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
Inside the dining room, however, there was a sense of warmth and harmony.…Originally, Jamie was expected to leave once dinner was over, both out of courtesy and propriety. After only a few steps, he heard a dripping sound from the ceiling above, and two drops of water landed squarely on his nose.Jamie looked up and saw a damp patch spreading across the white wall. The villa’s roof was leaking.Both Jennifer and Paityn looked up as well. The former muttered in disbelief, “This house has only been built for a few years, and it’s already leaking. What a shoddy job. I wonder which unscrupulous contractor built it. They really should be reported.”Jamie glanced at Paityn and replied softly, “It was built by a subsidiary of the Sanders Group. Jennifer, I can guide you; reach out to the CEO, Lorian Sanders. He’s my uncle's son, and you know him too!”Jennifer froze. Lorian was her son-in-law.Paityn knew Jamie had brought it up on purpose because he was still holding onto things fro
Just as Paityn was lost in thought, Jamie seemed to hear the footsteps behind him. He turned to look at her silently. His dark eyes were like ink that revealed no trace of his true emotions.Paityn's lips moved as she struggled to find her voice. At last, she managed to say, “My mom was worried. So, she asked me to come up and check on you.”The rain continued to fall, but it had lightened to a gentle drizzle. Jamie’s voice was clear as he asked her, “What about you? Are you not worried, Paityn? Are you not even a little afraid of losing me? Are you not worried that you won't see me again?”Paityn shook her head wildly. She wasn’t wearing a raincoat, and the umbrella she had brought was blown away by the wind, leaving the black umbrella lonely in a corner of the rooftop. The past lovers stood quietly, gazing at each other. Suddenly, Jamie extinguished the cigarette with his fingertips and strode towards her.Paityn didn’t have time to think. Before she knew it, the back of her he
Paityn shook her head gently. As an adult, she understood the difference between fleeting infatuation and a lifelong commitment. She admitted that she had feelings for Jamie, but their past was undeniably unpleasant, and it wasn’t something that could simply be resolved by saying they were back together.Paityn spoke honestly to Tegan, “I’m not sure if Jamie is a good person. I’m afraid that while he’s treating me well today, in a few days he might feel like I’m taking advantage of him. "Jamie has the power to control everything about me, and our relationship isn’t stable. I’ve never felt inferior before, Tegan, but I really do in front of Jamie. I’m scared that he looks down on me. I'm afraid that he still holds a grudge."Paityn paused briefly. She used to have feelings for Lorian. The words she didn’t say hung heavy in the air; she felt too ashamed to voice them. Tegan gently embraced her, sensing the deep sadness that enveloped her sister. She realized that Paityn must real
As night fell, Paityn woke up on the sofa. She wanted to check on Jennifer. To her surprise, she opened her eyes, and she saw Jamie sitting on the single sofa by the bed. He had already changed into a clean outfit. He wore a black shirt and dress pants, looking noble and handsome. Jamie hadn’t slept. A laptop was resting on his lap, and he was focused on the screen, deep in thought. From Paityn’s angle, his profile looked incredibly striking, like it had been chiseled. When Paityn spoke, her voice was hoarse, “Why haven’t you gone home yet?” Jamie heard her voice and closed the laptop. He walked over to her and sat down beside her. He reached out to check her forehead. Then, he relaxed his brow slightly and spoke softly, “The fever has gone down a bit.” Huh? Paityn asked in confusion, “Did I have a fever?”Jamie replied seriously, “You were a bit feverish! Otherwise, why would you fall asleep holding onto me so tightly? Do you really like hugging me to sleep that much, Pai
Zoe Sanders wasn’t sure if every cheating man had two phones. Mason’s lover sent a picture to him while he was in the bathroom. She was a delicate young lady, but she was dressed in elegant attire that didn’t exactly fit her age. So, she looked a little out of place. “Thank you for the birthday present, Mason.”Zoe stared at his phone for a long time. Then, her eyes welled up. She knew Mason had kept a lover on the side, but she didn’t think she’d look like this. Aside from the obvious heartache, Zoe was surprised at her husband’s taste in women as well.She felt sorry that she saw his secret. Then, she heard the bathroom door opening. Mason wrapped a towel over his defined muscle and sturdy chest. He was tall and sensual.“How long are you going to look at it?” He took the phone away, glanced at her, and started getting dressed. He wasn’t the least bit embarrassed over the fact that she caught him cheating. Zoe knew very well that he was able to act this way because he was the
Six years! That was how long she had loved him! Zoe closed her eyes abruptly.…It was a Friday night. Something bad happened in the Sanders house. Mason still wasn’t home. They received news that the eldest child in the Sanders family, Noah, might be facing a ten-year sentence because of the Sanders Group’s financial case.Ten years imprisonment was long enough to ruin someone’s life. Her dad was hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage. It was critical and he needed to undergo surgery immediately. Zoe stood in the hospital hallway and called Mason non-stop, but he didn’t answer. Just when she was about to give up, he sent her a text via WhatsApp. It was brief as usual. “I’m still in Hucksburgh. Find Ava if you need anything.”She gave him a call again, and he answered this time. Zoe said at once, “Mason. My dad is…” Mason cut her off abruptly. He sounded a tad impatient, “Is this about the money? I told you. Just look for Ava. She’ll hook you up… Are you even listening, Zoe?”