Amy Green felt as if a fog had obscured her vision. She could not see anything, but her other senses were heightened. Flames seemed to envelop her body as waves of heat assaulted her. She heard heavy breathing and deep moans next to her ear. They were filled with a strong sense of dominance. Amy tried hard to open her eyes to see the other person, but her eyelids felt incredibly heavy. After what felt like an eternity, it finally came to an end. Right then, she saw the person’s attractive and muscular chest. There was a tattoo of a black eagle with a sharp gaze near the left side. Its fierce and intimidating appearance gave her chills. “Ah!” Amy screamed and woke up from her dream. She was covered in a cold sweat as she sat up in bed. Her nine-month pregnant belly made every move awkward and challenging. The elderly Mrs. Harper, who was sleeping beside her, felt her granddaughter’s movements and quickly asked, “What’s wrong? Another nightmare?” Amy nodded wearily.
Amy was in a pharmacy in Cloud City.She had just sold a batch of medicine, which gave her a decent income.She was in a good mood, so she planned to treat the two little ones to a nice meal. They were waiting in the car.After she gave birth five years ago, she and Mrs. Harper moved to the suburbs with the children. There, she met an old doctor who taught her alternative medicine. She learned the ways to identify various herbs and also the method of growing them. This knowledge sustained her family’s livelihood over the years.With the children healthy and growing up happily, life was smooth and joyful.While passing through the central square, a news broadcast on a large LCD screen caught Amy’s attention.[The entertainment industry’s rising star and the Green family’s heiress—Jenny Green, will marry the Quinn family’s heir, Justin Quinn. Their five-year-long relationship will finally culminate in marriage.]Amy stopped in her tracks and raised her eyes to the screen. She saw
“Mommy, we’re okay,” Night calmly stated.Thankfully, the kids were unharmed as the other driver managed to hit the brakes in time. Amy breathed a sigh of relief.“Sweeties, Mommy’s going to see what just happened. You two stay in the car, okay?”After telling them to stay put, she unbuckled her seatbelt and got out. The driver of the car behind her also exited his vehicle. He checked his car and confronted Amy with a hint of anger. “Do you know how to drive? You stopped abruptly on the road!”“I’m so sorry. My car seems to have broken down.”Amy knew it was her fault and sincerely apologized. She turned to look at her car, which had a large dent in the back, and then at the other car. Her face turned pale as she recognized the vehicle as a Maybach. Worse still, it was not just any Maybach, but a limited edition one. It was valued at forty million at the very least.She was well aware that she had to bear the cost of the accident. The thought of compensating such an enormous su
It appeared that the man was not the decision-maker. The owner of the Maybach was likely sitting in the back of the car.Amy instinctively looked over and saw a man dressed in a sharp black suit. His features were strikingly attractive. In addition, he had the charm and aura of nobility, which demanded attention. However, his lips were incredibly pale, and he looked somewhat frail. He was resting with his eyes closed. There was a young man wearing gold-rimmed glasses next to him. He appeared mature and calculating, but his face was filled with concern. “Lester, give this lady your business card. We’ll discuss the compensation later. Right now, we need to take Mr. Lewis to Dr. Hamlin. Let’s not waste time here,” he said. As they spoke, Amy approached the car and caught a whiff of blood emanating from inside. She frowned and guessed that the man inside must be injured. She could not help but take a second look. She could sense that this was not someone to be trifled with. In t
Amy felt defeated and burdened. She called a tow truck company and gave them her location before she contacted the traffic police. Soon, both parties arrived. They briefly inquired about the situation and learned that the matter had been settled privately. As such, the traffic police did not pursue it further. Amy felt a sense of loss as she watched her car being towed away. “Ms. Green, please come with me to the police station. You need to make a statement,” said the traffic officer as he approached. She nodded in agreement. Then, she took Night and Star by the hand and got into the police car. By the time everything was sorted and they got home, it was already evening. Meanwhile, Aiden’s car arrived at the Hamlin family’s pharmacy. The assistant, Nolan, was the first to get out and open the door. He and Lester then helped Aiden inside. Upon entering, he immediately asked the receptionist, “Where is Mr. Hamlin?” The receptionist quickly came forward and led them in. “M
Nolan was equally astonished, and he quickly inquired, “Mr. Hamlin, is there more of it? If so, we’d like to purchase as many as you have! It might lessen Mr. Lewis’s suffering.” Mr. Hamlin chuckled. “Do you think it’s readily available like cabbage? I already told you it’s rare.” “But…” Nolan was somewhat relentless as he clung to this sliver of hope. Mr. Hamlin explained, “The young lady who supplies us with medicinal herbs mentioned that she came across a few plants by chance. I asked her if there were more, but she said no.” The disappointment on Nolan’s face was evident. While Aiden remained composed, the expectant look in his eyes faded. His chronic condition had plagued him for many years. Despite seeking world-renowned physicians over the years, there was no hope for a complete cure. It merely prolonged his suffering. However, he found some relief with Mr. Hamlin. Aiden finally discovered the miraculous effects of these herbs. Naturally, he hoped to purchase more fo
Amy watered the medicinal plants and pruned the unnecessary branches and leaves meticulously. The whole thing took her over an hour to complete. It was completely dark by the time she allowed herself to take a break. These medicinal plants were incredibly precious. They were far more expensive than the ones she had provided to Mr. Hamlin during the day. Even those could already be sold at over twenty thousand dollars. If these seedlings were cultivated to maturity, they would be priceless. Wiping the sweat from her brow, Amy felt a bit more relaxed. She felt even better when she thought of the two little ones waiting for her at home. A gentle smile soon formed on her face. After packing up her tools and locking the garden gate, she headed home. Once she arrived home and pushed open the door, she found Night and Star wrapped in towels. They were playing chess with Mrs. Harper, while their two kittens—Rice Ball and Dumpling—were frolicking around excitedly. The scene was filled w
Amy was left alone in the hall, and she did not know whether to leave or stay. However, she immediately recognized the man with gold-rimmed glasses. He was one of the passengers from the car accident. As for the other man with the distinguished aura, she had detected the smell of blood from him. This along with the current situation suggested that Aiden had been the one inside the car. She knew at a glance that he was no ordinary person. Logically speaking, it was best that she left quickly. Yet, moved by a healer’s instinct to save lives, Amy could not just walk away. As she hesitated to go in, Nolan cried out in alarm, “Mr. Lewis!” So, without further thought, she stepped into the lounge. Upon entering, she was greeted with the strong scent of herbal medicine. An elegant and handsome man was lying on the bed unconscious. Based on his flushed cheeks, it was evident that he had an unnaturally high fever. Amy could tell that he had been feverish for quite some time. Nolan and
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