A black Rolls-Royce pulled over at an apartment in one of the upscale neighborhoods in Brookesville. Noah didn’t get out of the car immediately. Instead, he took his time and smoked a cigarette first. He was recalling how Gwynn had held onto his feet and spoke to him in a trembling voice, begging him to let her go with Lorian in her arms.She wanted to give Lorian to Liam. Failing that, she wanted to give up their son to Zoe and Mason. The point was that she didn’t want him to raise Lorian. Perhaps, all he was to her was a scumbag!Wisps of grey smoke rose in the air. He waited until the smoke dissipated before he got out of the car.…With a burdened mind, he skipped the elevator altogether and climbed the stairs all the way to the twenty-second floor. Finally, he stood before her apartment and rang the doorbell. Moments later, Gianna came over and opened the door. Obviously, she dressed to impress, as evidenced by her delicate makeup and her provocative sleeping gown. Lea
Noah’s heart sank and his face grew grim. After some time, Gianna came to her senses. Flicking her long hair, she said coldly, “This isn’t fair! Why do I have to be kept in the dark and be your mistress? Why should I marry someone I don’t even love? You have no idea how much I sacrificed for you, Noah!”Her painful memories flooded her in a gut-wrenching instant, tormenting her.He had no idea what she went through. Back then, his business had just taken off. All he could care about was how much it expanded every day and if it was getting closer to being listed. He wasn’t concerned with how much liquor she had drunk with the benefactors and how many times she had thrown up because of it.Then, he found success and brought his business to a whole new level. A wild man like him, who played the field, was inexplicably confessing to a young Gwynn like a common schoolboy. He took Gwynn on night strolls and actually didn’t lay a finger on her even once before they got married. For Hea
Noah’s back was covered with sweat. Then, all of the yelling around him faded into the background until there was nothing. It felt as if he had traveled back in time. He was standing in the chapel in Silvercrest again. It was a magical day. Dressed in a wedding gown, Gwynn was holding a bouquet, waiting for him before the altar. His leather shoes made crisp, clear clacks on the pristine chapel floor. White doves flapped their wings gracefully and took to the skies, careful to not lose a single feather. A divine hymn filled the chapel as the chorus sang to usher in their holy marriage. Slipping a wedding ring onto her finger, he met her gaze and listened to her melodious voice as she spoke through the veil. “We’re married, Noah! Promise me you’ll love me forever and ever.”Why did she say something like this?It was because she got married to him in secret and Liam would have killed her if he found out about it. Noah was all she had now!…People banged on his car window
Staring at him in profile, Zoe said softly, “Let it go, Noah! Dad wouldn’t want us to live a life full of hatred. I believe he’d want us to be happy.”A breeze blew past them gently. His carefully combed hair was tousled a little, seemingly dialing the clock back on him. He looked like a twenty-odd-year-old man, reminiscent of the elegance and gentlemanly grace he had back then.Wearing a white shirt underneath the glow of the evening sun, he looked absolutely stunning. Keeping his hand on the doorknob, he lowered his gaze and said, “Happy? Do you want to know something, Zoe? It’s impossible for Gwynn and I to start over!”If he could turn back time and figure out his own thoughts and feelings earlier, then he would’ve turned Gianna away at Nihonburg before the New Year. He might’ve stood a chance with Gwynn then. Now, however, he was sure Gwynn would never fall in love with him again! What went on between him and Gianna had made her sick through and through. She thought o
Gwynn was unperturbed as if nothing had happened. His fingers twitched at the thought of it. He wanted to give her a call and listen to her voice. However, he was experiencing a similar fear as a soldier coming home after a long war.He was scared that he didn’t belong.He didn’t grab his car keys and drove home until one in the morning. He was mildly surprised to find that a servant waited for him when he returned home. She welcomed him and said in a hushed voice. “Ms. Gwynn sat in the study by herself ever since what happened in the afternoon.”After a brief moment’s quiet, he asked, “Did she have dinner?”“Why wouldn’t she?” The servant sighed lightly and continued, “Today’s Lorian’s birthday. Ms. Gwynn might’ve been disheartened to see what was on the internet, but she took a few bites of his birthday cake nonetheless. I’m telling you, Mr. Noah, she really loves her little boy.”He nodded and said that he knew what she was getting at. Climbing the stairs, he went straight
Noah, however, made sure he got home every night. He no longer forced Gwynn to sleep with him. Sometimes, he’d even sleep in the study. He was sure that he’d wear her down over time. After all, Lorian was the glue that held them together!It didn’t hurt that he treated his son nicely. He did love that little rascal from the bottom of his heart. Half a month later, her health deteriorated more and she started to throw up blood in the mornings.Still, she didn't seek treatment for it. She had given up on her life. It was evening when she sat in the yard, enjoying the evening breeze. She looked so scrawny underneath the fading light from the sky that there was a layer of fragility added to her grace. Gladys came over and put a small blanket over her, speaking softly, “Gianna’s here again! She said she wasn’t going to leave until she saw you. I’m going to send her away right now.”Gwynn was a little stunned. This had to be the third time she came!She coughed intensely before s
Aware that Noah was ruthless, Gianna put her pride aside and started pleading with him. “Please, Noah. Think about what we meant to each other in the past. Give me something. I can’t even find a job if you don’t let up.”At the next moment, she cried out desperately, “He broke up with me because his family forced him to! I have nothing left!”Noah didn't relent.Instead, he asked, “Don’t you think you had it coming? You begged me for mercy but did you ever pause to think about the repercussions of your actions?”Standing in the evening sun, he took a drag of his cigarette. He might’ve looked elegant, but, at that moment, he was cold and distant. He looked like he had never loved her to begin with. Wisps of smoke rose in the air slowly and scattered to the winds. His voice was cold and hollow. “Get out of Brookesville and never come back, ever.”Gianna couldn’t help but take a step back.She couldn’t believe what she had just heard. She sobbed and said, “Are you seriously going
Noah soothed his son, lowered his head, and asked her, “What are we to each other, Gwynn?”“A jailer and a prisoner.” Her voice was hollow. “I’m not your wife, Noah. I’m your prisoner!”Another gust of night breeze blew past him, sending chills down his spine. …Noah ended up sleeping in the study that night. He had a dream in which Gwynn left, taking Lorian with her. She also took away every scarf and cashmere sweater she had made with her, leaving the bedroom empty except for a veil, which was flowing in the air quietly. “Gwynn!”He jolted awake and beads of cold sweat rolled down his back. Opening his eyes, he saw that the sky was still dark outside. Then, he checked the time and realized it was only three in the morning. He was too overwrought to go back to sleep. So, he got out of bed, opened the door, and walked straight toward the master bedroom across the hallway. The door to the bedroom was ajar, a glow of light seeping through.To his surprise, Gwynn was sitting
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
Zion could sense Gwen’s cautiousness and chuckled softly. Then, he cupped her face and planted a firm kiss on her lips. “Don’t worry, I won’t touch you. We agreed to save that for our wedding night. Besides, I just drank last night, so I probably wouldn’t be much use. I want your first time to be special, so I’ll make sure I’m well-prepared.” Gwen’s cheeks turned crimson. She buried her face in his chest, mumbling, “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” How peculiar! Back then, even though they were together, their relationship had always been proper and restrained. But now, here they were, sharing a bed, their bodies so intimately close it was both thrilling and embarrassing. Gwen had never experienced this before. Zion seemed to understand her thoughts. He leaned in close to her ear and whispered, “I haven’t either. Before the wedding night, I’ll make sure to study hard.” Gwen didn’t dare ask how he planned to “study,” though she had a pretty good idea—i
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