"Grandpa, if you don't want Soph to worry about you, just take someone with you," Cedric said. He was well aware that Jeff disliked having company during his walks, but the current situation was different.Jeff frowned for a moment before sighing. "You two are always teaming up against me. Fine, I'll get Mrs. Carrie to come with me."With the matter resolved, everyone resumed eating dinner.Cherry reached for the grilled pork near her, but as soon as she extended her fork, she recalled the last time she had offered meat to Tristan. Her brows furrowed involuntarily.'Should I go to the hospital for a check-up? Why am I always thinking about Tristan?'Noticing Cherry suddenly stop with her fork in mid-air, her brows creased, and looking completely lost in thought, Sophie couldn't help but ask, "Cherry, what's wrong?""Me? I was just thinking about something. Mommy, the kid who sits behind me got beaten up. I suspect it might be school bullying." Cherry's quick-thinking mind knew if
Throughout the meal, Cherry regretted speaking up. 'Who cares if Tristan gets bullied or not? Why do I have to get myself involved? Now, I've gotten myself tangled in this mess.'Jeff did not move his silverware the entire time. After everyone finished eating, he stood up with the help of his cane. "Mrs. Carrie, don't clean up just yet. Come take a walk with me in the park.""Alright," Mrs. Carrie said, quickly putting the dishes into the sink. She then dried her hands, removed her apron, and supported Jeff out.Matthew still felt uneasy. Although Jeff's posture was no longer as upright as before, he was still a tall and large man. If something were to happen, Mrs. Carrie, being elderly too, would not be of much help."Dad, how about I go with you? I ate quite a bit tonight too," he suggested."You want to come with me? Do you think I've grown too dumb?" Jeff raised his voice slightly, causing everyone's expressions to change.Even Melissa, who had been unusually quiet today, loo
Jeff sighed, though his face showed no sign of blame. 'If Cedric wants to get to the bottom of this issue, Rylie wouldn't dare hide it from him.'"Mr. Carlson, you know your grandson's temperament. He's not someone I can deceive with just a few words." Realizing he had been found out, Dr. Zegler stopped pretending. "He started suspecting as soon as he was notified about your fall. He said you don't usually like having people accompany you on your walks, but that day you deliberately had two servants with you, which clearly indicated a plan.""That rascal, he does know me well." Jeff snorted, but his stern face showed a hint of relief and pride."Mr. Carlson, please don't be angry with me. I also told your grandson you did this to help him and Mrs. Carlson get back together.""Not angry? How could I not be angry?" Jeff's previously relieved expression suddenly changed.Upon seeing that, Dr. Zegler's smile quickly faded away. "Mr. Carlson...""If you want me not to be angry, you ca
"Keep it from me? Do they really think I've lost my wits?" Jeff jabbed his cane into the ground, but what infuriated him more was himself. Of all the illnesses he could have, it had to be this one! Now even his grandchildren had to lie to him, pretending everything was normal and hiding their discomfort."Mr. Carlson, please don't be like this." Dr. Zegler, worried about Jeff's blood pressure, tried to calm him down.Jeff took a deep breath, slowing his rapid breathing. "There's no need to comfort me. It's just dementia. I've lived a long life and weathered many storms. It's just an illness. It's no big deal."Over the past few days, he had gradually come to terms with this shocking reality. He only wanted to confirm and understand his condition better."It's great that you think that way." Seeing Jeff's optimism, Dr. Zegler was at a loss for words. Everyone's life began as a blank slate, and perhaps leaving with one was not the worst fate."Now tell me, how advanced is my conditi
Because Sophie arrived early, many parents were still dropping off their children when she left the school. To avoid the crowd, she deliberately exited through the side gate, reserved for security guards during school hours.There, she heard a child crying nearby. "I don't want to go to school. I'm afraid he'll hit me again!""If you stop bothering his sister, he won't hit you anymore!" A sharp, impatient voice responded.Hearing the conversation, Sophie slowed her pace. 'How could parents not realize they should protect their own children from violence?'"Mom, why don't you report it to the principal? Didn't you and Dad always say if someone bullies us, we should bully them back?" The crying drew nearer.As the child came into view, Sophie recognized him and raised her eyebrows. 'Isn't he Cherry's classmate? Could this be the child Cherry mentioned as being bullied?'Collin's mother, irritated, gave him a light slap on the head. Though she lowered her voice, her highly recogniza
The Bentley slowly pulled up to the company building. Sophie unbuckled her seatbelt, ready to leave without a second's delay, but the sound of the door locking startled her."What are you doing?" she asked, turning her head. Her delicate eyebrows creased as she stared at Cedric with a wary gaze.He gave a wry, self-mocking smile. His voice sounded seductive but could not hide the underlying annoyance as he explained, "Back when we were in school, every time other boys gathered around you, I wanted to beat them to death."Hearing this, Sophie was speechless.He continued. "But my pride wouldn't let me act on it or even show any sign of caring. Even more foolishly, I surrounded myself with more girls to prove my indifference."Thinking back, he realized just how childish he had been. If only he had told her sooner how much he minded other boys surrounding her, maybe things would have turned out very differently.Sophie was taken aback. 'He actually cared about the boys?'"I've bee
"I think it's quite romantic." Linda chimed in with a playful smile."I don't know what nonsense you two are talking about. It's time to go home." Hearing Linda join in the teasing, Sophie quickly adopted a serious expression, closed her laptop, grabbed her handbag, and headed out briskly."She's playing dumb. She's destined to stay under Cedric's enchantment for the rest of her life," Jeanna commented."Isn't the same for you and Mr. Cheshire, just the other way around? That's what you call destiny," Linda replied with a light smile. Sophie and Jeanna had finally found their destined partners, but she was uncertain where hers was.-As Sophie exited the Luxford Tower, Cedric had already gotten out of the car, holding the door open for her—he resembled a prince waiting for his princess.Although he was already taken, it did not stop some persistent admirers among the employees who lingered and dispersed only when they saw their boss emerge.Sophie cleared her throat, keeping her
Mrs. Carrie was stunned for a split second.'It's been nine years since they got married. Since when did we have a Château Lafite? Has he forgotten it?'"Sir..." Mrs. Carrie responded bewilderedly.Both Sophie and Cedric's expressions turned grim. 'After the incident with the raspberries, Grandpa is starting to forget things again. This time, it's the passage of time.'Seeing that she was confused, Jeff instructed again, "Why are you just standing there? Go get it. Matthew, you'll have a drink with me later.""Of course. Mrs. Carrie, hurry up and go get the wine," Matthew said, signaling her to move.Although Mrs. Carrie did not quite understand, she hurried to the cabinet and found a bottle of Château Lafite inside. Relieved, she brought it back and poured a glass for Jeff and Matthew.Sophie could only suppress her emotions. Looking worried, she reminded him, "Grandpa, you should drink less.""Don't worry, I'm still strong. I plan to live until 90 at least so I can watch you
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.