Holly’s voice almost melted his heart. Archibald was about to get out of the car, pat on the little girl’s head, and give her some pocket money. Little did he know that Gwynn would carry her daughter up swiftly and get into her car once her bodyguard opened the car door.The door swung closed, obscuring the old man’s vision. He grew somber. “She hates my guts! Does Noah really matter that much to her? Has she forgotten the kind of pain he put her through? I don’t get it. She lost her good sense as soon as she fell in love with someone, much like Talia did.”Saul simply remained quiet. …Holly cupped her mom’s hand when they were in the car. “Don’t cry, Mommy.”Gwynn didn’t want her little girl to worry about her. So, she forced a smile, held Holly, and kissed her. “I’m not crying! It must’ve been dust or something.”“Oh,” Holly responded. The moment she got back home, she told her dad about it. “Mommy cried, Daddy.”It was the middle of the night. Once Gwynn put her kid
Both Noah and Archibald remained quiet on the phone. After about a minute, the old man hung up. He was too prideful to plead with Noah to show Anderson mercy. Meanwhile, Noah tossed his phone aside casually. After the phone call, he had sobered up quite significantly. On the other hand, Gwynn was on her knees on the ground, her face filled with shock.She could never imagine that Anderson would be involved in a bribery scandal that was worth up to a hundred million dollars. Her guts were telling her that Noah set him up. Raising her head, she looked at him, but she didn’t ask about it. On the contrary, Noah was the one who came clean. “His mistress, Ayanna, and the bribery case were my doing. I hold Anderson’s fate in my hand, and yet Archibald still doesn’t want to yield.”She was stunned. He pulled her into his arms. “Are you afraid of me?”She shook her head gently. Pressing her head down on his chest, he explained softly, “Archibald’s standing runs deep, and his po
What Ayanna said shocked all the Templetons to the core. Archibald was beside himself with rage.How could Anderson have messed it up so much and knocked up a tramp? That was it. Ayanna and her baby couldn’t be allowed to live. He made a snap decision and gave Saul a look. Saul sighed internally. Talia was still gripped by the initial shock. She murmured to herself, “I can’t believe it. He actually impregnated his mistress…”Meanwhile, Marisol recovered from the shock and knew what the old man was going to do. She pleaded with him fearfully, “Please spare her, Dad! We’re talking about a couple of human lives here. Think of it as doing a good deed for Anderson’s sake!“If you hadn’t stubbornly insisted on sending Gwynn away, he wouldn’t have become what he is today!”“A couple of human lives? Good deed?” Archibald roared. “Me? Stubborn?”…Archibald sneered. “Are you trying to pin the blame on me? I’m trying to save your son from damnation, for Heaven’s sake! This lady and
About half an hour later, the bedroom door swung open again. Gwynn was clearly troubled when she came in. Resting his head on both of his hands, he asked, “What’s the problem?”She made her way to the side of the bed, sat down, and stared at him. She didn’t speak until after a brief moment. “Ayanna is pregnant with Anderson’s baby!”He clicked his tongue and snorted. “I can’t believe they developed real feelings for each other!”She asked, troubled, “You’re not going to do something to the baby, are you?”He couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Pinching her cheeks, he said tenderly, “Why would I? It’s not my baby. There’s no reason I’m in a hurry to abort it! Moreover, Archibald also decided to spare them.”Then, he mulled it over and said, “I’ll talk to Kim first thing in the morning. She’ll arrange for Ayanna to fly out of Zutriystein. I don’t want to keep a ticking time bomb by my side.”She stared at him with unblinking eyes. It was a poor time to talk about this, but
Gwynn knew just who he was talking about. It was true that she had moved on from the past. However, it was never pleasant to think about it nonetheless. With that in mind, how was she supposed to be in the mood to be making love with him now?She pushed against his chest and stopped him from doing it. Leaning on his shoulder, she spoke in a husky, delicate voice. “I guess I’ll meet her downstairs!”He caressed her waist in response. In the end, however, he let her go gently.She straightened herself up a little and headed downstairs. Gladys walked with her and encouraged her. “You don’t have to be scared at all, Ms. Gwynn! She hasn’t had any power or sway for a long time. She might’ve come here, but she poses no threat to you anymore. Mr. Noah wasn’t even interested in meeting her!”Gwynn chuckled dryly. “It’s not like she’s asking to see Noah, though.”Gladys rubbed her head and responded, “I guess you’re right!”Gianna was holding a small briefcase in the first-floor livi
“I want my mom to keep living!”…Anderson asked her with a blank face, “Did Noah pay you?”Ayanna’s lips trembled lightly. She might not have said anything, but the answer was plain as day. So, he dropped the matter altogether. There was no need for that, after all. Instead, he asked her another question. “We’ve been together for so long. Don’t you have any feelings for me?” “None whatsoever!” she responded quickly. “It’s all business! I never loved you at all! Love is reserved for only the rich and powerful. Common people like me don’t even have the right to choose who we love.“I’ve never had any feelings for you. Not even once. I’ve never wasted a second of my life loving you.” With that, she rose as he stared at her.Then, she headed toward the door decisively. She was still gripping the eighty million dollar check as well as the expensive jewelry. However, tears were glinting in her eyes… Alas, how was she supposed to not have any feelings for him?They had spent ma
Kim leaned in close and asked, “What’s the matter, Mr. Noah?”He showed her the document. “Our country’s diplomat struck a deal with Neopolis. They’re going to hold an exhibition for Van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’ in Brookesville for a week. It’s a commercial exhibition, so they’re appointing us for the security.”Then, he lowered his head and lit his cigarette.Stunned, she said, “You just said that Ms. Gwynn won’t let you smoke in the villa, Mr. Noah.”His eyes were intense when he said, “This is different!”He added, “Coming back to this, I’m certain that Archibald got us this task. He’s going to tear my company a new one if the painting goes missing or is damaged in any way. In fact, he might even set up a special investigation team and plant them in the company, the same way he did last time.”Kim felt a little nervous now. “Are you thinking about rejecting them, Mr. Noah?”Gripping the document, he said, “How am I supposed to reject it when the government signed off on it?
Holly kissed him in response. Then, they arrived at the art studio on the third floor. Noah pushed the door open a crack and showed her what was inside. The yellowish glow spilled out the door. It was the middle of the night, but Gwynn was still working on a painting. Instead of wearing a luxurious dress, she wore a cotton shirt and tied her hair, which was hanging over her shoulder now.She looked very beautiful when she was focused on work. Holly was the one who said she missed her mom, but he was the one who was engrossed in the sight. He stood outside the door and admired how serene and beautiful she was. It felt as if he was seeing her for the first time. His chest swelled with pride as he looked at her. The wind rushed in through the window and tousled his black hair. Worried that his little girl might catch a cold, he carried her downstairs.Then, he worked at his desk while Holly leaned on his knees, much like the way a cat would. She was such a good little girl.
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