Nathan smiled in response.Robert took the gifts for Nathan.Cameron approached Nathan, draped his arm around Nathan's shoulders, and patted him. Taking a quick look at Nathan, Cameron asked, "You doing okay?""Yeah, I'm good," Nathan replied.Cameron was still his friend, so he was polite.Fenna greeted politely, "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Hoffis."Since Fenna and Cameron were Nathan's friends, Tristan and Michaela warmly invited them in. "Please, come inside."Cameron also quickly greeted, "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Hoffis.""Hello," the couple replied together. "Come on in and take a seat."Mila sat on the couch, keeping an eye on Jasper and Elio. When she saw the guests arriving, she smiled warmly, but inside, she felt disgusted.Fenna had visited Nathan in the hospital the previous night but came to Hoffis Manor again, using Cameron as an excuse.Cameron approached Mila and greeted her, "Hey, Wanda, it's been a while.""Hello, Cameron," Mila replied politely. She stood up and moti
Michaela's sense of security had vanished during her years of confinement.It was only in Nathan's presence, as she observed the soldiers from the nearby military base coming and going, that she found solace.Meanwhile, Nathan ignored Fenna's question and turned to Cameron. "Let's head to the study. I have something to discuss with you.""Sure," Cameron replied, rising from his seat. He addressed Fenna, "You stay here with Mr. and Mrs. Hoffis in the living room. I need to talk to Nate."Fenna nodded with a smile. Her eyes fixed on Nathan as she replied, "Got it. You guys go ahead."As Nathan and Cameron disappeared into the study, Fenna's gaze wandered around the living room. "Your house is incredibly spacious and elegant, Mr. and Mrs. Hoffis."Michaela and Tristan exchanged glances, feeling uneasy with Fenna's presence."It's nothing special," Michaela replied tersely.Fenna glanced toward the second floor and asked, "How many maternity nurses does Jay have?""We have two mat
Fenna's face darkened as she questioned, "So, Nate and Wanda sleep together?"Robert's smile vanished in an instant. He regarded Fenna with disbelief, wondering if she was out of her mind.Fenna quickly clarified, "They didn't sleep together during their time at the military base."Robert's expression hardened. "Ms. Hudson, if you'll excuse me, I have other matters to attend to."With that, he turned away to deal with his own affairs.…Meanwhile, in the study, Cameron's expression soured as he heard Nathan's words.He rested his head in his hands, his expression filled with concern as he spoke, "I know Fenna's had feelings for you for years, and she's always been devoted."I thought she'd eventually move on since you're married and happy with Wanda. I didn't realize she was so fixated.""I think it's time to consider professional help for her. Her feelings for me are becoming obsessive. It's affecting my life," Nathan said.Cameron turned to Nathan nervously. "Has she done a
Nathan and Cameron followed the sound to the living room, only to find it empty. They realized the noise was coming from Mila's studio and hurried over to see what was happening.The door was left open. The studio was filled with paintings hanging on the walls and some propped against the floor.Fenna crouched down, feigning nervousness as she attempted to lift a sizable painting from the ground. She said sheepishly, "Sorry, Nate. I accidentally knocked over this painting."Nathan's face darkened, while Cameron hurried to help Fenna lift the painting. Yet, as they lifted it, Cameron's complexion drained of color, and he stood frozen in disbelief.On the four-foot square wooden board lay a portrait painted by Mila, depicting her family of three. However, it was marred by splatters of black ink.Cameron's voice rang out in dismay. "How could you damage someone else's painting?"Fenna's expression fell as she gestured toward the spilled ink on the floor, explaining, "I didn't mean t
Cameron was frustrated and stamped his foot. "Why did you have to touch someone else's stuff? How will you fix this?""I can only pay a few tens of thousands at most," Fenna said firmly.A voice from the doorway interrupted. "Just leave."Nathan turned and saw Mila, looking upset and cold. He walked over, feeling sorry, and took her hand to comfort her. "Don't be upset, Wanda. I'll make sure Fenna takes responsibility for this."Cameron looked guilty and quickly apologized to Mila. "I'm really sorry, Wanda. Fenna accidentally damaged the painting. We'll compensate but can we discuss the price?"Fenna looked nervous, biting her lip as she glanced at Mila.To Mila, the painting held immense personal value. She respected Cameron and understood his concern for Fenna.Mila realized that making Fenna pay would burden Cameron, especially since they were government employees with modest incomes.Out of consideration for Cameron, Mila repeated coldly, "Just leave. There's no need for co
"From the moment I first saw you, you reminded me of someone I'd loved for years. But then, Sally returned, and everyone in the Hoffis family claimed she was their granddaughter."We hadn't seen each other in a decade, so I had no clue what had become of you. I never questioned your family. After all, how could close relatives not recognize their own granddaughter?" Nathan explained.Mila's somber mood lightened a bit. "So, did you fall in love with me at first sight?""Not exactly. It was more like a strong sense of familiarity. Some inexplicable feelings drew me to you back then," Nathan replied.Mila gazed at him, feeling thankful. "Nate, thank you for not wanting to divorce back then, and for your persistence. That's why we didn't drift apart."Nathan gently cupped her face and looked at her intently. "Regarding your painting, we can't just ignore what happened. Even if you're not upset, I am."Curious, Mila asked, "What do you propose?"Nathan pointed toward the corner wher
It was time for lunch. Robert knocked on the door twice, but since there was no response, he decided not to disturb Nathan and Mila further. They slept until evening.Mila was still half-asleep when she faintly heard Nathan's voice near her ear, "Wanda, are you getting up for dinner?""No," Mila grumbled."Then, go back to sleep.""Okay." Mila nestled into his arms.Since she wasn't wearing any clothes, the warmth of their skin caused a spark between them. Nathan felt a familiar surge of desire within him once again.For the first time, he acted without asking Mila's permission. Gently, he drew closer to her, wrapping his arms around her and lifting her legs onto his waist.Still in a daze, Mila realized Nathan was kissing her. Later, she let out a soft moan and her body shivered. Then, she drifted into a blissful dream.…A few days later, Fenna arrived at Lillian's place bearing a court summons. Yale was with Lillian, who was pregnant, watching dramas at home.Fenna barged
The soft spring breeze blew as the sun disappeared behind the hills.On a tennis court at a private club, Nathan and Donald were playing a match. Soaked in sweat, Donald looked tired and was breathing heavily. However, Nathan seemed completely relaxed.After a few rounds, it was clear that Donald was struggling to keep up. He raised his hand, asking for a break. "Let's take a breather and continue later."Nathan stopped playing and walked casually to the bench. He grabbed two bottles of water and handed one to Donald.Gasping for air, Donald said, "I can't keep pace with you youngsters anymore. I'm getting old, and my stamina's fading."Nathan smirked, taking a sip of water without saying anything flattering."What's up with the tension between you and Lillian lately?" Nathan asked bluntly.Donald's face tightened. "Since when did you start prying into my family business? That's not like you.""I'm not interested in your family drama. It's about her husband, Yale," Nathan clari