Both of them texted each other for a good while…She dozed off in the middle of composing a reply text. Hours passed before she she woke up. There were about a dozen unread texts, all of them from Mason.She read each and every text in the dead of night, but she didn’t reply to him.At the next moment, she rose and went to look at both of her kids.She may not have been staying with Mason in the same manor and their relationship was on a precarious balance, at best. However, it was a big step forward for them to be able to live in the same city. They were well on their way to fixing all of the painful history they shared in the past.At some point, they started keeping in touch on a frequent basis. Carrying themselves like the best ex-couple there ever was, they worked together to raise their kids and discussed every challenge they faced while their kids grew up…Yanni was six years old and was studying in kindergarten. Zoe said, “You have all sorts of connections in Brookesv
Scarlett was disheartened when she saw how much Mason wanted it to happen. She had stayed at the manor for a long time, spending every single day with him. However, he had never shown any intention of remarrying Zoe. In fact, he hadn’t even visited his kids in Silvercrest.Now, it seemed, Zoe’s return had changed everything!He would stare off into space or dwell in fear of losing her all the time. Zoe had singlehandedly turned him into the mess he was now. Scarlett had sharp instincts too. She could tell that Zoe still had feelings for Mason. All she had to do was stare into her eyes. Why?! Why did it have to be like this?!They had been divorced for years. Why did Zoe have to return and shake his conviction?For that, she seriously disliked Zoe. With that said, she had to give in to her for the time being. “That’s right. Ms. Zoe’s going to the hospital as well.”She had no interest in seeing the joy in his face, so she closed the door swiftly. He was still staring out
Cecil checked outside the room and closed the door. Instead of walking over, he merely stood at the door and asked gently, “Are you guys still fighting? It’s been such a long time!”Then, he chuckled. He used to love Zoe a lot, but he had given up on her. He stopped after he found out he was Mason’s uncle. He knew he didn’t stand any chance the moment Mason put himself on the operating table. These two were meant for each other for the rest of their lives. With that said, that didn’t stop him from treating Zoe nicely.He could tell that she was suffering on the inside. So, he sat on a chair across from her and asked solemnly, “Do you need a listening ear?”Shaking her head, she smiled faintly, “I’m not a young brat anymore. I can handle my emotions. Don’t worry about me, Cecil. I’m fine. I mean it. It’s wonderful that we can live in the same city now.”Cecil smiled along with her. They proceeded to talk more about the laboratory before she left. She had just gotten into the
Her words were filled with irony. Liam was usually a calm man, but even he was stung by what she said. He wasn’t supposed to say it, but the words came out before he could stop them. “You know I love you, Zoe!”Time itself seemingly froze and an awkward silence hung over the air. For a few seconds there, he regretted blurting it out. However, he was both a lawyer and a practical man. Now that the cat was out of the bag, he figured he should stand by it.Staring at Zoe, he asked, “Are you still waiting for Mason? Why won’t you give me a chance?”Her voice was icy cold when she replied, “I’ll never fall in love with you! I’ll always remember how you plotted our family’s downfall! Here you are, asking me to be with you. Have you got a screw loose, Liam?”…Reaching out, Liam clutched her hand.She was startled and tried to shake him off, but he forcibly pulled her close. She got so close that their bodies were almost pressed against each other. The way he stared at her made her
Zoe didn’t want him to see her when she was down. Averting her gaze, she said in a broken voice, “I’m fine!”After a brief pause, she added, “Have Deborah bring the kids down. I’m not going in there tonight.”However, Mason didn’t move at all. Underneath the gentle glow of the moonlight, he stared at her intensely, not willing to miss out on any expressions on her face. He even asked her point blank, “Have you been crying?”“No!” She couldn’t stand it when he stared at her like this. It would be easier if she got out of her car instead. “Fine. I’ll go get them myself.”Her feet had just touched the ground when he grabbed her lean arm. The glow of the moonlight revealed her delicate and suggestive outfit as well as the light, reddish mark on her arm.The next thing she knew, he willfully pulled her into his arms. She began to tremble lightly when their bodies were pressed together. Brushing her cheeks gently, he wiped off her tears affectionately and asked her in his deep voice
Truth be told, it bothered him a lot.It was only normal for every man to not want to share the lady he loved, much less someone like Mason.…Zoe watched as he left and lowered her head. There was something else bothering her. Otherwise, she could’ve gotten laid with him. His lust was strong, to begin with. Top that off with the fact that he had been abstaining from sex for years, it would’ve been like taking candy from a baby. It was just that she wasn’t at the top of her game tonight. Liam’s words haunted her. She was still wondering if Noah really did marry Gwynn. There were so many things that had suddenly piled up on her and made her feel encumbered. Still, she continued to wait for Mason to come back. In the end, Deborah ran downstairs and said, looking worried, “Yanni’s having a case of rubella, Ms. Zoe. She’s mumbling in her sleep! Mr. Mason asked for you to go up there right now.”“When did this happen?” Zoe asked as she took brisk steps towards the manor.Th
Mason didn’t have an answer for that. In fact, Zoe wasn’t exactly waiting for one, either. So, both of them ended up holding their breaths until Mia arrived. In the middle of the night, the sound of a car pulling in reverberated in the yard. Not long after, Mia was on the second floor. Zoe let out a sigh of relief when she saw her stepmother. She couldn’t stop herself from calling out to her softly, “Hey, Mia.”“Let me check on Yanni.” Mia was calm. Taking Yanni in her arms, she patted her gently and pressed her forehead against the little girl’s, murmuring to her…Yanni was still trapped in her nightmare.After a brief moment, she called out to Mia. She mumbled, “Scarlett scared me. She said that Mommy and Daddy hate each other. She also said Daddy used to lock Mommy up in a mental hospital because he didn’t want her anymore. Daddy wanted to marry some other lady…”An onslaught of emotions flooded Mia when she heard what her granddaughter said.She was heartbroken for Yanni
Zoe might have been ready to forgive him, but he could never let himself off the hook.…It was still the middle of the night when Mason went to the ground floor. Scarlett was still sitting there. She knew she was in deep trouble because of the horrible blunder she made. So, she grumbled the moment she saw him, “Ms. Zoe has overstepped her bounds, Mr. Mason. It’s wrong to let her handle the manor’s affairs, to begin with.”His voice was cold as he cast a glance at her. “Who has the right to do it, then?” Even though he had used Scarlett to chase Zoe away, he had honestly never done anything out of line with his private doctor, nor did he lead her on.Scarlett was stunned by his response.He then said bluntly, “I’ll see to it that your medical license will be revoked. You’ll never be a doctor again.“Also, I want you out of Brookesville! You have two days to do it. I’m very serious. My men will pack up your stuff and send you to one of the northwestern cities. They’ll keep a
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