"Return the phone, or you can leave this house!"Kendall was stunned by the ultimatum from her husband."B-but, I need this phone for...""For what? To contact a man who isn't your husband?"Hearing this, Kendall quickly looked around, worried that Lorraine or her children might hear."What are you talking about? If someone hears this, it'll be embarrassing," Kendall protested, glaring at him."So you do feel shame, huh? Begging for phone credit from another man doesn't embarrass you? Contacting another man in public doesn't embarrass you?" Derrick's anger flared up. He took a deep breath to calm the rage that was building inside him."Now return the phone!" Derrick demanded in a quieter tone.Kendall still pouted."Did you hear me or not?" Derrick's voice, which had softened earlier, now grew stern again."Y-yes, but Derrick, you'll buy me a phone, right?"Derrick pulled out the phone from his pocket."Here, use this while I'm at home! But be warned, don't use it to contac
"Are you sure you want to apply for a job at that witch's company again? Didn't they reject you before?" Kendall handed a freshly ironed shirt to Derrick."Yeah, I'm hoping that this time Sarah and Troy will accept me. Even if it's just as a driver, I don't mind." Derrick finished getting dressed and checked himself in the half-length mirror."Please wish me luck, okay? A wife's wish for her husband is powerful, you know.""Sure, just don't forget to buy me a phone once you get paid." Kendall started to coax Derrick, wrapping her arms around his waist."Kendall, I'm trying to find a job here. If you keep hugging me like this, I might not end up going." Derrick turned so that he was now facing Kendall."Tonight, okay, Derrick? I want..." Kendall whispered.Since their argument over the phone the other day, their relationship had been a bit strained. The nightly activities they used to engage in almost every night had taken a break for the past few days. Both were too proud to make
"Derrick!" Seeing her husband arrive, Kendall stood up. She knew full well that Derrick didn't like Brian's visits."This is my sister's house. What are you doing here?" Derrick asked sharply, ignoring Kendall and staring directly at Brian."I just wanted to check on Chloe. I want to see if she's living a decent life here," Brian replied casually, his eyes scanning the cramped and cluttered living room of Lorraine's rented house since Derrick had moved in."What did you say? A decent life? Why are you only thinking about that now? Where were you before?" Derrick's voice was raised in anger."Derrick, please calm down. The neighbors might hear!" Kendall gently rubbed Derrick's back, trying to soothe him."What do you mean by that?" Brian responded, glaring back at Derrick.Kendall trembled as she saw the tension between the two men. She quickly scooped Chloe into her arms, holding her close."Where were you when Kendall and Chloe were abandoned on the streets? They were starving!
"We've found an investor comparable to Vincent," Diego said, dropping himself into the chair in front of Troy."Oh, really? Who is it? Do I know this investor?" Troy's face lit up with curiosity. He was eager to know who the investor was. He thought it was unlikely that someone would invest such a large amount unless they had confidence in the company. He suspected that the investor must be someone who was well-acquainted with Peterson Group."The owner of Callista Corp. They've known about Peterson Group's previous successes for a long time. That's why they're confident about investing with us."Troy nodded as he listened to Diego's explanation."When can I meet the owner of Callista Corp? Sarah and I need to get to know them first.""I'll arrange it as soon as possible. With this investor's involvement, I believe Peterson Group will return to normal. The merger with Johnson Corp hasn't made much of a difference." Diego lowered his voice as he spoke.Troy chuckled."My goal in
"Kendall, wake up! Get my breakfast and clothes ready!" Derrick hurriedly grabbed a towel, heading for the bathroom."Why so early? It's only five o'clock!" Kendall grumbled, still lounging on their thin mattress."What's with you? I have to take Gillian to school. She starts at six-thirty. Come on, make me some coffee!"Seeing his wife finally get up, Derrick quickly headed toward the bathroom, the only one in their rented house. Lorraine's three kids would be up soon to get ready for school too."Hey, it's rare to see you up this early! Don't take too long; my kids need to use the bathroom too!" Lorraine snapped as she cooked breakfast in the cramped kitchen."Lorraine, what are you cooking? Can you make some for Derrick too?" Kendall asked as she approached Lorraine, glancing around at the already cluttered kitchen."Where's Derrick off so early?" Lorraine asked, curious, as Derrick hadn't had the chance to answer earlier. She had just finished making pancakes."Today's Derri
"Don't forget, tonight we have a meeting with our potential investor. I've already made a reservation at an upscale restaurant," Diego informed Troy over the phone."Got it. You and Carrie need to be there before the scheduled time," Troy emphasized before ending the call."Sarah, we have dinner with a potential investor tonight. If you want to come, we can leave early so you can rest beforehand.""Come on, Troy. You don't need to fuss over me! I'm fine. Carrie and I are swamped with work today, but I'll definitely be there tonight.""No way! The baby you're carrying is mine, so you need to listen to me!" Troy pulled Sarah close, turning her around so they were face to face."I'm the mother. I'm the one who's pregnant. I know that both of us are strong." Sarah's beautiful face drew closer to Troy's.Troy's focus shattered as his eyes landed on her enticing nude-colored lips, moving enticingly close to his face. His gaze softened, making Sarah blink rapidly, caught off guard."Tr
"Carrie... wait!" Diego quickened his steps to catch up with Carrie.They were just ten steps away from the table where Troy and Sarah were sitting. Carrie breathed a sigh of relief because their guest had not yet arrived.Carrie turned as Diego's firm fingers clasped her right hand."Don't protest. You don't want us to argue in front of them, do you?" Diego whispered, leaning his face closer to Carrie's ear.Carrie didn't respond but secretly tried to pull her hand away from the man beside her. However, it was futile; Troy and Sarah had already turned toward them."Well, that's better! Every once in a while, you two can get along outside of work, right?" Sarah smiled with a teasing glance at the couple who had just arrived."Get along? What do you mean?" Carrie grumbled as she moved closer to Sarah."Sit here!" Diego pulled out a chair and asked Carrie to sit down. Carrie reluctantly obeyed to avoid a confrontation in front of Troy. Even though Troy was her best friend's husban
"Jealous of Derrick?" Troy laughed while shaking his head."If it's not jealousy, then what is it?" Sarah grew more irritated."I don't know. I just don't want you and Gillian getting close to Derrick again.""Troy, I can't possibly get close to Derrick. I know my boundaries as your wife. But Gillian is his biological daughter. It's selfish to keep them apart. Remember, when Gillian gets married someday, her biological father has the right to give her away."Hearing Sarah's words, Troy's face suddenly turned somber."Yeah. That's something I've never thought about until now." Troy's voice grew softer as he sat down on the bed."Daddy ... Mommy ... I'm off to school!" Gillian called out, and Troy quickly got up and left the room to greet her. Sarah followed suit."Come on, let me walk you to the porch!" Troy held Gillian's hand and led her to the porch, with Sarah following behind.Derrick was already standing by the car, ready to open the door for Gillian. He nodded politely at