When Steve heard this, he first glanced at Jessica, who was seated to his left. Jessica appeared composed as she quietly began clearing the dishes.In a deep, measured tone, Steve replied, "About a month."Curiosity piqued, Jessica inquired, "Have the hotel arrangements been made? Where is it?"Steve delicately served a piece of meat from Jessica's favorite dish into her bowl before answering casually, "I'll be staying here."The three other diners at the table suddenly halted their chopstick movements. Jessica acted swiftly and objected, "There's no room for you to stay here."Steve lifted his gaze to meet hers, calmly asserting, "I stayed here last night."Jessica hesitated for a moment before retorting, "Ryan and I both live here. There's no room for you." She glanced at the homeowner, Rowan, and added, "I suppose you could sleep on the sofa."James, unable to contain himself any longer, interjected, "You can come stay at my place; it'll be more convenient."After a moment's though
*Tear into pieces*Flora's recent experiences have left her feeling quite disheartened. Following Rowan and David's divorce, Flora and David's wedding had been a topic of discussion, urged strongly by David's mother.David had insisted that the wedding had to take place promptly, fearing that Flora might become pregnant before they tied the knot, and he wanted to ensure she wouldn't be wronged.He met with her family on two occasions, and the preparations for the wedding, including the ceremony, banquet, and hotel arrangements, were proceeding smoothly. Yet, David, one of the main figures in this event, appeared somewhat disinterested.Initially, Flora had assumed his disinterest stemmed from his hectic work schedule. This was the explanation provided by David's mother when he failed to attend Flora's wedding dress fittings. She tried to console Flora by holding her hand and speaking sincerely."Flora, you must understand that David is the only son in our family. His cousin is still q
*Don’t drive me away*David's office remained unchanged, much like his own demeanor—deserted, tidy, and somewhat monotonous in its decor.A faint fragrance wafted in the air, a subtle scent that didn't overpower the senses, suggesting perhaps the cleaning staff had lightly sprayed something.As Flora entered, her previously twisted and angry expression had transformed into a sweet smile. She carefully unpacked the meals from the food box and arranged them neatly on the low coffee table. Then, she softly addressed David."David, come over and have something to eat before you dive back into work; otherwise, the food will get cold soon."David, who had only exchanged a few words with her upon her arrival, continued to focus on his tasks. Upon hearing her voice, he responded simply, "Yes," without lifting his head from his work.Flora's gaze lowered, concealing the anger that had momentarily flashed in her eyes. For a while, the only sounds in the room were the scratching of David's pen a
*Stay away from the city of London*"Rowan, someone is looking for you on the first floor," the call from the front desk interrupted Rowan's busy work in the hospital wardConfused, Rowan couldn't immediately think of anyone who would come to the clinic specifically to find her at this time. She bid her colleagues on duty a quick hello and took the elevator downstairs to the first floor.Arriving at the front desk, Rowan scanned the waiting area and, from a distance, spotted someone she wished she could avoid. Her initial instinct was to turn and leave.However, with few patients seeking advice at the moment, the reception staff were eager to assist. One of them raised her right hand and enthusiastically called out, "Rowan!" She then pointed to the person on the chair who had come to look for her.With her colleague's attention on her, Rowan couldn't escape the encounter. She reluctantly approached the waiting area, where Flora had already noticed her presence. Gracefully picking up h
You are hereFlora's primary concern was uncovering Rowan's intentions. She had extended such generous terms and approached the negotiation with a pleasant demeanor, all to ascertain whether Rowan had any intention of leaving. If Rowan had never considered relying on this child and the Thompson family for her livelihood, then why hadn't she accepted such favorable conditions?However, Rowan had different thoughts in mind. She had initially broached the idea of leaving London with David, but he hadn't responded at the time. Instead, he had summoned Flora to talk to her. Even people in complicated situations had their pride, and Rowan was no exception.Rowan responded coolly, "If this is what David wants, he should discuss it with me directly."Flora's expression darkened, her lips tightening as she spoke after a prolonged silence. "You're not willing to leave?"Rowan retorted without hesitation, "If you were in my shoes, would you want to leave? To quietly depart from the city where yo
The right opportunity James firmly declined, "I won't attend."Steve tried to persuade him, "It's just a birthday party. You can make a brief appearance and come back."James remained resolute, "The invitation is for the Williams family, not for me. I have no interest in business matters, and we've agreed on this long ago."Steve glanced at Ryan and then changed his approach, "Take her with you then. It's a great opportunity, with many influential business families in London. It could be a suitable occasion."James understood his brother's hint immediately, but he pretended ignorance and asked, "Opportunity for what?"Steve smirked, "Don't play dumb. You know what I mean. If you don't act now, what chances do you think you'll have with her once he makes a move?"James fell into contemplative silence. He didn't want to admit it, but he couldn't deny that Rowan's feelings for David were profound and sincere. If she were forced to choose between him and David, she would undoubtedly cho
The fitting incidentRowan, realizing the situation was becoming tense, decided to diffuse it with some humor. She stepped forward, extending a hand to the young woman with a friendly smile."I'm really sorry if there's been a misunderstanding. I didn't know this dress belonged to you. You have great taste; it's a beautiful dress, isn't it?"The young woman hesitated for a moment before shaking Rowan's hand cautiously, her expression softening."Well, yes, it is a beautiful dress. I just thought I'd come back for it, but I guess I was too late."Rowan, always ready to make amends, decided to offer a gesture of goodwill."How about this? You can have the dress. I didn't intend to buy it anyway. Consider it a gift from me."The young woman's eyes widened in surprise, and she glanced at Rowan, seemingly taken aback by her generosity."Are you sure?"Rowan nodded with a friendly smile, "Absolutely. No hard feelings, okay?"The young woman's expression transformed into a grateful smile. "
James was typically known for his gentle demeanor, both at work and in his personal life. He always preferred to handle conflicts with a soft and considerate approach. Rowan had trouble recalling any instance where he engaged in sarcastic exchanges or insults with others, which made the current situation all the more surprising. Standing in a clothing store, James found himself in an unusual predicament. A young woman, who appeared to be no older than 18, was adamantly refusing to give up a dress she desired. She issued a command to the store manager, who quickly rushed over. "Tell them to remove their skirts and hand them over to me!" the young woman demanded. The store manager glanced nervously at James and Rowan, sensing an uncomfortable tension in the air. James, to everyone's astonishment, wore an uncharacteristic expression, with a hint of disdain on his lips. It seemed as though he could dismantle the entire store with a single word. The store manager's headache, which had
Instantly, the air around David crackled with tension. He swiftly shed his suit, the fabric feeling heavy in his trembling as he handed it over to Richard, who felt like crying at the back of his boss—this was all his boss had been working for in the past few months: to have Miss Rowan to himself finally, without fear of Flora hurting her again. Just then, James' phone buzzed, interrupting the silence that engulfed the atmosphere. Seeing the caller, James picked up at once. "Hello, babe," James said into the phone, drawing curious glances from David and Richard. To them, only Rowan would receive such a nickname. Seeing their suspicious gazes, he switched the phone to loudspeaker. "Hi, Naomi, you can speak now," James invited. "Miss Rowan has been rushed to the hospital. She's unable to fly; she started having contractions before she entered the plane," Naomi informed them. Before James could reply, David snatched the phone from his hands. "Miss Naomi, this is her husband at the ho
The room was alive with happiness as Flora jubilated, knowing that in a few hours, every TV station and blogger would be buzzing about her wedding to David Thompson, the president of the Oregon group of companies."As the heiress of Seraphims Holding, I only deserve the best," Flora declared from where she lay on the bed, with Andrew planting kisses on her neck and along her jawline."You know I will compensate you handsomely. I panicked when I found out David had regained his memory but didn't want me anymore. I thought everything was over, after years of patiently waiting," Flora confessed, a smile playing on her lips."I've told you that you don't have any problems. Since you've opened up to me about your true feelings and that it's me you love, and only his money you desire, since you've promised that it's my child you'll carry in his house, then I don't have any issues. The wedding is set to proceed, and in a few hours, you'll be Mrs. Thompson officially, but inwardly, you'll be M
It had been a few days, and tension hung thick in the air as Steve returned to James's house to deliver his response. The silence that filled the room was deafening, each breath heavy with anticipation. Jessica, though she thought she was prepared for any outcome, couldn't help but rub her hands together nervously. Ryan, sensing the tension, rested his head on her lap, his instincts picking up on the palpable anxiety swirling around them. "So, brother, have you finally made your decision?" James asked, his tone harsh yet tinged with regret. In the past few days, he had come to realize that his emotions had clouded his judgment. He understood that everything Steve had done was out of love for him — Steve didn't want him to lose the love of his life, just as James had lost his. It was this realization that had prompted James to allow Steve to make his own decision, even if it meant James would have to bear the pain of parting with his brother, if only for a while. "Yes, kid brother,"
What?" David's father asked, surprised by his son's allegations. "Dad, answer me. Are you involved with her too?" David demanded. "No, I'm not. And I'm disappointed that you would think so little of your father," David's father said. "I don't care, Dad. If she knows something about you significant enough to trade for my safety, then it must be substantial, and I need to know about it today," David said defiantly "Sit down, and I will tell you everything," David's father said. Reluctantly, David slumped into the chair, his anger palpable, emanating from him like a dark cloud. "Firstly, I discovered the kind of person Flora was after you started seeing her. Knowing how much you love her compelled me to dig deeper. I didn't want you to end up with the wrong woman. After finding out that she was involved with different men, I decided to confront her myself instead of letting you do it. During our conversation, she confessed that her uncle had forced her into those situations and that
"What do you mean, David? It was the marriage certificate we both signed, isn't that what we both wanted back then? Just because you didn't have the memory doesn't change the fact that your mother is aware of it, and a mother can't lie," Flora's voice came over the phone, her tone laced with frustration and desperation. She wasn't even attempting to come to David's house, realizing she had nothing left to lose."Flora, even if it is true, I don't want this marriage anymore. We have to annul the certificate," David stated firmly, using a word he never wanted to utter."What? David, are you trying to use me and then discard me? We've been dating for almost seven years. Now you don't want me anymore, and you didn't consider the repercussions it will have on my family and me, on the company, on everyone who believed we would end up together... I won't force you, David, but think about the consequences. We are legally married starting next week. If we don't announce it publicly, I don't kn
Naomi could only hum softly as she listened to Rowan's teasing remarks. Bending down, she reached for the coffee cups placed in front of them, an order she had made for both of them. Savoring the warmth, she took a delicate sip before carefully placing the cup back on the table.Inwardly, Naomi grasped the subtle undertones of Rowan's words. Since meeting James, she felt a shift within herself, a desire to embody qualities that might earn his admiration. But could she confide in Rowan that the catalyst for her change was the very man who harbored feelings for her?"Miss Rowan, I can't say there's any love involved. Let's just say someone's critique nudged me towards self-improvement," Naomi replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. Rowan's gentle smile lingered, leaving Naomi to ponder if her response had hit the mark."You know, being challenged by someone and feeling compelled to better oneself because of them, well, it's akin to love. You might not realize it now, but soon enough
Before James exited the hospital, he had arranged to meet Naomi, only to hear the distressing news that she was banned from leaving the house. Naomi, a pivotal figure in her father's company, had inadvertently stirred up trouble by being seen at clubs, inviting scrutiny from shareholders and adding pressure to her father's plate. She was slated to marry into another wealthy family to enhance the company's stature. James, though conflicted, found himself driving toward Naomi's house despite his vow to stay away and avoid complicating matters for both families. The prospect of being desired by Naomi's father for his daughter weighed heavily on him, even as he questioned his own intentions. Arriving at the grand mansion, James couldn't help but admire the exquisite taste of Naomi's father. The meticulously landscaped gardens, the elegant architecture both inside and out, and the grandeur of the estate left James in awe, despite his familiarity with opulent surroundings. "It seems I'll
David's desperate calls echoed in the air, chasing after Rowan who seemed to be slipping away from him. The tears streaming down her face mirrored the storm of emotions raging within her. The weight of reality crashed upon her, a cruel revelation that left her heart shattered. The love she thought would one day be hers had been claimed, sealed, and signed on a marriage certificate.Her steps quickened, driven by a mix of anguish and fear. She wished she could stop, and gather herself, but the intensity of her emotions made it impossible to fake composure. The fear of David thinking she was running away from his happiness gnawed at her, yet the pain of witnessing the love of her life marrying someone else was unbearable.Lost in the labyrinth of her thoughts and the ache in her chest, Rowan's misstep jolted her back to reality. Her leg collided with an obstacle, threatening to send her crashing to the ground. Just as she teetered on the edge of falling, a strong hand encircled her, savi
Three agonizing days had crawled by since Rowan left David's house. The deafening silence hung heavy in her heart as she resisted the urge to reach out to him or answer his father's calls. Flora's mysterious behavior and her cousin's news about an award only added to the tumult of emotions swirling within her. The absence of David was a constant ache, the void left by his departure filled with memories that refused to fade. Today found Rowan grappling with the challenges of the IT department at the hospital, a temporary distraction from the emotional turmoil. As she navigated the hospital corridors, a man emerged from a ward—discharged after six months of battling mental illness triggered by a traumatic accident. His struggle mirrored Rowan's own internal conflict. The man, seemingly normal at times but haunted by bouts of lunacy, resonated with her. What gripped her most was the unwavering love poured onto him by his family, clinging to the hope of his eventual restoration, even in