"I'll stay here and take good care of Miss Adams," Eagle assured Irene. "You have nothing to worry about."Irene was certainly assured with Eagle around.Meanwhile, she still had not called Isaac as she was heading home to surprise him. It was daytime when she arrived at Franconia due to the time difference, and took a cab home from the airport.She checked her wristwatch to see if he would be at home, and decided that he would still be home.She could not help feeling thrilled at the thought of seeing him again, her drowsiness fading just then as she was eager to get home sooner to see him and their children.She looked out at the scenery. Unlike Zidonia's green zones, most of the area was urbanized, but the buildings themselves made for great scenery too, if different. She alighted once her cab arrived outside the castle, and headed inside.Pierre was the first to see her, and he appeared surprised. "Ma'am…"Irene smiled at him and asked, "Has he left for work?""He just
Irene's second call to Isaac was not answered either, and she stared at her phone, speechless.Was he really upset with her? And her surprise was pointless?She had rushed home to surprise him… but forget not being home, he had to be unreachable even on the phone.Sheryl was staring at her just then. "Why? You can't reach him?"Irene simply smiled. "He might be on the plane by now. We won't reach him."Sheryl saw through her immediately anyway. "That's not what it looks like to me. Why don't you try using the house phone?"Irene simply scooped Tommy up in her arms. "Oh, he's definitely on the plane."There was no way she would use the house phone. If Isaac did answer, it just proved that Isaac didn't want to answer her calls. In that case, she would be embarrassing herself in front of her mother!"I've been away from home for so long, I missed the kids. Take the day off, Mom! I'll take care of them."Sheryl stared at her for a while, and eventually sighed. "It's your busin
Irene simply smiled while Zachary was left seething. "I'm not talking to you. All you people ever do is bully me."He strode off, but he had not walked more than a few paces when he stopped and turned since Irene was not stopping him. "Aren't you going to sweet talk me? Are you actually my friend?" Irene simply remained where she was. "Sweet-talk you?"Right now, she was at a loss of how to sweet-talk Isaac—did she even have time for Zachary?"Sweet-talk yourself. I'm busy," she said bluntly.Zachary was left speechless. "You people have no conscience and don't care about me. Fine! Playtime is over—I'm taking my daughter home.""See you," Irene said without even looking his way.Zachary was left speechless again, but he soon returned and sat beside her. "I refuse to leave just because you want me to."Irene simply got up and left him alone to play with her children, though Zachary did not seem upset and simply watched quietly.After a long while, Mrs. Watson arrived outside w
Zachary shot James a look. "The missus is strict, huh?"James was not about to take the bait. "You don't even have one to be strict with you."Zachary shut up right then—he had to be upset again! Since he could not fight back, he just had to hide!If he snapped at James, James had his wife to back him up, and he alone would never win against two.Picking up the wine bottle and pouring it for Irene, Zachary said, "Let's drink a little since Isaac isn't around." Irene frowned. "Don't mention him.""Who?" Zachary asked despite knowing the answer, and he chuckled as Irene shot him a glare.Even if Irene had a husband, right now, she was alone like him—having a kindred spirit certainly made it feel a lot less lonely.Since he was not the most tragic person around… did that mean she was the same as him?"If I recall, you're bad with liquor. One drink, and that's all," Zachary said, but he poured her a full glass, clearly trying to get her drunk.As Irene rolled her eyes, Zachary
Isaac paused at the door before walking up to the bed.He could smell the faint scent of alcohol even though Irene did not drink that much. He frowned. "Were you drinking?"Irene sat up and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her face against his abdomen. "Yeah, a little," she purred, half-asleep as she looked up with a dizzy gaze. "Are you upset with me?"Isaac certainly had been at first—he would never stop her from helping a friend, but should she not think of family too? Did she not miss them after being gone for so long?Did family not matter to her?Still, he was surprised to receive a call from Pierre that she came home out of the blue.He was quite curious as to why she would suddenly return out of the blue, but he canceled his business trip anyway. Still, he did not turn around right away, instead heading to his office and arranging for Stan to represent him on the business trip.While he tended to his other work, he never quite calmed down, since he felt
Isaac grinned and tugged at her hair. "You weren't like that last night.""Stop it and get out of bed right now." Irene shoved him, grimacing. "Zachary is definitely going to tease me—he tried to get me to drink last night to loosen my tongue, so I have to be careful too. I have no idea what tricks he would play today.""I could just chase him away if you think he's a bother," Isaac said.Irene gaped in disbelief. "Really?""Nope," Isaac said. He then pulled off the blanket and got out of bed before picking up a bathrobe nearby and heading straight into the bathroom.Irene scratched her head and got out of bed to put her clothes on.While she could hear splashing as Isaac took a shower, she brushed her teeth and washed up before heading downstairs—the sink was separate from the shower area, after all.Sheryl left very early with the children, with a chauffeur and bodyguards escorting them.She would only return with Baby in the afternoon after they had toddler class, while Isaac
Isaac smiled at Irene but did not answer.Irene put down her fork right then. "Fine. You're not going outside today."Although her marriage with Isaac was going steady, there were times she had to play along too.She stared at the man before her, who was in the prime of his life and brimming with vigor. And there certainly was no shortage of attractive ladies in this country, not to mention her own mother's tumultuous marriage… She got up from the table and walked around to him, sitting on his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck as she purred, "Stay home today with me.""I'm just teasing you," Isaac replied, putting an arm around her waist. "I won't have time even if you asked—but I'll get home soon."Irene looked him straight in the eye. "Is it really work or are you seeing a pretty face?"Isaac smiled as he pinched her cheek. "You're really lacking confidence, huh?"That was not the case, but a man's ego should be stroked—if she was unmoved, he would definitely think t
Zachary was chuckling but he did not appear embarrassed.Irene, however, was not humoring him. "Why were you following me?""How was I following you?" Zachary argued. "You don't own this road. I can use it just like you.""Weren't you going sightseeing with Jean? What are you doing here? You took one of the cars too.""We did. We just didn't go that far."Irene was left speechless and asked grumpily, "So? What do you want?""Nothing," Zachary said. "Just taking a stroll, killing time."Irene ignored that and strode off to try to shake him off.Zachary, however, clung to her like a wad of gum. "It's dangerous going alone. Why don't I come with you?""Nope." Irene refused right then. "Keep following me, and I'll tell Isaac you're bothering me."Zachary pouted. "Don't we go way back?"Irene laughed coolly. "You're affecting my mood by following me around. Or should I thank you for that?""By the way, why are you alone? Where's Isaac? I mean, is he really working now that you'r
Soon after the wedding, Mr. Fowler proposed for Stan to work at his company to get used to the work over there.He was worried as he did not have much time left, and it would not do if he was gone before the proper arrangements were made.Still, Stan returned to Franconia with Isaac and his family, sorting out things at work and finishing every task he had on hand.While Isaac used to have a lot of free time with Stan around, he was just slightly busier after Stan left. After all, no company should operate in a way that losing a single person would stall all their operations.And after a week, Stan sorted out all the remaining tasks he had in Franconia and returned to Zidonia to start work at the Fowlers' family business.While Stan had property in Zidonia too, he moved into the Fowlers' mansion, but not as a live-in son-in-law. He was simply aware of Mr. Fowler's illness, and Rea wanted to spend more time with her parents.And as the son-in-law, he was obliged to do that much.
Despite feeling wistful, Mr. Fowler eventually passed Rea's hand to Stan. "I hope you will both cherish each other from now on."Rea told him, "We will."Thereafter, it was the usual proceedings of a wedding, with exchange of rings and vows, the wedding speech, and the luncheon!Though everything went smoothly, Mrs. Fowler could not help shedding tears.She was pleased that her daughter was finally getting married, especially since she was looking forward to this.But now that Rea really did marry, she was worried that her life might get difficult and unhappy.Such was the worrisome nature of mothers.-Later, Stan led Rea to Isaac's table.They were all acquainted, but Stan introduced everyone once again to reacquaint them with Rea.After all, she was no longer Zachary's friend's cousin now, but Stan's wife.Erin was grinning from ear to ear. "Congratulations.""Thank you." Rea smiled in return."Congrats," Baby said, imitating the adults.Rea reached out to stroke his c
Zachary said, "I heard you sealed the deal with Rea Fowler, and her family is preparing for your wedding."Stan smiled. "I'm the look of success—getting a girl couldn't be simpler. See? I'm getting married already.""Well, I guess we're all taken now," Erin said.Tommy poked his head up just then. "Congratulations, Uncle Stan.""Thank you." Stan chuckled, patting his head."Also, I heard that you're marrying into the Fowler family?" Zachary asked.Everyone turned to stare at Stan in shock, but it was understandable.Stan was not that modest that he would have to go that far—he had money and was successful enough to afford a wife.Still, Zachary—who knew the Fowlers—suggested, "To be fair, they do need someone to take care of the family business…"-Either way, it meant that Irene's family would be delaying their return trip to Franconia.After all, none of them had expected to attend Stan's wedding so soon after Zachary's.Stan himself did not expect that either, as he had
"What's the problem? We've already slept together," Rea said as she put her clothes on.She frowned as Stan was still on the bed and not moving. "What, are you going to stay in my bed forever?""What am I supposed to wear?" Stan shrugged. "You haven't brought my clothes here.""I'll get it for you."Rea remembered his suitcase then and hurried downstairs to bring it up."Wear whatever you like. I'll be waiting downstairs," she said and hurried away.Stan got out of bed and put on a suit—it was only right to dress formally when it came to discussing marriage.After cleaning up and heading downstairs, he found Rea sandwiched by her parents.Stan had no idea if she had already mentioned it, but both Mr. and Mrs. Fowler were both staring at him, leaving him further tense.Clearing his throat, Stan began, "Excuse me, but—""Yes, we agree to you marrying our daughter.""You mean marrying into our family," Rea corrected them.Everyone else was staring at her before asking all at o
If Rea asked her parents now, they would only get sad, and life would become difficult for everyoneWhat should she do to make them happy?Right, she could get married! Her parents would definitely be pleased. As for the choice of bridegroom, did she not have one readily available here?If Stan could pretend to be her boyfriend, he could definitely be her husband too.They could fake their marriage if they had to!Putting the medical file back where she found it, she wobbled up to her feet and left the room.Stan had yet to step out of the bathroom when she returned, so she sat on the bed and waited.After a while, Stan stepped out with a towel around his waist and paused when he saw Rea sitting there. "Where are my clothes?" He asked, presuming that Rea had forgotten since there was nothing on the bed or the table. "My suitcase is still in your car trunk."Rea turned toward him. "Let's get married."Stan was left speechless for a moment and soon chuckled, "Did you forge
Mrs. Fowler smacked her daughter, but while Rea thought she was angry, she said instead, "Just do your best."Rea's mind was blown—were her parents bewitched? They were completely different from before! A long time ago, her parents had used to tell her that she did not have to marry as long as she was happy.But later on, they had persistently sent her on blind dates… and now, they were telling her to seduce a man?Touching her mother's forehead, Rea asked, "Are you sick?"Mrs. Fowler slapped her hand off. "Your dad and I are leaving now.""Yeah." Mr. Fowler nodded. "The chauffeur is waiting."Rea walked them to the door and watched as their car left before returning inside.She did not go upstairs since Stan was asleep, and she would be bored—she was the type who just could not sit still.However, it was inappropriate if she left since that would leave nobody home.In her boredom, she thought of pranking Stan. She headed upstairs to find him asleep, and soundly at that.Ca
Unable to argue against her parents, Rea said, "Fine, fine. Whatever you say."Mrs. Fowler smiled. "Then help Stan upstairs to get some rest.""Which room?" Rea asked.Mrs. Fowler realized with a start and quickly said, "Oh, there's no bedding in the guest room… So let him stay in your room."Rea was left staring at her in shock. "When did you get so open-minded? Letting a man stay in your daughter's room?"Mrs. Fowler shrugged. "What can he do when he's drunk?""Haven't you heard of drunken fumbles?" Rea asked.Both Mr. and Mrs. Fowler shook their heads at the same time. "Nope."Rea was left totally speechless—this was just outrageous!She would think that Stan was actually their son, if it was not for the fact that they were not acquainted before.They were not like this before either—even if they were urging her to get married, they were not throwing her at a man like this!Mr. Fowler then said, "If anything happens, we'll demand that he takes responsibility and marries y
"I get it," Stan replied quietly. "I wouldn't have been upset even if you didn't explain yourself. But since you did, I forgive you."Rea's brow creased as she pursed her lips. "See? I knew it. We really shouldn't be too nice to you."While Stan was speechless, Mrs. Fowler was enthusiastically putting food on Stan's plate. "This is our family's favorite dish. Try it."Stan nodded after a bite. "It's good."Mrs. Fowler smiled, while Mr. Fowler poured him a glass of wine. "Can you hold your liquor?"Stan smiled. "More or less.""You're being humble now." Mr. Fowler smiled at him. "You're definitely a good drinker.""A little."Rea had enough right then. "Dad, Stan has work to do, and he has to return to Franconia tomorrow. You're going to make things difficult for him."Mr. Fowler smiled awkwardly. "Right…" "You think?" Rea huffed, snatching his wine away. "Everyone only gets to have one glass."Mr. Fowler glared at Rea. "Party pooper."Rea shrugged. "I'm doing this for your
Rea turned her head aside. "Then what's your hobby?"Stan did a double take and remembered his life… which was work and more work.It had been years since he took leave, and he would not get to goof off the last few days if it had not been for Zachary's wedding.Hobby? He certainly did not have anything like that.Now that he thought about it, his life was boring and monotonous, and he did not have anyone very close.That was why he wanted a kind, understanding wife to care and offer him company while he took care of her needs.When he looked up at Rea, he clearly felt that she was not for him—he needed someone to take care of him, but with her, he would be busy taking care of her instead."You're looking at me weirdly," Rea suddenly said."How so?" Stan asked.Rea moved closer, looking him in the eyes and asking solemnly, "Don't tell me—you've fallen for me?""You don't just suffer from a flawed personality—you're narcissistic too."Stan pursed his lips and checked the tim