"Shit!" Lambert cursed under his breath as he quickly jumped out of the car and ran after Lydia.A Bentley suddenly pulled up next to her, and as Andrew saw Lydia running straight ahead, he slammed on the brakes. The sharp screeching sound made his heart clench in fear.Lydia froze in place, trembling, her face as pale as a sheet of paper.Andrew hurriedly opened the door and pulled her into his arms, his heart pounding in relief. Cold sweat trickled down his back as he realized how close he had come to hitting her if he'd been going any faster."Lydia, are you okay? Weren't you supposed to be leaving with Thera's car? What happened—"Before he could finish, someone rushed up behind them. Looking up, Andrew saw Lambert, his face filled with regret.Lydia clung to Andrew's shirt as if holding on to her last hope. Her voice was panicked and desperate. "Andrew, please take me away, I beg you!"Andrew didn't know exactly what had happened between Lydia and Lambert, but he could never refu
Lydia stared in shock as Andrew and Thera bantered back and forth, the lively exchange so natural, the atmosphere so harmonious. For a moment, she wondered if perhaps these two were truly meant for each other."Mom, are they like those ‘frenemies' they talk about on TV? Do they like each other?"Wythe's sudden question made both Andrew and Thera pause. They glanced at each other, then spoke at the same time."I like him!" "No way I'd like her!"After their simultaneous responses, both froze again. Thera's expression faltered slightly. Although she had been the one to pursue this relationship, she couldn't deny the sting of his indifference. It hurt to like someone who was in love with her best friend. She had never imagined she would end up in such a strange and dramatic situation.This love was both humiliating and painful. If she could, she would have chosen not to feel this way at all. But no matter how hard she tried, Andrew's image always lingered in her mind.Her face slowly gre
Lydia and Thera chatted and laughed together, and eventually, Lydia suggested that Thera stay in her room for the night so they could share some private conversations. This way, Andrew wouldn't have to sleep on the couch.However, that night was destined to be a sleepless one. Neither Lydia nor Lambert could get any rest. The same was true for Andrew and Thera—except for Wythe, the adults were all deep in thought.Early the next morning, before Lydia was even out of bed, she was drawn by the smell of something delicious coming from the kitchen, making her stomach growl. In the kitchen, Andrew was wearing an apron, busy cooking, while Thera stood awkwardly at the door, staring at him in a daze."Thera, good morning! Why are you both up so early?" Lydia asked.Thera's eyes remained fixed on Andrew, her emotions complicated."He's a good, homely man," she thought to herself. "I like him.""Well, it's all Andrew's fault," Thera responded. "He insisted on getting up to make breakfast, and
"Wythe? You called suddenly. Is something wrong?" Lambert's voice was warm and affectionate.Wythe, with a pitiful tone, asked, "Dad, in a few days, the school is holding a parent-child sports event. Can you come?"There was a brief hesitation on the other end of the line. Lambert didn't immediately agree, instead asking, "Is your mom going?"Wythe nodded slightly, "She's going. The teacher said they hope both parents can attend."Lambert's heart skipped a beat. Instinctively, he replied, "I understand, Wythe. I really want to be there, but I'm afraid I won't be able to make it. I have a business trip to Wall Street coming up, so..."Wythe's expression shifted from joy to disappointment. He pressed his lips together, trying to hide his feelings. "You really can't come? Dad, you promised me before!"His heart sank. All he wanted was for his parents to be together with him. Was it really that difficult?There was a long silence on the other end before Lambert softly apologized, "I'm sor
Lambert hung up the phone without waiting for Lydia's response. He feared that if the conversation continued, he might soften and end up attending the event. Meanwhile, Lydia sat alone on the sofa for a long time, already understanding that Lambert's intentions were directed at her, even without his words. Yet, she felt powerless to refuse.With a sigh, she resolved to compromise for the sake of her son's happiness, though she couldn't decipher Lambert's thoughts. Did he want her to ask him, intending to humiliate her? Regardless of his motives, Lydia understood it this way and took the initiative to call him for a meeting.Lambert had been waiting for her to reach out, so he readily accepted the invitation. The next day at noon, in a Korean restaurant on the main street of Nova City, Lambert arrived as planned. When he walked in, he found Lydia devouring her meal, her lips reddened from the spicy kimchi, making her look particularly enticing. The strong aroma of spice made Lambert fr
Lambert watched Lydia's retreating figure, licking his lips as the sweet taste lingered, leaving him with a sense of longing. It seemed that going to their son's sports day together wouldn't be so bad after all. He had intended to accompany her; he just wanted her to ask him.He was awkward like that—rejected too many times, his courage drained, leaving him to test the waters indirectly.Lydia stumbled back to the villa, feeling flustered. It wasn't until she reached her room that she began to calm down. Leaning against the door, she felt a bit dazed, her fingers unconsciously brushing over her lips. This was the second time Lambert had kissed her so passionately, and she sensed that if she hadn't escaped, he might not have let her go so easily.But she couldn't fathom it. Was Lambert unsatisfied? Why did he get so aroused every time they met, barely managing to exchange a few words?Shaking her head, Lydia wondered why she was overthinking it. Regardless, she didn't want to get entan
The first event was parent-child tennis. While most families were participating together, only Lambert and Wythe were there from their side.As soon as the match began, everyone was taken aback—Lambert alone was more than enough to take on two opponents.With a racket in hand, Lambert sweated profusely on the court. The sunlight bathed him, making him look like a mythological Apollo—handsome and radiant.In the end, Lambert teamed up with Wythe, and they emerged victorious. Lydia's heart raced in her chest as she watched from the stands!This energetic and vibrant Lambert was a rare sight for Lydia. Whether before or after their marriage, Lambert had always seemed composed and a bit aloof, like a distant deity.But now, drenched in sweat with his hair tousled, he exuded a newfound charm and allure.Boys often idolize stronger peers, so as soon as Lambert stepped off the court, seven or eight little boys surrounded him, all eagerly expressing their admiration.Wythe stood proudly with
Andrew felt a deep sense of discomfort; despite all his efforts over the years, Lydia remained unmoved, while Lambert only had to get injured for her to care so much. It was truly frustrating. After a moment's thought, Andrew made a decision "Lydia, let me take care of Lambert for you.""Wait, what?" Lydia blinked in surprise, clearly caught off guard. "You want to take care of Lambert? Why?""You're pregnant, which means you shouldn't be overexerting yourself or doing too much. How can you take care of a patient? Besides, there are differences between men and women, right?" Andrew's argument was confident, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.Lydia looked at him, stunned. She couldn't believe Andrew was suggesting this—especially since he was technically Lambert's rival. If Andrew ended up taking care of Lambert, who knew how that would play out? Just the thought of Lambert's cold expression made her shake her head."Andrew, I don't think that's necessary."But Andrew w
Using their son as a shield might seem a bit embarrassing, but it was undeniably effective. Sure enough, upon hearing Wythe's name, Lydia paused her resistance to Lambert. She struggled to move her legs and began to make her way toward her home.What should have been a short ten-minute walk turned into a half-hour ordeal due to Lydia's difficulty in moving. During this time, she even awkwardly made a trip to the restroom. As she entered the later stages of her pregnancy, not only had her legs swollen, but her trips to the bathroom had also increased significantly. Just moments ago, she had finished a latte, which made the situation even more awkward—suddenly needing to find a restroom while walking.Lambert, while unaware of the many inconveniences pregnancy could bring, couldn't help but feel like a negligent husband and father as he watched Lydia struggle. He realized he knew nothing about what she was going through. Seeing her in such discomfort made his heart
Lambert closed his eyes, trying to calm the turmoil in his heart. He had truly found Lydia!"Sorry, Lydia, I think I got a bit carried away!"Could this be a dream? If it is, he hoped he'd never wake up.Lydia was at a loss for words. This wasn't just being a bit excited; he was clearly overwhelmed!She decided to change the subject. "Lambert, how's Wythe doing?" Her son was the person she cared about most, and the one she felt she owed the most to."He's fine, but he really misses you. I didn't expect that after all this time, you wouldn't even call once."Hearing this, Lydia lowered her head, guilt washing over her. In some ways, she knew she hadn't been a very good mother. She had neglected her son for her own feelings."I'm sorry..."Lambert sighed softly, a mix of emotions swirling within him. "You don't need to apologize, Lydia. It's all my fault. If I hadn't misunderstood you, you wouldn't have felt the need to leave Nov
Debby felt a sudden jolt, her ears turning bright red. Being caught doing something wrong and exposed in public was a uniquely uncomfortable experience."Uh, I..."Lambert's heart raced. Could it be that he finally found the right place? Was Lydia really at this kindergarten?Fearing he might startle her, he spoke gently, his tone patient. "Debby, there's been a misunderstanding between Lydia and me. I care about her deeply, and I can't lose her. I don't know how you've interpreted our situation, but as her friend, I assume you want her to be happy too?"Debby hesitated at his words. Was this man truly a scoundrel? Upon reflection, Lydia had only mentioned that she had divorced her partner and left Nova City due to some circumstances. She had never spoken ill of her ex-husband, so perhaps she had misjudged him?Debby's expression shifted, yet she still seemed unsure. Lambert seized the moment to ask, "Debby, Lydia hasn't left, has she?""How
Lydia could hardly believe her ears, but Debby wouldn't lie to her. So, Lambert had really come looking for her.Her emotions were a whirlwind. It had been nearly five months since she left. During this time, she had come to Y City alone, found a job at a kindergarten, and gradually found some peace.Being away from the chaos allowed Lydia to reflect on herself, and she realized that the situation with Lambert wasn't entirely his fault. While he sometimes acted presumptuously, his intentions were good—he always acted out of concern for himself. Each argument only chipped away at their relationship.No bond can withstand constant fighting.Lost in thought, Lydia absentmindedly traced her fingers over her phone screen. Should she reach out to Lambert? According to Debby, he was probably headed to Rong City.She lowered her gaze, her long eyelashes casting shadows over her troubled eyes. When she first heard that Lambert was looking for her, her
As Lambert stepped out of the apartment, a lost look lingered in his eyes. For the past few months, he had been caught in a cycle of hope and disappointment almost every single day.He should have been used to it by now, but each time he felt let down, hurt, and increasingly restless. The longer the search went on, the more he worried about whether he would ever find Lydia."Hey, don't be too downcast. Finding someone is like this; as long as you persevere, you will eventually locate them!"Lambert nodded at her comforting words, knowing well that now wasn't the time to give up."Lambert, since you haven't found her yet, what's your next move?"He frowned slightly. "I think I'll stay here for a while. According to the information my friend gave me, there might be another Lydia in City Y."She sighed. "You really have it tough. How long do you think it will take to find her? It's like searching for a needle in a haystack!""It's okay;
Upon seeing the information, Lambert felt as though he'd been tirelessly searching, only to stumble upon the answer effortlessly.Watching him hold the household registry, his hands trembling, the elderly woman knew that this young man truly loved his wife. She couldn't help but sigh. Why couldn't people just talk things out calmly instead of storming off? When this Lambert finally found his wife, she made a mental note to have a good talk with her. After all, finding someone who genuinely loves you these days isn't easy, especially someone as handsome and devoted as him.As she shared more advice, Lambert listened attentively. A couple of hours later, there he was, standing outside apartment 803 of Building 6, disguised in a delivery uniform, complete with a sunhat and a package in hand.*Ding dong, ding dong...*Lambert stood at the door, feeling anxious. He feared the person inside wouldn't be Lydia, but also worried they wouldn't answer at all.
The intense longing Lambert felt was like ants gnawing at his heart—an unbearable pain that consumed him. Yet, this separation made him realize even more clearly how deeply Lydia had become a part of his life. Without her, he felt utterly lost, as though she had completely permeated his existence without him even noticing.After a brief rest, Lambert began his search for information. He quietly arrived at the neighborhood where one of the pregnant women named Lydia was living and started asking around about her."You seem unfamiliar. You're not from around here, are you?" An elderly woman approached him, curiosity in her eyes.Lambert's heart leaped at the question. He had been wondering how to start the conversation, and now someone had given him the perfect opportunity. "You've got a sharp eye, ma'am. I'm new here.""I thought so! We don't usually see such a handsome young man in our neighborhood," the woman commented."Are you here for work, or are you planning to settle down? You
Lambert knelt down, meeting Wythe's eyes, and asked gently, "Wythe, are you sure this is what you want? Staying here while we're away—won't you feel lonely?"Though Wythe didn't want to be separated from his father, he wanted even more for his dad to focus fully on finding his mom, so they could all be together again. There's a saying about temporary separation being for a longer reunion—something like that."If I miss you, I can always call or video chat! Don't worry, Dad, I'm all grown up now—I won't embarrass you!"Lambert ruffled Wythe's hair, pride swelling in his chest. "You'll always be my best son! Both your mom and I are so proud of you."Wythe blushed a little. "Dad, don't praise me in front of everyone like this, I might actually get too proud!"Thera, standing nearby, burst into laughter at his bashful expression and swooped in to pick him up, giving him a playful kiss on the cheek. "Don't worry, Lambert. I've got Wythe covered. He'll be just fine with me."Andrew chimed i
Lambert carefully tucked Wythe into bed before solemnly opening the letter Lydia had left behind."...Lambert, by the time you read this letter, I'll probably already be in another city. I'm not sure if we'll ever see each other again.Sometimes, I wonder how we ended up like this. We once loved each other so deeply, but now, we've only caused each other endless pain.There's nothing going on between Andrew and me. I don't know if you'll believe me when I say this, but when I first found out I was pregnant again, I wanted to tell you the truth. Sadly, it seemed like you weren't willing to listen.I tried, again and again, to get back together with you, but no matter how hard I tried, it felt like we were two parallel lines—never to intersect again.Lambert, I don't know if I'm making the right decision, or even why I'm doing this. I just know that if I stayed in Nova City, I would lose my mind. So I've decided to leave. I need to find a place where no one knows me, and I don't know an