Landon spoke with such sincerity that it made Emma a little embarrassed.Emma reached out and poked his arm. “Am I really as great as you say?”“You absolutely are.” Landon gently touched her cheek. “Emma, being with you is just so easy.”Emma smiled. “I’m glad it feels that way.“Honestly, what I want is a home that's peaceful and comforting. A place where we care for each other, and lift each other up. No matter what happens out there, when I come home, it should be a place to relax.”Emma let out a small sigh. “Even when I’m out there hustling, just thinking about the people waiting for me at home gives me strength.”Landon noticed the slight sniffle in her voice. He knew that what they were talking about had touched a tender spot for her. After all, he had looked into Emma’s past and was aware that she grew up in an environment where she was constantly criticized and put down.“Emma, you’re amazing,” Landon said. “All that negativity stops with you. You’re not passing any
Emma had not felt this way before, but now, she realized how much better things were.“Emma, I have to say, you’re glowing! Didn’t you say filming was exhausting? And you’ve been training too? Yet here you are, looking more vibrant than ever,” Brett said, eyeing her with curiosity. “It’s like you’ve got this new energy about you, so full of life.”Emma had always been kind and gentle. However, in the past, there was a heaviness about her.Emma let out a soft laugh. “It’s because I’m truly happy now.“I used to feel like I didn’t even know why I was alive.”“What?” Brett’s eyes went wide in shock.Emma smiled and continued, “Look, I brought you a gift, and you’re happy about it, right?”“Well, of course,” Brett said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “Who wouldn’t be happy getting a present?”“My mom,” Emma said, her tone lighter than it used to be when talking about her past. She no longer felt the sharp sting she once did, when even thinking about it would bri
“Hurry, give this a try.” Brett placed some food on Emma’s plate.Emma took a bite, and her eyes lit up. “Wow, this is really good!”“Your family’s restaurant is going to blow up,” Emma said excitedly. “Have you thought about opening another one?”“You’re actually spot on,” Brett said with a smile. “My dad has been thinking about it.”“I knew it.” Emma took a sip of her juice. “With food this good, people won’t be satisfied with just one location. They’ll protest if they have to travel so far just to eat here.“Once you open another branch, tourists who try your food will go back home craving it. They’ll start asking for it in their own cities.“And over time, you could expand beyond the state, opening more branches everywhere. Before you know it, Brett, your family will be rich!”The more Emma talked, the more excited she got.Brett, on the other hand, was starting to look a little stunned the more she listened.Seeing Brett’s lack of reaction, Emma paused. “Did I say somethi
John awkwardly scratched his cheek. “I mean, there’s no need to go that far.”He knew why people treated him like royalty—because of the money. Everyone around him sucked up to him, hoping to get something out of it. Now, being told he had to submit to Landon left an unpleasant taste in his mouth. He was not used to it and definitely was not happy about it.“Alright, you need to pack your things and get ready to leave tomorrow,” Harry said angrily, looking at his ungrateful brother.“Wait, where am I going?” John asked, confused.“Where else? You’re going abroad. Once you’re overseas, you’re on your own. I won’t be able to help you much out there, so don’t expect it to be like it is here. You’ll have to fend for yourself,” Harry said with a heavy sigh, clearly frustrated.John looked dumbfounded. “You’re sending me away? I’m not going!”Harry was livid. “Not going? Do you have a death wish?“You’ve been eyeing Landon’s wife! If you don’t leave now, do you want Landon to come a
No matter how much John protested, it did not matter. Harry swiftly packed him up and shipped him off overseas.As for Ellen, she completely vanished from the scene. After manipulating John and almost leading him to a huge mistake, she had burned all her bridges. Sure, John was not exactly innocent, but Ellen’s tactics were downright nasty.Neither of them were good people, but with John sent abroad, his lifestyle took a serious hit. Although, considering the wealth he came from, his “bad days” were still better than what most people could dream of.Ellen’s situation was far worse. After being torn down by her former backer, and with Harry stepping in to deal another blow, she had hit rock bottom.However, Landon did not bother with any of this. He was not interested in wasting time on people like her. All he cared about was dealing with the person who had been manipulated. Whatever happened afterward was not his concern.He trusted that the person who had been used would hand
Emma and Landon sat down on the rug, bringing themselves to the same level as their little one."Asher, your daddy and I were thinking about doing something special for the New Year. How would you feel about going on a trip?" Emma asked with a smile.Asher's big, bright eyes blinked in confusion. "A trip? Where would we go?""To the beach. We’d stay at a hotel that has a playground, and right outside, we’d see the ocean. We can collect seashells, play in the sand… and there’ll be lots of seafood to eat!" Emma said cheerfully.As soon as she finished, Asher’s eyes lit up. He eagerly nodded. "Yes! Let’s go! I want to go to the beach!""Great! Once your dad books the hotel and the plane tickets, we’ll be all set!" Emma whispered."Plane?" Asher’s excitement grew. "Mom, are we going to fly in a real airplane? The kind that goes whoooosh?""Yes, a big airplane that flies in the sky," Emma said, gently ruffling her son’s hair.He had never flown before."Mom, let’s go far away! I wa
"In his subconscious, he might think that even if he tells his parents, they won’t protect him," Emma said with a heavy sigh."That’s why some kids, even when they’re bullied, won’t tell their families. Over time, things can get really serious," she added, shaking her head. Then, she smiled. "You know… When I buy things, Asher never tells me I shouldn’t. He also doesn’t say they look bad or insist I follow his taste when it comes to my stuff."So why should I interfere with what he wants for himself?" Emma asked with a chuckle.Landon gently patted her shoulder, feeling a deep sense of contentment. Being with Emma just felt right—so comfortable. She always put herself in others' shoes and had an incredible amount of empathy.After buying the suitcase, Emma got down to teaching Asher how to pack his things."We need to pack only the essentials, the things we truly need. The suitcase has limited space, so it’s important to take what’s necessary. If there’s still space, then we c
Asher’s eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly. “I’ll write it down next time for sure.”Emma chuckled, “Asher, why don’t you start by writing down what we packed for this trip? That way, next time we go out, you can adjust the list based on this one.“Every time we go somewhere new, there will be small changes to what we bring, but the basics are always the same.” Emma smiled. “Just like how, no matter what we eat, there’s always some bread or pasta, right?”Asher, the little boy, understood and nodded quickly. “Mom, I get it now.”“Why don’t we go eat first, and then you can work on your list after we’re back, okay?” Emma suggested, patting the little guy’s belly gently. “Are you hungry, Asher?”“Yeah, I’m hungry!” Asher grinned and nodded enthusiastically. “Let’s go eat, Mommy, Daddy.”“Alright, let’s go.” Landon scooped up Asher in one arm, holding Emma’s hand with the other as they headed to the dining room. “Let’s wash our hands first.”“Mm-hmm!” The little guy was excited,
“Of course, marriage is about mutual benefit. You treat me well, and I treat you well in return. You help me shoulder life's pressures, and I offer you support. That’s what fosters a stable marriage,” Emma stated matter-of-factly.“It won’t work if one side keeps giving while the other takes without giving anything in return.“And sometimes, it may seem like one side isn’t contributing, but there are always invisible sacrifices being made.“Otherwise, how could any marriage last?” Landon wrapped his arms around Emma and sighed softly. “You know, what I love most about you is your clear understanding of things.“You give me a sense of security,” Landon said candidly. He knew Emma was not the type to overthink things as she was a very reasonable person.“You see, Asher has grown so optimistic and cheerful because of you. Being with you makes me feel incredibly at ease. That’s something money can’t buy.”Emma thought seriously for a moment. “If you need comfort, I feel like ther
Emma froze, her curiosity piqued. “What did you learn?”She was not surprised that Asher had absorbed her lessons as that was her goal in teaching him. But what had Landon learned? “I learned a lot,” Landon replied with a smile. “For example, your attention to detail and patience, your tolerance for others, and your ability to handle situations calmly—”Emma laughed, breaking his train of thought. “Stop, stop, stop! If you keep going, I might start believing I'm some kind of superhero! I’d be even better than you!” “Then I'd really be lacking in self-awareness if I think that,” Landon said as he wrapped his arms around her. “You genuinely possess many admirable qualities—exactly what I need.”“Alright, alright... what you need,” Emma replied casually.Landon gently tapped her shoulder. “Are you brushing me off?”Emma pouted. “You hit me…”Landon hurriedly rubbed her shoulder. “Did it hurt?”He had not even used enough force to swat a fly but hearing Emma say it made him do
People loved to take advantage of a good deal, and after consulting the owner, the manager anticipated such behavior from the customers when he proposed the solution. Besides, both the owner and the manager possessed a broader vision. They understood that they could not let a small financial loss tarnish their restaurant's reputation.The way they handled the incident turned into a great advertising opportunity. Those diners who experienced the situation firsthand became loyal customers. They now had a favorable impression of the restaurant and would be the first to recommend it for future gatherings or family outings. No amount of traditional advertising could rival the power of genuine recommendations from friends and family.Both the restaurant owner and manager knew how to effectively navigate a business crisis. What could have been a damaging situation had transformed into positive publicity due to their prompt action.“Let Daddy explain the specifics of the business
The restaurant manager politely apologized and thanked them before clearing all the food from the table. Emma smiled. "I really like this restaurant."Landon nodded, recognizing that this was a business that understood customer service. Just then, Emma spotted Asher’s confused expression. "Those dishes we had earlier might have been touched by that lady."If someone used a spoon that others had already used to scoop food for me, would you be pleased by that?" Asher shook his head vigorously. "Not at all!""Exactly! So, the food that might have come into contact with that lady's saliva was removed and destroyed by the restaurant staff," Emma continued. Asher looked concerned at Emma’s words. "That's such a waste!" "It is, but there's no other option," Emma sighed lightly. "If someone were to get sick from eating that food, it would be much worse. That was a terrible mistake that the lady made. "So the restaurant staff wants to make sure that the mistake was dealt with the
Asher nodded energetically. “Yes!”“Exactly! So, making mistakes isn’t scary, and not knowing things isn’t scary either. The key is to admit it boldly,” Emma explained.“When we make a mistake, we correct it. If we don’t know something, and it doesn’t affect others, we don’t have to learn it if we don’t want to.“But if it impacts others, we need to learn from it,” she continued.“Just like that lady earlier, she needed to learn not to use shared tongs to serve food. But for something like not wanting to do someone’s makeup, that’s okay, she doesn’t have to learn that.“Shared tongs are necessary for everyone, and they can’t be replaced. If you don’t want to do someone’s makeup, they can find someone else to help. That service can be substituted.”Asher listened intently and nodded his head. “I understand now, Mommy!”Landon watched the entire exchange and silently marveled at Emma’s approach. She had a knack for using examples from Asher’s own experiences to explain things, m
Asher beamed up at Emma, a sense of pride shining on his face.Emma finally gathered her emotions and turned to Asher. “Mommy makes mistakes too, Ash.”Asher’s smile faltered as confusion washed over him. “Huh?”Emma chuckled softly and ruffled his hair. “It’s not just Mommy who makes mistakes, Daddy does too.”“Really?” Asher exclaimed as he turned to look at Landon. His face was filled with disbelief.Landon smiled, though he was unsure where Emma was going with the conversation. Nevertheless, he cooperated without hesitation. “That’s right. Daddy makes mistakes too.”Asher’s mouth hung open in surprise, clearly shocked to learn that his impressive parents could also err.“Not just your parents,” Emma continued with a smile, “even people who are more capable than us make mistakes.”“Why?” Asher asked, furrowing his brows in confusion. “If everyone makes mistakes, then why do we even learn?”“Because we work hard to make fewer mistakes and try our best not to cause trouble
“What disruption? You’re just bullying your customers because your business is big!” The middle-aged woman exploded in anger. “Don’t think I’m easy to push around. I’m calling the police!”The restaurant manager nodded calmly. “Please do. Since your actions have caused damage to our establishment, we will also hold you accountable for those damages.”“Damages? What damages?” the woman shouted, stomping her feet in frustration.Unfazed, the manager responded evenly, “Because of your actions, we now need to remove and replace all the food at the serving stations. You’ll be responsible for covering those losses.“And if any customers request refunds because of this, we’ll refund them in full. If they ask for compensation, we’ll provide that too. All of these expenses will be your responsibility.”The woman nearly exploded at the manager’s words. “You’re deluded!“Come on, son, we’re leaving!” She yanked her son’s arm, pulling him toward the exit.But the restaurant staff was not ab
Since Asher had decided to eat one piece of cake himself, he chose fewer cakes, worried that he would not be able to finish them.‘Look at that! He’s already learning how to make his own choices,’ Emma thought proudly.Emma followed Asher’s lead, picking up the cakes he wanted. Just as they were about to leave, Asher suddenly grabbed her sleeve.Puzzled, Emma looked down and asked, “What is it, sweetie?”“They’re using tongs to feed each other,” Asher said, frowning in displeasure.Emma glanced over and saw a middle-aged woman holding a pair of tongs, about to feed a cake to her son. The boy, around eight or nine, reached out to take the cake with his hand, but the woman pulled the tongs back and scolded him, “Don’t use your hands! Just open your mouth.”Emma felt her face flush in disbelief. ‘What are they thinking?’ she protested quietly.The woman did not want her son to use his hands, claiming it was dirty, yet she was about to feed him with the tongs that everyone used to
Landon smiled. “I like eating too. Our whole family does. But what I enjoy most is eating with all of you.”Asher quickly agreed, “I’m always happy when I eat with Mommy and Daddy.”The family of three arrived at the buffet. Thankfully, Emma had already reserved a spot using her phone while they were still on the road.They headed straight to a small private room, ordered their food through the app, and waited for the server to bring it.“Mommy…” Asher called as he tugged at Emma’s shirt. “I want some cake.”Emma laughed and put on her sunglasses. “Let’s go get some cake.”Asher beamed with excitement. “Okay!” With one hand he held Emma’s hand tightly, while he swung the other one back and forth enthusiastically. He hurried along, and his wide, gleaming eyes searched eagerly for the cake display ahead.“Mommy, over there!” He spotted the table filled with cakes in an instant.Even though he was thrilled to see the cakes, Asher did not let go of Emma’s hand or rush ahead.