Connor noticed Spencer staring at his phone and asked, "Waiting for a call?" Spencer kept his expression neutral as he turned his phone face down on the table. He then replied coldly, "No."George Quigley, the one chatting with his girlfriend, suggested, "Spencer, how about we invite a few more people to join us? The more, the merrier."Connor teased, "You just want to invite your girlfriend, don't you?"George grinned. "Yeah, so what? We're inseparable. A day apart feels like three years.""Sure," Spencer said. "Go ahead and invite them. The more, the merrier."Connor suddenly asked, "Isn't Ariana off work today? Why not ask her to join us?"Spencer's heart skipped a beat.Connor continued, "It's the New Year, after all. It's a good time for everyone to get together."Spencer tossed his phone to Connor. "Tell her I'm drunk, and ask her to come pick me up."Connor quickly picked up the phone, glanced at Ariana's contact name, and dialed her number.When Ariana received Spen
"Walk? Why would he leave?" Connor chimed in. "We're all having a good time. Don't be a buzzkill.""Then take your time and enjoy," Ariana replied coldly. "Spencer, call Grandpa and tell him you're not coming home."Spencer didn't move. He just stared at her silently for a few seconds before speaking, "Come here."Ariana remained unmoved. She asked again, "Are you leaving or not?"Spencer's gaze was as cold as ever. "Come here."Without hesitation, Ariana pulled out her phone and initiated a video call with Enrique.Enrique quickly answered, "Ari?"Ariana smiled slightly. "Grandpa, they're drinking here. He seems perfectly sober and says he's not coming back."She flipped the camera to show Spencer sitting at the center of the room, looking anything but drunk.The others hadn't expected Ariana to pull this move. Enrique had a lot of authority in the family, so they immediately straightened up. They looked very cautious.Enrique scanned the room and recognized many familiar fa
Spencer stared at Connor. "Cut the nonsense. I have something to ask you. You..."Connor looked puzzled. "What do you want to ask? Why are you beating around the bush?"Spencer glanced up and saw that Ariana had already disappeared around the corner.He said, "Forget it. Just take Joanne home.""Wait a minute!" Connor quickly interrupted as Spencer was about to leave. "What do you mean? Are you tired of Joanne and planning to reconcile with Ariana?""Reconcile?" Spencer shot him a glance. "Where did you get that idea?"He hadn't even considered Ariana seriously.Connor sighed in relief. "Exactly. She didn't even bother to get you a gift and clearly doesn't care about you. Why would you waste your time on a woman like that? Actually, I wanted to introduce someone to you."Spencer asked, "Who is it? What's this about?"Connor explained, "She's a distant relative of mine who's been studying abroad. Now she's back and looking to work in Nordenton."Spencer didn't seem interested.
"Do you even understand boundaries?" Ariana found him utterly ridiculous. "Just because your family is wealthier than mine, does that mean I'm inferior? So you're allowed to do whatever you want, but I can't?""Of course! The entire Lubove family depends on me. You should be trying hard to please me, yet you're provoking me now!"Ariana took a deep breath. "What exactly do you want?""You should show me some mutual respect." Spencer let go of her wrist and adjusted his tie. "Figure out what to do yourself."Ariana didn't understand what he meant at first. Yet, after a few seconds, she looked at him in disbelief. "Do you want a gift?"That was exactly what Spencer wanted. But having it spelled out like that made him feel embarrassed.He awkwardly said, "Do I have to tell you everything? I still managed to buy you a bracelet amid my busy schedule overseas!"Ariana was momentarily stunned. She then uttered, "You just threw it out.""Find it, then!" Spencer wasn't worried about the
Ariana gave Sienna a look, but she didn't catch on and kept talking. "Spencer's no good either! All he does is bully you. Ari… "Ari, what's wrong with your eyes?"Sienna glanced over and felt something off in the corner of her eye. When she looked closer, she gasped in shock."Go on." Spencer sat in the passenger seat with a cold and stern expression. "Why am I no good?"Caught talking behind his back and now face-to-face with him, Sienna, who was already thin-skinned, blushed with embarrassment. She was at a loss for words.Ariana wasn't too concerned about Spencer overhearing their conversation. After all, Sienna was only stating the facts. She wasn't exaggerating.But discussing setting her up with another man right in front of him wasn't exactly ideal.Ariana spoke up, "Sisi, buckle up. I'll take you home."Sienna had never liked Spencer. He always seemed cold and intimidating to her, even though he was handsome. She couldn't understand what Ariana saw in him.Sitting bac
"Nothing much," Spencer replied casually. "You touched me. So, I'll just return the favor. Fair enough, right?"Not at all!Ariana was so furious that she nearly cursed. "Is this really all you can think about?"Spencer held her close and stopped her from pulling away. "Well, Dr. Lubove, with a body like yours, I have to make the most of it before we divorce. After that, I won't get to hold you anymore. Why should I miss out now?"Ariana was stunned by his bluntness.Even though she knew he treated her like an object for his pleasure, hearing him say it so openly without any regard for her feelings or dignity was infuriating.Taking a deep breath, she said, "Fine! Let go of me. We'll head home first."Spencer smirked. "Don't you think it's more thrilling in the car? I remember you liked it last time...""Shut up!" Ariana felt an urge to slap him. "We're going home!"He was only teasing her. After all, they were parked outside, not in his garage. Besides, the privacy features i
The next day, Ariana didn't have work. But Spencer was like an insatiable machine, keeping her up most of the night.In the end, she woke up feeling parched.As soon as she opened her eyes, she heard a voice beside her. "Are you awake?"She looked up and saw Spencer, who seemed like he had been out for his morning exercise and just finished showering.He had a towel wrapped around his waist. His broad shoulders, narrow waist, and muscular upper body were on full display. The sight could make any woman swoon.Spencer was tall, and every part of his body was proportioned differently from ordinary men. The first time Ariana had slept with him, it had been quite a struggle for her.Even now, Spencer had to take his time for them to be in sync. He had to shower her with kisses and caresses to ensure she could accommodate him. Despite being together for so long, each of their love-making sessions felt like the first time. It was an addictive sensation.Spencer gazed down at her.Ar
Ariana sat in the passenger seat and asked, "How could you be so thick-skinned to say something like that?"Spencer started the car. "Didn't you agree to get me a gift yesterday?"Ariana didn't want to respond to him.Meanwhile, Spencer seemed in good spirits. He even hummed a tune as they drove. His voice was low and resonant, and his singing sounded quite pleasant. Ariana glanced at him, then turned her head to look out the window.She had decided to let go and not let herself be swayed by Spencer any longer. But sometimes, she couldn't control her heart.When the car stopped, Ariana looked around and asked in confusion, "What are we doing here?""To get a gift."Ariana gripped her seatbelt tightly. "Let's go somewhere else. I can't afford the gifts here."Spencer leaned over and unfastened her seatbelt. "Get out of the car.""No!" Ariana clung to the seatbelt. "You can't set me up like this! Not everyone has billions of dollars like you."Spencer rested his forehead on h
Ariana lowered her gaze, her lashes hiding the emotions in her eyes. Spencer could not see them, but he imagined her expression remained as distant as ever."I just want to know if we could still be friends," he continued softly.Ariana paused for several seconds before shaking her head. Spencer's voice was strained with pain as he spoke, "I know it's an inappropriate request, but if we don't try this approach, I might not be able to stop pursuing you." "So you're saying if I don't agree to be friends, you'll keep bothering me?" Ariana finally looked at him directly. "Are you threatening me?"His words reminded her of Zane, who had used the same tactic. She wondered if all men thought this way—when pursuit failed, they would settle for friendship as a consolation prize.Spencer met her gaze. "That's not it. Ari… I'm just asking for your mercy."His eyes were bloodshot with dark circles underneath, clearly showing signs of sleepless nights. Ariana looked away, unable to bear
Jacob rubbed his temples in frustration. "I've warned you about this. She has a boyfriend now, and they have a kid. If you get involved, what does that make you? The other man?""I know…" Spencer mumbled. "But I love her and can't control these feelings." "Having control is what makes us human," Jacob said firmly. "Losing control makes us no better than animals. You're better than that.""Maybe being an animal would hurt less," Spencer muttered."If that's your attitude, then there's nothing left to discuss." Jacob was getting exasperated with him. "That man isn't right for her!" Spencer burst out, recounting everything that had happened.Jacob shook his head. "They have a child together. What's the point of saying all this now?""He's manipulative and deceitful!" Spencer's voice rose with frustration. "How can Ari be with someone like that? Even if I didn't love her, I couldn't stand by and watch her be with someone so toxic!"Jacob took a deep breath and offered another per
"Still, he shouldn't have hit anyone!" Ariana sighed as she looked at his face, now swollen and red. "Does it hurt?"Sam's eyes welled up with tears. "Yeah, it hurts like hell..."Spencer stood nearby, his fists clenched tight. For some reason, Sam just made his blood boil, and he wanted nothing more than to punch him again."Mr. Ulrich," Ariana said while supporting Sam. "Let me say this one last time—stay out of my life. Since Sam's willing to let this go, I won't press charges, but if there's a next time, I will call the police."After her warning, Ariana helped Sam inside their house. They both froze in their tracks when they saw Leo standing in the doorway—neither knew how long he had been awake or how much he had heard."Leo," Ariana quickly spoke up. "Go back inside.""Mom, you two go ahead. I'll close the door," Leo responded quietly.Ariana had no choice but to help Sam inside while Leo walked to the doorway and looked up at Spencer. The little boy barely reached Spence
After that, Sam told Ariana softly, "Go check on Leo. I'll handle this."Wanting no part in this confrontation, Ariana went back inside. Sam closed the door and cracked his knuckles. "Why are you always bothering Ari? She's my girlfriend now, and you should stop.""You're not right for her," Spencer replied coldly."Are you?" Sam raised an eyebrow. "I'm younger, more devoted, and I'd never hurt her or flirt with another woman. What makes you think you're better?""This is between Ari and me. It doesn't concern you.""It doesn't concern me? Or you just can't think of a response? Did I hit a nerve? I guess getting older really does make people shameless.""Don't get cocky. You're not Ari's type at all."Sam leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "That's where you're wrong. Ari loves everything about me, especially my young body..."Before he could finish, Spencer threw down the food container and swung at him. Sam, anticipating the move, dodged quickly. Before long, the two me
Boa quickly called Ariana back and reported, "It's not Zane.""Then, it must have been Spencer," Ariana concluded."That obsessive jerk!" Boa exclaimed. "He just won't give up!"Ariana asked, "Boey, since Rowan and Zane are close, could you tell Rowan to let Zane know that nothing will ever happen between us?"Boa sighed. "I already told him, but I'll emphasize it to him again. By the way, when are you heading to Orkney? I want to pick up Leo!""Tomorrow afternoon," Ariana replied. "But don't worry about picking him up—he's coming with me."When Ariana hung up, she found Leo watching her expectantly. He jumped into her arms as soon as she put down her phone. "Mom, are you done? Can you play with me now?"Ariana's heart melted. "Of course, baby. What would you like to play?""Let's play house!" Leo's eyes sparkled. "You be the mommy, and I'll be the baby, and you have to carry me!""Alright." Ariana laughed, scooping him up."No, not like that," Leo directed. "Carry me like
Dennis could not help glancing in the rearview mirror at that comment. Meanwhile, Ariana looked at Sam and blurted out, "Marriage? Did you forget what we agreed on?""I remember," Sam replied. "But with your ex-husband and that Zane guy, we've got our work cut out. I'm worried they'll figure things out. Maybe we should turn this act into reality."Ariana shook her head firmly. "I'm sorry, but I can't do that. You're already doing me a huge favor by helping. Marriage is sacred, and when you find someone you truly love—" "But Ari, you're the one I love! I want to marry you!" Sam interrupted."Sam, you're still young..." Ariana smiled gently.Sam protested, "I'm not that young! You always use that excuse, but you're only five years older than me!"Before Ariana could respond, Dennis chimed in from the front seat, "There's an old saying—you can't force love. Sam, if you really care for her, win her heart properly and make her say yes to you. This isn't the way." "You sound like
Ariana smiled politely. "That really won't be necessary. Don't put yourself through that, Mr. Marshall. You're quite the catch, and I'm certainly not worthy. If you'll excuse me, they're waiting for me."With that, Ariana turned and headed downstairs, where Sam was leaning casually against the car, waiting for her. Even though he and Dennis knew each other, they did not get along well, so Sam stepped out of the car to wait.Being a handsome foreigner with striking features and bright blue eyes, Sam naturally drew admiring glances from passersby. He was used to the attention, but suddenly, his gaze fixed on someone watching him with unmistakable hostility.He quickly realized it was the same guy from the airport yesterday, who had tried to block their path but was completely ignored by Ariana. Sam met Spencer's gaze with calm confidence and the natural arrogance of someone who knew they had won. As far as he was concerned, Spencer was the defeated rival—someone who did not stand a
"That jerk..." Boa muttered under her breath before turning to Leo with a bright smile. "Leo, I'm going to treat you to something yummy!""Thank you, Aunt Boa," Leo replied with a blank face."Come on. Give me a smile," Boa cooed, pinching his cheek. "Oh, my goodness! You're just too cute!"Leo responded by burying his face in Ariana's shoulder. Jensen rushed to join them after finishing his surgery, making it a lively meal with five adults and one child. Leo only showed his bright smile when interacting with Ariana, maintaining his composed expression with everyone else.However, his stoic demeanor only encouraged Boa to tease him more, filling the dinner with laughter and joy. After that, Rowan arrived to pick up Boa, accompanied by Zane. By then, Leo was fighting to stay awake after his long flight and emotional reunion.He managed to open his eyes briefly to look at the two tall men before drifting off on Ariana's shoulder. Though the glimpse was quick, it was enough for
"Me, too!" Sienna exclaimed, and Ariana could not help but laugh at her precious son's perfect little face, now adorned with two lipstick marks.Even though Leo felt that he was too grown up to be carried, he had not seen Ariana in so long that he did not want to leave her arms. Just this once, he decided to indulge himself and enjoy the comfort of her embrace.As the group walked toward the exit, sharing laughs, Ariana suddenly stopped in her tracks. The others paused, confused."What's wrong? Why did you stop…" Boa's voice trailed off as she spotted the man standing ahead of them.It was Spencer, his eyes fixed intently on the child in Ariana's arms. Now, Boa understood why Ariana had been so confident that Spencer would not question Leo's parentage. With those bright blue eyes matching Sam's, there was no way Spencer would suspect Leo was his.Boa thought it was a brilliant plan, and she looked at Spencer smugly. On the other hand, Leo glanced at Spencer before resting obed