Mason said nonchalantly, “I need her to hate me!” He fixed his gaze on Gabriela. “Look at the sorry state I’m in. Am I supposed to let her hang onto her false hope and think about me all the time? Cutting her off now is the more merciful route. It’s the best outcome for everyone!”Sneering, she retorted, “Best outcome for everyone? Do you even know what went on in her mind? She loves you for the kind, loving way you’ve treated her for the past few months. All of a sudden, she was told that you’ve been having sex with me for the past three years.“That’s going to make her have some wild speculations about everything. Have you ever thought that you might make a full recovery someday, Mason? What are you going to do if you want to win her back, but she had already given up on you for good? Did it occur to you that she might’ve ended up with another man by then?”He remained quiet briefly before responding to her with a blank face. “I’ll take my chances!” With that, he clumsily whee
The way he was now, what could he possibly do even if he was to chase after Zoe at the airport? Was he supposed to come clean and tell her that he had sacrificed his physical abilities for Yanni’s sake? Was he supposed to say that he actually never slept with Gabriela, and proceed to bind her to him for the rest of his sorry life?He couldn’t possibly do that…Now that Zoe was pregnant, it meant there was one more thing that’d remind her of him. She would become a loving mother to their next baby and Yanni stood to gain another family member. Everything was fine and well, considering.So, what excuse did he have to feel devastated because he couldn’t be with the lady he loved?Lying on the floor, he panted heavily. On the other side of the door, Ava was calming herself down and regaining her composure. Then, she swung open the door and stepped into the study, only to be met with this shocking sight. “Mason!”Dashing over, she gripped underneath his arms and pulled him up. It too
It was a big day for the family, but she couldn’t help but burst into tears. Lisa started to confess her guilt. “If I hadn’t put Zoe through hell and tortured her, then there might still be hope for you and her…” To her surprise, Mason rebutted her. “It’s my fault. I didn’t treat her as well as I should!” Lowering his head, he said bitterly, “Zoe has a good life now. We shouldn’t mess it up for her. I’m sure she’ll start thinking about her love life when the kids grow up. She certainly is more than qualified to find another man who loves her.”Mason used to be arrogant and obnoxiously confident in the past. Now, however, he was willing to give her up to another man. Lisa’s heart bled when she saw the sort of state her son was in now. It took her a long time to recover from the sorrow. That was when Layla came into the study with supper. It was chicken soup. Lisa took it and got a spoonful of soup. Then, she looked at Mason with tears in her eyes. “Why don’t you move back into
After a brief moment, Zoe said softly, “Ella’s going to move her businesses back to Brookesville.”Rosemary knew about it. After all, she was friends with Farley. Then, she gripped Zoe’s hands and said, “She can move back to Brookesville anytime. Just give me a call if she needs help with anything. I’ll be there for her.”Smiling faintly, Zoe responded, “You have my thanks.”Rosemary waved it off, signaling her that this was what friends do for each other. Both of them were a little saddened by this particular turn of events!At the next moment, a servant came in and told Rosemary that her important guests had arrived. Excusing herself, she said, “I’ve been wanting to make a connection with this guest for quite some time now. It took me several attempts to get this person to come to my party. Please excuse me, Zoe. You’re more than welcome to feel at home here.”Zoe smiled faintly in response as her friend left.After Rosemary left, she took a stroll in the backyard because i
Zoe caught herself and stopped. She was actually embarrassed that she had told him about it. Why, Mason had abandoned her as well as Yanni for a long time, but she still couldn’t let go of her hatred for him…With that said, she didn’t want to appear bitter. So, she composed herself and said calmly, “There’s no point in saying these things anymore! You made your choice two years ago, Mason. Don’t backtrack on it and try to keep things open between us!”Then, she lowered her voice abruptly, “I’m with someone now!”Mason was completely stunned by her response. Staring straight into her eyes, he was having trouble grasping what he had just heard. Did she just say she was with someone now?Tears filled her eyes and she asked him, “What did you expect? He looked after me and loved the kids. I think he’s the right man for me.”So, what she meant was that she fell in love with another man.He fell into a trance for a long time. Then, he asked softly, “Can you tell me who it is?”Sh
It was autumn and it was cold outside. Tugging at the coat, she wrapped it around her delicate face, the refined fabric felt so comfy to the touch. She could just smell David’s scent off of it.Then, she snapped out of the trance!Shaking her head, she denied David’s claim. “It’s nothing like that!”The next thing she knew, David held her shoulders. Her slender figure made her look especially fragile, like a delicate flower. They looked like a perfect match in this exquisite view.Sitting in the wheelchair, Mason stared at them quietly as they left. He turned his back to the pitch-black night. Now that he was no longer feeling the joy of reuniting with Zoe again, the night had lost its serene beauty. In its place, a layer of sorrow and hopelessness draped over it.David was embracing her. They looked so lovely together. She used to be his everything, but she belonged to another man now.…David kept Zoe company all the way to the parking lot, where a black limousine was waitin
Zoe ordered Jorge softly, “Stop the car!”Slamming on the brake, he pulled the car over by the street. Then, he turned his head around and asked puzzlingly, “What’s the matter, Ms. Zoe?”She responded in a nonchalant tone, “I’m going to take a stroll. Just go on home without me.”Taking a look at the manor behind the car, he knew that she was shaken by the sight of her childhood home. He said immediately, “You want to take a look at your old manor, don't you, Ms. Zoe? I’ll just wait for you right here.”Forcing a smile, she turned down his offer. “I’ll hail a cab once I'm done.”Jorge hesitated for a second before agreeing to it. Getting out of the car, he opened the car door for her and said, “Don’t worry, Ms. Zoe. I won’t say a single thing about this to Mr. David.”She remained quiet in response. Instead of explaining herself, she tugged at the scarf on her shoulder and made her way to the lonesome manor.It was a moonlit night. Zoe walked on the concrete floor with her high
Zoe tried, but failed to break free. Mason kept a tight grip on her. His left arm was deceptively powerful. Staring into her eyes, she realized there was unbridled lust in them.She had no idea if her words had hit him hard because he loosened his grip the next moment. After that, not only did he let her go, but he also apologized to her genuinely, “I’m sorry, Zoe. I acted out of line!”Her lips were trembling as she rose to her feet. At that moment, her phone rang. Throwing him a glance, she took the phone out of her pouch and was surprised when she saw the caller’s name. It was Leslie. He asked her out in a very polite manner, saying that he wanted to welcome her back to Brookesville. She wondered about it for a second and agreed to it. Mason looked at her as she hung up the phone. “Have you been hanging out with Leslie?”“Sometimes,” she said lightly. She was talking to him gracefully again. Looking at Mason, her mind traveled back to about a year ago when she was four mo
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
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