"There's something else you should know," Sean remarked casually, but his words struck Sophie like a series of bombs detonating in her already turbulent heart."Actually, Cedric’s past escapades were all a facade, designed to irritate and provoke you, the proud peacock. An arrogant man still resorting to childish tactics."As for Vivienne, their relationship had ended long before he agreed to marry you. Tristan was the only unplanned part."Sometimes, men couldn't foresee everything. Tristan's unexpected arrival led the normally calm and decisive Cedric to make a wrong decision, resulting in all the subsequent chaos."Now, I've told you everything. Just don't let Cedric know it came from me," Sean added with a nonchalant shrug, his words sending ripples through Sophie's mind, further complicating her thoughts."I need a drink.""Coming right up. I'll have the bartender whip up our Crimson Bar's signature drink," Sean said. He signaled the bartender to prepare their signature cock
Sophie was significantly affected by just three drinks."Mrs. Carlson, are you alright?" the bartender asked with concern."I'm fine, just heading to the restroom." Sophie staggered slightly and mistakenly walked toward the men's restroom instead of the women's.The bartender tried to correct her, but the loud music drowned his voice. He was about to go after her, but another familiar person approached her. He then returned to his duties at the bar.Sophie stumbled to the restroom door, squinting at the sign before accidentally entering the men's room. Inside, a man was surprised by her presence and fumbled to cover himself. But it was too late to prevent an embarrassing wet spot on his trousers."Damn it!"Sophie tried to understand what was happening, but a pair of strong arms suddenly enveloped her, and her head was pressed against a familiar chest. The familiar scent and the resonating heartbeat disoriented her further, and her attempts to look up were thwarted by the hand ho
Cedric once believed marrying Sophie was an act of vengeance. However, when she vanished into the sea, he realized he desired her as his lifelong partner.Surrounded once more by his familiar scent, which intoxicated her like a potent aphrodisiac, Sophie bit her lip and summoned all her strength to push Cedric away. She needed to catch her breath.With shaky legs, she stopped at the door and said, "Cedric, if only everything could be undone with a rewind button…"'If only we could return to the beginning. I wouldn't have been so proud, he wouldn't have been so domineering, and there would be no Vivienne, no Tristan, no subsequent heart-wrenching pain. I would still be Mrs. Carlson, fervently yearning for happiness.'But that possibility had ceased to exist since that day over five years ago.Cedric suddenly grabbed her hand, thwarting her attempt to open the door. His urgent, cold breath left no room for escape. "No need for a rewind button, Soph. Let’s start anew from here and bu
Mrs. Carrie was puzzled when Cherry abruptly ended the call. "What's wrong, Cherry?" Still reeling from shock, Cherry gazed blankly at Mrs. Carrie for a while before mumbling, "Mrs. Carrie, who is my daddy?""Naturally, your daddy is Mr. Carlson."There had been wild rumors before, but Mrs. Carrie was certain Cherry was indeed Cedric and Sophie's child."Why him? Really him? Why him?!" Cherry babbled non-stop, her mind reeling from the revelation of Sophie spending the whole night with Cedric. Being young did not mean she was unaware of what could transpire over such a long night."What are you trying to say?" Mrs. Carrie was concerned by her unusual behavior."I need to talk to Godmother Jeanna," Cherry declared, dialing Jeanna’s number.Jeanna’s affectionate voice came through the phone. "Sweet Cherry, missing your godmother so early in the morning? How about I buy you a cherry cake tonight?""Godmother, my mommy... She seems to have lost her phone. If you see her, please te
After leaving Cedric's place, Sophie had intended to return home to change clothes. However, she worried about encountering Cherry, who had not yet gone to school, and didn't want to cause her any worry. Thus, she headed to the office instead, remembering that Linda had prepared a spare outfit for her there.As she hurried toward the elevator, she was stopped by the gasps and whispers of her female colleagues."Oh my God, that's really Mr. Carlson.""Did Ms. Luxford arrive together with Mr. Carlson?""Silly girl, Mr. Carlson's company is right next to ours. They commute together! How romantic is that?"Hearing "Mr. Carlson" mentioned repeatedly made Sophie tense up, her heart racing."Soph, you left your phone under the bed." Cedric’s low, seductive voice echoed from behind her, startling her and causing the gossiping employees to lose their collective cool.'The phone was under the bed? Doesn't that imply she spent the night with Mr. Carlson?'Sophie's face reddened instantly.
"Sean, what have you done this time?" Jeanna asked, her tone sharp and suspicious.Sean cautiously stepped back to keep a safe distance and replied with a wry smile, "I... I just helped to pair up a prideful duo of the animal kingdom.""You jerk!" Jeanna was upset that her suspicions were confirmed.Cedric was a fire pit, and she would have accepted it if Sophie had willingly jumped in. But Sean had gone behind her back to give her a push!Seeing Jeanna holding back her anger, Sean grinned cheekily and leaned in again. "Jean, it wasn’t blind matchmaking. Sophie still has feelings for Cedric. The past is the past. Why not give them a chance to start over?"Happiness isn't guaranteed, but they might find it this time. Love doesn’t always bring happiness, but without love, there’s no happiness. Can you bear to see Sophie missing out on happiness forever?"He began playfully, but his tone grew serious, "True friends seize every opportunity to bring happiness to those they care about.
The two men emerged from the Luxford Group building, their expressions radiating satisfaction.Sean nudged Cedric with his elbow. "So, about last night, I played a crucial role, didn't I? How much are you planning to spend at my bar?"Without Sean's clever intervention, Cedric doubted that he and Sophie would have reconciled, even after several more months.Cedric halted in his tracks and turned, his expression proud. His tone turned chilly. "I warn you, if you ever get her drunk again, you can forget about running the Crimson Bar."He couldn't risk her getting intoxicated and mistakenly wandering into the men's restroom again, witnessing things she shouldn't."Oh, come on. You can't deny you enjoyed last night. I don’t care, you’re responsible for my bar's revenue this year.""Return to your Crimson Bar and preserve your virtue," Cedric retorted, smiling disdainfully."Please, don’t pretend like you didn’t spend half the night doing... you know what and then smiling about it."
Cedric leaned casually against his car, his presence more magnetic than ever, starkly contrasting the man who once captivated countless admirers. His experiences over the years had lent him a deeper, more intriguing aura.Cedric was intently watching the building's exit, his patience resembling that of a predator in wait.As time passed, the crowd of employees thinned out, and Cedric glanced at his watch, estimating how much longer Sophie could resist.When Sophie finally appeared, he smiled faintly, betraying his anticipation.Sophie moved briskly toward the lot, bypassing Cedric, but he swiftly blocked her path."Let me drive you home.""There's no need, I have my own car," she said coolly, trying to sidestep him but stopping abruptly. Confused, she turned to him. "Where is my car?""One of your employees accidentally hit your car while reversing. I've sent it to the repair shop for repairs," Cedric explained nonchalantly.'My employee hit my car? And they didn't even have th
Tristan looked up in surprise. As if struck by a sudden thought, he glanced at Cherry, who was writhing in pain, and timidly asked, "Can I go to the hospital to help?""You need to stay home and help Cherry get a leave from school tomorrow. Be good and stay here. Trust Daddy. Cherry will be fine." Cedric's words seemed to soothe Tristan's anxiety.Avoiding Cedric’s gaze, Tristan obediently nodded. 'Cherry will surely be fine.'-The Bentley sped along the road and soon arrived at the hospital.Cedric held Cherry the entire time, while Sophie handled the paperwork. Their seamless cooperation made them seem like a perfectly ordinary married couple."Mr. Carlson, Mrs. Carlson, the child has gastritis and needs to be hospitalized for treatment," the emergency physician explained after examining Cherry, jotting down the diagnosis in the medical record.Sophie's face turned pale. 'Gastritis? How could it be so severe?'"Can she recover?" Cedric asked with a frown, his sudden intimida
In Imperium, hardly anyone else would dare yell at Cedric like this. Cedric's eyes narrowed dangerously, his shoulders radiating a cold aura. However, traces of helplessness and doting affection softened his expression. Despite his reluctance, he eventually turned aside cooperatively.Sophie couldn't help but smile. 'It's no wonder some people believe that daughters are their fathers' lovers from a previous life. If it were anyone else, Cedric would have likely thrown them out the window by now.'She lifted Cherry's clothes to reveal her round belly and gently massaged it in circles with her fingers. Taking the opportunity, she also gave Cherry a gentle reminder, "How many times has Mommy told you not to eat so much? But you never listen. Now you know how it feels when you overeat, huh?""Mommy, could you not rub salt in my wounds?" Cherry's face was scrunched up in pain. Her pitiful and aggrieved expression instantly silenced Sophie, who decided to save the scolding for when Cherry
Cedric kissed Sophie’s rosy cheeks, preparing to take things to the next level, when a knock on the door interrupted them at a crucial moment.His expression darkened immediately. No man liked being interrupted at such a time, and it had happened repeatedly."Who is it?" Sophie grabbed the blanket beside her to cover her exposed chest, her hoarse voice betraying her recent passion."Ms. Luxford... It's me." Tristan's low voice came from the other side of the door.'Tristan?' Sophie looked at the man beside her, surprised. She had assumed it was Cherry again, but unexpectedly...Gathering her scattered clothes from the floor, Sophie dressed quickly. Ensuring there was nothing inappropriate between her and Cedric, she got out of bed and walked toward the door.Tristan stood there, head down, fingers fidgeting, indicating urgency. As soon as the door opened, he looked up anxiously and said, "Ms. Luxford, could you go check on Cherry? She seems unwell.""Cherry is unwell?" The flush
"This birthday brings me a lot of happiness."Sophie grasped the deeper implications of his words. The blush on her cheeks faded slightly, and the initial flutter of excitement mingled with a touch of sadness. No one could predict what Jeff's condition would be like by her next birthday.Cedric shifted the topic, pouring the already decanted red wine into a tall glass and handing it to her. "Just one glass. This is for your private birthday celebration. Happy birthday."The intoxicating aroma of the wine was irresistible. She stopped resisting and held her glass up to gently clink against his, producing a clear, melodious sound that resonated beautifully in the quiet room.The rich wine slid down her throat, soothing her tense nerves. Her tightly held shoulders relaxed, and her racing heart found a semblance of peace. She had once believed she would never fall for Cedric again, but looking back, she realized that all her hatred had been rooted in love.He had transformed love into
Cedric seemed to know exactly what Sophie was nervous about. He raised his eyebrows suggestively, causing her to blush and quickly look away.What had happened between them lingered in the air, irrevocable.Jeff squinted, watching their subtle gestures with satisfaction. Smiling contentedly, he struggled to his feet with the help of his cane. These two had already reached a natural conclusion, and there was no need for him to exaggerate his illness any longer."Mommy, I still have homework to do. I'm heading to my room," Cherry announced, her bright eyes glancing at Tristan. She couldn't beat him at Taekwondo, but she was determined to outshine him in the midterm exams!"I’m going upstairs too," Tristan added, surprised by her sudden focus. He hesitated for a moment before quickly following her up the stairs.Melissa had long lost her patience. Without a word, she dragged Matthew upstairs, letting out a disdainful snort as they left.What had been a lively living room now left So
"Okay."Understanding Cherry’s impatience, Sophie smiled and gently pulled away from Cedric’s embrace. She clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and made a wish.She hoped for her family's safety, health, and happiness. She wished that her parents and sister were living comfortably in another world. And she wished that she and Cedric would have a happy ending, free from past mistakes.After silently making her wishes, she blew out the flickering candles in one breath.The room filled with the faint scent of melted wax."We can eat the cake now!" Cherry beamed with joy, eagerly carrying the cake to the dining table.Her impatience made Jeff laugh heartily, his eyes crinkling with delight as he stroked his beard. "Alright, let’s start eating before this little girl drools all over the table."Sophie took her seat, glancing at Cedric, who still held her hand tightly. Her smile widened as she playfully scolded him, "Why didn’t you tell me on the way here?""If I told you, ho
Although Sophie's mind was brimming with questions, she couldn’t help but smile at Cedric's words. She looked down at their intertwined hands, feeling the warmth of his palm. Whether it was a perfect match or a union made in heaven, it all required two hearts in love. With love, even amidst turbulence, they would find the courage to move forward together.Before long, the Bentley smoothly pulled into the Carlson residence.Jeff immediately smiled and waved upon their arrival. "Soph, come over here."Sophie approached, noticing that Mrs. Carrie had prepared a table full of dishes. She couldn’t help but feel puzzled. "Grandpa, what has made you so happy? Why did you ask Mrs. Carrie to make so much delicious food?""Silly girl, did you forget what day it is today?"Jeff's loving yet mischievous smile left her momentarily bewildered. Then her eyes widened in surprise. With everything going on with Linda, she had completely forgotten her own birthday!"Happy birthday." Cedric had quie
Fearing that staying any longer would only worsen the situation, Linda quickly opened the door and walked out.Fenix stood there, confusion gradually replacing the determination in his eyes."What’s wrong with marrying me?" he asked Sophie, genuinely puzzled.'I’m the CEO of Cheshire Group. I’m not unattractive, and marrying me would make her legally protected as Mrs. Cheshire. Why am I being rejected?'Sophie coughed awkwardly, gaining a deeper understanding of Fenix. Sean had navigated the world of romance with ease, but Fenix seemed as naive in matters of the heart as a child."Am I really that bad?"Seeing that Fenix was still fixated on why he was rejected, Sophie shook her head. "Feelings are different from business. It’s not about racing against time or weighing benefits. You can’t apply business tactics to relationships. Spending a lifetime together requires a foundation of love.""Foundation of love? You and Cedric grew up together. You had a good foundation, but it was
Sophie's suspicion was right. Fenix was not one to easily abandon his target. After Linda ignored countless calls, he took the initiative to find her."Mr. Cheshire, Linda really isn't in the office right now," the secretary tried to block him, but it was futile against a determined man, especially one exuding an intimidating chill."Then I’ll find Sophie.""But Ms. Luxford, she—" Before the secretary could finish, Fenix's long legs had already taken him to Sophie's office door.He knocked twice before pushing it open. The secretary looked like she was about to cry. "Ms. Luxford, I’m sorry, I couldn’t stop Mr. Cheshire.""It’s fine. Go make Mr. Cheshire a cup of coffee," Sophie said.Seeing Fenix barge in, she raised an eyebrow, smiled, and glanced at Linda, who was hiding in her office. "Have a seat and let's talk.""No need. I have to catch a flight soon." Fenix cut straight to the point, his determined eyes fixed on Linda as he said firmly, "I need an answer from you.""Mr.