Annabelle wasn’t much of a drinker, but at this moment, she was overwhelmed with emotions and wanted to have a sip. She popped the tab open and clinked her can against Gauge’s.They exchanged a smile without saying a word, both gazing out at the vast ocean.The night breeze in the Maldives was warm and gentle, caressing their faces with a comfortable touch. As the fragrant bitterness of the beer spread across her tongue, Annabelle felt a sense of tranquility — as though the drink itself wasn’t intoxicating, but the atmosphere certainly was.“How’s Kendrick?” Gauge finally broke the silence.“He got a little hurt, but it’s nothing serious. A couple of days of rest, and he’ll be fine.”She hadn’t seen his wounds, but judging by how energetic he had been earlier, she assumed they weren’t too severe.“Not enjoying the party?”Annabelle shook her head. “I’m enjoying it. I’m just not used to it.”After all, she had grown accustomed to solitude over the years. Being part of such a large gath
Annabelle narrowed her eyes, seizing the perfect opportunity to land an even louder flick on Gauge’s forehead.Then, without missing a beat, she turned and bolted.Gauge was stunned for a moment. He hadn't expected her to be so playful. After a brief pause, he began chasing after her.She wasn’t fast, and if he wanted to catch up, it would be effortless.But he didn’t want to.There was something about this moment that felt perfect. If it were up to him, he would be content to follow her like this forever, remaining just close enough that she’d find him the moment she turned around.Yet Annabelle felt entirely different.The thrill of almost getting caught — but not quite — made her nerves tingle. She was so tense that she didn’t dare slow down, her legs carrying her frantically across the sand.Unfortunately, in her rush, she paid no attention to where she was stepping.“Ah!”A sharp pain shot through her foot. She stumbled and fell onto the soft sand with a startled cry.Meanwhile,
Kendrick’s temples throbbed violently.He told himself to stay calm. There had to be a reasonable explanation for this — otherwise, Annabelle would never let another man carry her like that.So, with forced composure, he watched as the two approached.But as they walked, they seemed to be chatting casually. Under the glow of the lights, Kendrick could clearly see the smile lingering on Gauge’s face.If Annabelle was truly unwell, there was no way Gauge would be smiling like that.Kendrick took two deep breaths, trying to suppress the storm brewing inside him. He reminded himself — stay calm, trust her.It didn’t work.Jealousy surged through him, setting his blood on fire. The rage burned so intensely that even the wounds on his body threatened to reopen.So this was why she didn't want him to come?To sneak off for a little date with that guy?Meanwhile, Annabelle, still unaware of the storm brewing inside Kendrick, was squirming with guilt.“You should really put me down. I can walk
Annabelle couldn’t understand it.Kendrick knew exactly what kind of person Ada was, so why was he even acknowledging her?She also knew he wasn't the type to entertain people like Willie. Yet there he was, walking away with both of them.And the worst part? He had clearly seen her, but he didn’t come over.A sourness surged through Annabelle’s chest, mixed with a wave of frustration. She had rarely felt this way before.Gauge followed her gaze, observing Kendrick. Then, without a word, he grasped her wrist gently, half-supporting her as they walked forward.She didn’t protest, but her mind was in turmoil. Her eyes remained fixated on Kendrick, watching as he joined the group around the bonfire.The atmosphere grew livelier in an instant.A man like Kendrick, admired and unattainable in the eyes of many, was like the sun — distant, dazzling, and impossible to reach. Yet here he was, sitting casually on the sand, mingling with the crowd.Naturally, he became the center of attention.Th
The little model's excitement was contagious, and soon the other girls were cheering along.Most of them were secretly hoping to draw Kendrick or Gauge as their dance partner. They didn’t dare dream of sparking any real chemistry, but just dancing with such strikingly handsome men would be a win.Watching their eagerness, Annabelle felt her frustration bubble. She wanted to shout on Kendrick’s behalf, “Sorry, ladies, not interested.”But before she could say a word, Kendrick’s deep, magnetic voice rang out."Sure," he said.The low, sultry tone was impossible to resist. The girls erupted into delighted squeals and cheers.Annabelle froze for a moment, the corners of her mouth twitching.Fine. Very well. Kendrick, you can forget about getting in my bed tonight!She couldn’t figure out why he even wanted to join the game. Regardless, she had already decided — she was not speaking to him for the rest of the night.The short-haired model, brimming with excitement, turned to Gauge with a b
Most of the women hoped to dance with Gauge or Kendrick. Of course, some models were eyeing the opportunity to cozy up to the director, hoping a little charm might score them a future acting gig.In short, despite the simplicity of the game, everyone had their own motives.As the girls drew their slips and read the names aloud, many tried to sound excited, even though Annabelle could tell their enthusiasm wasn’t entirely genuine. The odds weren’t in their favor, and most didn't end up with the partner they had hoped for.Still, out of basic politeness, they accepted their dance partners with forced smiles. No one wanted to be that person who showed disappointment or disdain — that would just be poor manners.That said, some of the more self-important models made no effort to hide their discontent. After the obligatory handshake and pleasantries, they immediately let their faces drop, visibly annoyed to be paired with mere crew members.Watching this unfold, Annabelle inwardly scoffed.
Every girl who opened a slip of paper carried Annabelle’s anxious heart along with them.She had thought she didn’t care, but when the moment came, she realized she truly didn’t want Kendrick dancing with any other woman—especially not those young models from Willie Company!But then another thought crossed her mind. This game was something Mr. Gregory had willingly participated in, and he seemed to be enjoying himself. Maybe he actually wanted to dance with someone else?With that in mind, Annabelle haughtily turned her head away, refusing to watch any more of the girls drawing their lots.Yet, from the excited screams, she knew—someone had drawn Kendrick’s name.She cast a casual glance over and saw a young girl with her hair tied in a bun. She was from the Murphy production team, part of the costume and props department.Annabelle remembered her—her name was Ellie, a fresh graduate from a prestigious university in China, majoring in fashion design. Now, she was interning as a costu
Kendrick was reaching the limit of his patience—he could hardly resist the urge to scoop up his little rabbit and take her home right now.But since he had already agreed to play this game, leaving abruptly wouldn’t just be unsportsmanlike—it would be downright rude.Fine. He’d let his little rabbit play around a bit longer. He wanted to see just how long it would take before she finally remembered that he was still a patient and maybe—just maybe—gave him a little attention.Though Kendrick’s expression remained blank, Jaime Vazquez, standing beside him, could feel the icy chill radiating from him.The cold air around them was practically biting.Jaime Vazquez silently complained in his heart. This wasn’t Ms. Sanchez’s fault—it was all because Mr. Gregory was being stubborn.If he had just walked over earlier when Mr. Murphy carried her on his back and taken her away, brought her home, and asked her properly what had happened, none of this would be an issue.But no—he had to make thin
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…”