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
Jamie sat in the car, watching Paityn leave. He felt a surge of anger and quickly drove away from her villa. The crescent moon hung high in the sky, appearing so cold and distant. The faster Jamie drove, the colder his heart became. It was as if it was filled with icy water. He felt a deep sense of loss, to the point where this usually cautious person became distracted. Then, he drove directly into the green belt in the middle of the road.With a loud bang, Jamie's car crashed hard against a concrete block. The sound of shattering accompanied the deployment of the airbags. Jamie was stunned by the immense impact for a few seconds, then struggled to unbuckle his seatbelt and get out of the car. Smoke was billowing from the hood, and it was clear the car was no longer drivable.Fortunately, there were no cars passing on this stretch of road. Otherwise, he couldn't bear to think of the consequences. Jamie stood under the streetlight and stared at the smoking hood of the car. Aft
By the time Jamie arrived home, it was close to midnight. The night was as cool as water. Mason hadn’t slept and had been waiting in the living room for Jamie. The dim light highlighted his chiseled features. Although he was nearly 60 years old, he still looked well-maintained and quite handsome. “You’re still awake, Dad!” Jamie took off his coat and tossed it casually onto the sofa. Then, he sat down and pulled out a cigarette to smoke it. Mason looked at him and chuckled lightly, “You usually don’t smoke at home. What’s going on? Did a woman give you a hard time? Is Carol's mom mad at you?” Jamie leaned back on the sofa, his mind replaying the scene he had witnessed at the club entrance. He felt like a worthless man. Monty was a divorced old man who could still win over Paityn.Jamie felt a mix of sorrow and anger. However, he couldn't bring himself to say anything either for Carol or out of a man's pride. He thought back to the moment when he confronted Paityn. If Pait
Jamie wanted to be closer to Zoe, but he still avoided the heavier topics and said, “I just had a little bump with the car on the road. It’s nothing serious.” Zoe didn’t quite believe him, but she chose not to press the issue. She watched as Jamie walked to the bedside and wrapped Carol in a small blanket, preparing to carry her away. Zoe couldn’t help but remind him, “She just finally fell asleep after having a bottle of milk and asking for her mom. If she wakes up, it’ll take a while to soothe her again.” Jamie replied softly, “I’ll comfort her.” Although he felt a deep disappointment with Paityn, he genuinely adored Carol. After all, she carried his genes. In the quiet of the night, Jamie held the Carol as he walked down the empty corridor. She seemed a bit dazed when she woke at first. Then, she caught the scent of her father. Carol reached out her tiny arms and tightly hugged his neck. Her warm breath brushed against his skin, making Jamie's heart feel soft.“Dad.”
Meanwhile, Noah was busy entertaining his daughter. Meanwhile, Tegan stood quietly off to the side. Her gaze on Jamie carried a hint of complexity. It was clear she was aware of the fallout between Jamie and Paityn.Before lunch, Tegan ran into Jamie in the bathroom perhaps by design. The villa was warm and inviting, and she wore a light pink wool dress, giving her a gentle and soft appearance. She stood beside Jamie. Then, she turned on the golden faucet. Her voice was low and measured. “I know you want Carol’s custody,” Tegan said softly. “She is indeed your child, but she is also my sister’s. "Paityn gave birth to her under tremendous pressure when she was still so inexperienced. She loves Carol deeply. Regardless of how you feel, she would give up everything for Carol’s sake.“I’m not trying to reconcile anything between you two; I just want to ask you to please give her a way out even if it’s for the sake of the past. "You still have plenty of opportunities to marry a youn