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
Yara managed to hold back her emotions and took her handbag to say goodbye to Mason and Zoe. Then, she waved at Carol, who generously packed a little of her favorite cookies for Yara.“Thank you,” Yara said softly, holding the bag of cookies.Carol lowered her head and quickly dug into her meal. “Mommy said I need to eat to grow tall and strong. I want to be tall to protect Mommy.”…Yara walked out of the Lockwood Manor. The lawn was lush and green, with a few adorable fireflies flickering about, creating a charming scene. In the distance, tall trees loomed, casting deep shadows. Under the faint moonlight, Jamie stood there smoking. He was in his 30s and at the prime of his life. He was handsome and sharp like a finely honed blade.Yara had imagined many scenarios with him, but she finally realized it was all one-sided. Jamie found her annoying, and so did the Lockwood family. However, they hadn’t been straightforward about it out of courtesy.Yara had her own pride, and now t
After Paityn finished her shower, she dried her wet hair and walked out to the terrace to relax. The night breeze brushed against her face, and she felt very comfortable. To be fair, Carol spent most of the time with the Lockwood family, which made things much easier for her. She often had free time to enjoy tea with Tegan or go shopping. In this regard, Jamie did quite well. However, that was all there was. After the incident with Yara, Paityn thought it over and made the decision to draw a clear line with Jamie. They had different mindsets, and being together would not bring happiness. This time, Paityn had no resentment about the separation; she also wanted to move forward. After two or three months, they indeed no longer had any ambiguity, which she felt was great. Today, Tegan and Lorian introduced Paityn to a young man who was even younger than her at just 26 years old. He was a talented designer with a gentle and kind personality, and he was very attentive and sweet. P
Only two or three guests had arrived in the lavish private room, and Jamie was one of them. Tegan was busy, while Lorian doted on Tegan and stayed close by, making sure she wouldn’t tire out even a little. The three men who arrived first were playing cards. Just as Paityn walked in, one of them looked up and casually said, "We need one more player, Paityn. You're just in time to fill the spot." Jamie laid his cards down, and the man quickly corrected himself: "I mean… Ms. Paityn." Another person nudged his arm and winked at Jamie, saying, "She's Jamie's wife." Jamie remained quite reserved, giving a light snort in response: "Grow up." At that moment, Lorian approached with a mug and handed it to Paityn. He chuckled as he said, "Don’t say nonsense; Paityn has a boyfriend, who was a 26-year-old young man." Paityn knew he was being playful and didn’t deny it; she wouldn’t be that timid. She took the cup and thanked him. On the other hand, Jamie looked up at Lorian with an am
Paityn snapped back to reality. She continued washing her hands, and her voice was soft. “I didn’t think about it! You keep bringing up his age, which means you must care quite a bit. Are you feeling powerless now? Has it come to the point of buying time with money?” Jamie continued to smoke his cigarette slowly. It was truly impossible to change Paityn. He couldn’t understand how Humprehy could tolerate her. Was she not so fierce in front of others? Just thinking about it made Jamie feel extremely uncomfortable. In Jamie's mind, he and Paityn had a child together. A man’s inherent nature is often filled with possessiveness towards women. No matter how many times she married—ten or eight times—he always felt that Paityn was still his woman. They were the original couple. The lighting was soft and alluring, with only the sound of flowing water filling the air. Jamie was captivated by her figure. Paityn wore a black form-fitting long dress with a front slit and six exquisite go
Outside, Jamie still had a temper. He pressed Paityn against the wall and kissed her fiercely in a secluded corner of the club. He took possession of her lips again and again, savoring the rare moment of her compliance.Finally, Jamie ended the kiss after a long while. However, he didn’t pull away. Instead, he kept his forehead against hers. His voice was rough and hoarse. “Why didn’t you resist? Don’t you hate me?”Although Jamie was laced with passion, Paityn, who had spent years with him, understood him. She knew that he cared.Last time, Jamie had blurted out, asking if something had happened between her and Monty. She hadn’t denied it in her anger, but today was different. Today, someone had mocked him publicly.Paityn rested her hand on Jamie’s arm, and spoke softly, “I’ve never slept with anyone else.”…A single sentence for Jamie was like the purest, most elegant music. Suddenly, he pulled Paityn tightly into his arms. He lowered his head to gaze at her delicate face.
Paityn threw everything aside and fully enjoyed everything Jamie gave her.The sky began to drizzle lightly.Jamie carried her into the car. Through the fogged-up car windows, the faces of the man and the woman became blurred.The diamond ring, resting delicately on Paityn’s neck, swayed gently.…Back in the private room of a top-tier luxurious club, Denny was almost in tears. He clung to Lorian’s arm, pleading, “I beg you, Lorian! Please tell Jamie I didn’t mean it! I don’t have the guts to offend Paityn, I was only trying to help him.”Lorian shoved him away, sneering, “You’re lucky he didn’t kill you today. Go back and clean up your mess at the company, don’t say I didn’t warn you. If I offend Jamie, I’d be in deep trouble, let alone you!“I can’t help you, and I don’t want to, Denny. Have you forgotten that Paityn is my sister-in-law? Consider yourself lucky that I didn't work with Jamie to kill you. Now, get the hell out of here.”…After Denny left, the private room rem
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
Zion could sense Gwen’s cautiousness and chuckled softly. Then, he cupped her face and planted a firm kiss on her lips. “Don’t worry, I won’t touch you. We agreed to save that for our wedding night. Besides, I just drank last night, so I probably wouldn’t be much use. I want your first time to be special, so I’ll make sure I’m well-prepared.” Gwen’s cheeks turned crimson. She buried her face in his chest, mumbling, “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” How peculiar! Back then, even though they were together, their relationship had always been proper and restrained. But now, here they were, sharing a bed, their bodies so intimately close it was both thrilling and embarrassing. Gwen had never experienced this before. Zion seemed to understand her thoughts. He leaned in close to her ear and whispered, “I haven’t either. Before the wedding night, I’ll make sure to study hard.” Gwen didn’t dare ask how he planned to “study,” though she had a pretty good idea—i
Zion maintained a respectful demeanor and immediately greeted, “Mr. Noah.” Noah, however, didn’t make things difficult for him. He gave a light cough, which could be considered acknowledgment. Then, turning to his youngest daughter, he said, “Go upstairs first. Your mother’s been waiting for you all night; she probably has something to say to you.” Gwen hesitated and didn’t move at first. Zion gently nudged her, his voice soft, “You should go.” Only then did Gwen start to move. But before heading upstairs, she walked over to Noah. As the youngest daughter and the most adept at charming her way out of trouble, she hugged her father. Only then, with visible reluctance, did she head upstairs. Her father’s anger dissipated by more than half after the hug. Watching her go, Noah turned his attention to Zion, his tone calm but firm: “Have a seat. Let’s talk.” Zion immediately sat down and, with practiced ease, poured Noah a cup of tea. Noah feigned irritation and remarked, “
But Gwen was not satisfied.With reddened eyes, she pitifully asked again, "Are you married? Is there someone else by your side? Do you still love me?"As she asked, she was more persistent than before, yet it made the man's heart ache even more.Zion remembered that when they parted ways, Gwen was still an innocent, naive girl. Now, however, she was willing to ask such direct and revealing questions. The braver she became, the more pain he felt in his heart.Zion no longer teased her. He looked into her eyes and answered seriously."No, I'm not married. There's no one else by my side. Her leg healed, and she got married earlier this year. And yes, I still love you. Very much."...Gwen's eyes turned even redder.Her voice trembled as she said, "That doesn't mean I have to be with you. I'm still mad at you."Zion took a step forward and gently wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes. It had been five years, and now she had become a teary little kitten. He remembered how
At that moment, Gwen was completely flustered. She didn’t understand what Zion meant, nor did she understand why he was deliberately getting close to her. She wanted to ask, but before she could, Zion had already led her out of the car. The restaurant arranged by the school leadership was nearby, just off campus. Gwen had been there with Zion before, but not in a private room. Returning to an old haunt brought a sense of nostalgia. Zion walked side by side with Gwen. He was six-foot tall, and she was about five-foot-five. They made for a strikingly good-looking pair. Considering their history, the school leaders naturally couldn’t resist teasing them a bit. Gwen felt slightly uncomfortable and replied, "We were young and foolish." Over the years, Zion had grown seasoned in the business world, exuding an effortless charm. He responded with a light smile, "I wonder if we can pick up where we left off—still holding a grudge?" As soon as those words were said, the schoo
After running away in a flurry that night, Gwen retreated into her home, avoiding the world outside for several days. Her father, Noah, meanwhile, busied himself with his new hobby of keeping turtles—purchased on a whim after his wife, Gwynn, teased him for being too old. In an attempt to prove his youth, Noah even released the turtles back into the wild one evening, making a point of marking one with the name "Zion" on its shell in a bold act of petty revenge. Gwynn, ever the pragmatist, found the gesture immature and pointless, but it brought him a fleeting sense of satisfaction. Gwen, however, was unaware of the antics her father had indulged in. All she knew was that her father had been unusually concerned during her self-imposed seclusion, urging her to get out and take a break. Noah's insistence that she shouldn’t remain cooped up at home was an attempt to draw her back into the world, to reconnect with life. But she couldn’t shake the weight of everything that had transp