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
The banquet was about ten kilometers away.Originally, Wylie wanted to arrange a car for Paityn, but the latter refused and said she'd take a cab herself. The spring night in Crocksten was cold, and the thin-down jacket she wore wasn’t enough to stop the shivers that overtook her. She couldn’t tell if it was the chill of the night or the chill in her heart that affected her more. Paityn had placed too much hope in Jamie. Seeing the scandal unfold had shaken her deeply. No matter how much she liked him, she wouldn’t abandon her principles. Otherwise, what awaited her would be endless waiting, uncertainty, and compromise.Men are best "tamed" before marriage. There's no need for a marriage plagued by constant drama over these matters. Such a marriage would be better avoided.A blue taxi slowly pulled up, and Paityn bent down to get in. She gave the driver the address, who couldn't help but comment, "It’s lively over there tonight. The hotel entrance is full of luxury cars, and the
The countless women were like wounds on Paityn's heart. Theo had also been surrounded by countless women. He even supported an illegitimate child on the side. Theo hadn’t started off as a bad person. It had just happened gradually, as he lost himself in a world of soft and enticing whispers.Paityn remained silent for a long time. Carol could sense her mother’s gloomy mood, and her own spirits were low as well. She leaned against Paityn, clearly upset with Jamie.…Paityn chose not to make a scene just yet. It wasn’t until they returned to the hotel and she had soothed Carol that she finally spoke up. However, Jamie brushed off her concerns, feeling she was overreacting. “Carol isn’t as fragile as you think. Besides, nothing is going on between Yara and me.”“Nothing now, but what about in the future?“Carol is a sensitive child, Jamie. I already feel guilty for not being there for her from the start,” Paityn replied, and her voice was steady. “She’s upset already. Don’t you s
The night was dark as ink. Jamie stared at her, asking in disbelief, “Just because of this, you want to leave me? Just a few days ago, things were great between us.”“Yes, it did feel wonderful. I finally felt cherished! However, your current actions and words are telling me that I'm not worthy, Jamie. I don’t deserve your respect because our beginning was less than honorable… "Look at Yara. She’s a family friend of the Lockwood family; she has your care, and she still has your comfort and company even after a breakup. As for me, however, all I seem to receive is humiliation.”…As Paityn spoke, a sadness crept over her. She truly didn’t want to compare herself to others; love wasn’t meant to withstand comparisons, which only ended in hurt. Paityn thought of herself, Jamie, and Carol. She didn’t want things to escalate into hostility between them—she wanted to end things on friendly terms.“Let’s just leave it be,” Paityn murmured softly. It sounded like the best conclusion.
Jamie was taken aback.A bitter expression crossed Paityn’s face as she said, “That was the first time I met Monty. I saw you with Yara in the parking lot. She was crying uncontrollably, and you were holding her with such tenderness.”Jamie wondered if that really happened. He recalled a day when he had gone to buy formula for Carol and had indeed run into Yara. She had been completely drunk. Out of a sense of humanitarian duty, he had offered to take her home, but he never imagined Paityn would see it.Jamie's instinct was to deny it. “I have no feelings for her.”Paityn only smiled bitterly. She didn’t say anything more. She simply stated that she would come to pick up Carol in the morning. Even when Jamie tried to persuade her to stay, she refused, leaving his hotel suite with unwavering determination.After Paityn left, Jamie stood alone for a long time. He didn't move until the night was deep and quiet. Finally, he tore off his shirt and threw it directly into the trash can,
Jamie saw Paityn with Carol and extinguished his cigarette, turning to head downstairs. At the steps of the main house, Paityn opened the car door and got ready to leave. That was when Jamie's voice called out from behind her, “Why don’t you come in? It’s late; you should have dinner before heading back.”Jamie knew that his parents had invited Paityn many times, but she insisted on staying outside. Deep down, he understood that she was trying to draw a line between them. As he spoke, he glanced back at the house. “For Carol's sake, you should at least pretend.”Paityn offered a faint smile. “For Carol's sake, I need to maintain some distance. I can’t let her get the wrong idea that her parents are getting back together.”Jamie scoffed coldly, “Can’t we reconcile?”Paityn didn’t want to answer that question. Then, Jamie's phone rang. When he checked, it was Yara calling. He glanced at it, chose not to answer, and hung up.Paityn guessed who it was but didn’t care. Right now, her
Jamie was stunned for quite some time. He couldn’t understand why Paityn would go on a blind date. Didn’t she love him? Why would she seek someone else before things were clear between them?Just as Jamie was about to ask, Jennifer sighed and said, “Paityn said she wants to start a new life. She doesn’t want to feel heartbroken anymore, and she doesn’t want to hang on to the past. She said she wants to take a page out of your book.”Jamie felt a surge of anger. He rubbed his nose defensively, insisting, “Don’t listen to her nonsense, Jennifer. I’m not fooling around with anyone outside.”Jennifer usually had a good impression of Jamie, but what mother wouldn’t side with her daughter? She let out another sigh, “So, you’ve really messed up.”Jamie fell silent. As he settled into the back of the black Cullinan, Carol was busy playing with her blocks in the backseat. The sweet little girl was happily playing by herself. She spoke softly without looking up, “Daddy is angry again.”Jami
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