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
Mervyn nodded. "Yeah, it doesn't matter anymore." "What are you talking about?" Candice asked, confused. "Why don't I understand?"Elio smiled gently and whispered, "You don't need to understand. Come on, let's have a drink with Mom and Dad.""Okay." Candice picked up her glass of juice, waved goodbye to Mervyn, and walked toward Michaela and Tristan. Mervyn watched as they walked away, unable to resist taking another big gulp of his drink. Michaela was sitting gracefully in her wheelchair, maintaining her usual elegance. Elio and Candice approached and greeted politely, "Mom, Dad, let's toast." Michaela forced a smile, her gaze on Candice was affectionate yet lacking genuine approval and admiration. Deep down, she believed Candice wasn't capable enough for Elio. Nonetheless, it didn't affect their relationship, as no one cared about Michaela's opinion. On the other hand, Tristan was delighted. He raised his glass enthusiastically, showering them with blessings and well
It was unusual. Just then, Candice and Elio approached. Setting aside their family affairs, the three raised their glasses in a toast with Candice and Elio. They began with heartfelt wishes, laughing and conversing freely. Unexpectedly, the conversation veered toward Jasper. "Now, all the kids at home are married. Even Candice is married. It's just him left, a bachelor without a girlfriend," Mila said. Jasper countered, "Mom, my cousins are all in their 30s. Isn't that normal for them to be married?" Mila persisted, "But Candice is younger than you and already married!" Nathan interjected, "Let's give him some time. No rush. Let's see when he's 30, or maybe 40. Who knows, perhaps he'll get married in his 50s. There's still plenty of time ahead." Jasper was speechless, offering a faint smile. "Dad, you're really good at comforting people." Observing the concern from Mila and Nathan, Elio reassured them. "Don't worry. Jasper definitely likes women. In the past, he—" Bef
The summer heat in Phoenicia was scorching, leaving the streets almost deserted. A figure dressed in a giant frog costume hurried to the café entrance. She set down her pile of little frogs in a corner and removed her heavy frog head, revealing her sweat-drenched but beautiful features. Glazing up at the signboard, she blinked and anxiously muttered, "This must be the place." Hugging the frog's head, she walked in and looked around. There was only one young man in the entire café. From a distance, he appeared strikingly handsome with an air of elegance and sophistication. "The quality of this setup was high," she thought. No wonder her mother warned her not to come back home if she still couldn't get married this time. Breathless, she walked over, sat down in front of the man, and apologized politely, "I'm sorry, I was chased by the city officials because of my job. I got lost and ended up being half an hour late. I'm so sorry." At the sound of her voice, Jasper looked
When Imogen stepped out of the alley, she saw Jasper holding her frog head, looking around as if earnestly searching for her. As soon as he turned and their eyes met, he walked over briskly. With a furrowed brow, Jasper asked, "How much did those little frogs cost?" "About 50 dollars," Imogen replied. He seemed incredulous and shocked. "You chased an old lady down two streets over 50 dollars?" Imogen's face darkened in annoyance. "Is it just about the money?" "If it's not about the money, then what's the problem?" he countered. Imogen huffed, realizing that good looks didn't necessarily mean good sense. This small disagreement already revealed their clashing values. Forcing a polite smile, she explained, "Yes, it's about the money. Those 50 dollars are worth a two-day meal for me. I woke up early in the morning, ran to the wholesale market, and hauled back those little frogs. "I inflated each one myself, hoping they'd sell well. I protected them while running away from