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
The next morning, Amy sent her children to school after breakfast. When she got home, she looked up at the sky with a frown. Dark clouds had gathered, and they were hinting at an impending rainstorm. Some of the herbs in her garden could not handle too much water, as it would dilute their potency. She needed to take some protective measures. Therefore, she busied herself in the garden from early in the morning until noon. Suddenly, there was a heavy downpour. Amy sighed and felt relieved about bringing rain gear with her. Fortunately, she had arrived early; otherwise, the rain would have flooded her herb garden. After tidying up, she headed home under her umbrella. Just as she arrived, she heard Mrs. Harper’s crying in pain. “Ouch!” Mrs. Harper was lying in bed and clutching her waist. Amy rushed over and asked with concern, “Grandma, are you alright? Should I bring you to the hospital?” She appeared worried as she supported Mrs. Harper. But even though Mrs. Harper was
Night spoke convincingly, and Michael immediately became furious. “Who are you calling an evil woman? That’s your aunt! Also, I’m your grandfather! How dare you call us evil? Is this what your mother taught you? You have no manners at all!” he scolded Night and Star. They constantly caused him trouble, and it irritated him. He felt truly unfortunate to have them as his family. At this moment, Star spoke up as well, “Mommy says that manners are for people. We don’t need them when dealing with animals!” Her voice was clear and pleasant. By then, the fear in her eyes had faded a bit. It was replaced by anger when she heard Michael insult Amy. Michael’s anger intensified, and he could not believe that this worthless little girl dared to insult him! He glared at Star and shouted, “Who are you calling an animal?! You’re uttering such foul language at such a young age. If your mother can’t teach you properly, I don’t mind teaching you a lesson myself!” With that, he raised his h
Michael was furious. He wondered where this man came from and why he was stopping him. The noise from the crowd annoyed him, and he shouted at the young man, “I’m their grandfather. I’m taking them with me!” The young man looked at him suspiciously and asked Night, “Is he really your grandfather?” Night firmly denied it, “I don’t know him at all. They’re human traffickers!” Seeing this, Star took the opportunity to cry as well. “I want to go home! I want my mommy!” Then, she sat on the ground. On top of that, the wound on her leg was still bleeding. The crowd’s sympathy overflowed at the sight. “How pitiful! Look at that leg injury!” “These two human traffickers are heartless! The children’s parents must be devastated!” Human trafficking was running rampant, and people were eager to stand up against child abductors. In an instant, the crowd was enraged, and everyone glared at Michael as well as the driver. “No. How did I become a human trafficker? I’m just a drive
Michael stood in place. There was anger and disbelief written all over his face. He never expected Aiden to be so indifferent. He clenched his fists and realized that he should have seen this coming. Meanwhile, Amy was still rushing back. The traffic was congested, and progress was slow. She glanced at her watch and felt anxious as well as frustrated. Considering what Michael was capable of, who knew what he might do to the two children? The fact that he could kidnap Star and Night made him heartless in Amy’s eyes. She closed her eyes anxiously and knew that with every minute that passed, they would be in more danger. Seeing that her cab was not even moving a meter forward, she urgently told the driver, “Sir, let’s settle the fare now. I need to get out!” The Mountain Cloud Restaurant was not far from there. Running should be faster. Just then, she received a call, and her heart skipped a beat. She breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that it was from Aiden.
While they waited for the food, Nolan hurried over. Aiden looked up at him with a cold gaze, “What’s up?” Star and Night looked at him curiously too. Sensing their gazes, Nolan coughed slightly and reported to Aiden, “Mr. Lewis, Mr. Green has been taken to the police station for questioning. However, this matter won’t really impact him. After all, he still has his status as the chairman of Green corporation.” “It doesn’t matter. I didn’t expect it to have any impact on him anyway,” Aiden responded. He had already anticipated this outcome. His only intention was to bring the children away, not to trouble Michael. Aiden did not approve of Michael’s actions, so he would never help him. Nolan nodded and glanced at the two children before tactfully leaving. “Mr. Lewis…” Having heard Nolan’s words, Star began to worry. She wondered if Michael would retaliate against them after his release. “Will my mommy still be in trouble?” Star asked with a pout. Aiden sighed 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