Jacob returned the greeting. He looked at Kevin, then Hayden. There was pity in his gaze when he looked at the latter. Hayden was the most outstanding young talent he had ever seen. He would have wanted to set his daughter up with Hayden if he had one of similar age to Hayden. Jacob never thought Hayden was unlucky enough to be targeted by Kevin, someone so thick-skinned at that. Hayden had clearly expressed that he did not like men, yet Kevin kept bothering him. One after another, Kevin’s love rivals gave up as they could not compete with Kevin. They were not as shameless as him, and Hayden did not give them any chances either. Though these women hated Kevin, they could do nothing about it. “Yes. I’m waiting for Mr. Queen to get off work. We’re having dinner together.”Kevin understood why Jacob looked at him one kind, but he could not care less about how others perceived him; everyone thought he was gay. However, they had no idea that Hayden had deceived them. “Hay, I’ll
It was evening by the time Hayden and Jacob’s discussion ended. “I look forward to working with you, Mr. Rowling.”Hayden stood and they both shook hands. Jacob smiled and said, “Likewise.”“Let’s have dinner together, Mr. Rowling. My treat.”Hayden looked at the time and invited Jacob, but he declined apologetically, “Thank you, Mr. Queen, but maybe another day. I have to be home for dinner tonight to celebrate my fifteenth wedding anniversary with my wife.”“You definitely have to accompany your wife then. I’ll treat you to a meal another day.”Hayden did not force it and saw Jacob off to the first floor. “I’m good on my own here, Mr. Queen. Have a good evening,” said Jacob as he stopped at the building entrance, not letting Hayden see him off any further. Hayden remained on the spot until she saw Jacob’s car leave the company. “Mr . Queen.”“Mr. Queen.”It was time to get off work and Hayden was the only one heading back in while most people were walking out.Those w
When Hayden returned, the secretary had not left and reminded her, “Mr. Queen, Mr. York’s still in the VIP lounge.”“Noted. Clear my schedule for tonight. You can get off work now.”“Okay.”The secretary could not repress his happiness upon Hayden canceling the night’s schedule. If his boss was not going to attend any business engagements, he could rest for the night and accompany his girlfriend. As Mr. Queen’s secretary, his days would always be busy. He had not been on a date with his girlfriend for a long time now and she had not been happy about it. After instructing her secretary to clear her evening, Hayden walked to the VIP lounge and pushed the door open. She saw Kevin sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea in his hand. He was reading the newspaper, taken from the coffee table. He looked relaxed and not a bit annoyed. When he sensed another’s presence in the room, he raised his head and saw Hayden. He put the cup of tea down and walked to her before asking concernedly
Hearing Hayden’s words, Kevin felt sorry that she had to work overtime. He was worried she would tire herself out. He said, “Forget it. You can attend the wedding on the day itself. I initially wanted to bring you around Wiltspoon for some fun if you could stay for a few days.“I’ll be wherever you are. I can be with you in Jensburg too. We don’t have to be in Wiltspoon.”Hayden’s expression darkened. She scolded, “Don’t you have anything to do? To think your brother handed over the management of York Corporation’s F&B businesses to you. If those stores go out of business, it’ll be on you. You haven’t been doing anything for many days.”If Kevin were as tenacious in running his businesses as pestering Hayden, he could definitely be a business tycoon. Well, as if he was not already one. “The industries York Corporation is involved in are stable. Besides, I’m not being completely idle. I handle urgent matters of the hotel too.”Kevin was always smiling, making Hayden want to pinc
Hayden ordered her driver to stop the car when she saw Caroline. “What happened, Ms. Fisher? Is there a problem with your car?” Hayden rolled the windows down and asked Caroline. Caroline turned around when she heard someone speaking to her. When she saw Hayden, she walked over. “My car suddenly broke down and I don’t know why.”“I’ll have my driver check it out for you.”Hayden instructed her driver to examine Caroline’s car. The driver was not only cool-headed and mature, he was also good at driving and repairing cars. Hayden got out of her car and her bodyguards followed suit. After the driver inspected the car, he told Caroline, “Ms. Fisher, I think you should get your car towed. I can fix cars, but I don’t have the necessary tools now.”“It’s okay. I’ve called for a tow truck to take my car to a workshop.”Caroline had already contacted the car service center when Hayden saw her. The driver seemed hesitant to voice his thoughts but Hayden and Caroline caught onto his
Hayden saw Caroline enter the hotel before telling her driver, “To Queen Manor.”“Okay.”Hayden rested in the backseat and pondered Caroline’s issue. Those who meant her harm were obviously her family. Madam Fisher and her extended family were the ones who truly wanted Caroline to be the next matriarch. Celine used to be the heir of the Fisher family but she was not Madam Fisher’s biological daughter. It was unlikely her extended family would allow her to be the successor.If Caroline could not hold her fort as the true heir, then the daughters of her extended family would start aiming for the position too. Hayden supposed that those who tried to harm Caroline were her family, and while her extended family might have known about it, they did nothing to stop it. Although Caroline was the Fishers’ flesh and blood, she did not grow up in the family, and neither did she have much chance to interact with them. Her extended family was worried that she would be even more impartial
Even if Madam Fisher wanted Caroline to gain some experience in overcoming tribulations, she would not risk Caroline’s life. If the car had been hit by other cars when it broke down, it would be challenging to ensure that Caroline was unscathed. Madam Fisher might have seemed like she still favored Celine and mistreated Caroline, but she prioritized blood relations. Caroline was her biological daughter, who had finally returned to her. She would not risk Caroline’s life, no matter how ruthless she was. “That’s Caroline’s problem. We can just stand by and watch. Let’s not interfere.”If Kevin were the one who had met Caroline on the way, he would not have helped her. He supported Serenity. Caroline’s mother, Madam Fisher, was most likely the person who murdered Serenity’s grandmother. Hayden did not speak as she was aware of Kevin’s stance. “Is Hugh back?”“No.”Kevin added, “Donnie and Sophia aren’t home too. We’re the only ones having dinner tonight.”He would have a
“Alright. I’ll make the plans. I’ll show you a good time tonight.” Kevin would do anything to get a date with Hayden. She looked at him and smiled. “I’m happy just to be with you. You’re a joy to be around.” Kevin chuckled gleefully. Hayden was the wife for Kevin. She was a reliable and practical person, so he did not expect her to be the type to say something sweet. Although there was nothing suggestive or lovey-dovey about what she said, Kevin still took it as sweet talk. He was so smitten with her words that he could develop a sweet tooth.During dinner, Kevin was attentive to Hayden’s needs. He would have fed Hayden if he could. She amusedly looked at the big plate of food in front of her and said, “You didn’t have to order so much food for me. I don’t know where to start.” Kevin proceeded to order dessert and another drink for her, apparently to help her wash down the food. Hayden had no words. She then did the same to Kevin, ordering additional appetizers fo
“Still not up yet?” Leticia smiled and said as she entered her daughter’s room after the door opened. Imogen’s room was decorated in a warm style, but the furniture was minimal. Aside from the bed, a computer desk, and a set of sofas, she preferred things to be simple. Her room was also the smallest. She said that if the room was too big, it felt empty and she could not sleep well. Leticia thought it was because when her daughter learned self-defense from her master, she lived in a small room with her fellow disciples, so she had gotten used to smaller spaces.Compared to the average person, Imogen's room was actually quite large, but against the rooms of the other family members, hers looked smaller.Leticia sat down on the sofa.“Mom, let me change first.” With her mother here, Imogen could no longer lie in bed. She went to change and wash up, then came out of the bathroom. She poured her mother a cup of water and placed it in front of her before sitting next to her. “Mom, a
Dylan was speechless.Leaving the warm indoors, he felt Huntington's winter was really cold. It was below freezing, and the temperature was as low as 14°F to 32°F. He had never experienced such low temperatures in Wiltspoon.In Wiltspoon, the moment the temperature dropped to 50°F, everyone would start saying it was freezing.Winston and Leticia headed back. Leticia whispered to her husband, “What if he really stands there for two hours without his coat and freezes to death?”They wanted to stand up for their daughter, but they did not want to kill Dylan. That would make them enemies of the Yorks. Even if they could not become in-laws, they definitely did not want to become enemies.Winston replied, “If he really does it, in half an hour, I’ll let Jen come out and call him inside. If he doesn't follow my request, he won’t freeze to death.”At most, he would just catch a cold. If he did not do it, nothing would happen.“I don’t think he’s here for love this time either. I’m not s
Leticia harrumphed as well. “Mr. York, why are you here?” Leticia asked coldly. “We don't welcome you here. Go back to wherever you came from.”Dylan smiled awkwardly, “Mrs. Doyle, I just want to see Ms. Imogen.”“Imogen doesn't want to see you. Hurry up and leave, or we'll let the guard dogs out.” Leticia rejected him outright. “And you’d better stay as far away as possible. Do you think our Imogen is someone you can just toy and flirt with just because you want to, then say you haven't fallen for her and play with her feelings?“What's the matter? Has the Mr. York, whose heart belongs to someone else, still not managed to win his lady love over?” Leticia mocked, though she was actually probing into the reason for Dylan's visit.Dylan just took the insults without getting angry. He knew he had hurt Imogen. Even though she was someone who could take things in stride, the fact remained he had flirted with her and turned to claim he did not like her, which had hurt her feelings.
Otherwise, the Old Mrs. York would not have taken a liking to her in the first place.“I'll go out and have a look.” Leticia could not sit still and stood up to leave. She wanted to mock that York boy. Winston replied, “I'll go with you.”He was worried that his wife might soften her heart because she was quite pleased with Dylan at first. Well, to be honest, he was too.It was mainly because everyone in Huntington knew of the Wiltspoon Yorks’ reputation. The men of the York family were devoted and loyal to their marriages, and once they married, it was for life.For women, the York family was an excellent family for marriage. Who would not want to marry into it? Families with daughters also hoped their daughters would marry York men, or those who were as devoted as them. Leticia hummed in assent and the couple hurried out.Dylan's car was parked in front of the Doyles’ residence. He had switched to a different car, afraid the security guards might recognize his vehicle, eve
“Goodnight, Mom,” Imogen said.As Leticia turned the doorknob to enter her room, Imogen suddenly asked, “Mom, if Dylan comes looking for me again, would you let him in?”“I'd set the guard dog on him.”Imogen chuckled softly, “Mom, you’re all talk. If he really does, you might just smile from ear to ear and think he’s realized he actually loves me.”Leticia was silent for a moment before she said, “Regardless, I have to make him sweat a little.” After saying that, Leticia quickly closed the door, feeling too embarrassed to face her daughter. She internally sighed. Dylan was the son-in-law she had hoped for. If Dylan really did realize that he actually loved Jen and came back for her, Leticia wondered if she should forgive him for the things he had done months ago. Dylan had hurt her daughter, but… never mind. It was between the two young ones. She should let them handle it themselves. There was no way Dylan would come back anyway.Leticia did not expect her daughter’s hypothet
Leticia then heard faint footsteps. When she went out to check, she saw it was her daughter. That was why she asked.“My friend invited me out for a late-night snack.” Imogen lied, not telling her mother that she had gone to meet that thief. She knew that Dylan wanted to break in by climbing the wall, but she kept to herself because she did not want her mother to have a bad impression of him.Leticia had met Dylan back when he was deliberately approaching her and knowing he was one of the Wiltspoon Yorks, she was very pleased with him. Since Leticia thought so highly of Dylan and said a lot of good things about the York family before her, Imogen took this into consideration and saw him as a potential partner. However, when she started to have feelings for him, he told her that after trying for two or three months, he still could not fall for her.“I thought you didn’t like eating late-night snacks? Anyway, you should just eat what you want at home. Why go out? It’s so cold,” Let
It was already two in the morning by the time she returned to the Doyle residence.Fox changed her clothes in the car, the one she frequently used that always carried several outfits, multiple hyper-realistic masks, and various makeup supplies.Sometimes, she would simply wear a mask and transform herself into someone else.Other times, she would change her outfit and use her exceptional makeup skills to alter her appearance.However, makeup would sometimes reveal small flaws, so wearing a mask was much safer.Imogen moved as quietly as possible when she went upstairs, not wanting to wake her family.Although it was the holidays, her mother was still exhausted from all the preparations.Imogen no longer felt the same anticipation for the holidays as she did in childhood.When she was little, she always looked forward to the holidays when she could take a break from homework. Receiving gifts was secondary.Children of the Doyle family, whether boy or girl, faced extreme pressur
“Sugar is a young and beautiful woman like you. She’s also skilled in self-defense.”Dylan walked toward her.“Little fox, are you Sugar? Silver once had ‘Fox’ as his nickname too. You’re one of Silver’s disciples, right?”Dylan did not know if Imogen was Fox, but he had long suspected Sugar was.That was because Sugar had small details that mirrored Fox’s.He was not able to confirm it because Sugar noticed that he suspected her and no longer gave him the chance to test her.That only made him more certain that Sugar was Fox.“Does he have to be my master just because his nickname used to be ‘Fox’? There are plenty of people with nicknames like that.“I’m not Sugar, so stop guessing. However, I’ve heard of Silver before. The York family is quite impressive to know of him even though he’s been in seclusion for decades. That means your family is quite close to him.”Dylan stared at her intently.Her expression was calm without a trace of guilt.The more she acted like that, t
“Dylan York, are you trying to pursue Ms. Doyle again?” Fox asked.Dylan denied it. “No. I made it clear to Ms. Doyle before. It’s my fault for not being able to love her. That was months ago, so she should’ve moved on from me. I won’t go looking for her again just to stir things up. Little fox, the person I like is you. You’re the only one I’ll marry in my lifetime.”Dylan declared that he would not marry anyone other than Fox.He had only set his eyes on Imogen because he suspected that she and Fox were the same person.Imogen never noticed, but Fox did.She was sharp as ever.Dylan did not mind that his future wife was better than him. He was confident in himself as a man. Besides, there was nothing embarrassing about being defeated by his wife.For example, Hayden was more capable than Kevin, but was Kevin embarrassed about it?Not at all. Kevin doted on his wife like she was the center of his world.Hayden was an amazing woman who lived more than two decades as a man, but