Mag-log inBlake's POV
When I stepped into the parlor, I saw Hedwig sitting on the sofa, looking listless. I hurriedly walked over and asked gently, "Hedwig, what happened? Did Noah bullied you again?" "Daddy, you're home!" Hedwig immediately stretched out her hands and asked me to hold her. I gently held Hedwig in my arms and sat on the sofa. "Tell me, why are you unhappy?" "Noah doesn't like me. He said I would pee on his bed, and he refused to sleep with me." Hedwig pouted, looking very hurt. I froze. I kissed her angry face and asked with a smile, "You always sleep with mommy. Why do you want to sleep with Noah?" "I want mommy to sleep with you tonight, so I want to sleep with Noah, but he doesn't want me around," Hedwig said innocently. I asked Hedwig with a smile, "Hedwig, do you really want daddy to sleep with Mommy?" Noah was so naughty. I had to talk to Noah when I got him later. "Yes. Noah said so. But mommy seem"I can't believe a lawyer with your credentials takes cases like that."Harley had looked up her profile; he knew she was a big deal.He figured someone with her reputation usually handled huge, high-fee corporate cases.It was surprising that she would drive all the way out here to meet clients from a very average financial background.Cassandra couldn't be bothered to respond to his snarky tone and walked straight to her car.It was just a basic white sedan—nothing fancy, just a reliable set of wheels.This kind of surprised Harley again. She was a law firm partner; she should be making good money. Why the plain ride?Cassandra seemed to be mentally reviewing the case details. She opened the car door and leaned in, rummaging around.A second later, she pulled out a phone and handed it to Harley. "Here you go."Harley took it and looked down. Several missed call alerts were already blinking on the screen."You didn't look at anything, did you?"He couldn't resist asking.Cassandra se
"Hey there, which floor are you going to? Haven't seen you around." A friendly, older woman immediately walked over."Oh, I'm just visiting a friend," Harley said, tensing up.These nosy, well-meaning neighbors were the absolute worst. If he talked for two more minutes, they'd know his entire life story.The elevator finally arrived, and everyone piled in.Harley tried to squeeze in first, but he still got jammed in the corner, with no room to turn."Give me—my milk—" Two women were each holding a kid. The two little ones immediately started fighting over the same bottle of open milk.Tiny hands pulled and tugged. Suddenly, the whole bottle tilted, and most of the milk splashed right down Harley's chest."Aww, man."Harley froze, totally stunned. He was about to say something, but then both kids started wailing at the top of their lungs. The two women were simultaneously trying to calm them down and apologizing prof
He managed a small smile, but it was so clearly forced and pained that it was hard for the others to watch.The agent and the assistant exchanged glances, realizing Harley actually had a point.Someone who fiercely sticks to a goal is often the one who makes it happen.Harley gave a short, quiet laugh. "Just stop trying to convince me. If I back down now, I wouldn't be me."The car had already left the street. He leaned back against the seat, closing his eyes to rest.Suddenly, the agent noticed something off.Usually, his phone would be blowing up with notifications right about now, but the car was dead quiet. That was weird."Harley, where's your phone?" the agent suddenly asked.Harley snapped his eyes open, sitting straight up. He instinctively checked his pockets. "Oh, man, my phone!""I thought I saw you taking it in with you to talk to Cassandra," the agent recalled, frowning. "But when you came out... your hands
"Did you... get work done?" Harley suddenly pointed at her face and dropped the bomb.Cassandra paused, then her eyes went cold. "What are you even talking about? Where did I have surgery? This is my natural face.""Seriously? I just remember you looking way different," Harley sounded genuinely surprised.Cassandra's calm demeanor was suddenly ruffled, like a small stone had hit the water."Quit wasting your breath trying to flatter me. It's not working," she snapped, a little irritated.Harley shrugged. "If you don't say yes, I'll probably keep showing up until you do.""Whatever." Cassandra was unfazed. "Come or don't come. My mind is made up. You have your dream, and I have mine. I'm going to turn that land into a memorial for the Thompsons."She bit her bottom lip, her tone turning icy."It's a prime location. Don't you think using it for some old family memorial is a massive waste?"Harley was heated and let the ins
The name "Cassandra"—it just had this weird vibe, like a moth or something annoying. It made you tense up, like a name that gave you the creeps."Cassandra, did we go to high school together or something?" Harley tried to make small talk."No idea," Cassandra answered flatly."I see the business attire. Are you working at a law firm?" Harley kept trying."I'm an attorney," Cassandra clipped back.Harley paused, but then figured, yeah, that makes sense.Someone so blunt and straight-laced would be perfect for law."Okay, so here's the deal. Is it the price, or is there another reason you're refusing to sell the land?" Harley jumped right into business."I just don't feel like selling it." That one sentence completely shut down every argument he had ready.Harley's eyes widened a bit. He stared at the determined woman in front of him.He truly couldn't match her up with the girl in the thick glasses from his m
Harley gave the director a perfect out, so the director finally lowered his voice. "Alright, you two go over the script again later, and really nail that scene I talked about. We need it to feel real. Jessica, what's up with you? You've been totally distracted today.""I'm sorry, Director. I'm just having a rough day," Jessica mumbled, looking embarrassed and guilty."Hey, it happens. Everyone has an off day. Trust me, my mood isn't great, either." The director added, trying to lighten the mood.Jessica's face flushed even more.Once the next actors took the stage, Jessica and Harley headed to the break area together."Harley, thanks for covering for me back there."If he hadn't stepped in, the director probably would have called her out in front of everyone. That would have been truly humiliating."Seriously, what is going on?" Harley frowned.Her mood was throwing her performance, and it made his job harder too."I... I'm dealing with some stuff," Jessica sighed heavily, looking dow







