Keegan nibbled his lip, feeling a weird sensation in his heart. His time with Stella before they got married didn't seem as rocky as his mom said. 'But then, why would I still have something she casually sketched in my desk drawer?'After staring at the drawing for a prolonged moment, he placed it back into the drawer."Aldor, inform everyone I won't attend the gathering today. Charge tonight's expenses to my account. We'll have another gathering once I settle the matters at hand."Aldor nodded, then asked, "Mr. Kane, there are new desserts at Memorie Baker. Should we get some for Mrs. Kane?""No need. Pregnant women should watch their sugar. It could make the baby too big for an easy birth," Keegan said casually.This puzzled Aldor. 'When did he learn all this?'Keegan was surprised himself. He hadn't tried to remember it. When he stopped Stella from having an abortion, he had skimmed a booklet about caring for moms and babies. The details stuck in his head without much thought.
Stella scoffed, "I see."She vigorously stirred the dumplings in her bowl, creating a crisp sound as the spoon repeatedly hit the dishware.Having dined together at the Saun residence before, Keegan knew Stella's table etiquette was far more refined than her current demeanor. It then dawned on him that something was wrong. "Are you upset?" he asked."No," Stella flashed a fake smile. "I'm so thrilled that you remembered to bring me food coming home from work so late, Mr. Kane."Keegan detected a pattern. Whenever Stella was angry, she would address him as "Mr. Kane".He vaguely recalled her raising her eyebrows and commenting, "Nice watch, Mr. Kane." Yet, she wasn't genuinely admiring his timepiece; she was being sarcastic.Keegan couldn't fathom what had triggered her irritation, so he asked, "Don't you like shrimp filling?"Stella shook her head and said in a serious tone, "No, I do. Like you said, shrimp is good for pregnant women. It's good for the baby too."Hearing that,
Stella was heartbroken to hear what Keegan had been through.'He was in a daze. How much painkillers did he have to take to be in that state?' Stella couldn't shake off the overwhelming feeling. She contemplated what could have been if she had just held onto him in the river. It might have prevented the subsequent events, sparing him from facing the most challenging moment of his life all alone.Sensing her distress, Keegan's mood seemed to darken. Without meeting her eyes or uttering a word, he matched her stride and silently accompanied her.The streetlights extended their shadows as Keegan suddenly inquired, "Did you use to take walks like this with him?"Stella was momentarily stunned but then comprehended that the "him" Keegan referred to was the previous version of himself, the one she had married. This realization stemmed from her previous statement, "I want to make sure the Keegan who deeply loved me is safe and sound."Dropping her gaze, Stella responded slowly, "No, we r
Stella felt anxious and reluctant to leave, but Baldwin insisted, "Ms. Hall, please step outside. It's Dr. Morghen's protocol."Stella tightly clutched her hands and eventually stepped back. The door closed firmly, muffling any sounds from within.Anxiously pacing outside the room, Stella couldn't shake off a growing sense of unease. Finally, she turned to Baldwin and said, "Who is this doctor? Can we trust him?""You've met him before," Baldwin replied.Perplexed, Stella questioned, "When did I meet him? I don't remember.""At the Temple of Abawo.""Temple of— Is he the Venerable Raphael Morghen? Isn't he a religious figure? Since when he knows medicine?" Stella did not recognize Raphael due to his loose hair.Baldwin explained, "His belief and job are two different things."'It sounds like he has quite a flexible career,' thought Stella.Raphael had a deep connection with Cordelia, and her trust in him prompted his invitation. Still, Stella wondered about his medical skills.
Wenham's voice echoed from the kitchen, asking if the soup was ready. "Coming," Darcie replied while swiftly deleting all the messages on her phone. She gracefully carried the hot soup to the dining area."Let Sandra handle these matters moving forward." Wenham wiped his hands and continued, "It's getting cold, and the food will cool down during all the back-and-forth.""Sandra has been busy all night. She's currently having dinner. We shouldn't trouble her with these minor tasks," Darcie said as she filled another bowl of hot soup for Wenham. "Plus, I'm used to it. I took care of your mom, remember? It's not a big deal."Wenham paused upon hearing that and refrained from saying anything more.Darcie had put a lot of effort into taking care of Eleanor over the years. With the wealth of the Saun family, finding help for such tiring work was easy as long as the pay was good. Eleanor, once a renowned debutante in Rivera, had become bedridden because of her illness. Her self-esteem suf
With the thought of Darcie caring for her late mother, Wenham's expression softened. "I've bought two tickets for the theater. Are you free tomorrow afternoon?"Darcie couldn't help but feel surprised. Throughout their lengthy marriage, it had consistently been her responsibility to arrange their outings. Wenham rarely took the initiative, and when he did, it was usually in response to invitations from friends.Her raised eyebrows turned into a warm smile as she asked, "Sure. What time is the show?""Three o'clock. I'll pick you up tomorrow," Wenham replied.Darcie nodded in agreement. As Wenham ate his soup, he addressed the unspoken tension between them. "I've raised Jaylene for twenty years, treating her as my own. Being separated from Stella for over two decades and only recently reconnecting, I might sometimes be a bit biased. Please don't read too much into it."With a calm tone, Darcie responded, "I understand. You don't need to explain. I know I was in the wrong before. It
Jaylene had always believed that Keegan stood apart from other men. She trusted that he wasn't one to judge solely based on appearances but their personality as well. The only obstacle between her and Keegan was the time they spent together or the lack thereof.Unexpectedly, Stella shamelessly clung onto Keegan despite him declaring the annulment of their engagement and her having heated moments with Marshall. From Jaylene's perspective, this conduct resembled that of a woman who lacked decency.Unsure of Jaylene's thoughts, Darcie softened her tone. "Plenty of good men exist in this world. The situation between Keegan and Stella is complicated. He isn't your perfect match. You should put a stop to your feelings sooner. Stella is entirely focused on Keegan now. This is your chance. Invest your energy in Caline. Establish a solid foundation quickly because, in the end, your customers are what matter most, not just shares."Jaylene was not enthusiastic about the idea. With Keegan unab
Stella halted and turned around with a smile. "Where to? Galaxy Avenue, Century Mall, or Briller Plaza? Which mall would you like to go to, Mr. Kane? Are we driving there, or are we taking a cab? If you prefer a cab, I can arrange it right away."The immediate switch in her demeanor left Keegan speechless.Her flattering tone was usually the type he detested. Yet, when Stella spoke like this, he not only didn't mind but even felt a peculiar sense of pleasure. He found it adorable.Keegan pressed his fist against his lips, coughed lightly, and averted his gaze. "Let's drive. You choose the place.""Then, let's go to Briller Plaza. They offer goods with a better value for money there.""Sure."Stella made an inviting gesture. "Mr. Kane, come upstairs. I'll help you change."Keegan scowled and asked, "Is one million dollars not enough? How come you want to take advantage of me?"Stella's remark was a playful tease, not meant to be taken seriously. However, Keegan's response caught
Keegan moved from initial resistance to reluctantly listening, and eventually to questioning."Why do these novels portray men as so stupid and brainless, yelling at the female lead as if they have intermittent explosive disorder?""Is the male lead sick? Forcing the female lead to donate a kidney, is he out of his mind?""How many years would they get for calling the police in their world?""Why is he so dumb? The supporting actress claims the female lead pushed her into the water and he believes it? Is checking surveillance footage illegal?""Stella, are you making fun of me?""I can't learn this. It all feels so neurotic. What does the female lead see in him?"Stella retorted, "Who cares if it's neurotic? Just mimic that stupidity, that's how these innocent women like men who protect them like that."Keegan was very reluctant, but his brain was more compliant than his body. Without needing to study deliberately, everything he heard stuck in his mind.So when Keegan mentione
Keegan's expression darkened with anger. "You're being completely unreasonable!"Stella crossed her arms, wearing an expression that seemed challenging. "You let her take it. Let's see if I dare."Jaylene hadn't actually wanted those junk items in the first place; she was deliberately trying to stir up discord between them. Now that her goal was achieved, she put on a sympathetic look."Keegan, I don't want it anymore. Don't be angry. Your health is more important. Didn't the doctor say to keep your emotions stable?"Turning her head, she reproached Stella. "Stella, are you here to help Keegan recover his memory or just to provoke him?""Shut up, you brat! Do you even have a say here?"Acting under the guise of a drama, playing the role of someone lacking in manners, was incredibly satisfying.She’d wanted to curse this brat for a long time!Jaylene's lips twitched, but she held back, tearfully saying, "Stella, if you don't like me, I'll leave. There's no need to humiliate me l
Jaylene understood the situation perfectly. Even though she didn't particularly like these cold, mechanical devices, she put on a pretense of surprise, saying, "Really, Keegan?"Keegan nodded. "Choose one you like.""Keegan!" Before Stella could finish her sentence, she couldn't hold back her sharp voice, "With your pile of junk that I can't even touch normally, she takes a look and now you want to give it to her? What's the meaning of this?!"Keegan frowned, apparently not comprehending her current anger at all. "Jaylene gave me a gift, and I'm giving her one in return. What's the problem?""What problem?" Stella's eyes started to redden. "I can't touch them, so why should she be able to? Have you forgotten, or do you have inappropriate feelings for her?"Keegan's expression darkened. "This makes no sense!"Jaylene secretly delighted in this, hypocritically trying to calm things down, "Forget it, Keegan. Since Stella minds so much, I don't want it anymore. You've strained your r
The standoff lasted for over twenty minutes before Keegan grabbed a book and knocked the beetle off Jaylene's neck. The beetle fluttered twice and suddenly flew up, landing on Jaylene's face.Jaylene screamed, rolled her eyes, and fainted.As she collapsed, the bug flew off again."Jaylene?"Keegan called out to her.He looked up at Stella and said, "You go start the car, I'll carry her to the hospital."As he spoke, he signaled to Stella.She understood and coldly grunted, "So troublesome."Walking over to Jaylene, she squatted down beside her and slapped her face twice.Jaylene immediately opened her eyes and reached out to push her away. "What are you doing!"Stella was prepared and had already moved back before she could be pushed.She shook her tingling hand and innocently said, "Jaylene, you fainted because of the bug. I was just saving you. Don't believe me? Ask Keegan."Jaylene nearly ground her teeth. Did she think she hadn't heard? She was intentionally exposing h
Her fingertips trembled with a mix of horror and excitement. Just as the teapot was about to slip from her grasp, Keegan suddenly said, "Jaylene, don't move."Jaylene froze, instinctively thinking Keegan had regained his memory. She had barely twitched when Keegan loudly stopped her again, "Don't move, absolutely don't move."Jaylene wanted to say something, but then felt an itching sensation on her neck, as if something was crawling slowly. Goosebumps erupted all over her body.By now, Stella had turned around and saw Jaylene standing stiffly with the teapot in hand. Her eyes quickly assessed the situation and then she noticed the beetle crawling on Jaylene's neck.It was an unknown species, not overly tentacled but as long as a little finger, its mouthparts slightly twitching, genuinely alarming in appearance.Stella murmured, "It's so big."Jaylene couldn't see what was on her neck, unsure if it would bite or if it was venomous. She stood frozen in place, her voice trembling,
Seeing him, Stella even lowered her eyes and softly praised, "Mr. Kane, you acted very well."Keegan glared at her, his voice low and intense. "If you keep watching like this, Coco will cut ties with me tomorrow."Stella replied confidently, "No, she won't. After accepting the red envelope, she can tolerate you a little longer."Keegan asked sharply, "Did you teach her to ask for red envelopes like this?""Don't falsely accuse me; I didn't teach her.""You may not have taught her directly, but you set an example. Have you forgotten how you always make me buy things for you?"Stella was speechless. Whenever she wanted Keegan to buy her something, she would often say, "Gifts are only surprises when given voluntarily. If reminded, it shows they don’t like me that much."It had to be said, Coco had learned the essence of it.Stella also felt a bit awkward, thinking that in the future, she needed to avoid such flirtatious conversations between spouses in front of the children. They
Could she figure all this out?Keegan frowned, casting a disappointed look at Coco. "Are you not listening to me now?"Coco raised her gaze defiantly and stated, "Aunt Stella taught me that if I don't want something someone gives me, I can say no. I don't want this hairpin.""Didn't she teach you that even if you don't like something, you should still say thank you?"Coco fell silent for a moment, then reluctantly said to Jaylene, "Thank you, Aunt Jaylene, but I don't want it."Jaylene hesitated with her hand extended, unsure whether to retract it or leave it there, managing a strained smile. "Then what do you like? Next time, I will get you something you do like."Coco asked, "Do you want me to do something for you?"Jaylene was taken aback. "What?"Coco replied seriously, "Aunt Stella says offering help without reason is either deceitful or thieving. Since you don't like me, why else would you give me something? You want me to do something for you, right?"Jaylene forced a s
Leighton's incident did indeed revive their suspicions.Jaylene was gullible, but Darcie might see through this scheme. "Keegan, why didn't you go to work today?" Jaylene chose to ask directly at first.Keegan remained composed. "I've been busy with the press conference lately and haven't had much rest. Now that things have slowed down, I thought I'd take a break and relax."Jaylene spoke gently, "You should rest well. Since you came back, you've been busy, and you've been postponing Dr. Stone's follow-up appointments. Keegan, I'm really worried about your health. Since you're resting these days, I'll arrange for Dr. Stone to give you another check-up. Stella has been living here to assist your recovery for so long. We need the doctor to give a clear assessment of whether there's been any improvement. Otherwise, it's not good for Stella's reputation to stay here so long, unmarried and under one roof."Keegan nodded. "Okay, please arrange it. Thank you."His response was decisive,
Stella had just descended the stairs when she heard that remark, causing her eyelids to twitch as she thought to herself, “Damn it! He really knows how to come up with excuses!”Upon hearing this, Jaylene's eyes briefly flashed with disdain, but she ultimately accepted the shoe covers Keegan handed her. As Keegan led Jaylene into the house, her eyes continued to scrutinize every corner.There were a couple of pillows on the sofa, couple mugs on the table, wedding photos of Keegan and Stella on the walls, and even headbands and hair ties scattered on the table. The house exuded an unmistakable feminine touch.Jaylene's expression darkened, but when Keegan turned to ask if she preferred tea or coffee, she adopted a gentle, harmless demeanor. "Tea would be perfect."Keegan invited her to take a seat and called for Maria to prepare tea. Jaylene spoke softly, "Keegan, I heard from Stella that you brew Dragon Well tea better than anyone else. Is there a special technique?"Stella paused