MasukThe atmosphere in the Ashford family room, which had been slightly tense because of the incident that morning, suddenly became lively when the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the staircase.Before anyone had a chance to respond, Revaline appeared in the doorway, already dressed neatly in a light knitted coat and carrying a small crossbody bag with a gold chain strap. Her face, which had been puffy from crying the day before, now looked cheerful again, as if last night’s emotional storm had vanished without a trace.Aurora, who was still sitting on the carpet with a large bag of potato chips on her lap, looked up with one eyebrow raised. “Well, well... what brings Miss Revaline here so early, all dressed up like this? Where are you going?” Aurora asked suspiciously.Revaline smiled broadly, walked closer, and then tugged on Aurora’s sleeve to make her stand up. “Come on, get ready! We’re going to the mall now!” Revaline invited enthusiastically.Aurora’s eyes widened in surprise
The sound of a bedroom door closing slightly harder than necessary echoed through the upper floor of the Ashford residence. Daven, who had followed Joye’s hurried footsteps, could only stare at the white-painted door from outside. When he knocked and called his girlfriend’s name, there was no response from inside.Daven let out a long sigh and rubbed his face with both hands as frustration suddenly overwhelmed him. Realizing that Joye needed time to calm down, the young man decided to return downstairs to look for his girlfriend, who might be planning to go home.However, upon reaching the front yard, Daven’s steps immediately came to a halt.From a distance, he saw Joye walking quickly out through the main gate of the Ashford residence. Before Daven could shout her name, a yellow taxi that happened to be passing along the main road stopped in front of the gate. Without looking back even once, Joye immediately opened the taxi door and got inside.Bang.The taxi door closed firmly, and
The morning sun the following week shone brightly, warming the corners of the Ashford residence. The morning air felt fresh after a night filled with family happiness. In the spacious, modernly designed main kitchen, a little bustle had already begun at seven in the morning.Joye, wearing a soft pastel pink knitted cardigan paired with comfortable loose pants, stood beside the automatic coffee maker. She was preparing a cup of warm cappuccino especially for Daven—a sweet habit she had maintained ever since they officially became engaged.On the other side of the kitchen island, Revaline was pouring milk into her bowl of oat cereal. Wearing a loose T-shirt featuring her favorite cartoon character and pajama pants, Revaline yawned widely while playing with the phone in her hand. The kitchen felt peaceful and quiet that morning, until the side door opened and Daven walked in.Daven had just finished his morning workout. Wearing a tight black polo shirt that revealed the muscles in his ar
The orchestral music in the main hall gradually shifted from grand, resounding melodies to soft and soothing piano music. The crystal lights hanging from the ceiling were dimmed, casting a warm golden glow across every corner of the room. The invited guests began enjoying dessert while chatting in small groups, becoming increasingly immersed in the more intimate atmosphere of the evening.In a corner near the large glass window overlooking the backyard, Revaline and Aurora were still standing side by side. After tiring themselves out complaining about being single, the two girls were now busy keeping an eye on their respective dessert plates.“Hey, look at those cream-filled chocolate choux pastries,” Aurora whispered while nudging Revaline’s arm, her eyes sparkling as she stared at the tray carried by a passing waiter. “They look so delicious. Want to get another one?”Revaline glanced briefly at the pastries in question before smiling faintly. “You’ve been doing nothing but eating t
The sun had completely set, replaced by a scattering of stars and thousands of sparkling crystal lights that adorned the courtyard and main hall of the Ashford family’s grand residence. Tonight, a grand yet private celebration was being held, attended by important figures, elite business partners, and close relatives from all across the city. Among the arriving guests, Joye managed to attract countless pairs of eyes. The plus-size girl looked absolutely stunning in an ivory-white evening gown with an empire waist, adorned with delicate lace embroidery across the chest. The silhouette of the gown hugged her figure perfectly, radiating an elegance that was both sweet and adorable. What made tonight even more special was that Joye’s gown was an exact match for the ivory-white tuxedo worn by Daven beside her. Daven had been having a hard time taking his eyes off his beloved. Every time he saw the faint smile on Joye’s lips, a warm feeling surged within his chest. However, instead of s
As evening approached, the sky above Manhattan was painted in a beautiful gradient of golden-orange hues. At a minimalist café near the university district, Aurora sat across from Joye at a corner table beside a large glass window. The relatively quiet atmosphere of the café seemed to contrast sharply with the sudden tension that enveloped their table.Aurora slowly set down her cup of green tea. She looked at the girl sitting across from her with a serious expression mixed with intense curiosity. Ever since her conversation with Revaline on campus that afternoon, Aurora’s thoughts had been disturbed. She needed to hear the clarification directly from the source.“Joye,” Aurora called softly, beginning the conversation cautiously. “I want to ask you something, and I hope you can answer me honestly.”Joye, who was holding a cup of hot chocolate, looked up. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly at the seriousness on Aurora’s face. “What do you want to ask, Aurora? Is something serious?”Aurora







