As Aiden was about to leave his office in the evening, he received a call from his mother. “What’s up?” “Come home for dinner tonight. Your father and I haven’t had a meal with you in a long time.” Rose’s gentle voice came through the phone. Aiden had no choice but to agree. When he arrived, dinner was not ready yet, so he sat in the living room with his parents. During their conversation, Rose handed him an invitation and explained, “Mrs. Jackson is having a birthday banquet in a few days. She had Cassie bring over this invitation for you.” Looking at the elegant invitation, Aiden frowned slightly. He was clearly reluctant about going. However, he could not decline since he still had to pay respect to the Jacksons. In the end, he nodded in agreement. Pleased with his response, Rose smiled. Later, she stepped aside to call Cassie because she knew that Cassie was waiting for an update. As soon as the call connected, Cassie’s anxious voice rang out. “Mrs. Lewis, d
It was late, so Aiden decided it was time to leave. “I’ll be heading back now,” he said. “Alright, Mr. Lewis. Take care on your way,” Amy replied politely. Although Star and Night were reluctant to see him go, they obediently said their goodbyes. “Goodbye, Mr. Lewis.” “Goodbye.” Aiden’s gaze softened as he looked at the two children. Noticing that Amy was going to walk him out, he stopped her. “You don’t have to see me off. Take the kids to bed.” Hearing this, Amy did not insist. Once she saw Aiden enter the elevator, she closed the door and took the children to bed. Downstairs, Aiden walked out of the complex where Nolan was waiting in the car. As Aiden got in, Nolan started the engine and could not resist a bit of gossip. “Were you here for your treatment today? Why didn’t you let me drive you, Mr. Lewis?” Aiden shot Nolan a look because he could see that Nolan was being nosy. “No. I just came to check if I need treatment in the next few days.” Perhaps Aide
Later, Rose and Edward also arrived at the banquet. After another round of greetings, the atmosphere grew increasingly warm. Aiden’s demeanor, however, still remained cold. Rose noticed how beautiful Cassie looked and could not help but compliment her, “Cassie, you look absolutely stunning tonight. I noticed you the moment I walked in.” “Mrs. Lewis, you flatter me. You look wonderful as well,” Cassie replied and feigned shyness as she lowered her head slightly. However, she kept stealing glances at Aiden and hoped for his acknowledgment. Unfortunately, Aiden continued to ignore her and did not spare her a single glance. Seeing that he was not giving her any attention, Cassie became frustrated and wondered if it was because she was not attractive enough. Sensing her disheartenment, Eliza discreetly patted her hand in silent support. She then shifted the conversation and smiled at Aiden. “By the way, there’s something I must apologize for on Cassie’s behalf.” Aiden furrowed
Justin was also present at the banquet. Hearing the murmurs around him, he glanced at the couple not far away and felt puzzled. Was Aiden not involved with Amy? How could he be engaged to Cassie all of a sudden? Unable to make sense of it, he decided to shelve the matter for the moment. Meanwhile, back in her apartment, Amy was helping her two children with their handicraft project. It was an assignment from their kindergarten teacher, and it was due the next day. “Mommy, this part is crooked. We need to redo it,” Night said. He was a perfectionist, and he pointed out the flaw with meticulous precision. Knowing her son’s nature, Amy did not argue and picked up the colored paper to cut a new piece. Star was there assisting as well. In the brightly lit room, scraps of paper surrounded the busy trio. The scene was warm and homey, especially with the children’s occasional amusing comments. An hour later, the three of them finally completed the project. Admiring their per
After the call ended, Aiden decided to leave the event early. He found Eliza and explained, “I have something to attend to, so I need to leave.” “You’re leaving already?” Eliza was surprised. Aiden nodded in response. He was about to turn when Eliza felt a sense of urgency and called after him. Despite having to attend to guests, she had been subtly monitoring the interactions between Aiden and Cassie. She noticed that there had been no progress all night, so she had to create an opportunity for them before it got harder for them to interact. “Let Cassie see you off,” she suggested. “That’s alright. She still has guests to attend to,” Aiden politely declined and left immediately. Eliza sighed as she watched him leave. After the party wound down and Cassie helped her parents see off the last guest, her cheerful facade dropped. She remained sullen on the drive home. James and Eliza noticed her mood, and they started communicating with their eyes. With a gaze, James prom
Later, Amy brought the cookies out of the kitchen. She saw Aiden in the living room playing chess with the children. With a warm smile, she announced, “They’re ready. You can eat them now.” Hearing this, the children immediately set down their chess pieces and eagerly pulled Aiden toward the dining area. Soon, everyone was seated and enjoying the cookies. Surprised by how delicious they were, Nolan could not help but compliment Amy, “How do you make everything taste so much better, Miss Green? These cookies are amazing.” He even gave Amy a thumbs up. She chuckled. “You flatter me, Nolan. I just threw in a bunch of stuff.” “No. I’m serious. You’re being too modest,” Nolan insisted and shook his head. At this point, Aiden offered his praise too. “They have excellent flavor.” Amused, Amy glanced at him. “Mr. Lewis, you’ve had your share of gourmet food. Why are you exaggerating like Nolan?” “I’m just stating the truth. Ask Star and Night if you don’t believe me,” Aiden
As Cassie left, Aiden put down the newspaper and headed to the dining room. He ignored the breakfast Cassie had brought and did not touch it at all. After he finished his meal, he left for the office. His morning was packed with several meetings, including international ones, and a pile of documents awaited his review. He remained busy until the afternoon. Eventually, he managed to take a short break. While Aiden sat at his desk, his complexion was pale, and he was visibly exhausted. Noticing his weariness, Nolan expressed his concern, “Are you alright?” “I’m fine,” Aiden replied as he massaged his throbbing temples. The intense mental exertion had left him feeling sluggish. “What else needs to be done today?” Aiden asked. “Most of the work is done. Oh, there’s one thing to report. Westview Hot Springs Resort has been completed, and it’s ready to start operating. It will offer free experiences at first. As the owner, this could be a great opportunity for you to relax. Y
The children were thrilled about going to the hot springs with Aiden. They counted down the days with great anticipation. Amy often found it amusing to see them eagerly marking off the days on the calendar. Finally, the weekend arrived, and the children woke up early. “Mommy, wake up! Today’s the day! We promised Mr. Lewis that we’d go to the hot springs,” they exclaimed excitedly as they ran into Amy’s bedroom. Seeing that it was only 6 a.m., Amy sighed but got up anyway. After breakfast, the doorbell rang. “It must be Mr. Lewis. I’ll get the door,” Star said excitedly. “I’ll go too,” Night added. Then, both of them rushed to the door. Aiden was standing outside in a casual suit that toned down his usual stern demeanor. Instead, it gave him a more refined appearance. “Good morning, Mr. Lewis! You look so handsome today!” Star exclaimed as her eyes shone. “You do look very handsome,” Night agreed with a serious nod. Pleased with their compliments, Aiden felt even
Eddie explained, “The shoot’s primary focus is to capture the essence of the wedding gown collection through couples’ portraits, interactions with the children, and scenes depicting a wedding ceremony. “This is a big project, so we’ll start with the wedding ceremony scene. Madame Coco mentioned that you aren’t a real couple or professional models, so do you have any ideas on how to handle the interactions, or should we go with the team’s plan?” Eddie asked and looked expectantly at Amy as well as Aiden. The two of them exchanged glances, and Aiden calmly said, “I’ll follow your lead.” Feeling the weight of responsibility, Amy realized that there was no turning back. She nodded. “Let’s go with your team’s plan. You’re the experts, so you know what works best.” “Alright, then. Let me explain the first sequence for the wedding ceremony series,” Eddie began detailing the scene. After a few minutes, he finished explaining and asked, “So, can you handle that?” “Yes. I think it’
Despite Grace’s reassurances, Amy still felt uneasy about the situation. However, she did not voice her concerns. After all, she had already agreed to Madame Coco’s proposal and tried on the wedding dress. It was not her style to back out at the last minute. It was nearing lunchtime as they discussed the details. Madame Coco suggested that they all dine together, so they all went to a restaurant. Once seated, Madame Coco asked Amy to order. Amy wanted to refuse since she felt that it was more appropriate to let the others decide. However, Grace passed the task to her, and she ended up selecting a few dishes. “Aiden doesn’t like cilantro, so please omit it from the fish, and let’s keep the seasoning light on these two dishes,” Amy mentioned Aiden’s preferences naturally. Aiden and the children did not react, as they were used to it, but Grace’s eyes shone with interest. Seeing how she knew Aiden’s tastes and dislikes so well, it did not seem like they were just friends. Ma
The next morning, Grace arrived at the hotel early to pick everyone up. Madame Coco had already briefed her team at Coco, so the meeting was seamless. “Due to traffic, Madame Coco is still on her way. She asked me to help you with trying on the wedding outfits first,” the lead coordinator explained and gestured for them to follow her. Amy, Aiden, and the children nodded and followed her to Madame Coco’s studio. The studio was huge, and it occupied the entire floor. It was also equipped with top-notch facilities. However, what truly stunned Amy was the wedding gown displayed at the center of the room. The pure white dress was breathtaking under the lights. The tiny pink diamonds that shimmered on the skirt added a touch of unique elegance and made it even more valuable. Next to the gown was a black tailcoat. The contrasting black and white complemented each other perfectly. The attention to detail was remarkable. While the tailcoat was all black, it was adorned with dark p
“You and your friend have the exact looks, presence, and figures that I’ve envisioned for my models,” Madame Coco continued to enthuse. “Your interactions are so loving, and with your two angelic children, you embody my idea of a perfect family.” Amy felt overwhelmed and glanced at Aiden for help. “I’m not particularly interested, but if you want to do it, I’ll support you,” he said calmly. “I don’t really want to.” Amy shook her head. Their relationship was already complicated, and posing in wedding attire seemed even more awkward. The children, however, were excited. They saw this as a perfect opportunity to bring Amy and Aiden closer. Sharing a glance, they silently agreed on their plan. “Mommy, I want to do it.” Star clung to Amy’s arm as she pleaded sweetly. Night joined in and looked up with wide, hopeful eyes. “You know, Mommy, we’ve never taken formal photos together,” he added softly. Amy fell silent, and a wave of guilt washed over her. It was true that she had no
Aiden fell silent for a second and spoke evasively, “You’ll find out in time.” This meant that he did not want to discuss it at the moment. Grace was exasperated but amused. She already had an idea of what was going on. “Fine. If you won’t tell me, I’ll just have fun with my niece and nephew.” With that, she quickly caught up with the rest and chatted happily with them. Aiden felt regretful as he watched them. He wondered if he might have spoiled things by bringing Amy and the children to his meeting with Grace. Unaware of Aiden’s thoughts, Grace took great care of Amy and the children during mealtime. Her enthusiasm overwhelmed Amy a bit, but she did not think much of it. Grace had been friendly since the moment they met. As they chatted, the conversation naturally turned to their following plans. “Where are you planning to go this afternoon?” Grace asked Amy. Amy instinctively glanced at Aiden. Seeing this, Grace raised an eyebrow in curiosity and looked over at him as we
After they wandered around for a while longer, Aiden received a call from Grace. It was time to pick her up. “I’ll be there soon,” Aiden said and ended the call. He put away his phone and said to Amy, “Let’s go. Aunt Grace is ready.” However, Amy felt a bit anxious. “Should I buy her a gift?” Seeing how nervous she was, Aiden teased, “Do you know what it means for you to bring a gift?” “What does it mean?” Amy asked without thinking too deeply about it. Night and Star were speechless when they saw her naive response. They felt like there was still much to do. Unaware of their expressions, Aiden continued to playfully provoke Amy. “It means that you’re my girlfriend.” Amy choked on her own saliva. After recovering, she quickly clarified, “That’s not what I meant, Mr. Lewis. Don’t misunderstand.” “I know,” Aiden replied and nodded calmly, with mischief in his eyes. Amy understood what he was implying and felt amused as well as annoyed. But a strange feeling also spread
The Picasso Church was one of the most famous attractions in the bustling city. It was a busy place with a large flow of people and many vendors. As Aiden and Amy arrived with Night and Star, their striking looks drew attention. However, they did not mind it and began browsing through the stalls, which sold handmade accessories, souvenirs, and clothes. The children found everything fascinating, while Amy was attracted to some culturally rich items. “Mommy, look how pretty those dolls are,” Star suddenly said as she pointed at some dolls on a vendor’s table. The dolls were painted in bright colors, and they had cute expressions. They came in various sizes, and each looked more charming than the last. Amy approached the vendor and asked, “How much for one of these?” “The big ones are five hundred, and it’s a hundred for the smaller ones,” the vendor replied. There was a cunning glint in his eyes as he sized them up as foreigners. “That expensive?” Amy was startled by the pric
Amy knew better than to tell Aiden about the social media posts. So, she glanced at the children with a calm smile. “It’s nothing serious. We were just playing around.” Aiden was skeptical, but since Amy did not want to discuss it further, he refrained from pressing her. He gently patted the children on their backs and reassured them, “She’s just messing with you. Go on over to her.” Night and Star hesitated as they looked back at Amy, whose smile they found suspiciously sinister. A shiver ran down their spine, and they sensed that things might not end well for them when they got back. So, they clung to Aiden and began to wheedle him. “Mr. Lewis, I want to sit next to you.” “Um, can I sleep with you tonight?” Night and Star spoke at the same time, with Night adding the question about sleeping. He had more foresight. He knew that with Aiden around, Amy might not say much. However, she would not let them off the hook once they were back at the hotel. Realizing this, Sta
Right after Aiden shared a photo on social media, his phone started to blow up. It looked like he was making an announcement when he posted the beautiful snapshot by Night. [Wow. Are you making it official?] [Are you guys dating? She’s really beautiful.] [Aiden, when will you bring her to meet us?] Aiden glanced at the messages but chose not to respond. The children also saw the photos that Aiden had shared, including the one of him and Amy. They were overjoyed and more convinced than ever that Aiden had feelings for her. However, not everyone was happy. When Cassie saw the public photo on Aiden’s social media page, she was both shocked and angry. Was Aiden announcing their relationship? Her jealousy was uncontrollable. Aiden’s parents also saw the photo and became furious. Rose could not hold back her anger. “What is he trying to do, slap us in the face? We just released news about finding him a wife, and he’s posting photos with this woman?” Edward kept quiet, but h