Paul was stubborn, but Marigold was sensible. She said at once, "Let's listen to Alec. Let's all sit down and talk it out. Then everyone can be on their way without affecting anyone."Paul said nothing, so Jenny took that as a yes. She sent Gilbert a text, to which Gilbert replied, "Okay."She sighed in relief. If everyone could talk it out, things wouldn't go south so quickly.Alec drove the Wagner siblings home and then left."Send me to my apartment. The one near the hospital," Jenny said.However, Alec didn't listen to her. "You're not thinking of living separately from me, are you?""Is there a problem?" Jenny didn't think there was. Although they were in a relationship, it didn't mean they had to live together.Alec was reluctant. "You could even stay in Evan's villa. What's wrong with moving in with me? It's not like I'm going to make you share my bedroom. But of course, I'd be alright with it if you wanted to," he added quickly.Jenny rolled her eyes at him. "Who would
It was Jenny's first time on the third floor. Before, she had only gone to the study on the second floor for a while. She had not gone up to the third floor.When she got up there, she realized that there were only two rooms on the floor. Besides Alec's, the rest seemed to be specially prepared for her.She pushed the door open and went in. Although it was said to be just one room, it was huge. However, it was already filled.A drawing room greeted her. Two plush pink couches sat in the room. It was an adorable sight. She walked further inside and found an especially big walk-in closet.She wasn't exaggerating at all. It was huge.There used to be five rooms on the floor, and Alec had turned them into only two rooms. He had probably converted all four rooms into one for her and kept his the same.When Jenny walked through the closet, her first thought was that this was definitely not done in one day.The closet was not bare. Branded clothing and accessories were hung inside, and
It was a hearty dinner. Alec even brought out a bottle of red wine. Jenny had no idea what he was celebrating."Have a glass, Jenny." Alec poured out some wine and smiled at her.Jenny felt that his smile was dubious. She looked at him warily and asked, "You're not thinking of making me drunk, are you?"Alec didn't quite know how to respond to that. "We haven't really celebrated us getting together before." He couldn't tell what went through Jenny's mind at times. Was he that sort of person?Jenny smiled dryly and tried to ease the awkwardness. "I was just joking. I know you're not that type of guy."Alec chuckled. He didn't really push it. They clinked their glasses together and drank the wine.Jenny preferred eating since Alec was pretty good at cooking. She wasn't much of a drinker. She looked at Alec. He seemed to have drunk quite a bit."Do you know how happy I am to finally be with you, Jenny?" Alec, who was getting tipsy, looked at Jenny with love in his eyes.Jenny felt
Jenny and Alec shared a glance. He nodded, indicating that he was alright with anything that she said."Everyone should just take a step back," Jenny said. She looked at Paul. "You should know that my brother will never take responsibility for Marigold. Hence, you should let it go.""What do you think?" Paul was cold. "Gilbert is your brother. Of course, you'd help him.""I couldn't force him to do what he doesn't want to do even if he wasn't my brother," Jenny retorted. Paul was unwilling to solve the problem.Paul sneered. He wouldn't have paid attention to Jenny if it weren't for Alec."Gilbert, this might not be your responsibility, but it has already happened. You have to compensate them in some way." Jenny looked at her brother. She was indeed there to resolve their problem. She didn't want them to hold this against each other.It wouldn't benefit either Marigold or Gilbert.Gilbert didn't object, letting Jenny continue."You can't support her emotionally, that's for sure
Gilbert left the bar after writing the check. It was then that Marigold came out from behind the screen. She had already calmed herself down. Besides the redness in her eyes, nothing else was shown on her face."I don't know what you see in him!" Paul was a little angry to see her.Marigold said nothing and sat at the side. Jenny slid the check over and said, "I know you don't want to contact him often, but for the child's sake, you must take this money.""You don't have to tell me to. I will." However, the amount written on it made her gasp. She looked at Jenny and then at Paul, who snorted and said, "This isn't even a lot.""Is this too much, Jenny?" Marigold ignored her brother. Even to the Wagners, it was not a small sum.Jenny shook her head. "He can earn the money back. It's not much. Only enough to ensure that you can raise the child stress-free.""Alright." Marigold didn't refuse. She knew that Gilbert was giving her this much to make her stay away from him. If this was
Jenny looked at Alec, who was driving the car. "Aren't you going to the company?""I am." He'd just arrived, and a mountain of work was waiting for him in the office. However, he wanted to accompany Jenny for a while longer, so he was not going there yet.Jenny read his mind and said, "We have lots of time, Alec. We don't have to be together all the time. Do you know what I mean?"If Alec left his work to see her like this in the future, Jenny would start thinking she was affecting him."I know. Don't worry. I'll handle the things in the company." Alec nodded with a smile. "I'll just send you back.""Take me to the shopping mall. I invited Stephanie out," Jenny said quickly.Alec nodded. "Okay."They drove toward the mall. Alec asked, "Is Stephanie with Leonard yet?""Probably not. She'd tell me if they were." She and Stephanie had contacted each other these few days, and Stephanie hadn't told her anything about Leonard at all. Hence, Jenny guessed that they were not together y
They held hands as they walked into the mall and talked about Jenny's recent events as they shopped. Once Stephanie learned everything, she said, "Evan really went too far. Did he honestly think he could trap you in there forever?"As Jenny's long-time friend, she knew that even if Jenny couldn't find an escape plan quickly, she would never give up and spend the rest of her life with Evan.Jenny smiled bitterly. She would probably never understand what went through Evan's head, but she guessed that with all their years apart, Evan no longer understood her."Well, what about you and Alec? You didn't agree to be with him just because he saved you, did you?" Stephanie didn't think that Jenny would be so impulsive. If she were the type to agree to be in a relationship because of one kind gesture, she would have gotten together with Evan ages ago.Jenny was quiet for a bit before speaking. "We probably fulfilled our destinies by being together. If it weren't for Evan's scheme, I might h
"When are you and Alec planning to marry?" Stephanie directed the topic of the conversation toward Jenny and Alec. "Oh, I mean, remarry."Jenny had nothing to say to that. "It's still early." Jenny still had yet to plan a marriage."I envy you so much. You are all marrying and getting together, and I'm still single," Stephanie exclaimed sadly.Jenny didn't pity her. Instead, she rolled her eyes. "There are so many people out there willing to be in a relationship with you. But do you want to?""I do." Stephanie just wanted a normal love story, unlike her incident with Paul."Then try it out with Leonard," Jenny suggested.Stephanie pursed her lips and said softly, "I'll see. Who knows if he actually likes me? I don't want to overdo things.""The choice is yours. As long as you won't regret it." Stephanie may be her good friend, but she couldn't make the decisions for her. Things like love had to be sorted out on her own.They talked as they shopped, and soon they bought plenty o
That afternoon, Gilbert called off his engagement to the Silveras. He did not pick up a single one of Lottie's calls. When he found Marigold, she was taking Caleb on a stroll around the neighborhood. It had been a while since she'd taken notice of anything related to Gilbert. She suddenly felt how nice it was to have her mental energy spent somewhere else, no longer being so hung up on that man. However, when Gilbert appeared before her, her heartbeat quickened. "Why are you here?" Marigold said, snapping out of her reverie. Gilbert smiled lightly. Without saying much else, he pulled her into an embrace. "Didn't you say that I could come to see you once everything is settled?" Marigold was stunned. She was in disbelief. "So, what you're saying is it's all over?" "Didn't you read the news?" Gilbert was speechless. "No. I didn't want to care." Every time she saw anything about Gilbert and Lottie, she felt miserable. She'd rather save herself the pain and block out anything
In the end, Esther went with Gilbert's suggestion. However, she did not trade Bradshaw Operation's projects with Jenny. She went with the Silveras. For one, she did not trust the Walters. On the other hand, the Silveras and the Bradshaws were going to be united through marriage. They deserved to be trusted more. Gilbert didn't mind. After all, if anything happened to the Bradshaws, the Silveras would not help. With those projects in hand, they would only fall further into debt. The plan was going smoothly. Gilbert had not gone to see Marigold once. He knew that before subduing the Bradshaws, going to visit Marigold would only endanger her. After all, Marigold was safe. Nothing had happened, and Caleb was growing up healthily. One month later, things began to feel off in Bradshaw Operations. After Faust Group received their money, they did not start the project. No one knew what they were doing. Esther was feeling antsy. She prodded Gilbert to ask if there was anything wro
That very afternoon, Esther and Gilbert rushed to Faust Group to sign the deal. Gilbert said he was worried that Alec would change his mind, so he urged Esther to sign it. Only through a written contract would they be able to relax. Esther thought it made sense and agreed to rush to Faust Group with Gilbert.In the meeting room, Alec looked at the two people before him, expressionless. "You have a good son, Mrs. Bradshaw." "I'm flattered. My son had Bradshaw Operations' interests at heart. He'll inevitably be a little insensitive. Please don't hold that against him, Mr. Faust." Esther smiled. She didn't mind Alec's sarcasm because it didn't matter. As long as Bradshaw Operations could truly benefit from this, she didn't care how much Alec mocked her. Alec smiled coldly and slid the contract over to her. "You may flip through it." Esther took it and read through it seriously.If this project succeeded, they would reap massive rewards. However, it required a massive upfront inv
In the following days, Gilbert headed over to Faust Group infrequently during the day. To others, he was there to talk business with Alec. But in reality, it was a different scenario altogether. Vincent brought Gilbert a cup of coffee in Alec's office. Because of all the times he'd been there, Vincent knew what he wanted without having to ask. Alec had a cup of coffee placed before him, too. Everyone thought that Gilbert was trying to convince Alec to give him one of the shares, which was why he always came there, but that was not the case. The collaboration was a set-up. As long as the Bradshaws signed the deal on the project, they would not escape unscathed. Gilbert had planned this for a long time just to trick the Bradshaws into accepting the project. However, the scheme had to be executed perfectly. Since Gilbert buttered up the project in front of the Bradshaws, Alec had to feign disinterest in his collaboration. Otherwise, it would seem suspicious if Alec, a smart ma
After the engagement party, Gilbert officially had a stronghold in Bradshaw operations. Because he was already very capable, he had a lot of supporters. No one challenged him in the company. Most of them sucked up to him because they knew that if things went well, he would be the heir of the company.Gilbert didn't really care about that. He didn't even want to be there for long. He knocked on Esther's door and walked into her office."Come, sit." Esther was all smiles when she saw him. It was more sincere than before.She used to doubt him a lot, but now, although she still had her reservations, she mostly believed in him. In her eyes, no one would reject the chance to inherit Bradshaw Operations. This was basically manna from Heaven. Gilbert just didn't know it back then, and now he did. Gilbert sat down in front of Esther and began reporting the information he had gathered, as well as his thoughts on Bradshaw Operations and his plans for the future.When he presented the inf
Gilbert and Lottie's engagement party was held at Bardoff Grand Hotel on Saturday.A ton of people showed up to their engagement party. After all, the Bradshaws and the Silveras were pretty big names in Bardoff City, and plenty of the other families knew of their true wealth. They all came to attend the party. Jenny and Alec had both received invites. Jenny was Gilbert's sister, and on top of that, they represented the Walters and the Fausts. It was to be expected. At first, Jenny didn't want to go. The party held no meaning to it. It was just a show put on for Esther. It would be a complete waste of her time. However, she was talked into it by Alec. It would be weird if she didn't go. Zack brought Janet to the party. He found Jenny and was in a daze. "Wasn't Gilbert courting Marigold? Why is he engaged to Lottie?" Jenny rolled her eyes. "What have you been doing, Zack? You're really bad at keeping up." Gilbert had been courting Lottie for a while now. If Zack paid attention
Gilbert drove to Jenny's villa, but he was in no rush to get down. He didn't unlock the doors, either. He obviously wanted to talk to Marigold. But Marigold evidently didn't want to. "I want to take my child and leave." She was afraid. What if Gilbert and Lottie married and took her child away? She no longer believed in love. The only thing she believed in was her child. Gilbert tightened his grip when he heard that. "Marigold, the engagement is only for Esther to see. I have no feelings for Lottie." "Who knows? People change. You said you didn't have feelings for me, too." Marigold found this all very amusing. Perhaps this was fate. Gilbert wanted to keep explaining, but Marigold did not give him the chance to. "Just let me and Caleb leave. If what you say is true, you can come to find us once everything is over." And if Gilbert didn't come looking for her, the truth would unfold itself, and she would give up all hope. Gilbert understood that Marigold had already made
Marigold was miserable throughout dinner, but she persevered till the end without being too dramatic. After dinner, they walked to the entrance of the shopping mall.Gilbert went to get the car. Lottie stood with Jenny and Marigold. Watching Gilbert leave, she turned toward Marigold. "I heard that you used to like Gilbert very much." "It's all in the past. It's not worth mentioning." Marigold didn't want to talk about it. She was afraid that Lottie would see that she still liked Gilbert. Most importantly, she was afraid that Gilbert's plan would be ruined. Lottie smiled. "That's true. The past is the past. You're such a nice person. You'll definitely be able to find someone better suited for you in the future." Marigold pursed her lips. Gilbert soon brought the car over. Lottie was about to get into the car, but before she did, she suddenly turned to Marigold and said, "Gilbert and my engagement party will be in a few days' time. If you have the time, you're more than welcom
Everyone was shocked to hear her speak so suddenly. Lottie was stunned, and she explained, "You've misunderstood. That's not what I meant. I just think that if the child follows his father, it'll help him develop better, and you'll be less stressed." "I don't need your concern. I can raise my child alone," Marigold snorted. She did not hold back at all. Lottie looked unpleasant. Gilbert had no choice but to step in. "We'll have our own child together. And whoever likes it the most will get to keep it." Although they knew that Gilbert had meant this for Lottie to hear, Marigold found it extremely upsetting. She looked at Gilbert, and for a moment, she was unable to tell if he was being genuine. She thought of all that Gilbert had said to her last night, saying that he didn't like Lottie and had no intention of marrying her. But he looked to be truly in love. Marigold didn't think she could tell if he was faking it. "I'm sorry. I need to go to the restroom." Marigold didn't w