Earlier, after the Mandez family had enjoyed a full evening of wining and dining, they collectively decided to call it a night.As they stepped outside, Amanda bid her farewells and returned to her own family. Meanwhile, Shawn and Mia opted to accompany Grandpa Mandez to his house. Once there, Shawn guided the elderly man to his room and assisted him into bed.“Now that she's graduated high school, the two of you should start thinking about giving me great-grandchildren,” Grandpa Mandez mumbled with closed eyes.Shawn, the old man's grandson, remained silent.Once Shawn finished tucking his grandfather in, he returned to the living room to join his wife before they took their leave. In contrast to Shawn's brisk pace, Mia moved at a more leisurely speed. By the time she was finishing putting on her slippers, her husband had already vanished from sight.Without delay, Mia hurriedly rushed outside to catch up.“Wifey, why are your legs so short?” Shawn teased, giving her a mocking sneer
As she flipped through the papers, her eyes scanned the contents, and a deep frown etched across her face.Martha reveled in satisfaction as she witnessed Vivian's expression sour, her heart filled with joy.After finishing the reading, Vivian blinked away tears and looked up at Martha. "Um... I... I don't know what to say," she stuttered uncontrollably.Tears welled up in Martha's eyes. "Initially, when I found the file, I hesitated to open it, but curiosity got the better of me. How could Mia do this to you?"She paused, studying Vivian. "As soon as I found these documents, I couldn’t bring myself to not let you know about it. I know Mia’s my best friend but there’s a limit…” Martha’s voice trailed off from exhaustion .“I’m relieved to discover that the school gossip about her isn't true, but…”"I'm at a loss for words. Who would have guessed she was secretly married to Shawn Mandez all this time? No wonder she kept it hidden, perhaps to spare you the heartbreak."The more Martha s
A few days later. Magnificent Residential Area.On Saturday morning, the couple, having finished their breakfast, set off on their individual weekend routines, which had become a familiar part of their lives.Recent days had brought a sense of tranquility and peace between them. Mia, understanding her husband and his demeanor, found cohabiting with him to be surprisingly blissful.She now recognized that Shawn's usual cold exterior was merely a shield, concealing his vulnerability. They were alike—lonely, abandoned, and vulnerable.Arriving at the hospital, Mia eagerly made her way to the elevator, her spirits notably high. Exiting on her floor, she strolled down the hospital corridor with a calm demeanor. Pausing in front of a ward, she quietly turned the doorknob and entered.She approached patient 305's hospital bed with measured steps, settling into the chair beside it. Gently, she took hold of the person's hand, adorned with a pulse oximeter on the index finger. In a hushed ton
Upon entering the house, the CEO promptly summoned Madam Susan. "Is she in?" He inquired.The elderly woman knew who the young master was referring to, so she responded, "No, Young Madam departed for Old Master’s house a while ago."Shawn nodded in acknowledgment. "Thank you, Madam Susan," he expressed before ascending the stairs, exhaling a sigh of relief.—————Dejectedly, the little girl turned around, tears streaming down her face as she walked away from the man's mansion. What had she expected—that he'd fall for her…Having spent most of the past few days alone at home, Mia grew inevitably bored. Seeking some company, she decided to make a visit to Old Master Mandez’s mansion.Carrying a basket of fruits and a finely hand-knitted shawl she had just finished that morning for Grandpa Mandez, Mia headed out of the house. After a delightful time in the company of the Old Champ, she bid her goodbye, feeling a bit lonely again as she exited the mansion.As she walked up the road, sig
In a dimly lit corner at the far end of the bar, a woman with long, curly eyelashes sat, sipping on a glass of beer. Her gaze flicked as she scrutinized two individuals at the bar front.Upon her brother's entrance to CONS Bar, Yvonne initially thought he was there for her. However, her relief set in when he headed straight to the VIP area after entering. She sighed and settled back into her seat, continuing to sip her sorrows away.Having left Magnificent Residential Area, Yvonne had nowhere else to go. Without friends and a reluctance to return home yet, she sought solace at the bar.Her home country now felt foreign to her—she was a stranger in her own home. Funny.With Damien's continuous calls right after she left Shawn’s residence, she deduced Shawn must have informed her brother about her visit. Aware of Damien's temper, despite his angelic appearance, she decided not to go home yet. Returning to the States immediately was a scenario she wished to avoid.And so, she headed to
The drive home felt uncomfortably silent as the couple stared out through the tinted windows, each lost in their own thoughts. Despite the simmering tension, neither spoke.Abruptly, a phone rang, shattering the quiet. Mia's hand delved into her pocket, and as her eyes met the caller ID, her heart skipped a beat. What awaited her this time?Shawn noticed his wife's body tense beside him, prompting him to cast a concerned glance her way. What was the issue this time? Perhaps her father? He observed as her trembling hand swiped the answer icon, bringing the phone to her ear."Hello," her voice rasped in a whisper.As Mia absorbed the words from the other end, her eyes widened in astonishment. "Wh-what did you just say?!" She exclaimed.Shawn's brows furrowed as he observed her unexpected delight.A few seconds later, she burst into an elated chuckle. "I'll be right there. I'll be there now!"The call ended abruptly."Can you please head to HK Hospital?" She rushed out immediately.The c
Upon arriving at the Davis family residence, Damien carefully lifted his baby sister from the car, proceeding directly to her room.As he gently placed her on the bed and prepared to depart, her quiet sobs abruptly escalated.Yvonne's eyes widened, transforming her soft sobs into heart-wrenching cries. She wept fervently, staring at Damien with newfound resentment. "You're to blame for this!" she exclaimed venomously amid tears."It's your fault! If only you hadn't sent me to that wretched place... If only you allowed me to be with the one my heart truly desires, I'd be with him instead—" her voice broke, "of that girl!"Tears continued to stream down her cheeks.Damien remained fixed in place, silently observing as she wept.Suddenly, she erupted into bitter laughter. After a pause, she declared, "If you had just let me be, I'd be with Shawn now, and that girl would be with you. But no, it backfired. And it's all on you!" She raged.Her words pierced Damien's soul, twisting his heart
"Over my dead body will that happen. My best friend can't be with my sister. Never. Unless he stops being my best friend."Yvonne appeared somewhat embarrassed and discreetly glanced at Shawn, who seemed unfazed by his best friend's response.Everyone laughed it off, but Yvonne sensed her brother wasn't joking. Little did Damien know that his sister held onto his words ever since that moment.____Damien rubbed his forehead wearily upon this revelation, pushing himself off the door and standing upright."At first, I wasn't planning to do anything... But then, four years later, I asked again, jokingly, and you gave the same response. That's when I realized you were serious, and I knew I had to take action.""So, when I saw you drive in that afternoon, I picked up my phone and pretended to be on a call. And I said all that...""I thought that... Since you can't let your best friend be in a romantic relationship with your sister, if you guys stopped being friends, then I could be with th
Jennifer Mandez smiled, observing the girl's downcast expression as she joined her side. She gently took off her gloves and cradled Mia's cheeks in her palms."Be free with me, Mia. I'm your mother as well. I held that title before I resumed being Shawn's mother," she chuckled.She paused briefly before continuing, "I want you to forgive me for hurting you. I apologize sincerely. Now, I know better. You're a rare gem, and I wouldn't want Sunshine to be with anyone but you."Mia's eyes widened, "Does that mean we have your blessing to proceed…?"She nodded, grinning."Thank you, Mom!" The girl squeaked happily, and they embraced in a tight, warm hug.“Now, we have to start preparing for the wedding. The date’s just around the corner.”She nodded and they both returned back inside.Soon, the wedding day arrived. Despite the commonality of extravagant weddings among the wealthy, Shawn and Mia's celebration stood out for its simplicity. Only a select few family and friends were invited, a
Shawn's lips tightened. "I believe you," he paused, "however, it's not you that I was referring to; it's the person behind you."‘Huh?’ Amanda's tears ceased instantly, and she swiftly turned to look behind her, as did everyone else.Anderson.Confusion swept through the room."You sending provoking pictures to Yvonne, making her rush back to the country... I was initially going to let you be. However, things changed after discovering you were the one who instigated the accident three years ago. And then you completely crossed the line by sending me those absurd threat messages," Shawn's icy voice confronted Anderson.Anderson stood, clearly taken aback. He hadn't anticipated Shawn's discovery to be so soon. He usually covered his tracks meticulously…“Why? After all these years working for Grandfather, why engage in such actions?” Shawn's brows furrowed deeply.Anderson chuckled. There was nothing to hide anymore, so why not come out clean? “Exactly. I've toiled for the old geezer fo
Upon arriving home, Shawn tenderly lifted his wife and placed her in their bedroom; she had fallen asleep during the ride. Delicately, he undressed her and tucked her into bed, taking a moment to remove her makeup with beauty wipes.As he disposed of the used wipes, Mia's phone started ringing on the nightstand. Without hesitation, he picked it up and noticed that the caller ID was unknown. He answered the call and brought the phone to his ear."Mia, I apologize. It's all my fault. Please, let's reconcile and go back to how we used to be."Upon hearing those words from the caller, Shawn's brows furrowed in irritation. Without uttering a word, he promptly ended the call. 'Dimwit.' As he placed the phone back on the stand, his thumb inadvertently pressed the photos app and opened it.He perched on the edge of the bed, smiling as he scrolled through the pictures on the girl’s phone. Soon, he stumbled upon an unexpected image—none other than a picture of himself, Shawn Mandez. In it, he
Veronica observed, sipping her cocktail, "Ah, so you two are acquainted." She taunted Martha, "Give this cocktail a try; after all, you seem to enjoy coveting what doesn't belong to you."Martha, a hint of fear in her voice, responded quickly, "Um, I don't know him."Veronica clicked her tongue in irritation, shaking her head at Martha's facade. How could she have been so blind to see the girl’s true color all these while?Everyone eyed the person who had just stepped in with confused expressions on their faces. The boy seemed to be around their age, however, he wasn’t familiar at all. He didn't bear the hallmarks of someone from their high school."Who's he?""No idea.""Recognize him?""Not at all."Veronica smiled, reassuring them, "Relax, everyone. You're about to meet him now."Martha's heart raced, fear escalating within her.Veronica turned to the newcomer, asking, "Tell us who you are and what brings you here."The guy's eyes shifted, locking onto Martha. "I'm Jason, Martha's
"Vicky Lewis!" Gasps echoed through the room as all eyes fixated on the newcomer.Mia was also taken aback to see her. She hadn't crossed paths with Vicky since she was expelled from high school, making tonight's encounter unexpected. Instinctively, an uneasy feeling settled within her.Was she here to bully her?However, Mia wasn't alone in her discomfort. Another individual seemed to be grappling with an even stronger sense of unease in response to Vicky's presence.'Why is she here? How did she manage to appear?' Martha gnawed on her lip, nearly drawing blood.After the girl's family faced bankruptcy and her father was incarcerated, Martha believed it spelled the end for Vicky Lewis.Despite Vicky’s persistent calls and attempts to connect, she remained indifferent, never acknowledging her.Long ago, she'd blocked her contact when her incessant calls became irritating. She wasn't responsible for her father's corruption or having a baby mama. She hadn't urged her to bully Mia to the
Upon entering the venue, a chorus of admiration erupted as Martha made her presence known.“You're as dazzling as ever, Martha.”“Your skin is positively radiant.”“Share your beauty secrets with us.”In a chic caramel knee-length dress beautified with subtle floral patterns, paired with classic silver heels, she exuded elegance. A silver necklace firmly adorned on her neck added a touch of poise, creating a simple yet tasteful look for the one-month school reunion.Martha waved her hand dismissively, cheeks turning a rosy hue as she blushed at the compliments pouring in. “Oh, come on, you guys. Enough about me. You all look fantastic yourselves,” she chuckled, taking her seat."Ah, I know. Max is treating her well.""Trueeee!" The collective cooing echoed.Martha simply giggled. "He'll be joining us shortly also.""Thank goodness that Mia girl didn't succeed back then," remarked one of Martha's ex-classmates, and the rest nodded in agreement.Martha's expression dropped upon hearing
"I'll leave now, and never cross your path again."Shawn stood in silence, observing the girl. Without warning, he marched towards the mini lounge, retrieving a lighter from the center table.Returning to Mia, he set ablaze the documents held in his grasp before one could comprehend what was about to happen.Mia let out an immediate shriek, her eyes widening in sheer horror. "What are you—?""You are mistaken. We're eternally linked—bound forever," Shawn calmly muttered as ashes drifted to the floor.Mia blinked rapidly at him."With that resolved, let's head downstairs for dinner. It’s late," he said, changing from his robe into more casual attire.Mia remained rooted in place, her heart burdened and fatigued. "But I don't belong here... your betro—""That's not your concern, Little One. We're married. Legally married. Are you willing to discard that for a meaningless contract?"She frowned at his words.Shawn's mouth twitched as he took her hand, guiding her downstairs to the dining
Three years prior,As an intern, Charlotte found herself working late into the night on this particular day. Upon completing her tasks at B.Y TV building, she headed out. As she walked down the road, a young man approached her."Miss, Master Davis would like to see you. Please, come with me."Upon hearing this, Charlotte felt a mix of surprise and anticipation.The Davis family had consistently opposed her relationship with Damien, and the reasons remained a mystery to her. Perhaps, they were here to reconcile with her. That was her initial assumption.She promptly followed the man to the car, her heart beating rapidly in her chest as she got in."Uncle, Aunt," she bowed politely.Master Davis and his wife cast disdainful glances at the girl.“The reason we summoned you today is straightforward,” Madam Davis spoke. “Sever ties with our son. We don't want you for him.”Upon hearing the woman's heart-wrenching words, a wave of sadness engulfed Charlotte. "Wh-why? Did I do something wron
Stella and her younger siblings were bewildered to see Madam Mandez. She was meant to be deceased—three years prior, they attended her burial ceremony. How was it possible for her to stand before them now?Their astonishment outweighed any excitement, rendering them unable to leap towards her in joy at the unexpected reunion after several years. Was she a ghost?"Master Davis, Madam Davis," Jennifer greeted with a subtle smile, gesturing for the visitors to take their seats.Madam Davis closed the gap between them, taking Jennifer's hands in hers and patting them comfortingly. "It must have been challenging for you these past few years. Are you alright?"She and her husband had learnt that the woman didn’t die in the accident and had been in a coma all these while, only waking up recently…Jennifer Mandez nodded, "I'm fine, thank you, Natasha. Please, take your seat."Madam Davis nodded and then took her seat beside her husband.“It’s good to see you're doing well. However, we've come