Before that, he’d never thought about the gender of that child. It didn’t matter because he would never accept that child regardless of their gender.The kind of bond men felt toward their children was completely different from how women felt. They didn’t experience carrying the child for nine long months, nor were they physically connected to the child through blood and flesh. Being less sentimental in nature, they could decide not to have the child more easily.Laurence looked into his niece’s eyes, which reminded him of Zoey’s. There was always a look of naivety in Zoey’s eyes.Then, he answered his niece. “No.”He patted her head gently and urged, “Go set off some firecrackers with the others.”…The kids in Laurence’s family weren’t able to play to their heart’s content with him around, as they feared and revered him. Luckily for them, Laurence drove out at night and went to the mansion on Springfell Street.Tristan and the others had been waiting for a long time. Sarah arrived la
Snow covered the entire city. Street lamps were dotted with pure white snow, making the world outside look less empty.As he stepped onto the balcony, Laurence only had a thin cashmere sweater to shelter him from the cold. From where he stood the light outlined his perfect silhouette from where he stood—his narrow waist, broad shoulders, and long legs. He listened to the dial tone ring before the call was answered in the last few seconds.Zoey almost fell asleep on the sofa. She heard her phone ringing in a daze and took it out from under the pillow. Without bothering to check who’d called her, she answered in a nasal voice that was lazy and slurred, “Hello, who is it?”Laurence stood in the cold wind. Strangely, the moment he heard her voice, the irritability in his heart gradually calmed down. “It’s me.”Zoey quickly glanced at her phone screen while Laurence asked, “Why did you call me earlier?”Zoey didn’t know why he suddenly called her back. It wasn’t his usual style of doing thi
Zoey was burning up at home. She’d been sweating profusely, but it brought her little relief. She felt very hot, so she stumbled out of bed and went to take a shower. After changing into a nightgown, she crawled back under the covers, thinking she’d feel better if she stayed cocooned there. She didn’t have any extra energy to get herself to the hospital. She decided that if she still felt terrible after waking up, it wouldn’t be too late to call an ambulance.Over the years, she’d always endured it this way. She would grit her teeth and only seek help when it became unbearable. Being sick was certainly troubling, but for Zoey, this amount of discomfort was nothing. When she’d been in school and had a part-time job, she’d still go to work even if she had a high fever. She could only rest briefly by laying her head on the convenience store counter in the middle of the night.Unlike the north, where heavy snowfalls were common, there was little snow in the south. Most winters there were c
Laurence had originally planned to take her back to the Northwell early the next morning. His heart softened a bit when he saw her sickly appearance. “The day after tomorrow,” he said. Then, he added, “You’ll go back with me.” Zoey never had much of a choice when it came to his decisions. She nodded, assuming that her fever would probably subside by then. She’d fallen ill suddenly this time, so she was completely unprepared for it.Zoey was afraid that Laurence would feel impatient if he had to wait for her. Therefore, she said, “The nurse said I’ll only be done with my IV drip when it’s almost dawn.”Her words politely implied that Laurence should return to the hotel to rest if he was tired or bored of waiting.The fact that he came to see her was already a pleasant surprise for her. She wasn’t greedy and didn’t intend to ask for more. She didn’t even dare to read too much into it, though she was curious whether Laurence had feelings for her beyond those of their ordinary superior-s
Zoey was startled. She didn’t know whether she should laugh it off or play dumb. Their surroundings were quiet, and they were suddenly having a tender moment together. Fortunately, the nurse came over to help Zoey remove the needle, the interruption saving the latter from the uncomfortable situation she’d somehow gotten into.As they walked to the car, Laurence put an arm around her waist and held her beside him naturally. The masculine air about him was unwavering and invasive—it made her feel a little overwhelmed. Zoey’s body stiffened when he held her, and her walking pace slowed down involuntarily.With his arm around her, Laurence realized she’d become thinner in just a few days. Her slender waist, which he could encircle with one hand, seemed like it could break with a squeeze. Frowning, he thought it was a wonder she was so frail and often fell sick.A damp and cold wind enveloped them as they exited the hospital. Laurence silently took off his coat and draped it around Zoey’s
Laurence had long noticed that Zoey’s gaze was clearer than ordinary people's; her eyes held a look of pureness. She unconsciously relaxed her posture, making her appear soft and vulnerable. Without saying a word, Laurence picked her up and carried her in his arms, bridal style. Zoey was unprepared when her body was lifted into the air. Her slender arms circled tightly around his neck, and her exclamation of surprise got stuck in her throat.She stared blankly at his side profile: his clear and distinct features, his incredible handsomeness, his long eyelashes, and his eyes that reflected elusive brown hues in the light. She reached out and touched his thick and long eyelashes subconsciously. Realizing what she’d done, Zoey quickly apologized.Laurence stopped and looked down at her flushed cheeks with a meaningful look. “Do you like my eyelashes?” Zoey was embarrassed to admit it, so she lowered her eyes, thinking that pretending nothing had happened would work. “I just wanted to c
Zoey was flustered by his words. Steam seemed to be coming from the back of her head like a cartoon.She looked adorable as she responded seriously, “I didn’t mean that.”Laurence admired her face, which was flushed red with embarrassment. He knew she didn’t intend it that way, but he continued to tease her. “Aren’t you trying to make me stay?”Zoey believed only very few people could resist Laurence’s eyes if he looked at them as deeply as he was looking at her now. His gaze was focused and serious as if you were the only one in the world.Upon meeting his eyes, Zoey could feel her heart beating violently. She didn’t have a switch to turn off her feelings for him. She couldn’t control them as she wished.She whispered in defense, “I’m not.”Her face was so hot it could catch fire. She couldn’t tell if the heat was from her high fever or because of his words. “I’m just worried about your well-being.”Unexpectedly, Zoey confided the truth without filtering her thoughts.As the words lef
Laurence was relaxed and at ease even when doing mundane chores. Zoey listened to the water running in the sink and was reluctant to take her eyes off his back. It was rare for them to have such a moment.Laurence washed the dishes slowly and carefully and even washed his hands several times with dish soap. There were still water stains on his thumbs when he turned around and looked at Zoey. Seeing her in a daze, he smiled and said, “Help me take off my apron.”Zoey seemed to return to her senses and walked over to him slowly. She untied the apron for him and suddenly blurted out, “Mr. Scott, you look like a devoted family man when you’re doing this.”Laurence wiped his hands with a tissue. He frowned slightly as he could still smell the dish soap on them. “Do I?”Zoey looked at him seriously. “Yes.”Laurence wasn’t interested in being a devoted family man. He was only doing it to take care of a sick person. He couldn’t possibly let a patient cook and wash dishes for him. It wasn’t rig