Zelda and Rebecca were merrily chatting when they heard a car pull up outside their home."That should be Albert. I'll go and check." Rebecca stood from the chair and was about to welcome Albert at the door. After speaking to Sam and the others on the phone this afternoon, Albert checked up on Rebecca. He informed her that he'd come home earlier tonight. The company usually required Albert to work overtime when something was going on. Yet, Albert couldn't focus on work. He needed to check up on Rebecca and Oliver in person before he could relax. No amount of money and profit mattered more than the peace of his family.Rebecca also hoped Albert could remain at peace. When she heard the sounds outside, she got up and brought Oliver to welcome Albert.The afterglow from the sunset shone onto the tops of the mountains. It also cast two long shadows behind the incoming two men. The men wore black suits with dress pants that covered their long legs. Their leather shoes, polished to pe
What Maxwell struggled to comprehend was Rebecca's current behavior. A carefree grin curved on Rebecca's face as she talked about her past indifferently. "I encountered some nasty things while abroad. It's normal since poorer areas and more affluent areas are different. I didn't have much money at the time. So, it was inevitable that I bumped into people with ill intent. Things got better later on, though. Even Sam can't deny that."At the mention of Sam, Rebecca's grin spread wider. It was natural for siblings to bicker yet still smile upon talking about each other.Still, her smile didn't ease Maxwell's concerns. His features grew stormier by the second. "Did the Winstons not care about you …?"If what he learned back then was true, Daniel must've been the one who sent her abroad. He couldn't understand why Daniel did that. Even if Daniel didn't like Rebecca, whom George arranged for Daniel to marry, Daniel didn't need to cut Rebecca off financially like that. How could Daniel h
Hearing Ryan curse made Daniel stir on the hospital bed. His dark gaze shifted toward the former as he spoke sarcastically. "What's up with your amazing older brother now?""What's up with him? What do you think? Maxwell keeps running to Bex and giving her way too much attention. Now, he's even gone to dine at her house!" Instead of paying Daniel attention, Ryan sent Maxwell a long, aggressive text.At that moment, Maxwell didn't have the time to look at his phone. He had finished dinner at the Johnson family when Albert pulled him aside for a private chat. Albert likely wanted to tell him something without alerting the others, especially Rebecca.There were roses of various colors growing from the flowerbeds in the backyard. They grew in lush yet neatly maintained bushes. The outdoor lighting gave a gentle glow that accentuated the roses' charm.Albert led Maxwell there. Before speaking, he picked up a pair of gardening shears to trim some of the wilted flowers. Maxwell didn't u
Even so, one shouldn't compare marriage to business deals.Maxwell's lips curled into a grin as he removed his reading glasses. His playful, piercing gaze met Albert's, which gave him more magnetism. He had a charming face that could sway others' minds. Albert felt Rebecca might fall for Maxwell's looks. People naturally desired to settle down but preferred it if their partners were attractive. Still, Albert believed only time would reveal Maxwell's true nature. He held the latter's gaze and stopped tapping on his tablet. That was when Maxwell spoke with a sincere tone. "If you agree to let me marry Bex, I'll marry into and live with the Johnson family. I'll stay here with her for the next ten years or more. Albert's eyes rounded in slight shock when he heard that. He never imagined Maxwell would say such a thing. His conditions were cruel, but he never explicitly said Maxwell would marry into the Johnson family. Maxwell was the one who called it what it was. "Do you underst
"Have you finished looking at it?" asked Albert, who stopped touching his ring. His attention returned to Maxwell when the latter returned the table to the table.Maxwell gave a low hum in response. Then, he put on his reading glasses again. Maxwell remained stoic, but one could tell his energy was different. It seemed like he was holding back his rage.Albert pretended not to notice and only broke down the pros and cons. "So far, it hasn't affected my family, brother, and cousins' businesses too much. What happens in the future is uncertain. "As for your feelings for my sister, I understand it and can tell you're sincere. Still, sincerity isn't as good as my sister's safety. I hope you consider this matter sternly before telling me your answer."Maxwell's grim demeanor returned to normal with time. His gaze was still frosty beneath his glasses, but his features relaxed significantly. He even spoke in his usual tone. "Are you implying that you, your siblings, relatives, and Rebe
Maxwell shook his head. "Why would he give me trouble?"Rebecca didn't know Albert had helped Maxwell, so she couldn't help overthinking. Sam told her many unpleasant things about Maxwell. Sam called Maxwell a man who pretended to be innocent and harmless when he was secretly a horrid monster. On top of that, Albert pulled Maxwell aside for a private chat today. With all those things in mind, she couldn't help but worry."Don't take it to heart if Albert said anything too hurtful, Mr. Jenkins. My family are actually … decent people." She felt a little guilty when she finished that sentence. Naturally, her brothers adored her and only wanted to give her the best things. That said, their attitudes toward outsiders weren't the same. The stark contrast around others was especially true for Sam. So, Rebecca had turned her back on her conscience by saying her family members were decent people.Maxwell watched as Rebecca's features twisted from the awkwardness. The initial depression h
"Oh, it seems we arrived at an inconvenient time."When Rebecca caught a whiff of that faint fragrance again, she suddenly heard some playful laughter from behind. Rebecca's body stiffened immediately, and a rush of heat to her head made her push Maxwell away abruptly. At the same time, the warmth in her cheeks and the burning sensation in her ears became even more pronounced. "Mom, why did you guys come here?" Beneath the moonlight, Rebecca's petite figure stood before Maxwell. The tall and shadowy silhouette cast upon them created a beautiful scene in the eyes of onlookers. Zelda grinned and looked at them. "If we didn't come, how would we know that you've become so bold?" Hearing this, Rebecca's cheeks flushed even more. Did Zelda and Tabitha actually see what she had just done? If Zelda and Tabitha could read Rebecca’s thoughts, they would probably say, "Of course! We saw it very clearly!" However, aware that Rebecca was thin-skinned, Zelda and Tabitha didn't say
On Rebecca's phone screen, there was a photo sent by Zelda in the group chat.In the photo, despite her petite stature, Rebecca exuded confidence. She firmly grasped Maxwell's collar, pulling him closer as if leaning in for a kiss. Maxwell, on the other hand, seemed caught off guard, with disbelief in his eyes. However, he instinctively wrapped his arms around Rebecca's slender waist, as if he were concerned she might stumble. Due to the lighting, the photo didn't capture their actions clearly. However, given that they were all adults and Oliver was absent from the group chat, the other members of the group could immediately tell what Rebecca was doing. Rebecca was kissing Maxwell forcefully. She certainly had some nerve. After Zelda sent the photo, the group fell into an eerie silence, with no one responding. On the other hand, in a group chat without parents present, some members had already started to air their grievances.Sam: "Has Becca gotten bolder? Kissing someo