It was a day later when a major celebration unfolded at the Ziegler residence—Eric formally proposed to Evelyn.Eric's parents were no longer alive, so Timothy and Heather ultimately represented him, formally approaching the Ziegler family for Evelyn's hand. Thus, the connection between the two families became even closer.Eric, having worked for several years, demonstrated ample sincerity; along with a full array of wedding gifts, the monetary gift he offered amounted to 66 million dollars.Julian and Willow ensured Eric wasn't short-changed, gifting them two matrimonial homes—one in Yarrowmere, the other in Brindley—both luxury villas valued at over a hundred million dollars each.In addition, Evelyn received a direct transfer of a 30% share in Aurelia Group. Though she was young and hadn't done anything extraordinary, Evelyn already commanded substantial assets. Eric was unequivocally marrying into a higher social and financial standing, destined, it seemed, to work under Evelyn
It would have been a falsehood to claim that no one would feel anything at all—they weren't made of stone, after all.Gabriella was no exception. In addition, that serving of polenta fries, still warm, seemed to have thawed the part of her heart that had long felt cold and lifeless, stirring something within her.It was undeniable that things had changed, though. Given their past and the presence of Fred, it was nearly impossible for her to develop romantic feelings for Xavier, though maintaining a peaceful dynamic was achievable.Gabriella's moment of hesitation was cut short as Xavier led her into the car.True to Xavier's word, the car was indeed warm. The moment she stepped inside, Gabriella felt hot enough to shed her coat and unwind her scarf. She held the warm serving of polenta fries, her gaze on Xavier as she asked, "What's with the unexpected visit? Is it safe for you to be driving with your injury?"Xavier's gaze held a profound intensity as he asked, "Is that concern I
It was said that time healed all wounds. It was the case for Gabriella, and it was likewise for Xavier.…It was evening when the snowfall ceased. Gabriella was adamant about heading back to the Ziegler residence. There were still things that demanded her attention, and with Eric set to propose to Evelyn before the New Year, her family truly needed her, the eldest daughter, to get everything in order.In most cases, most people would only marry once in their lives, and this was Evelyn's momentous occasion.Xavier didn't try to stop Gabriella, merely murmuring that he'd be present on the day Eric came to propose to Evelyn.Gabriella was well aware that Xavier was asserting his position, so she smiled faintly and said, "I'll ring you as soon as I have the date. I won't be around, so don't forget to change your dressing every day."Though his heart was heavy, Xavier still quipped, "You know, the older household staff here aren't nearly as skilled at dressing wounds as you are." Ga
Once his dressing was changed, Xavier got a little fidgety again. He wanted Gabriella to stay with him. She was pulled all the way to the bed and eased into the blanket, with her face resting against his shoulder.He casually chatted with her, mostly about their future together and the twins' education. He sounded serious, almost as if he had already taken up the role of a good husband.It was Gabriella's primary focus, but she didn't want to talk about it now. She was a little tired now, and she drifted off to sleep as Xavier went on. Her eyes closed gently, and her expression looked inexplicably tender.He lowered his head, staring at her earnestly. Although he was reluctant to do it, he reached out and turned the lights off. He even closed the curtains. Ash and Lynn's joyful, innocent laughter continued to echo downstairs, but the bedroom was peaceful and quiet. The faint scent of medicine mixed with a touch of her sweet body scent. Xavier couldn't stop himself from burying his
Two maids were keeping Ash and Lynn company outside. Judging by the sounds, Gabriella was probably in the hallway. Xavier felt reassured. She was too weak to be out in the cold. Joyful chatter and laughter echoed from downstairs. After a while, footsteps could be heard from the stairs. Based on how light and soft they sounded, it was probably a lady.Xavier's heart raced. He sprinted back to his bedroom and quickly lay on the bed. Sure enough, the door swung open shortly after. Gabriella strolled past the private lounge and headed to the room. Turning on the lights, she walked over to the bed and placed some sort of tray on the headboard. Then, she sat by the side of the bed. Xavier pretended as if he had just woken up. Opening his eyes, he straightened his hands and stretched, accidentally revealing his abs. His sharply defined six-pack was nothing short of impressive. Regrettably, the gauze covered most of it, drastically reducing its seductive charm. That said, it didn't st
Xavier gave it some thought and decided to have dinner downstairs. He wanted to reunite with Gabriella, but he didn't want it to be too simple and hasty either. He had to spend some time with the kids too. So, he asked the chefs to prepare more dishes and a bottle of wine for them. He had yet to fully recover from his recent, heavy injuries, and she was in poor health. The wine was just there to set the mood. Ash and Lynn were thrilled. Although the grown-ups didn't say anything, they were keen and perceptive. They could sense that their parents had gotten back together and would stay at the same place.Both of them had two drumsticks. Before long, their little bellies were stuffed and round, looking adorable.Xavier raised his wine glass and gave Gabriella an affectionate look. "Let's have a tiny sip."She needed to drive home later, but she didn't ruin the mood. She played along and took a sip. It was a small gesture, but it made Xavier's eyes turn red. His chest was about t