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
Dawn broke over the city. Mason drove back to Lockwood Manor. The security guard was dumbfounded when he opened the gate and saw his car. After all, Mason hadn’t been back there for three years. Moments later, the black Bentley pulled into the premises.He got out of the car and closed the door before sweeping his eyes across the manor.The place had been deprived of its masters and mistresses for far too long and had lost its former warming sensation. Instead, a lifelessness surrounded the manor now. It was depressingly ironic, considering Barbara had loved making the place lively when she was still around. The servants hadn’t woken up yet. Walking into the living room, his leather shoes stepped on the unblemished floor and made a crisp tapping sound that reverberated in the room, further accentuating its emptiness. Barbara’s portrait could be found on the home altar, smiling affectionately. Running his fingers across her picture longingly, he murmured, “Westley’s back. He
Yanni was sent to Lockwood Hospital. She needed an AB-type blood transfusion urgently, but there had been a horrible accident that morning and supplies were running short. It just so happened that both Mason and Zoe weren’t in the AB blood group. It would take an hour for them to transport the blood supply from another institution. Yanni could faint and pass into a coma at any given moment. He made a snap decision and exclaimed, “Use the helicopter to transport the blood!”“My blood type is a match!” Cecil declared as he walked right into the room. Everyone held their breath. They knew Cecil and Mason were enemies. No one dared make a peep, much less agree to his offer.After a brief moment, Mason barked, “Prepare to perform the blood transfusion!”Cecil had always done a routine health checkup and he was fit enough for this process. They extracted seventeen ounces of blood from him and transfused it into Yanni without a moment’s delay.The seventeen ounces of blood was like
In the lounge, Gwen curled up in Tegan’s embrace, crying silently. Tegan gently stroked her smooth black hair, sighing softly. “If you really like him, I’ll help you talk to him.”Gwen sobbed quietly, “Dad will say you’re being rebellious.”Tegan paused for a moment, then replied, “Your brother will help me, won’t he?”Gwen clung to Tegan, continuing to cry softly. She remembered that today was Yeager’s full moon celebration and decided to cry for just a little while. After all, who hasn’t shed tears in their youth?At that moment, there was a knock at the door. From the sound of it, the person outside had a very refined aura. Tegan immediately guessed who it was; it certainly wasn’t her husband. She gently rubbed Gwen’s head. “I’ll go answer it.”When Tegan opened the door, as expected, it was Zion standing outside. The two locked eyes, and after a moment of silence, Tegan calmly spoke, “You two talk.” Zion nodded.In the quiet lounge, the soft sound of Gwen’s crying fill
The following August. It was the party for Ocelotte and Molly's child. Molly had given birth to a boy, named Yeager Sanders, a name chosen by her eldest brother-in-law, Lorian. She was very fond of the name. As for Lorian and Tegan's youngest son, he was named Fergus Sanders. Yeager and Fergus were the next generation of boys in the Sanders family. However, the first child was still Lola, the one and only little princess. She loved following Gwen around. The little girl was now three and a half years old and about to start kindergarten. On the day of Yeager's party, Gwen was still taking Lola around, but she unexpectedly ran into an old acquaintance. It had truly been a long time. Since the year Zion had left for another country, although they had occasionally bumped into each other, they hadn’t had the chance for a proper meeting. How many years had passed? Gwen didn't dare to think about it, nor did she want to calculate. She vaguely felt it had been four
After Yanni finished speaking, the Sanders family stood frozen in shock. It was Gwynn who recovered first, quickly asking Yanni, “How is Molly doing?” Yanni smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Aunt Gwynn. Molly is fine, just a bit overwhelmed. I think the baby came as a surprise. Ocelotte is with her right now.” Before Gwynn could respond, Noah muttered under his breath, “A surprise is great! A surprise is wonderful.” Although the young couple’s relationship was excellent, what parent wouldn’t hope for grandchildren? And with Ocelotte and Molly’s stunning looks, the baby was bound to be exceptional. The mere thought of it had Noah brimming with excitement. He silently speculated that it was definitely going to be an adorable little girl. Definitely just like Molly.After a while, Ocelotte emerged, carrying Molly in his arms. She had regained her strength after sipping some sweetened water but was advised to rest for a few days at home. Moreover, during the first trimeste
Over half a year later, in the golden autumn of October. The film "Scarlet Dreams, Jade Skies", starring Molly, achieved a blockbuster box office success and earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the prestigious Golden Bear Awards. On the night of the ceremony, the entire Sanders family showed up to cheer Molly on. Tegan, worried she might feel pressured, kept comforting her, saying, “It’s okay if you don’t win this time. There’s always next time.” Molly was deeply moved. Tegan had just finished her postpartum recovery and yet still came to support her. Looking at Ocelotte, Molly whispered, “I’ve already won the biggest award of my life, Tegan.” Usually composed, Tegan was amused by her and replied gently, “You’ve been much more lively since hanging out with Ocelotte! Your big brother thinks it’s great. He always praises Ocelotte for being so caring.” Molly felt a little shy and leaned in closer to chat softly with Tegan. Gwen handed over a piece of candy and qu
Molly spent the most joyful holidays of her life.In early spring, she married Ocelotte. Her wedding veil was an impressive three meters long, as the elders said that the longer the veil, the longer the marriage. So, Ocelotte had a three-meter-long veil designed for her.He said he wanted to be with her for three lifetimes and more.As the bells of the church rang, Molly, holding onto Lorian’s arm, slowly walked toward Ocelotte. From that moment on, they were one, bound together not only as a couple but as a family. His loved ones were now hers, and they would share both joy and hardship.The few meters between them felt like the culmination of the four years they had spent together.At the altar, Lorian handed Molly to his younger brother and gave his shoulder a gentle pat. "Take good care of her," he said.Ocelotte took a step forward, gazing at Molly through the delicate veil. Today, she looked like a pure white jasmine flower.Ocelotte gently lifted the veil, wanting her t
On the steps in front of the villa, Ocelotte and Molly stood ready to greet their guest. Brody stepped out of the car, looking particularly sharp and dashing tonight. The sight made Ocelotte frown instantly. Dressed as flamboyantly as a peacock, Brody had clearly put in some effort. Later, Ocelotte decided, he’d ask Molly outright who looked better. Was it him or Brody? Brody walked up the steps, his silhouette framed by the twilight. Molly stepped forward and gave him a brief hug. After everything they’d been through, they were like family now. Ocelotte, watching from the side: *Is all that closeness really necessary?* When Molly and Brody finally separated, Ocelotte decided he wanted a hug too. Brody froze, startled by the unexpected request, but before he could react, he was nearly bowled over by Ocelotte's overly enthusiastic embrace. Ocelotte pulled him into a firm hug, slapping him hard on the back. “Now that you’re leaving, I’ll really miss you, you know.”
Before the Spring Festival, Ocelotte moved out of the family estate and started living with Molly. Noah fully approved, saying, "Hurry up and move out. Don’t disturb your mom and me enjoying our world of two." Ocelotte swiftly packed his large luggage, pulled Gwen over, and shoved her toward Noah. "Dad, you must regret having a third child. Too late to send her back to Mom’s belly now." Noah frowned. "Can’t you pack your sister up and take her with you?" Ocelotte hoisted his luggage. "Dad. Molly and I also want our world of two. You and Mom just need to endure it a bit longer. Once Gwen gets married, you’ll truly have your world of two, and none of us kids will need you and Mom to take care of us." Noah cursed playfully, watching his youngest son nimbly hop into a black Range Rover and head toward his fiancée. For a moment, he felt a little sentimental. Noah still remembered the year Ocelotte was born. Times were tough, and he was locked in a life-and-death struggle wi
Ocelotte popped a fruit into his sister’s mouth, teasing her, "What are you thinking about? If you really want him back, go chase him down!"Gwen finished the fruit and muttered softly, "Are you crazy?"Back then, she and that person had broken up because her family disagreed. How could she possibly go after him now?Ocelotte stared at his sister intently for a moment, then chuckled, "He’s in Brookesville! He’s been there for years, hasn’t moved, hasn’t gone back to his hometown to marry that perfect wife. "I think you should be braver, Gwen, just like Molly. When she was young, she did so much wrong to me, but look at her now. When we reunited, she cried and begged to be with me. I couldn’t say no."Gwen's heart skipped a beat as the memory of that person flooded back. Could it really be that simple? Could she really go after him now? But so much time had passed, and so much had changed.Molly's cheeks turned a soft shade of red, but with Gwynn and Gwen around, she didn’t dare
As the evening twilight settled, the gleaming Rolls-Royce Cullinan slowly drove into the Sanders Residence, eventually coming to a stop in the parking lot. Tegan and Gwen, with Lola in tow, were waiting at the steps to greet them.When Lola saw Molly, she wobbled over and excitedly hugged the latter’s legs, calling her "Aunt Molly" affectionately. In a playful, exaggerated tone, Lola praised, "You look so beautiful, Aunt Molly!"Molly felt a bit shy at the compliment.Lola’s little hand then reached into the fruit basket, stealing a banana. Given that bananas are too cold for children to eat in winter, Molly gently took her hand and said, "Let's go to the kitchen, and I’ll heat it for you in the microwave." However, she hesitated, feeling it was more appropriate to first greet Ocelotte’s parents, as it was her first time here.Lorian told Molly to carry Lola to the kitchen, saying that there were no strict rules at home and that Ocelotte was already with their parents.Molly f