Vince helped Rita sit up. "Donna knows what you like to eat the best. She would've rushed over here in tears if I hadn't told her you need some quiet to recover."At the mention of Donna, Rita smiled. "Please tell her that I'm feeling better. I don't want her to worry."At that moment, Karen tactfully suggested that Rita move back home.Rita quietly nibbled on the pastry, appreciating the familiar taste of Donna's cooking.Vince did not immediately speak up, so Karen continued, "Rita has been through so much, and her body is still weak. How can she take care of herself? It's better for her to move back home where we can all take care of her. Plus, she'll recover faster if she gets to eat what she likes. Right, Vince?"Vince nodded but did not decide for Rita. "Sweetheart, would you like to move back home? If you don't want to, I can have Donna bring a few people to take care of you at your place for a while."Rita looked at Karen, who was definitely scheming something. Suddenly,
The two of them embraced as they looked into each other's eyes."Thank you, Karen. Do you know how happy I am?" said Vince.Karen's eyes were also tear-glossed. "We finally have our own child. This child has made us wait for too long."Rita looked on coldly while Sadie walked up to hug her mother."Mom, Dad, soon we'll welcome a little brother. Our family will be even more complete," said Sadie.Suddenly, Vince seemed to remember something and let go of Karen. He wiped away the tears at the corners of his eyes. He really had not expected Karen to give him such a big surprise."Maybe you'll have a little sister instead. Whether it's a boy or a girl, I will cherish them as my treasure."With tears in her eyes, Karen nodded. "Yes, you're right. Boy or girl, the child will be our treasure."The three of them completely ignored Rita lying on the hospital bed.Vince was too overwhelmed with joy to remember his eldest daughter was still recovering from trauma.Karen and Sadie took a
"Huh, you sound like you're doing much better."Sherman's exhaustion disappeared completely as soon as he heard Rita's voice. He leaned back into his office chair. Even though he knew Rita would be safe with her father, Sherman had been on edge until he heard her voice.At that moment, his heart felt much lighter."Yeah, I'm much better now but still a bit weak. The doctor wants me to stay in the hospital for a few more days. I'll be moving back home after I get discharged," Rita reported casually as if chatting with an old friend.Sherman's eyes suddenly snapped wide open. "Back home? To that home? Are you going to live with Karen and Sadie?" he asked.As soon as Rita heard his reaction, she knew that the events of that day were likely connected to that mother-daughter duo."So, this incident had something to do with Karen?" asked Rita.Sherman became puzzled. "Didn't your father tell you about it? I told him everything and reminded him to tell you when you wake up.""Huh." Ri
Rita grumbled, "Come on, we're practically buddies now. Isn't one meal enough? How about two, then? You know what? I'll treat you to as many meals as you want, as long as you can eat that much.""You said it yourself. You better not go back on your word. I've recorded this conversation.""Hmph, I'm a woman of my word!"Little did they know that in just a month, their relationship would undergo a drastic change. They would never have moments of playfulness like this again.As Vince accompanied Karen for her check-up, he only became truly certain that he was really going to have another baby when he held that small piece of paper in his hand. He kissed Karen's cheek in front of the doctor."Thank you for giving me this baby. Whatever you want in the future, I'll give it to you."Karen blushed shyly and dodged his affection. "Come on, we've been married for so long. There's no need for such mushy stuff. Besides, everything I have is because of you. This baby is something I've been l
Sherman felt even more disgusted when he saw Rita's eyes widen as she continued to emphasize that he did not need to pay for the meal."Did you and your father plan this, with one playing good cop and the other playing bad cop? You can drop your act now. If it weren't for your tacit approval, how could he have made such a demand? I didn't want to come to this dinner, but after what your family did, I couldn't help but ask you about it. Or did you get close to me with impure intentions from the beginning?"Rita could no longer afford to keep her smile. She felt as if she were pinned to the spot by a pillar of shame. She did not even understand what Sherman was talking about, but she understood it had something to do with her family.Her only true family member was her father."If my family did something that you find unacceptable, I don't know what they did, but if that's the case, let me apologize to you first, okay? Can you please stop speaking so harshly to me?" Rita pleaded.Sh
After saying what he wanted to say, Sherman got up and left, leaving Rita alone in her seat."What the hell is he talking about? When did I ever say I wanted to marry him? What happened while I was still in the hospital?' thought Rita, feeling as if she had been frozen to the spot.Rita quickly summoned the waiter, settled the bill, and hurried home.She had thought things through.They had been through a lot together. They had shared hardships, and their relationship had progressed further. She never expected him to fall in love with her, but she liked him and hoped he would pay more attention to her.However, she never expected this outcome. Her family had already blocked her path before she even had the chance to make Sherman like her."Dad, tell me honestly, did you go to see Mister Sherman? What did you do?" asked Rita.Vince was caught off-guard by Rita's question. He stammered, "What do you mean, see Mister Sherman? Do you really think he's someone I can just go see whene
"When you say 'responsibility', what is it that you're referring to?" Sherman asked. "I recall explaining everything in vivid detail to you back then, and I left only after I ensured Rita's safety. Why are you now presenting this surveillance footage to me and demanding I shoulder some form of responsibility?"He shrugged and stared at Vince, unable to fathom his intentions. "Did you even seek Rita's consent before coming to my place today?""No, of course not," Vince retorted, a wry smile playing on his lips. "I purposely refrained from doing so because I know she'll try to stop me. I'm sure you're aware of how much damage gossip can inflict upon a young woman. That is precisely why I am asking you to take responsibility. I believe she'd be a suitable match for you."Sherman could not help but be entertained by Vince's audacity. He lounged on the sofa and glanced at the shameless middle-aged man before him. "And what makes you believe that?"Though Sherman never intended to dispar
Naturally, Vince knew that the pivotal weakness of Sherman before him lay not in the company, but in the familial network backing him. That alone provided a glimpse into a facet that was completely different from his assertive demeanor in the business world."I'll have no other choice if you are uncooperative. I'm quite curious to know what your parents and grandparents would think if they learned of this?" Vince's tone carried a veiled threat.Sherman's expression changed abruptly. While he could endure any personal affront, he could not stand the thought of his family being involved in it. He did not expect Vince to have a means of contacting his family members whom he had endeavored to shield from the public eye for so long. Few in the business realm were privy to Sherman's family, much less his strong familial support."I've underestimated you," Sherman admitted. A faint smile barely masked his smoldering anger.Vince was determined to see that things went his way, so he could