How strange—she was clearly just a harmless little rabbit, yet it seemed like everyone was trying to trip her up.But Annabelle couldn’t just leave in a huff, especially now that she held the title of "Mrs. Gregory." She decided to let them look—after all, she was curious to see if the fortune the old Taoist had predicted all those years ago would actually be true.So, with Aunt Emma’s guidance, Annabelle sat down, took the coins she was handed, and tossed them six times.Aunt Emma watched intently, and after the sixth toss, she paused for a moment before saying with a serious expression, "Annabelle, your fate is very unique, quite rare."Annabelle thought to herself, "A 'Heaven's Doom Star' is unique and rare, right?"Just then, Lydia, Marvin's mother, walked into the room from a nearby sitting area, just in time to hear Aunt Emma telling Annabelle's fortune.Lydia was quite into fortune-telling herself, and she wanted to know what kind of fate the girl her son had chosen had. If her
Annabelle was still wondering how to explain their flash marriage. Technically speaking, she was the one who proposed the deal—she’d help Kendrick treat his migraines, and in exchange, they got engaged. But later, when they went to get the marriage certificate and ended up turning fake into real, that wasn’t her scheming. That was all Kendrick’s little tricks. Just as Annabelle was feeling a bit awkward, Kendrick walked in with a smile and said, “I fell in love with Annabelle at first sight. I was the one who proposed.” He had just finished chatting with a few uncles when he overheard the lively discussion on this side of the room. Glancing over, he saw his little bunny sitting inside. He was puzzled about why she hadn’t gone back to their room, but then he heard Aunt Emma talking about Annabelle’s destiny and instantly understood the situation. She had probably been dragged into this by Aunt Emma, who had a particular hobby—fortune-telling. Gregoryessing that his little bun
When Annabelle was placed on the bed, she panicked and immediately warned, “Kendrick, don’t you dare! Your relatives and friends are still waiting for you outside, and I haven’t fully recovered yet!” Kendrick merely chuckled and said nothing. The red sweater was the first to be tossed onto the soft, clean carpet, soon followed by a few more garments keeping it company. As for their little owner, she was completely at his mercy—like fish on a chopping board, left to be devoured by the cunning old fox however he pleased. Though she repeatedly protested against his actions, the old fox remained unfazed. Instead, he teased, “Anna, you might as well be a little louder. That way, anyone who’s had their eyes on you will hear loud and clear that you’re mine and give up already.” Annabelle’s face instantly paled. “Doesn’t your house have good soundproofing?” She had been resisting and whimpering just now, not exactly quietly, and her heart was now pounding anxiously. “It’s not th
Annabelle blinked. She had only glanced at Marvin a little longer, hadn’t she?She then picked up some vinegar-braised fish and placed it on Kendrick's plate. "Here, darling, this is a dish you love."Kendrick raised an eyebrow. Hmm, little bunny is getting bold, teasing him in front of everyone?He leaned a little closer to her and whispered, “Actually, right now, I feel like eating a rabbit.” Then, he lightly scratched her palm, his tone flirtatious.Annabelle’s face immediately flushed red.At that moment, Marvin entered the dining room. Annabelle decided to ignore Kendrick and focus on him.Marvin greeted everyone at the table first. Before that, Lydia had already explained to the guests that Marvin had a high fever last night and had been resting in the morning, so he arrived late, and the guests understood.In the past, if Marvin had shown up after the meal had started, Grandfather Gregory would have scolded him severely. But since Marvin saved Annabelle the night before, Grandf
Kendrick chuckled. “I said it. No takebacks.”“Good.”Annabelle was willing to endure, so she held that fish bone in her throat until the meal was finished, without anyone noticing.After the meal, the guests didn’t rush to leave. Some went to the game room to play cards, some stayed in the living room to chat over tea, and others went to the garden to admire the fish and flowers.None of them needed to be attended to by Kendrick and Annabelle.So, Annabelle quickly walked ahead, while Kendrick leisurely followed behind. The two of them headed back to their little suite.Kendrick had already noticed her red eyes, as if she were about to devour him, and now she was rushing back to the room.He couldn’t help but feel a little excited. He wondered what his little woman was planning to do to him.Once inside, Kendrick sat obediently on the sofa and said, “Now that no one’s around, if Madam wants to hit me, punish me, or take advantage of me, feel free.”Annabelle swallowed hard. “Get me s
That evening, Annabelle fed Coco a can of venison, which served as its New Year’s feast. The venison had been sent by Jaime, top-quality and tasty. Coco enjoyed the meal so much that it made Annabelle hungry just watching.She hadn’t eaten enough for lunch, so she decided to make an early dinner. After feeding the cat, she went to the kitchen, only to find that Kendrick was already cooking.It seemed like he was making soup?Kendrick was usually busy, and it was rare for him to cook. Annabelle couldn’t help but stand at the door, watching him for a while.He was focused and meticulous, carefully preparing the ingredients. Everything was arranged neatly on the counter—freshly prepared ingredients placed in dishes, seasonings in small bowls, and the kitchen counter was spotless, nothing out of place.From the amount of food, it was clear he was preparing a meal for two.Seeing this man, who was making soup for her, Annabelle’s heart warmed. She suddenly felt that the usually serious and
Annabelle was a little surprised and asked Kendrick, “It’s already after eight, where are we going?”As he entered the wardrobe to change, Kendrick explained, “Seamus and Scott invited me. We usually meet up during the holidays, chat, drink a bit.”Speaking of drinking, Kendrick asked, “Madam, may I have one less drink tonight?”The formal “Madam” made Annabelle think of a general from a novel who always asked permission before drinking.Annabelle pressed her lips together. Since it was the holiday, she decided to let him indulge a little. Besides, the poison in his system had long been neutralized, so a couple of drinks wouldn’t hurt.“I’ll allow you to have a couple of drinks,” she said.“Thank you, Madam.”The two of them finished getting ready and were at the Stellar Bar in less than half an hour.Once they entered the lobby, Kendrick handed their coats to the attendants and led Annabelle upstairs.“Are there others here today?”Annabelle had already had her fill of family and fri
Annabelle had already discussed the piece with Seamus before performing. It was a famous French love song, with a lively melody perfect for the New Year. Seamus could sing it, and Annabelle could play it on the instrument. They instantly hit it off.At this moment, Annabelle wore a dress, a graceful outfit that complemented her gentle demeanor. Yet, she played a lively foreign song, blending Eastern and Western styles. Rather than clashing, the fusion gave an impression of artistic talent, as though she could master any instrument and any genre with her long fingers.In the audience, Kendrick's gaze grew deeper.Every time Annabelle performed, it captivated him. She always played with a smile, her gaze pure. When she looked at him, it felt like she wasn’t truly looking at him, but at a world only she could see—a beautiful, pristine world that no one could enter.This made Kendrick, who was always so certain, feel a bit of loss. Annabelle was his, but at the same time, not entirely his
Julissa blinked at Scott, her eyes twinkling like stars.Really? ~Well, that made sense. Considering who Scott was, any guy he introduced to her would undoubtedly be top-tier, a diamond bachelor.“But I’m a sucker for looks. As long as he’s handsome, I don’t mind if he’s a little broke. Oh, and you’ll have to clarify in the papers later that I’m not your girlfriend—I’m just your… assistant! Yeah, just say I’m your assistant.”Scott rubbed his temples. Was there any boss out there who gifted their assistant seven-figure dresses?Maybe. But he hadn’t reached that level of extravagance just yet.As for what exactly she meant to him, even he couldn’t quite define it.His expression darkened slightly as he said in a cold voice, “I’ll agree to that. Now, can you get out of the car?”Julissa glanced at the line of cars behind them—people were already waiting. Holding things up any longer wouldn’t be appropriate.Besides, she had just seen Annabelle go inside and was eager to meet up with he
Kendrick’s gaze met Ryan’s for a brief moment.Ryan smirked, his eyes cold.Kendrick narrowed his eyes slightly. Was Ryan attending the event as the new heir to the Whitney family, or was he here for something more sinister?But tonight was Mr. Duncan’s event. Would Ryan really dare to cause trouble?When Annabelle followed Kendrick’s gaze, the Bentley had already driven past the hotel entrance, heading toward the underground parking lot.Kendrick retracted his gaze and pulled Annabelle closer to his side. “Let’s go.”He wasn’t afraid of Ryan, but he instinctively wanted to protect her.On Ryan’s side, he had already instructed his assistant, Dereon, to park the car in the underground garage. He wasn’t planning to make a grand entrance through the red carpet anyway. After the car was parked, he and Seraphina would use the private elevator to head straight to the hotel’s interior.Once the car was parked, Dereon followed him out of the car, reminding him, “Young Master, we’re here to h
Annabelle couldn’t help but frown. Wasn’t that a photo of her and Julissa at the hospital?How did the reporters know about this?In other words, did it mean that her every move was under surveillance? The thought made her feel uneasy and repulsed, and her expression immediately darkened.Of course, Kendrick knew the truth behind the photo because Annabelle had told him the day before that she had accompanied Julissa to the hospital.Seeing that the little woman was upset, he gently patted her hand, intending to help her out of this awkward situation.However, Annabelle spoke up first, firing back at the reporter.“That was just me accompanying a friend to pick up her physical exam results yesterday. Does your newspaper rely on hearsay and distort facts to publish every news article?”The male reporter looked embarrassed and stammered, “But you and Mr. Gregory…”Annabelle smiled slightly, her voice calm but firm. “We really appreciate everyone’s concern, but Mr. Gregory and I don’t wa
"No one upset me. It's about Julissa," Annabelle replied, taking the chopsticks and mixing the cucumber. She then told Kendrick about Julissa’s recent emotional struggles and how she kept worrying she was sick. Annabelle was even considering skipping the party tomorrow to accompany Julissa to the hospital for a checkup.Kendrick raised an eyebrow. "Didn’t your friend tell you that she’s going too? And she’ll be there as Scott’s date?""She didn’t say. Really?""Absolutely."Annabelle immediately picked up her phone and called Julissa. Once she confirmed with Julissa, she finally believed Kendrick's words."How did Scott suddenly invite Julissa?"After a few gatherings, Annabelle had noticed that Scott was truly aloof and reserved. So she couldn’t understand why he would suddenly invite Julissa, especially when they had just met for the first time today.Kendrick laughed. "Maybe he just wants to experience the lively energy of the world sometimes."Annabelle agreed. Julissa was indeed
That evening, when Kendrick returned home, he saw the little woman in the kitchen, angrily smashing a cucumber on the cutting board until it was nearly pulverized. She kept smashing it.It was clear that this wasn't just about smashing cucumbers; she was angry.Kendrick walked up behind her and embraced her. "What did the cucumber do to deserve such a beating?"He hadn't even taken off his coat yet, still carrying the chill from outside. But when he held the soft, warm little woman in his arms, he felt all his exhaustion from the day vanish.However, Annabelle was startled. She swung the knife and suddenly turned to the side. "When did you come in?"Seeing her reaction, it seemed like she was ready to hit him with the knife too. Kendrick quickly held her hand, took the knife from her, and set it aside."I thought you heard me. Was the fitting not going well today?""Sabrina is fine," she paused and turned to face him. "I have a question for you.""Go ahead," Kendrick smiled, tucking a
Julissa quickly grabbed the test from him and stuffed it back into her bag.“Uh, the handkerchief... I’ll wash it and return it to you later.”Scott nodded, his gaze lingering on her face for a couple of seconds. “Get in the car. I’ll drive you.”Julissa immediately waved her hand. “No need, no need. I’ll just take a taxi. It’s really convenient.”How could she let Mr. Nichols drive her home? He was probably just being polite.“You’re Annabelle’s friend. Since I promised Kendrick to take care of everything for her today, it naturally includes you.”His voice was calm, and his reasoning was sound.Julissa blinked. “Alright then, thank you, Mr. Nichols.”Once in the car, she couldn’t help but think to herself: Was it just the handsomeness that made his words more persuasive?Her focus shifted, and she wasn’t as upset anymore. But the image of Liam standing with that woman still gnawed at her, making her feel uncomfortable.Why didn’t he chase after her? Didn’t he intend to keep begging
Julissa didn't take the handkerchief and said, “Thanks, but I have tissues.”A handkerchief from Mr. Nichols probably costs thousands, and she's supposed to use it as a tissue? That’s a bit too expensive for a runny nose.She hastily dug through her bag, frustrated as she searched, then said, “I know it looks strange. I just got a call. Apparently, the neighbor’s dog passed away, and I’m a little upset.”She knew she must look odd crying like this on the street, and this man in front of her must be wondering about it. So, to avoid him standing there unsure of what to say, she explained first.Scott smiled faintly and said, “You seem to have had quite a bond with the neighbor’s dog.”Julissa nodded, speaking almost to herself: “We grew up together. When I was in school, if anyone bullied me, the dog would bite them back for me. It always protected me. If my dad hit me on the bottom, the dog would try to plead for me. The neighbor used to say that when I grew up, the dog would stay with
Clothes were scattered across the floor, and on the bed, two people were passionately entangled. They looked so absorbed, so excited... it made her sick.Julissa ran out of Liam’s apartment.Liam chased after her, explaining that the woman was just a physical relationship, and that it was the last time. He insisted he loved only her, Julissa.She had never been so disgusted in her life. She didn’t even want to slap him, afraid of dirtying her hands.Now, just thinking about it made her nauseous.Taking a deep breath, she sipped her fruit tea. When she looked up, she saw two familiar figures walking into her line of sight.One man was handsome and refined, like a graceful gentleman. It was none other than Liam.The woman walking beside him was the one he had claimed was just a physical relationship with no emotions. The "last time." They were still entangled—good thing she didn’t believe his lies.But it was the first time she had seen this woman dressed up. She was pale, delicate, wit
Scott gazed at the girl in front of him, “Hmm?”“The president of the Nichols Group, the one featured on the cover of a finance magazine?”Scott lowered his gaze, smiled faintly, and said, “Hello, Miss Hickman.”Julissa quickly extended her hand. “Nice to meet you!”She was so happy because the Nichols family also had a third young master, Julian, a rising star in the entertainment industry. Julissa was a huge fan of him lately. Now that she had met Scott, she thought, since he was a friend of Annabelle, it shouldn’t be too hard to get his younger brother’s autograph or a photo.She felt a little giddy at the thought, and her earlier gloom was completely forgotten.Scott then reached out and shook her hand.It was this very hand that had left three scratch marks on his chest that night, but now it felt so soft.After their handshake, Scott led them into the styling studio.Annabelle could tell from the look on Julissa’s face that she was thinking about something else. She pinched her