Renee took a deep breath and could smell the osmanthus; it was calming and refreshing. It also eased the headache from her hangover."If I'm guessing correctly, Joanne tried to sneak away more than once during this period. But you forcefully brought her back. Am I right?" Renee said. She stopped in front of an osmanthus tree and tried to pick the flowers like a child as she spoke casually to Quinton.Quinton frowned and pursed his lips in reluctance. He replied coldly, "I was doing that for her sake." Renee didn't go home last night, but Quinton didn't rush to Hunt Manor immediately. He couldn't be certain that she was there, and he couldn't leave because of what happened with Joanne. When Joanne woke up, she kept looking for chances to leave the manor. Margaret was able to dissuade her, albeit temporarily. That fearless woman bypassed the door before dawn and tried to escape by climbing over the windows to avoid attracting Quinton's attention.Although the second floor wasn
"Of course you can't do that." Rebee smiled. Despite the latter's anxiety, she looked mischievously at Quinton. "So, I came up with a win-win solution. She's made up her mind to stay.""What do you mean?" Quinton found it incredulous. "She's stubborn, even more than you sometimes. What method did you use to persuade her?" "Do you know her biggest regret?" Renee asked Quinton calmly. Quinton hung his head low and looked at his feet. After a long silence, he replied somberly, "I guess it's the fact that she can never be a mother." He couldn't forget about that incident, let alone Joanne.In the past, he and Joanne sought warmth from each other. They regarded each other as their most important person, and were willing to fight the entire world to keep each other from getting hurt.But at the moment, they were the ones who had harmed each other the most. They cherished and valued each other so much that they knew each other's sore spots. Naturally, they could inflict the greatest
The scar on Quinton's face had been recovering so well that it was almost negligible. Yet, it didn't mean that his inner woes had gone away.His hatred was still there, but he kept suppressing for Renee's sake. He wanted to be a decent man."It's no longer important whether she likes him or not. Stop fixating on it," Renee snapped. She had no idea how to comfort Quinton, because she couldn't comfort herself either. The only thing they could do was to stop dwelling on it. They had to force themselves to get out of that dilemma. Rennee had a full understanding of human nature. It would be hard to make things clear if they dwelled on it.As a woman, she couldn't believe that Joanne felt nothing for Stefan. However, after some consideration, Joanne knew Stefan only regarded her as someone he happened to help. It didn't mean that she was conniving and scheming.If one took a fancy to a flower, they could stand afar and enjoy its charms quietly. There was no need to pluck it out.
Renee suggested Joanne apply for a college because she wanted to stall for time. She hoped to see Joanne focus on something else, so Joanne wouldn't dwell on her sad past. Doing so would only lead to a dead end. Renee also hoped Joanne could stay in Everheart Manor with peace of mind. Then, they could take good care of her and help her recuperate to full health. Unexpectedly, Joanne accepted Renee's suggestion. She studied very seriously every day and completed the test questions. She took the college entrance exam seriously as if it were her sole ambition and the pivot of her life.She would start reading and reciting before seven o'clock in the morning. She read aloud the vocabulary and was as enthusiastic as high school students.Renee kept her promise. She left her company in the charge of a manager and Leia. Then, she set up an exclusive timetable to tutor Joanne every day.Quinton kept his promise too. He sat in a corner of the room, turning into a weak and helpless study
The questions were relatively basic, and Joanne found them easy. However, she couldn't figure out the resolution for the final advanced application question.On the other hand, Quinton was stuck at the first basic fill-in-the-blanks question. He bit his pen, seemingly casual when in fact, he was looking around suspiciously.Joanne covered her test paper, frowned, and glared at Quinton. "What are you doing?" "Let me have a look. What should be the answer to this blank?" Quinton pointed at a fill-in-the-blanks question. "The hills we climb…and what follows after that?""Figure it out on your own!" Joanne covered her test paper well and added expressionlessly, "Didn't you recite it every day? Don't you know the answer? You're so stupid!"Angry, Quinton slammed his pen on the table. "I quit! What the hell is this? Why am I doing this?" He tried to earn his living on the dock at a young age and managed a spacious Carmine Pawnshop. He was the Midnight Demon, feared by everyone. Yet h
For a moment, the atmosphere in the class became tense."Fine! I'll go!" Quinton snarled, flying into a rage. He couldn't understand the meaning of wasting his time there. Besides, he didn't want to recall his past self from Joanne's words. It was heartbreaking.In the past, he was weak as he endured all the grievance and unfairness. He was too timid to resist the Garcia family from oppressing him. Joanne probably saw him as bright, wonderful, and pure, but it was humiliating for him. Now that he had experienced power and superiority, he would never recall the past fondly. All he wanted was to erase his past."Study on your own. I must've gone crazy these days to stay here like a clown. I won't come again!" Then, Quinton got up to leave the class.Renee leaned on the railing, playing a mobile game to kill time. A bad premonition rose in her when she saw Quinton walk out of the class in a fit of anger."What's wrong?" "Nothing!" Quinton looked grumpy. "I'm such a fool. I want
"Leroy found an ancient tomb there with a lot of treasure. The local Cultural Relics Bureau has been alerted, and they're negotiating at the moment. I need to rush there to see if a compromise is possible."Quinton had delayed his business while acting as Joanne's study buddy.Leroy Hollis had informed him about the ancient tomb a week ago, but he was too focused on his studies and didn't pay too much attention to that news. Consequently, the news leaked that week, and the Cultural Relics Bureau was alerted. They wanted all the treasures, or Leroy would be punished severely.Based on the photos sent by Chase, it was clear the tomb came with a long history and was an authentic royal tomb. Any item found in there would cost a fortune. If all the treasures were confiscated by the bureau, it would be a great loss for Carmine Pawnshop. Besides, Leroy had worked for Carmine Pawnshop for many years. If he was arrested and implicated Carmine Pawnshop, it would be very troublesome. If Qu
Joanne looked at the test paper on the table and was silent for a long time. Then, she said thoughtfully, "Instead of making him be my study buddy, I hoped to see his past self. Isn't it ridiculous?"In the past, she liked Quinton very much. She liked the man the TV station would interview because he was charming, wise, and bright. She preferred the days when he was bright and optimistic.If they could return to the night before her college entrance examination, she might choose to hide the incident that caused her pain. If she did so, Quinton wouldn't try to seek justice for her and fall out with her family. Their lives might be different.Unfortunately, there was no time machine. After all, it had happened. The past couldn't be reversed.Renee grabbed the chance to sound out Joanne's thoughts. "You still care about him, don't you? You don't hate him, so you can't cut off from him. Am I right?" She felt that both Joanne and Quinton were insincere. They claimed that they hate
"What's that?" Justin frowned and said with disdain, "That's something to fool naive women like you. Only lovestruck fools will believe that." As a materialistic person, he never believed in things like horoscopes and fortune-telling. At most, they were mixed with some psychology. They weren't trustworthy at all.If Renee wanted to use those things to talk about their relationships and destinies, it would seem very childish. "Don't be so extreme. Those things are real and logical." Renee acted like an experienced salesperson and gradually eliminated Justin's prejudice. She said patiently, "If you believe those things, they can guide you and help you to see things through. If not, you can use them to kill time. Just try to get to know them. Isn't that nice?"Finally, Justin was convinced. He had some milk and asked her leisurely, "Fine. Tell me what kind of relationship we have based on those things." "I learned that our relationship is a declining friendship based on our birt
"I…" Renee paused. For a moment, she had no idea how to answer that question."Don't put yourself in a difficult position. Just follow your heart," Justin said calmly. "If you want to stay, my family will still welcome you readily. If you want to leave, I'll come up with a way to help you leave smoothly."After listening to Justin, Renee answered honestly, "Maybe it's better for me to leave, though I know this choice will hurt you."She could choose to stay to protect Justin's dignity and give Austin a good explanation. It would be more relaxing and steadier for her. However, Renee knew that it could only last briefly. She would cause Justin greater harm. She might as well be decisive and stop the damage in time. "Don't say that." Justin cracked a bitter smile and said with relief, "I've stopped taking things too seriously. If you like me, you won't stop loving me even if we're apart. Similarly, you'll think about another man if you don't like me, even though you're always b
Austin was having breakfast in the dining room. When he saw Justin and Renee walk over intimately, he finally believed that they had slept together. They seemed like a real couple."Good morning, Grandpa Baldwin!" Renee obediently greeted Austin just like before. She acted normally."Good morning." Austin nodded, unable to suppress his smile. After sizing them up, he calmly said to Renee, "We know how apologetic you are after you toasted to us last night. We'll forget about the past. You're still a part of my family." "Grandpa!" Justin interrupted Austin; he was very protective of Renee. "She's a woman, and we're not married yet. Please don't say that. A woman's reputation is the most important thing.""You…" Austin wanted to refute Justin, but their conflict was just resolved so it would be bad to pressure them more. He shook his head and said, "Fine. You two always have a bland romance. Finally, you've made some progress. I'll let you two decide what to do next.""Got it, Gr
"Hey, Haze! What are you doing? Get off of me!" Renee struggled in confusion."Hush!" Justin gestured and stopped her.In a while, someone unlocked the door of the room."Mr. Baldwin, let me help you and Ms. Everheart change your clothes." A kind middle-aged woman walked into the room casually. When she found them sleeping together intimately, relief washed over her. "Oh, you guys are still sleeping… Fine, I'll leave you be." Then, the woman exited the room.After that, Justin stopped hovering above Renee, looking awkward. "I'm sorry. It happened all of a sudden. If I hadn't done that, they wouldn't let us go. I just did a small thing to resolve the issue." Justin was fully aware of Austin's thoughts. Although Austin was still angry at Renee, he was satisfied with her and wanted to see her get into a real intimate relationship with Justin. If that did not happen, Austin might tie them up together since the drug had failed. Justin could only act with Renee to avoid the in
Renee grinned, satisfied after a long rest. "Why didn't you sleep a bit longer? This bed is comfortable and fluffy." While talking, she behaved like a fish as she extended her limbs and rolled around in bed childishly. In comparison to her calmness and ease, Justin behaved gingerly and did not dare to move as he lay in bed."Do you have any idea what had happened? We aren't dreaming. We're lying in the same bed," Justin said.He was certain that Renee was not fully awake. It explained why she was that composed. Otherwise, any normal woman would get out of bed with a start and keep screaming if they found herself lying in a man's bed."I know!" Renee said. After having a great time rolling around, Renee faced Justin with her head on her arm while lying on her side. "I wanted to drink wine to say sorry to you guys last night, but your family drugged the wine. You drank the same wine when you tried to stop me. We were controlled by the drug and were locked up in this room. T
Renee instantly understood what Justin meant by that. It turned out that the incident was just a part of the Baldwin family's plan. If she left, the Baldwin family would not easily let her off the hook.Justin still cared about her at a time like that, which moved her. "Thank you. You're great." Renee cried; she had no idea how to repay him. "You don't have to thank me. I'm not so great, either. I just hate that they always pester me." Justin purposely sounded relaxed. He finally calmed himself down as he casually grabbed some bandages to bandage his wound. Then, he lay in bed.He slept on one side of the bed and said to Renee, "It's late. You should rest early. This bed is large enough. If you don't mind, you can lie in bed too."The bed was large. It was more than enough even if Renee and Justin lay there."I…" Renee hesitated briefly before she finally got in bed. She trusted Justin. If he wanted to do something indecent to her, he would have long done that. He would no
"I don't know how to tell you. I'm sure you can understand." Renee could not bring herself to say more because it was a humiliating privacy. She might as well keep it to herself."Let me guess…" Justin's gaze grew sharp as he went straight to the point. "The man in your story is Stefan, isn't it?" Silence washed over Renee as she kept her head bowed. It was a silent approval.Justin burst into reckless laughter, which was scary. He looked down at his cut wound and laughed pathetically. "This is why he could make you fall in love with him, and I couldn't. I'm too cultured compared to him.""Don't say that, Haze!"Seeing how defeated Justin was, Renee became uneasy. "It isn't written in the stars for us. Plus, I've fallen in love with Stefan a long time ago before I even got to know you. I also rely on him physically and psychologically. I can't control my feelings. It's not something we can change. We…" "Stop!" Heartbroken, Justin pushed away everything in front of him and s
Time passed by. Gradually, the pain knocked some sense into Justin. He no longer wanted to take advantage of Renee."Let me get you some water." Renee had no idea what she could do for Justin. After some contemplation, she got to her feet and poured him a glass of water.Finally, she studied the room closely and found that it was a wedding room as Justin had mentioned. Everything was set up according to her preferences, which she had occasionally mentioned to Justin. For example, she loved keeping some ceramic ornaments on the bedside cabinet and hanging some seashell wind chimes at the windows. The entire room was painted in beige and green, which were her favorites, too. Beige gave a sense of warmth, while green gave a sense of gloominess. All of those details became the perfect wedding room for Renee.If everything went on smoothly, she would spend most of her time there, and he would be her life companion. Unfortunately, there were no ifs in the world.Renee handed the gla
Renee covered her lips, her tone filled with disbelief. "I…cut myself." Justin leaned against the corner and frowned deeply. He was in deep pain."Why did you cut yourself?" Renee was scared out of her wits and grew more sober. In her panic, she threw herself at him and tried to stop his bleeding.Justin reacted aggressively as he waved his dagger and warned fiercely, "Get away from me! Don't touch me!" "I…" Renee paused, too afraid to act recklessly. She pointed at his wound and said, "I'm just worried about you. You're bleeding. It must hurt a lot. Why did you hurt yourself?" "It's better to be in pain!" Justin gnashed his teeth and said in agony, "The pain will knock some sense into me, so I won't act like an animal and lose control of myself.""I see…" Stunned, Renee was moved to tears. She understood why he cut himself. Surprisingly, he wanted to stay sober and not be controlled by the drug in the wine.He could have used her to satisfy his desire, and she would never b