“It’s no wonder that Mr. Topaz brought his daughter over tonight. This seems to be his intention.”Listening to the comments of the people around him, Anthony smiled without saying a word.‘I do hope that Naomi will get into too much contact with an excellent man like Jackie.’At 9:00 p.m. Nolan had left the banquet and returned to the Blue Bay villa.Maisie was dumbfounded when she saw him coming back so early. “Why did you come back so soon?”Nolan undid his tie and took off his jacket. “The dinner was boring, so I wanted to come home earlier to accompany my wife.”Maisie sneered and took the jacket from him. “Why? Wasn’t there a pretty woman at the dinner party?”He hugged Maisie from behind, buried his face in her hair, and smirked. “Other than you, other women are all men to me.”She turned around and pressed her finger against his lips. “You’d better watch out for that glib tongue of yours.”He responded lightly with a hum, straightened his posture, and gently rolled up
It was probably Naomi’s first time listening to someone else praise Francisco. Naomi lifted her head and looked at Maisie. “Ms. Vanderbilt, do you think he’s a good man too?”“I went to the training camp for more than half a month back in the day, and back then, Francisco was...” Maisie stirred the soup in the bowl. “Should I say unruly and very active? But he’s indeed become a lot more mature now.”Naomi pursed her lips. “I... I didn't know him before, but I don’t care what he was like before.”“Why do you like him?”Maisie’s words made Naomi think of the question that Francisco had asked her three times before this.She lowered her gaze. “I don’t know that either. I just think that he’s a fine man.”‘Is it because I saw his kind gesture at the hospital? Or is it because he saved me from certain embarrassment by paying for my coffee at the cafe? Or maybe it’s because of that time when he helped me out when we rammed into the rear-end of someone else’s car and were almost scammed
Francisco called back after a few minutes, and she answered the call with a smile. “Hello...”After hearing something that came from the other end of the phone call, Naomi’s expression changed slightly.At the hospital…Naomi rushed to the door of the ward. Besides Francisco, a middle-aged man was also standing in the ward, his father, Eugene.Francisco had a plaster cast on his left leg, and it seemed that there was nothing serious except his leg injury. He sat on the hospital bed and glanced at Naomi.Eugene also looked over and wondered. “She’s...”Francisco replied indifferently, “A friend.”“Since you’re fine, then have a good rest.” Eugene got up and left the ward.Naomi walked over to the hospital bed and stared at him. “Are you okay?”“It’s okay. It’s just a flesh wound.” Francisco gave off a faint smile. “So, don’t worry.”Naomi lowered her head and bit her lower lip. “I’m sorry, I... I called because I hadn’t received your reply. I didn’t know that my action would c
When Naomi heard that, her tears dropped like pearls from a broken necklace. She clasped her heart in pain, turned around, and ran without looking back. Francisco saw her disappear from the door, and his heart suddenly ached. The feelings that he was suppressing made his face twitch. Samantha couldn’t hold it in any longer, so she walked into the room. “How could you do that!?”He was surprised. “Mom—”“Samantha—” Kennedy tried to stop her, but it was too late. Francisco’s face turned after the slap, but he kept quiet. Samantha took a deep breath and spoke when she calmed down. “I think you have feelings for the girl, and sending her away hurts you. What made you do that? Why can’t you deal with the issue together?”He looked down and replied after a moment, “Mom, let me deal with it.”“Let you deal with it? Do you think I’d care if you weren’t my son? Alright, I’ll let you be.” Samantha pointed at him. “You did this to yourself. Now live with it.”She was worried about her
Naomi nodded. “I’m head in then. Drive safe.”Jackie watched her walk in before driving away. Naomi walked into the living room. Mrs. Irving had prepared dinner and smiled when she saw her. “It’s time for dinner, ma’am.”“I’m not hungry. You go ahead.” Naomi walked up the stairs without looking back.Mrs. Irving put the food on the table and looked at her worriedly. After Anthony arrived home, Mrs. Irving told him about what had happened because she was worried.Anthony took off his coat and handed it to her. “I’ll go take a look.”He went to Naomi’s room, knocked on the door, opened the door, and saw Naomi sitting in front of her desk, going through a photo album. “Naomi, why aren’t you having dinner?”Naomi shook her head. “I’m not hungry yet, don't feel like eating.”Seeing how sad his daughter was, he could guess what had happened. He walked to her, sat down, and said, “Nelly, all that I have done is for your own good.”Naomi was surprised. Anthony looked down. “I kno
Maisie was in deep thought for a long time. “Yes, but I could feel his love for me, so I wouldn’t have let it become a regret.”“Hmm.” Naomi looked down and gave a sad smile.When people who loved each other couldn’t be together, it was just because they didn’t love each other enough. Why would two people who loved each other a lot let it turn into regret?She liked Francisco, but did he feel the same?Since he had given up so easily, maybe he just wasn’t that into her…The week after that, Naomi and Lucy worked at the store, and she slowly recovered. Naom sat in her new office and was doing some design work when a colleague appeared outside her door. “Naomi, a handsome man is asking for you outside.”Naomi’s heart skipped a beat. She stood up and walked out to the corridor. When she got there and saw the person waiting for her, there was Jackie, disappointment flashed across her eyes, but she recovered quickly. She felt pathetic for her own naivety as she walked toward him.
Maisie frowned. “So you picked her?”The server brought over a cup of coffee, and Jackie moved it next to his hand. “Her father wanted to match-make us, so it would be normal for me to pick her.”Maisie rubbed her temples. “So, you’re not really interested in her?”“She isn’t interested in me either. I don’t like to make people do things.”She smiled. “Oh, you didn’t make anyone do anything at the hotel.”Jackie was rendered speechless. Maisie put her hand under her chin. “I feel better hearing you say that. I need your help with something too.”…The news about Naomi and Jackie dating spread quickly, and it got to Anthony too. Even he was shocked.Naomi was having dinner at the table when he rushed home and looked up. “You’re back.”“I just finished work.” Anthony put down his briefcase, pulled up a chair at the table, and suddenly asked, “Nelly, how did you and Mr. Clifford…”Naomi smiled. “Didn’t you wish that I would end up with him?” Even though she was just pretending
Francisco didn’t answer.She lowered her head, still unable to be as calm as he was. “If you have nothing more to say, I’ll be on my way.”She was going to turn around when Francisco pulled her arm. “I have a question.”Naomi took a deep breath but didn’t turn around. “What?”“Do you love Jackie?”Naomi beamed and didn’t say anything. After a moment, she pulled her hand away. “It doesn’t matter.”Francisco turned to look at her. “Do you have any feelings for him?’Naomi didn’t understand why Francisco was asking her about that, so she turned around and looked into his eyes. “What does this have to do with you? You don’t like me, but I can’t be with someone else?”She regretted saying that because she saw how sad his eyes were, and it made her think that he was the one who was hurt.After a long pause, he turned his body away. “I guess Mr. Topaz was right. The feelings you had for me weren’t real. When you met someone better, you easily fell for him.”Naomi froze. “What… What