Yanni and Keaton exchanged a smile.…In early autumn, Carol started school again. On the day of enrollment, Jamie and Paityn took her to kindergarten together. After getting out of the car, Carol carried her little backpack and skipped happily into the kindergarten. The teacher, who was very fond of her, held her tiny hand affectionately.Once they lost sight of Carol, the two got back into the car. Paityn fastened her seatbelt and said naturally, "Take me to the office. I have a meeting this morning."Jamie gripped the steering wheel, but he couldn’t resist saying, "It’s been a while since we’ve done that, Paityn. Don’t you want to?"Paityn turned to look at him. After a moment, she agreed, even though she could only spare two hours at most. Hearing this, Jamie’s whole body felt a rush of excitement. He leaned in to kiss her, and his voice was warm and eager. “Two hours isn’t enough. I’ve been holding back for too long.”Paityn wrapped her arms around his neck, and her voic
To Paityn, Jamie seemed especially quiet today. However, he was also particularly intense. The passion was fierce, and he had her calling him “husband” more than once.Jamie was so powerful that even someone as resilient as Paityn found herself completely worn out by him. Afterward, she lay on the soft bed, still basking in the afterglow.Paityn was a bit surprised because she knew Jamie very well, he’d usually go at least three rounds after such a long build-up of nearly half a month. Today, however, he’d let her off after just one. Naturally, Paityn herself had already had more than enough. Jamie showered and smoked a cigarette on the balcony. Then, he came back to help her get dressed.Paityn blushed and said she could do it herself. Jamie was truly acting differently today. If men had monthly cycles, she would have thought it was his time of the month. When Paityn teased Jamie like this, he replied with an exasperated tone, “Then, what was that just now? Was it a bloody conf
Paityn was even more confused now.Meanwhile, Gavyn extended his hand to her in a particularly familiar manner, shaking it lightly. Then, he smiled gently. “Carol looks more like her father.”Paityn felt a bit embarrassed.Gavyn’s assistant came forward and respectfully invited them to take their seats, treating Annie with great courtesy as well.Annie couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of admiration. In recent days, she had put in a great deal of effort to arrange this meeting with Gavyn. It had taken quite a bit of work just to get him to agree to meet casually. Gavyn's attitude had been incredibly high-handed, which was understandable, given the tremendous resources he controlled. In the presence of the Lockwood family and the Sanders family, however, such a powerful man still gave ample respect and consideration.Indeed, during the meal, Gavyn's demeanor was notably more subdued.Jamie was younger by a whole decade, but he handled the situation effortlessly when it came to
A long time had passed. In fact, it felt like an eternity. Jamie gently turned his face. He brought it close to Paityn's ear and savored the soft, downy feel. At that moment, she reminded him of Carol; she was also someone who needed his protection. Paityn was quiet and docile when she nestled in his embrace."Paityn." Jamie's voice was rough. It was barely a whisper, and his drink-induced haze mostly cleared. Slowly, he stroked the top of her head softly. Then, it didn't feel enough, and he leaned down to kiss her. She was his little puppy. This was the first time he’d called her that, yet it felt perfectly natural.Maybe they should have been together all along. Jamie should have been Paityn's protector and her shield against the storm. He shouldn't have left her to worry that their relationship might sour. He shouldn't have let her face difficulties alone and be afraid to seek his help. That was why she chose to bear it all by herself, to begin with.Business matters were
Jamie held his breath as he looked down at Paityn, watching her slide the ring of commitment onto his ring finger.In the dim light of the car, the platinum ring gleamed with a cool glow. It rested on his finger but felt as though it hung over his heart.They had made a vow for life.For a long while, Jamie didn’t move. He kept staring at his ring finger and the wedding ring Paityn had placed there. At this moment, he felt a profound sense of peace; he knew her heart. Her willingness to do this proved he held a place in her heart. It was a place that surpassed Lorian and Monty for Paityn.The world was vast, but Paityn's lover’s name was Jamie and only Jamie. When the blood rushed to Jamie’s head, he pulled Paityn close. He forced her to utter those shameless vows and sweet words. He demanded her to promise a lifetime with him. Jamie also asked that Paityn love only him for all her days. She was truly both angry and amused. Sitting up straight, she carefully removed the diam
Jamie and Paityn’s wedding was set for the golden autumn of October. Before the winter solstice, Mason and Zoe personally went to the McKinney family to ask for Paityn's hand in marriage. In addition to the ten cars' worth of gifts, he also brought along their capable, lovestruck son, Jamie.Jennifer hosted a lavish family banquet to welcome the in-laws. Naturally, she had some personal intentions. Among the many dishes, there was a pot of delicious chicken soup, and she made sure to give a chicken leg to her good son-in-law, Jamie.The Sanders and Lockwood families knew very well that Jamie didn't eat chicken legs. However, at this moment, he couldn’t stop praising the chicken leg. He even called out to Jennifer as his mother. "Mom, the chicken soup you made is just to my taste." Lorian and Tegan were also present. They exchanged a glance before he picked up the other chicken leg from his own bowl and handed it over to Jamie. He smiled playfully. "You really should eat mo
Paityn obviously didn’t recognize it. She opened the box and saw an emerald bracelet. It was completely green, which at first glance appeared to be worth at least forty to fifty million, very precious. Inside the box was a card with a message written on it. "Wishing you happiness for the rest of your life, from Monty."As Paityn was stunned, she realized she had stirred up a hornet's nest. The driver, Jamie, immediately let out a cold snort. "I told you it was someone with the surname Verdan, but you wouldn’t admit it! Now that we have the evidence, What do you think we should do, Paityn?"Looking at the gift, Paityn originally felt a bit sad. With Jamie causing such a ruckus, however all her sadness was swept away. In the end, she helplessly asked him, "So what do you want to do about it?"Jamie focused on the road ahead, and his hand lightly stroked his chin in deep thought. Finally, he made a few requests, all shameless and without boundaries. After finishing, he turned to
Yanni smiled gently. "Yes, I'm over five months pregnant! I’ll probably give birth around spring."Gael did the math in his head. By that time, he would have already settled abroad. He wouldn't be able to give Yanni's child any gift right away. If it weren't for worrying about Keaton's feelings, Gael might have even considered becoming the child's godfather. Then again, he had Ella. He was technically her biological father in name.Ella seemed to like him quite a bit. She sweetly called out, "Uncle Gael."Gael smiled and patted her head. Then, he took two candies out of his pocket. He had just attended the wedding banquet and happened to have them on hand. He handed one to Ella, who eagerly peeled it open and popped it into her mouth.Gael couldn’t help but hug Ella. This was the child he and Yanni had in name, but also a lingering thought of his. He couldn't help feeling a mix of emotions as he held her. When he let go, he noticed his new wife standing quietly beside him. Her
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
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