“Amy was not raised properly, so it’s no surprise that she lacks manners,” Ellen said worriedly. She glanced at her husband before changing the subject. “Michael, we were planning to use Jenny’s wedding as an opportunity to arrange Amy’s marriage as well. But seeing how she is, I’m afraid she won’t come back so easily.”Michael scoffed, and his face was full of greed.“She has to come back whether she likes it or not. I’ll make sure of it! Besides, the Jackson family will definitely claim her when the time comes. Where else can we find a bride for them? With her loss of chastity and the scandal that followed, she should be honored that a member of the Jackson family is willing to marry her. Only a fool would refuse.”They were trying to get Amy to marry into the Jackson family. That was their true purpose of calling her back.The Jackson family was a prominent and wealthy family in Jackson City. It was known for producing talented individuals every generation.However, the Jacks
Amy was referring to her best friend, Wendy Lee.They had known each other since high school, so they shared a decade of friendship.Wendy had been of significant help over the years, and she served as a godmother to Amy’s two children.Upon hearing Wendy’s name, Mrs. Harper immediately felt relieved and stopped inquiring further.Wendy had their house key since this was not their first time asking her to watch the kids.Amy spent the night at the hospital beside Mrs. Harper’s bed. Eventually, Mrs. Harper fell asleep peacefully, and her condition stabilized over time.However, Amy remained worried about her well-being and barely slept. She kept vigilant throughout the night.The next morning, the doctor came for his rounds and carried out various tests.Fortunately, Mrs. Harper’s results came back normal, and the doctor suggested that she be discharged.They both sighed in relief once it was confirmed that there was no serious issue.After packing up, Amy cheerfully took he
The man sitting on the couch was, in fact, Aiden Lewis.Standing beside him was the man with gold-rimmed glasses, his assistant, Nolan. They were just looking around at first. The living room was not large, but it had been decorated meticulously. It gave off a warm and cozy feeling.However, Wendy’s words startled them momentarily, and they turned their attention to the two children behind her. Wendy quickly noticed the shift in their gazes. She hugged the two children and stepped back warily. She was nervous, and she involuntarily recalled the news on television about child trafficking. What should she do if these people targeted the children? They were in a vulnerable position.Star completely hid behind Wendy. She was too timid to look at them. Night was braver in comparison. He stared at the people before him with caution, but he showed no fear. Aiden touched his chin and found the children interesting. He vaguely remembered encountering them after the car accident w
Amy’s expression changed, and it revealed a hint of helplessness. It was just as she had thought.Not noticing her expression, Wendy recounted what had just happened, “Amy, I was playing with the kids when these people barged in. They scared us half to death.”She then whispered, “Don’t be scared. If they try anything, we’ll call the police.”Night and Star held Amy’s fingers firmly as well. They wore determined looks as if trying to give her courage.She could not help but smile through her tears. She patted her children on the back and comforted them. “Mommy’s fine. Don’t be scared.”She also reassured Wendy, “It’s okay. They won’t do anything.”Then, she turned to Aiden with a frown. “Why didn’t you let us know before coming? Look at this commotion. You’ve scared my family.” Her tone was filled with annoyance.Nolan awkwardly apologized, “Sorry for startling your family, Miss Green. We didn’t mean to. It’s an emergency. That’s why we’ve come unannounced.”Wendy was stunned b
Night and Star stood behind Amy as they looked at each other in confusion. They did not understand why their mom had suddenly started treating Aiden. Despite their confusion, they just watched quietly. They dared not interrupt.Just then, a soft meow came from outside the door. Night and Star exchanged glances. They realized that their kittens had come looking for them but were locked out.The children tiptoed over and opened the door. After that, they each picked up a kitten and returned to continue watching their mother.Amy worked skillfully as she prepared to start the treatment. “Let’s begin,” she announced. Her technique was precise as she applied the ointment onto Aiden’s back. It was quick and effective, and Aiden felt immediate relief.Bored, Night and Star caught Aiden’s gaze. They could not help but feel that Aiden’s sharp gaze somehow felt warm and kind.“Hi, Handsome Mister. So, you were telling the truth when you said you weren’t here to collect money,” Star brav
Nolan was surprised when he noticed Amy’s reaction. Most people would have tried to curry favor upon learning of Aiden’s prestigious status. Yet, Amy merely showed brief surprise and quickly regained her composure. He wondered if she truly understood the significance of Aiden’s identity. Despite his curiosity, Nolan was not looking to boast. With his experience in the business world, he knew the importance of humility.At this point, Amy had already finished her treatment. She checked the placements of the ointments and stood up in relief. “All done. Let the ointments sit for a while. I’ll come back in half an hour to wipe them off,” she said to Nolan. She smiled gracefully and elegantly.She then instructed her children, “Star, come with Mommy. We’ll prepare the medicine. Night, stay here and keep track of the time. Call me once it’s time.” The children nodded obediently, and she left the bedroom with Star.Night watched them leave and went to the living room. Then, he re
“Your mom treated me and did me a favor. It’s only right that I give you a toy,” Aiden insisted.However, Night still shook his head and refused to accept anything from him. Aiden admired how selfless, polite, and proper he was. It seemed that Amy had done well in raising her children.Nolan could not help but praise him too, “Your mom and dad must be great at educating kids.” This was his first time seeing such endearing children.Night frowned. “We don’t have a dad, just a mom and great-grandma.” He sounded displeased, and his tone indicated that Nolan had touched a sensitive topic.Aiden and Nolan were taken aback. They realized that they had broached a delicate subject. They had not seen the children’s father around, which hinted at a possible divorce.“Sorry, kiddo. I didn’t mean to offend you,” Nolan apologized sincerely. He never intended to hurt the child’s feelings. Despite being from a single-parent family, the children were remarkably well-developed.Thankfully, Night
Nolan almost popped a blood vessel. Amy was really asking for too much.“Fifty thousand for just two packets of herbal pills? That’s way too expensive! Where do you find herbs costing fifty thousand dollars? Besides, didn’t we agree to deduct it from the car accident compensation?”Nolan frowned at her as he found it unreasonable.He suspected that she was taking advantage of the Lewis family’s wealth to extract money from them.Amy confidently retorted, “Ordinary herbs aren’t worth much. But the herbs I’ve used here are very rare. I only have three of them, and they’re priceless! This is the main ingredient needed for Mr. Lewis’s condition.”The herbs she cultivated were expensive to begin with.Even when dealing with Mr. Hamlin, her prices had always been the same. She believed that she was being fair. However, it seemed that she was being doubted?Thinking about their last negotiation, she added, “The compensation for the car accident is from the treatment fee. The cost of th
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