What Mark said was reasonable. Yvette could not find fault with him. “Really?” “Yeah,” Mark replied and went upstairs to get changed. Now there were only Yvette and Summer in the living room. Just when Yvette was about to speak, a series of footsteps was heard before Grace and Charlie came through the door. “Happy New Year, Ms. Yvette. It has been so long yet you still look as pretty as ever.” Charlie’s charming eyes narrowed into slits as he smiled. No one disliked compliments. Yvette was no exception. She broke into a bright smile. “You sweet-talker.” While speaking, Yvette cast her eyes on Grace, looking at her up and down. “This is…” Grace was wearing fur and a short skirt with heavy makeup, her black wavy hair cascading down her shoulders. “Nice to meet you. I am a friend of Summer’s. I have always wanted to meet you because I have heard from Summer that you are young and beautiful,” Grace said politely. Grace was good with people. She knew what to say and when to
Summer quickly waved her hand. “Why don't you guys just play with me.” Grace tugged at her best friend’s sleeve. “What are you afraid of? Isn’t your husband sitting behind you? He has the money. Am I right, Mark?” Mark put his hands on Summer’s shoulders to sit her back down. “Of course.” “Look, your husband throws his support behind you. What more are you worried about?” Summer’s face was smitten upon hearing what Grace said. She had never called Mark as her husband. Her heart pounded uncontrollably when she heard that intimate address, even if it was someone else who said it. On the contrary, Raine’s hands on her sides pinched her thighs as she reflexively looked at Mark. There was a gentle smile on Mark’s good-looking face. But he was looking at Summer and teaching her how to play poker. Yvette was sitting on the settee, throwing glances at the poker table occasionally. Charlie bragged and blustered to demolish the other three right from the beginning. Mark shot
“I don’t know how long this atmosphere between them will last, sadly.” Summer sighed helplessly. Grace also shrugged helplessly upon hearing that. “Who knows? It will probably take a long time. It hurts her deeply, and there is nothing we can do except to comfort her.” The two sat there chatting for a long time. When Charlie came downstairs, Grace left with him. Summer saw them out. It was not until their car disappeared from her sight that she came back into the Valentine mansion. As she reached the landing of the stairs, Yvette suddenly called out to her. She stopped and spun around with a smile. “What is it, Mom?” “What does your friend do for a living?” Yvette asked with her legs crossed. “She is a public relations manager,” Summer said, hiding nothing from her. “Since she is a public relations manager, she should know proper behavior and etiquette. So why did she speak so rudely?” Yvette’s delicate willow brow turned upward. “As the saying goes, a person is judged
The next day It was 8:00 am when Summer woke up. The quilt beside her was cold, which meant Mark had been away for quite a while. She got out of bed and came into the living room, where Yvette and Raine were busy with something. There were many birthday presents delivered to the Valentine mansion, and they kept coming. There was no telling what was inside those boxes. But by the looks of the beautiful packaging, these presents were all expensive. Summer quickly walked over to offer to help. Yvette asked, “Have you discussed with Mark last night on how to celebrate his birthday?” Raine’s hands suddenly paused as she listened in to their conversation. “I did not discuss it with him because I was thinking of giving him a surprise. After all, it is his birthday. He said he will be available after seven in the evening. So I want to discuss with you and Aunt about the plan,” Summer said. At first, she was thinking of creating an element of surprise. But judging by the number o
Since Yvette was not there with her, she could choose whatever she liked. Besides, her favorite had always been shirts. When you see the man who you love wearing the shirt that you hand-picked for him, the sense of satisfaction and possession is beyond words. But she could not choose that way if Yvette was here. “Actually, in these recent times, wallets have been the best-selling item. It is simple yet presentable. It is definitely an excellent choice.” The salesgirl was enthusiastic as she walked around the counter, took out a wallet, and showed it to Raine. “You may consider this model, young lady.” The luster of the leather was just right. It was not too over-the-top, nor did it look dull. The flower-branch pattern added a noble and elegant touch to the wallet, which was highly presentable. Raine ran her fingers across the wallet. The leather felt soft and looked good. “You won’t go wrong with this wallet. Before you came, a lady bought one of these wallets, too.” “Rea
Charlie wailed as he placed his hands upon his chest in an exaggerated fashion. “Am I an embarrassment to you now? I can give all the fun that women can provide you with. Do you want to try, Mark?” Mark looked in disgust at Charlie, who winked at him flirtatiously, his eyebrows twitching. “You are disgusting.” “I am disgusting? How am I disgusting to you? I might not have what women have, but I have everything that women do not. Don’t you want to try?” What were those embarrassed and disgusted looks on his face about? Charlie did that deliberately. The more Mark found him disgusting, the more excited he would be and tried to push his luck. He lay on the conference table with his legs crossed in a charming and sultry posture. “Look at my body and face. Aren’t they great? Don’t you want me?” “I think you may find yourself a second job as a hustler. By the way, are you sure you don’t need me to call Grace to come over?” Charlie gave a nervous cough upon hearing that, and then
The three of them had been sitting there waiting. It was not until 7:10 pm when Mark finally appeared at the restaurant entrance.He first glanced with his eyes slightly narrowed at Summer, then at the other three, before he took his seat.“Did your dad call you?” Yvette still did not give up.Jazz felt a headache. ‘Can’t she stop it even for a while?’“No, he should be very busy at this time,” Mark said faintly.“However busy he is, he should call you on your birthday. You are his son. But he did not even bother to call!”Raine pulled at Yvette’s sleeve to remind her. “It is Mark’s birthday today, Yvette.”Only then did she restrain herself, taking a deep breath to regulate her breathing.Jazz took out a pen and handed it over to Mark. “Here you go, Mark. Happy birthday. It might not be an expensive brand, but I bought it with my money.”After working part-time at the gas station for some time, he bought something with his hard-earned money.“Thank you.” Mark’s lips turned u
Summer looked away when his stare made her felt awkward. “But something I didn’t forget.”“What?” Mark was still staring at her, his eyes sullen.She took out the good-luck charm she got from the astrologist from the pocket of her coat. “I got this good luck charm from an astrologist. Give me your hand.”Mark extended his hand in front of her and observed her every move.Her fingers were soft, but felt cold. She lowered her head and tied the good luck charm to this wrist matter-of-factly. “It really suits you.”Mark raised his long eyebrows as he stared at the dark red mahogany bracelet on his wrist, doubting if this thing really suited him.Summer was observing him. Seeing the look on his face, she said, “Take it down if you don’t like it.”Jazz heard that and nodded in excitement. “I like it. Take it down and give it to me, Mark.”“It actually looks pretty good.” The longer he looked at the dark red mahogany bracelet, the more pleasing to the eye it became. Not half bad at al