Beep! Beep!The honk from the car behind pulled Everly back from her thoughts. The red light ahead had already turned green, so she started the car and moved forward along with the traffic. She parked the car in the parking lot outside the kindergarten.After retrieving the gifts she had prepared for Oliver, she walked into the kindergarten along with other parents.The kindergarten was as crowded as before. There were parents chatting about their children and families; the only difference from last time was that Everly went directly to Oliver’s classroom instead of watching from afar.All the other children were carrying their little school bags and lined up one after another adorably.Everly instantly noticed Oliver.The teacher had placed him at the very first in line on purpose, showing how much the teacher adored him.Everly simply continued to watch Oliver.Countless parents came over to pick up their children, fawning over Oliver with a smile as they did, but Oliver had
Everyone around them was whispering towards one another, but Everly paid them no mind. She simply focused on Oliver’s adorable face with a smile. Her heart leaped with excitement.Three seconds had passed, and the two continued to stare at one another.Out of smugness, the teacher next to them barked, "Didn't you hear what I just said? I’m calling the security if you refuse to leave! You…"Before she could finish, Oliver suddenly spoke up. "I remember you." His big, dark eyes were filled with Everly. He placed his belongings back into the school bag before taking the bear brooch off his chest and continued, "You gave me this."Everly looked at the bear brooch on Oliver’s chubby little hands and the smile on her face widened."Do you like it?" she asked and reached out subconsciously to touch Oliver’s face."Don’t…" Someone next to them instantly tried to stop her."I like it," Oliver answered in the next instant and did not dodge her hand.Everly felt the urge to cry, and her t
There were plenty of people around him, but she was the only one who truly cared for him. He was the only person in her eyes, just like… his mother. She was similar to his mother.…Alice stared at Carson’s car ahead, and a smug smile appeared on her face. Though she could sit by his side or in the same car as him, the fact that she was allowed to follow him meant that she was different.She had already realized how everyone in Baxter Group was treating her differently earlier that afternoon and even was more respectful towards her than usual.Of course, she was not foolish enough to mention what happened the day before. Apparently, Carson was still sulking, but he did not have the heart to mistreat her, so he had Robbie arrange for her to wait in the lounge. Out of concern that she would feel bored, he even had people place entertainment magazines in the lounge.Those were fashion magazines. It was not the type of magazine that he would read, so it could only be there for her sak
"If you like it, you can have it." Oliver placed the drawing in his hands onto hers."Can I?" she asked with a voice filled with a pleasant surprise."Mm-hm," Oliver said, the sense of familiarity showed distinctly from his voice. "I didn’t prepare any gift, so I hope you like this. Also… Merry Christmas.""Thank you!" She rubbed Oliver’s head endearingly. He did not move away and accepted her touch."Oliver, this is the best Christmas gift I’ve received so far!"Carson pursed his lips and strode closer to the two as they interacted closely.'Could it be her? Everly!' he thought."Everly…" He arrived by their side with a barely noticeable trembling voice."Dad," Oliver turned around and greeted.However, Carson’s gaze was fixated on the woman beside him. He reached out, trying to touch her, when the woman turned around and showed her face.Within an instant, all the excitement and uncontrollable emotions had vanished immediately. The drastic changes had overwhelmed him, and h
Carson glared at the woman before him with the urge to strangle her to death.'She is meant to be a puppet that was merely a replacement, and yet she dares to do this! How insatiable! It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have asked her to dress up like Everly. I’ve allowed her to push the limits over and over again to the point that she thinks that she could replace Everly! How wrong was I!' he thought."Violet, this is my final warning." His dark eyes were filled with loathing, and his voice was as cold as ice, "Mind your own business. If you try this again…"He pushed her to the ground and narrowed his eyes. "I will make sure you understand the cost of crossing me!"With that, he strode out of the classroom without another glance at her."Carson, don’t bother with her. There are simply far too many people like her that couldn’t stop dreaming. You don’t have to trouble yourself over her…" Alice’s voice came through faintly.Everly stood back up steadily and massaged her neck. She sneered
"Annie, go check on the nursing home that Oliver stayed in. Try to get something out of them," Everly said."Roger!" Annie replied.Everly looked out the car window. She had not planned on confronting Carson that soon at first, as there were still plenty to arrange. She went over today simply because she wanted to get some intel in the kindergarten and also because… she missed Oliver. When she received reports that Alice was at the Baxter’s, she thought Carson would avoid Oliver out of reluctance to let the child see his father with another woman. She naturally thought that Robbie or Lucy would pick Oliver up with bodyguards as usual.Though there was no hiding that she went to see Oliver, Everly did not plan to hide it either. She knew that Carson would be angry, but she thought she could explain herself and fawn over him a bit so that he would not cut all ties with her.She had not expected him to come over directly, with another woman, right before Oliver’s eyes!Everly’s hand
The car soon arrived back at the Baxter Residence. As soon as they went in, the butler came out with a smile and noticed that Oliver was exceptionally cheerful.Uncle Benny was smiling as well. "Welcome back! Oliver looks different today!""Mm-hm." Oliver nodded happily and greeted them before heading to the couch to play, as usual, leaving Carson and the others in the living room."Sir, someone just sent over a big box and said it was for you. I haven’t opened it yet." The butler said respectfully, "Shall we open it now?""Open it," Carson said."Understood!"The butler immediately pushed a gigantic box up and opened it in front of Carson. The butler’s expression darkened as soon as he opened the cover and wanted to close it back up, but it was already too late.A slender hand was placed onto the edge of the box, and the butler could not shut it."Sir…" The butler looked at Carson worriedly.Carson did not respond. He pursed his lips at the sight of what was in the box. These
Meanwhile, in the Davidson Residence.Messages rushed in one after another, and the Davidsons were overwhelmed in joy.Aunt Davidson served Alice food with a smile. "Eat some more, Lissy. You will need to concentrate. I assume Carson will be asking for your hand in marriage soon!""Don’t say that. Things aren’t settled just yet…" Alice responded with a blush. Despite what she said, she already knew what was coming and was just pretending to be modest. She knew about all the news and rumors inside the community and felt as smug as ever.'However, that Violet girl… Hmph!' she thought."Mom, stop getting her to eat. If she is to get married, she would need to go on a diet!" Richard said with resignation. Naturally, he also felt happy for his sister."Hush! This is a nutritious course that I had specifically created for Lissy. She won’t get fat from this!" Aunt Davidson chuckled.Shortly after, she glanced over at her husband as though she was suddenly reminded of something, before
Everly wondered, 'Why does he look so pitiful? Is he going to ask me to be with me as he did before?'Meanwhile, Carson moved his eyes from her to the sunset on the horizon and said, "It's late."She looked across at the sea and the sky. The glorious declining sun gilded the sky.The salty sea wind swept over them.They gazed at the sunset until the fish suddenly struggled and startled Everly.It had been quietly staying in her hand for a while. She had forgotten that she was holding the fish. Thus, she subconsciously let go of the fish and shook Carson's hands off.The fish flopped back into the water and waved its tail to flee away."Oh, no. The fish has escaped. Dad, hurry up and catch it!" Oliver yelled. He had been squatting on the side so as not to disturb his parents. Carson and Oliver then chased after the fish.Everly slowly got up and stood there. The father and the son in white T-shirts were surrounding the big puddle. Everly felt strange while watching them.She wa
She was a little embarrassed. After all, they hadn't been so close to each other for a long time. She felt a bit uncomfortable.So, she found a random topic. "Oliver still hasn't come back?""Maybe he couldn't find the bucket," he said, his chest vibrating. Not knowing how to pick up the conversation, she just looked at him. "Put the fish down," he said again after about three seconds. "But it will slip away," she blurted out. He paused, nodded, and hummed.Actually, she could place it somewhere dry rather than in the water... Then it couldn't slip away...She found herself so stupid. But she couldn't take back her words...She wondered, bit the bullet, and awkwardly held the fish. Should she say anything to defuse the awkward situation?She thought for a moment and asked, "What's your plan? I mean your career.""I haven't laid it out yet," he replied frankly. "I've been working for too long, and it's time to take a break. In the past, I didn't have time to hang
Everly immediately put the crab into the small bucket.At this time, the bucket was filled with many crabs. Oliver looked inside and wore a bright smile."Wow! We got a lot of crabs today! My bucket is almost full!" Oliver said and looked back. When he saw the bucket in his dad's hand, Oliver took it and dumped all the crabs inside his own bucket into it. He then pushed it to Everly and said, "Wow. Aunt Violet caught so many crabs today. You are awesome!"Everly froze. She looked at Oliver's smiling face and understood what he meant.Oliver wanted her to take all the credit for catching those crabs."Oliver...""Aunt Violet! Look over there. There are bubbles coming out of that small hole. Let's go over there. There must be something in there!" As he said, Oliver carried his bucket and a small shovel and trotted over in his slippers. He ran to the hole and exclaimed, "Aunt Violet, come on! It is a big fish!""Go ahead. He likes playing with you," Carson said to Everly when she w
"How do you know if they have contact in private?" The man asked as their car was waiting for a green light. The man's consecutive retorts annoyed Lisa. She looked in the rearview mirror at the man with chill eyes. "What do you mean? Are you trying to deliberately piss me off?" "No." The man replied. Then he paused for a few seconds and changed the subject. "So what are you going to do next?" 'Let Everly crash down to the hell!' During these days all their tactics were covert. They only took some subtle moves to test Carson, to see what was in Carson's mind. Now that Lisa had learned about it, then the next step she was up to was to put Everly through hell! "What's going on with Violet's studio now?" Lisa asked. "According to the information we got, it won't be long before Violet Studio and Baxter Group's collaboration on 'The Angel' is finished." The man replied. Before Lisa was about to respond, suddenly, her phone vibrated. Buzz--Lisa picked up her phone to check t
Everly, Carson, and Oliver were playing on the beach. Meanwhile, Lisa came out of her villa to a car and talked to someone on the phone.She got into the passenger seat, smiled at the man in the driver's seat, and said, "I've just heard that the opposition faction of the Baxter Group changed their minds. They want to get Carson back."The man started the car without speaking. Lisa made up her face, smiled contentedly while looking into the mirror at her delicate figures, and continued, "I knew that the Baxter Group couldn't do well without Carson and that they would give in!"The car's tires squealed.The man suddenly braked."What are you doing?" Lisa growled at the man with a frown, hurriedly grabbing something to steady herself."Lisa, what the hell do you want?" the man said resignedly, "didn't you say that you just wanted to help your family out of trouble? I don't understand what you're thinking. Do you love Carson? Are you proud of him?""What's the problem with this?"
While waving at her, Oliver murmured and walked in with Carson.Everly nodded with a smile. With the clothes in her hand, she got into the car and changed her clothes.The clothes were very simple, which were just a big white T-shirt and a pair of casual shorts. Looking at the clothes, she couldn't help wondering what Carson and Oliver would wear.She walked out, with her mind wandering. She saw Carson and Oliver not far away, both of whom were wearing a white vest and a pair of shorts to their knees. The color and style of their clothes were the same, except for the size.They two seemed to be talking about something, with buckets in their hands. Carson held a big bucket while Oliver held a small one. There was another bucket on the ground, obviously prepared for Everly.Noticing her coming, Oliver turned around and looked at her. "Aunt Violet!"Carson also looked up at her.Her heart was thumping faster inexplicably.‘He seems to be closer to me these days.’Maybe it was bec
The shopkeeper felt embarrassed. He looked at Oliver and replied, "What? I couldn’t do that. Don’t talk nonsense."Oliver pouted and didn’t say anything. Carson patted his head and then looked at the shopkeeper.The shopkeeper already understood his meaning. So then he handed three sets of clothes to Everly and Carson, "You can rinse over there.""Thank you." Everly nodded, then they went there together.After lifting the curtain of the outdoor shower, Carson and Oliver both frowned slightly and looked at her at the same time.Everly was a little confused, so she asked, "What’s wrong?""You can change the clothes in the car." Carson opened his mouth.Oliver nodded and explained, "Right, Aunt Violet. This place has some leaks. It’s okay for me and dad, but it's not okay for you, and there’s no mud on you. It's just me falling into the mud puddle."Everly looked at him and then at Oliver, understanding what they meant.She nodded and pinched Oliver's face with a smile, "Okay,
She immediately quickened her pace to rush over and snatched Oliver from Carson's hand."Hmm..."Before Oliver jumped into her arms and complained to her, Carson's cold voice sounded, "Stop. You're covered in mud."Oliver stopped immediately, looking down at himself, then he glared at Carson. Just a few seconds later, he sat down on a small rock and pointed to the big mud puddle beside him. "Aunt Violet, I just fell into it."Everly glanced in the direction that Oliver pointed to. There was indeed a mud puddle and a human shape was still there. Oliver's father just wiped his face. Otherwise, he could not be recognized.Looking at him sitting on that small rock and his aggrieved look, Everly thought he was so cute and couldn’t help laughing out loud, "Puff..."Hearing her laugh, Oliver turned his head. Everly immediately tried to hold back her laughter, but she failed."Ah! Aunt Violet, you laughed!” Oliver directly came down from the rock, sat in the mud, and childishly showed
Yet the meeting room was quiet. No one spoke.If there had been a way to settle the matter, they would have dealt with it many days ago.And if they gave advice but failed in the end, they might have to take the blame."Why do you all keep silent? Didn't you have a lot of ideas at the very beginning?" the leader roared, slapping the table.However, no one answered.After a minute, someone trembled and said, "Then ... shall we find Carson and make him the president again?""What are you talking about?" The leader was even angrier.But another person said, "I think he's right. The share price is falling. We have less and less money. If it goes on like this, none of us can stand it. We'd better get Carson back... When he managed the company, the share price was rising.""You're looking down on yourself and flattering Carson!" the leader growled, "and the share price is falling. Their losses must be bigger than ours. They should be the most anxious!""But..." the person who had be