Lionel's face went serious. "Mrs. Hoven, my daughter Miranda is a great young woman. Whatever you've heard, please stop spreading these nasty rumors."Such talk is just gossip," Lionel said firmly. "It's not how a teacher should behave."Then, Lionel walked away, clearly upset.Judy watched him go a
"Oh my! It really is you, Miranda!" Karen's loud, surprised voice came through the door. "I almost thought I was mistaken!"Karen Larden, the loud neighbor next door, was known for her gossip. Her husband also taught at Earnest High, and they moved into the staff quarters the same year as Miranda's
Miranda shook the mop and continued to swing it at Karen. Karen held her head and ran toward the door. "I'm not done with you! That damned wisteria from your place has spread into my yard. I'm burning it all down tomorrow! It's so annoying!" Karen yelled, then ran off as Miranda chased after her wi
Jenny worked at the power plant.With a stable job and no real stress, she was rather plump and cheerful. Today, she wore a bright green sweater and had her short hair styled in fluffy, wool-like curls, making her look like a robust Christmas tree."What are you talking about? Can't you speak proper
Among Anna and George's three daughters-in-law, Rena was known for her grace and competence, Jenny had a charming way with words, but Mindy never quite fit in. Over time, even Lionel's standing suffered.After all, Lionel was seen as someone who forgot his roots after getting married. He couldn't co
Jenny stifled a chuckle as her eyes fell on the basket of fruit Lionel had brought. "Mindy, did you get cherries too? They seem a lot smaller than the ones Rena bought."Mindy's smile faltered slightly. "Well, our family can't compare to Leonard's."Jenny chuckled, "Exactly! Leonard's family is unma
"Of course," Cynthia said."Oh, Cynthia, you're too generous!" Rena took the gift and set it aside to open later.Cynthia then added, "It's a solid gold bracelet. If you don't like the style, you can exchange it at Aurora Gold Exchange."Jenny remarked, "Cynthia, you're so generous. Starting with a
The incident with Miranda had caused quite a stir back then. Lionel and Mindy even went to Elgerson City, but when they returned, they wouldn't say a word about it. From the rumors she heard, the truth wasn't far off.It seemed Miranda had given up on her studies for a relationship. Her ex was repor
By force? Sam chuckled. "Well, that's if you actually managed to grab hold of it."Timothy retorted, "How would you know you can't if you haven't tried?""What? Are you going to pursue Aunt Minnie? Heh… First of all, there's no way you'll get past my grandparents."Timothy made no comment on that.
"No way… Are you a big shot? You even brought your bodyguards to get drunk at a bar?" "Who knows?" Sam retorted.…Sam asked his bodyguards to stand closer deliberately so that he could finally have some peace and quiet. He poured himself another drink, but unlike last night, he didn't chug it down
Now, Timothy and Mindy were no longer the childhood sweethearts they once were. Their lives had diverged, with separate marriages and entirely different paths."Do you remember when we were kids, the promises we made about what we wanted to be when we grew up?" Timothy was the first to break the sil
Timothy waved his hand dismissively. "No need, I'll serve myself…""Nonsense! We're all family here." Before Timothy could finish, Lionel had already added two heaping servings of ribs to his plate.Timothy froze, momentarily at a loss for words.Nelly smiled sweetly, but her gaze toward Timothy was
The moment seemed to pull Timothy back in time, to when they were just young adults in their 20s. Their world revolved solely around each other, yet held back by the unspoken.His heart stirred. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, Mindy stood up and broke the spell. "I sh
Nelly's smile became slightly strained. "Is that so? Lionel is truly a family man…"As everyone enjoyed their meal, the doorbell suddenly rang. Sam put down his cutlery. "I'll get it," he said, heading to the entryway.A few seconds later, his surprised voice echoed through the house. "Dad? What are
Mindy only asked Miranda to contact Sam because the two of them already knew each other.Back when Lionel's wallet was stolen at the train station, Miranda had introduced Sam to them. She called him "Mr. Cooper" and explained that he was a friend. Later, Sam had even thoughtfully dropped them off at
Fortunately, for now, Fiona was satisfied with Lionel as a son-in-law. He was gentle, attentive, and thoughtful, with decent looks and a respectable height.Having graduated from Queenstone College and now working as a physics teacher at a prestigious high school, he might not be wealthy, but he was
"A family reunion is always a good thing," Aren said with a heartfelt sigh, while Lionel nodded immediately in agreement.It was then that Mindy realized she hadn't introduced Lionel to Nelly."This is my husband," she said."Hello," Nelly responded with a faint smile. "My brother-in-law certainly l