"Mom, Dad, you have to help me, or I'll definitely end up in prison!" Ricky Spencer was crying out even as he tugged on Samantha's hand.Lionel glared at his incorrigible son. "What have you done this time?" he growled—it was certainly not Ricky's first offense. "I-I was just trying to practice my driving ahead of my driver's test. Irene's SUV was just sitting there and no one's using it, so I drove it around, and then I got caught in an accident…""What?!"Lionel almost died from a heart attack right then. "Just days ago, you almost blinded someone with a skewer, and I had to spend so much on damages and apologize to finally resolve it! Now, you're telling me you caused an accident? And without a license?! You honestly don't appreciate being alive, do you?""Calm down, Lionel. Ricky's your only son, and he hasn't completed his studies yet! You have to help him—he can't go to prison. Would he have a future if he does? The SUV is Irene's, so just say that it was her…""Dream on
With those words, Lionel headed upstairs.Samantha was left pouting, but there was no way she could abandon her son to his own fate right now—she had to listen to Lionel's instruction. "Let's go. Tell me where it happened," she said as she pulled Ricky along."But Dad just—"Ricky had more to say, but Samantha cut him short right then. "Just stop it and deal with your own mess right now! I was just humiliated because of you!"…Upstairs, Lionel found Sheryl packing her bags, and walked over to pull the dress she was holding out of her grasp. "We've been married for most of our lives. Do you really think a divorce is necessary?"Sheryl sneered. "What, I'm supposed to let you keep using me like a tool, and ruin my daughter's life?""How did I ruin her life? Do you have any idea how much money I spent on her as a child, the lessons I paid for?" "You know very well why you paid for all that. Also, I've given up on you ever since you've used my illness to coerce Irene into that a
"I'm Zachary Slate. Irene is slightly hurt, and she's having surgery right now," Zachary answered—he was standing right outside the operating room.Sheryl felt as if her heart had stopped right then. "What happened? Did my daughter get hurt?""Yes," Zachary replied. Flustered and anxious, Sheryl quickly asked, "Which hospital?""Central Hospital at the Second Militarized Zone.""Okay, I got it." Sherly hung up, and promptly hailed a taxi to head there.…On the surgical table, Irene caught the scrubs of the doctor who would be operating on her. "Can you save my baby?"She had already been screened, and while it was confirmed that she had suffered a miscarriage, one of the twins could still be saved."Are you sure you want to keep it?"Irene's cheeks were as white as a sheet, and her lips were dry and bleeding. "I'm sure," she answered hoarsely. "I'm counting on you.""I'll do my best," the doctor replied. Zachary was a thoracic surgeon, so he had to get the best obstetr
Zachary poured Irene a glass of water, and she drank half of it to ease the dryness of her throat. She felt a little just then better, but she was still aching all over."What happened? Who did that to you?" Zachary asked, unable to hold back his indignation and firing a guess. "Could it be Whitney?"Irene shook her head—she would have believed that herself, if her mother did not tell her that Ricky was driving her car. But now, everything was clear: Ricky was driving her car, and got into a car accident involving Isaac.The concerned departments would have gotten involved if it had been serious, but Isaac had decided to punish whom he presumed to be the culprit—meaning he was either seriously hurt, or very pissed off.The thought that she was assaulted because her stepbrother was involved in an accident left her feeling especially indignant. "Zachary, I've made up my mind—I'll divorce Isaac soon," she said quietly. "I've lost one of my children, and the other might not be sa
When Isaac took the sheet of paper and saw that Irene's name was on it, he frowned. "This isn't the driver!" The driver he saw was a young man!The secretary had no idea why Isaac was suddenly hostile, but admitted, "The SUV was registered under Ms. Spencer's name…""And that makes her the culprit?" Isaac growled as he got off the hospital bed and leveled an icy glare at her. "Is she the one you punished?"The secretary kept her head down in silence.Fuming, Isaac bellowed, "I'm asking you a question!""Yes, sir," the secretary finally replied.Isaac was hyperventilating from sheer frustration, and the secretary quickly apologized. "Sorry, I slipped up…"Isaac completely ignored her and stormed outside.Whitney, who had been standing by the door and trying to get in, saw him coming out. After that accident, it was perfectly reasonable to say that she had lost their child, and Isaac would not be able to say anything against that."Isaac," she called out, and reached for his
"Irene Spencer!" Isaac bellowed, breathing each syllable louder than the next as his cheeks flushed crimson and turned dark, the veins in his neck bulging as if something could pop just then.Seizing her neck, he snarled, "I'll strangle you to death right now!""I know you will," Irene replied with equal resolve and determination. "But I'm not afraid. I hate you!""Just because I slipped up and caused your miscarriage?" he asked, and continued before she answered, "I would've made you get an abortion even if I didn't—I'd never let you give birth to a b*stard just to mess with me! Everything's just fine now, since I don't have to do it myself. Guess even someone up there is refusing to let you have that b*stard, that's why the mistake happened in the first place!"Her repetitive use of 'b*stard' stung Irene in the heart, leaving her utterly hysterical. "I hate you! I wish you were dead!" Irene shouted.Hate and fury blazed within her eyes.On the other hand, Isaac's hands flinch
Did it hurt?For Irene, it was only natural that it hurt.However, any physical injury would never compare to the heartache she felt from losing one of her children. She lowered her eyes and did not respond then.At the same time, Isaac was grasping her arm to stop her from moving at all… and suddenly leaned in to kiss her lips."Umph! Did you lose your mind?!" she snapped.Isaac simply grinned in return, an evil look showing across his face right then. "You must answer when I ask you a question. That is basic manners, and I would have to instruct you if you don't know that. Just now was a punishment, and if you insist on being stubborn or using silence as a way of resistance, my punishment will only get worse."Pausing for a moment, he then added, "I'm a man of my word."On the other hand, Irene was already hurt, and since she also had to protect her child, she did not dare to fight back—even if she felt utter disgust toward Isaac just then, she did not dare to say a word.O
They were both murderers who had killed her child. There was no way she would feel anything toward them other than loathing! "But what are you going to do if Isaac still refuses to divorce you?" Zachary reminded her then. "You can hide your pregnancy for a few more months, but there's no way you can hide it as more time passes by."In reality, Irene had an idea, but she did not tell Zachary—he was too much of a friend to Isaac. And if Zachary were to find out, it was only expected that Isaac would find out. As such, she simply acted as if she had no plans, and said, "I have no idea. We'll just have to cross that bridge when we reach it.""If push comes to shove, you just have to run away in secret," Zachary suggested. "Just stay out of Isaac's mind, and he'll eventually forget about you."Irene gave him a dark look. "Do you really believe that Isaac would ever fail to find me once he sets his mind on it?""Well, no…" Zachary muttered, perfectly aware of what Isaac was like an
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