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
Francisco trembled, and he hugged her even tighter. It looked like he was using all his strength, but a sense of powerlessness rose from the depths of his heart. A surge of emotion raged in his eyes as he said, “Naomi. I don't know how to express my feelings. You're different from those women I wooed before, so I can't treat you like I treated them.”He tightened his grip on her shoulders. “If I had known this day would come, I would have stayed away from you in the first place.”Naomi’s eyelashes trembled. She stayed in his arms and did not say anything.Francisco stroked her cheek with his hand and wiped the tears off her face. “I don’t deserve a good woman like you.”He slowly pulled away from Naomi after he finished speaking. Just when he turned around, Naomi hugged him from behind.He was stunned, and his chest rose up and down heavily. “Naomi…”“Just let me hug you for a while.” Naomi closed her eyes. She pressed her cheek against his back, feeling the warmth of his body se
“Maybe that’s the problem.” Maisie looked at Barbara. “Mr. Topaz isn’t satisfied with Francisco because of his scandalous past. You try and think about it. A playboy who wants to settle down in a relationship. Who can guarantee that he won't go around and tease other women after getting married?“Mr. Topaz has only one daughter. She has never fallen in love with any men before, and she's as pure as a blank sheet of paper, so do you think he'll hand his daughter over to Francisco?”Barbara was stumped. “Aren’t they all saying a prodigal who returns is more precious than gold?”Maisie chuckled. “Yeah, but even Francisco doesn’t have confidence in himself that he can give Naomi happiness. He should be serious about his relationship with Naomi. A man with a long love history meets a woman who has never fallen in love with any man before. He wants to cherish the relationship, but he's afraid he doesn't deserve her purity, so he can only let it go.”After hearing what Maisie said, Barbar
“What if she knows about it?” Jackie asked, stunning Francisco.He looked at Francisco and chuckled. “Go ahead and tell her about it. I don’t really care.”After he finished speaking, he patted Francisco’s shoulder and continued. “After all, she did it out of her own free will. I didn't force her.”Francisco's gaze was cold, and he clenched his fists tightly. "I won't let you get away with it."He turned around, went back into his car, and drove away. Jackie watched the car that had gotten further away in his vision and clicked his tongue.It seemed to him that Francisco couldn’t hold himself anymore.‘Guess I still need to give him one last push.’…The next afternoon, Naomi came to the restaurant. Jackie had already booked the entire restaurant and was waiting for her.She walked to the seat opposite him and sat down. Then, she said, “You don’t have to spend so much money, Mr. Clifford.”“It’s fine. I don’t like getting disturbed,” Jackie said as he poured a glass of wine.
Naomi opened the door, and when she saw the man standing in front of her, she was stunned, and her brain went blank.When Francisco saw her wrapped in a bathrobe and remembered who she was calling just now, his face turned dark.At that moment, Naomi finally came around to her senses. “Mr. Boucher, what are you—”Before she could finish her sentence, Francisco pushed her into the room. He closed the door, and when he saw the rose petals on the bed, a cold glint crossed his eyes as he smiled coldly. “Are you waiting for Jackie?”“What?” asked Naomi.“This is a honeymoon suite, and you even took a shower,” said Francisco, his face grim with anger. “Are you going to offer yourself to him?”‘This is a honeymoon suite!?’Naomi was stunned. Before she could come around to her senses, Francisco pinned her to the wall and kissed her.Naomi's eyelashes fluttered. His kiss was fueled with desire, and his action was more vigorous than the last time he kissed her. She put her hands on his