As soon as the words left Paityn's lips, her mouth was kissed. It was a gentle kiss, and it felt cautious and tender as if Jamie were treating a rare treasure. Paityn opened her eyes, and so did Jamie; they gazed at each other, and Paityn felt like crying at that moment. Jamie had never kissed Paityn like this before. A single tear slid down her cheeks. It was salty and wet. Just when she thought he was going to let her go, he tightened his embrace around the back of her neck and began to kiss her fiercely. Jamie kissed Paityn deeply and passionately as if he wanted to claim her completely, while her tears flowed fiercely and uncontrollably, from beginning to end.After a long while, Jamie finally released her. Paityn was left dazed by the kiss. She was completely unsure of where or when she was, while he gently pressed his forehead against hers, whispering, “You can report me for assault now, or slap me to relieve your anger.” Two seconds later, a crisp slap echoed against hi
Jamie was taken aback. It took him a moment to regain his voice. “What? Say that again.” Wylie’s voice trembled with excitement as she repeated the news and shared what she had learned. “Mr. Monty's ex-wife seems to be ill. It appears that he is remarrying out of a sense of responsibility, to provide psychological comfort to her.” “Well, it seems Monty is quite commendable in this situation.” Whether Monty was good or not, Jamie wasn't sure, but he felt that this decision was exceptionally wise.Jamie's demeanor shifted completely. He even instructed Wylie to inquire about the illness, suggesting that they could find a doctor for Colette if necessary. He needed her to live a long and healthy life. Wylie nodded in agreement. “I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry, Mr. Jamie. Lockwood Corporation is a pharmaceutical company, and we have some effective targeted drugs that we can arrange for Ms. Colette to try.” After he hung up the phone, Jamie sat alone in the car for a long t
Paityn hurried to the first floor.Jamie was sitting comfortably on a sofa in the lobby. A cup of fragrant coffee was placed on the small side table beside him. The receptionist was attentively keeping him company, speaking politely to the distinguished Jamie.“Ms. Paityn will be down shortly. Please take a seat. I brought over a couple of business magazines for you.”Jamie was in a very good mood, and he responded graciously, “No need, thank you! My child’s mother will be down any minute.”My child’s mother…The receptionist’s heart was pounding with excitement. She was eager to spread the juicy scoop throughout the entire building and indulge in a bit of gossip.Unfortunately, Paityn arrived quickly, and she overheard his words.Jamie leaned back on the sofa and remarked casually, “The coffee is nice, but the magazines aren’t quite up-to-date.”Paityn walked over and picked up the two magazines. She glanced at them and spoke coolly, “If you bought my company, then you’d be fr
It was hard to blame Paityn. On one hand, Jamie's gaze was gentle. On the other hand, he was undeniably handsome.After some back-and-forth, the three of them ended up having dinner together. They walked into a Maravilla restaurant, and the waiter naturally asked, “Sir, ma’am, are there three of you?”Before Paityn could respond, Jamie calmly said, “Yes, three! Please give us a table by the window, so it’s easier for the child to see that Ferris wheel in the distance.”The waiter recognized Jamie after a moment. He recalled that he had seen Jamie in a business magazine as the president of Lockwood Corporation. The waiter didn't want to be disrespectful. So. he became very attentive and provided them with the best table. He even gave Carol a brand-new Rubik's Cube, which made her extremely happy.Once seated, Carol played with her new toy. She was absorbed in her own world and ignored the adults.Jamie unfolded a snow-white napkin and gently handed the menu to Paityn. He said, “W
Paityn was indeed afraid. She had loved Jamie, and she feared that this kind of interaction might make her unconsciously fall for him again. She was terrified of becoming that kind of woman.Paityn struggled to deny it, insisting that she didn’t feel that way. However, it was clear that Jamie didn’t believe her. He gazed into her eyes and slowly spoke, “Why won’t you admit that you don’t actually like Monty? Marrying him was just a way for you to escape reality and avoid being hurt by me again. "What if I promise not to anger or hurt you anymore, Paityn? What if I treat you like I did tonight? Would you still choose Monty over me and marry him?”Paityn didn't know. She shook her head rapidly, but Jamie wouldn’t give her the chance to escape. He held her hand tightly, and his eyes were filled with an emotion she couldn't quite understand. Paityn thought she must be imagining things. How could Jamie have such a look in his eyes? What she saw more was sadness. They had many year
The airport was bustling with people, and many people glanced in their direction. Paityn found it hard to bear the scrutiny. So, she buried her face in Monty's shoulder and asked in a low voice, “What’s wrong?”Monty remained silent and held her tightly. He couldn’t bring himself to tell her that he had reconciled with Colette, nor could he tell Paityn that he loved her. Pity and responsibility were the only feelings he had for Colette. Monty couldn’t say anything. This embrace was what he longed for and should be the last one.Finally, when the air felt thin between them, he let her go and feigned a casual tone. “I’m starving after the trip. Shall we go grab something to eat?”Paityn smiled lightly. “Mom knows you're back and has been preparing chicken soup with fresh mushrooms since morning.”Monty paused and considered. “Let’s have dinner just the two of us this time.”Paityn's smile froze on her face. She had an intuition, and deep down, she sensed that something significant
Time seemed to stand still. Paityn quietly gazed at Jamie, watching as the raindrops fell one by one onto the black umbrella he held. Each droplet made a faint, tearing sound against the fabric. It sounded soft yet haunting. The rainwater appeared to drift toward her face, pooling at the corners of her eyes. Why else would her skin feel so cold? Jamie reached out and gently wiped away Paityn's tears. His voice was tender and laced with a compassion that sent shivers through her. “You're abandoned, you poor thing.”For reasons Paityn couldn't comprehend, Jamie's words caused a tremor to ripple through her, igniting a feeling of unease in her chest. She wanted to turn away and escape the intensity of his gaze. However, he cupped her face in his hand, enveloping her entirely. The world around them faded, leaving just the two of them under the dim light of the streetlamps as they were surrounded by the rhythm of falling rain. Paityn had nowhere to run. So, she could only retort
Jamie hardly considered it. “Thank you, Jennifer.”Paityn felt that he was really thick-skinned. He shrugged at her. “Is that a problem? Your mom kindly invited me, didn’t she?”Although Jennifer wasn’t clear about the situation, she could guess that Paityn’s engagement to Monty had fallen through.At the same time, Jamie was being so attentive currently. As a mother, she still hoped Paityn could match with the best suitor. So, Jennifer smiled gently. “Of course.”Afterward, Jennifer shot a glance at Paityn. “He went through a lot to bring you back.”Paityn was always dutiful, so she didn’t say anything more. However, she sat far away from Jamie and didn’t talk to him after entering the restaurant. She just used a napkin to wipe the droplets of water off her body.Jamie stared intently at her as if admiring a piece of art. Paityn spoke in a faint voice, “You look like you’ve never seen a woman before, Jamie.”Unexpectedly, He shamelessly replied, “I haven’t, especially not witho
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