That was—She had not told Stefan the reason why she disappeared from the hospital yet. He must be very worried if he could not find her after he went back to the hospital. She hurriedly took out her cell phone that was on silent mode before she unlocked it. Sure enough, there were twenty missed calls and ten text messages from him![Xavia, why did you leave the hospital?][I’m sorry. I was busy when you called me earlier and I did not hear my phone ringing.][Where are you?][Reply my message. I am very worried.]It was a series of worried and anxious text messages from him.Xavia knew that he was good to her, but something like that just had to happen.She pursed her lips and replied him: [Don’t worry. I’m fine. I did not leave the hospital but something came up and my elder sister helped me to get another doctor for Yulia instead.][Stefan, you don’t need to worry about Yulia’s affairs in future. I will also need to stay in Darlsbury for a period of time. You can go bac
Xavia did not see it and she continued saying, “Young master, please ask Mr. Miller to give me the information that you mentioned yesterday, as soon as possible. Try to gather more information on my elder sister’s work.”“I want to take advantage of this opportunity to build up a career. I want to be worthy of Stefan and I also want Uncle Talton to like me.”Zivon: “…”She did not only like Stefan. She was also thinking of winning Stefan’s father’s favor! Zivon sneered, “Your love is quite cheap.” She waited for Mark for several years but she had so easily fallen in love with another man after that. What would it be if it was not cheap?Xavia clenched her teeth.What did she do to offend him again? He was satirizing her again?Crazy.Twenty minutes later.The car stopped at the Burton family’s old mansion.This was a history building, with a magnificent gate and pavilions, and it was extremely luxurious and extravagant. It looked like a palace at first glance. They had s
He lived in the Burton Mansion for decades. He knew all the vicious troublemakers inside very well.If they were not careful, things would be beyond redemption.He hoped that he would be able to protect her thoroughly. In the hall. The Burton family’s relatives were already seated inside the hall.Lady Ava Burton was sitting at the highest position. The senior generation, Zivon’s father, mother, two aunts, and uncles, were on the right. Zivon’s brothers and sisters, who were from his generation, were on the left. When they saw that the both of them had finally arrived, they teased them. “Zivon, Jenna, if you hadn’t arrived now, the tea would have already turned cold.”“That’s right. When we used to perform the tea ceremony, we would have already come to wait here at six o’clock in the morning.”“Young people like you guys clearly do not pay much attention to customs and etiquette.”What they were implying was that they were not showing any respect to their elders. T
Xavia smiled brightly.“Grandma, serving tea has been a custom ever since ancient times. So, we will definitely have to serve you tea as a form of respect. Isn’t there an old saying that the tea served by a daughter-in-law is twice as sweet?”Xavia poured a cup of tea before she walked over to Ava and knelt down on both knees.“Grandma, please have some tea.”She looked very well-behaved and she had the perfect posture. She was also filled with sincerity.And on the contrary, it made it seem as though she also valued customs and respected her elders. Ava could not stop smiling happily. “Good, good, you’re really a good daughter-in-law. You’re really very likable.”Ava took the cup of tea before taking a sip of it. “It’s very sweet indeed. Here. This is grandma’s wedding gift to you and Zivon.”The butler who was standing on the side took out an antique box and handed it over.The people who were seated were all surprised. Those were the antiques that Lady Burton had been c
No one dared to say a word anymore.Zivon stood still in place as he watched the good show from the beginning to the end without saying a single word. His deep gaze fell on Xavia who was secretly smirking and he raised the brows on his handsome face slightly. Other people might be thinking that she was simply being humble, but Zivon knew that she clearly did it intentionally. She did not only resolve the problem of them being late, but she also turned the tables on them. He suddenly felt that the small and pure Xavia was also actually very mature, wise, and cunning. It seemed as though he had seriously underestimated her.After that, Xavia served tea to Zivon’s father and mother. She was once again very well-behaved.Hershel was very pleasant and friendly, and it was very easy to get along with him. “Not bad. I used to think that you are a little too career-driven and cold, but I really did not expect you to actually be so sensible and well-behaved. Have a good life wi
After walking out of the old mansion, Xavia took a deep breath of fresh air. After that, she looked at Zivon who was seated in the driver’s seat.“Young master, can we go on a honeymoon?”Honeymoon?Loving couples would always go on a trip and honeymoon after their wedding.However, Zivon had never once considered it. He looked at her inquiringly with a profound look in his eyes.“Reason?”Xavia said, “Because my instinct tells me that your family is too frightening. They’re able to find so many things to say for a simple tea ceremony. I cannot imagine what they would say for other events.”“Besides that, I received so many gifts from your grandmother. Those aunts, uncles, and brothers of yours hate me to the core and I am certain that they are going to be finding fault with me.”Xavia’s previous wit had already faded at this moment and only helplessness remained.Her timid character as an ordinary girl was showing to the fullest at this point.Zivon could not help but laugh.
The car was parked in the underground parking lot in a luxurious villa area.Zivon brought Xavia to a villa and he raised his brows slightly. “Where do you think this is?”Xavia did not know.However, growing up in the countryside, she heard that the bride and groom would have to return to the bride’s parental home the day after the wedding. So, this upscale villa was…“The Lockhart Mansion?”Zivon hummed slightly. “You look so surprised. You haven’t been to your own house before?”Xavia did not deny it. She had been sent away as soon as she was born. When she came to Darlsbury at the age of eighteen, she went to the hospital to see her eldest brother but the accident happened the night before she could go home…Her family home turned out to be so luxurious and extravagant.However, this luxury had nothing to do with her at all.She finally understood now. The thing that he said that she should be worried about, was the Lockhart family!After all, her mother and father ha
Why should she be bothered with him if he was so heartless to her?Kevin really did not expect this girl from the countryside to actually dare to yell at him.He thought of something immediately and he sneered. “Sure enough, you have never treated us as your own family and you have never regarded me as your own biological brother from the beginning to the end! Otherwise, how can you say such words and how could you run away just like that back then?”What?They were the ones who have never treated her like family, weren’t they?They really knew how to cover up their own misdeed by pushing the responsibility onto others.Xavia was puzzled and she asked, “When did I run away?”Kevin did not want to mention the incident back then and he did not want to be bothered with her. So, he said coldly, “Come back. You can stay in the Burton family in the future after today and we will not have anything to do with each other anymore.”What he meant to say was that he would never trouble h
Staring in shock at the kneeling man, Yulia mustered her remaining sanity as she replied, “B-but you’re younger-” “Even if that’s the case, doesn’t that mean that I’m much more ‘capable’ than your older pursuers…?” …Why were his words so suggestive all of a sudden?! Forcing herself to calm down, she took a deep breath before saying, “…Elliot, I’m not sure what spurred this decision, but… I’m not the one for you. Please find someone your age. I’m sorry.” After saying that, she strode straight for the car… but before she could start the engine, she couldn’t help but notice how desolate he looked standing under the pouring rain… Clenching her fists, it took her a while to finally sigh and walk back to him… “…Are you really sure about this?” asked Yulia, much to Elliot’s delight. “I am! Please! Give me a chance! You won’t regret it!” …When he put it that way, all Yulia could do was help him up before finally deciding to return his kiss… Sure, things had taken a sudden, unex
She stared in horror as he removed his shirt right there and then! “W-what are you doing?!” yelped the startled woman as she quickly looked the other way. “…Huh? I mean, I’m drenched, so…” “E-even so, you shouldn’t change right in front of me!” “…Yulia, we bathed together as children… It’s not like you haven’t seen everything already…” “Y-you can’t compare that to this situation…!” “Fine, fine, I… Um… Go cook, I guess… I’ll go get a change upstairs first…” muttered Elliot as he headed upstairs. Yulia herself had to try her best to calm down! After all, Elliot had been plaguing her mind in the past few days, and… she even had dreams where he had… …No! She couldn’t be thinking about such things! She needed to cook! Maybe that would help get her mind out of the gutter! Once that was done, she’d leave and finally start devising a plan to get rid of him…! As Yulia scurried off, Elliot himself was currently staring at an old photo that showed him eating some candy in Yulia’
Just as she had arrived at her car, the president of the Halls Group suddenly walked up to her, a bouquet in hand! The Halls Group had collaborated several times with the Burtons before, and because of that, she was well acquainted with the man. Sadly, he had also proposed to her on multiple occasions… and though she kept rejecting him, he never seemed to get the hint! “There you are, Miss Burton… Since you’re off work, I was wondering if you’d join me for dinner tonight…” asked the charming man. Feeling awkward, she was just about to come up with an excuse when Elliot suddenly grabbed her by the waist and said, “Oh? Another one of your admirers, Yulia…? Sorry, but she already has a boyfriend, my man. If that doesn’t deter you enough, then you should know that she prefers her partners younger. Now please leave.” Startled to hear that, the man glanced at Yulia, his eyes begging for an explanation… Yulia herself was eager to just escape this embarrassing situation, but before s
With that tale done, it was now time to return to Yulia’s story… Ever since she was a child, she had undergone countless hardships with her mother… and even after she was able to reunite with her father, things didn’t go much easier from there. To make matters worse, Fabiola ended up getting kidnapped for the longest time, resulting in Frank ending up the way he was today… Because of all that, it only made sense that she’d mature much sooner than others her age, and unlike the naïve girl she used to be, she was an extremely competent woman today. Alas, because of how used she became with working, she soon lost the urge to find herself a romantic interest… Things continued that way until… Well, that time that Elliot… …Wait, what was she thinking?! He was younger than her, for heaven’s sake! Quickly shaking her head, she attempted to force herself to concentrate on work again… But before long, a knock was heard on the door. After being allowed in, the department manager entered t
Knowing that there was no point in keeping things a secret anymore, Rea took a deep breath before saying, “…Alright, so… The truth is, I’ve always been highly competent, but… I’ve been pretending to be useless just so that you’d eventually marry me… The trip my parents are taking… That was my suggestion too…” Feeling speechless, it took Frank a long while to reply, “…So you weren’t really drunk when you did all that last night?” Pursing her lips, Rea awkwardly muttered, “…I wasn’t… Luna suggested it, and since it sounded like a good idea to accelerate things…” …Fucking hell, to think that he had fallen straight into her trap without even putting up a fight! Watching as he glowered at her, Rea gulped before adding, “A-anyway, now that we’re married and there’s potentially a baby in my belly, you won’t divorce me, right…?” “…Oh, believe me when I say that divorce is the easy way out! From today onward, I’m making you pay for your actions for the rest of your life!” Fast forwa
Fast forward to the next morning, Rea awoke with a yawn… What a nice sleep… Wait. Why was she naked? And why was Frank…?! Her following scream immediately woke the icy man up… and upon looking at her, he was immediately reminded of what had transpired last night! Essentially, Rea ended up clinging to him, and though he initially wanted to just carry her to bed to let her rest… Damn it! Had she really been that sensual?! How had he lost control so easily?! His train of thought was cut short when he realized that Rea was bawling her eyes out… and after rubbing his temples, he was prompted to say, “…Why are you crying when you’re the one who initiated this? I’ll have you know that I never forced you-” “I-I know, but…! I’ve just…! This is my first time…!” whimpered the quivering woman, prompting Frank to purse his lips. As if he wasn’t in the same situation… “…You’re not alone there.” “It’s not the same! Men are free to sleep with whoever they want but when it comes to women, I’l
“Say, wouldn’t you agree that the food smells delicious…? Why don’t I teach you how to grill, Rea…? Oh, but make sure to take your clothes off first before we start! Wouldn’t want them to get dirty…” With how drunk Rea was, she wasn’t able to fully register his words… and just as he was about to touch her clothes, an icy voice roared, “Stop right there…!” Instantly feeling a shiver run down his spine, the man turned around… and to his horror, it was Frank! Young Master Burton’s perpetually icy son…! Why the hell was he here?! Before the frightened intern could think of how to even react, Frank walked up to him and growled, “Leave now before I chop your hands off…! Don’t make me repeat myself!” Nodding in terror, the man frantically bolted off… and once he was out of sight, Frank glared at the tipsy Rea before adding, “This is what you meant by learning how to be more responsible…?!” “Huh…? But the food really did smell super good… I want to learn…” mumbled the drunk woman.
After leaving his office, he headed off to look for Rea. She had said that she wanted to use the bathroom, but… It had already been half an hour since she disappeared. What trouble had that idiot gotten herself into this time? Thankfully, it wasn’t long before he found her laughing along with some of his interns… When the interns saw him, they were quick to bow and say, “Good morning, Mr. Burton.” Barely even glancing at them, Frank looked at Rea and said, “It’s time to head home.” “I… Won’t be following you back…” “…And why is that? Are your parents back?” “No, it’s just… These are my good friends back from school, and they’ve been staying together to learn to be more independent… With that said… I think that staying with them will be a good start for me to learn more about how the world works. Thank you for taking care of me up till this point, Frank… I won’t bother you anymore.” Raising a slight brow, Frank then looked at the interns for a while before saying, “…Are you
Regardless, after leaving her in the room, Frank returned to the shower to cool himself off… but no matter what he did, he simply remained irked. It got to the point where he couldn’t relax at all, and after wrapping a towel around his waist, he grabbed his phone to send his father a text. ‘Was there really nobody else who could’ve taken care of Rea?’ ‘What? Can’t even care for a woman properly.’ ‘I’m a busy man.’ ‘I trust in your time management skills.’ …Though he really wanted to tell Zivon that he had misplaced his trust in him, he didn’t want to disappoint his father either. With that, all he could do was clench his fists before giving Rea’s parents a call… “Hello? Frank? Why are you calling at this time of night?” “…When are you and Uncle Saltman returning, Aunt?” asked Frank who wanted them to take back their idiot already! “…Huh? What was that? Sorry, the line isn’t very good… I hope Rea isn’t giving you too hard a time! Don’t worry, we’ll be back after about a