Noah dreamed up a lot of possibilities for his future. It wasn’t just the good stuff, though. He also thought about what he’d do if his future turned out to be a tragic one. Should his health deteriorate to the point that death was inevitable, he’d apologize to Gwynn when he was on his deathbed. He’d say “I’m sorry, Gwynn. I’m sorry for throwing a wrench in your otherwise peaceful, happy life.”Then, he heard footsteps behind him. It was Gwynn, coming out of the kitchen. Looking at him, she said softly, “The porridge is simmering in the pot. Try to feed Holly the eggs while they’re still fresh. Also, I made a couple of omelets and some pasta… Gladys is going to be gone for a while. You should really look into hiring another servant.”He turned around and looked at her. “I’ll have Kim look into it! Join me for breakfast. You can leave after that.”She declined. She said softly, “Lorian is still in the villa. I’m worried about him.”Then, she glanced at the bedroom. She was rel
At the next moment, Gwynn approached the study. The door to the study was wide open. She heard a crash followed by Archibald’s roar, “You’re going to study abroad or get married. I want you to pick one of them right now!”She wasn’t sure what Anderson’s response was. All she knew was that her dad grew even more furious at the next moment. “Do you honestly feel proud of yourself? You’ve gone ahead and disgraced the Templeton family as well as our ancestors! We hired a lot of widely respected and virtuous teachers to teach you about critical thinking and high moral values.“What have you been learning this whole time? Tell me. When did you start having these feelings? I want an answer, now!”“I’ve always had these feelings for her!” A streak of blood rolled down the side of Anderson’s forehead. Even so, he looked absolutely fearless. He even said boldly, “I’ve loved Gwynn since the day I met her, and I’ve never stopped!”“Stop it! I don’t want to hear another word out of you, you
Gwynn said faintly, “I’ll move out of the villa and go overseas in three days, Dad!”Archibald was startled. Even Marisol was stunned, but she came back to her senses quickly. Grabbing Gwynn’s arm, she said softly, “Things aren’t as bad as it seems! Let me just put in a word with Dad. Alright?”Gwynn shook her head ever so slowly. The old man put his hands behind him and faced a bookshelf lined with books written by philosophers. She walked toward him. Her tone was still delicate and serene. She said, “I have no idea how long I’ll be away! So, you have to take good care of yourself, Dad.”Back when she first came into this family, she was wracked with nerves. Now, however, she felt at peace with what she had to do. Her dad needed her to do this, so she would do it, no questions asked. This choice was going to benefit everyone. That way, Anderson wouldn’t have to go on blind dates and her dad wouldn’t have to worry about his grandson doing something wrong every single day.A
A shooting star streaked across the night sky.There was a hint of uncertainty in Noah’s stunning face. Holly, who was in his arms, held his hands and nibbled on his firm muscles. Then, she looked at him pitifully and said, “I’m hungry, Dad…”Lowering his eyes, he looked at her. He brushed her cheeks gently. “Alright. I’m going to get you some food.”…The diner next door was open for business all day long. It specialized in making soups. A Silvercrestian owned it, so the food tasted very authentic and delicious. Holly loved it so much that she finished an entire bowl. Leaning on Noah’s arm, she drifted off to sleep with a warm belly. However, she still missed her mother. From time to time, she’d mumble in her sleep. “Mommy. Mommy.”Noah soothed her while he directed his gaze outside. He tried calling Gwynn, but her phone was switched off. Worried that she might’ve gotten into some sort of accident, he went to the Templeton villa after midnight. However, the Templeton serv
“Unreasonable and obstinate?”Archibald sat beneath the light and looked at his only son, his face filled with bitterness and gloom.Rising, he walked out of the study. Moments later, his deep voice traveled into the study. “Didn’t you say I was unreasonable and obstinate, Anders? Well, you’re going to follow me and take a look at your precious son. “I want you to see how twisted he has become! Let’s see how you react when you find out about his appalling confession!”Anders felt a chill down his spine. At that moment, he recalled how Marisol had wept every day for the past few days. There were also doctors visiting their villa now, including a nutritionist and the most reputable psychiatrist in Brookesville. Both of them met Anderson every day. Ironically, he hadn’t even see his son all this while. Archibald opened the door to his grandson’s bedroom. Anderson was lying on the bed. He was much skinnier than before. A couple of warm, friendly doctors were sitting by his sid
Noah wasn’t aware that Gwynn had left Brookesville. He’d go to the Inverleigh Restaurant and wait for her there for a couple of hours every day. He’d watch the evening sun and its orange rays until dusk consumed it all and blanketed the world with infinite darkness. Come hell or high water, he’d still wait for her. However, she had gone overseas. So, how was she supposed to meet with him there?As time went by, he started to think that she had regretted spending an intimate moment with him that night. She was avoiding him because she didn’t want to talk to him about their future. A month came and went. He started to wonder. Shouldn’t Gwynn at least have missed Holly?He had gone to the Templeton villa more than a couple of times. However, the Templetons were too high up for someone like him to reach. He couldn’t even see Archibald, Anders, or Marisol in person.…Summer was drawing to an end. Noah had pushed his liver to its limits. Zoe had to force him to go to Lockwoo
The streets were illuminated by numerous neon lights. The bars lining the lanes were livened up by a lady singer’s husky, melancholy voice, just as it always had.What was different now was that Gwynn and Lorian were no longer here. The street was teeming with people and bustling with chatter, but he was merely standing there by himself, feeling an immense sense of loss.Then, he saw Anderson. He was on a blind date with someone in a high-end restaurant. The lady was elegant and noble. She wasn’t anywhere near as astoundingly beautiful as Gwynn, but she did possess a certain charm and an exceptional gracefulness about her. Both of their parents seemed to be having a good time with each other too. Noah stood outside and watched him quietly. Anderson seemed enthusiastic, but his eyes were devoid of life. Something was very different about him. In the end, he resorted to waiting outside. He was waiting for them to come out of the restaurant. Anders and Marisol were startled
Holly had put twenty-six candles on the birthday cake. The sight of it stirred Noah’s heart. He thought that Holly would forget all about her mother when enough time passed. To his surprise, the little girl kept asking about her mother. She’d ask him where her mother had gone off to and when she was going to come back. After that, time flew by like an arrow. Days, months, even years slipped away. On Gwynn’s twenty-seventh birthday, he took Holly to Silvercrest for a leisure trip. On Gwynn’s twenty-eighth birthday, he bought an office tower for the Sanders Group, and bought back the old villas he used to share with her. It had been three years since she left Brookesville. It was the year when he had regained his former glory in terms of both personal and company wealth. He was in a place where he could compete with the Templetons again. In that same year, Anderson’s wife gave birth to twins. Noah attended the christening celebration party with Holly. He prepared wonderfu
In the presidential suite, the newlywed night was fiery, filled with affection and intimacy. The wedding banquet was still bustling with excitement.There was a special guest, who quietly arrived and hoped to leave just as quietly. He was afraid to disturb her mood and feared that if she saw him, she might not be pleased. However, despite his best efforts, they still crossed paths in the hallway.Gael stood quietly, watching Yanni. She had just taken Ella to the restroom, as she wasn’t comfortable leaving her alone. Besides Ella, there was another small girl with her, probably one of the twins she had with Keaton. The other twin was her brother.The twins were named Shay Bright and Drew Bright. Ella adored her younger siblings. Whenever she came home from school, she would always spend some time playing with them first. At night, she would sneak her little sister into her room and cuddle her to sleep, treating her like a little doll.At first, Yanni was quite worried, but she lat
In the early morning, the first rays of sunlight bathed the earth, signaling a joyous occasion at the Sanders family home. The youngest daughter of Noah and Gwynn was finally getting married. Even more delightful, she was marrying her childhood love. Dressed in a headpiece and red bridal gown, she was as beautiful as could be, the most stunning woman Zion had ever seen.The Quarto family was busy with preparations. Although they were not extremely wealthy, Jordyn was a capable family head with a good reputation. He handled both inside and outside affairs with finesse and charm. To everyone’s surprise, he got along very well with Mason.However, Noah had some reservations. “Don't you have any relatives of your own, Mason?”Mason didn’t engage with his criticism. Together with Zoe, they helped with the wedding arrangements. A traditional Chinese wedding was far more elaborate than a Western one, but thankfully, the families had enough help to avoid any chaotic moments.During the d
That night, Jamie and Paityn returned home with their daughter Carol. As soon as they arrived, Carol went to do her homework, while Paityn went to check on their youngest son, Colten Lockwood. The housekeeper was taking care of him and, upon hearing footsteps, turned her head and softly said, "Madam, you're back? He hasn't woken up at all, he's such a good boy."Paityn smiled lightly and signaled for the housekeeper to go downstairs and rest.When the door closed, she looked down at the sleeping Colten. The little one, only eight months old, resembled his father completely; almost like a miniature copy of Jamie. Even Carol, at times, would look at her brother’s face and marvel: "It’s really a masterpiece from God!"Jamie replied, "You even know what a masterpiece is?"Carol teased, "A husband’s looks are the wife’s glory!"Paityn quietly said to Jamie, “She must have seen a supermodel runway show."Jamie immediately asked, "Did she like it?"Paityn didn't answer, just smiled.
On the second floor, Gwen was trying on her wedding dress for tomorrow. Just as Zion had wished, it was a traditional Zutriysteinian wedding.The red wedding gown was crafted by the top artisans from Zutriystein, elegant and dignified. The headpiece she wore was adorned with wild pearls; each gem was carefully embedded, and the headpiece alone cost tens of millions. A substantial amount of money had been spent.The woman in the mirror was stunningly beautiful. Gwen gently touched her headpiece and muttered to herself, "Zion really doesn’t mind spending money on this little hobby of his."Gwynn, as a mother, patted her head. "This little girl really doesn’t know when to keep quiet, but luckily, she’s married well and is right here beside me..."She had given a generous wedding gift, exactly the same as when Holly got married. Like Holly, Gwen didn’t want any shares of the Sanders Group. The money that Zion earned was enough to support both of them and his small hobbies.Meanwhile
Ignacio said, "We can’t take care of both of you."Holly was at a loss for words.Lucius was at that lively age, but he was raised by his father and had good manners. When he saw Ocelotte, he respectfully greeted him, saying, "Second Uncle."Ocelotte patted his little head, thinking that the boy seemed sturdier than his own children, possibly because Molly was too fragile. He made a mental note to make sure Yeager got some extra nutrients when he went back.The black Rolls-Royce Phantom sped down the highway, getting them back to the Qiao family mansion before evening.The Sanders family’s sons had all moved out, leaving only Gwen still living at home. Holly, who rarely came back, was also staying at the house. She didn’t refuse, planning to stay for a few days before heading to Silvercrest to visit her biological parents and pay respects.The car pulled into the Sanders Residence, and the house was lit up brightly.In the courtyard parking area, luxury cars were parked everywhe
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