After Amy hung up, there was a mix of emotions on her face. As she massaged her temples, she felt so angry that her complexion turned an unhealthy shade of green. Why did she have to have Michael as a father? She broke into a coughing fit because she was so overcome with rage. Night and Star got worried and rushed to her side. “Mommy, what’s wrong? Did someone hurt you?” Night asked, his voice filled with indignant concern. He was ready to take revenge on anyone who dared to upset his mother. “It’s okay, Mommy. Don’t be mad,” Star comforted her softly and tugged at her sleeve. The sight of her two adorable children instantly lifted her spirits. “I’m fine, really.” Their two little kittens also meowed and licked her hand in an attempt to comfort her. The warmth from her two kids and their kittens filled the room with a comforting atmosphere. It made everything in her world seem right again. Amy smiled and found solace in the fact that she still had a family—her softest s
After dinner, Wendy left. Amy’s children were very responsible, and they started cleaning up on their own. Night washed the dishes, while Star cleaned the table and put the chairs back in place. Seeing how mature they were, Amy felt happy. After Star finished her chores, she ran to Amy and hugged her. “Mommy, what should we do now?” she asked softly. Amy thought for a moment and came up with an idea. “Once your brother’s done washing the dishes, why don’t I teach you guys some idioms? How does that sound?” She had already bought textbooks for the next few years. She planned to give them a head start so that learning would be easier for them next time. She was not worried about their intelligence affecting their future grades, but a little preparation never hurt. Star considered it for a while and clapped her tiny hands in agreement. “Okay! I want to learn!” Her smile revealed her canine teeth, which made her look spirited and cute. “Night, are you done?” Amy called ou
In Amy’s study, there was an ancient medical book about medicinal diets for health. She had been reading that very book until the early hours of the morning. Since she had promised to thank Aiden, she was naturally going to keep her word. Medicinal food could help him regulate his vital energy and greatly benefit his health. Mr. Hamlin was somewhat excited when he heard about this. The medicines she prepared always had a unique combination of ingredients. He was eager to learn anything he could from her. “What herbs do you need, Miss Green? I’ll get Linda to prepare them right away!” he said generously. Amy nodded. She did not mention the list of herbs, as it was too lengthy to say out loud. “I’ll write them down for you,” she said cheerfully. Mr. Hamlin was eager to assist, so he went to get her a pen and a piece of paper. “Just give me a moment.” Her elegant handwriting quickly filled the black page. To prevent Mr. Hamlin from asking too many questions, Amy only wrote d
Amy went to Aiden’s residence in the afternoon. She checked his address multiple times to make sure that she had not gone to the wrong place. Aiden lived in a place called Imperial Orchid Gardens. As soon as she entered, she was greeted by a modern-style villa and a spacious garden. The air was fresh, and the view was expansive. It made her marvel internally. No wonder wealthy people lived in such nice places; the environment was truly splendid. The garden had an exquisite arrangement, and it was beautiful like a scenic spot. A professional had clearly designed it. The butler was already waiting at the villa’s entrance to greet her. He bowed and extended his hand when he saw Amy. “You must be Miss Green. I am Mr. Lewis’s butler. You can call me Logan.” Amy smiled politely and shook his hand. “Hello, Logan.” “Mr. Lewis has informed me of your visit, Miss Green. Please come in,” he said respectfully. Once inside, the decor immediately caught her eye. Everything wa
Amy could see through Aiden’s skepticism. She shrugged helplessly and appeared somewhat endearing.“Since it’s a medicinal broth, it’ll naturally have a medicinal taste. However, this differs from alternative medicine. The herbs used for consumption mostly have a refreshing scent. The method of preparation is also unique.” Feeling confident in her culinary skills, she added, “Plus, with my cooking skills, it’ll taste pretty good. Try it if you don’t believe me!” Having said so, she scooped up the broth into a bowl. She moved with precision and did not spill a drop. Aiden was momentarily taken aback. It felt like his wife was serving him food. By the time he returned to his senses, Amy had already served him the broth. “Here. This is for you.” He chuckled at his momentary lapse. It was likely due to being overworked. Taking a sip, Aiden found the broth surprisingly tasty. It had a mild sweetness. “Not bad,” he admitted and realized that Amy was right in saying that it d
Jenny dragged herself back to the Green residence as she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders. The moment she went in, she collapsed on the couch, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. “Jenny, you’re back? What’s wrong?” Ellen emerged from the kitchen after she heard noises outside. Jenny could not respond. Her shoulders shook violently as she sobbed. Seeing how upset she was, Ellen understood and sat beside her. She sighed while she gently stroked Jenny’s back. “Is it something to do with work?” Jenny sat up and wiped her tears away. She looked pale without any makeup on her face. She struggled to speak through her tears. “I….” Ellen was heartbroken, and she did not press Jenny about her troubles. Holding her daughter close, she comforted her softly, “Jenny, this too shall pass. Come on, eat something. I made your favorite food.” Jenny shook her head and said, “I’m not in the mood.” Her voice sounded nasal. She was obviously too bothered to eat “You h
About half an hour later, the car stopped at the entrance of Amy’s residential area. “Miss Green, we’re here. Do you need me to take you further?” Nolan asked in a deep voice. He looked back at Amy to get her response. “It’s okay. I’ll get off here. Thank you for going through the trouble, Nolan,” Amy replied. As she opened the car door, she noticed another vehicle with an open door in front of her. Someone stepped out, and Amy found the silhouette familiar. Who could it be at this late hour? Intrigued, she took a closer look and realized that it was Michael. Amy’s expression darkened as she confronted him. “What are you doing here?” Hearing her voice, Michael turned around and saw her. “You have the nerve to ask? Thanks to you, Jenny is being slandered all over the Internet!” he responded coldly. His annoyance was evident, especially after he saw her return home so late. She was living in such a carefree manner. Amy was speechless, and she rolled her eyes. She was not
When Michael returned home, Ellen and Jenny immediately surrounded him. They were full of anticipation. “How did it go, Dad? Did she agree?” Jenny asked and shook Michael’s arm. Michael did not say a word. He appeared gloomy as he walked over and sat on the couch. Jenny hesitated, as she did not know what to do next. Meanwhile, Ellen sat beside him anxiously and pressed him for answers, “Michael, speak up. Did she refuse?” His reaction made her suspect the worst. Holding his head in his hands, Michael spoke in a low voice, “She said if we return all of Serena’s assets and shares to her, she’ll consider leaving Jenny alone. Otherwise, there’s no deal.” Ellen laughed with scorn. “What nonsense is she talking about?” How could that even be possible? The Green family’s assets were rightfully Jenny’s. Jenny furrowed her brows and appeared incredulous. “Dad, did you agree to her demands?” Those shares and properties were supposed to be hers! Michael shook his head and s
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