Emma felt a little guilty at that. "Actually, it’s fine. You should enjoy your meals. When I return home for dinner, I can rinse the dishes in water before eating." She did not want her family to suffer just because she needed to control her calorie intake, forcing them to eat less oil and salt. Landon shook his head. "I think eating less oil and salt is healthy for all of us." "Asher is still young, and eating heavy flavors isn’t good for him either. If we cultivate his taste for low oil and low salt from an early age, it’ll help him develop healthy eating habits." "And what about you?" Emma asked with concern. "Can you adapt?" Landon smiled. "I think I need to eat healthily too. At first, it was a bit of an adjustment, but if it’s good for my body, I can accept it. "After all, I want to be with you for a long time." Emma laughed at Landon’s words. "Honestly, our chef makes delicious food. Even with less oil and salt, it tastes great. "It’s much healthier than what
Emma sighed heavily. “When I ate less, I was questioned if the food wasn’t good enough. Then I would hear how hard she had worked in the kitchen, and how I never appreciated her efforts.“Sometimes, I hadn’t even eaten, but she would insist that I had.“Other times, I was scolded for overeating. ‘If you keep eating like a pig, you’re going to turn into one!’ she would say.”Now, as Emma recounted these memories, her heart felt calm. Though she still felt a tinge of sadness that could bring her to tears, the sharp pain in her chest had faded. With Landon's support, she had gradually come to terms with her past.Landon frowned deeply. “So, you were criticized not because of anything you did, but because she needed to blame someone.”Years of observing Emma were not wasted on him.Emma chuckled softly. “You’re right. I used to feel so lost, thinking I was the problem. Why was everything I did wrong? Why did I always anger my mom? She struggled so much. My dad was an absent parent,
Landon shook his head and leaned closer to Emma. “Emma, if you think of something, just tell me. Saying it out will make you feel better so don’t keep it inside.” He knew that it would hurt her if she held it all in for too long.Talking about past pain could bring some relief, much better than leaving it buried deep within her heart. Emma's willingness to confide in him was a testament to the trust she placed in him, which meant he had provided her with enough security.“Okay.” Emma smiled and nodded, speaking sincerely. “It’s so good to have met you, Darling.”Landon grinned. “I feel the same about you.”Emma burst into laughter, unable to contain herself. Landon looked bemused. “What’s so funny?”“You think it’s great to meet me?” she laughed uncontrollably. “With your looks and success, you could have any woman you wanted!”Landon’s expression darkened. “That’s prejudice! Emma, you’re being prejudiced against me.”“Me? Prejudiced?” Emma stared at him in disbelief, pointi
Emma's expression shifted as she thought for a moment and finally said, “I’ll take you to turn yourself in, and then... I’ll wait for you till you get out.”Her serious demeanor only made Landon laugh harder, tears welling in his eyes. It was only then that Emma realized he was just teasing her.“You tricked me!” Emma huffed as she glared at him.Landon wrapped her in his arms, tenderly stroking her back. “I didn’t trick you. I just wanted to hear how good you are to me.”She playfully thumped his chest. “What if I decide to leave with Asher instead?“If you get caught, I’ll just divorce you. I’ll become a wealthy woman in no time,” Emma replied mischievously.Landon chuckled confidently. “You wouldn’t do that.”“Oh, you think you know me?” Emma scoffed, curious about his unwavering assurance.“I do know you,” he replied, a smile dancing on his lips. “You’re not that kind of person. You’d hold me accountable for my actions and wait for me to come back.“My Emma is always so
Landon rarely soaked in a bath. When work kept him busy, he opted for a quick shower instead. Taking a bath felt like a waste of time to him. A quick rinse and a wash sufficed. He also hardly ever indulged in foot soaks, save for the occasional visit to a spa where he could enjoy a massage that included it.However, as he shared the moment with Emma, she made him feel oddly domesticated and relaxed. He recalled how his friends used to persuade him to unwind, but nothing compared to such a simple act with his wife. It turned out that the company mattered far more than the setting. With Emma beside him, he felt compelled to let go of his tensions.“Let’s make foot soaks a regular thing at home,” Emma suggested. “They relax the nerves, promote blood circulation, and improve sleep quality…”Landon listened with a smile, watching her count off the advantages on her fingers. The overhead light flickered softly, illuminating the outdated warm water bottle between their two basins.
Landon did not head back inside the house. Instead, he grabbed a quick bite to eat outside, cleaned up, and placed the dishes where they belonged. With nothing much to do, he wandered over to the set where Emma was filming, curious to see how things were going.Once he arrived at the set, Landon made sure not to disturb anyone. He found a quiet spot off at the side where he would not be in the way and settled down, watching silently.Though he had seen Emma act before, watching her act live on set was a completely different experience. He was particularly impressed with how well she was doing.What really stood out to him was how Emma nailed almost every scene in one take. That alone was enough to show how skilled she had become. However, instead of playing the lead role, Emma played the second female lead. Landon did not usually interfere with Emma’s career choices, leaving most of that to casual conversations. As far as planning her path in the industry, that was all handled by
Emma looked up, smiled, and shook her head. “No, thanks. We’ve got our food.”The woman glanced at Emma and then at Landon sitting beside Emma. Her eyes flickered with surprise. Clearly, she had not expected Emma’s partner to be so strikingly handsome.Landon, who usually exuded a commanding presence at work, now looked more like an effortlessly charming and attractive man. Even in the entertainment industry, someone like him would stand out.“And this is?” the woman asked hesitantly.“My husband,” Emma replied with a smile, keeping it short. She did not bother mentioning his name or what he did for a living, making it clear she did not want to dive into any details. The woman got the hint and nodded. “Alright, enjoy your meal.”With that, she turned and walked away.Once she was out of earshot, Landon leaned in and asked, “Who was that?”“The lead actress’s assistant,” Emma answered casually.“You don’t like that lead actress, do you?” Landon said, but it was more of a sta
“I’ll back you up,” Landon said with a smile.“Of course,” Emma teased, resting her head on his shoulder. “You’re mine. You have to back me up!”Landon chuckled, his shoulders shaking slightly. “I’ll back you up anytime you want.”That small gesture of affection made Emma emotional. Her eyes began to water, and she could not help but sniffle.Landon immediately noticed the shift in her mood and looked at her with concern. “Hey, what's wrong?” he asked softly, sensing she was on the verge of tears.“I'm just touched,” Emma replied with a laugh that broke through, feeling a bit embarrassed by how she was both crying and laughing at the same time.She grabbed a tissue and dabbed at the corners of her eyes, smiling sheepishly at him. "I guess I’m just really emotional.""You’re really touched, huh?" Landon said, half laughing and half in disbelief as he pulled her closer and wrapped an arm around her. "Look at you, all teary-eyed."Emma knew he was teasing her, and with a playful
“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.