When they arrived, the manager had already received the message, so he was waiting at the door with the staff. Seeing Aiden step out of the car, the manager immediately approached him. “Mr. Lewis, what can I do for you?” “I recall that our hotel keeps backup surveillance records. Find the footage of Room 1801 from July 24, five years ago.” Aiden went straight to the point. The manager was surprised, but he promptly ordered his subordinates to retrieve the footage. Since it was from so long ago, it took some time. Meanwhile, Nolan was puzzled by Aiden’s sudden actions. Unable to contain his curiosity, he asked, “Mr. Lewis, why are you suddenly looking for surveillance footage from that day? Is something going on?” “Do you remember what happened in this hotel five years ago?” Aiden looked at him seriously. Nolan pondered for a moment and realized what Aiden was referring to. Indeed, the only event that could have such an impact was the one where Aiden was set up and d
Aiden agreed with Nolan’s suggestion. He nodded and said, “Find Miss Green.” Nolan obeyed and followed him out of the room. Before long, they arrived at Amy’s apartment complex again. Seeing the two men at her door, Amy was puzzled and unsure of what was going on. “Mr. Lewis, Mr. Nolan, what brings you here again?” Looking conflicted, Nolan rubbed his nose without answering immediately. Instead, he looked at Aiden. Sensing his glance, Amy turned to Aiden too. Aiden lied without hesitation, “I came to see you because I wasn’t feeling well. Can I come in?” “Sure.” The moment she agreed to his request, Aiden hurried inside. Amy was filled with confusion as she observed him. It was strange. When she checked his pulse earlier, she found nothing wrong. Despite her doubts, she checked his pulse again and asked, “Can you further describe how you feel, Mr. Lewis?” Seeing her serious expression, Aiden felt a little guilty. Even so, he fabricated a reason. “I feel di
Amy did not doubt him. She nodded and changed the subject, “I’ll drop by your place for another treatment session tomorrow. The ointment will help relieve your fatigue.” “Thank you.” Aiden nodded in agreement. As they spoke, Nolan drove forward and stopped in front of them. When Nolan saw Amy, he greeted her more respectfully than usual, “Good evening, Miss Green.” “Good evening,” Amy responded with a smile. She then turned to Aiden and softly said, “Since Nolan is here, I’ll head back.” Aiden nodded. He watched her until she entered the building before he got in the car. Once inside, Nolan looked at him intently. Nolan seemed to be silently asking him if he had secured the hair sample. Aiden realized this and took out the handkerchief with the hair. He handed it to Nolan and ordered him in a steady voice, “Bring this for testing. I want the results as soon as possible.” “I understand.” Nolan took the handkerchief carefully and nodded seriously. On the way back,
In the bright room, Aiden was partially dressed as he lay in bed. He could feel Amy’s delicate touch while she applied the ointment on his body. “Miss Green, may I ask you a personal question?” he suddenly said. “What is it?” Amy looked at him in puzzlement. Aiden turned his head slightly and asked, “Why didn’t you try to find the children’s biological father sooner? Why now after all these years?” Amy was momentarily stunned. Clearly, she never expected such a question. After a brief hesitation, she sighed and replied, “Back then, surviving day-to-day was hard enough. I didn’t have the energy to search for him.” Hearing this, Aiden nodded, as he understood her situation. He knew how difficult her life had been. He then asked, “So, why do you want to find him now?” Amy pursed her lips for a while before she answered, “The kids are older now and more sensitive. They crave a father’s love. I’ve already let them down in many ways. If I just pick a random man, they might no
Amy’s reply troubled Aiden, and he looked at her with a strange expression. It almost sounded like Amy had been abandoned by a negligent father. Were her expectations not too low? “Don’t you think that your expectations are too low? The children are his no matter what. Shouldn’t he take full responsibility for them?” Aiden asked. Amy shook her head. “That’s not the point. I only want him to spend time with the kids when he’s free. I don’t want someone coming in and trying to take custody of my children.” Although she did not know the man’s situation, she suspected that most men had a dominant streak. He could potentially fight for custody. But if he did not want to spend time with the children, she would not force him. Obviously, she did not share these thoughts with Aiden. Even though Aiden was not aware of this, her previous words left him speechless. He did not know how to respond, so the conversation ended there. Once the treatment was over, Amy prepared to leave. B
As soon as Nolan finished speaking, he realized that something was off. What did Aiden mean by developing a bond? He looked at Aiden in astonishment but noticed that Aiden did not disagree with him. Was Aiden thinking of the same thing? Still, Nolan felt that he might have misunderstood Aiden’s intentions. Then again, what if it was not a misunderstanding? After all, Aiden treated Amy differently. Observing Nolan’s changing expressions, Aiden raised an eyebrow in annoyance. He was aware of what Nolan was thinking. However, he did not elaborate and simply warned him, “Keep this to yourself. Don’t let it slip.” “Of course. You can count on me. I’ll keep it to myself!” Nolan quickly assured him. Aiden trusted him and said, “I need you to buy a couple of things for me.” That evening, Aiden went to Amy’s house after work. He was carrying the items that Nolan had bought. Amy was surprised to see him at the door with so many bags. “Mr. Lewis, what brings you here? Al
Although she found it odd, Amy did not dwell on it. She assumed it was because the children were so endearing. After Aiden played with the children for a while, Amy called him over for his treatment. By the time the treatment was over, it was already late. Though reluctant, Aiden got ready to leave. “I should go now. Goodbye, Star and Night.” “Mr. Lewis, wait!” Star and Night quickly called out to him. Both Aiden and Amy looked at the children in confusion. “What’s wrong?” Aiden asked. Acting mysteriously, the children pulled him into their bedroom. Watching their retreating figures, Amy could not help but laugh. It appeared that the three of them had a little secret. In the room, Aiden was puzzled. As he stood there, the children pulled out a treasure box from under the bed and took out some cookies as well as candy. “Mr. Lewis, these are our favorite snacks. We want to give them to you.” They presented the treats to Aiden like precious treasures. Star
Over in Lewis Corporation, Nolan knocked on the CEO’s door before entering. He was holding a formal-looking invitation. He approached the desk and handed it over to Aiden respectfully. “Mr. Lewis, tonight is Mr. Miller’s seventieth birthday celebration. The Miller family has sent you an invitation, and they’re hoping that you’ll attend,” he explained. “I see. Inform them that I’ll be there on time.” Aiden nodded and accepted the invitation. The Lewis family and Miller family had a longstanding relationship with many business connections between their companies. An invitation to such an important event was expected. Nolan nodded and asked, “What kind of birthday gift should we prepare?” Aiden narrowed his eyes in deep thought. “Go to Imperial Orchid Gardens and select a fine painting from my collection for Mr. Miller. Also, bring me my evening attire.” “Understood.” Nolan nodded and left to make the arrangements. After work that evening, Aiden changed into his formal attir
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