Serenity smiled. โMrs. Lane and I should be enough.โThe store her sister rented was not large. If too many people went to help, it would look crowded with the customers coming in to have breakfast.While the two friends chatted, twoโno, three people walked inOne of them was Noah, Serenityโs youngest cousin. He tried stopping Serenityโs car in the middle of the night last year and wanted to teach her a lesson, but she sent him to the police station.He was released after fifteen days of detention, but he did not repent and instead hated Serenity with a passion.He dropped out of school and stopped studying. His parents spoiled him and felt that his grades were not good enough to get him accepted into a university anyway, so they let him do as he pleased.After dropping out of school, Noah did nothing except play games.He came along the last time his grandfather visited the store to cause trouble, but Serenity did not notice him because there were too many people.โLet me go!
Serenity did not know which car Noah used at first, but since he volunteered the information, she managed to find Johnโs car. After all, out of all of the cousins, Johnโs car was the best.Serenity walked over, raised the knife, and slashed all four tires of Johnโs car.The tires were punctured and deflated. Soon, all four tires were flat.โOh no, oh no.โNoah looked at the flat tires and seemed frightened. โI donโt have enough money to get new tires for him. Serenity!โHe shouted at her, โYou need to pay for it!โSerenity looked at him coldly.She walked over while playing with the knife.Noahโs yelling became quiet.Standing in front of him, Serenity patted his face with the knife.Noah was so scared that he did not dare breathe. His eyes were filled with fear.He was terrified that this damned woman would slash his face and disfigure him.He did not have a wife yet.โWhose idea was this?โโW-What idea?โโFollowing me, taking pictures of me, and slashing my tires. Whos
โNoah Hunt, you know me, right? If you donโt talk, Iโll slash a few lines across your face. Youโre already ugly enough with pimples all over your face. Itโll be horrid if I add some blade scars to that. Youโll never get a wife and have to stay single all your life.โNoah visibly blanched and stammered, โI-I canโt say...โWith just that, Serenity knew that her relatives were planning something big to deal with her.She said to the two bodyguards, โBring him in for me. Iโll take good care of my little cousin.โโW-Wait, Iโll go by myself. Donโt let them touch me. Theyโre too rough.โNoah jumped and followed Serenity into the store.He knew how to behave himself after falling into Serenityโs hands. She would beat him into a pulp if she did not get what she wanted.Back in the store, he moved a stool for Serenity and poured water for her to drink.โTalk. Why did they ask you to follow me? Itโs fine if you donโt tell me. You know my identity now. As long as I give the command, Iโll s
However, Liberty was not as valuable as Serenity in the eyes of Old Mr. Hunt and the others.One was a pitiful woman who divorced and lived alone with a child, whereas the other was the eldest missus of the York family, the richest family in the city. Even a three-year-old would know who was more valuable.โGet out!โNoah stammered, โMy fare...โAs soon as Serenity glared, Noah scampered out.She went back on her word!She tricked him!How could he have a cousin like Serenity?Noah scolded Serenity all the way back to Johnโs rented house.As for Johnโs luxury car, he could not drive it back because all four tires were slashed. He could only let John think of a way himself. Fortunately, he brought back the car keys.When John found out that his little cousin not only failed and was discovered, but also left his car in front of Serenityโs shop, he was furious.He kicked Noah and yelled, โEven if you got scared and ran away, you should have run away with the car! How could you
After Noah ran away, Jasmine said to her friend, โSeren, those guys might be trying to replace you.โโItโs not that they โmightโ but rather theyโre already planning it.โSerenity sat down behind the cash register looking slightly exhausted.Her sister and she were really unlucky to have been born into that family.To think they were related by blood!โIs that Harriet whom Noah mentioned older or younger than you?โโWeโre the same age. Iโm a week older than her.โSerenity thought about her cousin who was only one week younger than her. She had not seen Harriet for more than ten years and had little memory of her. Did Harriet and her look similar?When her parents were alive, she and Harriet went to school together and were in the same class. She seemed to remember her classmates mentioning that they looked alike.Even if they did, they would only look somewhat similar. Did Harriet think she could replace Serenity by just impersonation?Did they think Zachary was stupid?Unles
โThereโs always wind blowing from any direction.โGrandma May slapped away Callumโs hand that wanted to support her. โNo need for that. Iโm still hale and hearty. I wonโt die until I see all of you marry and have children.โโThen I wonโt marry and have children. Iโll let you live until youโre two hundred years old, Nana.โGrandma May whacked Callum.โYou little brat. I followed your big brother back to the office today to talk about your marriage.โCallum was speechless. Was it too late for him to escape now?Of course, it was.He hurriedly helped his nana to the couch for a seat, then knelt in front of her and helped to massage her legs. He asked a little curiously yet nervously, โWho do you have your eye on, Nana? Is it someone I know?โHe was aware that his nana had recently set her target on him.It was because he was the second born. Since the eldest got married, it was his turn now.โNana, Iโll say this first. Iโm not interested in getting married out of nowhere. Donโt
Callum pointed to the handsome man in the photo. โSo, heโs a she?โโShe has a fraternal twin brother, but they look exactly the same. Her family raised her as a boy since childhood, so she acts like a man. People outside of her family think that sheโs the eldest son.โโHow did you know sheโs actually a woman?โCallum heard of Casey Stoll before, and he had seen pictures of her too. At first glance, she really did look like a man, but it was not because she was deliberately trying to come off as the opposite sex. She dressed androgynously, but since she was known for her power and influence, people misunderstood and thought she was a man.The handsome guy in the photo was different from Casey. She was raised as a man and also deliberately dressed like a man. She had thick eyebrows and large eyes, looked grim and cold, and her tall figure was dressed in a suit. Anyone who looked at her would think she was a he.Callum flipped over the photo and read the womanโs profile on the other
โNo. Iโll only help you and Kevin find a candidate for the time being. Thereโs no hurry for the others.โCallum tried to drag his younger brothers into this. โOnly Rowan is still a minor. Alex just turned twenty this year, and the others are at the legal marriageable age. You canโt be biased, Nana. Let them all get married. The more granddaughters-in-law you have, the greater your chance of having a great-granddaughter.โGrandma May said, โIโm counting on Seren to give me a great-granddaughter. The fortune-teller said that Serenโs firstborn will be a girl.โCallum asked, โWhen did you become so superstitious?โโSince your big brother actually fell in love with Serenity. Fortune-telling is an age-old art. Itโs worth believing in a little.โAfter she finished speaking, she stood up. โI wonโt bother you with your work. Iโll go to Libertyโs shop to have a look. I miss Sonny after not seeing him for so long. Libertyโs breakfast diner will be open for business soon, right?โCallum said
It was his father. Manny composed himself and picked up Tonyโs call as he walked toward his car.โHey, Pops.โโHowโs it going, Manny? Has there been any progress?โTony was still in Carrieโs room at the moment, but had gotten up and walked to the balcony to call his son.Carrie was still fast asleep, though her face was set in a frown. She was obviously discomfited.Tony had pestered her for the majority of last night, so it would be weird if she did not feel any discomfort.Despite her begging, Tony would not let her go. He even forcefully drugged her to make her mess around with him while out of it. He was simply an old pervert.Before she passed out, she cursed him in her heart. However, she knew that Tony only treated her so roughly because she was just his mistressโa tool for him to vent his frustrations on.If she really was his wife, he definitely would not treat her like this.In the past, she had ambitions of taking Mrs. Longbottomโs place and becoming the real missus
Tati also finished her plate of pastries.She followed Isabella out.โIsa, youโre always so busy and exhausted. If youโre feeling even a little unwell, you should have a good rest. Stay home for the day. I can handle the work you have on hand. Itโs the same either way.โTati wanted Isabella to take the day off so Isabella could spend some time with Austin and nurture their relationship.However, Isabella still declined Tatiโs kind offer.She said, โNot today. Thereโs an important meeting today, and I have two important clients to meet. Iโm fine, really. Donโt worry. From now on, I wonโt touch alcohol.โGiven her current status and position, no one would dare to force her to drink during social engagements.Many people also knew that Isabella would not drink outside her home, fearing that she might fall victim to someoneโs schemes.However, Isabella would occasionally make an exception. When she was in a good mood, she would have a couple of drinks.Hearing this, Tati stopped t
Austin still smiled gently and said, โItโs all thanks to Ms. Isabellaโs guidance.โHe felt that he had indeed improved a lot.Grandma May really understood him well. The wife she picked for him could actually help improve his culinary skills.โAfter eating the sweets, I feel much better.โ Tati picked up another piece of pastry and ate it.Austin quietly retreated, not wanting to disturb their conversation and also to avoid overhearing their private matters.โJust ignore him. Are you really going to skip work because of him?โIsabella added calmly to Tati, โIf you let him provoke you, heโll only cling to you even more. If you act like he doesnโt exist and donโt respond no matter what he does, heโll naturally give up once he sees that youโre completely unresponsive.โTati said, โIโm afraid that heโll go and bother Edith and Eleanor if he doesnโt get anywhere with me. They donโt have the same resolve as we do.โShe, therefore, decided to bear the brunt of it.โEvery time I see hi
Austin replied, โBoth Mr. Louis and Mr. Phillip woke up very early, especially Mr. Phillip. He gets up earlier than Mr. Louis every morning. Itโs really hard on him, getting up so early in such cold weather.โSometimes, he himself felt like staying in bed a little longer, reluctant to leave the warm comfort of his blankets.Even after the New Year, Satbury remained quite cold. In contrast, over in Wiltspoon, the temperatures had begun to reach a high of over seventy degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime, with nighttime lows around fifty degrees.The two provinces and cities were simply incomparable. The temperatures in Wiltspoon were just so very comfortable for Satbury locals.Isabella smiled and said, โPhillip is just afraid heโll get here too late and that youโll assume heโs not coming over for breakfast, then not prepare any for him. He's such a little foodie.โThe house was never short of snacks for the little ones. In fact, any goodies were always reserved for them first.Yet,
Even when she attended banquets, she would show up in formal clothing. Isabella did not remember the last time she wore a dress. Perhaps it was when she was in third grade. In fact, she liked wearing pretty princessy dresses when she was young. Her mother had told her that.As Isabella was the first child and extremely adorable, Delphine had dolled her up like a princess. Her pretty dresses filled the closet. Her parents, aunts, uncles, and relatives would always gift her many beautiful dresses. As she grew up, perhaps when she was in fourth grade, she stopped wearing dresses. Regardless of who gave her new pieces, she would refuse to wear them and give them to her cousins instead. After everyone realized she disliked dresses, they gradually stopped giving her them. Delphine had asked Isabella why she disliked wearing dresses. Isabella reasoned that she could not walk quickly enough while wearing one. She valued speed and efficiency. Delphine said she had alway
While the private chefs Ms. Isabella had hired in the past were respectful, they were leaning toward flattery instead of sincere dedication, like how Austin was toward Ms. Isabella.Dominic was experienced. He could sense that Ms. Isabella treated Austin differently. She was also a special existence to Austin. It was normal for young people to be attracted to each other. Initially, Dominic wanted to advise Austin not to even think about dating Ms. Isabella. However, upon discovering that Austin was a young master of a wealthy family, he decided not to interfere. Dominic was glad that he did nothing.Austin returned to the house. Instead of heading straight to the kitchen, he went upstairs. He stopped outside of Isabellaโs room and knocked on the door lightly. No response came from within the room. Perhaps Austin was too soft when he knocked. He knocked on the door again with more force and asked, โAre you up yet, Ms. Isabella? Itโs time to have breakfast.โIsabella w
Austin was extremely patient with the boys. Although they occasionally caused trouble, most of them were minor issues. They would never do something they were not allowed to do.After breakfast, Austin brought them their bags. With a boy in each hand, he left the house. It was to prevent the boys from saying he was playing favorites. Dominic was used to that scene. Initially, Austin was simply Ms. Isabellaโs private chef. However, he gradually took on more responsibilities.He would take the two young masters to school. If he had time in the evening, he would also fetch them from school. Austin also made sure Louis and Phillip did their homework, supervised their hobby classes, and played with them. Sometimes, he would even teach them martial arts and train with them. Dominic felt Austin was an all-rounder. It seemed like there was nothing Austin could not do. No wonder Ms. Isabella thought highly of Austin. However, Austin was a young master of a wealthy family. He w
Louis and Phillip were downstairs having the breakfast Austin had prepared for them. The food was different every morning, and everything was delicious.Having gotten used to Austinโs cooking, Louis and Phillip could no longer stand the food provided in the school. They thought the food there was terrible. Louis was enrolled in an elementary school not far from home. As he was a first grader, he did not need to stay in the dormitories and could have his lunch and dinner at home. Phillip, who was a year younger than him, was still in preschool. He would have breakfast and dinner at home. Actually, the preschool did provide breakfast, but Phillip refused to eat in school and insisted on having breakfast at home. In order to eat the breakfast Austin made, he would get up early in the morning without the adults waking him. After putting on his clothes and washing up, he would head to Louisโs place with his bag. โAustin.โLouis suddenly asked, โDid my sister come back last n
Isabella had always thought Tati was teasing her. Therefore, she did not take her words seriously. She thought it was completely normal for Austin to treat her well as she was his boss. From Austinโs perspective, she was his source of income. Now that Isabella pondered about it deeper, she realized perhaps Austin did come to Satbury for her. It was not just to be her chef. He always said Grandma May only gave the York lads a year to pursue their fiancรฉes. However, Austin had never left since he started working for Isabella. Even if he did, it was to accompany her on business trips. He was busy feeding and taking care of her every day and had never gone to pursue his so-called fiancรฉe. He did not even try to gather information on her. Was he not anxious?A year would go by pretty quickly. Although it felt like it had not been long since Austin started working for Isabella, three months had passed. Time really flew. Three months had gone by in the blink of an eye. Neve