Duane returned to the gathering in a daze, forcing a smile as he continued to toast the big shots. Winter had dropped him, and he had no leverage over her anymore. This dinner was his last chance."Mr. Campbell, we've met a few times before. It's my first time having the honor to toast you today. I
"Well, then you're mistaken. I can't speak for others, but as for me—I've got a heart of stone," Winter declared.Zach couldn't help but laugh out loud."Tsk, why are you always laughing?" Winter complained."Well, should I cry instead?""Sure, I'll hand you some tissues."Zach fell silent before ta
Zach frowned, feeling uninterested that night. "No need, take her away," he said.The manager's smile didn't falter as he motioned for Dani to leave, and they both walked away without protest.A little further down the hallway, Dani asked, "Didn't you say Mr. Zach usually likes company when he stays
The moonlight shone like water, stretching across the night.The next morning at nine, Zach woke up and went to find Winter. Just as he reached her door and prepared to knock, it swung open from the inside."Sh—"Uh!Standing in the doorway was a young man, his hair tousled as if he'd just woken up
"Why are you staring at me like that? Hurry up, I'm dying of thirst!" Winter urged.Resigned, Zach got up. As she gulped down the ice water, Winter finally felt fully awake."Did you have something to talk about? You've been waiting so long, I actually feel a bit bad..." she remarked.While he was f
"What you said before that.""Since Mr. Zach requested it…""The one before that."The manager replied, "Room 1901 checked out?"Zach's eyes widened. "She checked out?""Y-Yes, about ten minutes ago.""Shit—"The manager was puzzled. "Sir?""Get those women out of my sight! I can't stand looking at
The sudden flood of memories caught Miranda off guard. Was she really the one who had stubbornly grabbed his collar and refused to let go?Facing Paul's teasing gaze, she felt so embarrassed she wished the ground would swallow her up."Remember now?" Paul asked with an amused tone."Sorry, I…" She s
Mindy was speechless, giving him a look that said, "Seriously?" It seemed Lionel couldn't praise someone without including himself.By 1:00 pm, Paul was prepared to leave. Lionel, still working on the plants on the balcony, called out, "Mimi, walk your Uncle Paul out!"Paul stumbled, his back stiffe
Under Susan's gaze, Jenny felt a chill run down her spine. "You… Why are you acting so weird? Are you mute? You don't look like it from how you're dressed."She shot Susan a glare and muttered, "Crazy woman," before heading back into her apartment building. Susan stayed rooted to the spot. Her face
They made it back from the school to Harold's place just in time for dinner. After dinner, Lionel and his family said their goodbyes. Upon seeing this, Leonard's family made their exit right after. Jenny walked them to the door before collapsing onto the couch, clutching her lower back. "What a ti
Paul's genes ensured both good looks and a decent figure. On top of that, judging by how generous he was with his gifts, he clearly wasn't just an ordinary college professor. He probably came from an affluent family. Elite families like his often went back several generations, which meant his rela
Since it was the end of the year, the students were all on holiday. The vast school grounds felt a little deserted. Dallas Urban, the school's security guard, noticed Lionel coming from a distance. He stepped out of the guard booth and greeted him cheerfully, "Mr. Sutton!" Then his gaze landed on
"There's still a pile of pots and pans in the kitchen waiting to be cleaned," Jenny complained."I'm just like a maid that's born to toil endlessly, unlike you who can enjoy such an easy life. "You should really learn from Lionel. He cooks every time they host a gathering. You two are brothers, but
"I'm cooking something," Paul said. "Why are you cooking this late at night?" Susan asked. "I wanted a midnight snack."Susan knew her son didn't normally eat late. Clearly, he was cooking for someone else. The thought worsened her mood. "When are you planning to come back to Elgerson?" she asked
Suddenly, Miranda stopped walking. She turned to face Paul and said seriously, "Thank you, Paul, for coming to Lumberville to spend Christmas with me. And… thank you for being in my life."Paul was slightly taken aback. Then, he gently squeezed her hand. "You dummy. I should be the one thanking you.
Yale wasn't too pleased. "But… I was just trying to clear the way for you. Am I wrong for doing that?"He couldn't help but feel a little wronged. Paul softened his tone and explained, "That's not what I meant. First off, Mom had already agreed to me coming to Lumberville. There was no need for lie
"Oh, you're back? What were you guys doing?" Lionel came out of the kitchen, still wearing his apron. He looked a little puzzled when he saw everyone gathered around Paul and Miranda. "Dad…" Miranda was about to go over with the shopping bags, but Paul had already taken them from her before she cou