Jax paused, sinking into silence for a moment.Annabelle understood that he was feeling uneasy and quietly waited for him to continue.She also reflected on the days she had spent interacting with Jax. She had long realized that Jax was skilled in many areas—he wasn’t just good at fighting, but also at rowing, swimming, fishing, and even repairing boats and doing needlework.Now that she thought about it, he must have learned boat repairs because he was the son of a fisherman, and needlework likely came from taking care of his sister. He must have been a really good brother."Did you learn to fight back then?" she asked softly.Jax nodded. He explained that when he first entered the underground boxing ring, he was a beginner, but the boxing ring’s owner saw potential in him.Before he fought in his first official match, he was given rigorous and intense training, with a salary and a place to stay. Jax had once considered th
"This... the situation back then... I’ll tell you about it later when the opportunity arises. Please believe me, Boss is a good man," Jax said, carefully choosing his words.Annabelle couldn’t help but feel puzzled. Why did Jax emphasize that Kendrick was a good man but still refuse to explain what had happened? Did it mean that when Kendrick had been involved in something bad, he had coincidentally met Jax?She made a mental note to ask Kendrick about it at some point.Just then, Jax raised his head, his eyes still slightly red."Thank you for listening to me," he said.Annabelle shook her head. "No need to thank me. If you ever want to have desserts again, we can come back here. Next time, you can treat me."Jax smiled in relief. "Alright, Madam. As long as Boss doesn’t mind, I’m happy to treat you."In fact, Jax was six years older than her, but he always spoke to her with such respect.Annabelle was
After the earlier incident at the café, where the assassin had cut his finger, he no longer hid his knife in his sleeve. Instead, it was now tucked into his waistband, his right hand ready to pull the knife from his back at any moment.Just as he was preparing to strike, two little children suddenly ran into the store, clearly playing and causing a ruckus. They chased each other around the shoe bench, almost as if they were little guardians protecting Annabelle.Soon, the store attendant returned, followed by Julissa. The parents of the two children also entered, immediately reprimanding their mischievous kids.The man in black missed his chance. He clenched his teeth in frustration and withdrew his hand, quietly turning to leave the store while Annabelle wasn’t paying attention.Because Annabelle had her back to the door, she didn’t notice the odd behavior earlier.The store attendant said, "We only have one pair left in your si
Annabelle and Julissa had shopped in several stores, but they hadn't bought much.It was typical for women to go shopping like this—going around and around, even entering some stores multiple times.The assassin was already sweating bullets. If it weren’t for the knife tucked into his waistband, he would have been tempted to take off his down jacket.And he had never spent so much time following a woman around a shopping mall. He hated shopping in general, and now he was forced to do it while unable to act on his mission. It made him feel incredibly frustrated.The two of them were getting hungry after hours of shopping, so they stopped to drink some bubble tea and snack on oden and takoyaki.The assassin watched them from afar, his stomach growling loudly in response.He clenched his fists in anger, muttering to himself, How much longer is she going to keep shopping?At that moment, he saw a little boy running toward Anna
Annabelle struggled to maintain her balance, stumbling forward a couple of steps before finally leaning against the wall.The man had likely intended to knock her out, but his technique was off, and he hadn't been able to make her lose consciousness. This indicated that he wasn't a professional assassin.He stepped in front of her and suddenly grabbed her by the throat.Annabelle got a clear look at his face.It was an unfamiliar face, pale with delicate features, looking like a frail young man. But his eyes were bloodshot, as if he'd gone nights without sleep, and his swollen eyelids suggested he'd probably been crying recently.The intense pain and hatred reflected in his eyes led Annabelle to conclude that he might not be a professional hitman but definitely someone with a personal vendetta."Who are you... what do you want?" Annabelle managed to choke out, struggling to speak."I was planning to kill you, but since my enemy is you
The thug, clearly realizing he couldn't defeat Marvin, became desperate and turned his murderous intent toward Annabelle.Just as the blade was about to pierce her throat, Marvin stepped in front of her, wrapping his arms around her and shielding her with his back.Annabelle heard the sickening sound of the knife plunging into Marvin's back and the pained grunt he made."Marvin!" she cried out in shock.The thug yanked the knife out quickly, and Annabelle could smell more blood in the air.The thug staggered back a couple of steps, breathing heavily, as though he were frightened. Then, he turned and ran, stumbling off into the distance.Annabelle didn't have time to care about the thug. "Let me see... your injury."She needed to check the wound so she could try to stop the bleeding.Marvin, however, just held her tighter and forced a weak smile. "Anna, you’re worried about me.""... Stop talking," she snapped, clea
Annabelle suddenly woke up with a start. The white ceiling and the strong smell of disinfectant made her realize she was in a hospital.Why had she dreamed such a thing?Could it be that, deep down, she had begun to waver a little toward Marvin?But she quickly dismissed the thought.Of course, she knew that Marvin had been trying to make up for his mistakes at the engagement banquet, hoping to be with her as husband and wife. But the past was the past.She already had Kendrick by her side, and there could never be anything between them again.Once someone's heart is taken by another, even the best of others can only be met with a regretful "thank you, I'm sorry."But where was the person who had taken her heart right now?Looking around the room, it was a private one, and she was the only one there.She rubbed her temples and struggled to sit up, glancing over at the bedside table.It only held her personal belon
Kendrick felt both guilty and heartbroken. He didn’t say much, but went directly to the hospital room.By the time he arrived, Annabelle had already fallen asleep.Kendrick sat at her bedside, staring at her pale face, his heart aching.He gently stroked her face, thinking to himself that this time he hadn’t been by her side. She must have been terrified. Waking up and finding him absent—she must be even more heartbroken now.The thought tightened his chest.He placed the supper he had brought for her on the bedside table and glanced at the things there.Three shopping bags, bloodstains on them. The blood must have been from Marvin.Just the thought that when Annabelle was in danger, he hadn’t been there, while Marvin stepped up instead, left Kendrick feeling frustrated.But then, his gaze fell on the brand of the shopping bags. It was the same brand of shoes Annabelle had wanted to buy.He couldn’t help but smile helple
What Gauge wanted to discuss with Kendrick was a strategic collaboration between their two companies.Since stepping into the family business, Gauge had discovered a series of issues.Although Lin Jewelry appeared to be thriving, its narrow focus on a single line of business had left it vulnerable to serious challenges.Therefore, Gauge was planning to expand the jewelry and watch business within the next five years into leather goods, fashion products, and the perfume industry.He also proposed merging the group's original real estate construction division with a subsidiary of Gregory's Group. Murphy's Group would retain only a small share—essentially, a disguised sale to Gregory's.But the reason they couldn’t call it a sale outright was because Murphy's Group had started out in the construction industry. Gauge’s father, Simon, still held an emotional attachment to that legacy and couldn’t let go entirely.After the merger of the construction branches, Gauge hoped to acquire Gregory
At first, Annabelle didn’t understand what he was up to. It wasn’t until they were back inside the house that she realized—Kendrick thought she looked a little too sexy wearing his oversized T-shirt, especially since it made it seem like she wasn’t wearing anything on the bottom. It sparked a lot of imaginative thoughts.Annabelle was both amused and exasperated. She lifted the hem of the T-shirt to show him: “I am wearing shorts! They’re just... a little short. But still totally decent!”But Mr. Gregory was persistent. In the end, Annabelle gave in and changed into her own clothes.Once they were both dressed, they returned to the courtyard.Annabelle noticed Gauge hadn’t touched the watermelon and asked why—after all, it was set aside just for him.Gauge pulled a ten-hole blues harmonica from his pocket and said, “If I eat now, I won’t be able to play.”She knew harmonica players had to keep their mouth clean before playing.Then, Gauge handed her his guitar. “Since we’re just hang
While Kendrick was cutting the watermelon, Annabelle couldn’t take her eyes off him.How strange—why did everything this man did seem so charming to her? Even slicing a watermelon looked handsome.It was as if her brain had automatically applied a beauty filter to him.Annabelle placed a hand over her chest, trying to calm her racing heart. But the more she tried, the faster it beat. The sweet words he had just whispered, every little expression and gesture of his, were now playing back in her mind like a movie…Kendrick held out the watermelon to her with a grin. “Little fangirl, stop staring. This handsome guy is your husband—100% confirmed.”Annabelle glared at him with a flushed face. “Narcissist!”Then she lowered her head, scooping out a bite of watermelon, determined to focus on eating.Just as she was about to take a bite, she noticed Kendrick had sat down.The other half of the watermelon was still sitting on the small stone platform by the well.“Aren’t you going to eat?”“Y
Annabelle smiled softly, her eyes twinkling with a mix of amusement and affection. "Why do you always have to compare everything?" she asked, her voice gentle and teasing."I just want to know," he replied, his voice low and earnest. He reached out and tucked a strand of Anna's hair behind her ear, his touch light but intimate. "What it feels like for you to be with me."Annabelle fell into deep thought, her gaze drifting away as she considered his question. The room was quiet, filled only with the soft sounds of their breathing and the occasional rustle of the sheets beneath them. After a while, she still hadn't answered. Kendrick sighed, a hint of frustration in his voice. "Is it really that hard to answer?""Hmm... it’s hard to describe," Annabelle murmured thoughtfully, her fingers playing with the edge of the blanket. "Before, when I was with you, just seeing you would throw my heart into chaos. My pulse would race, and I could hardly catch my breath. But now…” She trailed off, h
Annabelle hadn’t slept so soundly in a long time.When she lazily opened her eyes and looked out the window, she realized it was already dark.Ever since arriving at her grandma’s house and staying in this quiet little fishing village—far away from her usual life—it felt like she had escaped to another world. Her entire being relaxed, with nothing left to worry about.Kendrick didn’t have to stress over the corporation anymore either.Their biggest daily dilemma had become: what should we eat for the next meal?If only life could always be this carefree...Annabelle slowly sat up. After sleeping for so long, her whole body felt soft and mushy. She got out of bed and wandered into the courtyard, where she saw Kendrick sitting at the small table, smoking.When he heard her, he turned around.“Awake?”Kendrick stubbed out his cigarette and patted his thigh.Annabelle walked over without hesitation or shyness and naturally sat on his lap, arms around his neck, resting softly against his s
Kendrick’s face darkened. “It’s better to date someone older. Look at Mr. Murphy—he’s too young, can’t even cook. How’s he supposed to take care of a girlfriend?”Annabelle raised her eyebrows and gave the sly old fox a glance. Flicking the water off her hands, she smiled and said, “But younger guys are energetic—and no generation gap!”Kendrick let out a sharp “hmph.” “You think there’s a generation gap between us?”“I didn’t say us,” Annabelle teased, eyes twinkling. “Why are you jumping to conclusions? Having a midlife crisis already, Uncle?”The little bunny was obviously up to no good with that mischievous grin.Kendrick glanced at the loquat tree in the courtyard, then squinted at the sunlight filtering through its leaves, trying hard to stay calm.After all, he was turning 31 after the New Year. Couldn’t let a little girl get under his skin, right?But midlife crisis? Really?He was in his prime. A young man!So this young Mr. Gregory looked into the reflection on the glass. He
So Annabelle thought to herself—was Mr. Gregory being a little too proactive?Kendrick asked lightly, “So, do you want to go swimming with him alone?”He deliberately emphasized the word “alone,” as if suggesting she had ulterior motives. Annabelle could only respond, “...I never said that!”“Then that’s that,” Kendrick said calmly, taking her hand and leading her into the house.After a short rest, the three of them began preparing lunch.Gauge was every bit the privileged young master—clearly someone who’d never cooked at home before. He practically didn’t know how to do anything.He was too rough when washing vegetables, to the point of mangling the leaves.Then they had him try chopping vegetables—but the young master, with his obsessive need for precision, insisted on cutting everything perfectly uniform, each slice as neat as the next. At the rate he was going, they’d probably be eating tomorrow’s lunch.Kendrick and Annabelle didn’t even bother expecting him to cook anything. T
Afterward, the three of them returned to Grandma’s house first.Gauge waited in the courtyard while Annabelle and Kendrick brought the things they bought at the market into the house. After grabbing the ingredients they needed for lunch, the three of them headed to Gauge’s place together.When they arrived in front of the white guesthouse, Kendrick couldn’t help but chuckle.That morning, he and Anna had passed by this very spot. He had been wondering at the time—the place had a fresh, elegant architectural style. But there was no signboard, so maybe it wasn’t a guesthouse after all. If it was just a private residence, then it probably belonged to someone with means.Sure enough, his guess wasn’t far off. What he didn’t expect was that this would turn out to be Gauge’s home.After stepping through the front gate, Annabelle couldn’t help but marvel.To build such a charming little courtyard on this sloped hill must’ve taken a lot of thought and care.“Come in, rest a bit. Have some wat
As Kendrick was lost in thought, Annabelle called out to him, “Let me help you carry a couple of those.”Just moments ago, Kendrick had taken all the shopping bags from her hands—he was carrying everything by himself now.Seeing his forehead glistening with sweat, Annabelle, who now had empty hands, felt both guilty and worried.Kendrick looked back at her, smiled, and said, “I could carry you on my back too, no problem.”“Stop messing around, give me two bags.”Seeing how serious she looked, eyebrows furrowed and all, he finally gave in and handed her two of the lightest ones.But as soon as she took them, Gauge casually took them from her without saying a word.Annabelle: “…”She felt like she’d just become the middleman in a hand-off.Kendrick glanced at Gauge. “Thanks, Mr. Murphy.”His tone and look were both laced with provocation.Even Annabelle thought he was kinda asking for a punch right then.Gauge snorted coldly, “Don’t thank me. It’s not like I’m helping you.”“Tsk, brat…”