The person who had spoken was an old butler working for the Dunn family in Aurous Hill.Helen had met him before when she was still young. Over the past two decades, the old butler had been taking care of the Dunn family’s old mansion in Aurous Hill. After that, Helen had married into the Schulz family. So, the both of them had never met again.Nevertheless, Helen recognized him at a glance, and she greeted him respectfully, “Uncle Walters! I hope that you have been well since we last met!”After she was done speaking, she hurriedly instructed her pair of children who were next to her, “Jaime, Sophie, hurry up and greet Grandpa Walters.”Jaime and Sophie hurriedly greeted him respectfully, “Hello, Grandpa Walters!”The old butler hurriedly bowed to thank her, and he felt very flattered as he said, “Miss Helen, I really did not expect you to remember me.”Helen smiled as she said, “Why wouldn’t I remember you? You used to be in charge of the mansion that was next to the prince’s m
At this time, Charlie was pushing his electric bike out of the main gate of the villa at Thompson First.Claire’s company’s Spring Festival Holiday had already ended, and she had already officially returned to work. Charlie’s father-in-law, Jacob, had also begun to reinvest and put all of his focus and attention into the affairs at the Calligraphy and Painting Association.Elaine, who was still on crutches, had made breakfast in the morning. After Jacob and Claire were done with breakfast, they drove their own BMWs to get on with their businesses. Charlie cleaned the house a little before he prepared to head out to buy some meat and eggs.Although the small vegetable garden at home could provide them with all the vegetables and fruits that most families needed, they would still have to buy their meat and eggs from the supermarket.Charlie rode his electric bike out, but he was not in a hurry to set off. Instead, he parked his electric bike at the side of the road along the Thompson
This was Charlie’s purpose in keeping Rosalie alive.He planned to send Rosalie back to Eastcliff when the time was right.Immediately afterward, he put his cell phone away. After that, he stepped on the accelerator of the electric bike, and the small machine made a buzzing sound as the electric bike started moving out.After leaving the Thompson First community, Charlie was turning his electric bike around as he prepared to go to Isaac’s hotel. At this time, he heard a familiar voice shouting behind him with a hint of nervousness, “Brother-in-Law!”Charlie subconsciously turned his head around, and he saw a familiar woman beckoning him from the sidewalk behind him.“Wendy?” Charlie was really surprised upon observing the woman carefully.It was not the first or second day since his family and Lady Wilson’s family had turned hostile against one another. For such a long time, the two families had been mutually destructive, just like water and fire.They would not greet each other
When she heard Charlie’s words, Wendy hurriedly nodded, and she choked up as she said seriously, “Brother-in-Law, you are right… now, I… I have already realized my own mistakes… I am no longer the arrogant, ignorant, and incompetent young lady who looked down on everyone else back then…”As she spoke, Wendy lowered the zipper of her down jacket slightly, revealing the blue uniform that she was wearing inside as she said, “Brother-in-Law, look! I have already found a job for myself now. I am currently working as a courtesy lady welcoming guests at the newly opened Pearl River Point community…”Charlie asked curiously, “Why are you working as a courtesy lady, welcoming guests? If I remember correctly, you graduated from university too. Wouldn’t it be better for you to look for any other job instead of working as a courtesy lady?”Wendy was extremely ashamed as she replied in a low voice, “Well… Brother-in-Law… to tell you the truth, when my father and elder brother were scheming again
As Charlie looked at Wendy, who was standing in front of him, he did not sympathize with her even though his impression of her had already changed slightly.After that, he said faintly, “Pearl River Point is not too far from here. If you take a taxi, you will be able to get there with the starting price.”Wendy hurriedly replied, “Brother-in-Law… I really wish that I could multiply the money that I have on hand now. Alas, I cannot even bear to take the bus, let alone hail a taxi…”As she spoke, Wendy pointed at the high heels she was wearing as she said, “I was going to walk all the way there so that I can save some money. However, I happened to see you passing by. So, I decided to muster up the courage to come forward and apologize to you. At the same time, I was thinking of asking you if you could just give me a ride there…”In fact, Wendy had a very good impression of Charlie now.Ever since the day before the New Year when many powerful and reputable figures in Aurous Hill had
“You don’t have a cell phone?!”Charlie could not believe his ears when he heard Wendy’s words.These days, even the aunties who set up stalls by the street would also own a smartphone. So, how was it possible for a young and fashionable girl like Wendy to not even own her own cell phone?! This was indeed a bit unbelievable.When Wendy saw the shocked look on Charlie’s face, she felt even more embarrassed. She stuttered as she explained, “Brother-in-Law, I… I… my cell phone had been previously… taken away by Donald’s men…”Wendy lowered her head in shame after she was done speaking.After saying those words, Wendy felt as though she had truly lost all of her face.The entire Wilson family was already living in poverty, and they had nowhere else to go.She could not even afford to get herself a cell phone. So, this was how poor and desolate they really were…As soon as Charlie heard her words, he understood the situation immediately.After Donald had surrendered and pledged his
Wendy hurriedly bowed again and said, “Brother-in-Law, have a safe journey. Pay attention to your safety on the road.”“Okay. I will leave now.”Charlie waved his hand before he stepped on the accelerator of his electric bike as he left in a hurry.Wendy was filled with emotions as she stared at Charlie’s back.At this moment, what she really hoped for the most was not how much money she could make by gaining the favor of a rich heir.Instead, she really hoped that she would be able to sit on the back of Charlie’s electric bike.This was because she felt that the back seat of his electric bike looked really happy, blessed, and peaceful.***Charlie rode his electric bike all the way to Isaac’s hotel.Isaac was already waiting outside the entrance in person.When he saw Charlie riding his electric bike over, he hurriedly stepped forward and said, “Oh, Young Master! It is truly not befitting for someone of your status to be riding this kind of electric bike anymore! Why didn’t
In fact, Rosalie had already closed the door before Charlie had had time to see Rosalie’s perfect figure and curves.At this time, Rosalie was feeling very embarrassed and impatient. She quickly grabbed a bathrobe before putting it on. After that, she was blushing as she ran back to open the door again.As she faced Charlie, Rosalie’s face was flushed red like the rosy dawn. She said shyly, “I am sorry, Mr. Wade. Just now, I… I opened the door too abruptly…”Although Rosalie was a cruel and vicious martial arts expert, she was still very innocent when it came to emotional feelings and matters. She had never even been tempted by the opposite sex before.Therefore, as she was facing Charlie, she did not look like a martial arts master at all because of the embarrassed look on her face.Charlie was also somewhat embarrassed at this time.Rosalie was just like the feisty young lady, Aurora. This was because both of them received professional training all year round. So, the both of t
However, to Jacob's shock, Elaine wasn't misled at all as she growled icily, "Why would I ask anyone else?! If there's someone I must question, it's Matilda! She's getting married, isn't she? Good! I will be there and ask her why she hooked up with my husband!"Jacob turned pale right then.Matilda's son and even some of their old classmates would be attending her wedding.If Elaine went, he would be exposed, and he wouldn't be able to stay in Aurous Hill out of shame!His nerves gnawing at him, Jacob could only plead, "Please, just trust me this once! Anything else aside, she's getting married, anyway—there's no way that I'd have anything to do with her! That alone should prove my innocence!"Elaine snorted. "If Matilda returned when I was arrested, it means she has been back for a while! And you're saying nothing happened since? Hell, even if she's married, it doesn't prove that she wasn't up to some hanky-panky with you! Maybe while I was arrested and refused a divorce when you
The driver was left dumbstruck—this wasn't how it was supposed to go.Still, he blurted, "C-Crashing into a Cullinan? I might end up dead instead…""Fine! Then let's change cars, and you crash into ours—how about that?!" Elaine promptly retorted before continuing, "Or we could just stand right in front of your car while you run into us! I just happen to have a death wish, but if you don't kill me now, I'll kill you! Don't think about getting away either—I know your car plate! I'll sell this car and use the money to put a bounty on your head! I don't care what happens to me now! I'll claw my nails into the devil's face even if he shows up!"The driver was actually quite experienced, but even he had yet to meet someone as ridiculous as Elaine.Barely able to keep his hands steady, he threw them up as he apologized, "I'm so sorry, ma'am—I just lost my cool. I'm merely a humble driver of a Honda Civic while you own a Rolls. Hell, I spent fifty bucks buying that red emblem from Amazon,
Elaine may have led a life as if she was above the rules, but beneath that tough exterior lay crippling insecurities and a horrific inferiority complex.She was always afraid of being belittled—but more than that, of being ostracized and betrayed.Over the years, the greatest source of her complexes could all be traced back to Matilda.After all, Matilda had been a star back in their school days. Because Elaine was a close friend of hers, many boys would get chummy with Elaine, but only because they were interested in Matilda.Being from a poor farmer's family, Elaine had been scorned plenty and therefore felt exceedingly inferior around Matilda.It was from that sense of inferiority that Elaine had inadvertently developed a one-sided rivalry against Matilda, and she believed her greatest triumph over Matilda in this life was the moment she had stolen Jacob from her.However, while Elaine presumed that she could hold that victory over Matilda's head, Lady Wilson had soured that v
Moreover, given Elaine's ridiculous temper, Jacob knew she would definitely go overboard and destroy him.He wouldn't even have a place to live at that point, and it would really be game over if she held a grudge and stormed the Calligraphy and Painting Association!Under such circumstances, he couldn't ask for a divorce—hell, he might even refuse a divorce if Elaine asked for one!However, that was when Elaine laughed coldly. "Oh, my… You're really not going to divorce me?""Come on—how long were we married?" Jacob quickly reasoned. "Getting divorced at our age? People would laugh at us."Elaine scoffed. "Now I'm curious… Matilda's quite old too, and she's a divorcee marrying again. Won't people laugh at her?""Technically, she's a widow—"Jacob blurted out, but soon turned pale, tensing up again not a second after he had just calmed down, asking gingerly, "W-Why would you suddenly mention her?'Elaine stopped pretending right then and snapped, "It's actually impressive that y
Horrified, Jacob promptly grasped the steering wheel and brought the Cullinan back under control while not hesitating to snap, "Are you crazy?! We're on the highway—that could have killed the both of us!"However, Elaine ignored him and seized the moment to open the armrest box, pulling out the large white envelope.As she opened it, she muttered, "So, it really was a wedding invitation… You really are a terrible friend, Jacob Wilson, hiding a wedding invitation like this! What's the point? Just look at that nervous face of yours—would I suspect you of having an affair with the bride-to-be?"She flipped open the card and was experienced enough to check the names first while disregarding the usual preamble. She wouldn't care about the venue or the time either, focusing solely on the professor who had somehow made Jacob very nervous.That was how Elaine found the names in less than a second: Yolden Hart and Matilda Hall.Matilda?!The name could well be knives stabbing Elaine in th
Jacob's brain blanked out, leaving only a dull hum as soon as Walker mentioned 'Professor Hall'.Already feeling nervous in the first place, he quickly said, "Okay, okay—I got it. Anyway, I'm hanging up if there's nothing else!"With that, he promptly pressed the button to hang up.Nonetheless, Elaine was soon asking in curiosity, "Who's Professor Hall?"If Jacob had any semblance of composure, he would have said 'a colleague at Senior University' as if it was perfectly natural, and the matter would have been forgotten.But the reality was that he didn't—in fact, he was the champion when it came to dropping the ball as a casual question from Elaine left him sweating all over his brow.Even as he slid nervous glances at her face, he stammered uncontrollably, "N-Nobody…"Elaine promptly noticed his strange reaction and frowned. "I'm talking about Professor Hall. What do you mean, nobody? Who are they? And what's this about an invitation? Inviting you for what?"Seeing that he was
Jacob had really had too much to drink and couldn't remember the later parts of what had happened last night—even how he had gotten home was a blur.Naturally, he also forgot that Walker had brought Matilda's wedding invitation, and therefore didn't hesitate to answer the in-car answer button.Over the phone, Walker was positively fawning as he asked, "Mr. Wilson? It's Walker. Why didn't you come in today? Had too much to drink last night?""Uh-huh," Jacob grunted, lethargic. "I did—my head still hurts now… Anyway, what's up? Trouble at the association?""No, of course not," Walker quickly said. "I was just worried you're still hungover, so I called to ask. If you need a driver or anything, you just need to ask!"Then, before Jacob could answer, he continued, "By the way, my wife is somewhat knowledgable in Oskian medicine, and she has recipes for brews that cure hangovers and nourish the liver. I'm sure you'll need the latter since you're always drinking at social events, so I as
Fortunately, Elaine and Jacob's bickering never escalated.Even though Elaine was winning, Jacob found it tolerable.After Jacob finished his lunch and cleaned up, he never looked up as he said, "Charlie sent a text, saying Claire's flight would touch down earlier at three. We will leave at two."Elaine grumbled. "Why leave so early? She's coming back from abroad, and there'd be checkpoints she has to clear—she'd be lucky if she could leave by half past three. I'm sleeping a few winks now, and we'll leave at half past two."As she left the dining room, she didn't even look back as she said, "Clean up for me too."Jacob had a million complaints but said nothing as he kept his head down, throwing Elaine's lunchbox in the trash can as well.With Elaine gone, he sat on the couch as her hangover slowly cleared while his mood soured with the lack of alcohol.In the end, the pleasure of being fawned over at the Diamond Room was but temporary—the pain of his beloved leaving with someone
Vera kept her plan to investigate the identity of the abbess deep in her mind and told Charlie nothing.Instead, she smiled as she said, "It seems that it's both yours and Ms. Ito's good fortune that she has attained enlightenment. You've never had anyone who could attain enlightenment and master Reiki at the same time, so Ms. Ito will definitely be a great help to you in the future."Charlie chuckled and said calmly, "I'm not hoping for her to help. I'm simply happy for her with her enlightenment and excited to have another comrade in my solo ventures into the dark forests."Vera nodded in understanding, and she murmured emotionally, "I've lived for so long, and it's only when I opened my heart to you that I felt that sensation you described."There was a flicker of wistfulness in her eyes.She really did not expect to attain enlightenment before meeting Charlie.Years ago, she thought that she would eventually avenge her father.Now, she no longer hoped to murder Fleur Griffi