Josephine stared at the middle-aged man with a straight face. It wasn't that she had never missed him in her six years in Canada, but when Josephine repeatedly thought about how the middle-aged man had treated her and what had happened to her mother, that longing immediately vanished and was replaced by a strong feeling of hatred.Thomas Jade was a father who was favoritism and in the six years Josephine was gone, she was sure that he had never even tried to find her."Father, how are you?" said Josephine coldly, pulling up a chair across from the man--Thomas Jade. There was a circular cafe table blocking them. "How did you know I was here?"Thomas Jade looking at Josephine, his daughter, the only child of Farline, his deceased first wife. Josephine really looks like Farline. Not only their faces, body shapes, even their voices and the way they speak.The difference is that Farline is a gentle and quiet woman, submissive and introvert, while Josephine is more stubborn, brave, rebellio
"Come in! It's raining so hard, hurry up!" Josephine was in a situation where she really wanted to curse everyone.Thomas Jade had completely ruined her mood. Since childhood, Josephine has always felt lonely. She knows how it feels to be abandoned and ignored. Her father was there, but absent, like a ghost.Josephine grew from one caregiver to another and when Thomas Jade finally married his mistress--Melisa and brought up their child who was only two years older than Josephine, she felt even more lonely.She once thought that in the end she would feel how beautiful it is to grow up in the love and care of a mother, but in fact, Melisa is a true picture of a fairy tale about a stepmother who is only kind to her stepdaughter when the father is around.Even funnier, when Melisa realized that her husband was ignoring Josephine because she looked too much like his ex-wife who had died, she shamelessly showed her true attitude, ignoring Josephine like her husband did and did not hesitate
Josephine entered her apartement while undoing her hair bun. She was already feeling warm because the heater in Nicholas' car was turned on at a fairly high temperature, but after getting out of the car and walking up to her apartment, she noticed that her clothes were damp.The house feels deserted. Josephine looked at the wall clock, it was almost nine o'clock at night. The triplets must have been sleeping since earlier. Josephime went straight to the kitchen and made hot milk for herself.The triplet's bedroom door opened with a soft sound, just as Josephine turned off the stove after heating the milk. Anna left the room rubbing her eyes. She saw Josephine and walked into the kitchen."I didn't hear you come in," said Anna. "Flower is very warm and smells good, so I fell asleep with her."Josephine smiled knowingly. "Being close to them always makes us sleepy," said Josephine. "Very warm and comfortable.""Joy, are you out in the rain? Your hair is wet. Don't you have an umbrella w
"Are you sure?"Anna nodded firmly. "Of course! Come on, Joy, don't think about it too much. Look, your forehead is all wrinkled like an unironed rag," teased Anna.Josephine couldn't help but laugh and stroked her forehead. "I've troubled you a lot since coming back here," Josephine said embarrassed."Can you not say something like that? You piss me off for always saying that," complained Anna."Okay, okay, I won't say anymore, but ... thank you very much Anna, I don't know how I would be if my best friend wasn't you."Josephine hugged Anna tightly until her best friend patted her on the back. Anna gave the car keys to Josephine."I'll pick up Flower and Rain first, then pick up Sky every day and take them to Mom's house. My mom insists that they should be taught discipline after school. Eat and nap, have afternoon tea and study, then have dinner before you pick them up. Madam Antris will take care of and watch over them.""If your mother and Madam Antris had taken care of them, with
Jade's mansion's door opened slightly, leaving a gap uncovered. Maybe, someone just walked in and didn't close the door properly.Great doubts made Josephine freeze in front of the door, doing nothing. She thought, why she is here. She look at the door and sighed.Inside the mansion, Thomas was pacing back and forth in the living room restlessly. Melisa put a cup filled with coffee on the coffee table and sat on the sofa, frowning at her husband's behavior."Honey, what are you doing? You've been pacing there all the time, giving me a headache. What's wrong?" asked Melissa. "Could you sit down and tell me what happened?"Thomas looked at Melisa and finally sat down beside his wife, who handed him a cup filled with coffee. Thomas gulped down the fragrant black liquid with relief."Oh honey, you have no idea how lucky I feel to have you. You are a great wife, who always understands how a husband feels. I don't know how Josephine and I would have been if you hadn't been with me since the
"I-I don't understand, why are you angry?" asked Josephine nervously. She glanced at the four bodyguards standing stiffly behind Nicholas, the other eight standing around them.Josephine really didn't understand why Nicholas was always surrounded by bodyguards, as if he was an important person who shouldn't be hurt in the slightest."Your phone is dead!" the man snapped.Josephine was flabbergasted. She quickly reached into her bag and took out her phone. It doesn't turn on. "Ah, it looks like it's out of battery," Josephine said. "I didn't realize my phone was off."Nicholas snorted harshly, but his irritation started to subside. He looked at Carlos with raised eyebrows. The cousin nodded and quickly withdrew silently from there.After all, Carlos had known Nicholas since childhood and he knew Nicholas' various gestures with just one look. Nicholas' eyebrows had told him to leave and that meant he had to get out of the way immediately.Nicholas smirked watching Carlos' car drive away
Josephine took Flower's hand gently and nodded to Nicholas. "Excuse me, I need to speak with my girl for a moment."Without waiting for an answer from Nicholas, she led Flower away from the man."Honey, what are you doing? Why aren't you sleeping yet? It's past your bedtime," Josephine scolded in a low voice. "And why are you here, now?""I'm waiting for you, Mommy. I'm worried and I don't feel good. I think something bad will happend to you," Flower answered gloomily.Josephine knew that Flower was very sensitive and she was also the most sensitive among her children. She must have felt something that bothered Josephine."I... it's okay, baby. I'm just going to the Jade mansion for a bit.""What for? You said, they act bad to you.""Yeah, but its doesn't matter. I didn't talk to them and just went home."Flower looked at Josephine, rubbed her cheek, then ran back to Nicholas. Seeing Flower approach Nicholas again, Josephine groaned in annoyance."Come on, let's buy the toys you want,
"Why buy this much," complained Josephine, looking at the pile of toys in the trunk of one of Nicholas' bodyguard's car. "You shouldn't have to obey Flower's wishes. She'll make it difficult for me later.""It's fine. She's a good kid and won't become spoiled and unruly just because I go along with everything she wants today," Nicholas replied calmly. He motioned to one of his bodyguards. "Take these to Ms. Jade's apartment and place them neatly by her door." "I will do it soon, sir," replied the bodyguard. Nicholas gestured for Josephine to get into his roll royce. Flower was already inside, sleeping on one of the chairs. She was exhausted after going around the shops picking out toys and it was also getting late. Nicholas himself was carrying Flower when he saw the little girl stumble several times while walking because she was sleepy. He grabbed Flower and put the little girl's head on his shoulder while patting her back gently. It wasn't long before he heard Flower's soft sno
"Italy?"Josephine's eyes widened. Nicholas nodded with a smile. "Yeah. You know, our beach--La Luna, we haven't been there for a while. I think a week or two would be nice."Josephine chuckled. "What are you planning, honey?""Hey, what? I'm just taking you on a honeymoon."Josephine laughed and hugged Nicholas. She rested her head on Nicholas' chest and enjoyed his husband's heartbeat, which sounded calm and steady."Let's have our honeymoon at La Luna, honey. I want to go alone with you," said Josephine gently.Nicholas stroked Josephine's hair slowly. "Baby, let's retire for now and settle down wherever we want. I'll leave Genesis completely to Summer and Autumn, while you can entrust Farline to Flower. I guess, we've done enough and for now, let the children do the work." Let's give everything to them to take care."Josephine nodded and hugged Nicholas tightly. "Yes. Let's retire and live wherever we like. Maybe two months on La Luna beach, two months here, the next two months in
"I can't say no, can I?" asked Josephine softly.Sky lowered his head, unable to meet his mother's eyes. Flower and Rain also lowered their heads, even Nicholas. The spacious room was cold and silent.Josephine was silent, deep in thought. He knew that eventually one of his six children would decide to continue Nicholas' work and it had to be done.She remembered the conversation she had with Nicholas a few years ago, when the first triplets decided to study at different universities in different countries."I will train one of my four confidants, to take control of the Gold Dragon," said Nicholas at the time. "Who do you think is the most suitable?"Josephine looked at Nicholas in surprise. "You don't intend to pass the Gold Dragon down to one of your children? Shouldn't that clan be passed down?"Nicholas shook his head with a smile. "I'm about to abolish that tradition, since I saw that among the first triplets no one was interested in doing so.""How do you know that no one is int
"Daddy, you can't be like this," Flower complained, glaring at Nicholas. "You're a mobster and you're afraid of getting hospitalized?"Nicholas pouted. "Don't confuse my work with my illness, doctor," Nicholas snapped. "Anyway, it's just an influenza.""Come on, dad, admit it. You're afraid of needles, right?" urged Flower with a wink.Josephine laughed seeing the father and daughter argue. She took Nicholas's hand and squeezed it gently."He don't need to be hospitalized, Flower. Your daddy isn't afraid of needles, but he doesn't like the smell of disinfectant and how the nurses are going around checking him every hour," said Josephine.Nicholas took Josephine's hand gently and kissed her palm with a smile. "Your mommy really understands me, Flow."Flower pouted and sighed. "Mommy, you always spoil him. At the hospital, the equipment for examining and caring for him is more complete than when daddy is treated at home. I and my fellow doctors can also examine daddy freely there," said
"This isn't our first project, is it?" Rain asked with a frown.Two of his men lowered their heads, avoiding his anger."Why is there still an error for a problem like this?" asked Rain annoyed."I admit my mistake, Mr. Rain," said Steven Bohn bravely. "The supplier of the floor we used to use suddenly informed us that the floor specifications we requested were not available due to a shortage of basic materials, so they offered a replacement at the same price. I had no idea that the replacement floor was not according to the original specifications."Rain sighed. "Take apart all the floors that have been installed and return them to the supplier. Find another supplier who can give us what we want, even if the price is higher. I don't want this project to have any flaws or defects, because the person who asked me to do this project is a very close and meaningful person to me. I don't want him to be disappointed!" Rain said firmly, then turned around and returned to his room.In the caf
"Hold him, Flow," Sky called while holding the kid down with his feet. "He'll run away again if you don't hold his hand!"Flower snorted and took the small creature's hand that was trying to rebel."Come on, it's just a shower, why are you guys so unruly," Flower complained half angry. "Where did Rain go, why is he taking so long? Doesn't he know that these stray cats are getting bored?""Mommy help, help us, moooommmmyyyy ...!""Gosh, Summer, people will think I'm torturing you if they hear you scream like that," Flower said angrily."I don't like showers!" Summer shouted."Me too!" added Autumn."You too, Forest?" Sky asked fiercely.The little boy called Forest turned his head quietly while patting the water with his chubby hands. "I like baths. I just don't like you guys.""Jeez," Flower moaned.The three children in the big bathtub started to misbehave again, but before Flower and Sky could run out of patience, Rain came driving a plant sprayer.He started the engine and a large
"Mom, why are you so pale? Are you sick?" asked Flower with a worried tone. She put her bag on the single sofa and approached Josephine who was lying straight on the long sofa while covering her eyes with her arms.Josephine lowered her arms and looked at Flower who was still wearing her middle school uniform."Flower, are you home already? I didn't hear you come in," said Josephine in a languid tone."I came in through the back door, because Madam Luan said you weren't feeling well since morning and lay here," Flower said. "What are you doing, mom? Do you have a fever?"Josephine smiled and stroked Flower's hair. "It's okay honey, just a little unsteady and nauseous. I think it's from a lack of sleep the past few days. You know, ever since Uncle Rocco came back to Italy for his honeymoon, I did all the research myself and the other day there was a bit of a problem at the distribution center so I have to go back and forth all day from the laboratory to the warehouse," said Josephine l
"He ... You mean, Lucas?"Lindsay nodded shyly."You and him..." Janeth didn't finish, only raised her eyebrows, waiting for Lindsay to say something.Lindsay sighed. "I think I've managed to forget him and bury my feelings and memories about him, all these years. It's not easy for me. Even though you never met me at that time, I'm sure you know that I have to undergo psychiatric therapy too. One of them is to let Lucas go.""Yes, I know. I think you really need that. Your obsession with Lucas has hurt a lot of people at that time," said Janeth."Yeah, I'm aware of that. However, Lucas came back and kept coming, even though I never wanted to see him. Last week when he came, I finally decided to see him because I really wanted to end things with him, but ...." Lindsay hung up her words."He won't let you go?" continued Janeth with a smile.Lindsay blushed, took a breath, and nodded. Janeth laughed and hugged Lindsay."I'm so happy for you, Lindsay. At least I can rest easy now, because
"You're getting thinner," Lucas said sadly. "Did you eat well during this time?"He stared at the woman in the dull blue prison uniform in front of him. Lindsay is still beautiful with her hair cut short, even though her face is getting thinner and her eyes are dim.Finally, after Lindsay repeatedly refused visits during the nearly six years he was in this correctional facility, she also agreed to accept Lucas."What do you want, Lucas?" Lindsay asked quietly. "Why do you keep coming even though I keep rejecting you? Aren't you bored?"Lucas has never missed visiting Lindsay in the last five years. Every two months he would come, leave the food he brought with the warden because Lindsay never wanted to see him.Lindsay's cellmates were about to enjoy the food and after walking around for a while instead they were excitedly looking forward to Lucas' visit because it meant there was good food available.Lindsay stared at the floor, not daring to meet the eyes of the man she once loved,
"It's not for me to judge who I'm dealing with," James said softly. "After all, you're still young. You don't know anything about the real world. You taking a decision like this, is a great big step. Your heart is good, only clouded by your parents' manipulation. Your mind is clear, only clouded by your sister's bad influence. When all the ugliness is gone, you dare to regain your purity. That's great!"Janeth listened to James' words with her head down. James' deep voice was pleasing to the ear and what he said was soothing to her heart.James reached out and took Janeth's chin, moving her up so their eyes met. "Cheer up. I'll wish you all the best. Tomorrow is the day, so you need to be completely healthy and ready."Janeth's eyes blinked slowly and her hand lifted, holding James' hand on his chin, then, Janeth brought her face closer to James and planted a kiss on the man's lips.James was stunned, frozen in the warmth of Janeth's ripe lips crushing his. He could feel the desperati