Lydia stepped out of the room and found out that her accommodation had already been paid for. She had a vague suspicion in her heart, and this suspicion made her feel conflicted.When Andrew arrived, he saw Lydia standing in a daze at the hotel entrance, her eyes filled with a trace of confusion. Andrew’s heart tightened, and he quickly stepped forward to ask about her situation."Lydia, are you alright? Did Lambert do anything to you?"Lydia snapped out of her daze and subconsciously repeated Andrew's words, "Lambert? He’s the one who brought me here?"Andrew was taken aback, then felt a bit frustrated. He had intended to keep it from Lydia, but now that it was out, he decided to be honest. "Lydia, I'm sorry. You were drunk last night, and somehow Lambert ended up taking you away. I apologize; I didn’t protect you well.""Andrew, you don’t need to apologize. It’s not your fault. Besides, Lambert didn’t do anything bad to me, so you don’t have to worry."The more Lydia reassured him,
Zebulon smiled warmly, “Since you’ve put it that way, not staying would seem petty. Alright, I’ll accept your hospitality.”“No need to be so polite. We might even become in-laws in the future!”Lambert frowned upon hearing this, feeling discontent but managing not to show it in front of the guests. On the other hand, Verna, sitting opposite, blushed and stole glances at Lambert, clearly quite pleased with him.“Lambert, let me introduce you. This is Zebulon’s wife, and this elegant young lady is Zebulon’s daughter, Verna. You young people should have plenty to talk about!”Odgen’s enthusiastic demeanor made everything clear to Lambert. No wonder his father had stopped monitoring him—he had already decided Lambert should get married and start a family.Verna, although restrained, clearly had a favorable impression of her prospective partner. Unlike other women who might have thrown themselves at him, she merely stole glances, which did not go unnoticed by her parents.Zebulon sighed i
Lambert and Verna talked as they walked back to the villa. Their interaction did not go unnoticed by Odgen and Zebulon, who exchanged knowing smiles. It seemed their families would soon be united.Lambert was unaware that his father and Verna's father had already reached an agreement. His thoughts were entirely occupied with Lydia, especially because he remembered they had an important business meeting in two days.Lambert was both looking forward to and dreading the meeting. He yearned to see Lydia but knew they could never be together. Even so, he couldn't resist the opportunity to see her again.Two days later, in the general manager's office of Universal Conglomerate's branch, Steven was baffled by the sight of his boss sitting at the desk.It was just a minor meeting; why was the boss so involved?And why was he so meticulously reviewing the cooperation proposal? His dedication was astonishing.At 8:45, Lambert finally looked up from the proposal. "Are the representatives here ye
Manager Louis quickly stepped in to defuse the tension. "Alright, alright, we're all family here. No need to be so confrontational. Yes, Lydia's studio had some issues before, but they've been resolved. Let's focus on how we can make the studio more successful moving forward, shall we?"Leroy snorted, thinking to himself, What a bootlicker!Louis also sneered inwardly, Kid, you're not ready to take my place yet!Lambert paid no attention to the undercurrents between his subordinates. He tapped his fingers on the table, his mind occupied with finding a way to speak to Lydia alone.With no further interruptions, the meeting proceeded smoothly. Lydia was well-prepared, and by the end, even Leroy, who initially believed Lydia had only secured the partnership through connections, had a more favorable opinion of her.As the meeting concluded, everyone gradually left the conference room. Lydia was the last to leave. The meeting's success brought her a sense of relief, but it also sparked a t
Lydia was taken aback by Andrew's actions. She had always seen him as gentle and accommodating, someone who treated her like a kind older brother, patiently waiting even while pursuing her. But just now, she felt a hint of aggression in his actions for the first time.Lydia laughed at herself, tapping her forehead. What am I even thinking?Andrew, unaware of Lydia's thoughts, could tell something was off with her. She seemed troubled, and this made him hesitant. What he was about to say was indeed quite abrupt.They sat across from each other in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. The atmosphere was oddly quiet.After a long pause, Andrew cleared his throat and spoke softly, "Lydia, actually, I came here today to ask for your help."Seeing Andrew so serious, Lydia couldn't help but straighten up. "Andrew, there's no need to be so formal with me. Just tell me what you need help with."Andrew looked down, his handsome face turning slightly red with embarrassment. He seemed unsure
"Lambert, when are you going to deal with your dad? I don't want to be tied to you forever!" Verna's straightforwardness, now completely devoid of the elegance and ladylike demeanor from their first meeting, revealed her quirky nature.It was this honesty that made Lambert tolerate her, unlike others. He knew Verna had a secret lover, and they were both forced into this arranged meeting.As they descended the stairs, Odgen and Zebulon were already in deep conversation, much to Verna's exasperation. She rolled her eyes, finding herself once again staying for dinner at the Halsey residence.During the meal, Odgen's fondness for Verna grew more apparent, and Zebulon’s parents seemed to like Lambert very much. However, both Verna and Lambert seemed distracted, their occasional eye contact hinting at a shared sense of plight.After dinner, as Zebulon’s family took their leave, Odgen called Lambert into the study.In the oppressive silence, Odgen was the first to speak. "Do you admit your m
Like an artist repeatedly conceptualizing a scene, Lambert's mind lingered on the image of the person within that picture.Lydia hadn't gone to bed. She stood by the window, clutching her phone, waiting for a call that might never come."Lambert! Lambert!"She whispered his name in her heart, each time more painful than the last. He hadn't contacted her, even though she had sent him a message. Unbeknownst to her, Lambert's phone lay abandoned on a nightstand, and its owner was merely fifty meters away in his car.Knock, knock, knock!Lydia quickly set her phone down as Wythe, rubbing his eyes, walked in with a cup of milk. "Mom, why aren't you asleep yet?"Lydia's voice was soft. "Did I wake you? I'm sorry. I'll go to bed now.""Mom, drink some milk before you sleep."Lydia's nose tingled, and she reached out to tousle her son's hair. "Thank you, Wythe.""Mom, I've grown up. Even without Dad, I can take good care of you. Besides, Uncle Fraine is great too! Please don't be sad about Da
His name was Winston, a high school teacher with a courteous and composed demeanor, leaving a good impression on Lambert. However, Lambert was surprised when Winston opposed the idea of eloping with Verna."Lambert, I know you're helping us, and I appreciate it greatly. But please tell Verna that I can't agree to run away with her."Lambert didn't expect such a refusal and narrowed his eyes slightly, scrutinizing Winston. "What do you mean? Do you have other plans?"Winston smiled, "Yes, I do. I understand you're Verna's friend, which is why we can't involve you. You could help Verna escape during a shopping trip, but wouldn't the Zheng family come to you for answers? It's good you're willing to help, but I don't want you to bear the consequences."Lambert had considered this risk but dismissed it, confident in his status. Even if the Zheng family suspected him, they wouldn't dare confront him openly.Seeing Lambert's thoughts, Winston continued, "I truly appreciate your help. If you'