Poppy withdrew her hand stiffly, her face turning slightly pale.I offered an apologetic smile. "He's always been reserved. My apologies!"Poppy regained her composure. "No problem."Her smile was dazzling, but I sensed it was only surface-level.Poppy was undeniably beautiful and flawless in every way. Her makeup was impeccable, fitting for a professional actress who effortlessly mastered the art.Desperately maintaining her composed demeanor, she seemed to overlook the recent encounter."I've always wanted to visit your place, but I've been quite busy. You know how it is in our line of work. I have limited freedom, especially for me. It's quite inconvenient for me to step out with those crazy fans," she shared.I chuckled. "I understand. Excessive adoration can be burdensome, even irrational."As I spoke, my gaze remained fixed on her face.With a subtle tone, she added, "I envy your life, having your own career, and getting to enjoy your freedom."I laughed heartily. "Well

"I wanted to kill Matthew, then. Not only did he take away my true love, but he abandoned you in the end and even drove you to jump into the river."The mention of this incident caused him to grit his teeth."I was angry at you and outraged at his heartlessness."I leaned against his chest. "I'm sorry."He embraced me, gently stroking my hair, and continued, "But I also felt relieved. Because, from then on, I would never let go. Even if you didn't want to divorce him, I would disagree. I swore to help you leave him as soon as possible."An indescribable pain spread through my body. I knew how hard he had worked to find me. It took him 18 years. That was 18 sets of 365 days.I hugged him, repeatedly saying, "I'm sorry. I won't leave you again!"He buried his head in my arms, murmuring, "Do you know how terrifying it was without you? Do you know how I felt when you let go of my hand and flew out the car window?"As he spoke, I could feel his body trembling slightly."I searched

I still couldn't bring myself to speak. I didn't want to see him, the towering figure that attracted everyone's attention, be cautious around me.I took a deep breath before nodding firmly. "Okay. Let's get married. Let's start a family and have a bunch of kids!"He pulled me into a tight embrace. "Chlo, having you is what makes a home."We both pledged never to be apart. As we left the office, I realized everyone else had already left for the day. Blushing, I smiled, and he laughed while holding me in his arms.We planned to go home together, but my phone rang. It was Ivanna, who had been missing for days.I hesitated for a moment before quickly answering. "Where have you been?" I scolded."I've been holding the fort in Bourdamun for you," Ivanna said loudly. "But now I'm with Lauren. Why did you disappear after picking her up from the hospital?"As Ivanna spoke, I felt a sense of panic. I had completely forgotten about the dinner plans with Lauren tonight.I hurriedly said

Although I hoped Ivanna and Jared could find a resolution, thinking about Trinity made their marriage challenging. Perhaps that was why we chose to have dinner at home tonight.Besides, I was not a friend to both Trinity and Ivanna. Since I was in the middle, I didn’t know how to handle this relationship, especially since I sensed Trinity probably still loved Jared. I knew I needed to find an opportunity to talk to her about Jared.Lauren got everyone to sit down while I regained my focus. Ivanna understood the situation and didn’t continue the topic. It was evident her mood had improved after hearing Jared’s words. Even her gaze toward him was affectionate.I had to admit that women in love could be silly and charming. The three of us, excluding Lauren, were engrossed in our happiness. I noticed Atlas and Jared had much to discuss, too. Despite their contrasting personalities, they were extraordinary men.No one would ever guess Jared’s profession by looking at him. The two differ

Atlas noticed my anxious demeanor and comforted me with a pat on the back. “You can sleep first. I’ll see who it is.”He got up, put on his slippers, and approached the door. I couldn’t help but wonder who could be visiting so late at night. After all, we hadn’t lived here for quite some time. While contemplating, I got out of bed and straightened my sleepwear before leaving the bedroom.When I reached the landing, I peeked downstairs and saw Atlas opening the door. A figure then entered with a bottle of alcohol. It was Oliver. His lean silhouette appeared even more frail in the dim light. He looked desolated.Oliver forced a bitter smile when he saw Atlas, asking, “You’re still awake?”Atlas walked into the living room and said indifferently, “How can I sleep if you ring the bell like that? Why are you here?”I felt a pang of pity for Oliver. The once prominent figure had fallen so far. His former grace and eloquence were non-existent. I suspected he had lost his nightly destinat