Many years had passed since the tragedy, but how was she supposed to forget that she used to be pregnant with Leslie’s child? More to the point, she could never forget how ghastly the circumstances were that caused her to lose the same baby.The irony wasn’t lost on her when she realized that Leslie made another baby with Nellie!She couldn’t possibly move on from it. Zoe, too, saw the couple at the entrance, so she held Ella’s hand, trying to offer her some comfort. Nellie stepped into the coffee shop and saw Ella. Leslie was probably treating her quite nicely because her old habits returned with a vengeance. Looking at Ella, who still had a place in her husband’s heart, she took a dig at her. “Fancy bumping into you here, Ella!”Ella was glaring at her, the hatred in her eyes so intense that she wanted to squeeze the life out of Nellie there and then. On the other hand, Zoe was much calmer. She looked at Nellie indifferently. “Pleasure meeting you here! It seems life has f
Leslie turned around and left. Nellie was stunned by his reaction and took off after him. “Leslie!”She found him at the end of the hallway, smoking. Then, she approached him and realized that his eyes were completely red. Quivering with anger, she said, “Are you sad because she's about to marry someone else? Do you have lingering feelings for her after all these years, Leslie? “You’ve slept with countless ladies. What makes her so special? What, did she put a spell on you for you to love her so? Or, was it because she was particularly good in bed?”The next thing she knew, she was slapped in the face!Nellie couldn’t believe what just happened. She stared at him incredulously for a brief moment before she yelled hysterically. “Did you just slap me because of her? I’m pregnant, for Heaven’s sake!”“That’s not my baby in your belly!” he said coldly. Nellie was stunned. She murmured, “Are you out of your mind? What do you think you’re saying, Leslie?”Lowering his gaze, he loo
The truth was, Zoe remembered Westley.The Sanders and the Lockwoods used to have some business relationships when she was very young. From time to time, she’d follow her parents when they paid a visit to his family. If her memory served her correctly, Westley was gentle and well-mannered. If he hadn’t left his family behind back then, then Mason probably would’ve been a gentleman as well. Westley broke the silence, his voice was exactly the same as she remembered, sophisticated and graceful. “Can I have a word with you, Zoe?”Opening the car door, she got out of the car and faced him. They might not have known each other that well, but both of them shared some common family members. Instead of bringing up the past, he asked her about Mason and Yanni. Then, he also asked about Barbara.After a brief moment of silence, she said bitterly, “Grandma had been waiting for your return her whole life. She even called out to you during her last moments. She got delusional in the end an
Taking back the documents, she resumed reading them and said gently, “That’s not a part of their job scope. There’s no reason they should do my work. Also, there are bound to be complaints and grudges once it has gone on for a long time. For that matter, you were never someone who would take advantage of your company staff to take care of something unrelated to work.”She looked so calm that it sent a tingling sensation down his spine. After a brief moment, he smiled and asked, “What sort of a person do you think I am?”Putting down the documents, she grumbled, “You’re not a person. You’re a monster!”He was stunned by her response for a second. Then, he lowered his head and kissed her. It was a tender kiss, but she stopped him nonetheless. “Yanni’s going to see us.”Instead of continuing to kiss her, he stared at her intensely and said, “She was very engrossed in her teddy bear. I’m sure she won’t see us.”She ignored him and resumed checking through the documents. He liked it
Now that they were finally embracing each other, the world had changed so much. “Noah!”Holding him tightly, Zoe sobbed as she said, “How are you already free before your release date?”Mia, who was standing at the side, wiped her tears away and said, “He was released on parole, for your birthday.”Deep down, Zoe knew it wouldn’t have been possible without Mason’s help. He was trying to surprise her. That explained why he left Kirk Manor before she woke up.Neither she nor Noah said anything about Mason. Mia, on the other hand, insisted on them offering a prayer for Noah’s newfound freedom. Noah was never a religious person, but he allowed his stepmother to do it just so it’d soothe her. Afterward, Mia held his hands and couldn’t hold back her tears anymore. She wailed and said, “You’re finally back. I can finally say that I’ve done right by your father!”He embraced her and tried to comfort her. After a brief moment, Mia came to her senses. Wiping her tears, she said, “Yo
It was night by the time Zoe sent Noah back home. He was staying in Zoe’s old apartment. It was located in a convenient area and the facilities were adequate as well. Still, he was only planning on staying there until he found his own place.It was misty as Noah parked his car at the apartment’s parking lot. He put a cigarette between his lips, but left it unlit.He was holding Zoe’s hands.They had been apart for six years. Zoe was a mother now, but their bond was as strong as ever. The way he saw it, she was still the same younger sister who followed him everywhere. “Noah!” she called out to him softly. They were the only ones in the car. It was the perfect place for them to talk about anything private and confidential, such as the issues revolving around Mason and Liam. Looking out the windshield, Noah told his side of the story with a dour face. “Dad was rather ruthless when he was acquiring one of the companies back then. In a way, the acquisition caused the former owner
Zoe didn’t return home immediately. Instead, she sat in her car quietly, trying to come to grips with what she had just learned. It was the middle of the night and she was about to drive off when she saw a familiar silhouette in front of her car. It was none other than the person she had just been discussing with her brother. Liam looked sharp in a formal suit, reminiscent of noblemen of yore. He stared at Zoe quietly. At that moment, he had probably stopped pretending to be someone he wasn’t. He could tell from Zoe’s eyes that she finally knew who he really was. On the other hand, Zoe was staring at him, tears in her eyes. Then, she stepped on the gas pedal fiercely.He didn’t try to dodge out of the way. Instead, he stared at the white car intensely as it tore through the road and charged straight at him. A flurry of emotions was coursing through his mind as he regarded the oncoming car.No one knew how much he had wrestled with himself for the past few years.He had fallen
Mason had been holding his breath for her answer for the entire day. He hadn’t expected her to reject him and push him away.His heart sank at what she said, but he didn’t respond to this matter. Today was her birthday. So, he told her that she’d find the gifts from her friends and business associates in the fitting room. She didn’t want to kill the mood entirely, so she forced a smile and said, “I’ll open them up after I’ve taken a shower!”Pulling her toward him, he ran his hands across her dress provocatively and said in a husky voice, “Let’s shower together!”However, she rejected him. “I’m on my period!”He stared at her intensely before swooping her up and carrying her into the bathroom. Needless to say, he wasn’t about to force himself on her when she was having a period. Again, it was her birthday today. All he ever wanted was to make her happy. What he didn’t know was that the better he treated her, the guiltier she got. With that said, she didn’t regret her decision o
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