Liberty sighed, “Right? They’re so carefree. I haven’t gone on holiday in ages.”After she married Hank, she never had the chance to go on holiday. Whenever she went on business trips, she was always in a rush and never had the time to sightsee and relax.“Mr. Hayden’s changed after getting with Mr. Kevin.” Caroline sighed. “She’s starting to seem more womanly after falling in love.”Hayden had a fraternal twin brother. While she was away, he would be substituting her, so she could go on holiday without any worries.Meanwhile, Caroline was still doing her best to learn and get used to the Fishers’ Machiavellian ways. She did not dare to leave for too long even for business trips. At most, she would do an overnight trip.She was afraid that if she went too far and was away for too long, the authority she only managed to earn after much hard work would disappear.Even without Celine as her competition, she still had three older brothers eyeing her position.There were a few stub
Caroline stopped and wound down her car window to poke her head out and asked, “Have you prepared the gifts for Sonny and Mr. Lewis?”Darren smiled. “Are you still not assured about my ability to get things done? They’re ready. Are you driving there yourself?”“Is there a problem with that?”Darren replied, “If you drink alcohol, you won’t be able to drive back. I’d better drive you. That way, you can drink as much as you want.”“I won’t be drinking. I had too much to drink last night and I don’t think Liberty’s drinking either. Sonny’s still a kid, and Mr. Lewis is still recovering. Liberty definitely won’t let him drink.”Darren could not say anything to that.He got into his car and followed after her once her car passed his.Half an hour later, they arrived at Fortress Hotel.Liberty was waiting with Sonny in the lobby for Caroline’s arrival.Duncan did not come downstairs because it was inconvenient.Caroline did not know Liberty was already waiting for her. After she pa
“C’mere, let me give you a hug. I bought lots of toys and new clothes for you.”Liberty commented, “Sonny has so many toys that we’re running out of space, and you’re buying him more? He has so many clothes that he hasn’t even worn them all. Kids grow so quickly that he won’t be able to wear them soon.”“I didn’t buy all those toys for Sonny. He’s my first grandnephew, I have to give him something.“If Sonny has that many clothes, you and Mr. Lewis should get married soon and have a second kid so they can wear them,” Caroline joked. “Kids always get hand-me-downs from their older siblings anyway.”“Sonny’s clothes are all so new they’d still look new on your second kid.”Liberty instantly blushed while Duncan grinned widely.He wanted to have a kid with Liberty too.Of course, Liberty had to be willing. If she did not want a second child, he would not force her.He would just treat Sonny like his own.Since Sonny appeared when he was young and if they stayed on good terms, Son
Liberty took some food for her son and served Duncan while she was at it.Duncan looked at her passionately.Darren, who was next to him, calmly grabbed some food for Caroline in an unaffected manner.Liberty noticed how attentive Darren was to Caroline. He was careful to make sure there were no bones before placing the meat onto Caroline’s plate.He would make sure there was nothing wrong with the food before serving Caroline too. Caroline was occupied with talking to Liberty and Sonny and had not noticed this. All she knew was her plate was always filled with food she liked and she ate with ease. She did not have to pick anything out and could just dig in.Whenever she finished her tea, it would soon be refilled.As someone with experience, just like Belinda, Liberty quickly caught on to Darren’s feelings for Caroline.Caroline might not have noticed and just attributed it to the fact that Darren was her all-rounder personal assistant because she thought it was natural for him t
In Wiltspoon, Liberty’s businesses ran smoothly due to Serenity and Zachary’s influence. Even if she believed in her abilities, Zachary’s contribution could not be eliminated. “It does feel underwhelming when everything goes smoothly, thanks to Serenity and Zachary.“Unlike you, I face multiple challenges despite the company belonging to my family. Even if I achieved something, people would say that I’ve taken someone else’s achievements as my own.”“Ignore what people say. It’s fine as long as you know it was your effort.”Caroline laughed and added, “I don’t care about them. If I did, I wouldn’t be able to hold onto this position firmly.”Liberty patted her shoulder. “Good luck.”“You too.”While they were competitors, they held great admiration for each other. Liberty and Audrey thought that the Fisher family would be much better if Caroline were the matriarch. However, being Tiara’s descendants, they had to determine whether the previous matriarch had passed away due
He still felt the cold even if he wore multiple layers of clothes. “Mom, Dunc, and I already went shopping this morning.”That was Sonny’s main reason for declining Caroline’s invitation. Caroline smiled. “Okay. I’ll take you to a theme park next time if the opportunity comes.”“Okay,” Sonny agreed happily. Caroline left Fortress Hotel after a couple of hours.When she was in the car, she told Darren, “Take me to the largest children’s theme park in Jensburg.”Darren looked at her and asked, “Are you going to play?”Caroline pressed her lips together and said, “No, but I want to watch. Only children’s innocent smiles can heal my wounded heart.”“You’re exaggerating. You’re young. Don’t sound so tragic.”“I’ve experienced too much. Even if I’m young, I feel old at heart.”Darren smiled. “You can have as much fun as you want at the theme park. I’ll be with you.”“Okay.”“Please fasten your seatbelt. I’m going to start driving.”Caroline fastened her seatbelt. Then, she l
“We’ll talk about this in the future. If you need me, I’ll be glad to be of service.”Caroline smiled. “Don’t speak of yourself like a male escort.”Darren’s ears turned red. “Mr. Fletcher, do the assistants not talk about relationships at all? Your ears are red just from a question.“You must be inexperienced in romantic relationships.”Darren started driving and said, “We learn everything but love.”Love was instinctive, and not something to be learned. He could be cold-hearted with any other woman. However, his ruthlessness seemed to disappear when it came to Caroline. Perhaps it was because he knew that he could only fall in love with his master. Therefore, he had never held his guard up against her. After spending time with Caroline, he gradually fell for her. Darren did not expect her to reciprocate his feelings. He was satisfied with loving and protecting her secretly. Of course, it would be great if she felt the same about him. “That’s good. Love is beautif
Otherwise, Belinda would not be looking for him fervently. “I’ll talk to Zachary to get him to contact the Bucham family for them to arrange someone to tail Madam Fisher. Their people are skilled at remaining undetected. They are more suitable than our men for the job.”If Belinda were going to meet Tiara’s assistant, she would be alert about someone following her. The usual detectives or bodyguards would be easily discovered and exposed if they were to tail her. If Belinda noticed, she would suspect that Caroline had leaked her schedule. She had only told Caroline about it. “Mm, you should inform Zachary about it as soon as possible. I’ll pretend I don’t know a thing. I won’t send anyone to tail Madam Fisher on my end.“You’re right, Liberty. We should act as if we’re clueless.“This might be a test for Caroline. Even if Caroline is her daughter, she might not trust her completely.”Audrey suspected that Belinda was testing Caroline. While Caroline was Belinda’s biolog
“You can drink it now. It’ll turn cold if left aside for longer.”Isabella took the ginger ale and drank it with elegance. She put it down after drinking half of it. “I’m drunk, but only slightly. I can walk, and my brain is still alert. I know what I’m doing and saying.“I’ve had enough ginger ale.”She did not want to consume too much liquid late at night. “Which family is your fiancée from, Austin? Where is she? Do you mind telling me?”Isabella was insistent on getting answers. Austin had never told her when she had asked him about it before. He kept saying he would focus on working and that he was not in a rush to get married. After all, he was only in his twenties; Zachary only got married at thirty years old. If he was unsuccessful in wooing his fiancée that year, he did not mind waiting for a few more years. Isabella suddenly felt jealous of Austin’s fiancée, having had his heart without even doing anything. She wondered what Austin’s fiancée had done to cat
Austin stared into Isabella’s eyes. He could detect some feelings in her gaze, but it was not obvious enough. What she felt for him was still mostly admiration. It was not the right time for him to confess yet. He would continue to wait. “You’re the best and most outstanding lady in my heart, Ms. Isabella. I admire you more.”Austin added gently, “You give off a strict and cold aura sometimes, but you’re always a nice person in my eyes.”Isabella had treated him well ever since he became her private chef. It only got better after she discovered he was a young master of the Yorks. Austin believed her when she said she viewed him as a friend because her actions reflected it as well. However, he was not content with being just friends. He wanted to be her husband. He wanted her to trust him and love him forever. He would also reciprocate her feelings and trust. Isabella smiled. “Even my parents are scared and avoid me when I’m in a serious mode. Louis and Phillip w
Austin responded, “Don’t worry, Ms. Edith. I’ll take good care of Ms. Isabella.”Edith had come in a hurry and left just as quickly. The hidden meaning in her cousin’s words was not lost on Isabella, but she did not comment on it.She allowed Austin to accompany her into the house. The lights were still on inside, but the first floor was empty. Everyone else had already gone to bed.Since Isabella had not returned yet, the housekeeper had left the lights on for her.The house was warm, so once inside, Isabella took off Austin’s coat and handed it back to him.Austin accepted the coat and followed her to the sofa. After she had sat down, he asked gently, “Ms. Isabella, would you like some ginger ale for a hangover remedy?”Isabella rubbed her temples and said, “Yes, please. I don’t want to wake up with a splitting headache tomorrow.”Austin immediately went to prepare it for her.Isabella leaned back on the sofa and closed her eyes to rest. After some time, she heard Austin’s
Isabella’s bodyguard had only called out to her, not daring to touch her, so she had not woken up. However, when Austin gently patted her face and called her, she woke up almost immediately. When she opened her eyes and saw Austin’s handsome face, Isabella was momentarily dazed, thinking she was dreaming about him.She had actually dreamed about Austin. Had she developed feelings for him? If she had not, why would she dream about him? In all her life, this was the first time she had dreamed about a man. Isabella wanted to touch Austin’s face, but as she raised her hand, she realized she was not dreaming.Austin was real. She could smell the fresh scent on him because they were so close.He had showered.Isabella quietly lowered her hand, hoping Austin had not noticed her earlier intention, lest he misunderstood.“Ms. Isabella,” Austin’s warm and pleasant voice reached her ears, making her want to close her eyes and go back to sleep. With him around, she felt safe and secure.
Hunter had neither money nor power. What could he possibly use to save his sons?“Dad, go home. When the trial starts, we’ll send someone to pick you up so you can attend and observe.”Hunter stood up angrily and stormed off.After he left, Ellie asked Ava, “Are we really not going to do anything? My child is still young. Having a father in prison will always be a stain on their life.”“What can we do? Even if we wanted to save them, we don’t have the means. We know what Caroline is like. She’s not going to let this go lightly this time,” Ava replied. “Anyway, think about last year, when they were caught cheating. How did they treat us then?”Remembering the events from last year, Ellie said, “Let them serve a few years in prison, then. Ava, Caroline is in the hospital. Should we go visit her?”“We should. Let’s go tomorrow. We’ll call Emma and visit Caroline together. The Fisher family is full of terrible people, but Caroline still has some conscience. She’s always been kind t
Hunter was momentarily speechless. He did not have much money. When Belinda was alive, he never had more than five hundred dollars on him. After his children grew up, he secretly asked them for money. During that time, he had money to spend freely, living a lavish life outside.However, all that money had been spent. He had no savings, mainly because he was used to spending extravagantly.He had been unable to save money. He did not own any shops or properties either; Belinda had kept him on a tight leash.The house in their hometown had been built with Belinda’s money, but it was not under his name. It was under his three sons’ names.After Belinda’s death, his sons supported him. Each son gave him over a hundred thousand dollars a month for living expenses.Combined, that was several hundred thousand dollars a month, allowing him to live comfortably in Ashford. He had managed to save a little, but not much, just over a million dollars in total. Hiring the best lawyers for h
Despite this, lying in bed and enduring the pain, Caroline could not help but start to cry, feeling deeply wronged.When Darren came in and saw her crying, he walked over, sat on the edge of the bed, and gently wiped her tears with a tissue.“They’re not worth your tears,” he said, his heart aching for her.Caroline sat up and buried herself in his arms. “Darren, you’re all I have now.”Darren held her tightly, his voice filled with tenderness. “I’ll always be by your side, no matter what happens, Ms. Caroline. Even if the sky falls, I’ll hold it up for you.“If you’re really hurting and need to cry, then cry. Let it all out.”It would also help her sever ties with the past and the family bonds that had caused her so much pain.Caroline did cry—a long, cathartic cry. It would be the last time. From now on, she and the Clarks would go their separate ways.Meanwhile, Hunter went to Justin’s house and called Jason’s wife, Ellie, over. He said to his two daughters-in-law, “By no
After a moment of silence, Hunter repeated the same line. “But you didn’t die, did you? You only got a little hurt, and it’s not even serious.”Caroline almost laughed in anger at this.Sure, she had not died. She had only been injured. Did that erase the fact that her brothers had tried to kill her, though?She retorted, “Dad, if I had tried to kill your three sons, but they didn’t die and only got a little hurt, would you say the same thing to them? Would you tell them it’s just a family dispute, ask them to forgive me, not to sue me, and not to send me to jail?”Hunter instinctively replied, "If you had the intent to kill, how could I let you continue down that path? Of course, I’d have to let you serve a few years in prison…“Carol, I’m old, really old. I only have the boys to rely on in my old age. Are you trying to leave me with no one to depend on in my later years?”Caroline said coldly, “I’ll provide for your living expenses. I’ll make sure you don’t starve. You can even
Darren did not let go even after being struck.Seeing Darren get hit, Caroline’s expression darkened. She coldly said to her father, “Dad, if you really want to kneel, go kneel at the hospital entrance and shout at the top of your lungs that your daughter is unfilial.“Tell everyone that your sons tried to kill your daughter, and your daughter refuses to forgive them, so you’re kneeling there to force her to forgive your sons.“Let’s see if I give in.”Hunter stopped struggling. After slapping Darren, he felt a pang of fear. He was afraid Caroline might retaliate by slapping him to avenge Darren. Fortunately, while Caroline was furious, she did not lay a hand on him.He began to cry. “Carol…” He wept bitterly.Darren released him, and Hunter sat on the sofa, sobbing, “Carol, I’m old. I have no income, my parents are long gone, and your mother is no longer here. I only have your three brothers to rely on.“If you send all three of them to prison, what will happen to me? Who w