Amidst the cheers and blessings, Arya looked deeply moved but somewhat shy. She extended her hand, allowing Toph to place the ring on her finger. Toph put the ring on and then scooped her up like a princess.Colorful fireworks lit up the night sky, making the whole venue a dream.The banquet was lively, and everyone expected Toph to be his usual sociable self. However, with Arya by his side, he held back. Instead of joking around with his friends, he gazed at his future wife with a goofy grin, becoming a quiet and composed gentleman.Dealing with the guests fell to Zuko and Lina, and they handled it gracefully, impressing the guests with their charm.Daniel stood in a corner, observing the festivities as if he were in a different world. He watched everything calmly, took a sip of red wine, and felt a hint of bitterness.Graham had flown back from overseas for this event. He stood by Maisie's side, helping her with her shawl and replacing her wine with grape juice.Daniel saw Mais
"I..." Maisie initially wanted to refuse.She felt a strange sensation the first time she saw Daniel. His words held a certain power over her, and she had an unexplainable trust in him from the depths of her heart. It was as if she believed he was a good person who wouldn't do anything inappropriate.-Daniel drove Maisie to the amusement park, which was closed for the day and shrouded in darkness.However, when Maisie took her first step into the park, it seemed like a magical spell had been cast. Each step she took illuminated a path beneath her, and the surrounding lights gradually came to life, transforming the place into a fairytale wonderland.Her eyes widened in amazement as she beheld the towering Ferris wheel adorned with neon lights in the distance, the merry-go-round playing a beautiful melody nearby, and even houses shaped like cotton candy. Maisie's delight was evident."Do you like it here?" Daniel asked gently."Yes!" Maisie nodded, recalling that the man beside h
"Are you okay?" Daniel looked at her with concern.Maisie's heart raced. She instinctively avoided eye contact and shifted back. The atmosphere turned awkward once more. Daniel pondered for a moment, then offered a gentle smile. "I... I'll tell you a joke, alright? There was once a tomato that jumped into a pot of hot soup, turning into tomato soup. Its buddy, the egg, wanted to save it and hopped into the same pot, transforming it into tomato and egg soup! Hahaha..."Maisie stared at him, puzzled. Daniel chuckled and then noticed something was off. He turned to Maisie, who still had a puzzled expression. "Uh, it's not funny?"This time, Maisie couldn't help but burst into laughter. It might have been a lame joke, but it amused her.The tension lifted. The car was parked by the roadside, and they could see the starry night sky through the moonroof.Maisie leaned against the headrest, feeling drowsy. She had been tired all day, and now her eyelids started to droop in the warm
This was the first time Maisie had ever been late for work. She hurried to the kindergarten's entrance. Normally, she would greet the security guard, but there was no time for that today. However, when she reached the fingerprint scanner to clock in, she was already one minute late for work.This upset her greatly. Being late by just one minute meant she would miss out on the perfect attendance bonus for the month.Maisie returned to the office. The other teachers had already gone to their classes, and she didn't have any morning classes today. She sat at her desk and took a deep breath.She couldn't help but think about last night's events. She scolded herself for carelessly falling asleep in Daniel's car—and for such a long time.-When Maisie woke up, it was already morning.She was wearing his coat, and the car seat had somehow reclined. Daniel was standing outside, smoking a cigarette. The faint dawn light cast a soft glow on his sharp features.Maisie hurriedly left the
Maisie followed Nicole's gaze and noticed that the person walking toward them was Daniel. She didn't understand why Nicole appeared fearful upon seeing him. Nicole instinctively shielded herself behind Maisie."Nicole, what's wrong?" Maisie asked.Nicole remained silent, her expression seeming off.When Daniel saw Nicole, his gaze changed. It wasn't his usual coldness, but rather, there was a hint of pleading in his eyes.This took Nicole by surprise. She couldn't believe the typically strong-willed Daniel would have such a gaze.Maisie spoke softly. "Nicole. This is Mr. Daniel Quimby. He's also a family member of one of our students.""Oh…" Nicole's voice quivered slightly, and she forced a smile. "Mr. Quimby's family member is here? Is Mr. Quimby... married?""No," Maisie clarified. "He's the child's granduncle.""Yes," Daniel replied quietly. "I haven't gotten married."He emphasized each word, looking at Maisie.Maisie didn't catch the deeper meaning behind his words, but
Daniel ushered Maisie into the car and drove out of the narrow alley. Maisie's hands remained cold despite the warm car interior, and she shivered.To ease her tension, Daniel tried to strike up a conversation. "By the way, do you live nearby?""It's a bit far from here," Maisie answered softly. "I usually don't take this route, but I left work late today, and it's more convenient, so I decided to use it. I didn't expect someone to follow me.""It's important to be cautious when walking through dark, quiet alleys," Daniel advised.Maisie nodded, and a thought suddenly crossed her mind. She gazed at him. "Mr. Quimby, why are you here too?"Daniel couldn't admit to following her all this time. He had been secretly keeping an eye on her, concerned for her safety on her way home. He had convinced himself that her apartment was in a moderately safe downtown area surrounded by busy roads. But his concern became a reality today.Daniel moistened his dry lips and had to craft a lie. "I h
"Maisie, are you there?"Maisie's attention snapped back, and she was ready to reply when she suddenly heard a woman's voice on the other end of the phone."Are you still having coffee, Graham?" the woman asked."Yes, Lisa?" Graham replied."I need you to sign some documents."With a smile, Graham agreed and promptly ended the call.Disappointment washed over Maisie, leaving her with a sense of emptiness. Her heart raced, and an indescribable unease settled in.She couldn't help but start overthinking. Who was this woman, and why did Graham readily comply with her request? Did their extensive time together lead to different feelings? His indifference to her just now, not even saying goodbye, troubled her.Maisie leaned against the bed, her thoughts in turmoil, and her gaze fell on a small teddy bear. She smiled helplessly, picked up the bear, hugged it, and lay down with tired eyes.-Nicole had been in Centrolis for over a week. During this time, her husband, Wesley Mebane,
Daniel waited outside the kindergarten every day. He was there to pick up Persephone, or so it seemed. In reality, his true motive was to catch a glimpse of Maisie. He adored her smile when she was with the children—it was as beautiful and pure as when they were together.Sometimes, he wondered if their child would be attending this kindergarten if it weren't for that one mistake he had made. Perhaps their story would have had a different ending.But in the present, he couldn't muster the courage to approach her. As such, all he could do was watch her from a distance.-One day, the childish calls of "Granduncle! Granduncle!" snapped Daniel back to reality. He suddenly realized he was holding Persephone's hand, and she was giving him a disapproving look with a pouting mouth."Granduncle, we've been waiting here for a long time!" she complained."Oh..." Daniel cleared his throat and led her toward the parking lot on the other side."Granduncle, aren't you tired of doing this ever