Sierra and Paige exchanged glances, both remaining silent for a moment. Paige chose not to speak while Sierra said with a smile, "Did your brother not tell you?"Nina shook her head, prompting Sierra to continue, "Well, after I got engaged to Chris, I got to know your brother. I developed feelings for him and Chris was willing to support our love. We agreed to let Paige take my place in the Jewell family's engagement with Chris. Conveniently, Chris also has a liking for Paige."Nina paused, absorbing the information. Was that the truth? Then, looking at Paige's belly, she understood everything. Regardless of the circumstances under which Paige married Chris, she was now the madam of the Jewells and carrying Chris's child."Oh, I see," Nina said, smiling. Sierra nodded in confirmation. She asked Nina, "Why did you suddenly think of asking about this?"Nina smiled and said, "I was just curious."Sierra chuckled and remained silent. Paige spoke, "Get some rest, Sierra. I'll b
The child in her stomach was undoubtedly a source of concern, with many people seemingly against the idea of her giving birth safely. She was well aware that those individuals might resort to various means. Caution was the key.Paige found herself in a dilemma. Unsure of the best course of action, she decided to wait for Chris to return and discuss the matter with him.…In the evening, Chris returned home from work. Paige immediately brought up the topic. "Honey, do you think it's better for me to take a leave from school and stay at home during the pregnancy, or should I hire a bodyguard to protect me?"Chris raised an eyebrow, looking at Paige. What had prompted this change of heart? Ann had suggested for her to stay at home during her pregnancy, but Paige had been reluctant. Had something happened during her visit to Sierra today that convinced her?She sure does take Sierra's advice to heart. However, Chris wasn't about to dwell on that as Sierra meant well. "What's
Paige gritted her teeth, "Of course, she should pursue it."Chris looked at her, amused by her determined expression. How adorable.…The next morning.Paige was about to head to school after breakfast.Chris said, "I'll drive you there."Paige nodded. Although Chris was busy and the route from his company to the school wasn't convenient, he often drove her there. She knew it was the way Chris showed his love and care for her.Upon getting into the car, Paige noticed someone else inside—a short-haired girl, around twenty years old. She was not particularly outstanding in appearance, but her sharp and stern features gave her a striking aura."Mr. Jewell, Madam." The woman calmly greeted both of them."Hello," Paige replied, exchanging a glance with Chris, silently asking: Who was this?"This is Alexa Reid. She's your bodyguard," Chris explained.Paige looked at Alexa in surprise. Had Chris found a bodyguard so quickly?Unable to contain her curiosity, Paige checked out Ale
Wendy continued, "I know you have Chris now, and you might not be interested in the Quirks' modest assets. But the things you overlook can become desirable when others strive to attain them."Paige remained silent, thinking about Linda and Gene, the mentioned "others.""Dad hasn't made a will yet," Paige responded. Bob was still relatively young and discussing wills seemed premature considering he could live for another ten to twenty years, barring any unforeseen circumstances. The future was uncertain. There was a possibility that he might make decisions that could jeopardize the Quirks' assets in the future.Wendy looked at Paige, truly frustrated. Paige had always been like this since childhood. Her answers never satisfied Wendy."Some things need early planning. Don't think that marrying Chris guarantees everything. The future is unpredictable, so you should take advantage of your current status as Chris's wife. Your father is wary of you and he tries to please you. Secure
Chris held Paige's hand and reassured her, saying, "Don't be afraid."The doctor added, "There's no need to worry too much. In obstetrics and gynecology, this is quite common. Your situation is much better than your sister-in-law's."The mention of Paige's situation being better than Tina's brought relief to everyone. If Tina didn't miscarry, then Paige's chances were even better."We'll arrange for intravenous fluids and opt for conservative treatment. Let's see how the situation develops," the doctor explained.Chris and the others chose to trust the doctor. The physician attending to Paige was well-known in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.After the doctor and nurse administered the intravenous fluids. That included various substances that had been prepared at home for Tina, such as progesterone injections. Paige felt the pain in her abdomen gradually subsiding.As Paige's expression stabilized, the tension in the room eased and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.Ta
Tina did not want Niel to have any affairs.No woman would want her beloved husband to have any random affairs. Niel reassured her gently. "It’s fine. You should get some good rest."He was afraid to touch Tina, especially her belly. He had high hopes and expectations for Tina, and he would not do anything that might harm her or the baby.When Niel left, Tina sighed, feeling uneasy. She spent her days lying in bed, unable to go out. She had no idea about Niel's activities outside. Her planted informants in the company and around Niel reported to her, but it was only about the company matters. Tina remained clueless about Niel's socializing outside.Men socializing could easily lead to trouble. Tina took a deep breath, trying not to overthink. It was not good for her or the child.… Wendy had a sleepless night, anxiously waiting for news. If something happened to Paige, the Jewells might not inform others in the Quirks, but Sierra would definitely be told.She waited a
Why would Wendy wait for Paige to get married and have a family before scheming against her? Paige was living peacefully with her in-laws, but now it was evident that Wendy was not after Paige's life; she wanted the life of the child growing inside Paige.Could it be that Wendy thought Paige was responsible for Sierra's miscarriage? Did she want Paige's unborn child to pay the price for Sierra's loss? No, that did not make sense. If the elevator incident was Wendy's doing, it meant she initially wanted the life of the child inside Paige, and Sierra's miscarriage was just an unintended consequence.Hence, it was not about avenging Sierra's child. Wendy had always intended harm to Paige's child, but why? There was no apparent reason. To put it simply, the child was still in the womb, innocent and unrelated to Wendy's grievances. Why did Wendy insist on taking the child's life?People usually had reasons for their actions. Paige was heartbroken, unable to fathom why her m
So, the head chef added additives to a guest’s soup? What happened next? There had been no word of any issues from the Jewells yet. Besides, even though he was not a chef, he did run a restaurant. Those additives the head chef mentioned earlier were just normal ones like bouillon cubes. Their restaurant even had a soup that included bouillon cubes. What was wrong with that?He might not know the problem, but he was sure there was one because the head chef mentioned someone giving him money to add those things to the soup. The person behind it must have a purpose.Mr. Johnson quietly observed on the sidelines, trying to diminish his presence. He did not dare to call for help. Although he had friends and a powerful network, he offended Chris this time. If his friends found out he had crossed Chris, they would all abandon him. His friends were mutually beneficial connections, friends as long as there were interests. Once the interest was gone, or worse, they knew he was tangle
The receptionist did not reply. Gloria: [You're in trouble. I can't save you now.]The receptionist: [No, I haven't eaten it yet.]Gloria: [Good thing you haven't. I'm coming down.]As soon as the receptionist received Gloria's message, Gloria stepped out of the elevator.Upon reaching the front desk and noticing the bag of strawberry laces opened on the desk, Gloria glared at the receptionist. "You said you hadn't eaten it!"The receptionist looked a little guilty. "I just opened it and haven't had a chance to take one yet."Gloria sneered. "Haven't had a chance? You sound like you regret it."“I don't.""You can't afford this cup of bubble tea. If you did take one, watch out… You might lose your job."The receptionist paused in surprise. "Is it expensive?"Gloria nodded. "It is."“Good thing I didn't take one," the receptionist mumbled. Gloria rolled her eyes. If they were not on the same team, she would not even bother saving her."Why is this bag of strawberry laces
Chris chuckled. "Really?"Paige's face turned slightly red. She felt embarrassed saying that, and it felt like Chris did not believe her. However, she bit the bullet and nodded. "Yeah, really."Chris smiled and said, "Well then, when you miss me next time, don't just think about it because thinking won't do you any good. When you miss me or care about me, just send me a message or call to check in. After all, I can’t read minds. Also, if you want to hug me, just hug me. Don't hold Hunter in your arms and say you want to hug me. That's just hypocritical."Paige faltered. Hug him when she wanted to hug him? Thanks, but she did not want to hug him. She could easily pick up Hunter, but could she lift Chris so easily? She was not that strong, to begin with."Remember. From now on, when you think of me, send me a message. Ask me if I've eaten, what I've eaten, if I'm tired from work, what I'm doing, or tell me what you're thinking about. Don't keep it all to yourself," Chris said wit
What did he take her for?Besides, what could a woman do with photos? She was not one of those perverted men who did some creepy stuff with women’s photos."Nothing worth admiring?" Chris raised an eyebrow.Paige nodded. "Yeah, they’re nothing worth admiring."Indeed, there was nothing worth admiring about the photos."Ha!” Chris snickered.Paige remained silent and thought, ‘Here comes the snickering again.’"You don’t mean what you say," Chris remarked.Paige frowned. "What did I say that implies otherwise? You're a strange one. You're right here in front of me. Why would I need to admire the photos?"Chris grinned. "So you don't want to admire the photos, but you want to admire me, a living person."Paige blushed slightly, feeling embarrassed. She did not mean that, but what she just said seemed to imply exactly that."How would you want to admire me?" Chris teased.Admire was such an intriguing word.Paige blushed harder. "How else can I admire you? Just by looking,
Before Hunter was born, Chris was the absolute darling of the family. His grandfather favored him, and his parents loved him dearly.However, Hunter's arrival had changed everything. The elders in the family revolved around Hunter all day long. Zander’s first question upon waking up each morning was about Hunter, followed by Ann cuddling Hunter, calling him her darling, and so on.It seemed like everyone had forgotten about Chris.How could Chris, who had always been so cherished, accept that?Chris's expression stiffened as if his thoughts had been unexpectedly revealed, his eyes flickering momentarily.Paige chuckled and said, "Are you seriously competing with a child for attention? Besides, you've been pampered by the family for so many years. Hunter has only been pampered for a few days."Chris retorted coldly, "I'm not competing with him."Paige did not buy it for a second. She smiled and said, "Sure, you're not competing with him. You're just afraid we'll spoil Hunter."A
Before, Paige could not understand people showing off their babies and wondered why they would go crazy posting their kids on social media. Now, she got it. She found her kid to be the cutest in the world and could not help but snap his photos and post them on her social media platforms to share him with others, hoping for compliments and praise for her little one.However, she also understood that posting too much could annoy people. Hence, she restrained herself to only posting once a day and made sure to fit in a couple of photos!That was her absolute limit!She felt uneasy if she did not post her baby for a day. Then, when she saw her friends' comments praising her little one, she felt happy and proud, like they were getting closer as friends.Indeed, becoming a mom had changed her mindset.Chris, who was watching Paige show off their baby on social media, was even more dissatisfied! They had been married for a long time and had a child together, yet his appearances o
After what felt like ages, Ava lay on the hotel's large bed, staring blankly at the ceiling as the sound of rushing water filled her ears. Niel was in the shower. After releasing his pent-up emotions, he headed straight for the shower. Meanwhile, she lay there, her body aching. She did not want to move a muscle because every movement brought pain.Niel was thrilled with the new experience, but Ava was suffering. She was starting to regret getting involved with Niel. He was going overboard with satisfying his physical needs, and she feared that if things continued like that, Niel might end up causing her harm or maybe even unintentionally ending her life. She had heard of such things happening before, so now, she was caught between a rock and a hard place.On one hand, she did not want to let go of Niel and give up on all the sacrifices and efforts she had put in when she was on the brink of marrying into a wealthy family and becoming a billionaire's wife. On the other han
Pierre fell silent, pondering Shelly's words carefully. Upon reflection, he found Shelly's proposal to be pretty reasonable and entirely feasible. If he were to wait until Shelly entered prison to serve her sentence, he could break up with her afterward. Once his relationship with Shelly ended, his parents would not be as angry. Even if there were some constraints preventing them from openly helping him, they could still assist him discreetly. After all, he was their son, who shared the same blood with them. His parents could not possibly abandon him entirely and let him fend for himself. By lowering himself in front of his parents, he believed they would not neglect him. By then, acquiring the five million dollars would not be too difficult.Shelly watched Pierre, not pressing him to respond. She believed Pierre knew what choice to make. Five million might seem like an astronomical figure, but for the second son of the Alfonsos, it was not much.After much deliberation
She looked at the evil smile on Chris' face, and it all came back to her.Did Chris Intentionally take Hunter to the guest room to hand him over to the nanny so that it would make it easier for him to do what he wanted? What a scumbag! However, since it was something she had personally agreed to, she would not back out.Paige did not resist Chris, and a long time later, she collapsed on the bed. She felt like she should have taken care of Hunter and not fallen for Chris' tricks.Taking care of a child was not as exhausting!She was too tired to even move her fingers.The next day, Paige slept until late morning and then got up to go down for breakfast.When Ann saw Paige, she asked with concern, "Paige, didn't you sleep well last night?"Paige looked really worn out."Didn't Hunter sleep with the nanny last night?" Ann asked curiously.Paige blushed with embarrassment and said, "Last night… I wasn't used to sleeping without Hunter, so I didn't get a good sleep."Ann smile
Even if she offered her sincerity, Chris would not appreciate it, so what else could she offer? "Is money the only thing you have? Do you have nothing else besides money?" Chris said.He thought she was truly clueless. Even after being married for so long and having a child together, did she not know what he wanted?However, Paige was indeed puzzled. Besides money, what else did she have? What else could she have?Chris looked her up and down, speechless. Paige might not have understood what he meant before, but she did now. He meant that although she did not have money, she still had a young body.It seemed all Chris lusted was her body."I’m still recovering," Paige said with a slight blush on her face. She knew Chris had been patient for a long time. They barely had any intimacy during the last trimester of her pregnancy, but there was nothing she could do. She did not want to refuse him, but her body would not allow it.Chris glanced at Paige and said, "We can try other