, rang. He picked it up to find that it was Noah calling. As soon as he answered, Noah’s enraged voice erupted from the other end. “Lorian, you fool! Did you actually let Tegan sign the divorce papers? Have you lost your mind? Do you really think you’ll find someone more suitable than Tegan? In the past, you always said she was obedient and good-natured.”…Lorian held his phone and gazed at the fading sunlight outside. After a long silence, he rasped, "There's no hope left for me and Tegan, Dad. It wouldn't have mattered if we didn't get divorced now. If we did it until after we had children, it would only add another layer of hurt. Why bother?"Noah snorted coldly, "Divorce, divorce, always thinking about divorce. Why can't you wish for something good?"Noah hung up the phone. He secretly
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