Before hanging up, Annabelle suddenly remembered something else. She quickly said, “Oh, right, Young Master! My body has completely recovered now. Thank you for the medicine you gave me!”“Is that so? That’s good to hear…”The Young Master’s voice carried a trace of warmth, and Annabelle didn’t detect anything unusual. She simply thought he was genuinely happy for her.“Anna, I have some matters to attend to. Let’s talk later.”With that, the call ended.Annabelle carefully saved his number in her phone.Having cleared the air with the Young Master, she felt a great sense of relief.For so long, she had held onto the idea that when she grew up, she would follow the Young Master forever, repaying him for saving her life.But now that she had grown up, she had a home of her own and Kendrick by her side. She could no longer follow the Young Master. The best she could do was keep her gratitude in her heart and wait for a future opportunity to repay him.The Young Master’s reaction had bee
Annabelle flashed a mischievous smile. “That’s not necessarily true. If you bully me, I might just walk away anytime. And when I do, I’ll take half of your fortune and ruin your reputation.”With that, she tossed her hair dramatically, pulling the silky strands from Kendrick’s fingers.The soft sensation slipping away left Kendrick feeling an unexpected emptiness, stirring a fierce desire to reclaim the little temptress who danced so playfully on his heartstrings.“So powerful, huh? Then I guess, to prevent you from taking my fortune, I’ll just have to treat you like a treasure.” He leaned in and playfully bit her neck.Annabelle squirmed from the ticklish sensation, her laughter ringing out.It was the first time Kendrick had seen her laugh so freely.It seemed the Young Master had indeed been a heavy weight on her heart.But now that Ryan had verbally claimed to let go, Kendrick knew better — it was nothing more than a tactical retreat.Ryan understood Annabelle’s nature. The more h
Dereon led Seraphina back into Ryan’s office.Seraphina lifted her head to face the man she both deeply loved and deeply feared.Ryan stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, backlit by the pale light. Shadows cast across his face, and his dark eyes gleamed with an icy sharpness, as though piercing straight through her.Her heart pounded wildly, and fear crept through her veins.She thought back to the years she had spent by his side. She had witnessed his transformation from a frail young man, enduring humiliation and illness, into the powerful figure that now commanded fear across the empire.She ached for the suffering he had endured and admired the unyielding strength that had brought him to this moment.If today was the day he decided to kill her, Seraphina suddenly thought, perhaps dying by his hand would not be the worst fate.With that thought, her fear dulled.Forcing herself to meet his eyes, she spoke, “Young Master, what do you need?”“Come here.”She took two steps forward.
Three days later, Annabelle, Kendrick, and Jax left the Maldives. Since there were no direct flights, they had to transfer in Thailand. Upon arrival, a flight delay extended their time at the airport. Knowing that Anna had never been to Thailand before, Kendrick suggested they explore Bangkok instead of wasting time waiting. They soon found themselves on a bustling street filled with local delicacies and an array of tropical fruits. Anna’s curiosity was piqued — everything looked enticing, and she wanted to try it all. Kendrick walked beside her, paying for whatever caught her eye, while Jax trailed behind, keeping watch. The vibrant pedestrian street was crowded, a mix of tourists and locals. Even with two tall men guarding her, Anna unknowingly became the target of a pickpocket. While she was browsing through souvenirs at a small stall, someone suddenly bumped into her. She stumbled, instinctively falling into Kendrick’s arms. In that brief moment, she felt a tug at her side.
Noticing Kendrick’s tense expression, Annabelle quickly asked, “What happened?”Kendrick held her hand firmly. “Nothing serious. The phone’s been recovered. Jax ran into someone he knows. We’re going to check it out.”After taking a few steps, he turned back and instructed, “Put your mask on and don’t stray from my side. Not even a step. Got it?”His sudden seriousness made Anna uneasy. “Where are we going?”Kendrick’s lips pressed into a thin line. “You’ll see soon.”Though puzzled, Anna obediently pulled on her mask. Kendrick even tugged her cap’s brim lower, as if determined to shield her face from view.After turning a couple of corners, they found themselves on a street illuminated by neon lights, alive with music and laughter. It was only then that Annabelle realized — they were in Bangkok’s largest red-light district.No wonder Kendrick had insisted on covering her up. He clearly didn’t want other men ogling her in a place like this.This notorious street was a chaotic mix of p
Annabelle immediately understood that Kendrick was asking Jax about the acquaintance he had encountered."Second floor of the bar," Jax replied."Lead the way."Jax stubbed out his cigarette and led the way inside, with Kendrick and Annabelle following closely behind.They passed through a dimly lit hallway and entered a lively dance floor. Annabelle was instantly stunned.On the center stage, a group of exotic dancers performed provocatively, surrounded by a crowd of enthusiastic men. The dancers moved with seductive grace, their scantily clad bodies shimmering under the flashing lights.Anna had never seen such a scene in real life. Unable to resist her curiosity, she kept staring.Noticing this, Kendrick tugged her cap’s brim lower, blocking her view. "I’m not even looking, but you seem pretty interested."She pursed her lips, feeling a little indignant. Just because I’ve never seen it before, I can’t be curious?He wouldn’t let her look at men — fine. But now, even watching women
Kendrick glanced at Annabelle and gently pulled her into his arms."Ariana was once our friend and a citizen of our country. Finding her in a place like this, of course, I’ll do what I can to help her return home. But I also need to find out what happened."Annabelle nodded in agreement.At that moment, she felt more sympathy for Ariana than anything else. Regardless of what had happened between them in the past, her resentment had never been strong enough to wish for such a terrible fate to befall Ariana.She supported Kendrick’s decision to rescue Ariana. The problem was—would it be that easy?Sensing her concern, Kendrick reassured her, "Most problems in this world can be solved with money. And in places like this, money works especially well. Don’t worry."As they spoke, Jax returned."Boss, the owner of this place wants to have a word with you," Jax said.Kendrick cast a long glance in the direction of the private booth where Ariana had gone earlier. Then, tightening his hold on
Kendrick remained silent for a moment before continuing, "Whatever the reason, you don't need to worry. I'll make sure you return to the country safely. Once you're back, no one will know what happened to you."His tone was as calm as ever, as though nothing had changed between them. It was as if he, Ariana, Scott, and Seamus were still the close friends they once were.Ariana forced a bitter smile. "Kendrick, why do you still care about me?"She shifted her gaze to Annabelle. "Seeing me like this, shouldn't you be pleased?"Annabelle pursed her lips, remaining silent. She knew this conversation was between Kendrick and Ariana, and she had no intention of getting involved.Kendrick answered, "If you had truly given up on yourself, I wouldn't interfere. But you clearly haven't. I want to help you because we were once friends.""Friends," Ariana repeated, her voice hollow as she let out a dry laugh."Do you know? Lisa targeted Annabelle again and again because I encouraged her. I helped
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…”