"When did the usually aloof and arrogant Mr. Crosby become so shameless in his speech?" Gabriel teased.Curtis flashed a slight smile and gestured to Laura. "Laura, come sit here."Laura stood still. If she moved over again, she would end up right next to Tommy, and she definitely didn't want that.Curtis wanted to sit next to Margot, so he coaxed, "Be good and sit there."Why aren't you sitting over there?"Laura was still sulking.Gabriel joked, "He's like a three-year-old, needing to be next to his wife; otherwise, he'll start crying."Curtis glared at him. "You're really asking for a beating, aren't you?"Curtis looked at Luna, gestured, and said, "Ms. Luna, please keep an eye on your husband."Luna and Margot stood aside and watched the situation unfold without getting involved.Curtis was bending over and gently coaxing Laura."Aunt Laura, could you please go and sit over there? I'll get you a handbag and some nice clothes later, okay?"Laura felt that Curtis really r
"Does the boss need any more dishes? I can bring it over for you," Jonas offered."No, these are enough," Margot said casually."Okay." Jonas nodded and then said to Margot, "Boss, if you need anything, just call me, I—"Before he could finish speaking, his arm was suddenly grabbed.Curtis pulled Jonas away angrily with a sullen expression and asked, "Can you speak from the side? Why are you standing so close to her?"He was a sensitive person; he felt uncomfortable whenever a guy was standing next to Margot. Not even a waiter couldn't do that.Jonas was pulled away. He glanced at Curtis and quickly explained, "I was just pouring water for the boss.""Why do you keep a bit of distance when pouring water for everyone else but get so close when it's her turn?" Curtis was annoyed by the greasiness of the cheese and spoke to Jonas in a much colder tone.Margot thought that since it was her own employee, she couldn't ignore the situation.She grabbed Curtis' arm, saying, "Enough. I
Tommy ignored the struggling Laura in his arms. There were some things he needed to clarify with her. Instead of taking her back to the private room, he left and went to the basement parking garage of the mall.He threw Laura into his car, gazing at her sternly and seriously, and called her by her full name. "Laura Crosby, are you aware of what you're doing?"Laura was still crying, and her face was covered in tears.Her eyes were red as she glared at him. She gave him a look filled with grievance. "Why do you care what I do? Does it have anything to do with you?""What you do is not my concern, but I know you're doing it because of me," he said.Tommy looked at her coldly and said in a harsh tone, "How old are you? Look around, do you see any other girls going to the bathroom to drink beer like you? You're really something else.""Who said I'm doing this because of you? Don't flatter yourself."Laura didn't want to face him. She wiped the tears from her cheek and made a move to
Tommy felt that Laura should give up on him. He then opened the car door so she could get out whenever she wanted.Laura suddenly froze. For an inexplicable reason, despite having gotten a definite answer, she didn't cry as heart-wrenchingly as she did before.Instead, she calmed down and sat there, lost in thought. Although she still felt heartbroken, she no longer wanted to show that she cared about him.He clearly told her that he liked someone else, and if she kept making a scene in front of him, it would be very undignified of her.It would also make others think that she had no morals and that she was trying her best to seduce someone else's boyfriend.Since Tommy made his stance clear, she naturally wouldn't have any inappropriate thoughts about him anymore.Laura wiped the tears from her cheeks and agreed with what he said. "Alright, I will let go, forget, and distance myself."It seemed like she had truly given up. She didn't look at him again. She simply opened the car
Anthony knew Lena was very stubborn and that he couldn't persuade her. But he still felt sorry for her having to kneel outside in the cold.With no other choice, he walked up the steps to the entrance of Serenity Hall and addressed Branden, "Branden, if you truly want her to come down the mountain with me, then meet with her once and make her give up on any hopes."If you keep avoiding seeing her, she won't leave with me."I'm asking you for a favor. Could you meet her just once?"Branden certainly knew that Lena had made every dish he had eaten in the past month.Even after a month of him not seeing her, she still didn't give up hope. It seemed that the only way she might choose to leave was if she understood why he didn't want to see her.With a sigh, Branden's slightly weathered voice drifted out through the gap in the door. "Go ahead and let her in!"Anthony heard this and laughed. He quickly walked down the steps to help Lena up, saying, "Get up quickly. Branden is willing
Lena stared at Branden's back and realized that he was determined to send her down the mountain. She had to leave, too, for Branden's sake.As she continued to kneel, she bowed deeply three times toward Branden's direction.After she was done, she stood up with reddened eyes and looked at his back, saying, "Master, I'm leaving. Please take good care of yourself."Branden remained silent and didn't turn back.Even though Lena was reluctant to leave, she eventually turned around and, with heavy steps, walked away from Serenity Hall.As soon as she stepped out the door, Anthony draped the cloak over her shoulders. He held her close and asked, "Are you okay?"Lena paused and looked at the view from the peak of Mt. Floust—the place where Branden lived with Solace and several of her junior disciples. She was filled with deep and complex emotions as she looked around.If it was possible, and if Branden would allow it, she truly wished to spend her entire life with them on this mountain
"Lena, I'll miss you every day," the last junior disciple called out.Anthony looked at the group of children and felt quite touched by how deeply they cared about them.He reflected back on the time he spent with them. He knew that they were always very kind to him. He said, "Don't worry, I'll take good care of Lena. I'll send some people over later with things for you. Is there anything you particularly want?"All the junior disciples looked at Anthony.Although they usually wanted many things, when they thought about how Lena was leaving them, they realized at that moment nothing compared to having family by their side.Everyone looked at Anthony with reddened eyes, unable to speak.Anthony knew that they were raised by Branden, and as such, they would naturally not ask him for anything.He made a mental note of it and planned to have someone bring some stuff over later.He looked at Solace and walked over. He crouched down in front of her, gently patted her head, and gazed
To get back to Emeria from Mt. Floust, Lena and Anthony had to pass through Amberville. But the sky had already turned dark before they arrived there.The two of them settled into a hotel in a small town.After having dinner, Anthony took a shower and came out to find Lena still sitting on the living room couch of their suite, lost in thought.Anthony, wrapped in a bathrobe, walked over and sat down next to her. He instinctively wanted to wrap his arms around her and hold her close.Who could have known that his action would startle Lena?She reacted extremely quickly and immediately moved aside to avoid him.Anthony was puzzled and frowned, unsure why she was acting this way."What's wrong?" he asked.Lena rejected him when he was on the mountain, and he understood why then. It was a place meant for quiet meditation, and Branden was also there.They were no longer on the mountain, so why was she still like this?Lena's eyes flickered with a hint of unease. "I-I don't really