I had my dinner in my bedroom, because the kitchen and dining room still reeked of the horrible soup. The food was extremely bland, and I had no appetite to eat it. Zach returned to Gordon Corporation in the afternoon. He had a social engagement at night, so he would come home late. Sophie brought me a bottle of hot sauce. I had no other place to hide it, so I locked it in the safe. Usually, I did not pay attention to passwords. Every time I wanted to open the safe, I would need to spend some time thinking about it. This time, I had it memorized. When I took the hot sauce out of the safe, I treated it like some rare artifact from thousands of years ago. Sophie’s personal chef made it. There were no added preservatives, and it was extremely delicious. I could eat anything with it. While I was eating happily, I heard Zach’s car as it pulled up the driveway. I dashed to the window to take a look. Sure enough, it was Zach. I quickly put the hot sauce back in the safe. I bet I
After that initial shock, I decided to sunbathe in the garden. I had not been this relaxed in years. I was almost bored out of my mind. I rested on the lounge chair, and I could see Cecilia’s mansion from this angle. She was on the phone in her living room, and she was swaying side by side like a mad woman. It was as if she had a lot of phone calls to make. I did not know whom she was calling. She looked very anxious, so I did not think that she was calling Zach. I gave Hailey a call out of boredom to ask about the company. “Everything is fine, Ms. Freeman. You should rest well. Mr. Gordon is around, so there’s nothing to worry about,” Hailey said. She was right. Zach was extremely capable. He had taken good care of the few subsidiaries under Gordon Corporation, so it would be no different with our company. Before I ended the call, Hailey asked, “Oh right, Ms. Freeman, Mr. Gordon is going to sign an agreement with Jade Trading this afternoon.” “Is it going to happen in th
“Save that for later. I have to get there now, or else, they’ll sign the contract without me.”I rushed to the restaurant. As soon as I walked in, I saw Zach talking with a middle-aged man at a table by the window. There was a folder on the table, probably with the contract inside.I made it just in time. They had not put down their signatures.I headed straight for them. The waiter recognized me and quickly came over. “Ms. Freeman, will you—”“Give me a cup of black tea. No coffee today.”“Okay. What about the tiramisu?”“Hold off on that for now.”I approached the table, and Zach looked up when he heard my voice. He was surprised to see me, but he still stood up and pulled out a chair for me.He was a natural gentleman. Such actions came so naturally to him that he did them without thinking. Even if he did not want to, his habits took over.I smiled and nodded at the middle-aged man. I knew him. He was Henry Gaber, vice president of Wilson Corporation.His presence could on
I knew that I was not being classy. I came all the way just to stop Zach from helping Wilson Corporation.However, I did not care how Zach saw me. He was not honest either.As he walked toward the restaurant door, I caught up to him and grabbed his wrist. “Are you angry?”“No,” he said, but his body told a different story.He pulled my hand off his wrist. Even though it was autumn, the sun was blazing today. It hit me directly and made me feel lightheaded.When Zach stood in the sun, I could hardly see him, even when I squinted.We had worked together for three years without ever fighting. This was the first time.I was a bit unsteady on my feet, so I held onto the corner of his coat. He just calmly observed me.As business partners, we got along well. He was smart and decisive, while I was quick-witted. We trusted each other and had agreed from the start that either of us could make major decisions for the company.However, everything changed after Cecilia came back.He chan
I saw myself as witty, cute, and funny. But once, Sophie told me that men did not care about women being funny.Men wanted women to be gentle, cute, and affectionate. Men did not look for qualities like cheerfulness, humor, or honesty, which women often valued.Hence, more women put on a pure and innocent front. According to Sophie, this was like a demand chain. Men had certain preferences, so women changed themselves to fit those preferences.I looked at the back of Zach’s head and wanted to ask if he felt the same way. But honestly, I did not have to. I already knew that his answer would be yes.He stopped at the coffee shop’s entrance and helped me out of the car.However, he only held on to the sleeve of my top. He did not even touch my skin.I could not stop myself from saying, “I don’t have a contagious disease. You don’t need to worry about catching anything.”He did not come inside with me, and I did not plan to invite him either. He was busy with helping Wilson Corporat
“Mrs. Wilson?” When I heard how surprised Sophie sounded, I turned around and saw Cecilia’s mother walking in.The first thing I did was push the caramel macchiato away and sink back into the couch.Then, I heard Mrs. Wilson’s voice. “Sophie, I heard that Cassia’s here.”“Oh,” Sophie quickly responded. “Yes, she just arrived. She came here to rest after work because her stomach hurts.”I pretended to sit up and said, “Mrs. Wilson.”She walked over and quickly signaled me to stop. “Don’t move. Just stay where you are.”I stayed half-reclined on the couch while she sat opposite me. She then placed a paper bag on the coffee table and pushed it toward me.“This is good for your stomach. It’s a special remedy,” Mrs. Wilson said mysteriously. “I had to beg the chef for it.”I did not know what was inside, but I thanked her anyway, “Thanks, Mrs. Wilson. I appreciate it.”“Oh, don’t mention it. I’ve watched you all grow up. I just don’t understand why this is happening to you,” Mrs. W
Thankfully, it was not what I had thought. Mrs. Wilson had handed me a share transfer agreement instead of a divorce agreement.I quickly skimmed through the papers. It was an agreement to transfer Zach’s 50% share of our company to Cecilia.Sophie had told me about this when I was in Iceland, but I never took it seriously. I did not think it would happen, but it actually did.Mrs. Wilson kindly handed me a pen. She even uncapped it and put it in my hand.“Zach didn’t need your approval to transfer his shares to Cecilia since it doesn’t affect you. However, the lawyer suggested getting your signature because you’re the co-owner.”I tried to steady my hand as I held the pen.“Why didn’t Zach talk to me about this?”“How could he bring it up?” Mrs. Wilson said considerately. “It’s awkward for him to tell you that he’s giving Cecilia shares from the company you both built. But he’s already signed. Look.” She pointed at the last page, where Zach’s signature was.I recognized his ha
It was highly possible that Mrs. Wilson knew Cecilia was faking her illness. She did not seem sad at all.Her reaction was completely different from my mom’s when she learned about my illness.Ever since I started pretending to be sick, my mom had not visited me. She called every day but avoided talking about my illness and sounded extremely worried. I could not bear to hear her voice.That was how a mother would normally react.The look in Sophie’s eyes told me that she felt the same way as I did.The agreement was still on the table in the coffee shop. Sophie threw it in the trash, but after some thought, I decided to take it back out.“Don’t tell me you’re thinking about signing it.”“I need to talk to Zach about it face-to-face.”“You’re right.”This day had been so frustrating. I needed a good meal to feel better.So, Sophie and I went for buffalo wings. It was the first time I had to be sneaky to get them.We secretly booked a private room. I wore sunglasses and a
“When did your head get so square?” I looked at the metal block for a while, but I could not see how it resembled Sophie.“This robot doesn’t have to look like me. The important part is its core. It can follow my commands, and Kingston said he’ll add my voice to it later.”“What can it do? A two-hundred-dollar smart box can already do things like turn lights on and off or flush the toilet.”“Tch, this is different. Apart from following my commands, it can also read my emotions. It’ll then play the appropriate music to improve my mood.”That sounded interesting. “It should be a mood helper instead of a robot.”“Kingston also mentioned that it has a special function if I get really upset.”“Will it explode into fireworks?”“Tch.” She rolled her eyes and hugged the robot. “I don’t know. He didn’t say.”Sophie seemed to like the gift.However, Kingston did not really give it to her because she was fond of it. He just happened to study this stuff.I was incredibly tired, so I turn
“I think it’s great that he has his own principles. A lot of people today don’t have any,” Sophie interjected.It was time to change the subject. Everyone had their own views on such things anyway.“Let’s toast to those with principles,” I said to Rachel.She raised her juice cup in response. “Cheers!”“Alright, cheers.” Oscar and Ellie smiled as they clinked glasses with us.We finished eating, and Sophie had two glasses of wine. I did not allow her to have more. Kingston finally returned as well.He was not full, so he ate the leftovers.Sophie asked him how things went, and he looked up in confusion. “The head of the company whose tech was stolen came too. He claimed that it wasn’t their tech, but they’re working on something similar. He kept promoting it.”“What happened after that?”“Nothing. The police just let those two individuals go.” Kingston shook his head and went back to eating.The whole thing seemed strange. I thought about it, but I could not put my finger on
After a while, Kingston came downstairs. He looked upset, so Sophie asked, “What’s wrong?”“Two people visited the company today to discuss a deal. They offered a high price,” Kingston said.“Isn’t that good?”“At first, I thought so too. But as we talked, something felt off. They brought some tech for the collaboration, but I realized that another company had just created it. They might have stolen it.”“How can they steal someone else’s stuff?”“There are lots of ways.” Kingston peeled an orange and gave half to Sophie before eating the rest himself. “I turned them down, but they kept trying to rope me in.”“Would that tech be useful to you?” I asked.“Of course. It would save us at least a month of work.”Sophie’s eyes lit up as she looked at him. Just then, Ellie brought over a plate of fruit and teased, “Kingston’s too stubborn. If he were a bit more flexible, he’d be super successful by now.”“A gentleman earns money the right way.” Kingston’s stubbornness was somehow
Actually, Oscar did some of the cooking too. He was wearing a blue and white checkered apron, on which Ellie had tied a bow. He looked more adorable than he usually did in the office.We gave him our gifts, and Rachel handed him a lollipop. “This is made with xylitol. It won’t give you diabetes.”Oscar and Ellie laughed so hard that they could barely open their eyes. Ellie kept saying, “Wow, this little girl is so pretty.”“This must be Mr. Quinlan’s child,” Oscar said.“Yeah. She’s staying with me for a while.” I then told Sophie to help Rachel with washing her hands. Ellie was already asking the housekeeper to bring us some snacks and fruits. Oscar invited me to have a seat. “Cassia, I finally understand why your dad values you so much. You’re not only skillful, but you’re also charming. Even the little ones like you.”I was flattered by his compliments.After that, he made his way back to the kitchen. “Cassia, Sophie, have some fruit. I’ll make a few of my signature dishes f
Zach greeted Oliver, but I had to give him a kick. Only then did he stand up and nod at Zach. “Hi.”After that, he sat back down.The Freeman family had viewed Zach as the enemy for a while. But recently, things had gotten better. After Gordon Corporation started working with our company, Sophie saw Zach more often. As such, her attitude toward him was not as hostile as before.“I brought some clients here for breakfast. They’ve never had an authentic American breakfast,” Zach added.“The food here is good. You made the right decision in bringing them here.”“Alright, enjoy your meal.” He was about to leave, but I remembered something. “Your thermos… I figured that you wouldn’t mind, so I gave it to Mrs. Gibson. Also, I didn’t drink your soup. Don’t send any more next time. All that grease just clogs up the drain.”He just smiled and returned to his table.“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” Sophie said between bites. “Zach seems to be treating you the same way he treated Cecilia back then. He’s b
It was rare for Mrs. Gibson to praise Zach. Anyway, I handed her the thermos. “Pour it out. If he brings soup again, don’t accept it.”“It’s such good soup. What a waste!”“Don’t give it to Bob. It’s too greasy for a dog, and it might upset its stomach. If you’re fine with it, you can have it. Otherwise, just pour it out.”It was not that I did not appreciate Zach’s kindness. But I had already told him that it was pointless.Whether he made it for me or the babies, it would not change anything.He claimed that it was something he wanted to do, but I had made my opinions clear. Eventually, Sophie picked out a gift. She brought down a big vase and smiled brightly. “I’ll wrap it up nicely later. It’ll look really classy.”Mrs. Gibson got excited when she saw the vase. “Do you like it, Ms. Freeman? I have two more in my room. Would you like one?”Sophie froze. “You have more? Cassia, is your family that rich? Isn’t this an antique?”“Well, it looks like one. The ceramic store beh
After I got pregnant, I somehow became popular; everyone wanted to date me.I watched as Cameron and Mr. Pepper drove away. When I turned around, I was startled to see Sophie behind me. She was holding Rachel’s hand, and they were both wearing SpongeBob pajamas. They looked like two little girls in kindergarten.“Why are you sneaking up on me? Are you trying to scare me?” I clutched my chest.“You haven’t done anything wrong, so why are you scared?” Sophie picked Rachel up. “Is Cameron gone?”“Yeah.”“What did he mean by ‘second in line?’”I shot her a look. “Help Rachel with her bath. Stop asking so many questions.”It was Oscar’s birthday today, and he had invited us to dinner. It would be a casual gathering.I decided to take Rachel out for breakfast and buy a gift for him at the mall.Older men were easy to gift. Ties, belts, and wallets were suitable, but I wanted something more unique. So, I thought about what Oscar would like.I wandered around the study and noticed my
Wearing Cameron’s coat, I walked through a bamboo grove with him. It felt pretty creepy at night, as there were no gaps between the bamboo trees. They created weird shadows when the wind blew, and it felt like something would jump out at any moment.Suddenly, Cameron wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer to him.He had confessed his feelings for me several times. Any other woman would have probably been over the moon.This morning, a billionaire heir had made soup for me, and at night, a rich tycoon was giving me his coat. My luck with men this year was crazy.I stopped and looked up at him. Just as he leaned in, I quickly moved away.“Cameron, I may have divorced Zach and broken up with Hayden. Even so, I still won’t consider being with you.”He looked at me dejectedly. The shadows of the bamboo were reflected in his eyes.“Am I really that bad?” He was a bit upset.“Don’t think so little of yourself. You’re still a catch to a lot of women.”“Can you at lea
It was incredibly hard to find men who could resist such temptations. But there were some exceptions like Zach, who had been through a lot. Thanks to my investigation on Kingston, I knew about his good character. However, I never expected him to be this good. I felt happier as I thought about it. As a result, I was smiling from ear to ear. I patted Sophie and said, “Finally, a good man! Sophie, you need to hold on to him.” She was just about to speak when Kingston called her. It was probably because she had ended the call on a weird note. Kingston might be a little confused. Sophie answered, and I looked out the window. I was trying not to eavesdrop on their conversation. After we reached home, Kingston called again. Sophie spoke with him briefly before she told me, “He’s actually downstairs. I’m heading out for a while.”“Oh, go ahead!” Sophie then dashed out the door. I leaned against the glass door as I watched her leave. I felt that this time, things might really w