Fenna returned to Elio and Philip, offering each of them a glass of wine. It was customary for the men to socialize over drinks at the banquet.By the banquet's end, Sean noticed Elio still hadn't shown up. Worried, he went inside to search for Elio, but there was no trace of him anywhere. Unable to reach Elio by phone, Sean grew frantic and immediately called Jasper.…Half an hour later, Josie received a call. She hurried outside and spotted Fenna's car parked by the roadside. Climbing in, she was shocked to find Elio unconscious in the back seat."Aunt Fenna, what's happening?" Josie asked.As Fenna drove away, she said, "I brought him here for you. The rest is up to you."Confused, Josie replied, "I don't understand, Aunt Fenna."Fenna glared at Josie. "You fool! I'm taking you both to a hotel. Your responsibility is to watch over him. If he shows any reaction, be prepared to spend the night with him."Tomorrow morning, I'll arrange a police raid targeting illegal activitie
Josie was taken aback witnessing Fenna being slapped twice. She couldn't stay seated any longer and swiftly exited the car. She approached with a frown, questioning, "Why did you hit her?"Mila exchanged a meaningful glance with Jasper, who understood her intention and moved to open the car door.Josie was flustered. She hurried back to the car to intervene, but it was too late. Jasper had already noticed Elio lying in the back seat."You…" Josie began, guilt overwhelming her as she watched Jasper help Elio out of the car.Keeping her anger in check, Fenna emphasized each word through clenched teeth. "Wanda, do you even realize who you just hit?""Of course, a criminal," Mila responded icily.Frustrated, Fenna raised her voice. "Elio was drunk. I was just trying to get him home safely!"Mila gestured toward the hotel behind her, questioning, "Is this where he belongs?"Fenna was left speechless, her anger simmering in silence.When Josie saw Jasper carrying Elio into their car
Jasper's eyes gleamed with anticipation as he eagerly nodded. "Sure, Mom. What's your plan?""First, you should start dating," Mila suggested with a faint smile.Jasper was baffled. After a pause, he responded indifferently, "Mom, it seems you're just nudging me to get a girlfriend. Don't use helping Uncle Elio and Candice as an excuse."Mila sounded mildly dismayed. "At 26, isn't it normal to be curious about romance? Why aren't you interested? Haven't you met anyone who interests you?""There are attractive women out there, but none captivated me. They all seem rather dull," Jasper sighed wearily. "That's why I'm not eager to get to know them.""That sounds like an excuse," Mila snorted."Whatever," Jasper muttered, clearly exasperated.Half an hour later, they pulled up to Hillside Villa. As the car pulled into the driveway, Candice heard the noise and rushed out, surprised to see Mila and Jasper stepping out."Aunt Chubs, Jasper, what brings you here?" Candice asked.Jaspe
Mila looked at Jasper, her face creased with worry. Her gaze held the same poignant mix of heartache and resignation as a mother watching her son come out of the closet.Feeling flustered under her gaze, Jasper hurried to explain, "Mom, I'm not gay. I'm straight, completely straight. I'm interested in women, not men.""Then, why don't you have a girlfriend?""I haven't found the right person yet," Jasper replied."So, you're not interested in women," Mila stated firmly.Jasper simply held his forehead and sank back onto the couch, uncertain how to reply.After pondering for a moment, Mila suggested, "How about I arrange a blind date for you?"Jasper let out a heavy sigh. "Mom, I'm only 26. Isn't it a bit ridiculous to start setting up blind dates?""You're a 26-year-old man who hasn't even held a woman's hand. That's what's truly ridiculous," Mila retorted. "You're a catch, and many women are interested in you, yet you've remained single all this time. There must be something w
Candice woke up early in the morning, her body aching all over. She had hardly slept a wink last night, unable to recall how many times Elio had been passionately intimate with her. All she knew was that his desire had been fervent and relentless.Seeing Elio peacefully asleep beside her, Candice closed her eyes with relief, hoping to steal a bit more rest. Mila's words consumed her thoughts. Candice wondered if she would never marry without Michaela's approval.Due to Elio's extraordinary nature, even a simple outing could expose him to dangers like being drugged. Candice felt their relationship hanging by a thread. She wondered if registering their marriage first might be wise. This way, it could deter other women who still harbored fantasies about Elio.With these thoughts swirling in her mind, Candice drifted back into slumber. In her dream, she saw Elio holding hands with a bride, running through a picturesque meadow. Her heart raced with anticipation, assuming she was the brid
"No," Elio stated."I'll go along with your plan," Candice replied. She rested her cheek against his sturdy shoulder and closed his eyes, cherishing the warmth of his embrace.…By 4:00 pm, a crowd had assembled at city hall. Among them were Candice's extended family, including Mila and Jasper. Everyone was eager to witness the couple's marriage registration.Reporters immediately engulfed Elio and Candice as they emerged from city hall. Flashbulbs popped and microphones were thrust toward Elio. The reporters bombarded him with questions about whether he was married, details about his bride, and his thoughts on marriage.Usually reluctant with reporters, Elio found himself willingly engaged this time. Holding Candice's hand, he introduced her with pride and joy as his wife."How did you two meet? Who pursued whom?" asked a reporter."We've known each other since childhood. I've had a crush on her since we were young, and I was the one who pursued her," Elio answered.The report
"Tristan, did you just say I'm being unreasonable?" Michaela shouted furiously. The line went dead from the other end. Michaela, still seething, hurled her phone across the room, shattering it. Yet, even this violent act couldn't quell her anger. She felt deeply disrespected by both Elio and Tristan. Now, even Mila and Jasper had kept her in the dark. The thought that everyone closest to her was drifting away because of Candice's marriage filled her with profound disappointment. Picking up the two shattered phones, Josie approached and sat beside Michaela, gently consoling her, "Mrs. Hoffis, don't be upset. You must take care of your health. We can address Leo's marriage gradually." "Josie, do you have any suggestions?" Michaela asked, her voice edged with desperation. Josie shook her head, looking equally frustrated. Just then, Mila walked briskly into the room, her voice calm and soothing. "Nothing will work." Hearing her voice, both women turned to look at Mila. S
It was six months later that Nathan returned to Phoenicia from the frontier. He and Mila had been living apart for more than half a year, and countless times, he had asked Mila when she would return to the frontier and the lab. Even after years of marriage, he was still as attached to her as ever. Mila replied, "I need to stay in Phoenicia to handle something important." However, she never specified what it was. Now, he finally understood—it was to settle old scores and new grievances together. Philip had been reported for embezzlement and bribery, leading to his downfall. Fenna herself was arrested for involving in kidnapping abroad, committing crimes against Candice, and taking bribes. The couple ended up behind bars. During these six months, Michaela, who was still bedridden, learned of the events and felt shocked. She was grateful that Josie had not married into their family. Otherwise, their business could have been implicated. There was another major event, which was