Zephyr was speechless. He slowly shifted there and looked back at her with each step he took, hoping his wife would take back her order.Despite that, Cordelia kept up an encouraging gaze and smile, putting him in a dilemma.Ultimately, he gnashed his teeth with his mind made up and went to Zennie and the others.The group was chatting merrily and was surprised when they looked up at him.“M-Mr. Grist…” Linda was the first to notice that something was wrong and probed. “What is it?”Zephyr looked tense and stern, standing straight and frozen for a few seconds… before he suddenly flashed his pearly whites!The others widened their eyes and fell back, staring at him in disbelief. A few quiet seconds ticked past, and boisterous peals of laughter erupted in the small cafe.Cordelia rushed over upon hearing the noise and was greeted by the group's guffawing. Zennie and Fredric almost fell off their chairs too! She then looked at her husband… The corners of his lips slowly went down,
Zephyr looked at him icily, an alert and dangerous glint flashing in his eyes.Nicholas chuckled coldly as he looked at the man thoughtfully. “Marcus, the rental and renovation cost quite a dime, huh? Where did you get so much money from?”“None of your concern.” Zephyr looked stony and cold.“I took care of you when we were behind bars, bro.” Nicholas was overbearing. “Hah, you can let me know if you lack money. I’ll lend it to you for sure. I won’t let you suffer!”“Thanks but no thanks.”“I’m not expecting such determination! Marcus, you aren’t like what they say, right? That you’ve been depending on your wife?”Nicholas’ eyes went to Cordelia, who was behind Zephyr when he spoke.Zephyr clenched his fists, the veins on his toned forearms clear to sight.“Stop your nonsense.” Cordelia’s voice sounded suddenly.She stepped in front of Zephyr, her pretty eyes wide, resolute, and fearless. She might be soft in certain matters but stood firm when someone picked on her husband.
Cordelia subconsciously grabbed Zephyr’s arm and shot him a timid glance.Zephyr looked indifferent as he stepped forward and said with a deep voice, “We don’t have enough ingredients today and can’t serve so many people. You can come again tomorrow if you want coffee, Mr. Thompson.”“Dessert’s fine too if there’s no coffee!” Nicholas grabbed a cookie seeing there were some on the table.However, Zephyr kept the tray a step earlier and looked at him fiercely.Nicholas paused before he tried to catch Zephyr’s hand with an aggressive and hostile gaze.Zephyr was on his guard. With a tilt of his body, he pinned Nicholas’ wrist instead! Both of them were caught in a stalemate, and the atmosphere felt tense.The men in black around them were ready to strike as well.Cordelia felt cold beads of sweat trickle down her back.Nicholas launched a punch, which Zephyr caught. His expression was icy and cool, the sense of pressure surprising Nicholas.Zephyr emphasized each word. “Mr. Thom
Nicholas sat in the car. Even when the air-conditioning was blasting at the lowest temperature, he still felt incredibly frustrated. He rubbed between his brows and felt his headache slightly soothed. Despite that, the pang in his heart only grew more prominent.The first day he went behind bars, he knew that he was no longer in the same world as Linda. He could not take care of her for life—he could only look up at her, miss her, and die keeping her safe.That was why he was alarmed and scared when he saw that she was involved with Marcus. He knew what kind of person Marcus was all too well, and he would never let someone like him have the chance to hurt her!As long as someone was a threat to her, he would eliminate it disregarding the price he had to pay. This was also why he kept picking on Marcus.Today, however, he confirmed something in certainty—that man was not Marcus Grist!His underling ended the call and turned to him with a grim look to say in a hushed tone, “N, news
Nicholas paused and asked, “Who do you want gone?”There was an eerie silence before Yale uttered heavily, “The third heir of Hamertons, Zephyr Hamerton!”There was an icy glint in Nicholas’ eyes.“Come to Centrolis if you’re free. We’ll talk in detail when we meet!”…Cordelia looked at Linda, who was curled up on the bed, and could not help feeling the pinch in her nose as she patted her back softly.Since they came back, Linda had not said a word. She holed herself in the bedroom once she entered the house, and her eyes seemed to have lost their focus. She looked like a husk where her soul was sucked away.“Linda, you must be hungry?” Cordelia tried everything she could to strike up a conversation. “Seth and Marcus are outside. I’ll get them to make you something, okay?”Linda blinked, and a teardrop rolled off her eye.Cordelia felt her heart clench.The Linda she knew was feisty and carefree, like a seagull cruising through wind and riding on waves. It was as if there wa
Nicholas had been sentenced to eight years of jail time for intentional assault to protect Linda.Linda had gone to visit him in prison countless times during her university years, but the warden’s response would always be a cold, “He doesn’t want to see you”.Her last visit was when she graduated from university. She had gotten the company offer and wanted him to be the first person she shared the happy news with.…As she anxiously waited outside the visiting room, she heard the heavy noise of the metal door. Her tears were uncontrollable when Nicholas sat on the other side of the glass that separated them.This was his first and last sentence to her. “Don’t cry. It’s not worth it to cry over someone like me.”He looked at her deeply after that before getting up and going behind the metal door.Linda slammed the glass with all her might, and the prison warden stopped her. The news came from the inside a while later. The warden told her solemnly that Nicholas had asked her not
Zephyr wanted to pat his shoulder, but his hand froze in the air. He only put it down after a while.…Cordelia lay in his embrace when he went home that night as they slacked off on the bed.It was late, but she could not sleep. The dazzling stars shone through the photo frame in the dark room. She looked into the night sky. It felt like it had been forever since she could admire the night so peacefully.Knowing that she was warm, Zephyr fanned her while staring at her beautiful side profile with his head low. His heart jolted.He gulped, and a subtle surge of warmth rose.Cordelia looked at the sweat on the tip of his nose. She felt embarrassed that he would keep the air conditioning off to save money. “Hubby, turn on the air conditioner if you’re warm. It doesn’t cost much.”“Hmm… No need.” He licked his lips.The warmth they meant was completely different.Zephyr took a deep breath. He had his eyes on her fair neck and slightly opened small lips. He smiled, and his hand na
Zephyr’s expression changed. He said softly, “It’s all in the past… What else do criminals do when they’re together if not fight?”“Did you hit him?”“Hmm, you can say so.”Cordelia nodded.Everyone who was in prison before was abusive. It made sense that they were troubled mentally. Just like Nicholas, who always wanted to be on the top, would naturally be upset that Marcus hit him.However, Zephyr was different. Apart from his serious face and the fact that he hardly talked, to her, there was nothing wrong with him.Cordelia’s big, beautiful eyes were bright. She looked at her husband in silence. The more she looked, the more she thought she got herself a treasure.Her tiny hand caressed his chiseled face. He did not have the time to shave, so his stubs made her itchy.“Why are you staring at me?” Zephyr had an alluring voice as he patted her head.“Nothing,” said Cordelia softly. “I just realized not only is my husband fair, but he’s forgiving too!“Nicholas did that to yo