Cassidy finally beamed. "Can we go to the amusement park?"Jennifer wanted to remind her that she hadn't touched any of her homework all week and only thought about playing. But seeing her daughter's recent unhappiness, she held back and decided to let it go.The next morning, Maxwell took Cassidy out. Before leaving, he had Cassidy give Jennifer a quick kiss.Cassidy whispered, "Mommy, I'm going with Daddy now. Rest well!"With that, Maxwell left for the office with Cassidy.Jennifer planned to catch up on a week's worth of sleep. But not long after, she heard the sound of cars arriving in the courtyard. She quickly got out of bed and ran to the window. She saw several luxury cars pulling into the yard. One by one, rich socialites stepped out of the cars, cheerfully greeting Camila.Jennifer felt a headache coming on. Camila just couldn't stop causing trouble. Jennifer closed the window and pulled the covers over her head but couldn't fall back asleep.Just then, she grabbed her phon
Jennifer immediately caught on. Camila had gathered a group of allies to put her in her place. But Jennifer had to maintain the image of a dutiful daughter-in-law in front of these gossipy women. She didn't care what others might say about her behind her back, but she did care about Maxwell's reputation.Jennifer feigned humility. "You're absolutely right, madam. I'd love to learn from you. Perhaps we can get together again sometime with your daughters-in-law so I can get some tips."Vicky was taken aback. Jennifer's calm demeanor left her at a loss for how to continue.Camila sighed helplessly. "Oh, my daughter-in-law's hands are made for performing surgery, and my son cherishes her dearly! How could I ask her to cook? Jennifer, I'll send someone to call you down to join us once lunch is ready. I just hope you can join us for lunch later."Camila sounded understanding, but each word pushed Jennifer further into an uncomfortable spotlight.Fiona couldn't help but add, "Camila, t
Jennifer was at a loss when Martha hurried over. She whispered, "Don't worry, Mrs. Lance. Mr. Lance will be home shortly.""Maxwell?" Jennifer was surprised. "Didn't he take Cass to the office?"Martha smiled. "I overheard those women giving you a hard time, so I quickly called Mr. Lance. He said he'd be back soon and told you not to worry."Jennifer's heart warmed and she instantly calmed down. While cooking wasn't her forte, she could handle washing vegetables and preparing ingredients, so she began to rinse the vegetables, waiting for Maxwell to return.Meanwhile, the women outside were still intent on making things difficult for Jennifer.Fiona sneered. "Who knows if she's actually cooking in the kitchen or if she's letting the maids do it?"Vicky chimed in, "Let's find out, shall we? Camila is too soft to teach her daughter-in-law her place, but we're not so easy to fool. I won't go easy on her if she tries to trick me!"Camila, seeing her friends rallying to her side, felt
Maxwell embraced Jennifer from behind, startling her."You scared me!" she turned around and complained. "Why are you back so soon?"Maxwell leaned down and whispered, "Martha told me that my mother was giving you a hard time again, so I hurried back with Cass."Jennifer's cheeks flushed, but her heart fluttered. She frowned at the ingredients in the sink. "This isn't exactly my strong suit."Maxwell chuckled, rolling up his sleeves. "Leave it to me. Just keep me company."He first washed some fruit for her and made a fruit."The doctor said you're prone to low blood sugar during pregnancy, so you should eat more fruit." He handed her the platter. "Finish all of this."Sitting down with the platter Maxwell had prepared, Jennifer felt loved. She had never felt safer with Maxwell around.Jennifer couldn't help but admire Maxwell as he worked in the kitchen. Even though he was cooking, he still looked strikingly handsome.Maxwell moved efficiently, handling each step in the kitch
Camila, worried about offending Vicky and losing her support, quickly interjected, "Maxwell, what are you saying? This is all nonsense."Maxwell smiled. "Don't take offense, Mrs. Inkling. I was just kidding! Please, enjoy your meal."Since Maxwell stood up for Jennifer, no one dared to speak ill of her, though many still harbored resentment. These socialite women had faced hardship from their mothers-in-law when they were young. Now, even if they no longer endured such challenges, they seemed eager to put others in similar situations.After lunch ended, seeing Maxwell present and unable to stir up any trouble, the women left unenthusiastically. Camila felt frustrated. She had thought her plan would go smoothly, but with Maxwell defending Jennifer at every turn, her efforts were in vain.When the others departed, the smile vanished from Maxwell's face. He turned to Camila. "Don't think I don't know what you're trying to do. If you want a peaceful life, we can put on an act of famili
Maxwell looked at Jennifer, puzzled. "What… did you mean by that?"Jennifer smiled and changed the subject. "Nothing important. Let's not bring up unpleasant things anymore, okay? Cal's coming back from Minalur tomorrow. Let's go pick him up together. I miss him already.""Alright, we'll go together with Cass," Maxwell agreed. He paused with worry. "Have you noticed that Cass's been a bit… down lately?"Jennifer nodded. "I've noticed too. It's strange. She used to chatter nonstop, and now she barely says a word and always seems down."Maxwell took a deep breath and frowned. "Could it be that she's getting bullied at school and is afraid to tell us?""How is that even possible?" Jennifer rolled her eyes at him. "You've already spoken with the principal and teachers. If anyone tried to bully Cass, the teachers would step in immediately."She stood up. "I'll go check on Cass."In Cassidy's room, she was sitting at her desk blankly. When she heard footsteps, she looked toward the do
The next day, Jennifer and Maxwell went to the airport to pick up Caleb. He happily brought out gifts he had brought back for his parents, grandma, and sister. "Here's a necklace for Mommy, a tie for Daddy, and a scarf for Grandma! By the way, where's Cass?"Jennifer and Maxwell were delighted to receive the gifts, feeling proud that their son was finally growing up. Meanwhile, Camila thought to herself that Caleb would be perfect if only he wasn't Jennifer's blood.Maxwell told Caleb, "Cass isn't home from school yet. You can put her gift in her room and surprise her when she gets back."Caleb winked at Maxwell. "Do you think she'll still be upset? I brought her the most gifts—chocolate, a doll, and a cute dress."Maxwell chuckled. "If I were Cass, I'd think I have the best brother and wouldn't be upset at all.""Really?" Caleb ran straight to Cassidy's room as soon as they got home, eager to hide the gifts in her closet.Later that evening, when Cassidy came home, she wasn't as
Cassidy put down her utensils and ran upstairs. Jennifer and Maxwell were stunned, unable to understand why their daughter was acting this way. Camila scolded them, "What's wrong with both of you? Why are you being so harsh? Poor Cassidy! She's just a little girl. How can you speak to her like that?"With that, she went upstairs, pretending to be concerned about Cassidy. Jennifer was too upset to keep eating, and Maxwell didn't know how to scold Cassidy. They wanted to check on their daughter, but Caleb needed comforting too. So, they stayed and consoled him first.…In her room, Cassidy lay on her bed, sobbing. Camila walked over. "There you go again, crying. But have your parents come to comfort you?"Cassidy sat up and leaned into Camila's arms. "Grandma, what should I do? It feels like Daddy and Mommy don't like me anymore.""Oh, Grandma worries about you too. Look at how biased your parents are," Camila said slyly. "When your mom's new baby is born, they'll probably not want you
But it seemed like Simon was slowly warming up, though Laura couldn't tell if it was just her imagination. Laura tapped Britney on the back of her head. "What are you daydreaming about?"Britney answered solemnly, "I'm worried about you, Laura! Let's check things out at Valor Law Firm tomorrow, okay? After all, each side has its own version of the story. Maybe Mr. Moore will have a completely different explanation tomorrow." Laura felt a sense of unease. When they reached the city center, she got out of the car. "Go back to the studio on your own. I... I need to take a walk." Britney knew Laura was planning to see Simon to clarify things. So, she didn't press the matter and drove off.Laura headed straight to Valor Law Firm. The receptionist saw her and asked, "Do you have an appointment, Ms. Scott? Mr. Moore is currently in a meeting.""It's fine. I'll just wait for him here." Laura had just sat down when she noticed Alex coming in. Alex walked over eagerly. "Are y
Laura spent the entire morning investigating the Brooks Group's construction site incident and the people involved.In the afternoon, she took Britney and visited the victim's family.The family lived in a remote rural area and looked poor. When they heard Laura was a journalist from a well-known studio, the victim's family members broke into tears. "Please, you must stand up for us!"These were ordinary people with no way of beating influential figures. Having someone to speak for them filled them with gratitude. Laura quickly helped the victim's grieving parents to their feet. The deceased worker, Nick Klaus, was only 20 years old. His parents were in their early 40s, yet their hair had turned completely white, and their wrinkles made them look much older.Laura couldn't help but feel a wave of sadness, while Britney looked like she was about to cry from sympathy.The victim's father cried, "Those bastards at Brooks Group are so heartless! It was their fault for not ensuri
Laura sighed to herself. She just needed to coordinate with Simon to get the news. Why did Joseph make it sound like such a difficult task?She promised, "Don't worry, Mr. Zone. Our News Department has coordinated with Valor Law Firm before, and we've done quite a few exclusive interviews with Mr. Moore. This shouldn't be a problem."Joseph smiled. "You're good at keeping work and personal life separate, but I haven't finished yet. The reason we're focusing on this news piece is because the family of the deceased worker is suing Brooks Group for insufficient safety measures. Plus, the workers at the site are agitated. The company is unwilling to pay compensation and hired a lawyer to minimize the settlement. The family of the deceased refuses to accept the proposed 200 thousand dollars as compensation. Both sides are at a stalemate." "200 thousand dollars?" Laura was stunned. "A human life, and they're offering only that little?" Joseph nodded. "Even you're outraged. That's why
"Simon Moore!" Laura had enough and huffed. "I never thought you were so frivolous! I know I can't stop you, nor do I have the right to. But can you leave me out of it? I don't want to watch you guys mess around!" Simon's voice was low and husky. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken you. I thought since Joseph is your superior, it might be good to introduce you two so he would go easier on you at work. I didn't expect to upset you." Laura shot him a gloomy look. "Do you wish I was more like those two hostesses? What did you guys even do after I left?" Simon couldn't help but laugh. Her jealousy pleased him.His tone softened. "I could go to any club if I wanted women like that. Why would I need you?"Laura snorted. "Who knows what you and Joseph used to do together? Only a fool would believe you!"Simon knew that she was just upset. He ruffled her hair and explained, "Joseph wasn't always like this. He was hurt by a woman, and... He became cynical and stubborn after. He's bee
Laura's expression turned unpleasant after hearing the rules. She quickly turned to Simon.Did this mean they always played games like these when Joseph visited? The thought of Simon being with hostesses in her absence disgusted Laura. Joseph chimed in, "Come on, Simon! Let's play a few rounds, then we'll eat! I rarely get to visit Haven City, so you have to party with me until I'm satisfied!" The two hostesses by his side set a pair of dice on the table. They smiled flirtatiously. "Let's just play the dice game. If Mr. Zone loses, we'll take something off. If Mr. Moore loses, then…" Simon cut them off. "Laura doesn't play these kinds of games, and she won't." One of the hostesses rolled her eyes. "Isn't this the most basic game in any club?" Simon's expression darkened. Noticing his mood, Joseph quickly shot the hostess a look, signaling her to stop talking. Then, he tried to lighten the awkward atmosphere with a laugh. "Simon, are you keeping things solid at hom
Laura stared at the screen, puzzled.Simon sent another message: "I'll pick you up tonight to meet a friend."Laura was surprised. Why did Simon want to take her to meet a friend? Was she someone he could openly bring out in public? Laura consoled herself. What was she worried about if Simon was the one who invited her?So, she agreed.After work, Simon came to pick her up. Laura thought they were going for dinner or something casual. To her surprise, they went to Nimbus Lounge."This is the place?" Laura frowned. She had her biases against clubs. "Who is this friend of yours? Why meet at a place like this?" Simon parked the car "He enjoys places like these. This is his go-to spot whenever he comes to Haven City." Laura's expression shifted to one of seriousness. "So, did you invite me here just to have some fun too, Mr. Moore?" Simon caught on and sighed helplessly. "Laurie, you're too sensitive." Wouldn't staying home be far more convenient if he wanted to play
When Laura entered the conference room, she felt every gaze land on her, making her face burn with embarrassment. She wished the ground would swallow her whole.She apologized, "Sorry, there was a bit of traffic this morning, so... I'm late." Everyone waited eagerly to see her make a fool of herself. After all, Joseph was notoriously short-tempered and sharp-tongued. Even when no mistakes were made, Joseph could pick faults where none existed. Now, Laura was toying with danger, and most people assumed he would fire her on the spot. Laura stood there with her head down, like a student late for class, afraid to move until Joseph gave permission. Finally, Joseph spoke, "Come in. You can present the News Department's performance for the last quarter after the Entertainment Department." His tone was calm, almost gentle. Laura wondered if her ears were playing tricks on her. The others were equally stunned, casting shocked glances at Joseph. This was completely unlike h
After a night of passion, Laura felt soreness all over her body, and her legs seemed like they didn't belong to her.Even breakfast was prepared by Simon. In the morning light, Simon stood in the kitchen in a white shirt. His black trousers made his legs appear even longer. Laura let her gaze linger on him. She tilted her head, staring at him with infatuation. No matter how long she looked, he was simply breathtaking. Noticing her staring, Simon glanced at her while flipping eggs. "Why are you staring at me like a hungry wolf so early in the morning?" Laura quickly withdrew her gaze. "I wasn't looking at you. I was staring at the food." Simon finished frying the egg and slipped it into a piece of toast. Laura beamed at the breakfast. "Mr. Moore, your cooking is a million times better than mine. Why don't you make breakfast every day from now on?" Simon flicked her forehead. "You're getting greedy now." Just then, Laura's phone rang. She answered the call while
Simon sat across from Laura, eating elegantly. It was a stark contrast to Laura's casual demeanor. Laura couldn't understand how such a perfect man could exist. It turned out there were men who were good at work and house chores.Her heart tightened when she thought about how all these wonderful qualities might one day belong to another woman. "Do you want more?" Simon asked. "I can share some of mine." Laura finished the soup in her bowl and shyly shook her head. "No, I'm fine. I… I already ate so much. I'll gain two more pounds tomorrow." Simon chuckled. "What's wrong with gaining weight? You're all bones. It'd feel much better if you had some meat on you."Laura shot him a playful glare. Why was he so proper during the day but flirty at night? She changed the subject. "When did you learn to cook? I remember Jennifer said Maxwell learned to cook because he couldn't get used to the food while studying abroad. What about you?"Simon froze, caught in a memory. He sa