Zachary chuckled softly. “I’ll become a wolf at home.”Serenity squeezed the back of his hand lightly, but he dotingly pulled her hand up and kissed the back of her hand.When she was about to pinch him again, he suddenly led her forward with a straight face, making her too embarrassed to pinch him again.No one in York Corporation was surprised that Zachary appeared at the annual dinner with Serenity this year. All the executives were polite to Serenity.However, Josh’s female companion this year was switched to Jasmine, whose last name was not Bucham. This surprised everyone.The female employees who adored Josh were very sharp. When they heard Josh introduce Jasmine, they guessed she was the person Josh liked, and with eyes filled with envy and jealousy, they looked at Jasmine.Mr. Bucham actually had a lady he fancied!He was following in Mr. York’s footsteps.Although everyone looked at Jasmine with jealousy, no one dared provoke her openly mainly because they were afraid
“Seren, I might have to go on a business trip.”Serenity looked up while still in his arms and asked in confusion, “It’s only a few days till your company’s annual break, but you have to go on a business trip?”“It’s a short one to Annenburg. I’ll be back in a couple of days.”Zachary bowed his head and kissed her forehead. His dark eyes burned as they locked on her pretty face, and he asked in a low voice, “Miss me already?”“When are you leaving? I’ll help you pack your bags and send you to the airport.”Zachary was speechless.He thought she would miss him, but she was just confirming whether he was really going on a business trip. She then happily offered to pack his luggage and drive him to the airport. She did not even ask what the business trip was for.Zachary felt depressed.The couple tangled under the sheets several times already, so he thought their feelings were different now.However, it only seemed to be slightly better than before. She was not clingy toward him
Zachary took the time to answer. Seeing there was a nearby pergola, he walked toward it.The fake snow around the structure gave an illusion of a winter wonderland. There was a stone table at the center of the pergola. Zachary scanned the fake snow everywhere, somehow getting the chill of December. He said to Remy, “The fake snow adds a nice touch to the view.” It snowed in Meadspring. By now, the city would drop to freezing temperatures and be covered in a thick blanket of snow. The closest thing to snowflakes in Wiltspoon was fake snow. “Well, it’s only right to decorate during the festive season. The snow in the estate and on the ski slope is real. Can I interest you in going down the slopes?” Zachary faintly replied, “I prefer skiing up north.” Remy smiled. “Oh, me too. We can set a time to go together and admire the snow there. What better way to enjoy the view than up north on the slope?“It looks like something is on your mind, Mr. York. If I may ask if you’re down
Ten minutes later, Ben showed up at the pergola. “Mr. Young-Johnson.” Zachary got up. “I’m sorry to bother you.” Since Zachary was taking a flight back to Wiltspoon tonight, he had to steel himself and intrude on Ben with the little time he had. Ben smiled. “It’s fine. Do sit, Mr. York.” Once Zachary had taken a seat, Ben gave his brother the go-ahead, and Remy told the butler to bring out a pot of tea and snacks. “I wonder how I can help you, Mr. York.” Blushing in embarrassment, Zachary uttered, “Mr. York, it’s something personal. I need your advice on the matter because you and I basically rushed into our marriage.” Ben had no idea Zachary got married on such short notice. Remy had never informed the family of anything of that sort. Ben looked at Zachary in surprise. It was hard to believe that an aloof man like Zachary would choose the path of a whirlwind marriage. “How long have you been married? Have you fallen in love with your wife?” Ben already had an a
“How have you two been getting along since getting the marriage license?” Ben pried.He was swept into a whirlwind marriage with Jane, but they had known each other for eleven years. At least, they were old acquaintances. Besides, Ben had his eye on Jane from the very beginning. He had repressed his feelings for her and did not show affection of any kind as she was not of age. Things changed when Jane was pressured by her family to marry—she had to hire him as a boyfriend. Ben took the chance to set Jane up and make their contractual relationship official. He and Jane got married knowing each other, but it was different from Zachary who married a complete stranger. Ben had a yen for some hot gossip. “I made it clear to my nana before going ahead with the marriage that I could marry her, but it was my business how I managed the marriage thereafter. My nana wasn’t to interfere. “I didn’t tell my wife who I was, so I could observe her in her raw moments and see if she was a
“Mr. Young-Johnson, you’ve been through this. I need your advice. How did you confess to your wife about your identity? What was your wife’s reaction when she found out? What did you do that she wholeheartedly accepted you without running the risk of external factors?” Ben finally got to the bottom of Zachary’s internal conflict. Zachary did not have the guts to come clean because he feared the harm it would bring his wife. He got himself in a sticky situation with the heiress of the Stones as well. If handled wrongly, Ms. Stone might get jealous. The cousins may have a fallout or even turn against each other. It would, in turn, come between Zachary and his wife. Picking his cup for a sip of tea, Ben said, “Mr. York, my situation is different from yours though. Although my wife and I jumped into marriage right away, I set her up for it. I had a crush on my wife for eleven years. I fooled her into getting a marriage license with me. “In principle, we did get married in has
“It’s better you tell her the truth than she realizes it or hears it from someone else.” Ben had been there. Jane might not have reacted so strongly if he had been honest with her. It meant that he trusted her to bare his soul to her. Since Jane got the news from Yves’ mouth, Jane believed Ben had no confidence in her and walked on eggshells around her. Plus, his mother-in-law was convinced there was a social gap between them. Worried Jane would be treated like dirt by the Johnsons, his mother-in-law was once against the marriage. “She’ll take it that you trust her if it comes from your mouth, but the moment she finds out from someone else… She’ll be angrier by the minute, thinking the whole world but she knows about it. The deceit won’t sit well with her. In fact, she’ll conclude it to be a lack of trust and confidence. “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” With Serenity’s temper coming into mind, Zachary timidly uttered, “I sounded her out to see under what circumst
The seniors of the Johnson family were most worried about Lee and Remy. Lee and Remy had different mothers, so the age gap between these brothers was not huge. Remy was well past the statistical age of marriage among ordinary people. Many men of Remy’s age were fathers of two children by now. Zachary uttered apologetically, “I would help matchmake Mr. Johnson if I could, but I don’t know many young girls. I might not be of much help, but I can ask my wife to keep an eye out, or I can let my nana know. She’s checking out girls for my brothers anyway. I could ask her to introduce a girl to Mr. Johnson too.” Remy was at a loss for words. He had never met Old Mrs. York, but stories that the old lady was young at heart and broadminded had traveled far. Old Mrs. York should be credited for Zachary’s marriage with Serenity. “Thank Old Mrs. York for me.” Ben believed it would be hard for Zachary to play matchmaker for Remy. Zachary and Tim were the same kinds of people—they cou
Trenton was relieved that Dalton was indebted to Camryn. That was why Dalton had been loyal to Newman Enterprise.If Newman Enterprise did not fall into Camryn’s hands, there was no doubt that Dalton would leave the company. If that happened, the company was doomed.When his parents went to prison, he was merely 18, and Carrie only knew how to spend money. Not only that, their relatives were hungry to get a share of the Newman family’s assets. He and Carrie could not have protected their family’s wealth alone.After Camryn regained her sight, she still could not strain her eyes for long hours. Therefore, Dalton remained in charge of the company.Luckily, they had Callum as well. Even if anything were to happen, Callum would not leave Newman Enterprise to fall because many of the Newman family’s assets belonged to Camryn.He would not let Camryn lose anything.“You’ve been brainwashed by Dalton after working with him. Our dad treated him well and trusted him, yet Dalton betrayed
Camryn said, “She’s just using her lack of money as an excuse to start a fight with me.“Do you really think she has no money?”Carrie had somehow become Mrs. Longbottom yet she was still hiding her identity. Camryn had not understood the entire situation yet.Nevertheless, she was certain that Carrie did not need money.After she spoke, a familiar car arrived.It was the car Carrie had always used in the past.When she returned to the Newman family’s villa after getting out of prison, she only drove that car. She could not take other cars. The cars were still parked in the garage. “Come out, Camryn.”Carrie had gotten out of the car and started shouting for Camryn.When the York family’s bodyguards saw her, they simply glanced at her and did not stop her from entering the store. They knew Camryn had always been lenient with her younger sister.Since Camryn did not give any orders to stop Carrie from entering, the bodyguards simply kept an eye on Carrie to ensure that sh
“I want to go to Spring Blossoms as Carrie,” she told the bodyguard who was driving. “Your sister’s people are keeping an eye on your apartment. She’ll get suspicious again if you head over in your outfit. Everything Mr. Longbottom arranged will go to waste,” the bodyguard reminded her.Carrie thought it over. “Okay. Let’s head home first. I’ll change my clothes and remove my makeup before heading over.”She would also check if her stand-in had damaged any of her stuff.If she did, Carrie would tell the stand-in to compensate her.The bodyguard remained silent.Once they arrived at Longbottom Villa, Carrie took off her hyper-realistic mask and removed her makeup. After changing her clothes, she returned to being Carrie and went out with her bag.Her two bodyguards did not stop her from leaving.She could do anything as long as it would not rouse Camryn and other people’s suspicions.Besides, Carrie had just gotten scolded by their boss on the phone. Although Mr. Longbottom
Mr. Longbottom thought he was not so inferior to men younger than him.More accurately, he was far superior. He had status, money, and power.Which of the younger men could be on par with him unless they came from a wealthy family?Many sons of wealthy families could not compete with him.“I can’t go over because I’m busy these days. But I do miss you too.“It’s more difficult because of the festive season. There are many events, and I have to accompany my family. My wife doesn't care about me, but her request is that I be with her during the holidays because we have to meet our friends and families. Do you understand?”Mr. Longbottom had a wife and children. Carrie knew about it. He had never hid that fact.Carrie did not know if he was close to his wife. Although he said they no longer had feelings for each other, Carrie dared not believe him because he had never let other women take his wife’s place.He also never allowed other women to become pregnant with his children.Mr
Carrie thought she had matured since she could figure out that much. In the past, she would not have understood a thing. Love was about accepting everything about someone. Most people could tolerate their partner’s shortcomings when they were deeply in love. However, without love, even a person’s strength would seem like a fault. Carrie smiled. “Mr. York is a workaholic. Serenity must’ve gotten the habit from him and turned into one herself. I can’t believe she’s working so hard even though she’s pregnant.”“She’s still in the early stages of pregnancy. Going to work is fine.”“Do you need anything else, Mrs. Longbottom?” Jasmine asked.“No. I shall take my leave now, Mrs. Bucham.”Jasmine was on guard and unwilling to reveal much about Serenity. Therefore, it would be better for Carrie to leave. She was not close to Serenity and her friends yet. “Bye, Mrs. Longbottom.”Jasmine saw Carrie out and watched as she got into her car.Once Carrie got far enough from the booksto
Mr. Longbottom had been surprised by her question. He told her coldly that she should refrain from asking unnecessary questions.One who knew too much would not live long. Carrie got intimidated and dared not ask another question. Although she got more curious, she did not try to gather more information for fear Mr. Longbottom would choke her again if he found out. “Nothing. I just asked because I haven’t seen her in a while.”Of course, Carrie could not reveal that she was looking for Serenity. Jasmine would get suspicious if she did. No one around Serenity was a fool. “Seren is busy with work. I rarely see her these days,” Jasmine said.Carrie knew it was a lie. She was aware that Serenity's closest friends did not trust her yet. It made her feel defeated. It had been months since Mr. Longbottom found her and asked her to approach Serenity. Despite her efforts, she still had not obtained Serenity’s trust, let alone become her friend.However, Jasmine and Serenity go
The day ended peacefully. The following day, Zachary ate breakfast and had Kevin drive him and his bodyguards to the airport. They were taking an airplane to Annenburg. Before boarding, Zachary texted Serenity to tell her he would soon arrive in Annenburg. Serenity would be returning from the Murphys’ place. On the other hand, Liberty brought Duncan to Queen Manor to visit Mr. Donald. They would soon become related to each other. Since Duncan was in the city, it was only proper that he visited the Queens. Meanwhile, in Wiltspoon, Jasmine had returned to the bookstore despite it being the winter holidays. She found it rather dull being at home all the time. At the bookstore, even when there were no customers, she could chat with the owners of the nearby stores. While some had closed their stores to celebrate the festive season, many chose to stay open. Jasmine was a month further into her pregnancy than Serenity. Her bump was huge. Luckily, it did not restrict her moveme
After half an hour, Liberty and Duncan finally arrived at the hotel. They bumped into Zachary and Kevin, who had also just returned.“You’re here, Duncan.”Zachary walked toward them. “Hi, Liberty.”Kevin walked over as well. “I told Zachary that you’d be here in no time. Being apart from your girlfriend isn’t easy, right?” Kevin teased.“You’ve experienced it yourself,” replied Duncan as he laughed. Kevin did not respond. He did miss Hayden a lot in the early stages of their relationship. “You two bought so many things.” Kevin saw the items in Duncan’s arms and on his thighs. They were all toys. “Sonny’s getting new toys again, eh?” “Yeah. We bought him some new clothes and toys. I’ve been giving him windmills all the time. It’s time to change it up.”Even Duncan found it slightly ridiculous. He thought Sonny loved windmills just because he saw Sonny playing with them once. That was why he kept getting more windmills for Sonny.Sonny used to be scared of him, but
She would wear light make-up for work to accentuate her beauty. Sometimes, she could not believe the glowing, confident woman looking back at her in the mirror was herself. She had changed a lot after her divorce two years ago. “I’m letting myself enjoy tonight because I’m with you. I won’t have late-night snacks anymore. Going on a diet is too difficult. I don’t want to do it again.”If she gained too much weight, it would be difficult to get fit again because she was happy and did not lack money. In addition, she had Duncan spoiling her. Since she no longer wanted to go on a weight loss journey, she had no choice but to control her appetite and exercise daily to maintain her figure. “I heard the others saying that you have many admirers here. Although they’ve not said anything, even a fool can tell that they’ve fallen for you just from their gazes.”The men who had a crush on Liberty knew she had a fiance who was the young master of the Lewises from Wiltspoon. While they