"I get it. I'm not misunderstanding. Just relax and go. I'll handle everything else," Shirley said with a naive and innocent smile on her face. Cynthia did not say anything, but she knew Shirley was definitely misunderstanding. "You can come to my place at noon on the 29th. As long as they see you, whether we have lunch or not doesn't matter," Matthew offered, not wanting to put Cynthia in a difficult position. "Really?" asked Cynthia. If this were true, it would indeed be the best choice. Matthew simply nodded in agreement. Once the matter was settled, the four of them began their dinner. Zachary took meticulous care of Shirley throughout the meal, often serving her the dishes she wanted even before she reached out for them. His attention to detail made Cynthia feel a bit inadequate. Sometimes, she wondered whether her future brother-in-law's spoiling of Shirley would lead to her becoming spoiled. However, she quickly dismissed the thought. Shirley had always been indep
"Cyn…" Jonathan was somewhat flustered. He had not anticipated Cynthia's return on this particular day. Would Cyn misunderstand? He had only allowed them in as a last resort... "Yes. Busy?" Cynthia looked up and walked over with Shirley. From their vantage point, they could not see into the living room. "Not really. Mandy and the others said they had some business with me. Considering the heavy snow outside, I allowed them in to talk." Jonathan still did not know why Cynthia and Shirley had come. Cynthia paused for a moment. The bodyguards had clearly said that their father initially tried to stop the women from entering. The bodyguards would not lie to her, so her father must have left out that detail after failing to prevent their entry. "I see." Cynthia nodded. "You are not upset, are you?" Jonathan was inwardly anxious. "I'm not upset, as long as they don't stay for dinner or spend the night here," Cynthia responded, before adding, "Dad." "Huh?" Jonathan was a littl
If Cynthia had not returned unexpectedly back then, none of this would have happened, and their lives might not be as they are now. "Cynthia, Shirley," Michelle greeted them first, starkly contrasting her previously brash attitude. Cynthia and Shirley both responded politely but with noticeable coldness. Mandy's anxiety escalated. Sometimes she wondered why Cynthia, merely a woman in her twenties, seemed to have a stronger aura than even Jonathan. Whenever Cynthia was present, Mandy struggled to keep her thoughts and feelings hidden. This time was no different. "Have you eaten yet? Let's have dinner first," Mandy asked, attempting to change the topic and ease the tension. "Thank you for your concern, Madam Quinn. You go ahead and discuss with father. We know how to feed ourselves. Please, continue with your business," Shirley said, knowing her elder sister was not fond of small talk. Mandy looked awkward, and Jonathan offered her no additional chance for small talk. He cut s
Jonathan glanced at her, preparing to respond but refrained, fearing his words would hurt Cynthia. Cynthia, however, recalled it quite clearly and calmly laid it out. "Do you remember what she said as I was preparing to go home with you after our talk on Madam Quinn's birthday, Shirley?" Shirley pondered and suddenly, the sentences popped into her mind. "Jonathan… let's just give up. Cynthia is right, the disparity between us is too vast. If you marry me, people in our circle will surely gossip." "Tomorrow, Michelle and I will pack up and leave. Thank you for all the care and attention you've shown us, Chairman Yates." She relayed the conversation to Cynthia and asked, "Are these the ones?" "Correct," Cynthia replied coolly. She never questioned what her father and Madam Quinn discussed that day, and frankly, she did not care. Shirley had talked with their father about it, but Cynthia did not know the specifics. "I was just afraid of losing you," Mandy defended herself, a
"But my father will be released from prison soon. He will definitely resent my mother for reporting his domestic abuse. We won't have any peace," Michelle said, biting her lip, looking pitiful. Shirley frowned slightly, displeased by this comment. She despised domestic abusers, but their father could not support them forever. Cynthia's gaze shifted. It all started when Mandy sought their father's help due to domestic violence. He found her a lawyer, which led to the subsequent events. A complex tide of emotions surged in her heart. "The property I've given you has excellent security, with shopping resources available exclusively for residents within the complex. As long as you don't go out of your way to contact him, he can't get in," Jonathan said nonchalantly. Mandy had divorced that man. Even if he wished to cause trouble, he would not be able to bypass the community's security. "But we will have to go out..." Michelle protested. Jonathan cut her off. "If you en
"This..." "Cynthia." Both father and daughter were caught off guard. They had not expected Cynthia to say something like this. "Are you still not over your relationship with Joshua?" Jonathan was more concerned about this. He speculated that this might be the case. There was a significant difference between a divorce and a breakup. Even though Cynthia's self-adjustment abilities were impressive, it was still challenging, given it was only a few months. "It's not about that. I don't want to marry for the sake of marrying, and I refuse to compromise in my life. Marriage should be sacred and joyful," Cynthia replied indifferently. As for Joshua, she had moved on. She began adjusting her mindset the moment he brought up that issue. When they officially divorced, she had already made significant adjustments, even though it felt sudden and painful. However, now, she has let go of everything. "Cynthia… I'm reconsidering this whole idea of getting married. Why don't we, as sisters
"Have you visited his house?" Cynthia asked, giving Shirley an earnest look. It was a matter of concern to her. If Zachary had invited Shirley to his house without seeking their parents' consent, it was something to be considered. Shirley let out a confused 'ah'. "No, I haven't." Jonathan and Cynthia exchanged a glance, their expressions and actions in sync for the first time. "He didn't go home last summer. His parents and sister came to visit. They are a wonderful family," Shirley quickly realized their misunderstanding and hastily clarified. Cynthia exhaled in relief, and so did Shirley, but only slightly. She cast a glance at their father. Although Cynthia's approval usually meant their father's, his silence still made her a bit anxious. "As long as your sister sees no issue, you can continue dating," Jonathan finally broke his silence. "Since your sister doesn't see any issue, you can continue dating him. When you find time, bring him home for me to meet. I want to vet
Cynthia looked at Ellora's now clearly pregnant belly, her eyes softening. "How have you been feeling lately?" "I'm fine. I can eat and sleep well, and there's nothing uncomfortable," Ellora responded. She felt that knowing Cynthia was one of the luckiest things in her life. "What about you? What have you been busy with lately?" "Busy dealing with a kid," Cynthia said casually, thinking about Joshua's behavior. Ellora, confused, asked, "A kid?" "Joshua." "Do you...still keep in touch with him?" "It's a long story and a complicated one. However, he has now returned to Jiverton with Uncle Neal." Cynthia glossed over the details with a simple statement. Ellora looked at Cynthia, seemingly torn about whether or not to say something. "What's the matter?" Cynthia noticed. "There's something I'm not sure if I should tell you." "It's fine, whatever it is, you can say it." "Something's been going around in our circle recently. They're saying that Joshua, the president of N