Larissa was used to seeing young girls like Milly. If this were before, she would have put an end to what Milly was thinking. But Larissa really liked Milly, so she did not expose Milly's feelings. She even did her best to give Milly the answers she wanted. "He's like a brother to me. If he had a girlfriend, she may not get jealous over this sort of thing."Milly relaxed."Your cousin doesn't have a girlfriend?!" She widened her eyes."He's so handsome! How can he not have a girlfriend?! You can't be lying to me, right?"Larissa found it odd as well. With how Lewis looked, it was weird for him not to have a girlfriend. She could only think of one explanation."Maybe it's because he's so busy with work. That's why he doesn't have time to get a girlfriend.""What does your cousin do? Why would he be so busy that he can't even get a girlfriend?" Milly straightened up at once. Her face was super serious like she was discussing a very philosophical problem with Larissa."He h
Kevan had been distracted for the whole day. Even during his meeting, he would pick up his phone and glance at it.Larissa never looked for him.He could not tell what he was feeling. He wished Larissa would take the initiative to talk to him. Alas, he was also afraid that she would say things that he did not want to hear.He had seen how cold she was to him during these two days—so much so that it could be counted as scorn.His gamble this time still achieved results that were the exact opposite of what he wanted. But he did not regret it. Aster's parentage would have to be brought up at some point. It was better to solve it early than drag it all out.He saw the news from his subordinate. Larissa and Lewis had gone to the cemetery. Larissa and Lewis had gone back to the hotel. Lewis had canceled tonight's flight tickets …Kevan was a little happy. He could not help but wonder if Larissa's choice to stay was because of him.Larissa's WhatsApp message was rather sudden.He ha
Larissa had almost never seen Kevan's face turn red unless they were in bed.At that time, it was because of his excitement. He gripped her waist pretty hard during the act while spewing the most embarrassing things ever at times.Larissa shamefully realized that she was getting excited.Kevan did not notice what she was thinking. When he was coughing, he was wondering how exactly he was supposed to answer the question in a way that would not make her angry."I didn't mean to purposely let people follow you," he said."Huh?" Larissa was stunned. It was after that that she realized that he had actually sent people to keep an eye on her.But she seemed to feel nothing for this sort of thing anymore.After that car accident, there were many people around her who were meant to protect her. She could not tell which were from Gary and which were from Kevan. Although her privacy had been violated, she knew that they all just wanted her to be okay."That's not the point." Larissa adjus
"I …" Larissa bit her lip. She looked up at Kevan in a pitiful manner, her voice as whiny as a newborn kitten. "I don't feel good."The flush on her face never disappeared. The heat from her body spread to Kevan's skin from Larissa's palm.Kevan's feigned calmness shattered at once.He retreated to her side and felt her forehead with his free hand. The burning heat made him frown. "Why is your fever still so high?"Larissa shook her head. "I don't know. I got injections and took medicine."But her temperature kept shifting. It would go down temporarily because of the medicine, but soon it would go up again."Hospital, now." Kevan decided at once. Such symptoms did not seem like a regular cold.Larissa used his hand to pull herself up."Can you walk?" Kevan stared at her still-not-fully recovered legs."Yes." Larissa took one step and fell into Kevan's arms in the next second.Kevan's arms wrapped around her waist in time, and he held her tightly."Yes?" He raised a mocking e
"Bruh, this girl's so fake! What kind of illness did she get that she needed her boyfriend to carry her all the way? Does she think she's a princess or something?"…Larissa buried her face deeper into Kevan's neck.Kevan was super tensed up when he felt her hot breath against his neck. His whole body was so stiff that he gradually slowed down in order to cover up how unnatural he was at the moment.When they finally entered the doctor's office, Larissa and Kevan's awkward state was finally lessened.The doctor was a slightly elderly head doctor. He was probably used to youngsters being all clingy with each other, so he was rather chill about it all, and he did not show any scorn."Go take a blood test." The doctor wrote a prescription at once when he heard what Kevan said about the symptoms. "Once you get the results, come and find me again."The blood test venue was on the same floor.Kevan still did not put Larissa down. Larissa knew that Kevan was a stubborn idiot, so she g
Larissa had trended more than once when she was in conflict with the Hardy family. She trended again when she got knocked down by Lana's car.Both times they had caused quite the commotion then. So, it was not strange to end up on the trending list. But she had not done anything over these two days. Thus, Larissa could not for the life of her figure out why she was trending now.Lewis helped her understand. He showed her his phone. There were a series of familiar hashtags on the trending list.1. #Kevan&MysteriousLady2. #BisexualKevan3. #KevanNewLove4. #Larissa7. #Microworks10. #GoldenMediatorsRoom11. #Zero12. #Lana13. #CosmicEntertainmentLarissa tapped into the first hashtag. The most viral tweet came from an account called "Rich Secrets," and it went like this:"Microworks Corporations' Kevan Rogers seems to be bisexual!"Earlier, someone in the industry said that Mr. Rogers liked men, but someone snapped an intimate picture of him with a woman in the hospital.
Larissa read all kinds of comments on the Internet.She and Kevan were not in that kind of relationship like the public thought. Thus, Larissa could still act like an outsider looking in when the netizens began to argue. She could observe the mess this way. But the debates grew worse. Almost everyone was wondering if she was worthy to be with Kevan. Then, Larissa's calm began to falter. Rage and embarrassment began to grow in her.Lewis could see Larissa's depression. He could naturally see the cruel comments on the Internet too. Unlike Larissa, he was not the type to swallow all his grief and pain. Once he left the hotel room, Lewis made a call. Half an hour later, the trending hashtags were all taken down. Any related tweets were deleted too, and no trace of them could be found.…Larissa still had one more infusion.Once the Internet fever died down, Lewis accompanied Larissa to the hospital.Larissa wore a mask. So, she did not look different from the other patients w
Janine Levange, who Larissa had not seen in a very long time, was wearing the uniform of the hotel's janitor. She was holding a mop. There was a part of the floor that was still wet in front of Larissa's room door.Janine's back was more hunched than ever. She was also skinnier."Lari!" Janine forced out a flattering smile that Larissa had never even seen from her before. Janine's wrinkles deepened with that act. She threw down the mop and rushed toward Larissa. The speed at which she walked did not match her aged appearance.Larissa gasped as she backed away, her right hand gripping Lewis' arm on instinct.Lewis had only seen pictures of Larissa's former mother-in-law on the informational documents. Although the woman in the picture had not taken great care of herself, she was still so much younger than Janine was now. That was why he did not recognize her at first.Larissa's fear made Lewis more alert. He stepped in front of her to separate her from that weird "janitor
Wendy said, "You have to walk faster than this, Larissa! It's almost time! Your husband can't wait!""Alright!" Larissa quickly gathered up her skirts and followed her.The sun was out.Its golden rays shone softly on the red carpet through the rose petals.Larissa suppressed her desire to stay here for a little while longer and quickly walked toward the end.It was the door to the glass hall.Gary held Aster's hand and his cane in the other, waiting for her at the entrance.When he saw her, Aster immediately let go of Gary's hand and rushed toward her. "You're so pretty today, Mommy!"Larissa patted his head and smiled gently. "Thank you."Aster was her flower boy. Like Gary, he was wearing a tuxedo with a little bowtie.He was holding a basket that was proportionate to his body. In it were rose petals of various colors and shapes.The music suddenly began playing.Gary walked up to her and extended his arm toward her. "Let's go."He looked at her with a smile, his eyes g
Gary and Lewis left Bartham after two days.Blue Star did not give them time off. They couldn't stay for long.Larissa's holidays were coming to an end as well. Half of the time, she was in the Rogers' villa.Because of the pandemic, most of the shops weren't open yet. She slept and ate at home most of the time and accompanied her family. It was quite nice.After the holidays, Kevan and Larissa went back to work.Aster was sent to the kindergarten that he'd been to before. Violet was the one who drove him to and fro.In fact, in order to better take care of him, the parents moved out of Rogers' villa and bought a house in Kevan and Larissa's neighborhood.The days passed in the blink of an eye.Blue Star's company in Bartham was quickly built. Lewis sent over a few loyal and trained employees to hold the fort with Larissa and hired people according to the company's needs. The company was soon on the right track, and the headquarters' work was moved over.Larissa grew busier an
Violet had set aside Larissa's breakfast for her.Larissa ate with reddened cheeks. Kevan and Aster, who had been waiting for her, got up at the same time. Violet brought out a boxful of pie from the kitchen."Don't forget this." She put the box in Kevan's hands."Alright. Thanks, Mom." Kevan looked at Larissa and asked, "Can we go now?"Larissa wanted to ignore him, but in front of Violet, she couldn't express her emotions right now."Yes," she replied, pulling Aster toward her. She said goodbye to Violet and strode out the door.Kevan smiled in slight annoyance and followed suit.…Kevan had told Aster beforehand that they were going to see Great-Grandpa. Thus, all of Aster's questions on the way there revolved around him."Why is great-grandpa called 'Great-Grandpa'?""Is he Grandpa's dad?""Is Great-Grandpa fierce?""If he's dead, how is he going to eat the pie?"…Kevan patiently answered all of his questions.Meanwhile, Larissa looked out the window silently.Keva
Since Larissa had gone downstairs alone, it was natural to expect a few questions."Where's Kevan? Why isn't he coming down with you?""Where's Daddy? He said he would launch fireworks with me."Larissa walked over calmly and made up an excuse. "He's tired, so he showered and slept."The older people did not doubt her. Only Lewis stared at her thoughtfully."Oh … Why did Daddy sleep so early?" Aster pouted in disappointment."You can get him to launch fireworks with you tomorrow. It'll be the same." Larissa patted his head, keeping a calm expression on her face.Anthony and Violet gave the gifts they'd prepared to Larissa and Aster.Violet looked at them, tears falling down her cheeks."I have no regrets now," she said."Thank you, Mom." Larissa gave her a big hug.Violet was stunned, and she cried harder."Good girl." She hugged Larissa back, smiling widely.After Anthony and Violet, Gary and Lewis gave them their gifts. However, they were calm. Aster was so happy that he
"Happy Reunion Day!"For some reason, Larissa's eyes became a little moist. Her voice even sounded a bit choked up."What's wrong?" Kevan nervously held her face, urging her to meet his gaze. "Didn't you like the fireworks just now?"She shook her head. "No, I really liked them!""Then, why are you crying?" Kevan couldn't stand seeing her cry; it tugged at his heart."I'm just very moved."She buried her face in his chest, speaking emotionally, "Welcoming the big family reunion dinner with the person you love is wonderful."The corners of Kevan's mouth gradually curved up as he heard what she said.The hand around her waist tightened inch by inch."I love you too, Lari."He lowered his head and planted a kiss on the top of her head.She hurriedly pushed him away as she sensed his body's response. But she couldn't move him much."They're still waiting for us downstairs!" she reminded him.Lewis knew she was awake, and the fireworks were already over. If they stayed he
It was a rare occasion to have the entire extended family gathered together like this for the big family reunion dinner. In the evening, everyone was in high spirits, having enjoyed a bit of alcohol. Violet took advantage of the festive atmosphere and insisted that Gary and Lewis stay.Since Larissa woke up early after a day without proper rest, she was already feeling quite sleepy even though the reunion dinner TV celebration had just begun.Violet was understanding and told her to go to bed.Larissa tried to muster her energy to stay up."No, I'll at least wait until after midnight."She wasn't someone who adhered to rituals or traditions.In previous years, she wouldn't have stayed up late specifically to welcome the big family reunion dinner day.But this year was different.She had the companionship of her family.She was no longer a drifting, rootless plant in a foreign land.Kevan furrowed his brows slightly and gave her a gentle push."You should get some sleep.
Larissa recalled that there was indeed such an incident.However, Kevan's excuse to her was that he needed to go to Westonia to handle matters concerning Edmund."Kevan knows how the customs work better than you! You're not even married. Yet, you're already taking his side!"Gary scoffed.His displeasure was quite obvious.Larissa chuckled awkwardly, then decided to come clean and reveal the whole truth. "Well, the truth is, Kevan and I never actually got divorced. I married him over six years ago."Gary hadn't heard this from Kevan.So, his emotions seemed conflicted upon first hearing that. He clutched his chest. It was as if he were experiencing some discomfort.Larissa and Lewis quickly approached him, asking with concern, "What's wrong? Are you okay?"In a sudden change of demeanor, Gary used his other hand to playfully tap Larissa's forehead.His expression instantly returned to normal. However, the tap was quite forceful, causing Larissa to wince in pain."If yo
Larissa had to pick up Gary and Lewis early tomorrow morning. So, after having dinner, she returned to her room to freshen up and get ready for bed. As she lay down on the bed, she found herself tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep no matter what she did.Kevan had just managed to put Aster to sleep before coming into the room. He noticed that the lights were still on.He furrowed his brow and asked, "Why haven't you fallen asleep yet?"Larissa lifted the blanket and sat up abruptly. "I'm feeling very anxious right now," she admitted.Her hair was in disarray.There was a troubled expression on her face."Anxious about what?" Kevan inquired."Well, my dad is coming over tomorrow. What if he doesn't get along with your parents?" The mere thought of that possibility gave her a headache."Uncle Gary is a reasonable person. He won't easily give anyone a hard time," Kevan defended Gary.His words brought a smile to Larissa's face. "Are you saying he hasn't been gi
"Alright, then. We shall head out." Larissa gathered her belongings and pulled Kevan toward the exit."I'll come pick you up tomorrow morning. It's almost the big family reunion dinner day. "So, it's hard to find a cab on the road. You might even find yourself waiting for half a day without coming across an empty cab."Gary didn't refuse. Instead, he requested, "Then, you come alone tomorrow."Her steps hesitated a moment, and she sighed inwardly. Gary really hadn't changed."Alright," she agreed.…As soon as they closed the door, Larissa began complaining to Kevan, "I thought my dad had really come around! Turns out, he still has reservations about you!"Kevan tightened his grip on her hand and smiled."Take it slow; there has to be a gradual process."He didn't expect Gary to change his attitude overnight. But as long as things were moving in a positive direction, he was content.She shrugged upon hearing that."Well, it's not me who's being wronged here; it's y