Jamie closed his eyes to rest for a moment. Some movement began downstairs. It was the babysitter starting her chores. Carol was in his arms, and she squirmed a bit. Perhaps it was because Jamie was holding her tightly, which made it difficult for her to escape, and that resulted in a hint of grievance. “I need to go to the bathroom.”Jamie woke up and opened his eyes to look at the child in his arms. Carol had shiny black hair that reached her ears, and her skin was fair and warm from a good night's sleep. Her narrow shoulders and small body made her particularly adorable, especially in the eyes of a father. Even though Carol could go to the bathroom by herself, Jamie still propped himself up and lifted her out of the blankets. Then, he carried her all the way to the bathroom. Carol felt a bit shy. After all, she was deeply enchanted by Jamie. Her tiny hands were tightly wrapped around his neck, and she clung to him like a little koala. At that moment, she felt especially hap
From the nearby babysitter's perspective, she saw a family of three embracing. And it was full of love and affection.…Carol was wrestling with her mashed potatoes during breakfast.Paityn observed the little girl for a while before she looked up at Jamie and said, "I have something I want to talk to you about."Jamie’s gaze towards her was somewhat unclear.Paityn might've had a fiery temper, but being looked at like that by Jamie made her feel a little uneasy. She brushed aside a strand of hair from her cheek and spoke in a very soft tone, "Let’s wait a bit longer before taking Carol back. I’m worried she won’t adjust well. She’s only just returned from Silvercrest not long ago."Jamie’s eyes were deep and inscrutable. Overall, he didn’t look too happy. Before he could say anything, however, Carol lifted her head and spoke softly while she was still battling her mashed potatoes, "I want to visit Grandpa and Grandma. I also want to go to school… Mama."Jamie affectionately
Zoe replied, "With Jamie's low-key personality, do you really think he would have shared a toast with Yara in a situation like last night? He must have wanted to provoke someone."Mason quickly understood, "He's really good at hiding things."Zoe guessed that Jamie probably just found out. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to hold it in for long. She didn't say much more because she heard familiar footsteps from the entrance. Then, Jamie came in carrying a cute little girl.Just as the household staff had said, the little girl was clearly a child of the Lockwood family.Mason felt a rush of excitement. He had envied the Sanders family for having Lola last night. Now, however, the Lockwood family suddenly had such a big addition. Hey, Carol looked to be at least four years older than Lola.Mason thought to himself that it didn't matter how successful Lorian's business was. He's still slightly behind Jamie when it comes to having children. For crying loud, Jamie’s child is already old
Meanwhile, Mason sneered, "You're gloating now, but just wait—you'll regret it later! Paityn isn't as easy to deal with as Tegan. She’ll definitely have you crying for dear life! "Don't bother coming back asking for help when that happens. Your mom and I will be too busy picking Carol up from school, going shopping, and taking her to the amusement park!"Jamie didn’t respond.Mason ignored him and went upstairs with Zoe to check out the rooms. The south-facing bedroom was indeed spacious and bright, measuring over 1000 square feet. Zoe looked at the layout and had already formed some initial ideas, while Mason added some suggestions. Surprisingly, Carol was also getting along well with them.Once the two grandparents had settled everything, Jamie finally said slowly, "Carol will stay here for two months, but she will return to Paityn afterward."Mason was not pleased. "What? You're not bringing her home?"Jamie replied, "I have my own plans."Mason scoffed, "Plans? Heh, you’r
Zoe chose to stand by and watch.Upon hearing that, Jamie didn't seem bothered at all. Now that he had Carol, it was only a matter of time before Paityn would also be part of their lives.…At 9:30 am, Jamie went to the company. After the regular meeting, he returned to his office to handle some piled-up affairs. As noon approached, he picked up his phone and toyed with it for a while before dialing Paityn's number. She quickly answered the call. After the line connected, however, there was a silence between them. After a moment, Jamie softly said, "I’ll pick you up tomorrow at noon. We’re having dinner at my place." Before Paityn could respond, he added, "It’s just family relatives." She remained quiet and didn't say anything.Actually, Paityn wanted to ask what her identity would be when she went over. She also wanted to know if Yara would be there, but after feeling disappointed a few times with Jamie, she felt too embarrassed to bring it up.Jamie noticed that Paityn did
Jamie felt a sense of guilt towards Yara, having watched her grow up. He couldn't just ignore her in her current state. So, he took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders. He frowned slightly as he said, "I'll take you home."Yara was surprisingly clingy. She wrapped her arms around Jamie like a koala. She looked up at him with a silly smile, and she even leaned in to kiss his chin.Jamie was taken aback by her boldness, and he was momentarily stunned. However, this moment was seen by Paityn. She had come to the area for a dinner meeting with EverReach Co.'s Monty. As she got out of her car and was heading towards the business club across the street, she caught sight of Jamie and Yara. The duo was embracing, and they looked very intimate with each other.Jamie's coat was draped over the young woman as she looked up, seeking a kiss. His face was a mix of fondness and helplessness. Paityn had known Jamie for a considerable time, but she had never seen that expression on h
Jamie felt a bit neglected. After a while, he suppressed his anger and said, “I’ll pick you up from the office tomorrow at noon. Don’t forget about it.”Paityn stood in the corridor of the business club. She looked up at the crystal chandelier above, with a hint of moisture in her eyes. She recalled the scene of Jamie embracing Yara, and a wave of bitterness rose in her heart. Her voice turned hoarse as she replied, “I have something important tomorrow, so I might not be able to go. Besides, that kind of occasion isn’t really for me.”Jamie asked, “Why wouldn’t you go?”…The night was dimly lit. Paityn felt utterly pointless. What she wanted was never an ambiguous relationship. Instead, she wanted something unique. She was a bit tipsy when she asked softly, “Do you love me, Jamie?” On the other end of the phone, there was heated breathing akin to a whisper in a lover's ear. However, Paityn didn’t receive a clear answer. Jamie paused and asked her, “Have you been drinking
The interior of the car was dim, and Paityn’s face was as pale as a ghost. She looked at Jamie's disdainful expression. All of a sudden, she understood that they came from a vastly different world even after being with him for years and having Carol together. Why else would Jamie have looked at her like this? Why else would he be so affectionate with Yara while simultaneously humiliating Paityn? Paityn thought she was simply too naïve and ridiculous. She allowed a life of comfort to soften her so much that she developed a romantic mindset. How could she even ask Jamie if he loved her earlier today? What kind of answer was she expecting from him?Now, Jamie had given his answer. As far as he was concerned, Paityn was nothing but a woman who would sleep with everyone. He thought that she would let any man have their way with her if it meant it could improve her business.Paityn couldn't believe she actually dared to hope that Jamie would love her. After a moment of silence, she sm