Furthermore, Mia started to miss Noah when she heard Mason’s voice. Then, she returned the phone to Zoe. Zoe was about to hang up the phone when she heard him saying tenderly, “Happy New Year, Zoe!”For a brief moment, she didn’t say anything. She fell into a trance, thinking about how this was the best new year they had had ever since they knew each other. Waves of both happiness and anguish washed over her. Then, she murmured, “Happy New Year, Mason.”Both of them didn’t hang up the phone. Holding it close to their ears, they listened intently to the light breathing from the other end of their phones. It was soft and gentle, reminiscent of the pleasant wind caressing their ears at the moment. Not long after, her ears began to get warmer. She was worried Mia might notice it, so she hung up frantically. Raising her eyes to check on Mia, she realized her stepmother was staring into space. She couldn’t help but hold her hands and call out to her, “Are you thinking about D
It was warm in the villa. There were no one but old servants in here. So, Zoe didn’t feel awkward about the fact that she was walking around, wearing nothing but sleepwear.The last thing she had expected to find here was Mason and both of her kids. There was another person. Apparently, he brought over a female doctor, who was massaging Mia with some herbs from the South Hinterlands. Mia was really enjoying it. Mason was standing by the side, looking at her. It was the first day of New Year, so he put some thought into his outfit. He wore a white shirt with a three-piece suit and paired it with a coat.Underneath the glow of the crystal chandelier, his defined features appeared more attractive than they usually were, not to mention the enriched charm of his manly eyebrows. He raised his eyes as soon as he heard some footsteps from the stairs. Then, he saw her. She was wearing silk sleepwear that barely covered her private parts. The sunlight shone on her and brought out the
A servant gave her a bucket of warm water. Dipping her feet in the bucket, she let out a pleasant sigh. Leaning on the couch cozily, she paged through a book she found nearby. …Mason sat right across the room. The next thing she knew, the water in the bucket splashed as he gripped her legs. She tried to pull them away, but she couldn’t. Her voice was husky when she spoke. “Mason…”To her surprise, he started giving her a foot rub.Raising his eyes, he stared at her profoundly. A moment later, he wiped her feet dry and held them to his chest. Holding them firm, he put on socks for her as he admired the pair of fair feet before him. It felt as if they were calling out to him seductively. She bit her lips in response. Raising his eyes again, he looked at her and said ever so softly, “Are you turned on?”There wasn’t anybody around them, but that didn’t stop her from feeling embarrassed. She kicked him lightly and said, “Let my feet go! Stop acting like a pervert in my hou
Zoe rested her gaze on his feet. After a brief moment, she said softly, “It’s snowing out here. So, it’s probably not a good idea for you to drive by yourself. I’ll ask my chauffeur to give you a ride home instead.”He stared right into her eyes and asked, “Are you concerned about me?”Mason had the advantage of being handsome. Top that off with the naked lust in his eyes, no lady in the world could say no to him. Zoe was no exception to that rule. However, she put on a blank face and said, “I’m worried that you might get into a car crash. Stop flattering yourself, Mason.”With that said, he knew better than anyone if he was flattering himself or if it was just plain truth. Zoe loved him.He didn’t waste another second with words. Instead, he pulled her right into the car and held her tight in his arms. A thud could be heard as he closed the car door lightly.The snowflakes continued to dance in the air.It was warm and cozy in the car. The cramped space was filled with t
Mason was pissed off now. He snorted and said, “Guess what? I’m always chock full of lust.”Putting on the coat, she got out of the car. Holding the car door, she looked at his dashing features and said purposefully, “You're a sexual deviant! You’d better get it checked!”Then, she called her chauffeur to come over. She trained her gaze on him while they waited and he didn’t try to drive away either. In fact, he was merely toying with her earlier. Deep down, he respected her very much. Once her chauffeur came over, he moved over to the passenger seat and said to Zoe, who was standing outside, “Happy New Year, Zoe!”Giving him a sidelong glance, she turned and left. However, the moment she turned around, she felt as if somewhere deep in the far corner her heart, which was also her most vulnerable part, had crumbled. Mia saw her coming in and asked, “Did the chauffeur send him home?”The thought of what happened earlier made her feel shameful. So, she responded softly, “Y
Lisa knew that Zoe would never forgive her for the rest of her life. With that said, she knew that Zoe was merciful enough towards her for not sending her to prison. Perhaps it was because they used to have some sort of connection in her teenage years.It was the middle of the night and Lisa cried her lungs out in the black limousine.Mason was standing on the steps and looking at her car in silence. He could just guess that his mother was crying or weeping in there. However, he didn’t go over and try to soothe her. Instead, he walked back into his manor. Everyone had their own emotional baggage, but no one else could’ve helped her with it. She’d have to deal with it on her own terms.…It was the second day of the New Year. Mason decided he’d visit Westley because it seemed like his father was suffering from some health issues.He parked his car in front of the apartment, but he didn’t go upstairs with his gifts before he finished smoking a cigarette. He had bought the ap
Lila stared into his eyes. She was beautiful, but in a different way from Lisa, who looked more elegant while she was more free-spirited. She asked him, “Are you worried about Mason or my sister?”Westley didn’t manage to find his voice for a long time. “I’m afraid Mason has already…”She had loved him for the longest time, but she had never confessed to him. Now that he had gone ahead and said half of it, she decided she’d just come out and say it. “Are you trying to say Mason realized that I have a thing for you?”What she said spooked him real good. He was an honest man who adhered closely to the moral principles he held so dear to his heart. So, his mind was drawing a blank when Lila so flagrantly pushed him for an answer to her feelings. He ran the thought in his head for a long time before deciding to turn her down gently. “I’m a married man, for Heaven’s sake! More to the point, I’ve never thought of you that way, Lila. I’ve always seen you as nothing more than Lisa’s
In the end, however, Zoe still rejected him. She said, “We’re not at the point where we could watch a movie together! Stop asking me out!”He asked, “Well, then. What are we to each other now?”Refusing to answer the question, she hung up on him. Only then did she realize her burning face and feel deeply embarrassed. After all, they had just done some unspeakable things in his car last night. It was afternoon and the sun was shining brightly.Leaning on the couch on the second floor, she read her book cozily while Yanni and Jamie played next to her. About half an hour later, she heard the sound of a car pulling into her yard. She didn’t pay it any mind. Moments later, her servant, Paloma, knocked on the study door before coming in. “Mr. Mason’s here, Ms. Zoe. He said he’s here to hang out with the kids. What should I do?”Before Zoe could say anything, Yanni gasped and cried out happily, “Dad’s here!”Not only did she race downstairs, but she also carried Jamie with her.
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
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